Compatibility Islam and Capitalism

Question: Compose an article on Compatibility among Islam and Capitalism ? Answer: Presentation Are Islam and Capitalism good? This Essay would talk about the similarity among Islam and private enterprise. The beginning of the Essay the insights concerning free enterprise is given and what is considered as private enterprise are talked about. The following thing in the exposition would give a brief on Islam. The following piece of the exposition would take a gander at various perspectives on Islam including the sharia law. Proceeding with the equivalent examining different parts of cohort free enterprise, which has discovered its place in Islamic nations is talked about. The issues around colleague private enterprise and how it causes an obstacle in beginning another business is talked about. At that point in this exposition, there are instances of Islamic nations like the turkey are given. In these nations a similarity among Islam and private enterprise has seen a gigantic development of the nation without giving up standards of Islam. Despite what might be expected, there are instances of nations like Egyp t, wherein there has been endeavors being made to build up this similarity among Islam and private enterprise yet has not given positive outcomes. Different angles which are talked about in this exposition are what are the issues which are causing obstacle between setting up the similarity of Islam and private enterprise. The last piece of this paper would give a concise end on this subject of similarity among Islam and free enterprise alongside how might it be helpful if this similarity is set up. Similarity among Islam and private enterprise. Free enterprise is fundamentally on the way that the proprietor is a private gathering which controls the accounts. The funds are controlled dependent on the way that the more the creation and more would be the benefit. The base of private enterprise is rivalry, It can be rivalry between the gatherings or the item. Merchandise or item ought to be fabricated remembering the interest for the item. When the interest has been recognized proportional flexibly ought to be given in the market. Free enterprise likewise utilizes the way that the administration additionally has some impact in developing the benefits, yet this requests on the private enterprise model which has been utilized in that piece of the world. Free enterprise has discovered its place in created nations to an extraordinary expand, this has brought about high budgetary advantages to the created nations. The Basic standard of market patterns is utilized to create benefits as opposed to the administration choosing the creat ion. Private gatherings can offer opportunity to would whatever they like to pick up benefit. There are some significant negative related with private enterprise as it will in general increment the disparity in the public arena. Moreover the other negative thing about free enterprise is the it powers utilization and that comes as the main thing. The Arabian Peninsula was where the religion of Islam was established it began in the fifth Century. The prophet Mohammed began this network in Medina. Later this religion was spread over numerous nations and it picked up its prominence. Middle Easterner nations have a lion's share populace of individuals who follow Islam. Presently it has additionally discovered its place in center east and Europe. It is very hard to work together in Islamic nations as they don't follow private enterprise. There are some significant motivation to legitimize how it is hard to place free enterprise in Islamic states. In Islamic nations individual status is a significant factor and everything rotates around this status. This is a significant impediment in private enterprise, which expects a free society and the market ought to be available to everybody independent of the status of the individual status. This is an issue even as far as salary for Arab nations. A portion of the Arab nations are additionally useless economy even today. West has seen a radical development has not been looked in Arab or Islamic nations. This was not the case not many hundreds of years back as Islamic nations were a lot more extravagant and their development was higher than Europe.Even as ahead of schedule as twentieth century the Genoans who was more for private enterprise won the clash of exchange against Maghrebis wh o were a greater amount of an Arabic foundation. The principle purpose behind this Genoans triumph was as they investigated a bigger number of alternatives for exchange as opposed to customary ways. They began to make a business situation which was progressively favorable. This Environment permitted them to put resources into beneficial work and build up themselves, though Maghrebis were never prepared for this change around free enterprise. The Maghrebis ways were limited just to search for circumstances inside their family, which didn't assist them with growing much in business esteems. Similar conditions are still particularly present in current day Islamic nations. Arabic nations have heaps of strict convictions, As Islam is found by the dealer. There are bunches of things in Islam, which favor the business and setting up riches. Indeed, even in the heavenly book of Islam it is viewed as that riches ought to be made, yet it ought not be for private advantages. There is a major conviction that Sharia assumes a job in adopting a negative strategy to private enterprise. There are significant liabilities with respect to sharia. Sharia didn't help in making a long association as it was inside the families and finished once the individual of the family was dead. A portion of the things which is limited by sharia is joint organizations which stocks spread over this can devastatingly affect private enterprise. Sharia additionally partitioned the capital into little parts after the dead of head of family, which doesn't help with higher venture as the capital in isolated over various individuals. The other factor which impacts private enterprise is it do esn't permit intrigue. The Waaf which was made by sharia for a noble cause intention were beginning to use as an alternative to spare assessments. There were huge foundations made for the sake of the Waaf and which didn't help monetary development in Islamic nations. Now and again the Non-Muslim were permitted to work under non sharia laws which began to show its effect and these individuals had the option to grow their business and got more extravagant. Gradually Islam has additionally begun to see a pattern where sharia law gave some exclusion to Muslim individuals and it has been useful in the development of the networks. Aside from the sharia law there other main consideration which isn't permitting private enterprise to develop is political. The legislature in these Islamic nations is very impolite and doesn't make a helpful domain. The Government isn't flawed and has been commanded by individuals who are on higher individual status. Islamic government began to assume responsibility for private property and host made an air where private gatherings don't have a state in assets, for example, oil. So the abundance of a whole nation is in the possession of the decision government who could utilize this riches in however they need to utilize it. Despite the fact that there was a modernization in Arabic nations it was limited to giving the intensity of funds to administering administrations. In the following scarcely any hundreds of years the Arab government has begun with lines of private enterprise, however it was increasingly kept to a friend based free enterprise that is what is driving free enterpri se in Islamic nations currently too. The issue with this sort of private enterprise is that it doesn't give a free market to open rivalry and is simply kept to individuals who are neighborly with the decision government. There are heaps of issues with this sort of free enterprise, which exists in Arab nations. As to begin another agent needs a permit, which is given by the decision government and until and except if there are old buddies, it gets difficult to get this permit which is an obstacle to private enterprise. The following issue region is that once you start the business with this kind of private enterprise the desire from the civil servants is that they would get some portion of benefit. On the off chance that you don't have this well disposed relationship with civil servants than it gets testing to begin even a little league business inside 2-3 years, This is prompting joblessness and static development in Islamic states. The manner in which these business people arrangem ents are build up in Islamic nations additionally demonstrates that it is more attempting to show power instead of for benefits. The free enterprise, which is created in Arabic nations is very hazardous as it doesn't permit rivalry to develop. There is an administration impact which brings about squashing the thriving possibilities in these spots. One of the prominent changes is in the turkey where things have changed radically as it has opened up to free enterprise the financial plan is fine, exchange is energized and endeavors have been made to chop down the well disposed private enterprise. Despite the fact that these individuals follow Islam vivaciously yet they have demonstrated this isn't an explanation behind not receiving to free enterprise in a major manner. The Turkey has begun to send out 25% when it was simply 3% traded in 1980.The high measure of fare as of late shows that the turkey has been profited by private enterprise. This is an unmistakable sign that Islam is perfect with private enterprise. The central issue is would this be able to show of the turkey be utilized by different nations to follow the way of private enterprise. There are examples which demonstrate this pattern to develop just like the case during the insurgency of Arab spring. Islamic youngsters indicated the world that they were likewise sear ching for approaches to push ahead as opposed to remaining at where they are presently. They requested private enterprise and majority rules system. Despite what might be expected, there is the situation of Egypt where there have been bunches of endeavors being made to change nature to be increasingly just getting started. To gain from the manners in which western world has advanced, yet these upsets neglected to keep going long Egypt despite everything keeps on demonstrating its contrariness with private enterprise. In any case, the insurgency despite everything proceeds and it may happen sometime that even in the Egypt significance of private enterprise is comprehended by the legislature and a free market is given to individuals to go into business. Different convictions in Islamic states in that top

Quality, by John Galsworthy

Quality, by John Galsworthy Most popular today as the creator of The Forsyte Saga, John Galsworthyâ (1867-1933) was a mainstream and productive English writer and dramatist in the early many years of the twentieth century. Instructed at New College, Oxford, where he had practical experience in marine law, Galsworthy had a long lasting enthusiasm for social and good issues, specifically, the desperate impacts of destitution. He in the end decided to compose as opposed to seeking after law and was granted the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1932. In theâ narrative paper Quality, distributed in 1912, Galsworthy delineates a German craftsmans endeavors to make due in a time where achievement is controlled by adverdisement, gesture by work. Galsworthy portrays shoemakers endeavoring to remain consistent with their specialties despite a world driven by cash and quick satisfaction - not by quality and absolutely not by obvious workmanship or craftsmanship. Quality initially showed up in The Inn of Tranquility: Studies and Essays (Heinemann, 1912). A part of the article shows up beneath. Quality by John Galsworthy 1 I knew him from the times of my extraordinary youth since he made my dads boots; possessing with his senior sibling two little shops let into one, in a little by-road - presently no more, yet then most stylishly positioned in the West End. 2 That apartment had a specific calm qualification; there was no sign upon its face that he made for any of the Royal Famil - just his own German name of Gessler Brothers; and in the window a couple of sets of boots. I recall that it generally pained me to represent those unvarying boots in the window, for he made just what was requested, arriving at nothing down, and it appeared to be unfathomable to such an extent that what he made would ever have neglected to fit. Had he gotten them to put there? That, as well, appeared to be incomprehensible. He could never have endured in his home calfskin on which he had not worked himself. Plus, they were excessively excellent - the pair of siphons, so indescribably thin, the patent cowhides with material tops, making water come into ones mouth, the tall earthy colored riding boots with superb dingy shine, as though, however new, they had been worn a hundred years. Those sets could just have been made by one who saw before him the Soul of Boot - so genuinely were they models manifesting the very soul of all foot-gear. These musings, obviously, came to me later, however in any event, when I was elevated to him, at the period of maybe fourteen, some notion frequented me of the nobility of himself and sibling. For to make boots - such boots as he made - appeared to me at that point, and still appears to me, strange and brilliant. 3 I recollect well my timid comment, at some point while loosening up to him my energetic foot: 4 Isnt it dreadfully difficult to do, Mr. Gessler? 5 And his answer, given with an abrupt grin from out of the harsh redness of his whiskers: Id is an Ardt! 6 Himself, he was a little as though produced using cowhide, with his yellow creased face, and crimped ruddy hair and whiskers; and flawless folds inclining down his cheeks to the sides of his mouth, and his throaty and one-conditioned voice; for calfskin is a scornful substance, and solid and delayed of direction. What's more, that was the character of his face, spare that his eyes, which were dim blue, had in them the straightforward gravity of one subtly controlled by the Ideal. His senior sibling was so similar to him - however watery, paler inside and out, with an extraordinary industry - that occasionally in early days I was not exactly certain about him until the meeting was finished. At that point I realized that it was he, if the words, I will ask my brudder, had not been spoken; and, that, in the event that they had, it was his senior sibling. 7 When one developed old and wild and added to charges, one in some way or another never ran them up with Gessler Brothers. It would not have appeared to be turning out to be to go in there and loosen up ones foot to that blue iron-spectacled look, owing him for more than - state - two sets, only the agreeable consolation that one was as yet his customer. 8 For it was unrealistic to go to him all the time - his boots kept going frightfully, having something past the impermanent - a few, so to speak, quintessence of boot sewed into them. 9 One went in, not as into most shops, in the state of mind of: Please serve me, and let me go! be that as it may, soothingly, as one enters a congregation; and, sitting on the single wooden seat, hung tight - for there was never anyone there. Before long, over the top edge of that kind of well - rather dim, and smelling soothingly of calfskin - which framed the shop, there would be seen his face, or that of his senior sibling, peering down. A throaty sound, and the tip-tap of bast shoes beating the tight wooden steps, and he would remain before one without coat, somewhat bowed, in cowhide cover, with sleeves turned around, squinting - as though stirred from some fantasy of boots, or like an owl shocked in light and irritated at this interference. 10 And I would state: How would you do, Mr. Gessler? Might you be able to make me a couple of Russia calfskin boots? 11 Without a word he would leave me, resigning whence he came, or into the other segment of the shop, and I would keep on resting in the wooden seat, breathing in the incense of his exchange. Before long he would return, holding in his meager, veined hand a bit of gold-earthy colored cowhide. With eyes fixed on it, he would comment: What a beaudiful biece! At the point when I, as well, had appreciated it, he would talk once more. When do you wand dem? Also, I would reply: Oh! When you advantageously can. Also, he would state: To-morrow passage nighd? Or then again on the off chance that he were his senior sibling: I will ask my brudder! 12 Then I would mumble: Thank you! Hello, Mr. Gessler. Goot-morning! he would answer, despite everything taking a gander at the calfskin in his grasp. Also, as I moved to the entryway, I would hear the tip-tap of his bast shoes reestablishing him, up the steps, to his fantasy of boots. However, on the off chance that it were some new sort of foot-gear that he had not yet made me, at that point undoubtedly he would watch service - stripping me of my boot and grasping it long, taking a gander at it with eyes without a moment's delay basic and adoring, as though reviewing the shine with which he had made it, and censuring the manner by which one had muddled this perfect work of art. At that point, setting my foot on a bit of paper, he would a few times stimulate the external edges with a pencil and ignore his apprehensive fingers my toes, feeling himself into the core of my prerequisites.

The Stroop Effect Naming the Color but Not the Word

The Stroop Effect Naming the Color but Not the Word To interact properly and appropriately with the world around us, it is important for us to not only see what it around us, but also to understand it. This occurs through a process known as visual processing, where our brain tries to make sense of what we see with our eyes.When we look at something, our brain not only takes note of the physical attributes of what we see, but it also tries to understand the meaning behind these physical attributes. For instance, when you look at a television set, you don’t just see its shape, size and color; you also gain understanding about what it means.You automatically understand that it requires electricity to operate, you know that you might need a remote controller to operate it, you know you can catch the news on it if you switch it on, and so on. All this happens automatically and unconsciously.Without even thinking about it, your brain processes all this information when you simply look at an object.THE STROOP EFFECTIn a bid to gain more un derstanding about how our brains process visual information, an American psychologist by the name John Ridley Stroop conducted an experiment that came to be known as the Stroop Test. The Stroop test itself is quite simple and involves two steps.In the first step, a participant is presented with a list of words for colors. The words are printed in colored ink whose color is different from the color denoted by the word. For instance, the word “blue” might be printed in red ink.The participant is then asked to read through the words as quickly as possible, without paying any attention to the color in which the word is printed. The participant is timed as they read through the words.To illustrate the first step of the experiment, below is a group of words for colors whose color is different from the color denoted by the word. Time yourself and note how long it takes you to read through the words while ignoring the color in which they appear.BLUE      PURPLE      GREEN      RED      ORANGE      YELLOW      BROWN      PINKHow did you fare? I bet you read through the words quite fast.In the second step of the experiment, the participant is once again presented with a list of words for colors, with the words printed in in colored ink whose color is different from the color denoted by the word.However, this time the challenge is a bit different. Instead of reading out the words, the participant is required to name the color in which the word is printed. For instance, if the word “brown” is printed in yellow ink, the participant should say “yellow” instead of brown. They should ignore what the word says and focus on its color.Once again, below is a list of words for colors printed in colors that are different from the colors denoted by the words.Time yourself as you go through the words, saying out loud the color in which they are printed while ignoring what the word says.PINK      YELLOW      GREEN      ORANGE      BLACK      BLUE      PURPLE        WHITE      GREY How did you fare this time round? Did it take you much longer to read through the words? Did you find it hard to actually name the color the words are printed in rather than what the word says? Below is a video of the test. When J. R. Stroop conducted his experiments in 1935, he noticed that the participants had a harder time naming the color compared to simply reading out the words. He attributed this to a phenomenon that has come to be known as the Stroop effect, named after him.The Stroop effect is the interference (mind flub) you just experienced when trying to name the colors while ignoring what the words say. Your brain was trying to process two conflicting mental processes, both of which were simultaneously competing for your brain’s attention and prominence.The Stroop effect provides evidence that the embedded knowledge we have about our environment has an influence on how we interact with the environment. It also shows that we are no t always in control of what our brains choose to pay attention to. But why does this interference occur?The Stroop test reveals that our brains are automatically inclined to read any text we come across. As an adult, you have been reading words for so long that it becomes an effortless and automatic process that does not require any significant cognitive effort and that you cannot avoid.Seeing a word and trying to avoid reading it is like trying to avoid thinking about an elephant when someone says “don’t think of an elephant.” You just can’t do it. In the experiment, you are trying to focus on the color the word is printed in, but your brain cannot avoid reading what the word says.This gives you two bits of conflicting information (the actual color you see, and the color you think of after reading the word). To solve this conflict and come up with the required answer, your brain has to expend more cognitive effort.Having to take in two conflicting bits of information and th en resolve the difference between them slows down your response, which is why it takes you longer to go through the second set of words.Out of practice (years upon years of reading) our word-recognition ability is much faster than our color recognition ability. This means that most people will recognize what a word means before they recognize the color in which it is written.In addition, out of experience, our brains have learnt that the meaning of a word is more important than the color it is written in. So, in essence, our brains have learnt to ignore the color and focus on what the word says. However, the exercise requires you to name the color and not the meaning of the word.Therefore, your brain has to inhibit the word recognition process, which is faster, in order for the color recognition process to provide the correct response. This inhibition requires something known as selective attention.Sometimes, your brain, in its impulsivity, is unable to suppress the faster word reco gnition process, which is why you might have given a few erroneous answers, reading out the word instead of naming the color it is written in.Because of this, the Stroop test is used to test for mental processes associated with conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Subjects with ADHD are more likely to make more errors and to take longer in the second step of the Stroop test.This is because the brains of people with ADHD are more prone to impulsivity and therefore have a harder time inhibiting the much faster word recognition process to allow the color recognition process to provide the correct response.The inhibition of some mental process is facilitated by the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is why ADHD patients are usually treated by restoring their levels of dopamine, which in turn suppresses their impulsivity.The Stroop effect happens automatically; there is not much we can do to prevent it. To show how automatically it happens, the Stroop effect is even said to have been used by American intelligence agents to catch a man suspected of being a Russian spy.Apparently, the man, who claimed not to know Russian, was presented with the Stroop test, but with the words for colors written in Russian instead of English.When asked to name the colors of the words, the man had a slow response rate when the words and colors were incongruent (the word was written in a color that was different from the color denoted by the word).This was a signal to the American intelligence agents that the man could actually speak Russian, despite claiming otherwise.THEORIES THAT EXPLAIN THE STROOP EFFECTThere are a number of different theories that have been used to explain the Stroop effect.While the theories differ in the part of visual processing that they emphasize, all the theories are unified by the central premise that it is much simpler and more automatic to read a word than to recognize and name a color, and that a conflict between the two proce sses will lead to increased cognitive effort and slower processing times.These theories are also sometimes referred to as ‘race models’ because all have an underlying notion that both pieces of information (the meaning of the word and the color) are processed simultaneously, but then they ‘race’ to enter the central processor first when it comes to selecting a response.Below are the different theories used to explain the Stroop effect:Speed of Processing TheoryThis theory proposes that the lag experienced when trying to name the color but not the word occurs the brain can recognize words faster than it can recognize colors. In other words, the theory proposes that word processing and color recognition occur at different speeds, with word processing occurring much faster.Therefore, when one is required to state the color, the information about what the word actually says arrives at the decision making stage before information about the color in which the word is written.Howev er, since the information that arrives first is not relevant in this case, this leads to processing confusion. It becomes more difficult to name the color after we have already read the word.In the first step of the experiment, where the participant is required to read out the word and ignore the color, there is no conflict because the relevant information (what the word says) arrives faster than the irrelevant information (color).Selective Attention TheoryAccording to the Selective Attention Theory, color recognition requires more attention compared to simply reading a word.This in turn means that color recognition takes longer, either as the brain allocates the extra attentive resources required or as it tries to inhibit distractions from sources of information that do not provide the appropriate response (word recognition).Automaticity TheoryThe Automaticity Theory is the one that is most commonly used to explain the Stroop effect. According to this theory, out of habitual readin g, our brains have gotten to a point where reading occurs automatically. It does not require any focused attention.When you look at a word, your brain automatically engages it and understands what the word means. Color recognition, on the other hand, is not an automatic process. It requires some focused attention.Therefore, when you look at a word, your brain automatically recognizes what the word is saying while it takes a bit longer to process the color, leading to slower response times.Parallel Distributed Processing TheoryAccording to the parallel distributed processing theory, as the brain analyzes and processes information, it develops different and specific pathways to process different tasks. The strength of the pathways depends on the frequency with which the pathways are used.When two pathways are activated at the same time, information in the stronger pathway is processed before the information in the weaker pathway. Since you read a lot more frequently than you are requi red to identify the color words are written in, the reading pathway is a lot stronger than the color identification pathway.During the Stroop effect, both pathways are activated simultaneously.Since the reading pathway is stronger, this information is processed first. However, since the appropriate response requires information from the weaker pathway, this leads to interference and slower response times.IMPORTANCE OF THE STROOP EFFECTThe Stroop test and the Stroop effect have a number of uses is psychology. The test is very useful in evaluating a person’s attentional capacity, their cognitive processing speed, their selective attention capacity and their level of executive function.These facets give psychologists a glimpse into how we interact with the world us. In other words, the Stroop test helps give psychologists a more detailed understanding of human thought and behavior. It helps them to observe the cognitive processes that drive explicit thought and provides insights into how the non-conscious brain works.The Stroop test is also used in conjunction with other neuropsychological assessments in the diagnosis of neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.The interference resulting from the Stroop Test has also been found to be more pronounced in people suffering from conditions such as ADHD, dementia, brain damage, and addictions to drugs, alcohol and gambling.In addition, researchers also use the Stroop test in conjunction with brain imaging studies to understand the regions of the brain that are involved in processes such as decision making, planning and managing interference in the real world, such as talking on a phone while driving or studying for an exam when the television is on.People have also recently started using variations of the Stroop test as exercise to help them improve their directed-attention skills and increase their mental vitality. The test can also be used as an exercise to help people hone the ir ability to control impulsive behavior.During a Stroop test, the participant is required to overcome the impulse to respond to the initial and stronger stimuli and instead focus on a weaker stimuli. The better you become at inhibiting the urge to read instead of reporting the color, the better your brain will become at controlling impulsive behavior.VARIATIONS OF THE STROOP TESTAside from the original Stroop test, there have been other variations of the test which evaluate the effect of other sensory variables on interference. Below are some of the most popular variations of the test.Warped Words Stroop TestThis variation is quite similar to the original Stroop test, with words for colors printed in ink color that is different from the color denoted by the word. However, this test takes things a step further. The words are also warped (curvy shaped). The aim here is to make the words more difficult to read.The idea behind this test is that making the words harder to read slows dow n the brain’s reaction and processing time.Surprisingly, the findings from the warped words Stroop test are similar to those from the original test. Participants still take longer to identify the color compared to reading the words.Emotional Stroop TestThe emotional Stroop test gives psychologists a glimpse into how the brain processes information related to emotions. In the emotional Stroop test, negative emotional words, such as “sadness,” “sorrow,” and “depression” are placed in between neutral words such as “car,” “television,” and “house”.The words are printed in different colored ink, and just like in the original Stroop test, the participant is supposed to name the color each word is written in, while ignoring what the word says.According to researchers, participants suffering from depression will take longer to name the colors on negative emotional words compared to the colors of neutral words. In the emotional Stroop test, the interference arises f rom the conflict between the color of the word and the emotional relevance of the word to the participant.Animal Stroop TestThis is a variation of the Stroop test that is used with young children. Normally, the Stroop effect occurs in adults because they have been reading for years, to the extent where reading comes automatically to them. However, for young children, reading is not very well established or fluent, and therefore does not come automatically.Children below the age of 6 can barely even read the words, therefore there would be no conflicting information to allow psychologists to measure interference. Provided the children know their colors, they would perform relatively well in the Stroop test because the words do not mean anything to them.In order for young children to effectively undertake the Stroop test, the test needs something the children can do automatically. This is where the animal Stroop test comes in. By the age of 4, most children can name common animals whe n presented with the pictures of the animals.In fact, when presented with these pictures, most young children will name the animals without being prompted. In other words, it comes to them automatically.In the animal Stroop test, the children are presented with pictures of animals, with a small twist. The heads of the animals have been swapped. For instance, the head of a cow might be placed on a dog, while the head of a dog is placed on a duck. The children are then asked to name the animal based on its body instead of its head.Since the head of the animal is more prominent, the children are automatically drawn to it. In order for them to provide the correct response, they have to inhibit the automatic response (naming based on the head) and name the animal based on its body.Studies conducted using the animal Stroop test find that children experience the same kind of interference that adults experience with the original Stroop test.Spatial Stroop TestThis is a variation of the Stro op test that is used to investigate the interference between an objects location and the location information derived from the object. In this test, an upward or downward-facing arrow appears randomly above or below a line.The participant is required to report the direction of the arrow (whether it is pointing up and down) while ignoring the arrows location relative to the line.Researchers found that responses are faster and more accurate when the stimuli is congruent (for instance, an upward facing arrow appearing above the line) compared to when the stimuli is incongruent (for instance, an upward facing arrow appearing below the line).WRAPPING UPThe Stroop test has become a popular and widely used methodology that allows psychologists and researchers to get a peek into our brain functions and our implicit cognitive functions.The Stroop effect occurs when our minds are required to inhibit the response from an automatic stimuli and give more relevance to the response from a weaker s timuli.The test examines our ability to suppress our impulses and direct our attention where we want it at a particular time. The Stroop test is a simple exercise that you can do from anywhere. Give it a try and tell us how you fared in the comments below.

Analysis Report for New Product - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 1972 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Marketing Essay Did you like this example? ANALYSIS REPORT FOR NEW PRODUCT SUMMARY: The whole case study is based on the decision making analysis based on the new product operations. For this purpose I would prefer to understand about the market in which the product would be compete with the other products. These findings were made by Robert himself and the information in the questions available against these findings. We discuss them one by one and if any assumptions made there under. The Exclusive rights given by the Kokoa SA to Robert for selling and using their name. Such type of rights given by the company or manufacturer to their seller for enhancement and increase their sales. This right is provided for the period of 5 years and Robert must be paid some money in advance. The advance amount is not mentioned by Robert in his finding so according to the American royalty rates for food industry we studied that the upfront payment may be $200 per month and should be paid 5 years payment in advance that is $12,000. The second assumption we made for the inventory turnover period and Kg(s) of the chocolates. According to the study Robert wants to make orders after every two weeks and maintain the stock level for the four weeks in the first year of operations the stock level and orders sequence would not be made accurate as per the willing of Robert because the demand and supply rule of economics is applied. The market analysis made by the expert is based on the assumptions and estimations but the actual results show the greater variation. Such variation would be reduced at the end of the first year for the first year the assumption is made that is random growth in sales units of chocolates. Which makes the random increase in the Kg (s) which is imported from Switzerland? The third assumption is made for the order size which would be imported from the supplier according to the market survey and Robert’s given information, the order should be made after two weeks and must be enough for the next four weeks. In the first year of operations the sales units are vary randomly therefore, I made an assumption regarding the ordering the units that is in the current month order will be made for the following month requirements, and such requirements will be made on the assumptions which are made for the sales units. For the next year and thereafter the sales units are sold out of the same quantity as the market survey said. So, the minimum stock would be the same as Robert required. And the sales units will be the same as market survey state. Therefore, in the next year budgeted cash flow is not required any specific type of assumptions. The cost of the material is based on the currency of Switzerland that is CHF, and the supplier will give the 40% discount on the price in which the chocolates Kg sold out in Switzerland. Therefore, the actual price at which Robert will receive the material that is CHF 51 and the conversion rate is 1.06 then the price is 54.41 US dollars. The freight charges also be paid in CHF and conversion rate is used for the purpose of monthly and annual cash flows. The available capital for the new product is $100,000 and the loan facility is also available if necessary. But as per the monthly cash flows for the first year of operations there is no need any type of loan facility as the available capital is enough for this purpose. Robert also said about the available excess capital can be invested at the rate of 5%. The cash flows of the first year at the month level show that the company has excessive capital at the level of $30,000. I have made an assumption in respect of the investment of the amount of $30,000 and the return on such investment will be received in first month of following the investment e.g. February. In the first year the return will be made for 11 month as the assumption is made by me that the investment is made at the last day of the first month and it will made for minimum three years. AMOUNT WHICH WILL NEED TO GET GOING: There are many things which would be considered when a business is going to be start. There is a need to made feasibility study, if research is going appropriate and there is no uncertain indications then the development phase is started. In our case study, the research phase is completed now the operations of the company will be started. The study reveals that the available cash is enough for starting of the company’s food operations. The company has backup cash support from the bank of $50,000 at the rate of 8%. The initial expenses of the company are reasonable and there is no heavy machinery is required for the sake of starting the business and the main advantage which reduces the various ancillary expenditures which are necessary to start a business as he is an online seller. The available analysis made by Robert and the estimated monthly and yearly cash flows stated that the maximum cash which would be needed in the current situation if all other circumstances which would not lead to the circumstances change then the funds will be enough for the commencement of the food business that is $100,000. And the maximum expenditures will not be more than $50,000. So, for any uncertainty company has more than enough funds to control the circumstances. SENSITIVITY ISSUES: For the development or expanding an existing business, the organization either small or large, should develop the following things to reduce the effects of any uncertain happening. The sensitivity is the matter of product development which having the base of past research, present findings and future directions. If the new project is not following the planned directions or instructions then it will reduce the effects of the expected outcomes of the projects. Each analysis has some type of steps and components which must be followed during the working on them. Robert should follow, in start of the new product, demand and supply rule. I n this rule, production will be start at that time when the order will be taken by the company. For reducing the risk of loss in production, the system of production on the basis of orders is best in that environment. Another thing, which should be consider by Robert, that is, the online competitors of the company with the similar type of food products. He must evaluate the; Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Analysis Report for New Product" essay for you Create order Prices Quality of product Quantity in each unit pack Quality of services Systems and technology used by the other competitor Influencing areas of operations Customer response Promotions and Schemes to attract the general public Advertisement plans In the regulatory prospective, Robert should get his product register, and must be taken a prior permit to start the selling of the new product. In order to achieve the expected results Robert must follow the following points in his market survey. UPFRONT PAYMENT FOR EXCLUSIVE RIHTS: Kokoa SA gives a right to use the name and its products under his own name in North America. Robert is allowed to use freely the right by paying an amount for a period of five years. It is the nature of royalty or purchasing an intangible asset. The amount of right must be paid in full for the period of five years. There is no clear information in the statements given by Robert about the terms and conditions of the contract made between both the parties. It is a small business operating in a limited area as the shipping is available only for North America. The company cannot exercise the right until the upfront payment clearance made by the Kokoa SA. In addition, the right gives Robert an oppo rtunity to purchase as much as the demand of the chocolates is increased in the future. There is no restriction regarding the purchase and time limits in respect of re-ordering. There is no specific law made by the regulation authority in respect of any royalty payment or license to use the products of the company of other jurisdiction except the prior approval and settlement. In our case, the Kokoa SA is a manufacturer of chocolates; Robert will purchase the chocolates and pack it under his own brand name then sell it. In US law, the right to use the other brand name is restricted but the use of products of other companies in making of company’s own product is not prohibited. It the company arise the liability by using the name of Kokoa SA, then the Law exists. So, there is only a contract can be made by the company in respect of the exclusive rights and its payment. In the market survey we find that the current rates in US of the similar contracts and rights made b y the other companies and competitors are from $150 to $400 in medium scale businesses. Our contract made by the Kokoa SA is on the basis of each order. The exclusive right settlement for five years is for $200 per month and for the whole period is $12,000 which is not refundable. If unexpectedly, the operations of selling and buying of chocolates need to stop then the payment of exclusive rights cannot be able to reverse by the Kokoa SA. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: There are the following recommendations to Robert for the start up the new product. Market surveys based on the advertising the product and customer responses must be critically evaluate. Start small investment in respect of the new product Make up a portfolio of the products Acquire the business license for the new products Make a business plan for the new setup and running business too. And upload it on the website and advertise it accordingly in the manner which are most effective and enhance the productivity and customer response. I would like to suggest as a professional, to create a department for recording the whole operations of the business and report on them, which exactly represents the profitability of the company and new product. Always find the new ways to cover up the high cost and how to low the cost or alternative ways. During the planning, always overestimate the costs and expenses and underestimate the incomes and receiving. Always finds the ways to make the profit exponentially increase. For this, there are five drivers which are directly impact on the profits of the company. These are as following; Leads: how can the total number of customer increases day by day. Conversion rate: the average number of people who buy the product as the percentage of number of people who visits the website Average dollar sale: estimate the average dollar sale on the basis of conversion rate for the year. Average number of transaction Profit Margin: the profit percentage which the company earns by the selling of a single unit of its product. These are the evaluating factors which are having the influence on the profitability of the company. The ultimate conclusion of the research made by Robert for his new product in the portfolio of his company is good for his business only in the case, if he spends more money in the advertising campaign of the products and website at which the buying and selling take place. If the other things remain same i.e. economical conditions, exchange rate, inflation, stability in the foreign exchange market, political conditions, external factors which are directly affect the business in the North America and South America, then the expected and estimated cash flows monthly and annually are present the appropriate cash in and out of the company for the new products. For any uncertain happening the company has enough cash in backup to take care of the company’s future viability.

3rd Grade Science Fair Projects

The 3rd grade may be the first time students are introduced to science fair projects. Children ask questions from a young age, but this is a great time to begin to apply the scientific method. Introduction to 3rd Grade Science Fair Projects 3rd grade is a great time to answer what happens if... or which is better...  questions. In general, elementary school students are exploring the world around them and learning how things work. The key to a great science fair  project at the 3rd-grade level is finding a topic that the student finds interesting. Usually, a teacher or parent is needed  to help plan the project and offer guidance with a report or poster. Some students may want to make models or perform demonstrations that illustrate scientific concepts. 3rd Grade Science Fair Project Ideas Here are some project ideas appropriate for 3rd grade: Do cut flowers last longer if you put them in warm water or in cold water? You can test how effectively flowers are drinking water by adding food coloring. Youll get the best results with white cut flowers, such as carnations. Do flowers drink warm water faster, slower, or at the same rate as cold water?Does the color of your clothing affect how hot or cold you feel when youre outside in the sunlight? Explain your results. This project is easiest if you compare solid colors, such as black and white t-shirts.Do all students in the class have the same size hands and feet as each other? Trace outlines of hands and feet and compare them. Do taller students have larger hands/feet or does height not seem to matter?How much does the temperature have to change for you to feel a difference? Does it matter whether its air or water? You can try this with your hand, a glass, a thermometer, and tap water of different temperatures.Are waterproof mascaras really waterproof? Put some mascara on a sh eet of paper and rinse it with water. What happens? Do 8-hour lipsticks really keep their color that long?Do clothes take the same length of time to dry if you add a dryer sheet or fabric softener to the load?Which melts faster: ice cream or ice milk? Can you figure out why this might happen? You can compare other frozen treats, such as frozen yogurt and sorbet.Do frozen candles burn at the same rate as candles that were stored at room temperature? Ideally, compare candles that are identical in every way except their starting temperature.Research what dryer sheets do. Can people tell the difference between a load of laundry that used dryer sheets and one that didnt use them? If one type of laundry was preferred over the other, what was the reason? Ideas might be scent, softness, and the amount of static.Do all types of bread grow the same types of mold? A related project would compare types of mold that grow on cheese or other food. Keep in mind mold grows quickly on bread, but migh t grow more slowly on other food. Use a magnifying glass to make it easier to tell the types of mold apart.Do raw eggs and hard-boiled eggs spin the same length of time/number of times?What type of liquid will rust a nail the quickest? You could try water, orange juice, milk, vinegar, peroxide, and other common household liquids.Does light affect how fast foods spoil?Can you tell from todays clouds what tomorrows weather will be? Tips for Success Choose a project that wont take too much time to complete. Performing an experiment or making a model often takes longer than one expects, and its better to have extra time than to run out at the last minute.Expect a 3rd-grade project to require adult supervision or help. This doesnt mean an adult should do the project for a child, but an older sibling, parent, guardian, or teacher can help guide the project, offer suggestions, and be supportive.Select an idea that uses materials you can actually find. Some project ideas might look great on paper, but be difficult to perform if the supplies are unavailable.

La Dame and Cathy Ames Comparison Free Essays

In the poem â€Å"La Belle Dame Sans Merci† by John Keats and the story East Of Eden by John Steinbeck both authors similarly characterize women as merciless through the use of the literary technique of imagery. Both Steinbeck and Keats throughout their writings describe events and people in great detail. Both of the women are beautiful yet ‘wild’, put a man to sleep, and force someone to solitude. We will write a custom essay sample on La Dame and Cathy Ames Comparison or any similar topic only for you Order Now In the beginning of both the poem and story the authors give a very visual description of the women. They are both considered to appear on the outside as if they are â€Å"a faerys child† – beautiful. But when you look into their eyes a sense of being â€Å"wild† is within them. The wildness that the men see in their eyes foreshadows their merciless nature. The wildness alludes to and foreshadows the womens animalistic and heartless actions. In both storys the women seduce multiple men with their physical attractiveness in order to gain control of them and make the situation benefit them. The authors use imagery in their texts by explaining in detail the womens outstanding physical features in order to make the reader picture the women in the same way that the narrator does. Steinbeck and Keats effectivly project the images of the women into the minds of the reader. In the two pieces of literature both of the authors specify a scene using imagery in which the beautiful women make a man fall asleep in order to obtain what they want. In Steinbecks case it would be Cathy Ames overdosing Adam so she can sleep with Charles on the night of their wedding. While in Keats poem it is La Dame who slowly puts the unsuspecting knight to sleep so she can murder him. The women in these scenes commit awful acts but neither of them feel any remorse or conscience, which oes to show the women are truly merciless and have a â€Å"wild† nature. In Keats story he uses imagery in the knights vivid dream as a warning to show him all of La Dame’s past victims who had been lured in and killed before him. This shows that La Dame’s feeling of love are false and that she will continue to mercilessly hurt people. The authors uses of imagery in these scenes make the reader feel like they are in the story watching the horrible acts take place and make the reader lovingly hate the women for their cruel and clever actions. In both texts Steinbeck and Keats write a very visual scene about men leaving the eautiful women and cutting all ties to them because they realize that the women are fake, merciless and â€Å"wild†. In the poem written by Keats the knight wakes up as a lonely and â€Å"palely loitering† man because he realizes that if he continued to follow La Dame he would end up like all the other men who fell for her because she is â€Å"wild† and will never be tamed, she is merciless and all of her fealings were false. La Dame emotionally misconstrues the knight and leaves hime to live his life as a ‘dead’ person with his heart in a million pieces. In Steinbecks novel the whoremaster, Mr. Edwards, beats and then leaves Cathy to die because he feels that Cathy had constantly manipulated him and hurt him emotionally, physically and finically and he ever have to deal with her and be put through what he had been. Throughout each of the literary masterpieces both authors similarly characterize women as merciless through the use of the literary technique of imagery. Both of the women are beautiful yet ‘wild’, put a man to sleep, and force someone to solitude. Cathy Ames and La Dame were characterized as two despicipable women who inflicted pain and suffering upon others, to make up for the emotions that they cannot feel. How to cite La Dame and Cathy Ames Comparison, Papers

Briefing Paper Marking Guide - Big Data

Introduction In this briefing paper, the ICT topic Big Data will be reviewed from literatures. Big data is the new IT buzzword that refers to the voluminous data processed in different business processes in different industries around us. There is explosive growth of the volume of structured and unstructured data in last decades. In the early days of implementation of information technology in different kind of organizations had implemented databases for working with data related to their business processes, but in last few years, emergence of social media and ecommerce have accelerated the growth of data outside organization and from individuals. For example, over social media like Facebook, people uploads and shares heavy volumes of images, texts, videos from different parts of the world at the same time their location details, machine details etc. are also being circulated. Analysis of these type of data reveals several interesting information about peoples lifestyles, choices etc. and busines ses are very interesting for these type of information. Working with these kind of data using typical database management software and information technologies is difficult. Big data and technologies have given rise of a new dimension in this case. It covers all technologies that helps to address the volume and complexities of these voluminous data. (Madden, 2012) In this briefing paper, it will discuss about the technology, current research and trends on big data in details. The Problem As, it has been already told that, processing of volumes of structured and unstructured data, using traditional database management systems or data processing systems were difficult. This was the problem that led to the invention of big data concept and related technologies. (Madden, 2012) There is common confusion around the term big data, that is, whether it refers to technology or volume of data. When vendors use the term big data they generally refers to the technologies like processes and tools that helps in working with volumes of data efficiently. So, the term encompasses any collection of complex and larger data set that is difficult to handle by typical database management or data processing applications. It also covers up the collection of tools to support processing of such data through different kind of operations like searching, curation, sharing, transfer, storage, visualization etc. (Zikopoulos, 2011) Bid Data: Characteristics There are some characteristics of a dataset that makes it a Big data data set. Those characteristics are, A. Volume Volume refers to the quantity of data, generated from a process or system. The potential and value of a dataset is directly proportional to its volume. This characteristic is the first criteria to classify a dataset as big data or not. Even this concept has been reflected on the term Big data itself. (Marz Warren, 2014) B. Velocity This characteristic is related to the rate of generation of data or how fast data is getting generated or processed to provide desired outcome. C. Variety Big data takes data from heterogeneous sources into consideration while processing the same. Variety in data sets helps to analyze it from different aspects and in deriving different outcomes. D. Veracity Veracity of data sets refers to the captured quality of those. Veracity of a dataset plays significant role in the accuracy of the outcomes from analysis of the data sets. (Zikopoulos, 2011) E. Variability Variability refers to the levels on inconsistencies present in the data and that show up any time during processing. This may be problematic for data analysts. F. Complexity Managing the processing of big data, is a complex process by itself. It becomes more complex when data comes from heterogeneous sources and larger in volume. These kind of data is needed to be interlinked, correlated and connected. Otherwise it is difficult to work on these data. Big Data: Technologies Computation power and storage for larger datasets are not a serious problem now a days. Advancement in electronics and digital technologies have made these solutions more efficient, easily available and cheaper. This has helped in emergence of big data. There is a paradigm shift from computer architecture to the mechanisms in data processing. There is a growing demand for data mining and analysis applications for big data. (Barlow, 2013) There are wide range of tools and technologies that supports the concept of big data and analysis, processing of the same. There are technologies like crowdsourcing, A/B testing, data fusion etc. along with machine learning, natural language processing, time series analysis, integration, simulation, genetic algorithms, signal processing, visualization etc. Tensors are the representative of multidimensional big data. Tensor based technologies and computation methods like multi- linear sub space learning helps in this case. Other than that there are database related technologies, parallel processing support, search based application, distributed file systems and databases, data mining, cloud computing etc. and Internet that supports big data revolution. There are big data analytics that processes the big data and helps in finding out different patters out of it. These patterns gives critical insights into data sets. Storage is an important issue for big data. A proposed solution is distributed and shared storage. Storage area network or SANs, Networked Area storage or NAS etc. come into these categories. However, big data practitioners are not quite interested in these solutions. There are RDBMS based storage solutions for big data that is capable of storing petabytes of data. (Madden, 2012) All these technologies supports big data in analysis of data from web, analysis of network monitoring logs, click stream analysis etc. There are data science applications like simulations for massive scale analysis of data, deployment of sensors etc. Parallel database systems like Vertica, Teradta, Greenplum etc. are powerful but expensive and hard to administer. There are lack of fault tolerance levels in case of longer queries. Hadoop is a popular big data technology accepted worldwide. (Roebuck, 2011) Big Data: Process There are number of phases in data processing in big data. Those are explained as, 1. Data Acquisition Big data takes data that are evolving from different industries and scientific researches, demographics, social media and ecommerce. However, all data is not equally important for a particular goal so after collecting data, it will be filtered. Data are collected from systems, social media and numerous sources. There can be operational or transactional data, structured and unstructured data. When it comes to big data them all types of data irrespective or format and type are collected. Later on these data are filtered and compressed before processing. The most challenging part of data acquisition is, filtering out the unnecessary data. It must be done in a way so that useful information dont get discarded. Data science deals with numerous issues that helps to define different filters to ensure, accuracy and relevancy of collected data. (Marz Warren, 2014) For streaming data from online sources, it is not always possible to store and process those data to filter those later on. Rather it needs an on the fly approach to work on such streamlines of data from web. There are online data analytics applications and systems that helps in filtering and collected data from online streaming data. Next big challenge in to create metadata from acquired data. This is not easy. Meta data should give details about the sources and structure of data. There are metadata acquisition systems that can automatically record metadata without any human intervention. However, there are lots of things to do with metadata after recording those correctly. There is a pipeline for analysis of big data. Metadata is required in every stage of the pipeline. Thus acquisition of data refers to the collection of technologies, tools and processes of collecting data, filtering it and recording metadata of data at the same time without storing and processing data every time. 2. Cleaning and Extraction of information Data analysis needs some level of uniformity of data. Thus, after acquiring data, it is needed to be cleaned and ready for processing. Data analysis will require data in correct formant otherwise the results of the analysis will not be accurate and effective. It needs an information extraction process that will bring out the required information from the piles of data from heterogeneous sources. Then it should present the extracted data in a structured form. The process is technically challenging. For example, there are data like images and videos. Extracting information from these formats of data and presenting the same in structured format are really hard. A common misconception is, big data always provides truth. This is not the case all the time. The truthfulness of big data and analysis depends on these extraction steps. It depends on how effectively truth is getting extracted from raw data. There are different constraints on valid data and error models that are well recognized. However, till now there are many domain of big data where these constraints are still not available. 3. Integration, Aggregation and Representation of Data It has been already discussed that data comes from different heterogeneous sources. Those are no structured and in right format even. It is not possible to acquire and clean data then store the same in data repositories. There are processes like integration, aggregation of those data and then representing those in the right format to sore and process in future. Data analysis is a complex process. For large scale data analysis it is needed to have effective analysis and the process should be automated. In data analysis process, different semantics and data structures are needed to be expressed in correct formats that are readable by computers and can be resolved by robots. Data integration is important and there are additional works for making the data error free using automated system. There are different alternative solutions for storing data other than databases. Each of these alternatives have its own advantages and disadvantages. Designing database or correct storage solution is needed to be done very carefully. There are many decision making tools to provide assistance in designing databases. 4. Processing of Query, data modeling and analysis of data Making query in traditional databases and processing of query in big data, are fundamentally different. Big data contain volumes of dynamic, interrelated, heterogeneous data. These forms larger networks of interrelated data. There are higher level of data redundancy. These redundancies can be explored through validation, crosschecking etc. There are inherent clusters and these clusters reveals relationships among collections of data. (Roebuck, 2011) Data mining is a related topic here. It required, cleaned, integrated, trustworthy, easily accessible and effective data that can help in declarative query through data mining interfaces and computing environments. Big data supports provisions of interactive data analysis in real time applications. Scaling of complex queries is also supported. However, there is a problem with analysis of big data. That is lack of co- ordination in the systems that stores data, support SQL queries and analytics for performing non-SQL data processing, for example statistical analysis, data mining etc. 5. Interpretation Obtaining only results from analysis is not enough. It needs to explain or provide enough explanatory details about those results so that someone can interpret the results from analysis. There are visualizations used in this case. (Marz Warren, 2014) Challenges in Big data There are number of challenges in big data. Some of those are already explained in related contexts. Still, most prevailing challenges are, Heterogeneous sources and nature of data. Incompleteness in data. Problem with effective cleaning and extraction of data. Scale and volume of data. Timeliness of data. Privacy of data. (ene Polonetsky, 2013) Human collaboration needed in certain phases and lack of it in some cases. Lack of suitable and effective system architecture for big data only. Conclusion In this briefing paper, there is a discussion on an emerging topic in ICT, called big data. After the introduction, there is the problem statement that had given rise to the concept of big data. In the sub sequent sections there are discussions on different characteristics, technology etc. related to big data, finally a detailed description of processes in processing of big data. In the end there is a summary of challenges in big data. References Barlow, M., 2013. Real-Time Big Data Analytics: Emerging Architecture. s.l.:O'Reilly Media, Inc.. Boyd, D. Crawford, K., 2011. Six Provocations for Big Data, s.l.: SSRN. ene, O. Polonetsky, J., 2013. Big Data for All: Privacy and User Control in the Age of Analytics. Northwestern Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property , XI(5). Leskovec, J., Rajaraman, A. Ullman, J. D., 2014. Mining of Massive Datasets. s.l.:Cambridge University Press. Madden, S., 2012. From Databases to Big Data. IEEE Computer Society, 16(3), pp. 4-6. Marz, N. Warren, J., 2014. Big Data: Principles and Best Practices of Scalable Realtime Data Systems. s.l.:Manning Publications Company. Roebuck, K., 2011. Storing and Managing Big Data - NoSQL, Hadoop and More: High-impact Strategies - What You Need to Know: Definitions, Adoptions, Impact, Benefits, Maturity, Vendors. s.l.:Emereo Pty Limited. Zikopoulos, P., 2011. Understanding Big Data: Analytics for Enterprise Class Hadoop and Streaming Data. s.l.:McGraw Hill Professional.

Humanities Final Flashcard

Humanities Final

The US Federal Minimum Wage

The US Federal Minimum Wage What is the current U.S. federal minimum wage? The answer to that question can be trickier than you might think.While the current US federal minimum wage was last set at $7.25 per hour on July 24, 2009, your age, type of employment, even where you live can alter the legal minimum hourly wage your employer is required to pay. What is the  Federal Minimum Wage Law? The federal minimum wage is established by and regulated under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (the FLSA). In its final form, the act applied to industries whose combined employment represented only about one-fifth of the US labor force. In these industries, it banned oppressive child labor and set the minimum hourly wage at 25 cents, and the maximum workweek at 44 hours. Who Must Pay the Federal Minimum Wage? Today, the minimum wage law (the FLSA) applies to employees of enterprises that do at least $500,000 in business a year. It also applies to employees of smaller firms if the employees are engaged in interstate commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, such as employees who work in transportation or communications or who regularly use the mails or telephones for interstate communications. It also applies to employees of federal, state or local government agencies, hospitals and schools, and it generally applies to domestic workers. Details of the Federal Minimum Wage The following details apply only to the the federal minimum wage, your state may have its own minimum wage rates and laws. In cases where state minimum wage rates differ with the federal rate, the higher minimum wage rate always applies.Current Federal Minimum Wage: $7.25 per hour (as of July 24, 2009) may vary under the following conditions: Younger Workers: If you are under 20 years of age, you may be paid as little as $4.25 per hour during your first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment. Students, Apprentices and the Disabled: Certain full-time students, student learners, apprentices, and workers with disabilities may be paid less than the minimum wage under special certificates issued by the US Department of Labor. Workers Who Earn Tips: Employers who allow workers to keep tips must pay a cash minimum wage of at least $2.13 per hour IF they claim a tip credit against their federal minimum wage obligation of $7.25 per hour. In other words, if your tips plus cash wages do not equal at least $7.25 per hour, your employer must make up the difference. Overtime Pay: Federal law requires payment of at least 1-and-1/2 times your regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Child Labor: An employee must be at least 16 years old to work in most non-farm jobs and at least 18 to work in non-farm jobs declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor.Persons 14 and 15 years old are allowed to work before or after school in some non-manufacturing, non-mining and non-hazardous jobs IF: They work no more than - 3 hours on a school day or 18 hours in a school week; 8 hours on a non-school day or 40 hours in a non-school week. Work may not begin before 7 a.m. or end after 7 p.m., except from June 1 through Labor Day, when evening hours are extended to 9 p.m. Different rules apply in agricultural employment. Other Special Exemptions: Under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), executive, administrative, professional, and outside sales employees are exempted from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the FLSA, provided they meet certain tests regarding job duties and responsibilities and are compensated on a salary basis. Minimum Wages in the States By law, states are allowed to establish their own minimum wages and regulations. However, anytime the state minimum wage differs from the federal minimum wage, the higher rate applies. For specifics and updates on the minimum wages and regulations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, see: Minimum Wage Laws in the States from the U.S. Department of Labor. Enforcement of the Federal Minimum Wage Law The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor administers and enforces the Fair Labor Standards Act and, thus, the minimum wage with respect to private employment, State and local government employment, and Federal employees of the Library of Congress, U.S. Postal Service, Postal Rate Commission, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. The FLSA is enforced by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for employees of other Executive Branch agencies, and by the U.S. Congress for covered employees of the Legislative Branch.Special rules apply to state and local government employment involving fire protection and law enforcement activities, volunteer services, and compensatory time off instead of cash overtime pay.For information on enforcement of state minimum wages and other state labor laws, see: State Labor Offices/State Laws, from the US Department of Labor. To Report Suspected Violations Suspected violations are abuses of federal or state minimum wage laws should be reported directly to District Office of the U.S. Wage and Hour Division nearest you. For addresses and phone numbers, see: Wage and Hour Division District Office LocationsFederal law prohibits discriminating against or discharging workers who file a complaint or participate in any proceedings under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Travel the World - Letter to a Friend - Assignment

Travel the World - Letter to a Friend - - Assignment Example nding money and time traveling to the City was, therefore, to experience the culture and art of London, to learn the various kinds of art within the city that may have influenced Albert in his career. In his painting, Albert depicts ambient photographic-like scenery of a lake amidst rocky mountain cliffs with grazing deer on the shore in the foreground. The cheap means of travelling to London from Huston Texas was through the Turkish airlines that cost $610 to and fro. The great London atmosphere also extends its hotels with varying affordable rates. Within the city of London, I am staying at the Central Park Hotel, a three star hotel located at the heart of the city that costs  £43 per night (FareCompare.com). London is the capital city of the England in Europe popularly known for its monarchy system under the rule of a queen. There are nearly over 300 languages spoken in the city, however, its main culture mainly ties around the arts, museums and various festivals. In particular, as for architecture, London prides itself of a number of landmarks and cultural iconic objects that are globally associated with the city such as the Big Ben, as well as the Buckingham Palace. The city is also popular for the fast foods vendors that specialize in making the burgers, pies and pizza that forms one of the main popular foods among most city dwellers and workers. In terms of entertainment, the city is best recognized for its particular preference for rock music dating from the 1960s and is the home for various globally renowned rock bands and musicians. The city is also home for some of the globally recognized teams in the game of soccer. Like other major cities across Europe, London has an oceanic t emperate climate with the four climatic seasons like most of Europe (The Guardian). Albert made his iconic photograph-like painting using oil-based paints and soft brush to make the portrait on canvas measuring approximately six and ten feet in size. Albert gracefully employs

How are convergence and interactivity defined in new media studies Essay

How are convergence and interactivity defined in new media studies Using examples, critically evaluate these concepts in relation to those of remediation and intra-activity - Essay Example product of convergence between â€Å"old† and â€Å"new† media through â€Å"remediation,† which they examined in their book, Remediation: Understanding New Media. This essay aims to study how convergence and interactivity are defined in new media studies. Through several examples and definitions, it critically evaluates these concepts in relation to remediation and intra-activity. According to new media scholars, convergence is defined through technological convergence, the lens of consumer agency (Lister et al., 2009: 48; Suchman, 2007), cultural/system/corporate convergences (Jenkins, 2008; Murdoch, 2000), and remediation (Bolter and Grusin, 2000), while interactivity has been defined as a cause, enabler, and result of convergence (Murdoch, 2000; Manovich, 2001); however, the â€Å"myth of interactivity† (Manovich, 2001: 74) and the process of inter-activity (Barad, 2007) criticise the intuitive and interactive notions of new media interactivity and con vergence (Hay and Couldry, 2011). Before convergence is further understood, the meaning of new media must be explored first because it shapes the philosophical conceptualisation of convergence. One of the common definitions of new media is the interaction between old and modern media, especially computers, mobile information and telecommunication devices, and the Internet. New media is more complex and varied than the use of current web and mobile technology interfaces, nonetheless. In the article, â€Å"How Should We Read New Media and New Technologies?† Gà ¶kà §ek (2011) cautioned people in seeing new media as a single and homogenous object, when it is composed of a â€Å"...collection of objects which should be analysed economically, socially, culturally, politically, philosophically, theoretically and technologically† (71). He resisted separating new media from its social context, as well as bundling it into a simplistic view of networked and interactive modern technological systems. Manovich (20 01), in The Language

Pancreatitis: Causes and Symptoms

Pancreatitis: Causes and Symptoms Acute Pancreatitis Introduction Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. It is widely accepted that it is caused by pancreatic enzymes digesting their own gland. This leads to inflammation of the pancreas. There are two main forms of pancreatitis, acute and chronic. In acute pancreatitis the pancreas can usually heal itself without any lasting changes to function or structure of the gland. If the pancreas heals but then inflammation reoccurs intermittently and causes irreversible changes to structure and function then it is known as chronic pancreatitis (1). Pathophysiology The exact mechanism is not fully understood however it is believed that the initial events take place within the acinar cells of the pancreas. Injury of the acinar cells leads to an inflammatory reaction localized within the cells. If this inflammation is excessive it can lead to a systemic inflammatory response. The inflammatory process can cause systemic effects because of the presence of cytokines, such as bradykinins and phospholipase A. These cytokines may cause vasodilation, increase in vascular permeability, pain, and leukocyte accumulation in the vessel walls all leading to inflammation. Fat necrosis may also occur causing hypocalcaemia; and pancreatic B-cell injury leading to hyperglycemia (2). A marked systemic inflammatory reaction can lead to ‘distant organ damage and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) (1). This is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in acute pancreatitis. The disease progression can be seen in the following three steps: 1) Local inï ¬â€šammation of the pancreas, 2) A generalized inï ¬â€šammatory response, 3) Multi-organ dysfunction (1) When there is injury or disruption of the pancreatic acini pancreatic enzymes namely trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase leak into the pancreatic tissue. These enzymes become activated and initiate autodigestion and lead to acute pancreatitis. The activated enzymes break down the pancreatic tissue and cell membranes which leads to oedema, and vascular damage which leads to hemorrhage and necrosis. Some patients who have had a severe attack of pancreatitis who survive through the initial event die following a rather minor insult that would not be life threatening normally. It is said that the two hit hypothesis comes in to play here. The initial excessive systemic inflammatory response primes the immune system so that if another event takes place (a small insult in comparison) for example a chest infection, the immune system is overwhelmed leading to an exaggerated inflammatory response which can lead to death (1). History and examination The main presentation of acute pancreatitis is epigastric pain or right upper quadrant pain radiating through to the back. In many patients sitting forward can relieve the pain a little. The patient would usually also complain of nausea, vomiting and fever. It is important to note a history of previous biliary colic and binge alcohol consumption. The patient may also be tachycardic, tachypneic, hypotensive and mildly jaundiced (2). Abdominal tenderness, distension, guarding, and rigidity are quite common as are diminished or absent bowel sounds. If the inflammation should spread to the lungs then basilar rales may be noted on auscultation of the lung. In severe cases Grey Turner or Cullens sign may also be noted (2). Aetiology There are many causes of pancreatitis. The most common causes being habitual chronic alcohol consumption and biliary stones. In western countries including the UK alcohol abuse is the most common cause of acute pancreatitis. A recent study showed that 44% of patients have alcohol as the primary risk factor for acute or chronic pancreatitis (3). Gall stones can cause pancreatitis as they may become wedged in the pancreatic duct or ampulla of Vater and obstruct the pancreatic duct, leading to release of enzymes into the parenchyma. Other less common causes include: injury (e.g. post ERCP), drugs (such as NSAIDS, azathioprine), viruses (e.g. mumps), autoimmune conditions (e.g. SLE), hyperlipidaemia, malignancy and Scorpion and snake bites (4). Investigations to be done if pancreatitis is suspected 1) Serum enzyme levels: Serum amylase in pancreatitis is more than four times the normal value and lipase is twice the normal and this is diagnostic as there is no other source other than the pancreas, but this test is not always available (5). 2) Full blood count, U+E, glucose, CRP: the CRP value is significantly lower in drug-induced acute pancreatitis and a raised bilirubin and serum aminotransferase is suggestive of gall stones. Low serum calcium levels are quite common in acute pancreatitis and hypocalcaemia is also relatively common. 3) Plain erect abdominal x-ray: this is done to exclude other causes of the symptoms such as intestinal obstruction or perforation. 4) Chest x-ray: this can show if there is a rise in one hemidiaphragm, acute respiratory distress syndrome or pleural effusions which can occur in severe cases of acute pancreatitis. 5) CT with contrast enhancement: this can be diagnostic if clinical results were inconclusive. CT may show swelling, fluid collection and change in the density of the gland. 6) Ultrasound: this is useful to see if the pancreas is swollen and if the common bile duct is dilated. It can also detect gallstones (5). Management In mild cases management is on a general medical ward. Analgesia is given to relieve the pain, usually with pethidine. Morphine is not usually used as it can have a spastic effect on the sphincter of Oddi (4). The patient is given intravenous fluids and not allowed to take anything my mouth. If the patient is vomiting severely then a nasogastic tube is considered. Oral fluids and solids can be taken once symptoms have cleared and blood tests are normal. The cause must then be treated, for example if gallstones were the cause then they must be removed. The severity of pancreatitis is determined by the Glasgow score or Ranson criteria which looks at patient demographics, electrolytes and enzyme levels on admission and 48 hours later (see 1) Glasgow prognostic score Ransons criteria * Age >55 years * WBC >15 x109/l * Urea >16mmol/l * Glucose >10mmol/l * pO2 * Albumin * Calcium * LDH >600 units/l * AST/ALT >200 units Present on admission: * Age >55 years * WBC >15 x109/l * Glucose >10mmol/l * LDH >600 units/l * SGOT >250 units/l Developing during first 48 hours: * Haematocrit fall 10% * Urea increase >8mg/dl * Serum Ca * Arterial O2 saturation * Base deficit >4meq/l * Estimated fluid sequestration >600ml In Severe cases the patent is treated in ITU. There is a high chance of multiple organ failure and infected pancreatic necrosis in these patients so if there is evidence to suggest this then intravenous antibiotics should be administered straight away. The patient should be fed via a nasogastric tube and where there are gallstones present and a high probability of a severe attack early ERCP should be done. Local Complications Pancreatic necrosis is likely if the CRP is rising and is confirmed by a CT scan. Infection occurs in 30-70% of cases of necrosis and this trebles the mortality risk. Fluid collections occurs in 30-50% of patients with acute pancreatitis but in most cases resolves spontaneously. Pancreatic abscess, acute pseudocysts and pancreatic ascites can also occur (6). Systemic complications These include pulmonary oedema, pleural effusions and ARDS with regards to the respiratory system and hypovolamenia and shock with regards to the cardiovascular system. Other complications include: disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, renal dysfunction, hypocalcaemia, hypomagnesaemia, hyperglycaemia and GI haemorrhage (6). Summary Acute pancreatitis is a disease in which there is inflammation of the pancreas. Acute abdominal pain and vomiting are the most common symptoms and increased serum concentrations of the enzymes amylase and lipase can confirm the diagnosis. Injury to the pancreas is mild in 80% of patients who recover well without complications. The rest have a more severe disease and present with local and systemic complications. Alcohol abuse and gall stones are the two most common causes of acute pancreatitis in adults and treatment of mild pancreatitis is supportive and more serious disease needs intervention from quite a few members of the multidisciplinary team (5). Improving the understanding of the pathophysiology and better investigation of the disease severity should improve the management and outcome of this compound disease (5). References Bhatia M,Wong FL, Cao Y, Lau HY, Huang J, Puneet P, Chevali L. Pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis. Pancreatology [online]. 2005; 5(2-3):132-44. [cited 2009 Dec 4] Available from: URL:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15849484 Ghattas K, Samer S Deeba. Pancreatitis. E medicine [online]. 2009; [cited 2009 Nov 21]. Avalable from: URL: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/775867-overview Whitcomb DC, Yadav D, Adam S, Hawes RH, Brand RE, Anderson MA, et al.Multicenter approach to recurrent acute and chronic pancreatitis in the United States: the North American Pancreatitis Study 2 (NAPS2).Pancreatology [online]. 2008; 8(4-5):520-31. [cited 2009 Dec 1] Available from: URL:http://www.medscape.com/medline/abstract/18765957 Longmore M, Wilkinson I, Turmezei T, Cheung CK. Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine (Oxford Handbooks Series) 6th edition. Oxford university press; 2008 Frossard JL, Steer ML, Pastor CM. Acute pancreatitis. The Lancet [online]. 2008; 12;371(9607):143-52. [ cited 2009 Nov 23] available from: URL: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(08)60107-5/abstract Willacy H, Kavanagh S. Acute Pancreatitis. Patient Plus UK [online]. 2008. [cited2009 Nov 29] Available from: URL: http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Acute-Pancreatitis.htm

Legalization of Marijuana

Marijuana Background and Use in U.S. Marijuana is by far the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States and in most other countries as well. More than seventy million Americans have tried marijuana, and more than twenty million have smoked it in the last year, but does marijuana really affect people and their thinking process, and should pot be legal in the United States. I believe that marijuana should be legal because people should live life how they want, even though it could lead to harm. Marijuana hit the United States big in the 60’s and 70’s. (Wikman) Through this time period many people thought this drug was harmless. Today we know that pot is much more dangerous than previously believed. There are many slang terms used for marijuana, some are pot, weed, cannabis, Mary Jane, hash, dope, bud, green, smoke, to name a few. (Zimmer, Morgan) Pros and Cons to the Use of Marijuana There are many pros and cons to the use of marijuana. Many people use this drug for medical use, and others use it for entertainment. In the United States, using marijuana for medical purposes is illegal. Since the 1970’s thirty-five state legislatures have passed laws supporting marijuana’s use as a medicine. (â€Å"Legalizing Marijuana-The Pros and Cons.†) People suffering from nausea and vomiting, who are unable to swallow and hold down a pill, smoking marijuana is often the only reliable way to deliver THC. Another pro to the use of marijuana is diminishing glaucoma; it also can be affective in stimulating appetite in AIDS patients. There is also evidence that smoked marijuana and THC reduce muscle spasms from spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis. Physicians have reported that smoked marijuana provides relief from migraine headaches, depression, seizures, insomnia, and chronic pain. (â€Å"Medical Marijuana Truth and Lies†) I think marijuana should be legal because if people sold pot in their stores, pot smokers would buy it, and it would boost the economy. I also think some drug crimes and innocent killings would go down an enormous amount. Effects of Marijuana on Health and Activity Even though I think pot should be legal, it does cause harm to your lungs. The effects of one marijuana joint on the lungs are equivalent to four tobacco cigarettes, placing the user at increased risk of bronchitis, emphysema, and bronchial asthma. A single joint contains the same amount of tar and other noxious substances as approximately fourteen to sixteen filtered cigarettes. Marijuana smokers typically inhale more deeply and retain smoke in their lungs longer than tobacco smokers. As a result, marijuana smokers get more dangerous material in the lungs each time they smoke. Smoking pot is very harmful to your health, family, and friends. Some myths of marijuana and highway safety are marijuana-like alcohol- seriously impairs driving in some respects; pot is even more impairing than alcohol. (â€Å"The Effects of Marijuana.†)   I think this is true because marijuana does affect perception and driving ability. I believe that pot makes many people drive different, and it makes you a dangerous person at the wheel, while on this drug. Conclusion There are very little problems associated with the legalization and there is no mad scramble for the drug since it is legalized.   In conclusion, marijuana has very little harmful effects, and the effects it does have are very similar to tobacco and alcohol.   It also has medicinal uses where people can have significant benefits by using marijuana for their illnesses.   By prohibiting marijuana billions of dollars are being spent and people’s lives have been ruined. Legalization of Marijuana. In the year 1937, the United States government made the drug marijuana illegal.   This ban had little effect on people until the mid 60’s and 70’s.   This was a time where many mind altering drugs where experimented with and widely used.   During this time was also when marijuana research took place.   Early researches was vague and bias, but in the years after many legitimate studies have been conducted, and both sides of the issues have been revealed.   While looking at these studies with an open mind, one can conclude that marijuana should be legalized.   Even though there are some health risks associated with marijuana, it is no different than legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco. (Wikman) Ever since marijuana has become illegal, enforcing it has been an issue.   The federal government of America spends millions of dollars each year trying to keep it off the streets and into dealer’s hands, but their tactics barely do a thing.   The amount of money the federal Drug Enforcement Agency spends each year is $1.3 billion a year.   Overall, federal anti-marijuana efforts have cost taxpayers $30 billion (Zimmer, Morgan).   All of this money can be easily saved if the federal government can just legalize marijuana and regulate it.   Also, the government would be making money off taxes, as they do with alcohol and tobacco. Moreover, this would allow for farmers to grow marijuana and sell it to the government or individual buyers.   By allowing the cultivation of marijuana, farmers who grow tobacco would be helped because tobacco farmers these days are struggling because of the high taxes put on cigarettes.   The climate for growing tobacco is the same climate needed to grow marijuana, so this would help their incomes.   (â€Å"Legalizing Marijuana-The Pros and Cons.†) I think people that get caught with marijuana should not be punished as hard as they do. Marijuana arrest in the United States has doubled last 10 years. Tens of thousands of people are now in prison for marijuana offenses. An even greater number are punished with probation, fines, and civil sanctions, including having their property seized, their driver’s licenses revoked, and their employment terminated. Under federal law, possessing a single joint (or less) of marijuana is punishable by a fine from $1,000 to $10,000 and up to a year in prison . (Wikman) For people on probation or parole for any criminal offense, a marijuana arrest can result in their immediate incarceration. For people who live in public housing, the arrest of any family member for a drug offense can cause eviction of the entire family. Under state and federal law, mere investigation for a marijuana offense can result in the forfeiture of property, including cash, cars, boats, land, and houses. Despite these civil and criminal acts, pot continues to be readily available and widely used. (Wikman) Another reason legalizing marijuana would help the economy is the fact that there would no longer be dealers.   The use of dealers makes the price of marijuana much higher than it should be.   Mainly this is only due to the fact that marijuana is currently illegal, and dealers can set high prices.   By legalizing marijuana the price would drop to a more reasonable price, and the people who use to strain their money to buy the drug will no longer have to.   Legalizing marijuana would help the economy as a whole and for the individual. In 1996 voters in both California and Arizona approved ballot measures exempting physicians and patients from criminal prosecution when marijuana is prescribed for medicinal purposes in the relief of pain or other symptoms caused by cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, arthritis, and other illnesses and chronic conditions.  Ã‚   Four other states passed similar ballot initiative that year, including Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Nevada, and legislatures in 37 states have passed bills in support of medical marijuana.   Medicinal purposes for marijuana give people who have tried all different types of drugs for their illnesses hope for relief. (Wikman) In order for marijuana to be legal, the government would have to regulate it as they do with alcohol and tobacco.   First the government should set an age limit on the purchasing of the drug.   This age should start off at eighteen, like tobacco, and if there seems to be a problem with the age then raising the age limit should be considered.   Overall, the government should first look at countries in the world where marijuana is currently legal.   In the Netherlands, the city of Amsterdam allows the usage of marijuana.   (Zimmer, Morgan)   The usage comes with many regulations though.   For example smoking marijuana can be only smoked in coffee shops administrated all over the city.   Also people can only buy a certain amount at one time, so the distribution of it illegally can be reduced. Marijuana is still the most commonly used drug in the United States and probably will be for years to come. Marijuana is on the rise and will increase in popularity throughout the United States. I’m sure that our government will eventually legalize marijuana, but not soon. Many people argue the pros and cons of pot. I think our government should at least try to see what would happen to the economy if pot was legal, even though it is a huge risk to take. This problem is argued as much as should the alcohol age be lowered again, many teenagers argue this because if there old enough to go to fight in a war, then you should be able to drink. Many younger kids smoke pot without a care and they don’t realize the affects of the drug. America needs to start taking a larger action, and try to get the point across to the youth of America. This will always be a huge argument throughout the world. The question that everyone asks, should pot be legal in the United States. Bibliography: Zimmer, L., Morgan, J. Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts: A Review of the Scientific Evidence. New York: The Lindesmith Center, 1997 â€Å"Medical Marijuana Truth and Lies.† Drug Watch International. Atlanta: DWI, 1995 â€Å"Legalizing Marijuana-The Pros and Cons.† Growing Marijuana Seeds. 2002.    Legalization of Marijuana Legalization Of Marijuana By: Sam Montgomery Research Paper Emily Rodgers Legalization of Marijuana Why shouldn’t marijuana legalized? Are there actually good reasons for making it legal? Critics say marijuana is a gateway drug, but honestly, everything could be considered a gateway drug. People get high off of all kinds of things, and as soon as the high is over, they look for additional things that might give them the same effect. This includes common household products such as cough medicine, bleach, air dusters, and even permanent markers (Borba, 2012).Alcohol is legal and caused 24,518 deaths as recent as 2009; while in comparison marijuana is illegal and no one has died from overdosing on marijuana. A lot of people drink alcohol to get that â€Å"buzz† or good feeling alcohol gives in drinking large amounts, especially when one’s life might be full of problems. They think it will help them feel better, but this is only a temporary solution to their problems . There is really nothing good about drinking alcohol and it is legal, but then on the other hand, marijuana does have some good aspects and is illegal!This really doesn’t make much sense at all. Drinking alcohol is a choice made by us, and that is what marijuana should be. Similar to alcohol, the government needs to leave the responsibility for using marijuana to us. In this essay one will see that legalizing marijuana will optimize our liberty by limiting corruption, eliminate the cost to keep it illegal with the added bonus of monetary gains of making it legal, and will take out the failure to keep it illegal along with helping our country and government out for the better.The first and most basic reason that marijuana should be legal is that there is no good reason for it not to be legal. Some people ask â€Å"Why should marijuana be legalized? † when the question should be â€Å"Why should marijuana be illegal? † From a philosophical point of view, individu als deserve the right to make choices for themselves. The government only has a right to limit those choices if the individual's actions endanger someone else. This does not apply to marijuana, since the individual who chooses to use marijuana does so according to his or her own free will.The government also may have a right to limit individual actions if the actions pose a significant threat to the individual, but this argument does not logically apply to marijuana because marijuana is far less dangerous than some drugs which are legal, such as alcohol and tobacco (Keeler, 2009). Legalizing marijuana would make free all those people in jail for possessing or smoking marijuana. Prison overcrowding is a serious, expensive, and persistent problem in our country. It makes the prison environment, violent and faceless to begin with, even more dangerous and dehumanizing.Governments at all levels keep building more prisons, but the number of prisoners keeps outpacing the capacity to hold t hem. Those in prison for marijuana law violations are the largest single category (â€Å"Earth protector,†). Marijuana-related police corruption takes one of two major forms. Police officers either offer marijuana dealers protection in their districts for a share of the profits (or demand a share under threat of exposure) or they seize the dealer's merchandise for sell for themselves.There are known cases where police officers were indicted on charges of falsifying records of money and marijuana confiscated from dealers. Legalizing marijuana would eliminate this inducement to corruption, and help to clean up the police's image. Eliminating marijuana law violation and corruption cases would further reduce the strain on the courts, freeing judges, and investigators to handle other cases more thoroughly and expeditiously (â€Å"Earth protector,†). Legalizing marijuana would immediately relieve the pressure on the prison system, and optimize the people’s liberty by cutting out the corruption.Now, if you are diagnosed with cancer or something that causes so much pain it’s intolerable, would you want to be taking all kinds of pills that could hurt your body even further in the long run or smoke marijuana with really mild side effects? Researchers from Tel Aviv University say that smoking a little marijuana could help provide dramatic relief for the elderly who suffer from a variety of chronic ailments. The scientists tested the effects of marijuana treatment on 19 residents of the Hadarim nursing home in Israel.During the study, the participants reported dramatic physical results, including healthy weight gain and the reduction of pain and tremors. According to the study authors, the elderly participants also experienced an immediate improvement in their moods and communication skills after smoking cannabis. Zach Klein, a graduate of Tel Aviv University’s Department of Film and Television Studies, said that the use of prescription medications was also significantly reduced as a result of using medical marijuana (Rannals).The answer to the question is evident here, and that is why marijuana should have been legal for decades now. The second important reason that marijuana should be legal is that it would save our government more money than it would to keep it illegal. In the United States, all levels of government (federal, state, and local authorities) participate in the â€Å"War on Drugs. † The cost to interdict the marijuana traffic and the cost of incarcerating users and traffickers runs into billions of dollars.The crisis in inmate housing would disappear, saving taxpayers the expense of building more prisons in the future (â€Å"Earth protector,†). These people get locked up in prison, and the taxpayers have to foot the bill. We have to pay for food, housing, health care, attorney fees, court costs, and other expenses to lock these people up. This is extremely expensive! The savings would be redirected toward better police protection and speedier judicial service, or it could be converted into savings for taxpayers. For a change, it's a happy problem to ponder, but it takes legalization to make it possible.In addition, if marijuana were made legal, the government would be able to collect taxes on it, and would have a lot more money to pay for effective drug education programs and other important causes. Two states, Colorado and Washington, became the first to legalize marijuana, sparking celebrations, distinct, but not mutually exclusive from those rooting for Barack Obama. The states could see a major economic boost because of the legalization. The new measure is expected to bring the two states more than $550 million combined, with more than 300 economists previously estimating that legalizing pot could save the U.S. up to $14 billion a year (Bradford, 2012). The market for marijuana is already large and will almost certainly grow substantially. Large profits await savvy and successful growers, sellers, and entrepreneurs in associated enterprises such as fertilizer and grow-light vendors; pipe, bong, and vaporizer manufacturers and dealers; banks and other financial-service providers; not to mention munchie selling convenience stores and all-night diners (Worthington, 2012). In addition, a once-thriving hemp industry could again produce high-quality cloth, paper, nutritious oil, and biodiesel fuel.Obviously, all of these businesses will need employees, providing another boost to the economy. There is nothing but gains for legalizing marijuana; so, we should hop on the train sometime soon, and it will be beneficial. The third major reason that marijuana should be legal is because prohibition does not help the country in any way, it just causes many problems. There is no good evidence that prohibition decreases drug use, and there are several theories that suggest prohibition might actually increase drug use (the â€Å"forbidden fruit† e ffect, and easier accessibility for youth).One unintended effect of marijuana prohibition is that marijuana is very popular in American high schools; because marijuana is available to everyone that has friends. You don't have to be 21 to buy marijuana. Marijuana dealers usually don't care how old you are as long as you have money. It is actually easier for many high school students to obtain marijuana than it is for them to obtain alcohol, because alcohol is legal and therefore regulated to keep it away from kids (Pope,2011).If our goal is to reduce drug consumption, then we should focus on open and honest programs to educate the youth, good regulations to keep drugs to protect underage persons, and continue to improve treatment programs for people with drug problems. The current prohibition scheme does not allow such reasonable approaches to marijuana; instead we are stuck with ‘DARE' in which police officers are not telling the truth about drugs in schools, and policies that result in jail time rather than treatment for people with drug problems.The considerable police efforts now expended against marijuana activity; marijuana related crimes could be redirected toward protecting people from those who commit real crimes. The police could protect us more effectively by focusing resources on catching murderers, rapists, and the other perpetrators of crimes against people and property. Our country tried prohibition with alcohol, and that had failed miserably. We should be able to learn our lesson and stop repeating the same mistakes. If you are accused of a crime, it takes months to bring you to trial.Guilty or innocent, you must live with the anxiety of the impending trial until the trial finally begins. The process is even more sluggish for civil proceedings. There simply aren't enough judges and staff to handle the skyrocketing caseload. Since it would cut crime and eliminate marijuana use as a type of crime, legalization would wipe thousands of cases o ff the court dockets across the country, permitting the rest of the court cases to move sooner and faster. Prosecutors would have more time to handle each case and judges would make more considered decisions.Improved efficiency at the lower levels would have a ripple effect on higher courts. Better decisions in the lower courts would yield fewer grounds for appeals, reducing the caseloads of appeals courts; and in any event, there would be fewer cases to review in the first place. Next discussion is about how traffickers are well prepared to defend their crops against intruding government forces. Legalizing marijuana would affect organized crime and subversion abroad as much as it would in the United States.A major source for guerrilla funding would disappear. So would the motive for kidnapping or assassinating officials and private individuals. Once again people could walk the streets and travel the roads without fear of marijuana-related violence. Countries would no longer be para lyzed by smugglers. The United States continued pressure on foreign governments to fight their domestic marijuana industries has clearly reinforced the image of America as an imperialist bully, indifferent to the concerns of other peoples. To marijuana farmers, the U. S. overnment is not a beacon of freedom, but a threat to their livelihoods (â€Å"Earth protector,†). Legalizing and regulating marijuana would remove some of the reasons to hate America, and deprive local politicians of the chance to exploit them. The U. S would have a new opportunity to repair its reputation in an atmosphere of mutual respect. In summary, all of these factors related to legalizing marijuana would help our government and our country in dealing with a very difficult problem for our society while providing many benefits during this time in history.In conclusion, the information provided proves how legalizing marijuana would solve many of our current problems associated with enforcing the marijuan a laws. Legalizing marijuana will optimize our liberty by improving the justice system through removal of the numerous court cases involving marijuana and to allow the courts to better focus on the hard crimes, increase the efficiency of the prison system by providing much needed space for the real criminals in the overcrowded prison system, remove the difficult task of law enforcement agencies to enforce marijuana laws hile reducing the potential for corruption. Each of these changes would produce a major cost savings to the government while opening a brand new business market with taxable revenue which would create substantial monetary gains for the government and business. There would some costs involved in regulating this new business market, but the gains would clearly outweigh the costs.Legalizing marijuana would also eliminate one component of the drug market that is very difficult for the government to enforce the laws and has been an epic failure in the past. In addition, c hanging the United States stance on marijuana to match that of neighboring countries would most likely benefit foreign relations with those countries. Ultimately, legalizing marijuana would improve our government and our country. All of these pieces of evidence provide a strong argument for why marijuana should be legal.I don’t even smoke marijuana, and I still think our country is wrong for not having legalized marijuana by now, when you consider all of the facts. The United States needs to change its old-fashioned thinking and stop being close-minded about issues like this and start looking at solving these problems from outside the box. It is time for a real change, Obama, and one that actually will benefit all of us American citizens! Reference Page Adams, J. (2008, August 18). latimes. com. Retrieved from http://www. atimes. com/features/health/la-he-marijuanapro18-2008aug18,0,3084928. story Bradford, H. (2012, November 07). 14 ways marijuana legalization could boost the economy. Retrieved from http://www. huffingtonpost. com/2012/11/07/marijuana-economy-14-reasons_n_2089107. html Borba, M. (2012, May 31). 13 dangerous (and stupid) ways teens get high. Retrieved from http://www. micheleborba. com/blog/2012/05/31/dangerous-and-stupid-ways-teens-get-high/ Earth protector. (n. d. ). Retrieved from Legalization of Marijuana Legalization Of Marijuana By: Sam Montgomery Research Paper Emily Rodgers Legalization of Marijuana Why shouldn’t marijuana legalized? Are there actually good reasons for making it legal? Critics say marijuana is a gateway drug, but honestly, everything could be considered a gateway drug. People get high off of all kinds of things, and as soon as the high is over, they look for additional things that might give them the same effect. This includes common household products such as cough medicine, bleach, air dusters, and even permanent markers (Borba, 2012).Alcohol is legal and caused 24,518 deaths as recent as 2009; while in comparison marijuana is illegal and no one has died from overdosing on marijuana. A lot of people drink alcohol to get that â€Å"buzz† or good feeling alcohol gives in drinking large amounts, especially when one’s life might be full of problems. They think it will help them feel better, but this is only a temporary solution to their problems . There is really nothing good about drinking alcohol and it is legal, but then on the other hand, marijuana does have some good aspects and is illegal!This really doesn’t make much sense at all. Drinking alcohol is a choice made by us, and that is what marijuana should be. Similar to alcohol, the government needs to leave the responsibility for using marijuana to us. In this essay one will see that legalizing marijuana will optimize our liberty by limiting corruption, eliminate the cost to keep it illegal with the added bonus of monetary gains of making it legal, and will take out the failure to keep it illegal along with helping our country and government out for the better.The first and most basic reason that marijuana should be legal is that there is no good reason for it not to be legal. Some people ask â€Å"Why should marijuana be legalized? † when the question should be â€Å"Why should marijuana be illegal? † From a philosophical point of view, individu als deserve the right to make choices for themselves. The government only has a right to limit those choices if the individual's actions endanger someone else. This does not apply to marijuana, since the individual who chooses to use marijuana does so according to his or her own free will.The government also may have a right to limit individual actions if the actions pose a significant threat to the individual, but this argument does not logically apply to marijuana because marijuana is far less dangerous than some drugs which are legal, such as alcohol and tobacco (Keeler, 2009). Legalizing marijuana would make free all those people in jail for possessing or smoking marijuana. Prison overcrowding is a serious, expensive, and persistent problem in our country. It makes the prison environment, violent and faceless to begin with, even more dangerous and dehumanizing.Governments at all levels keep building more prisons, but the number of prisoners keeps outpacing the capacity to hold t hem. Those in prison for marijuana law violations are the largest single category (â€Å"Earth protector,†). Marijuana-related police corruption takes one of two major forms. Police officers either offer marijuana dealers protection in their districts for a share of the profits (or demand a share under threat of exposure) or they seize the dealer's merchandise for sell for themselves.There are known cases where police officers were indicted on charges of falsifying records of money and marijuana confiscated from dealers. Legalizing marijuana would eliminate this inducement to corruption, and help to clean up the police's image. Eliminating marijuana law violation and corruption cases would further reduce the strain on the courts, freeing judges, and investigators to handle other cases more thoroughly and expeditiously (â€Å"Earth protector,†). Legalizing marijuana would immediately relieve the pressure on the prison system, and optimize the people’s liberty by cutting out the corruption.Now, if you are diagnosed with cancer or something that causes so much pain it’s intolerable, would you want to be taking all kinds of pills that could hurt your body even further in the long run or smoke marijuana with really mild side effects? Researchers from Tel Aviv University say that smoking a little marijuana could help provide dramatic relief for the elderly who suffer from a variety of chronic ailments. The scientists tested the effects of marijuana treatment on 19 residents of the Hadarim nursing home in Israel.During the study, the participants reported dramatic physical results, including healthy weight gain and the reduction of pain and tremors. According to the study authors, the elderly participants also experienced an immediate improvement in their moods and communication skills after smoking cannabis. Zach Klein, a graduate of Tel Aviv University’s Department of Film and Television Studies, said that the use of prescription medications was also significantly reduced as a result of using medical marijuana (Rannals).The answer to the question is evident here, and that is why marijuana should have been legal for decades now. The second important reason that marijuana should be legal is that it would save our government more money than it would to keep it illegal. In the United States, all levels of government (federal, state, and local authorities) participate in the â€Å"War on Drugs. † The cost to interdict the marijuana traffic and the cost of incarcerating users and traffickers runs into billions of dollars.The crisis in inmate housing would disappear, saving taxpayers the expense of building more prisons in the future (â€Å"Earth protector,†). These people get locked up in prison, and the taxpayers have to foot the bill. We have to pay for food, housing, health care, attorney fees, court costs, and other expenses to lock these people up. This is extremely expensive! The savings would be redirected toward better police protection and speedier judicial service, or it could be converted into savings for taxpayers. For a change, it's a happy problem to ponder, but it takes legalization to make it possible.In addition, if marijuana were made legal, the government would be able to collect taxes on it, and would have a lot more money to pay for effective drug education programs and other important causes. Two states, Colorado and Washington, became the first to legalize marijuana, sparking celebrations, distinct, but not mutually exclusive from those rooting for Barack Obama. The states could see a major economic boost because of the legalization. The new measure is expected to bring the two states more than $550 million combined, with more than 300 economists previously estimating that legalizing pot could save the U.S. up to $14 billion a year (Bradford, 2012). The market for marijuana is already large and will almost certainly grow substantially. Large profits await savvy and successful growers, sellers, and entrepreneurs in associated enterprises such as fertilizer and grow-light vendors; pipe, bong, and vaporizer manufacturers and dealers; banks and other financial-service providers; not to mention munchie selling convenience stores and all-night diners (Worthington, 2012). In addition, a once-thriving hemp industry could again produce high-quality cloth, paper, nutritious oil, and biodiesel fuel.Obviously, all of these businesses will need employees, providing another boost to the economy. There is nothing but gains for legalizing marijuana; so, we should hop on the train sometime soon, and it will be beneficial. The third major reason that marijuana should be legal is because prohibition does not help the country in any way, it just causes many problems. There is no good evidence that prohibition decreases drug use, and there are several theories that suggest prohibition might actually increase drug use (the â€Å"forbidden fruit† e ffect, and easier accessibility for youth).One unintended effect of marijuana prohibition is that marijuana is very popular in American high schools; because marijuana is available to everyone that has friends. You don't have to be 21 to buy marijuana. Marijuana dealers usually don't care how old you are as long as you have money. It is actually easier for many high school students to obtain marijuana than it is for them to obtain alcohol, because alcohol is legal and therefore regulated to keep it away from kids (Pope,2011).If our goal is to reduce drug consumption, then we should focus on open and honest programs to educate the youth, good regulations to keep drugs to protect underage persons, and continue to improve treatment programs for people with drug problems. The current prohibition scheme does not allow such reasonable approaches to marijuana; instead we are stuck with ‘DARE' in which police officers are not telling the truth about drugs in schools, and policies that result in jail time rather than treatment for people with drug problems.The considerable police efforts now expended against marijuana activity; marijuana related crimes could be redirected toward protecting people from those who commit real crimes. The police could protect us more effectively by focusing resources on catching murderers, rapists, and the other perpetrators of crimes against people and property. Our country tried prohibition with alcohol, and that had failed miserably. We should be able to learn our lesson and stop repeating the same mistakes. If you are accused of a crime, it takes months to bring you to trial.Guilty or innocent, you must live with the anxiety of the impending trial until the trial finally begins. The process is even more sluggish for civil proceedings. There simply aren't enough judges and staff to handle the skyrocketing caseload. Since it would cut crime and eliminate marijuana use as a type of crime, legalization would wipe thousands of cases o ff the court dockets across the country, permitting the rest of the court cases to move sooner and faster. Prosecutors would have more time to handle each case and judges would make more considered decisions.Improved efficiency at the lower levels would have a ripple effect on higher courts. Better decisions in the lower courts would yield fewer grounds for appeals, reducing the caseloads of appeals courts; and in any event, there would be fewer cases to review in the first place. Next discussion is about how traffickers are well prepared to defend their crops against intruding government forces. Legalizing marijuana would affect organized crime and subversion abroad as much as it would in the United States.A major source for guerrilla funding would disappear. So would the motive for kidnapping or assassinating officials and private individuals. Once again people could walk the streets and travel the roads without fear of marijuana-related violence. Countries would no longer be para lyzed by smugglers. The United States continued pressure on foreign governments to fight their domestic marijuana industries has clearly reinforced the image of America as an imperialist bully, indifferent to the concerns of other peoples. To marijuana farmers, the U. S. overnment is not a beacon of freedom, but a threat to their livelihoods (â€Å"Earth protector,†). Legalizing and regulating marijuana would remove some of the reasons to hate America, and deprive local politicians of the chance to exploit them. The U. S would have a new opportunity to repair its reputation in an atmosphere of mutual respect. In summary, all of these factors related to legalizing marijuana would help our government and our country in dealing with a very difficult problem for our society while providing many benefits during this time in history.In conclusion, the information provided proves how legalizing marijuana would solve many of our current problems associated with enforcing the marijuan a laws. Legalizing marijuana will optimize our liberty by improving the justice system through removal of the numerous court cases involving marijuana and to allow the courts to better focus on the hard crimes, increase the efficiency of the prison system by providing much needed space for the real criminals in the overcrowded prison system, remove the difficult task of law enforcement agencies to enforce marijuana laws hile reducing the potential for corruption. Each of these changes would produce a major cost savings to the government while opening a brand new business market with taxable revenue which would create substantial monetary gains for the government and business. There would some costs involved in regulating this new business market, but the gains would clearly outweigh the costs.Legalizing marijuana would also eliminate one component of the drug market that is very difficult for the government to enforce the laws and has been an epic failure in the past. In addition, c hanging the United States stance on marijuana to match that of neighboring countries would most likely benefit foreign relations with those countries. Ultimately, legalizing marijuana would improve our government and our country. All of these pieces of evidence provide a strong argument for why marijuana should be legal.I don’t even smoke marijuana, and I still think our country is wrong for not having legalized marijuana by now, when you consider all of the facts. The United States needs to change its old-fashioned thinking and stop being close-minded about issues like this and start looking at solving these problems from outside the box. It is time for a real change, Obama, and one that actually will benefit all of us American citizens! Reference Page Adams, J. (2008, August 18). latimes. com. Retrieved from http://www. atimes. com/features/health/la-he-marijuanapro18-2008aug18,0,3084928. story Bradford, H. (2012, November 07). 14 ways marijuana legalization could boost the economy. Retrieved from http://www. huffingtonpost. com/2012/11/07/marijuana-economy-14-reasons_n_2089107. html Borba, M. (2012, May 31). 13 dangerous (and stupid) ways teens get high. Retrieved from http://www. micheleborba. com/blog/2012/05/31/dangerous-and-stupid-ways-teens-get-high/ Earth protector. (n. d. ). Retrieved from