Curiosity Kits Neon and Magic Powerballs Review

Curiosity Kits' Neon and Magic Powerballs Review Curiosity Kits offers a science kit called Neon and Glow Magic Powerballs. The kit, for ages 6, lets you create your own polymer bouncy balls. What You Get and What You Need Most of what you need to make powerballs comes with the kit. You get: 4 molds to make different shapes of balls20 packs of crystals in 7 neon and glow-in-the-dark colorsresealable plastic bags so you can store your ballsinstructions You need to supply: cup of waterscissors to open the packageswatch or timerfoil or plastic wrap My Experience Making Magic Powerballs My kids and I made powerballs. They are ages 9-14, so none was as young as the lower limit listed on the product, but I dont think a younger child would have any difficulty with this project. Children younger than age 6 might have trouble pouring the crystals into the mold to make a ball or might be tempted to eat the crystals. The instructions for this kit are very clear and include pictures, so its very easy to get great results. Basically, here is what you do: Snap together the molds.Pour crystals (one or many colors, be creative!) into a mold until it is full.Immerse the filled mold in a cup of water for 90 seconds. (We just counted to 90.)Remove the mold from water and allow it to sit on the counter for 3 minutes (time didnt seem to be critical), then remove it from the mold and set it on a piece of foil or plastic wrap.When the ball is set or not-sticky, bounce it and play with it.Store each ball in its own plastic bag (included). Pretty easy, right? It didnt seem to matter if you left the ball in the mold longer than 3 minutes, but you do not want to leave the filled mold in the water longer than 90 seconds. If you leave the ball in the water too long the crystals will swell up and split the mold open. The mold will be fine, but you will get a seriously mutated ball. The balls bounce really high. If they get dirty, you can just rinse them off with water. The package said you could make 20 balls using the materials, but we actually got 23 balls out of the package. What I Liked and Didnt Like About Magic Powerballs What I Liked Easy enough even a child can make them.The project is quick. I would say you could go from opening the package to having a ball within 10 minutes.You dont need any strange materials. Get a glass of water and youre set.The project is very safe. Its safe to touch the materials. The balls are non-toxic.Clean-up was simple. Just wipe down your work surface with a damp sponge when you are done.The balls are exactly as described. They really do bounce up to 15 feet. They really are bright neon colors. Most of the colors glow very brightly under a black light. Some of the colors glow in the dark (green for sure, possibly pink). What I Didnt Like This is one of the best science activity kits Ive come across, so there isnt a lot I would improve. However, I wish the instructions had included some explanation of the chemistry behind making the powerballs. It also might be nice if the crystals came in resealable bags so that you didnt need scissors and so you could store materials in case you dont make all the balls at one time. Magic Powerballs Summary Would I buy this kit again? Definitely! This would be an affordable and fun party activity for kids. It is an enjoyable family science activity. Do my kids want to do this activity again? Yes. The balls do not last forever (instructions said they were good for about 20 days), so this is a project that can be repeated.

APA Referencing †How to Cite a Website (Proofed)

APA Referencing – How to Cite a Website (Proofed) APA Referencing – How to Cite a Website These days, with the World Wide Web at our fingertips, many students don’t even know what a book looks like. OK, that’s not true. It would be pretty difficult to be at college without going to the library at least occasionally. Why is it all papery? Can I adjust the brightness? The point we’re trying to make is that the internet is an increasingly valuable tool for research when writing a college paper, so knowing how to cite a website correctly is vital. In this post, we take you through the basics of citing a website using APA referencing. In-Text Citations Parenthetical citations for a website are the same as for any other source, requiring you to give the author’s surname and year of publication: APA referencing has specific rules for citing a website (Lee, 2010). Make sure to look carefully, as often the name of the author or date of publication can be tucked away somewhere. If, however, you cannot find the details required, there are alternatives. If you can’t find the name of the author, you can use a shortened version of the article title instead: The tutorial is designed for complete newcomers to APA style conventions (â€Å"The Basics of APA Style,† 2016). If you can’t find the date, you can use â€Å"n.d.† to indicate this: Proofreading helps you achieve the grade you deserve (ProofreadMyPaper, n.d.). Reference List As with any source, you should add any websites cited in your work to the reference list. The basic format for this in APA referencing is: Author (year and date). Title of document [Format description]. Retrieved from URL The â€Å"format description† part is only required if you’re citing a specific kind of document or site, such as a blog post or an online slideshow. For instance, the blog post cited in the first example above would appear in the reference list as: Lee, C. (2010, November 18). How to cite something you found on a website in APA style [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2010/11/how-to-cite-something-you-found-on-a-website-in-apa-style.html?_ga=1.106662403.1685488010.1435410218 When information is missing regarding the author or date of publication, use the same conventions as described above for citations. For instance, a page with no named author would appear as: The basics of APA style (2016). Retrieved from apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial.aspx. A page with no date of publication, meanwhile, would simply use â€Å"n.d.†: ProofreadMyPaper (n.d.). About us. Retrieved from https://getproofed.com/services/academic-proofreading

Good Citizenship Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Good Citizenship - Research Paper Example Organizations such as Nike Inc. continue to demonstrate how corporations are the classics of the good citizenship test in their pursuit of financial gain. Since 1971, the organization has developed from a US-based distributor of footwear to the globe’s most preeminent marketer of athletic apparel, equipment, and footwear. This has come with massive financial gains, for instance, in the 2007 financial year, Nike earned $16.3 billion, which was an increase of $1.3 billion from 2006. Some prominent components instrumental in this growth include the company’s strategy to outsource manufacture to low-cost countries such as China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Nike does not own any factory which produces its items. The second factor of Nike’s success is its extensive public relations strategy, which entails sponsoring renowned athletes such as Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and Michel Jordan. However, Nike has been surrounded by controversy with anti-globalization activists ac cusing it of exploiting sweatshop conditions as well as child labor in factories that manufacture its products in order to enhance its financial gain (Carty, 2002). Sweatshops are essentially workplaces, which violate laws and where workers are subjected to poor working conditions, extreme exploitation, arbitrary discipline, and fear.The issue of sweatshops raises controversies, for instance: Should organizations manufacture its products in sweatshops because of the benefit of lower labor costs, which enhance financial gain?... in the organization to deter the principal-agent problem, also focuses on the effect of corporate governance systems on economic efficiency, laying strong emphasis on the welfare of shareholders (Goodwin, 2000). There has been new interest in the practices of corporate governance by modern corporations since 2001, especially following high-profile collapses of massive US firms such as WorldCom and Enron Corporation. As a consequence, the US federal government established the Sarbanes-Oxley Act aimed at restoring public confidence in the area of corporate governance. Organizations such as Nike Inc. continue to demonstrate how corporations are the classics of the good citizenship test in their pursuit of financial gain. Since 1971, the organization has developed from a US-based distributor of footwear to the globe’s most preeminent marketer of athletic apparel, equipment and footwear (Sytse & Schreuder, 2013). This has come with massive financial gains, for instance, in the 2007 financial year, Nike earned $16.3 billion, which was an increase of $1.3 billion from 2006. Some prominent components instrumental in this growth include the company’s strategy to outsource manufacture to low cost countries such as China, Indonesia and Vietnam. Nike does not own any factory which produces its items. The second factor of Nike’s success is its extensive public relations strategy, which entails sponsoring renowned athletes such as Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and Michel Jordan. However, Nike has been surrounded by controversy with anti-globalization activists accusing it of exploiting sweatshop conditions as well as child labor in factories that manufacture its products in order to enhance its financial gain (Carty, 2002). Sweatshops are essentially workplaces, which violate

Annonated Bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Annonated Bibliography - Essay Example The conclusive issues stated in the articles chosen below are not dependent on personal feelings or prejudice. The articles contain knowledge that has been presented after critical examination of the available facts with no potential for discrepancies. It is quite obvious that the knowledge contained therein exists independently. The articles were chosen specifically due to the fact that they contain knowledge that is factual just like any objective knowledge. The information is quite independent that even after being researched from various authors, the deduction is independent on any prejudice or personal feelings. It is a reality that cancer exists and is caused by all the causes stated in the documents. The palliative care for patients suffering from the various types of cancer is quite explicit and almost similar. Almost all the authors have the same ideas about cancer as a family health concern and its significance to the nursing profession. The first article is authored by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario who state that environmental pollution can lead to cancer giving an excellent reason why they believe so (RNAO 2008). Echoing these sentiments is the Center for Disease Control; they also go further giving explicit explanations and evidences on the same (CDC 2012). These among the many articles utilized in this research fulfill the characteristics of objective articles on cancer. Nursing has been viewed as more of a female suited kind of profession, a good reason why it is dominated by females. According to Converse (2010), feminism has both negative and positive effects in nursing. Apparently, this profession being a potent and easy target for feminist attacks, it became quite ambivalent with the group. This led to a few changes in the profession. The author looks at feminism in terms of power which serves as an easy source of information. A good example stated by the author is on the

Hard Times Essay Example for Free

Hard Times Essay Dickens presents his criticism of the education for the labouring class in a sarcastic manner. He has created the classroom as a factory. The purpose of the education in Coketown is to root out the innocence and imagination of young children so they will grow into utilitarian robots expecting nothing more than the drudgery of industrial life. Dickens uses specific methods to put his point across of bad education by using negative views. This is done with exaggeration because he wants the reader to think the same as what he thinks so it seems like education was extreme and intense. In Hard Times, the teachers fulfil the excessive teaching skills as they just want the little vessels to be filled with facts. Dickens also presents a contrast between two children to show how differently each child gets treated because of their background or their attitude towards things other than facts. Another method that he uses is making the characters stand out through their names to symbolise their personality. Throughout chapters 1-3, Dickens emphasises on the word facts because he wants to continuously present and criticise the education for the labouring class. Now, what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life This is the opening sentence of the novel and straight away you have a vague idea of the extremism of teaching. Also the word fact is in capital letters and this signifies the importance of learning nothing but facts. The introduction of the teacher has a lot of exaggeration at hand. Thomas Gradgrind is a middle-class, self-made man. A man of realities a man of facts and calculations. Dickens has made this character a very hard and cold teacher who knows what he wants from the students. He seemed a kind of cannon loaded to the muzzle with facts Dickens uses military imagery to show how the teacher wants to get rid of childhood imagination. He seemed a galvanising apparatus, too, charged with a grim mechanical substitute for the tender young imaginations that were to be stormed away. Dickens has described this as some sort of physics experiment because galvanising is the process named after Galvan in the stimulation of animal tissue by electric currents. But in this case it is the young children that are being stimulated with factual currents. Dickens has made the teacher to be very hard-hearted and cruel and this is to present his criticism on the education for the labouring class because he evidently disagrees with this concept of teaching and he wants the readers to feel the same way by using the different language techniques and this is mostly done through exaggeration.

Reaching Beyond Pen and Paper :: Essays Papers

Reaching Beyond Pen and Paper Learning in school is always a given. When students are taught a subject they are eventually tested on the information learned. Most teachers use tests, handouts or papers as methods of evaluating how much a student has learned in their course. With the development of technology and the increasing amount of internet access that most classrooms have, teachers are now thinking outside the box and coming up with new ways to assess their students. Creating web pages and using online tools such as Blackboard are some of the ways teachers can have students present information they have learned. These methods are being used more often as technology grows. Though these alternative ways of assessments seem to benefit teachers, they benefit students as well. Allowing students to be more creative when completing assignments ensures their enjoyment and likelihood to do better. In 1994 Duke University’s Department of Biochemical Engineering initiated its first use of infrared (IR) networking. The classroom became completely wireless without a physical alteration to the room. Each student had to purchase a PowerBook to be able to participate in the classroom discussions and projects. The professor also had a PowerBook with a program called Timbuktu installed on it, which allowed him to access any students computer screen and project the information seen onto a screen that the whole class could see. The program also allowed the teacher complete control of the students keyboard and trackball. Through use of the IR network, the class could work on group projects more easily because they would be working though one computer. The system opened more opportunities for students to learn information effectively. For example, if a student had a problem or question about the information being learned in the class, they would simply raise their hand, the teacher would select the name from a menu bar, and instantly the whole class would see the student’s computer screen projected on the big screen. With the whole class being able to see the problem or question an individual had, they could all collaboratively help or learn from the problem. The teacher could address the question to the class and the students could help each other out. The IR network system allowed the classroom to become completely paperless. Without the hassle of handouts, research papers, and paper tests, the professor could concentrate on the information being learned by his students.

Preventing Falls in the Elderly

Preventing Falls in the Elderly Natalie StJohn University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville As health care becomes more sophisticated and better, other concerns are starting to surface. Such interests that started as mere nuisances are now becoming the focal point of involvement that aims to correct and improve the welfare of individuals. One such clinical concern is the phenomenon of falls, especially with the older population.Falling in elderly individuals is a significant, yet under-recognized and underestimated public health concern (Woolcott et al. , 2009). About 30% of people over 65 years old and living in their respective communities fall annually, with such figures even higher in health institutions and about a fifth of such incidents requires medical attention (Gillespie, Gillespie, Robertson, Lamb, Cumming, & Rowe, 2009).In a one year follow-up study of persons aged 75 years and above living in the community, about one-third reported at least one incident of fall (Tinetti, Speechley, & Ginter, 1988), with a higher annual fall risk of up to 50%, occurred in the oldest population or with the individuals living in nursing homes, with the consequences of injuries and fractures because of falls (like mortality, hospitalization, disability and institutionalization) rise as with the age (Berdot et al. , 2009).The estimated costs associated with falls and fall-related complications are at billions of dollars worldwide (Scuffham, Chaplin, & Legood, 2003; Lewin Group, 2000; Smartrisk Foundation, 2009). Hence, research regarding the factors why elder people fall becomes all the more necessary (Woolcott et al. , 2009). There are several reasons why people fall. Fall risk is multifactoral in nature, with risk factors being intrinsic and extrinsic (Graafmans et al. , 1996). The most common reasons are uncontrolled hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, and use or inappropriate use of certain medications (Gangavati et al. 2011); Woolcott et al. , 2009; Be rdot et al. , 2009). With regards to hypertension and systolic orthostatic hypertension, older individuals suffering from such conditions are at greater risk for falls within a year (Gangavatti et al. , 2011). The study also noted that older patients with their hypertension controlled have no effect with regards to falls (Gangavatti et al. , 2011). The older populations with an increase use of antidepressants, benzodiazepines, hypnotics, and sedatives have a larger and increase chances of falls with elderly persons (Woolcott et al. 2009). This marked increase is most due to the long-lasting effects of benzodiazepines as well as inappropriate psychotropics, and since these medications have anticholinergic properties (Berdot et al. , 2009). There are several ways to mitigate, lessen, or even prevent the chances of the elder population from falling. Interventions with multidisciplinary properties are proven effective in minimizing fall incidents, as well as muscle strengthening balance retraining prescribed at home and assisted by a trained health professional (Gillespie et al. 2009). Tai Chi is also another effective alternative intervention for mitigating falls (Gillespie et al. , 2009). For those with a history of falling, home hazard assessment and modification by a healthcare professional could also minimize chances of falls (Gillespie et al. , 2009). Cardiac pacing for individuals with high risk of falls due to cardio-inhibitory carotid sinus hypersensitivity also has a high chance of being beneficial, as is the withdrawal of psychotropic medications (Gillespie et al. , 2009).Studies have also shown that individually tailored interventions delivered by healthcare professionals are more effective than standard or group delivered programs (Gillespie et al. , 2009). Falls is a highly preventable, yet still highly prevalent cause of injury and even mortality with the elderly. The abovementioned interventions could help in minimizing its detrimental effects. Ref erence: Berdot, S. , Bertrand, M. , Dartigues, J. F. , Fourrier, A. , Tavernier, B. , Ritchie, K. , & Alperovitch, A. , (2009). Inappropriate Medication Use and Risk of Falls-A Prospective Study in a Large Community-Dwelling Elderly Cohort.BMC Geriatrics, 9(30). doi:10. 1186/1471-2318-9-30. Lewin Group (2000). Estimated savings from falls prevented by targeted home modifications. Washington, DC: AARP Public Policy Institute. Gangavati, A. , Hajjar, I. , Quach, L. , Jones, R. , Kiely, D. , Gagnon, P. , & Lipsitz, L. (2011). Hypertension, Orthostatic Hypotension, and the Risk of Falls in a Community-Dwelling Elderly Population: The Maintenance of Balance, Independent Living, Intellect, and Zest in the Elderly of Boston Study. Journal of American Geriatric Society, 59(3), 383-389. doi:  Ã‚  10. 1111/j. 1532-5415. 2011. 03317. x Gillespie, L. D. , Gillespie, W. J. , Robertson, M.C. , Lamb, S. E. , Cumming, R. G. , & Rowe, B. H. (2009). Interventions for preventing falls in elderly peo ple. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4). DOI:  10. 1002/14651858. CD000340. Graafmans,  WC. , Ooms,  M. E. , Hofstee, H. M. , Bezemer,  P. D. , Bouter,  L. M. , & Lips, P. (1996). Falls in the elderly: a prospective study of risk factors and risk profiles. American Journal of Epidemiology, 143(11), 1129-  1136. Scuffham P. , Chaplin,  S. , & Legood,  R. (2003). Incidence and costs of unintentional falls in older people in the United Kingdom. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 57(9) 740-  744. Smartrisk Foundation. 2009). The Economic Burden of Unintentional Injury in Canada. Smartrisk Foundation Website. Retrieved from http://www. smartrisk. ca/researchers/economic_burden_studies/canada. html. Accessed October 20, 2012. Tinetti ME, Speechley M, Ginter SF, (1988). Risk Factors for Falls among Elderly Persons Living in the Community. New England Journal of Medicine,  319,1701-1707. Woolcot, J. , Richardson, K. , Wiens, M. , Patel, B. , Marin, J . , Khan, K. , & Marra, C. (2009). Meta-analysis of the impact of 9 Medication Classes on Falls in Elderly Persons. Archives of Internal Medicine, 169(21), 1952-1960. doi:10. 1001/archinternmed. 2009. 357.

The Renaissance and the Harlem Renassance

The Renaissance and the Harlem Renaissance: A Comparison and Contrast The Renaissance Period of the 14th-16th century was a time of change and growth in the world of art. All art forms experienced progress not only in terms of the human aspect of imagination, creativity and philosophy, but also in terms of progress in available technologies and available materials and tools. The Harlem Renaissance of the sass's and ass's was similarly a time of change in the human condition as well as technique and subject matter. The medium of visual art, particularly painting, of both periods provides a fascinating study of comparison and contrasts.The Renaissance was a time of prolific production of paintings, many that are now considered masterpieces. At the beginning of the 14th century a change occurred regarding the philosophy behind art. The emergence of the Renaissance Humanist movement and its focus on the human condition separate from the church gave way to a vast array of previously unuse d, and in some cases, taboo subject matter. There was also a revival of interest in the Greek and Roman culture, their myths and legends and the beauty of their structures and cities (Renaissance Art, 2013).During the Harlem Renaissance there was a growing movement of independence in the African American art community. Prior to this time, there were African American artists, however there subject matter had been primarily depictions of Caucasian people, their lifestyle and culture. During the Harlem Renaissance, at the time called the New Negro Movement, there was a growing emphasis on African traditions and culture, as well as depiction of contemporary African American lifestyle and culture.The most famous painter of the Harlem Renaissance, Aaron Douglas (1899-1979) said â€Å"Our problem is to conceive, develop, establish an art era. Not white art painting black†¦ It's bare our arms and plunge them deep through laughter, through pain, through sorrow, through hope, through di sappointment, into the very depths of the souls of our people and drag forth material crude, rough, neglected. Then let's sing it, dance it, write it, paint it. Let's do the impossible. Let's create something transcendentally material, mystically objective. Earthy. Spiritually earthy.Dynamic. † (The Making of African American Identity, 2007) This exemplifies the feeling of paintings from the Harlem Renaissance. They convey movement and feeling, bringing the observer into the action of the subject. This differs from the style of painting in the Renaissance. In that they provide a feeling of observation, a â€Å"snapshot† of a particular event or subject. The observer is intrigued by the beauty, the subject, the context and the message, but not inspired to participate as they are when viewing a painting from the Harlem Renaissance.In the latter part of the Middle Ages, paintings were primarily commissioned by the Church and the subject matter was limited to saints and bib lical depictions in strict adherence to church doctrine. The use of Christian imagery and biblical subject tater continued in the Renaissance, however there was a much broader interpretation of the subjects, allowing the artist some license for his personality and beliefs to shine through and to focus on the human condition. Renaissance Art, 2013) The Renaissance works The Glorification of Mary (Botanical, 1481) and San Czarina Altarpiece (Beeline, 1 505) both portray biblical themes, but are not literal interpretations and contain contemporary people and/or images combined with the classic biblical figures. There are paintings from the Harlem Renaissance that portray spiritual and biblical subjects as well. These images are similar to the biblical/spiritual paintings from the Renaissance in that they also are subject to interpretation and are not a literal illustration.For example, Jesus and Three Marry Monsoon, 1939) is a portrayal of the crucifixion of Christ, but is far from the traditional image as portrayed in the Bible and in classical art pieces. The development of using oil paint on canvas and its widespread use revolutionized painting. Prior to this, the techniques were based on plaster, wet or dry, and the use of oil and tempura as binders. These works were primarily done directly on the walls of a structure and were limited to being viewed at the site of heir creation. When oil on canvas began to be used, paintings became portable and as a result more accessible.The Harlem Renaissance did not produce any revolutionary mediums however there was a new emphasis on conveying emotion through the use of color, tone and light and provided relatable art for African Americans as well as giving the world a glimpse of the culture that existed in African American homes and neighborhoods. To compare and contrast the paintings of The Renaissance and the Harlem Renaissance in a direct manner, consider the Renaissance painting The School at Athens (Raphael, 1509) and The Train Station (Elision, 1935).In School Raphael has depicted the more than fifty Greek Philosophers in a great hall, socializing and presumably sharing ideas. The tone is expressed through sharp lines and use of color to give a three dimensional aspect to the piece. This piece is a technical marvel while at the same time providing a commentary on the sharing of ideas and wisdom and conveying the artist respect for the great philosophers Plato and Aristotle as they are the at the center of the piece. In Station, Ellison has relied less on technical perfection and more on the conveyance of movement and simple portrayal of form, almost primitive.However, the primitive painting feel is deceptive, as each person is very expressive and the observer can feel the urgency and movement portrayed by the artist. This painting also provides social commentary by highlighting the exodus of African American's to the North, and portraying the only African American visible on the south bound platform as a servant. The Renaissance of the 14th to 16th provides a legacy of masterpieces in painting, literature, sculpture and philosophy that has effected each subsequent period and is still relevant today. The Harlem Renaissance is similarly influential in today's culture.The music and literature of the Harlem Renaissance have been adopted into mainstream American Culture and are familiar to the populace. The visual art is less known, but still influential. The use and allusion to African symbols and images found in the paintings of the Harlem Renaissance are still found today in contemporary African American art. The bright colors and movement of the Harlem Renaissance pieces depicting African American urban life are easily recognizable and appreciated today (Severely, 2003). Because of the cultural significance of its placement in between the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement, the Harlem

Meaning Behind the Phrase to Cross the Rubicon

Meaning Behind the Phrase to Cross the Rubicon To cross the Rubicon is a metaphor which means to take an irrevocable step that commits one to a specific course. When Julius Caesar was about to cross the tiny Rubicon River in 49 B.C.E., he quoted from a play by Menander to say anerriphtho kybos! or let the die be cast in Greek. But what kind of die was Caesar casting and what decision was he making? Before the Roman Empire Before Rome was an Empire, it was a Republic. Julius Caesar was a general of an army of the Republic, based in the north of what is now Northern Italy. He expanded the borders of the Republic into modern France, Spain, and Britain, making him a popular leader. His popularity, however, led to tensions with other powerful Roman leaders. Having successfully led his troops in the north, Julius Caesar became governor of Gaul, part of modern-day France. But his ambitions were not satisfied. He wanted to enter Rome itself at the head of an army. Such as act was forbidden by law. At the Rubicon When Julius Caesar led his troops from Gaul in January of 49 B.C.E., he paused on the northern end of a bridge. As he stood, he debated whether or not to cross the  Rubicon, a river separating  Cisalpine Gaul- the piece of land where Italy joins the mainland and at the time inhabited by Celts- from the Italian peninsula.  When he was making this decision, Caesar was contemplating committing a heinous crime. If Caesar brought his troops from Gaul into Italy, he would be violating his role as a provincial authority and would essentially be declaring himself an enemy of the state and the Senate, fomenting civil war. But if he  didnt  bring his troops into Italy, Caesar would be forced to relinquish his command and likely be forced into exile, giving up his military glory and ending his political future. Caesar definitely debated for a while about what to do. He realized how important his decision was, especially since Rome had already undergone a ​civil dispute  a few decades earlier. According to Suetonius, Caesar quipped, Even yet we may drawback, but once cross yon little bridge, and the whole issue is with the sword.  Plutarch reports that he spent time with his friends estimating the great evils of all mankind which would follow their passage of the river and the wide fame of it which they would leave to posterity.   The Die Is Cast The Roman historian Plutarch reported that at this critical moment of decision Caesar declared in Greek and in a loud voice, let the die be cast! and then led his troops across the river. Plutarch renders the phrase in Latin, of course, as alea iacta est or iacta alea est. A die is simply one of a pair of dice. Even in Roman times, gambling games with dice were popular. Just as it is today, once youve cast (or thrown) the dice, your fate is decided. Even before the dice land, your future has been foretold. Let the die be cast itself is an expression meaning roughly let the game begin, and it comes from a play called Arrhephoros (the Flute Girl), a comedy written by the Greek playwright Menander in the 4th century B.C.E. Menander was one of Caesars favorite dramatists.   When Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon, he started a five-year Roman civil war. At the wars end, Julius Caesar was declared dictator for life. As dictator, Caesar presided over the end of the Roman Republic and the start of the Roman Empire. Upon Julius Caesars death, his adopted son Augustus became Romes first emperor. The Roman Empire started in 31 B.C.E. and lasted until 476 C.E. Therefore, by crossing the Rubicon into Gaul and starting the war, Caesar threw the dice, not only sealing his own political future but effectively ending the Roman Republic and beginning the Roman Empire.

An Introduction to Medical Anthropology

An Introduction to Medical Anthropology Medical anthropology is a field of anthropology focused  on the relationship between health, illness, and culture. Beliefs and practices about health vary across different cultures and are influenced by social, religious, political, historical, and economic factors. Medical anthropologists use anthropological theories and methods to generate unique insights into how different cultural groups around the world experience, interpret, and respond to questions of health, illness, and wellness. Medical anthropologists study a wide array of topics. Specific questions include: How does a particular culture define health or illness?How might a diagnosis or condition be interpreted by different cultures?What are the roles of doctors, shamans, or alternative health practitioners?Why do certain groups experience better or worse health outcomes, or higher prevalence of certain diseases?What is the connect between health, happiness, and stress?How are different conditions stigmatized or even celebrated in specific cultural contexts? In addition, medical anthropologists study the factors that affect or are affected by the distribution of illness, and are also closely attuned to questions of inequality, power, and health. History of the Field Medical anthropology emerged as a formal area of study in the mid-20th  century. Its roots are in cultural anthropology, and it extends that subfield’s focus on social and cultural worlds to topics relating specifically to health, illness, and wellness. Like cultural anthropologists, medical anthropologists typically use ethnography – or ethnographic methods – to conduct research and gather data. Ethnography is a qualitative research method that involves full immersion in the community being studied. The ethnographer (i.e., the anthropologist) lives, works, and observes daily life in this distinctive cultural space, which is called the field site. Medical anthropology grew increasingly important after World War II, when anthropologists began to formalize the process of applying ethnographic methods and theories to questions of health around the world. This was a time of widespread international development and humanitarian efforts aimed at bringing modern technologies and resources to countries in the global South. Anthropologists proved particularly useful for health-based initiatives, using their unique skills of cultural analysis to help develop programs tailored to local practices and belief systems. Specific campaigns focused on sanitation, infectious disease control, and nutrition. Key Concepts and Methods Medical anthropology’s approach to ethnography has changed since the field’s early days, thanks in large part to the growth of globalization and the emergence of new communication technologies. While the popular image of anthropologists involves living in remote villages in far-off lands, contemporary anthropologists conduct research in a variety of field sites ranging from urban centers to rural hamlets, and even in social media communities. Some also incorporate quantitative data into their ethnographic work. Some anthropologists now design multi-sited studies, for which they conduct ethnographic fieldwork in different field sites. These might include comparative studies of health care in rural versus urban spaces in the same country, or combine traditional in-person fieldwork living in a particular place with digital research of social media communities. Some anthropologists even work in multiple countries around the world for a single project. Together, these new possibilities for fieldwork and field sites have broadened the scope of anthropological research, enabling scholars to better study life in a globalized world. Medical anthropologists use their evolving methodologies to examine key concepts, including: Health disparities: the differences in the distribution of health outcomes or disease prevalence across groupsGlobal health: the study of health across the globeEthnomedicine:  the comparative study of traditional medicine practices in different culturesCultural relativism:  the theory that all cultures must be considered on their own terms, not as superior or inferior to others. What Do Medical Anthropologists Study? Medical anthropologists work to solve a variety of problems. For instance, some researchers focus on health equity and health disparities, trying to explain why certain communities have better or worse health outcomes than others. Others might ask how a particular health condition, such as Alzheimer’s or schizophrenia, is experienced in localized contexts around the globe. Medical anthropologists can be divided into two general groups: academic and applied. Academic medical anthropologists work within university systems, specializing  in research, writing, and/or teaching. In contrast, applied medical anthropologists often work outside of university settings. They can be found in hospitals, medical schools, public health programs, and in nonprofit or international non-governmental organizations. While academic anthropologists often have more open-ended research agendas, applied practitioners are typically part of a team trying to solve or generate insights into a specific problem or question. Today, key research areas include  medical technologies, genetics and genomics, bioethics, disability studies, health tourism, gender-based violence, infectious disease  outbreaks, substance abuse, and more. Ethical Considerations Both academic and applied anthropologists face similar ethical considerations, which are typically overseen by their universities, funders, or other governing organizations. Institutional review boards were established in the U.S. in the 1970s to ensure ethical compliance for research involving human subjects, which includes most ethnographic projects. Key ethical considerations for medical anthropologists are: Informed consent:  ensuring that research subjects are aware of any risks and consent to participate in the study.Privacy: protecting participants health status, image or likeness, and private information  Confidentiality:  protecting the anonymity (if desired) of a research subject, often by using pseudonymous names for participants and field site locations Medical Anthropology Today The most well-known anthropologist today is Paul Farmer. A physician and an anthropologist, Dr. Farmer teaches at Harvard University and has received widespread acclaim for his work in global health. Other key figures in medical anthropology include Nancy Scheper-Hughes, Arthur Kleinman, Margaret Lock, Byron Good, and Rayna Rapp. The Society for Medical Anthropology is the primary professional organization for medical anthropologists in North America, and is affiliated with the American Anthropological Association. There are scholarly journals devoted solely to medical anthropology, such as Medical Anthropology Quarterly, Medical Anthropology, and the online journal  Medicine Anthropology Theory.  Somatosphere.net  is a popular blog focusing on medical anthropology and related disciplines.  Ã‚   Medical Anthropology Key Takeaways Medical anthropology is a branch of anthropology focused on the relationship between health, illness, and culture.Medical anthropologists can be divided into two key fields: applied and academic.While medical anthropologists study a wide range of issues and topics, key concepts include health disparities, global health, medical technologies, and bioethics. Sources â€Å"American Anthropological Association Statement on Ethnography and Institutional Review Boards.† American Anthropological Association, 2004.Crossman, Ashley. â€Å"What is Ethnography? What It Is and How To Do It.† ThoughtCo, 2017.Petryna, Adriana. â€Å"Health: Anthropological Aspects.† International Encyclopedia of the Social Behavioral Sciences, 2nd edition. Elsevier, 2015.Rivkin-Rish, Michele. â€Å"Medical Anthropology.† Oxford Bibliographies, 2014.â€Å"What is Medical Anthropology?† Society for Medical Anthropology.

Have social movements been successful in achieving their objectives in Essay

Have social movements been successful in achieving their objectives in Latin America - Essay Example The good thing about these social revolts is their capacity to bring forward advantages on the part of various social movements which continue to evolve, making them more sophisticated and expert on achieving their objectives. In this paper, the proponent tries to explore significant proofs which substantially points out social movements in Latin America to have been successful in achieving their objectives. The case of Rural Landless Workers Movement The Rural Landless Workers Movement (MST) is a case of how a social movement has been successful in Latin America based on the achievement of its objectives. There are specifically two important points MST has substantially done in order to fulfill its objectives. The first point is its ability to maintain strong level of leadership towards its members. It has become a highly structured group knowing that it involves thousands of members. In groups like this, a modern approach in leadership is necessary in order to unite the team with o nly one vision and goal. Furthermore, MST learned enough the power of taking advantage on achieving allies. As a result, MST was able to combine forces with other social movements in Brazil. The very presence of these various social movements in Brazil alone is a substantial proof that people have seen them as potential tools in achieving objectives through a specific social transformation. All of these proved that social movements in Brazil can be the best and powerful way on how the masses of people substantially can achieve their personal claims in a society where everyone seems to have varying social, political, and economic needs. The (MST) in Brazil, having more than 300,000 members and consisting of 350,000 peasant families, is a highly organised social movement in Latin America with allies in other social movements such as urban Homeless Movement, the Catholic Pastoral Rural (Rural Pastoral Agency), sectors of the trade union movement (CUT), the left-wing of the Workers Part y (PT) and academic faculty and students (Petras, 2009). This social movement is capable of organising effective tactics in allocating land for their thousands of landless rural workers and their families on the lands of giant latifundistas, plus being able to succeed in placing their agrarian reform on the national agenda, and elected â€Å"Lula† Da Silva of the Workers Party in the 2002 presidential elections (Petras, 2009). MST is a picture of a highly sophisticated social movement having been able to penetrate the core foundation of social transformation. Its ability to create a better foundation for its entire movement is a specific proof that it has substantially created a remarkable way on how to obtain its specific objectives. Its ability to organise a large social group of 300,000 members and 350,000 peasant families was enough to create a strong allies with other social movements. What is depicted in this issue is the thought that in Brazil alone, social movements h ave become so widely considered and even have created a powerful force to influence the ongoing social transformation. This is the very reason why MST for instance was substantially able to penetrate and influence

World Finacial Crisis - Impact in the American Economy Term Paper

World Finacial Crisis - Impact in the American Economy - Term Paper Example From the year 2006 the delinquency rate on the home loan has increased and it got severe in the year 2007 because the Federal Reserve has started to increase the interest rates. The house loan where the debtors have to pay floating rate interest they were in problem. So the increase of bad loans led to the failure of the mortgage lenders mainly the banks. Because of the complexity of the financial products the investors and the banks didn’t know the actual size of the losses. As a result the liquidity of the market became less and the lending decrease, as a result the credit crunch has begun. The other reasons for the financial crisis are the borrowing of the households which were beyond their means, poor lending standards taken by the financial institutions, more over the counter transactions, more reliance on short term debts and the credit rating agencies failure to assess the risk. In the era of globalization the financial crisis of world’s strongest economy also af fected the economy of the other countries. In September 2008 Lehmann Brothers was bankrupted and the financial crisis taken place. The report is an attempt to assess the impact on the American economy due to the world financial crisis. This report would find out the GDP growth rate, the changes in the value of dollar, the sector wise impact and the consequent problems caused by the crisis. Growth in the GDP Figure 1: United States GDP Growth Rate Data Source: (Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2011) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country is the representative of the standard of leaving of that particular country and it refers to the value of goods and services produced by the country. The GDP growth of U.S. was affected severely for the financial crisis of 2007-09. The GDP growth has increased 1.9% in the fourth quarter of 2007 from the last quarter. 2008 and 2009, these two years were the two worst years for American economy. In 2008 excluding the 2nd quarter the GDP growth was negat ive throughout the year. In the 4th quarter of 2008 the GDP growth was -9% which was the lowest for a quarter in the period of Economic recession. From the 3rd quarter of 2009 the GDP growth was tend to positive and after that the growth was always positive. This statistics shows that in that time period the economy was not productive at all. All the sectors were affected by the credit crunch situation more or less, as a result the total GDP of the strongest economy declined. The manufacturing industries were unable to get the credit as they get it in the earlier time. The banks and other financial institutions didn’t get the payment from the debtors, so several banks were declared bankrupted, as a result they were unable to issue credit to the business entities when the business organizations are largely depends on debt from the banks. So the productivity of the organizations became less and the GDP growth rate declined. Impact in the Employment Sector Figure 2: The Layoff d ue to the Financial Crisis Data Source: (Auer, Auer and Wehrmuller, 2008) From the above graph it can be said that since the 9/11 the layoffs has risen to the highest level. It can be concluded from the statistics that for the financial crisis not only the GDP of the country declined, the layoff rate also reached to the country’s highest level. The cause of the financial crisis was the disability to pay the debts of the households; as a result the bad debt of the financial institutions has increased. Some financial institu