Dave Essays - Jam Bands, Counterculture Of The 1960s,

Dave Matthews Band Who is the Dave Matthews Band? Five years ago that question would have gotten nothing more than a weird stare and a stupid look. But today you would get everything but that. The Dave Matthews Band is one of the most successful bands of the late 20th century. But many ask how a band so new has become so successful in such a relatively short period of time. Many come to wonder if it was their music, their look, or possibly something else that has made the Dave Matthews Band what they are today. It is my opinion that the Dave Matthews Band's success comes from their earth-toned acoustical music, their buttoned flannel shirts and their khaki pants, their heart-laced lyrics, and the need for many Jerry Garcia "Dead Head" survivors to find a new musical connection to life. Using the Official Dave Matthews Web Page (http://dmband.com) as a reference tool, I found that the life of the Dave Matthews Band saga begins early in 1991.Dave Matthews decided to put the songs he'd been writing on tape. But rather than recording just his voice and guitar, he decided to gather some other musicians to give the project a fuller sound. Carter Beauford, Leroi Moore, Stefan Lessard, and Boyd Tinsley teamed with Dave Matthews and became the Dave Matthews Band. After several rehearsals in basements, they were ready to play in public. The first gig was May 11, 1991 at a party on the roof of an apartment building in Charlottesville. About 40 people were in attendance that night. Their first open-to-the-public performance was at the 1991 Earth Day Festival on Charlottesville, Virginia's Downtown Mall. That exposure led to regular Tuesday night gigs at a small restaurant called Eastern Standard. Before long, the largest music club in town had them playing Tuesday night gigs filling the club to capacity with locals and University of Virginia students week after week. As word spread, the band was playing three- four- five- night tours around the region. As the band's success began to exfoliate, the first album named Remember Two Things was released in August of 1993, shortly followed by Recently released in February of 1994. With 1994 proving to be a big year for the Dave Matthews Band, Under the Table and Dreaming was released on September 27th. This major release is what really made the bands elegant acoustical sound known throughout the United States and Europe (26 March 1999). By this point, many wonder what is next for the Dave Matthews Band. Their audience was growing, but they still didn't have a following that rivaled bands like the Grateful Dead and Phish. But nobody could have predicted what 1995 would bring, both good and bad. Dave Matthews Band (DMB) opened two shows for the Grateful Dead at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. Some believe this show was priceless and "one in a million" for the Dave Matthews Band (Pepper). Many of the reasons this show was so important had to do with the attention Dave Matthews Band got from the Grateful Dead's audience. This proved to be an overwhelming significance when the Dead encountered the death of Jerry Garcia later on in the 1995 year. The Grateful Dead had an incredible amount of fans. "The band attracted a cult following in live performances by playing without set lists (lists of songs) in a free improvised format shaped in part by audience rapport" (Garcia). All the "Grateful Dead" fans, better known as "Dead Heads" loved the acoustic sound Garcia provided for the band, and with the newly created vibe of Dave Matthews Band, the transition was an easy one to make. Thus, many of the "Dead Heads" are now faithful followers of the DMB, and many now use Dave Matthews Band as a new musical connection to life. But the death of Jerry Garcia and the flock of newly dedicated fans weren't the only reasons for popularity for the Dave Matthews Band. The sound, the feeling of the music that Dave Matthews Band creates, makes for their own following, like no other before. As David E. Thigpen, author, Time magazine puts it: The DMB offers an alternative to alternative rock: music that is conspicuously eclectic but plainly rooted in the familiar bedrock of Americana, the blues and jazz. By introducing acoustic guitars and shifting tempos punctuated by violins, penny whistles and other flourishes of world music and jazz, the band has forged a cerebral yet commercially appealing sound, surpassing competitors like Phish. (Thigpen) After the release of Under the

10 Classification Essay Topics on Agricultural Economics

10 Classification Essay Topics on Agricultural Economics Agricultural economics, or agronomics, is a field of study that deals with the application of economic and statistical theories to optimize the entire production cycle of agriculture. It focuses on land output, crop yields, labor force, financing, government interventions, and other relevant factors. If you have taken up this subject, chances are that your instructor will ask you to go beyond what they taught you and task you with writing a classification essay. If you feel overwhelmed by the scope of this discipline (or have delayed working on your assignment till the last minute), you may have trouble choosing agricultural economic topics to write about. We have you covered with our 20 agricultural economics topics to write about for a classification essay. However, if you want to work a little harder on your essay topics, the following 10 facts on agricultural economics will inspire you. A farmer’s management capacity is an important indicator of results and returns. The management capacity of a farmer is a vital factor when it comes to effective farm results and financial returns. The different aspects of management are categorized into two inter-related groups: personal aspects and decision-making abilities. The personal aspects include characteristics such as the famers’ biographical facts (education, age, socio-economic status, etc.), capabilities and abilities, and motivation and drives. On the other hand, the decision-making aspects include the practices used by the farmer in order to plan and control the decisions needed on the farm. There are three strategies used in precision agriculture. The main goal of Precision agriculture is to improve farm and field management. There are three basic methods which can be used to accomplish this: Make farm practices more efficient by applying economic principles. Reduce the footprint of farming to protect the environment. Match farm practices with the right crop needs. Farmers hesitate to adopt new agricultural technologies. The perceptions of agricultural innovations affect adoption rate. Traditional studies focus on the broader demographic and socio-economic factors; the subjective perceptions of the farmers are not taken into account. This aspect must be studied. An accurate cost and benefit analysis of new agricultural technologies can only be performed if the farmer’s perceptions (positive or negative) are also included into the estimates. Sustainability in agricultural research should be taken into consideration. When evaluating the merits of modern agricultural research, the sustainability factor needs to be a major criterion. Sustainable agricultural practices ensure that no harm comes to the environment, communities, public health, and animals. Researchers need to: Learn the importance of sustainable agriculture. Develop accurate ways to measure sustainability. Study sustainability of major farming systems currently in use. Identify and measure external factors affecting sustainability. There is an inverse relationship between economic growth and agriculture. As the economy grows rapidly, agriculture takes on a converse trajectory and slows down. This phenomenon is observed in almost all economies, open and closed, but it is more prominent in closed economies. As the demand for food rises, farm productivity levels rise. However, the non-farming sectors do not experience such rapid growth, which is why the market is saturated and agriculture has slowed down. In the case of open economies, things are more complicated because the demand of non-tradable goods is income-elastic. Resources are diverted towards the production of these goods, resulting in the slowing down of agriculture. Economic variables interfere with the adoption of irrigation technologies. The diffusion of irrigation technologies is a function of economic variables such as the crop yield price, water price, and irrigation subsidies. If governments want to control diffusion, their strategies should include altering water prices and offering subsidies on irrigation equipment. Increasing the prices of staple foods affects more than just the population. A rise in prices of staple foods affects the poor sections of the population more severely. Low-income households usually face an increase in overall poverty if prices rise. The short run effects vary according to two dimensions: the commodity type and the country. The common factor observed among all cases of significant prices rise is that poverty reduction events are far less common than poverty increases. Genetically engineered crops can reduce dependency on pesticides. The use of genetically engineered (GE) crops can lead to a reduction in pesticide usage. Studies have proven that GE crops need a lower quantity of pesticides and less frequent sprayings. Therefore, the overall expenditure incurred drops by a significant amount. This reduction, in turn, leads to more efficient production, affects the environment positively, and also helps realize more labor savings. Risk factor analysis is a must for effective farm modeling. Measuring uncertainty and analyzing risk is an important part of agricultural economics. Statistical frameworks have been utilized to study risk, resulting in many risk-aversion and risk-neutralizing methods. The education factor in adoption of modern agricultural techniques. Adoption of new farming methods and techniques is greatly influenced by education. Traditionally, the head of the household was considered as the sole decision maker when it comes to altering farming methods. However, new studies show that there is an intra-household effect of education that is statistically significant enough to be taken into account when creating policies. The socioeconomic environment also plays a significant role in influencing adoption. The biggest influence of education is seen when education expansion occurs in traditional areas as compared to modern ones. This list contains facts that are related to modern issues in farming and agriculture; they would be perfect as a research topic. All these facts are sufficiently detailed and will serve as a source of inspiration for your essay. Refer to the source materials below if you want more information about a particular fact. Also drop by our guide on writing a classification essay on agricultural economics. References: Foster, Phillips, and Howard D. Leathers, The World Food Problem (Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Reinner Publishers, 1999) Zeller, Manfred, and Richard L. Meyer. The Critical Triangle of Microfinance: from Vision to Reality. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003. Adesina, A. (1995). Farmers perceptions and adoption of new agricultural technology: evidence from analysis in Burkina Faso and Guinea, West Africa. Agricultural Economics, 13(1), 1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0169-5150(95)01142-8 Lynam, J. (1989). Sense and sustainability: Sustainability as an objective in international agricultural research. Agricultural Economics, 3(4), 381-398. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0169-5150(89)90010-8 Rougoor, C. (1998). How to define and study farmers management capacity: theory and use in agricultural economics. Agricultural Economics, 18(3), 261-272. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0169-5150(98)00021-8 Berry, Albert, and William Cline. Agrarian Structure and Productivity in Developing Countries. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1979. Dimitri, Carolyn, Anne Effland, and Neilson Conklin. The 20th Century Transformation of U.S. Agriculture and Farm Policy. Washington, D.C.: Economic Research Service, USDA, 2005. Evenson, R.E., P.Pingali, and T.P. Schultz, eds. Handbook of Agricultural Economics, Volume 3: Agricultural Development: Farmers, Farm Production, and Food Markets, ed. Amsterdam:Elsevier, 2006. Pardey, Philip G., Nienke Beitema, Steven Dehmer, and Stanley Wood. Agricultural Research: A Growing Divide, Washington, D.C.: IFPRI, 2006. Pearce, David W., and R. Kerry Turner. Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press 1990. Sachs, Jeffrey D. Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet. New York: Penguin Books, 2008

Protesting inequality - Harassment and protest in India Essay

Protesting inequality - Harassment and protest in India - Essay Example In India, women are married young, become young mothers at a young age that then burdens them with stringent financial and domestic responsibilities. A great number of women in India are malnourished as traditionally they should be the last to eat and last to receive medical attention. In relation to education 76%, men in India are educated while only 54% of women are educated; they receive little or no schooling and suffer from unfair and biased divorce and inheritance laws. To generate change the Indian people use the anti-reservation protests, in these protests, they push for integration of women into all the sectors mostly education, and also push for a revision of the existing policies. Other tactic people use to improve the conditions for women is the use of social media. In these, the people understand that the media possesses immense power in regard to influencing masses. In these, they ensure that the media covers all the women issues in India bringing them open to the publi c. In India, Television is one of the pervasive and powerful media that women use to ensure that their message is communicated to the public. Faithful patriots: religion and nationalism Islam is the official religion in Pakistan; the country has the second largest Muslim population after Indonesia. The 2007 census found that 96% of Pakistanis total population was Muslim with 20% being Shia and 76% Sunni. Historically, Islam arrived in Pakistan back in 711CE, after Umayyad dynasty sent a Muslim Arab army against the ruler of Sindh.

- People and Organisations Case Study 2012-2013 Essay

- People and Organisations Case Study 2012-2013 - Essay Example With respect to the given case in point, that of Microsoft before and after the fateful year of 2006, there are a number of points that this analysis will seek to make as a means of better informing the reader as to why such a shift in outcomes were noticed within this specific year (Dodds 2011, p. 33). Whereas group work and the performance review process had previously helped to elevate the level of overall output, profitability, and performance, the firm seemed to reach a type of critical mass in which the given formula of success that had set the firm on such a path of growth and rapid development seemed to fall apart. However, it is obvious from a study of business management theory that it is not possible for a given approach to merely stop working (Hult 2012, p. 5). Instead, one must assume that key personnel factors, dynamics of business, culture, or other factors have affected the ability of the previous system to continue to promote the high level and degree of success that the firm had formerly experienced. ... As a result of the high level of emphasis on groups and the way that the performance reviews ranked these groups and their individual members, a type of opportunism developed. This opportunism is a trait that can be linked to both management theory as well as human psychology; however, for the purposes of this brief analysis, the author will focus upon the level and extent to which the emphasis on group formation, recognition, and personal performance sought to develop a type of self-interested dynamic that quickly gave way to something of an extent culture within the Microsoft organization (Maddox 2005, p. 3). The fact of the matter was that the group dynamics that had given rise to such a high level of success within the organization were the very same dynamics that eventually would prove to be a net negative. It is a well known fact that a company’s culture is not something that is developed and implemented overnight (Muller et al 1999, p. 90). Rather, it takes many years, and the actions of management to solidify. In this way, the reader can quickly infer the that the true nature of the issues associated with Microsoft, as indicated by the case study which was reviewed in writing this brief response, stem not from the fact that the individual management or organizational style which was employed was fundamentally wrong; rather, the key errors only developed many years later as a function of the negative cultural developments associated with opportunism, selfishness, and the gradual shift from operating as a true group should and seeking only to maximize a sense of personal gain from each and every situation that the members of

Portrayal Of Homosexual Characters In Disney Film Studies Essay

Portrayal Of Homosexual Characters In Disney Film Studies Essay The Walt Disney Company first appeared in America (and soon after the rest of the world) in the 1920s. 90 years later and it is still going strong and is a corporation to be reckoned with. From their beginnings as a simple animation company, it now covers lots of different genres of film as well as branching out to television companies, theme parks, books, theatre adaptations, cruises and music labels. To date, Disney has produced 49 animated films, 10 live-action, 11 DisneyToon productions, two stop-motion and 10 Pixar films with the hugely anticipated release of Toy Story 3 in June 2010. But concentrating on their main produce, their range of animated films has been experience by everyone from the ages of 1 to 101. Disney is at the forefront of family entertainment as well as a form of escapism (a flying elephant, living toys, mermaids and monsters?!) and a hidden (if not obvious to adults) way to introduce morality to children as early as possible. However, who decides what morals to portray in these very Americanised films? In recent times, Disney films have reflected the social climate with the introduction of the first black protagonist in The Princess and the Frog (2009). So as these films are becoming true to life and educating future generations, has there been an introduction of non-heterosexual characters as well? The Disney Companys first feature length animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937) was a colossal project which pushed every employee working on the production extremely hard but the results were worth it. The amalgamation of a moral filled story with realistic animation then paved the way for the following Disney films during, what was known as their Golden Age: Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940), Dumbo (1941) and Bambi (1942). The morals contained within these films and all to follow, were seen by conservative Americans as important family values and trusted upon Disney to teach these values to everyone. For more than 50 years Walt Disney Company has represented all that is good and pure and wholesome in our nation. Families flocked to Walk Disney World and Disneyland because they knew that Walt Disney respected and nurtured the traditional American family and its strong moral values. Disney could always be counted on to provide parents and children alike with family-friendly, good-natured entertainment Letter from a coalition of Florida lawmakers, 1995 However, are these morals and values shared by all? And does the way in which they are portrayed actually reflect reality? They are American ideals of conservative family values which support the life storyline of romance, marriage (to someone of the opposite sex) and then children in a parallel world to that of the traditional Anglo-Saxon, Christian American upbringing. Reading further into these ideals are that of the issues of individuality, love and capitalism that are being depicted to all Disney viewers, namely children. These viewers cannot differentiate what is being shown to them as not necessarily the reality of the world (as the world consists of more than just the one religion of Christianity). New generations of children subjected to Disney films are growing up with ideologies from these stories as they have faith in them to contain some element of truth. Not all the storylines can be deemed as promoting negative beliefs though. Disney movies always contain an aspect of the follow your heart love which if regarded as the most important moral, then maybe some people will overlook the American family values shown in favour of love. However, this follow your heart belief can only really exist within some religions as others have strict rulings as to who you can marry and really fall in love with. Throughout film history (up until recently), there were very few storylines which contained a gay or lesbian character as a protagonist. The general film public saw those films, which did include a main gay character, as gay-themed (so not to their tastes) or alternative. In recent years, filmmakers have seen a niche in the market for gay films, although it was in 1896 with The Celluloid Closet that a gay subtext was used within in a film. It would then take some 70 years later before Queer Cinema would come about. Censorship on homosexuality in films came about in Britain in 1912 with the founding of the British Board of Film Censors and in 1934, the Production Code in America was enforced. Within this strict guideline for good taste was that homosexuality or bisexuality must never be represented or even inferred. Slowly though, gay and lesbian characters were brought into films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Clueless (1995) and Billy Elliot (2000). But as previously sa id, only in supporting roles as the gay best friend. When they finally were given the main storylines, the characters were shown to imitate heterosexuality as much as possible to be accepted. This can be seen in Philadelphia (1993) where many believe this to a patronising look at gay life and the yearning to be accepted as normal in a heterosexual world. There are no outrageous scenes of affection between Hanks and his partner within in the film. Queer identity can be related to many different people not just gay and lesbian individuals. The Western world may seem like a land of equality but to those in the minorities, it is not. Studies have shown it is suggested by traditional teachers and career advisors that schoolgirls go into feminine jobs (Apter, 2000) while schoolboys are driven away from jobs seen as traditionally female (Woodward, 2000). Men and womens identities have changed however as equality for women in the workplace is fought more and more showing that females can be the provider that men traditionally were. This leaves the men unsure of their identity in the world but through popular culture and mass media, they can be shown as well as women where they belong in contemporary life. So as society has become accepting of women in the workplace by it being reinforced by popular culture and mass media (but perhaps not by Disney films) that when non-heterosexual characters are introduced, tolerance towards them sho uld improve? With Disney films, the morals and values are chosen so it can be said that capitalism will control how homosexuality is visualised and dealt with. Despite this limited perspective, society is becoming more accommodating of different sexualities although many non-heterosexuals are still facing prejudice and discrimination from older generations and others. America is slightly less open-minded than the UK as a survey by Gallup showed that although homosexuality is tolerated more as an acceptable lifestyle, 42 per cent of the people surveyed felt that homosexuality should be illegal. Contrasting against this is a poll from the same year showing that just 17% of people in England felt less positive towards non-heterosexuals (MORI, 2001). Heteronormativity can be defined as a set of lifestyle rules to which society follows and falls into a specific gender with an outlook of a traditional role in life. Heteronormativity occurs in nearly every film in various ways. It can promote the message of men being the dominating person in a relationship with women following after them being housewives. However it is usually seen to promote that heterosexuality is the normal sexual orientation and any kind of sexual relationships should only be between a man and a woman. Sometimes it is obvious and other times the viewer does not realise that the story they are watching is promoting heterosexuality and that this is the ideal (or assumed, expected, ordinary and privileged) sexuality. Viewers can recognise that films have hidden meaning and semes such as good vs. evil, rich vs. poor, children vs. adults etc. However it is the seme of heterosexuality vs. homosexuality, which is the problem with films pushing heteronormativity. Films that set up neat systems of good and evil dos and donts are part of the pervasive simple-mindedness that posits heterosexuality and queerdom as irreconcilable opposites which cannot co-exist respectfully. Todd Hayward, The Lyin King Planet Homo 69 (21st Sept 1994, 17) With heterosexuality being the assumed sexuality of society, this only reinforces discrimination and prejudice towards non-heterosexuals. The amount of different heterosexual storylines shown will increase the amount of heteronormativity within the media in general as generations are exposed to it. With heteronormativity shown in most popular culture, it also redefines how homosexuality is perceived. It can be compared to public vs. private, with heterosexuality being public and homosexuality being private therefore something to be hidden. Even before a viewer experiences heteronormativity in a film, the masculine/feminine definitions of gender are promoted first. From this, sexuality, pleasure and identity can then come forth as the storylines and characters develop, which leads to heteronormativity. Obviously it is easy to see that Disney films promote heteronormativity although many people believe Disney films to be sexually free, it can still be a non-sexual part of our lives. Disney films show the traditional domesticity of the roles of men and women against a credible heterosexual backdrop by replacing sex with romance and reinforcing the patriarchal family structure. This can be seen in Bambi (1942) as Bambis character is promoted as the King of the Forest and will take over from his father. It also depicts his forsaking of his dependence on his mother as she is killed during the film. The very over-used storyline of the princess or girl being romanticised by the male character, which then leads to an eventual wedding, is predominant in many Disney films. A comparison of Disney films against other animated films from different companies made during 1990-2005, show that there is a much stronger hetero-romantic storyline in Disney films. Many Disney films have a reference to a hetero-romantic storyline, usually as the main plot but they also contain sexiness (Kazyak and Martin, 2009) as womens bodies are portrayed as curvaceous with semi-revealing costumes. With these hetero-romantic storylines, heterosexuality is glamorised as being special and different from other kinds of relationships. It is shown to have the power to change the world (either by breaking a spell (Beauty and the Beast), belonging to the ideal world (The Little Mermaid), stopping a war (Pocahontas) or changing an old-fashioned law (Aladdin)). These storylines are usually only shown through kissing and no other sexually embodiment. This can reinforce the heteronormativity, as Conservatives believe that any two characters have to be heterosexual unless seen kissing someone of the same sex. For instance, there could be some homosexual affection between Aladdin and the Genie but viewers do not read into this friendship with this outlook. The friendships portrayed in Disney films do not re flect reality as it is unusual for a female character to have a same sex friendship with another character unless they of a maternal nature, whereas in reality, many young girls and women have a female best friend. For males they usually have a comical friend/sidekick which could be said to show reality slightly more. All of this can be shown that Disney endorses heterosexuality within the majority of their films and even tries to influence the thinking that being heterosexual is far more glamorous than being homosexual. With this educating outlook, Disney actually took another step by creating military and educational films during the 1940s. As the Second World War took its toll, Walt Disney knew his company was facing bankruptcy as the profits from Snow White were transferred into the productions for Pinocchio and Fantasia but these did not reach the same high profits. With a strike by animators also, productions were delayed for months. Disney knew he had to keep his company going and believed that his animation films could be used to help the war effort through education and propaganda. Military training films were churned out at an amazing rate and low budgets. The films used the, by now, well-known characters and newly designed mascots to keep the soldiers morales high. Soon they were being made to also keep the spirits high of Americans at home, while their loved ones went overseas to fight. With these films, the federal government and Disney were forming a strong relationship, as the studios were used by army personnel and kept afloat for the duration of the war. The federal government even made it possible for Disney to obtain the chemicals needed to make the films despite its requirement for the making of weapons. The films were hugely popular as they used the traditional animation and moral-driven narrative used for the previous Disney films and this suited the governments needs. Many cartoons started to take on a wartime theme to entertain but also to educate. Disneys public health and education films were, in part, attempts to provide models for domestic life (Cartwright and Goldfarb (1994), 175). Within these educational films, there was the notion that hard work combats illness whereas laziness breeds disease. So as well as supporting heteronormativity within their films, Disney had started to educate not just America but the world, in their ideals. Being practically sponsored by the federal government, the issue was then whose ideals were being portrayed Americ as or what the government wants its country to represent? Even within their films for children, Disney started to become an influential power over everyone who watched their films. Subliminal messaging started to occur in its short films as a humorous way for the animators to disrespect Disney as he refused to share creative credit. However, some of Disneys films from the 1990s started to have questionable sexual subliminal messaging. Some instances of these hidden messages are an erect penis on the cover of The Little Mermaid video as well as an erection in the film (which was actually the characters knee). Others saw the word sex depicted in The Lion King (it says SFX as a credit to the special effects team) whilst others heard someone whispering All good teenagers, take off your clothes in Aladdin. And finally it was thought you could see that Jessica Rabbit wasnt wearing any underwear in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? These supposed messages could be seen as queer readings (not in the non-heterosexual meaning but in the non-standard meaning) as people started to think of Disney as a lewd company with a gay agenda. However these messages are focussed on sex not sexual orientation and really do rely on the viewer knowing to listen or look for them. But when a child likes a film, many will watch it over and over again. And through this repeated viewing, children can begin to understand more and perhaps the innuendoes that were meant only for adults. This is particularly so as it is becoming almost impossible to avoid popular culture and advertising which can broaden a childs mind prematurely. A survey in 2006 of 1,300 UK families showed that seven in 10 children now have their own television in their bedrooms, with more than half of these also owning a DVD player. Similarly, a survey in America released in November 1999 showed that 88% of all US households have two or more televisions, 60 % have three or more and 53% of all children have a television in their bedrooms. With all this access to popular culture, children are growing up with the medias point of view on situations and relationships. With Disney such a presence in childrens lives also, once again whose morals are they growing up with? (EXPECTATIONS OF ENTERTAINMENT PARAGRAPH) Disney films can be a used a form of escapism, not just for children but also for adults. Despite whether its supporting heteronormativity or Americanism, their storylines often show that a good life is possible despite misfortune and difficulty. Even the homosexual culture has adopted this chance of escapism (QUEER READINGS PARAGRAPH) However as the 20th Century progressed, as did the heads of the company. With the passing away of Walt and then his brother Roy Disney, Michael Eisner took charge during the mid 1970s and started to change a few things about the company. Miramax films were brought under the Disney umbrella, which allowed an outlet for (more profitable) R and X-rated films (15 and 18 under the BBFC). This started to threaten the Disney ideals that had been so strongly portrayed in many of its films. Right wing Christian fundamentalists felt it was a betrayal of their trust in a company they had believed in for so long. Various organisations (the American Family Association, the Family Research Council and Morality in Media for example) started to boycott Disney as they thought that the company

Causes and Solutions of Obesity Essay

If you can prolong your life, and make yourself feel better about who you are then why not overcome this overweight issue. In today’s world we are facing an epidemic that seems to be affecting even are young at an early age. We all know that obesity can have adverse effects on health, well-being, and relationship, and can be solved by eating organic food, exercising, and discipline. We are here to find out the different causes of obesity, and find out what we can do to overcome this fast growing epidemic. â€Å"Although people in the Unites States might not be eating more, they are gaining weight. According to the U.S Department of Agriculture, fat consumption by people in the United States has declined during past decades, but calorie expenditure has gone down as well. Adults are not burning the calories they are consuming, and as a result, obesity rates increased by 214 percent between 1950 and 2000. Two out of every three people in the U.S. were obese or overweight in 2010†. (Bird, 2011, March 26, p.1). They are several solutions that can be implemented to these causes, and some are individual, community, and government solutions. I feel it is everyone’s own responsibility to make they maintain their own health. Obesity could occur in all humans, obesity does not care what race you are or even the time you have lived in. â€Å"Ancient Egyptians are said to consider obesity as a disease, having been drawn in a wall of depicted illnesses†. â€Å"The Aztecs believed that obesity was supernatural, an affliction of the gods†. (Miles, 2006, p.1). Obesity begins in a membrane enclosed organelle known as mitochondria. Mitochondria can be defined as the part of the cell that is responsible for energy production. According to research mitochondria is believed to be the source where obesity begins. â€Å"My clinical work and research with patients with immune disorders, chronic fatigue, chemical sensitivity and obesity have led me to the conclusion that the primary site of catabolic maladaptation, and the obesity that it causes, is in the mitochondria.† (Where Does Obesity Begin,p.1). There are many speculations that obesity has been around for a long period time, but does anyone r eally know when obesity really started. There are many causes of obesity, and genes play a small role in how it can affect a person in the future. â€Å"Science shows that genetics plays a role in obesity. Genes can directly cause obesity in disorders such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome†. (Etiology, n.d.p.1). Even though genes play a role other factors come into play like the behavior of the individual. It can also depend on incidence of obesity in the family . â€Å"It is now well established that overweight and the different forms of obesity are conditions tending to concentrate within a family. Obesity risk is two to eight times higher for a person with a family history as opposed to a person with no family history of obesity, and an even higher risk is observed in cases of severe obesity†. Furthermore the way are genes have been sequenced can be linked to obesity. â€Å"Sequence variations within a pool of 56 different genes have been reported as being related to obesity phenotypes, h owever, only ten of those genes showed positive results in at least five different studies†. (Etiology, n.d. p.1). Even though genes play a part in cases of obesity they can still be overcome with different solutions. For example, I come from a family that is generally overweight, but I have chosen to change my lifestyle. I learned to exercise more frequently and not consume more than I need to at times. â€Å"Since there is only a small population of obese people who have been affected by the genetics of their family tree, it suggests that genes are not necessarily a fate that cannot be outdone. Obesity and the prevention of obesity can be aided with lifestyle changes and behaviors that include a healthy diet, increased physical activity, as well as medication†. (What Role Does Genetics, para.1). We are all born with genes, and it is normal to inherit these genes from your parents which can influence obesity. We as people enjoy tasty food which makes us devour unhealthy foods. This is where the fast food industry takes an immense toll on our country. There are certain items placed in these foods that can make people feel the need to eat these foods on a regular basis. â€Å"Almost all items on fast food menus are deep fried or packed with sugar, and many even contain chemicals or preservatives that further their addictive capabilities†. Just the other day I was affected by these hormones as I craved a ultimate cheeseburger from Jack in the Box. There are also factors which consist of what are fed to the sources of these treats. The animals are given certain hormones that are returned to us since we are consuming them in the process. â€Å"Many chains add hormones to the feed that they give to their livestock, which in turn ends up on a burger or in a wrap. These hormones are mainly used to increase the size or productivity of the animals being used, and some are both addicting and harmful to humans†. (Brad, 2009, p.1). Furthermore, convenience of these places makes it stress-free for societies to continue to purchase foods at these establishments. For instance, for people who are always in a rush are not able to make lunches for them, so they turn to the most convenient way to fill their hunger. â€Å"If you’re trying to manage a busy career, start a side business, have community responsibilities, and have a spouse and children at home (a situation that sounds awfully familiar to me), convenience can be an enormously important factor†. There is another issue of money if you are low on funds are looking for something to your taste you are able to purchase items off the dollar menu. Fast food industries can be found in almost every corner so it can be defined as a major role in our struggle. Even if they are numerous causes for obesity there are still many solutions that can be implemented to reduce or even cease this issue. There are plenty of forms of exercise that can be performed to lose weight, and exercise plans can be made to keep the pounds off once lost. â€Å"Obesity exercise solutions can help obese people lose weight and body fat safely. An exercise plan that is designed for obese people who have a limited range of motion can be an effective obesity treatment when combined with a nutritious diet plan†. (Obesity Exercise, 2009, p.1) Even if you do not have time to spare there is always other things like parking further away at the parking lot. There other benefits that comes hand in hand with physical training, and these are the health benefits. â€Å"Reducing your risk of dying from heart disease or stroke, lowering your risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes† (Arthur, 2009, p.1). According to surveys conducted the leading cause of death in the United States come from cardiovascular disease. Physical health has been implemented for ages now, and it can be performed in certain jobs that require manual labor. In conclusion it might be the best way to reduce the chance of becoming obese or cure obesity. â€Å"Experts agree that regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to prevent obesity.† (Arthur, 2009, p.1). If you require motivation to help you hit the gym or apply a certain exercise routine to your life do it with a buddy. You can also join groups like the zumba classes, or you can make a goal for yourself to make it like a game. A diet of healthy eating can be ministered to help overcome obesity. Have you ever wanted a fresher taste to compliment your taste buds? Well organic foods are the way to go. Organic foods can be defined to encourage a healthier way of life, and even start to show positives outcomes to your body. â€Å"Organic food promotes healthy patterns of cell division and differentiation, and lays the groundwork for normal endocrine system regulation of blood sugars, lipids, energy intake, and immune system functions†. (Organic Pathways, para.1). I know some people are very limited when it comes to spending money on expensive food, but organic foods can even be grown to save money. Furthermore you are able to buy organic foods at wholesale prices at your convenience. Also adding small portions to your healthy diet plan can help reduce weight in the long run. â€Å"When you eat a large portion of food, glucose levels rise quickly. When your bloodstream is flooded with glucose, your pancreas releases insulin to move that glucose into your cells for use. But the faster glucose levels rise, the more likely it is that your pancreas will produce too much insulin, leading to low blood sugar, called hypoglycemia. Your brain is tricked into thinking you need more glucose and you start to feel hungry†. (Maura, 2011, p.1). Adding this to your daily regimen can help control over eating, and it can also stabilize your hunger. Talk to a nutritionist to see what would be best for your current situation. In conclusion, they are numerous causes and solutions that are associated with obesity, and it is up to you to decide which choices would best to make. If we do not do anything about it now obesity will continue to rise and overtake us in a very young age. According to statistics if we maintain this rise in obesity by 2030 eighty five percent of the United States will be obese. Implementing these solutions we can succeed in creating a better way of life for all people. We do not need to be like the society in the movie Wall E where all the people are obese! References Arthur S. (2009) Obesity and Exercise Retrieved from http://weight-loss.emedtv.com/obesity/obesity-and-exercise.html Beverly B. (2011) How much has obesity rates raised since the 1950? Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/384722-how-much-have-obesity-rates-risen-since-1950/ Brad V. (2009) Is fast food addictive? Retrieved from http://www.helium.com/items/1477052-fast-food-addictive-addiciton-unhealthy-chemicals-mcdonalds-kfc-wendys-corporations Etiology (n.d.) Retrieved from http://obesity.ulaval.ca/obesity/generalities/genetic.php Where Does Obesity Begin (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.majidali.com/where.htm Maura S. (2011) Three benefits of eating smaller portions Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/507006-three-benefits-of-eating-smaller-portions/ Milos P. (2006) The history of obesity Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?The-History-of-Obesity&id=357342 Obesity and Pregnancy surprising facts (2009) Retrieved from http://www.3fatchicks.com/obesity-exercise-solutions-for-a-limited-range-of-motion/ Organic Pathways (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.organicpathways.co.nz/community/story/654.html Trent (2011) Fast food, convenience and money Retrieved from http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2011/12/13/fast-food-convenience-and-money/ What role does genetics play in obesity (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.free-fad-diets.com/what-role-does-genetics-play-in-obesity.html

Design a Flow Chart for a Process

Design a flow chart for a process Zoey Johnson University of Phoenix OPS/571 October 27, 2012 One process that seems to be a never ending process in my daily life is doing laundry. With a household of six people, the laundry needs to be done daily or else it will overtake the house quickly. To help illustrate the laundry process I have used Microsoft Word to create a flowchart that depicts the process. Using flowcharts is valuable because the flow of logic is shown throughout the process. Much like a blueprint for a building, a flowchart depicts the development of a process.Factors that affect the process design Water temperature and water level are the factors that affect process of the design. Both factors will determine how the laundry gets done. Performing the process design for laundry is broken down into the following steps. 1. ) Sort the clothes between whites, light colors, and dark colors 2. ) Check that the pockets are empty a. If pockets are empty move to step 3 b. If pock ets are not empty, empty them then move to step 3 3. ) Measure out the desired amount of detergent 4. ) Pour the detergent into the washer . ) Determine if fabric softener is needed. If needed, measure and add. If not go straight to step 6 c. Add Fabric Softener 6. ) Select water temperature. If clothes are temperature sensitive move to step 7, if not move to step 8 7. )Are clothes durable, like cotton d. If Yes use hot water e. If No use cold water 8. ) Determine Washing cycle f. If fabrics are delicate select gentle wash g. If fabrics are not delicate select normal wash 9. ) Adjust the water level per load 10. ) Load the clothes into the washer 11. Turn on washer and wait 35 – 45 minutes for wash cycle 12. ) Take clothes out of washer and put into dryer 13. ) Turn on dryer and wait 60 minutes 14. ) Take clothes out of dryer and fold For the flow chart design, the oval shapes represent the start and end steps for the process. The rectangular shapes represent the process step s. Decision steps are depicted by a diamond shape. Arrows are used to act as a guide to show the flow of process. Identify metric to measure process For the purpose of the laundering process, I have chosen sorting time as the metric for the process.Separating everyone’s laundry into whites, light colors, and dark colors is a time consuming process that can be reduced to reduce the amount of time it takes to do laundry. The remaining steps are fairly automatic so decreasing the sorting time is the best way to improve the process. Start Start Flow Chart Sort clothes by colors: whites, light colors, and dark colors Sort clothes by colors: whites, light colors, and dark colors No No Are pockets empty? Are pockets empty? Empty pockets Empty pockets Yes Yes Measure out desired amount of detergentMeasure out desired amount of detergent Pour Detergent into washer Pour Detergent into washer Is Fabric Softener Needed? Is Fabric Softener Needed? Add Fabric Softener Add Fabric Softener Y es Yes No No Are clothes Durable? Are clothes Durable? Yes Yes Select water temperature. Are clothes temperature sensitive? Select water temperature. Are clothes temperature sensitive? No No Yes Yes Use cold water Use cold water Use hot water Use hot water No No Determine wash cycle. Are fabrics delicate? Determine wash cycle. Are fabrics delicate? No No Yes YesUse normal cycle Use normal cycle Use gentle cycle Use gentle cycle Adjust the water level Adjust the water level Turn on washer and wait 35 – 45 minutes for wash cycle to complete Turn on washer and wait 35 – 45 minutes for wash cycle to complete Load Clothes into washer Load Clothes into washer Take clothes out of washer and load into dryer Take clothes out of washer and load into dryer Turn on dryer and wait 60 minutes for clothes to dry Turn on dryer and wait 60 minutes for clothes to dry Take clothes out of dryer and fold Take clothes out of dryer and fold