Decoding Of The Primal Emotional Experiences Of Humans And...

Decoding of the Primal Emotional Experiences of Humans and Animals from neuroscience perspective The article on the science news titled ‘What is the cognitive rift between humans and animals’ sheds light on the major cognitive differences between animals and humans. A scientist from the Harvard University synthesized some key variations that is existent in human and animal cognition into what precisely distinct human thought and that of animal. Marc Hauser, professor of psychology from Harvard presents his concept of the uniqueness of humankind, which make human cognition unique. The professor of psychology was of the opinion that animals share a lot of features that is evident in human thought, but ironically, there is a cognitive lacuna between humans and other animals. The professor contends that by analyzing the principal differences in cognitive abilities, some elements are found that are of human cognition and are distinctively human. The challenge that emerges though is the recognition of the systems that animals and human have in common, those that are distinct, and how they interact and interface with one another. In recent times, some scientists have come to the realization that some animals think in ways that at some point were perceived unique to humankind. For instance, some animals have episodic memory or mathematical proficiency that is non-linguistic. Nonetheless, despite these obvious similarities, a cognitive gap still exists between humans and otherShow MoreRelatedEvil a Learned Behavior6329 Words   |  26 Pagesdarkness, no positive without negative, no good without evil.† Throughout the history of humanity, humans have committed inconceivable and unthinkable acts of cruelty towards one another. From the brutal wars during the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans, to the modern area of ethnic cleansing and genocide one cannot help but wonder what is the root cause of this evil. Unthinkable numbers of human life has been lost in every corner of the world from the genocides in Armenia and Nazi Germany to

A Letter from Birmingham Jail Free Essays

Reflection of â€Å"A Letter from Birmingham Jail† by Martin Luther Kingjr. For our honors portfolio this quarter we were required to read three documents. We, then, were quizzed over each of the readings. We will write a custom essay sample on A Letter from Birmingham Jail or any similar topic only for you Order Now First, we read â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail† by Martin Luther King, Jr. , then, we read the transcript of President John F. Kennedys inaugural address, and last but not least, we read â€Å"Millennial Makeover† by Morley Winograd and Michael Hals. Furthermore, we had to read and analyze the documents because the quizzes required us to think deeper than the written words on the paper. I believe these documents are critical because they have shaped the government and our society today. My favorite of these three documents, if I had to pick. would be â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail†, not only because I admire Martin Luther King Jr. , but also because this letter Is a very powerful and Inspiring piece of work. Luther wrote while being confined in a jail in Birmingham, Alabama, for participating in civil rights demonstrations. His letter states that he will continue resisting nonviolently against racial discrimination and pleads the readers to see segregation from a different point f view. Moreover, I noticed that he quoted many people including Apostle Paul, St. Augustine, Reinhold Niebuhr and many others. This made me realize that he most likely had the quotations memorized since he didn’t have access to those sources while imprisoned. He mentions that â€Å"injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere† and that â€Å"an unjust law is no law at all† (Luther). This means that an unjust law causes harm; for example, If it Is lawful to torture a certain group of people, then that is not a law whatsoever. This idea of injustice affects many directly, ut also affects everyone else indirectly in the fact that prejudice is occurring around them. Furthermore, his words describe in detail what segregation was Ilke and what people like him had to go through. This impacted me because now, the idea of racial discrimination is completely frowned upon, while in the 1900’s it was something that seemed right and normal. It took years of hard work, bloody massacres. and non-stop action to obtain equality and I hate to see that a little bit of racism still exists today. The idea that immigrants are taking away Jobs and opportunities that should be for U. S. citizens. surprises me because this country was founded and created by immigrants. Instead of seeing different countries and different people in one world, we should see the whole world as one, because every human being, no matter what race. has his/her own rights and should have the same opportunities that his neighbor does. Luther is one of the most charismatic and persuasive people in history and has not only inspired many, but also revolutionized a country’s view. He wrote this letter hoping to stir up some emotion and I think he got his point across in very non-violent and mature kind of way that was unexpected and at the same time, admirable. His stance ofa nonviolent action and the desperate cry for an end to social discrimination is as powerful now as It was 50 years ago. We now stand by these liberal values and believe the God has made us all equal and has given us n r gnts tnat no law can take away. A tnougn tnls was not an easy project, I certainly did learn something from it and it inspired me to stand up for my beliefs, but also, in a way, allowed me to see that anything is possible through hard work. How to cite A Letter from Birmingham Jail, Papers

Freud And Dreams Essay Example For Students

Freud And Dreams Essay Dreams have been objects of boundless fascination and mystery for humankind since the beginning of time. These nocturnal vivid images seem to arise from some source other than our ordinary conscious mind. They contain a mixture of elements from our own personal identity which we recognize as familiar along with a quality of `otherness in the dream images that carries a sense of the strange and eerie. The bizarre and nonsensical characters and plots in dreams point to deeper meanings and contain rational and insightful comments on our waking situations and emotional experiences. The ancients thought that dreams were messages from the gods. The cornerstone of Sigmund Freuds infamous psychoanalysis, is the interpretation of dreams. Freud called dream-interpretation the via reggia, or the royal road to the unconscious, and it is his theory of dreams that has best stood the test of time, over a period of more than seventy years (Many of Freuds other theories have been disputed in recent years). Freud reportedly admired Aristotles assertion that dreaming is the activity of the mind during sleep (Fine, 1973). It was perhaps the use of the term activity that Freud most appreciated in this brief definition for, as his understanding of the dynamics of dreaming increased, so did the impression of ceaseless mental activity differing in quality from that of ordinary waking life (Fine, 1973). In fact, the quality of mental activity during sleep differed so radically from what we take to be the essence of mental functioning that Freud coined the term Kingdom of the Illogical to describe that realm of the human psyche. We dream every single night whether it stays with us or not. It is a time when our minds bring together material which is kept apart during out waking hours (Anonymous, 1991). As Erik Craig said while we dream we entertain a wider range of human possibilities then when awake; the open house of dreaming is less guarded (Craig, 1992). Superficially, we are all convinced that we know just what a dream is. But the most cursory investigation into the dreams essence suggests that after describing it as a mental something which we have while sleeping, and perhaps, in accord with experiments currently being carried out in connection with the physiological accompaniments of dreaming, such as Rapid-Eye Movements (REM), the various stages and depths of dream activity as reflected in changing rates of our vital signs (pulse-rate, heart-beat, brain-waves), and the time of the night when various kinds of dreams occur, we come up against what the philosopher Immanuel Kant called the Ding-An-Sich (thing-in-itself), and find ourselves unable to penetrate further into the hidden nature of this universal human experience (Fromm, 1980). It has been objected on more than one occasion that we in fact have no knowledge of the dreams that we set out to interpret, or, speaking more correctly, that we have no guarantee that we know them as they actually occurred. In the first place, what we remember of a dream and what we exercise our interpretative arts upon has been mutilated by the untrustworthiness of our memory. Which seems incapable of retaining a dream and may have lost precisely the most important parts of its content. It quite frequently happens that when we seek to turn our attention to one of our dreams, we find ourselves regretting the fact that we can remember nothing but a single fragment, which itself has much uncertainty. Secondly, there is every reason to suspect that our memory of dreams is not only fragmentary but inaccurate and falsified. On the one hand it may be doubted whether what we dreamt was really as hazy as our recollection of it, and on the other hand it may also be doubted whether in attempting to reproduce it we do not fill in what was never there, or what was forgotten (Freud, pg. 512). Dream accounts are public verbalization and as public performances, dream accounts resemble the anecdotes people use to give meaning to their experience, to entertain friends and to give or get a form of satisfaction ( Erdelyi, 35 ). In order to verbalize the memory of a dream that there are at least three steps one must take. First putting a recollected dream into words requires labeling categories, and labeling categories involves interpretation. Next since the dream is multimodal, putting them into words requires the collapsing of visual and auditory imagery into words. Solar Energy EssaySometimes the capitalist is himself the entrepreneur, and indeed in the case of the dreams, an unconscious wish is stirred up by daytime activity and proceeds to construct a dream. ( Palombo, M. D, 1986 ) The view that dreams carry on the occupations and interests of waking life has been confirmed by the discovery of the concealed dream-thoughts. These are only concerned with what seems important to us and interests us greatly. Dreams are never occupied with minor details. But the contrary view has also been accepted, that dreams pick up things left over from the previous day. Thus it was concluded that two fundamentally different kinds of psychical processes are concerned in the formation of dreams. One of these produces perfectly rational thoughts, of no less than normal thinking, while the other treats these thoughts in a manner, which is bewildering and irrational. Referring to Freuds quote stated in the beginning, by analyzing dreams one can take a step forward in our understanding of the composition of that most mysterious of all instruments. Only a small step forward will enable us to proceed further with its analysis. (Freud, pg. 589 608 ) The unconscious is the true psychical reality, in its innermost nature it is as much unknown to us as the reality of the external world, and it is as incompletely presented, as is the communications of our sense organ. There is of course no question that dreams give us knowledge for the future. But it would be truer to say instead that they give us knowledge of the past. For dreams are derived from the past in every sense. Nevertheless the ancient belief that dreams foretell the future is not false. (Freud, pg. 662) By picturing our wishes as fulfilled, dreams are after all leading us into the future. But the future, which the dreamer pictures as the present, has been molded by his indestructible wish into a perfect likeness of the past. ( Palombo, M. D, 1986 )Although there has been some descriptive study of the incidence and character of feeling in REM dreaming, there has been no investigation of the appropriateness of dream feelings to accompany dream imagery. It has been suggested that, the generation of affect in dreaming may not be as reliable as the generation of other forms of dream imagery. Dream affect generally seems to be consistent with the larger narrative context of the dreams. (David Foulkes Brenda Sullivan, 1988) Research by Cohen and Wolfe has shown that a simple distraction in the morning had a strong negative effect on dream recall. The study concerned a variable relatively neglected in dream research, the level of interest the subjects have about their dreams. One finding was that interest in dreams appeared to vary with sex: woman reported that they more frequently speculated their dreams and discussed them with other people than did men. These differences could reflect a greater tendency for woman to pay more attention to their emotional life and inner self. (Paul R. Robbins Roland H. Tanck, 1988)) One assumes naturally that the past events incorporated in his patients dream imagery may be defensive substitutions for other more objectionable events of the past. Through its relation to the dream, the screen memory, like the day residue, provides access to the associative structures of memory in, which are embedded the wishes and events, whose repression lies at the core of the neurotic process. ( Palombo M. D, 1986 ) But dreams do not consist solely of illusions, If for instance, one is afraid of robbers in a dream, the robbers, it is true, are imaginary- but fear is real. ( Freud, pg. 74 ) Affects in dreams cannot be judged in the same way as the remainder of their content, and we are faced by the problem of what part of the psychical processes occurring in dreams is to be regarded as real. That is to say, as a claim to be classed among the psychical processes of waking life. (Freud, pg. 74 ) The theory of the hidden meaning of dreams might have come to a conclusion merely by following linguistic usage. It is true that common language sometimes speaks of dreams with contempt. But, on the whole, ordinary usage treats dreams above all as the blessed fulfillers of wishes . If ever we find our expectations surpassed by the event, we exclaim, I should never have imagined such a thing even in my wildest dreams ! ( Freud pg. 132-133 )

Rutgers free essay sample

With that said, there are many factors that come in to play when considering me being blew to go to Rutgers University. What can study? One of the best things about Rutgers is that it offers over a hundred different majors, and holds thousands Of courses. When I get into college I would like to study Sports Management with a minor in Marketing. Luckily, Rutgers does offer a Bachelors degree in Sports Management and instead of mirroring in Marketing; could make it a major as well and be a double major.An opportunity like that is breath taking and definitely caught y attention. Although Rutgers doesnt offer my major beyond a bachelors degree, like masters or doctorates, Rutgers is an accredited university so another college with a Sports Management masters program would greatly accept my bachelors degree from Rutgers. Is Rutgers worth the cost? With such large and diverse campuses, Rutgers is a bit pricey. We will write a custom essay sample on Rutgers or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Although paying to attend may be very expensive, to me its a risk worth taking. Rutgers diversity along with its academic profile suggests that it s one of the top tier colleges across the nation. Also, Rutgers has so much more to offer than just academics. With 400 student groups, Division 1 athletic programs, and the states most extensive network of research labs, RIG definitely sets the bar very high. Hopefully with a helping hand from Financial Aid, Rutgers cost will be a little less expensive so that can cover all costs. Can I get in? That the million dollar question.Based on the different requirements and things that come in to play when the office of admissions hose who they would like to see at their school, think I have a fair shot. With my SAT scores and my personal statement, hopefully stand out in a way that would help me get accepted. Rutgers University is definitely a great choice for me personally. Although it has been on my college list, the tour definitely assured its position. With just a few hours worth of being there I could only imagine what it would be like to be there full time.

Biography of Vlad the Impaler, Inspiration for Dracula

Biography of Vlad the Impaler, Inspiration for Dracula Vlad III (between 1428 and 1431–between December 1476 and January 1477) was a 15th-century ruler of Wallachia, an east European principality within modern Romania. Vlad became infamous for his brutal punishments, such as impalement, but also renowned by some for his attempt to fight the Muslim Ottomans, even though Vlad was only largely successful against Christian forces. He ruled on three occasions- 1448, 1456 to 1462, and 1476- and experienced new fame in the modern era thanks to links to the novel Dracula. Fast Facts: Vlad III Known For: East European 15th-century rule who was the inspiration for DraculaAlso Known As: Vlad the Impaler,  Vlad III Dracula, Vlad Tepes, Dracuglia, DrakulaBorn: Between 1428 and 1431Parents: Mircea I of Wallachia, Eupraxia of MoldaviaDied: Between December 1476 and January 1477Spouse(s): Unknown first wife, Jusztina SzilgyiChildren: Mihnea, Vlad  Drakwlya Early Years Vlad was born between 1428 and 1431 into the family of Vlad II Dracul. This nobleman had been allowed into the crusading Order of the Dragon (Dracul) by its creator, the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, to encourage him to defend both Christian east Europe and Sigismund’s lands from encroaching Ottoman forces and other threats. The Ottomans were expanding into eastern and central Europe, bringing with them a rival religion to that of the Catholic and Orthodox Christians who had previously dominated the region. However, the religious conflict can be overstated, as there was an old-fashioned secular power struggle between the Kingdom of Hungary and the Ottomans over both Wallachia- a relatively new state- and its leaders. Although Sigismund had turned to a rival of Vlad II’s soon after initially supporting him, he came back to Vlad and in 1436 Vlad II became voivode, a form of prince, of Wallachia. However, Vlad II then broke with the Emperor and joined the Ottomans in order to try to balance the rival powers swirling around his country. Vlad II then joined the Ottomans in attacking Transylvania, before Hungary tried to reconcile. Everyone grew suspicious, and Vlad was briefly ousted and imprisoned by the Ottomans. However, he was soon released and reconquered the country. The future Vlad III was sent along with Radu, his younger brother, to the Ottoman court as a hostage to ensure that his father stayed true to his word. He didn’t, and as Vlad II vacillated between Hungary and the Ottomans, the two sons survived simply as diplomatic collateral. Perhaps crucially for Vlad III’s upbringing, he was able to experience, understand, and immerse himself into Ottoman culture. Struggle to be Voivode Vlad II and his eldest son were killed by rebel boyars- Wallachian noblemen- in 1447, and a new rival called Vladislav II was put on the throne by the pro-Hungarian governor of Transylvania, called Hunyadi. At some point, Vlad III and Radu were freed, and Vlad returned to the principality to begin a campaign aimed at inheriting his father’s position as voivode, which led to conflict with boyars, his younger brother, the Ottomans, and others. Wallachia had no clear system of inheritance to the throne. Instead, the previous incumbent’s children could equally claim it, and one of them was usually elected by a council of boyars. In practice, outside forces (mainly the Ottomans and Hungarians) could militarily support friendly claimants to the throne. Factional Conflict What followed were 29 separate reigns of 11 separate rulers, from 1418 to 1476, including Vlad III thrice. It was from this chaos, and a patchwork of local boyar factions, that Vlad sought first the throne, and then to establish a strong state through both bold actions and outright terror. There was a temporary victory in 1448  when Vlad took advantage of a recently defeated anti-Ottoman crusade and its capture of Hunyadi to seize the throne of Wallachia with Ottoman support. However, Vladislav II soon returned from crusade and forced Vlad out. It took nearly another decade for Vlad to seize the throne as Vlad III in 1456. There is little information on what exactly happened during this period, but Vlad went from the Ottomans to Moldova, to a peace with Hunyadi, to Transylvania, back and forth between these three, falling out with Hunyadi, renewed support from him, military employment, and in 1456, an invasion of Wallachia- in which Vladislav II was defeated and killed. At the same time Hunyadi, coincidentally, died. Ruler of Wallachia Established as voivode, Vlad now faced the problems of his predecessors: how to balance Hungary and the Ottomans  and keep himself independent. Vlad began to rule in a bloody manner designed to strike fear into the hearts of opponents and allies alike. He ordered people to be impaled on stakes, and his atrocities were inflicted on anyone who upset him, no matter where they came from. However, his rule has been misinterpreted. During the communist era in Romania, historians outlined a vision of Vlad as a socialist hero, focused largely around the idea that Vlad attacked the excesses of the boyar aristocracy, thus benefiting the ordinary peasants. Vlad’s ejection from the throne in 1462 has been attributed to boyars seeking to protect their privileges. Some chronicles record that Vlad bloodily carved his way through the Boyars to strengthen and centralize his power, adding to his other, and horrific, reputation. However, while Vlad did slowly increase his power over disloyal boyars, this is now believed to have been a gradual attempt to try and solidify a fictionalized state beset by rivals, and neither a sudden orgy of violence- as some of the stories claim- or the actions of a proto-communist. The existing powers of the boyars were left alone, as just the favorites and enemies who changed position. This took place over several years, rather than in one brutal session. Vlad the Impaler’s Wars Vlad attempted to restore the balance of Hungarian and Ottoman interests in Wallachia  and swiftly came to terms with both. However, he was soon assailed by plots from Hungary, who changed their support to a rival voivode. War resulted, during which Vlad supported a Moldovan noble who would both later fight him and earn the epithet Stephen the Great. The situation between Wallachia, Hungary, and Transylvania fluctuated for several years, going from peace to conflict, and Vlad tried to keep his lands and throne intact. Around 1460 or 1461, having secured independence from Hungary, regained land from Transylvania, and defeated his rival rulers, Vlad broke off relations with the  Ottoman Empire, ceased paying his yearly tribute, and prepared for war. The Christian parts of Europe were moving toward a crusade against the Ottomans. Vlad may have been fulfilling a  long-term  plan for independence, falsely buoyed by his success against his Christian rivals, or planning an opportunistic attack while the sultan was east. The war with the Ottomans began in the winter of  1461-1462  when Vlad attacked  neighboring  strongholds and plundered into Ottoman lands. The response was the sultan invading with his army in 1462, aiming to install Vlad’s brother Radu on the throne. Radu had lived in the Empire for a long time and was pre-disposed to the Ottomans; they did not plan on establishing direct rule over the region. Vlad was forced back, but not before a daring night raid to try to kill the sultan himself. Vlad terrified the Ottomans with a field of impaled people, but Vlad was defeated and Radu took the throne. Expulsion from Wallachia Vlad did not, as some of the pro-communist and pro-Vlad historians have claimed, defeat the Ottomans and then fall to a revolt of rebel boyars.  Instead,  some of Vlad’s followers fled to the Ottomans to ingratiate themselves to Radu when it became apparent that Vlad’s army could not defeat the invaders. Hungary’s forces arrived too late to aid  Vlad- if they had ever  intended to help him- and  instead  arrested him, transferred him to Hungary, and locked him up. Final Rule and Death After years of  imprisonment,  Vlad was released by Hungary in 1474 or 1475 to seize back the Wallachian throne and fight against a forthcoming invasion by the Ottomans, on the condition he converted to Catholicism and away from Orthodoxy. After fighting for the Moldavians, he regained his throne in  1476  but was killed shortly after in a battle with the Ottoman claimant to Wallachia. Legacy and Dracula Many leaders have come and gone, but Vlad remains a well-known figure in European history. In some parts of Eastern Europe he is a hero for his role in fighting the Ottomans- although he fought Christians just as much, and more successfully- whereas in much of the rest of the world he is infamous for his brutal punishments, a byword for cruelty, and bloodthirstiness. Verbal attacks on Vlad were spreading while he was still very much alive, partly to justify his imprisonment and partly as a result of human interest in his brutality. Vlad lived at a time when print was emerging, and Vlad became one of the first horror figures in printed literature. Much of his recent fame has to do with the use of Vlad’s sobriquet Dracula. This literally means Son of Dracul and is a reference to his father’s entry into the Order of the Dragon, Draco then meaning Dragon. But when British author ​Bram Stoker named his vampire character Dracula, Vlad entered a whole new world of popular notoriety. Meanwhile, the Roman language developed and dracul came to mean devil. Vlad was not, as is sometimes assumed, named after this. Sources Lallanilla, Marc. â€Å"Vlad the Impaler: The Real Dracula Was Absolutely Vicious.†Ã‚  NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 31 Oct. 2013.â€Å"10 Fascinating Facts About The Real Dracula.†Ã‚  Listverse, 11 Oct. 2014.Webley, Kayla. â€Å"Top 10 Royals Who Would Have Been Terrible on Facebook.†Ã‚  Time, Time Inc., 9 Nov. 2010.

Free IELTS Preparation Online - ESL

Free IELTS Preparation Online - ESL The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test provides an evaluation of English for those who wish to study or train in English. It is very similar to the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) required by North American universities and colleges. IELTS is a jointly managed test by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, British Council and IDP Education Australia. The test is accepted by many professional organizations in Australia and New Zealand, including  the New Zealand Immigration Service, the Australian Department of Immigration. If you are interested in studying and / or training in Australia or New Zealand, this is the test best adapted to your qualification needs. Studying for the IELTS test usually involves a long course. The preparation time is similar to that of the TOEFL, FCE or CAE courses (approximately 100 hours). The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes and consists of the following: Academic Reading: 3 sections, 40 items, 60 minutes Academic Writing: 2 tasks: 150 words and 250 words, 60 minutes General Training Reading: 3 sections, 40 items, 60 minutes General Training Writing: 2 tasks: 150 words and 250 words, 60 minutes Listening: 4 sections, 40 items, 30 minutes Speaking: 11 to 14 minutes Up until now, there have been few resources on the Internet for First Certificate preparation. Luckily, this is beginning to change.   You can use these materials to prepare for the exam or to check to see if your level of English is right for working towards this exam. What Is the IELTS? Before beginning to study for the IELTS, it is a good idea to understand the philosophy and purpose behind this standardized test. To get up to speed on test taking, this guide to taking tests can help you understand general test taking preparation. The best way to understand the IELTS is to go straight to the source and visit the IELTS information site.   Study Resources Now that you know what you will be working towards, its time to get down to work! Read about common IELTS mistakes and check out the following free practice resources on the Internet.   From the IELTS official site: Sample test questions From the excellent IELTS-Blog:  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹A collection of insightful IELTS writing tips From Exam English: IELTS Resources From IELTS Exam Preparation: Practice tests

Retail Theatre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Retail Theatre - Essay Example enticing when the front stage, backstage, the script, roles, the setting, the light effects, and the characters all blend together to stage a play with a unique theme (Baron, Harris & Harris, 2001). Retailers have been trying to create theatre environments that involve opportunities for audience participation and interaction. This metaphor has been used by retailers to gain competitive advantage and as a means of differentiation in the highly competitive market place. However, a theatre has a very elite and specific audience whereas the retailers are trying to create a variety of customer responses and reactions. To what extent this metaphor is justified depends on the benefits that both the retailer and the customers derive. Pine and Gilmore point out that the use of ‘theatre’ was not metaphorical. They use theatre in the sense that â€Å"work is theater† not â€Å"work as theater† (Harris, Harris & Baron, 2003). A retail theatre is considered to be a fun experience aimed at creating excitement. There are certain retail themed environments which employ retail theatre concepts to encourage the consumers to animate the theme. Baron, Harris and Harris (2001) discuss about four different theatrical settings and it has been found that many retailers are actually using such settings to enhance the customer experience and encourage customer participation. In theatrical realism the audiences are voyeurs as they feel that they are looking into their own private world and they observe a very personal situation. Many retailers have been trying to implement this concept. Niketown creates a setting in which the physical exercise and sporting environment allow the customer to become engaged in the shopping activity (Sands, Oppewal & Beverland, 2009). Computer retailers such as Apple have also embraced this concept of realistic settings and have benefited in terms of increased sales and positive word of mouth. Warner Brothers, the sports retailer has set up a video screen

The rising cost of college tuition Research Paper

The rising cost of college tuition - Research Paper Example Some parents and students harbor the feeling that college education is an investment (Butler and Foundation Heritage 3). Therefore, they anticipate returns from the money spent. The societal perspective towards college education is to a given extent pegged towards cost whereas on another extent pegged towards the value that one would achieve out of this investment. The high cost of college education deprives persons from low-income families to acquire college education. Alongside meeting the high cost of living that has skyrocketed in the last few decades, parents have to spend more dollars in meeting the education needs of their children. The result is a continuous struggle by the low-income communities to change their lives. On the other sense, some analysts hold the view high cost of college education derail the prestige and the status of the United States higher education. Many people have started questioning the whether the students get the value for the money they pay in their bid to acquire college education. The rise in cost of college education in various states is quite astonishing given the need to acquire education for the future. ... Arguably, the challenges as well as the demands in the society seem to limit individuals from stopping the quest for college education. Some critics have pointed out that rate of increase in tuition cost have consistently exceeded the overall inflation rate. The view of critics comparing the rise in college cost to the inflation rate concludes that there has to something wrong somewhere with industry whose firms consistently raise prices faster than the inflation rate. It is unusual for firms to experience growth that is much higher than the inflation rate. The rise in the college cost has predisposed many students to seek alternative funding including acquiring education loans that they are not able to pay until they acquire employment. Many students have huge debts, which they have acquired because of their attempt to seek college education. Further, some students have to enroll for work-study program in order to raise tuition fee for their education. Although education is instrume ntal to the lives of the people today, the high college cost seems to favor a given clique in the society. The cost for engineering or medical course, for example is not affordable to a student who comes from a humble background. The fear that some critics tend to harbor is that while everybody seems to appreciate the importance of education, many might not be able to acquire such services in future especially students from low-income communities (Wilson). Largely, this argument seems to point on social economic constraints experienced by the parents and students from less fortunate families. Since money defines the type of course that a student would pursue in college, there are some possibility that some students would settle on pursuing careers that they did not

The Ways Football Has Affected Society Essay Example for Free

The Ways Football Has Affected Society Essay You should answer ALL parts of ALL questions in this booklet. If you need more space for any answer, use the page(s) provided at the back of this booklet and clearly number the question. Check that this booklet has pages 2–11 in the correct order and that none of these pages is blank. YOU MUST HAND THIS BOOKLET TO YOUR TEACHER AT THE END OF THE ALLOTTED TIME. You are advised to spend 60 minutes answering the questions in this booklet. In the box below, name the large natural environment you have studied. Large natural environment: Question One: patterns A large natural environment is a distinctive part of the earth’s surface and is defined by its common characteristics or elements. Each of these characteristics creates patterns on the earth’s surface. Natural characteristics (elements) of an environment include: climate landforms soils vegetation. Circle the TWO natural characteristics from the list above whose patterns you wish to explain in this question. (a) In the box below, draw an annotated sketch map or diagram of your chosen large natural environment to show the patterns created by TWO natural characteristics of your chosen environment. Title: Key: (b) Fully explain the pattern created by EACH natural characteristic from (a) on your large natural environment. Support your answer with detailed evidence. Characteristic 1: Characteristic 2: Question Two: INTERACTIONs The natural environment is constantly evolving as the elements (characteristics) and processes interact with each other. The level of interaction varies in size (scale) over time and from place to place. Natural characteristics (elements) of an environment include: climate landforms soils vegetation. Circle the TWO natural characteristics from the list above whose patterns you wish to explain in this question. Discuss how the interaction between TWO characteristics varies from place to place in your large natural environment. In your answer, you should: explain how the characteristics interact fully explain how the interaction varies in different parts of the large natural environment use specific detailed evidence to support your answer. You may draw diagrams / maps in the box on page 7 to support your answer. Question Three: PerCEPTIONS Different groups of people and individuals perceive the natural environment in different ways. This perception can change over time. People’s perceptions are shaped by their background, their experiences, and their involvement with the particular natural environment. Name TWO different groups OR individuals linked to the large natural environment you have studied. Group / individual 1: Group / individual 2: (a) Complete the table below to show the perception each group / individual held about this large natural environment at TWO different points in time. In your answer, clearly state each point in time you are referring to, and include supporting evidence from your large natural environment. Group / individual Perception Perception 1 Point in time: Point in time: 2 Point in time: Point in time: (b) Fully explain why each group / individual’s perception has changed over time. Use detailed evidence to support your answer. (i) Group / individual 1: (ii) Group / individual 2: Extra paper for continuing your answers, if required. Clearly number the question. Question number Extra paper for continuing your answers, if required. Clearly number the question. Question number

Alien and Sedition Power: The Story of an Immigrant :: essays research papers

In the beginning, of our country, it was the Federalist Party with supreme power. In 1796, John Adams, a federalist, was President and the majority of congress was made up of federalists. John Adams was a very strong leader. He believed in federalist actions very much. He helped bring federalists to their current position. They were supreme, the law of the land. There was only meager opposition: the Democratic-Republican Party (DRP). This new party was led by Virginians Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Jefferson, at the time, was Vice-President but that is till an inferior position to Adams. The DRP believed in â€Å"power to the people† while the Federalists thought that a strong national government was needed to help our country. But both side agreed on one thing, America was a free land. It was a place for people of all kinds to live. This was an ideal home for freedom seeking immigrants, especially the French.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Hey Gabriel, the boat is docking! We must be ready to get off when it reaches the pier.† I yelled into the steerage cabin. â€Å"We’re finally in America!† Hi, my name is Jacque Savoie. I’m a Frenchman. My wife and I are going to start a new life here in the United States of America. We are searching for a land where we can be free, away from the tyrant king of France. In this land we will be granted the right to vote and to even run for a position in government! Our voyage across the Atlantic Ocean was long, tiring, and really bad too but I think that it was worth it. Our boat has landed in Raleigh, Virginia in the month of June and from here we will start our journey. The summer weather is in our favor. I heard that a guy named Thomas Jefferson is a man who can help us get our citizenship and that he also approves of a people run government. He is the Vice President but some say he used to be a commoner, form right here in Virginia. Anyway, tomorrow my wife and I are going to the Town Hall to legalize our citizen ship. I am going to become a citizen! I arrived at the Raleigh Town Hall yesterday at approximately 4:00 p.m. My wife and I approached the front office, with all of our paperwork filled out, and asked for our citizenship. The man looked up and laughed.

How effective is the first chapter of Lord Of The Flies? Essay

The first chapter of the L.O.T.F was very effective. It’s written after the Second World War but it talks about the first world, when the children from the city are flown to a hiding place, so they don’t get killed in the war. But the plane crashes in an island and the adults are all dead. This part makes the story effective because there’s suspense in it and excitement. There are no adults and no one knows where they are. They are stranded in an unknown island which makes this part of the story effective. The story starts with the â€Å"fair boy† getting out the crashed plane and stepping into the â€Å"scar†. The scar is made when the plane crashed into the island. This attracts attention to reader so this makes the story effective. Then as we go into the story we get introduced to â€Å"piggy† and we find out that the â€Å"fair boys† name is â€Å"Ralph†. They find something called a conch and â€Å"piggy† explains to â€Å"Ralph† what it does and this, what’s used to call the other children who were in the aeroplane. As we get introduced to each character the story starts to unfold and becomes more effective. The story is very effective when â€Å"Ralph† betrays piggy’s trust. Ralph – Ralph is a dependable and reliable person. He’s basically kind and he is sensitive. He demonstrates physical courage. He believes the good within people and represents the value of civilisations as well as democracy. He’s a posh person. â€Å"Piggy† is the intelligent person out of the group. â€Å"Jack† is a stubborn character and wants to be a leader because he wants to hunt and kill pigs. He says the best way to kill a pig is â€Å"you cut a pigs throat to let the blood out† so this shows his dark side. Ten there’s the twins â€Å"Sam† and â€Å"Eric†, they act the same, do the same and you can’t tell them apart. Then there’s â€Å"Maurice† who’s always smiling and is always a happy character. Then threes other boys where we don’t know much about except their names â€Å"Roger†, â€Å"Bill†, â€Å"Robert†, â€Å"Harold† and â€Å"Simon†, â€Å"Henry† and a boy with the birthmark. The symbolisms that are used in this novel are â€Å"piggy† he’s using this word to get the meaning across of the fact that he’s fat and ugly, which interests readers and makes the chapter effective. Then there’s piggy wearing glasses which shows symbol of intelligence. The conch with Ralph shows the symbolism of the world of democracy and how they are using the conch to show symbolism of democracy. There’s the beast which is the evil inside everyone. Jacks actions are symbolism of savagery. So all the symbolism attracts the readers attention and makes the chapter one effective. There are lots of themes in the novel betrayal, evil, order savagery power and leadership. In the novel there is a descent into savagery and is seen in the choir who became the hunters which makes the story effective because they change dramatically from little weak choir boys into hunters which makes the chapter effective. Jack releases his savage instincts by creating his mask. Then they become savages following his lead which makes the story effective. The conch becomes the symbol for the world of order and civilization. Where the boys come from they live in a democracy which is one of the themes here and they try to establish this on the island, however a democracy won’t work with few people trying. The uses of language in lord of the flies have a meaning behind each sentence. It’s structured well and you have to analyse each words to find out what the significance is behind the sentences. â€Å"them fruit† showing the bad english of piggy. â€Å"We can use this to call the others† and this is saying this is the first attempt at order. There is lots of imagery in the novel. It describes the person’s character and looks. Jack is an obstinate character and we can imagine him being blood lust as he wants to kill a pig. Then there’s piggy who we can imagine being intelligent fat and detested person. To my judgment chapter one is very effective because as a reade4r I loved how the sentence started and how it gradually built up interestingly and it was so effective it made you want to read more and more. As the chapters go I am sure the novel will be interesting.

Paper on John Pierport Morgan: Father of Modern United States Economy

John Pierpont Morgan is considered one of the founding fathers of the modern United States economy. Morgan was a banker, railroad czar, industrialist, financier, philanthropist, yachtsman, and ladies' man. The wealth of the Morgan family did not begin with Pierpont but with his grandfather Joseph Morgan. Joseph's first son was Junius Spencer Morgan, also destined for the life of a businessman. In 1864 Junius took over the Peabody Company and changed the name to J. S. Morgan & Co. John Pierpont Morgan was born on April 17, 1837 in Hartford, Connecticut. The family prospered in Hartford until Junius moved the family to Boston where Morgan began Boston English High. In 1857, Junius Morgan decided to broaden his son's experience by sending him to New York. The firm of Duncan, Sherman & Co. was the American representation of the George Peabody Company. In less than three years Morgan went from clerk to cashier in the company. In 1860 Morgan left Duncan, Sherman and founded J. P. Morgan and Company to act as an agent for his father's business. In 1864 Morgan joined up with another former businessman of Duncan, Sherman & Company, Charles Dabney. Charles Dabney and Morgan started their own company named Dabney, Morgan & Co. Morgan's business continued to grow as he intensively involves his company in more trade and commerce transactions. In 1871 Dabney retired and Anthony J. Drexel became Morgan's new senior partner. Drexel was already the head of the Philadelphia investment bank Drexel & and Company. The new company Drexel Morgan & Co. became one of the largest and most successful companies on Wall Street. When Junius Morgan died in 1890, J. P. became head of the London house. Anthony Drexel also died in 1893, and Morgan reorganized the Morgan and Drexel firms two years later. The New York based Drexel Morgan became J. P Morgan & Co. Morgan was an imposing figure on Wall Street and in the financing world but was virtually unknown to many until 1869. That year a war over railroads began including Jay Gould and Jim Fisk, both famous financiers. Gould already had dominant control over the Erie railroad and began to buy up stock in the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad. The board of the railroad was prevented from issuing new stock to protect itself and the president of the company, Joseph Ramsey, was suspended. Ramsey and the board of the company fought Gould buy acquiring more shares of the company. The board of directors and Ramsey asked Morgan for his financial support. Morgan deposed the Erie railroad directors and was more than happy to assist the Ramsey plea. Through legal feuds with Boss Tweed and other characters and holding covert stockholder meetings, Morgan was able to obtain a lease over the company. The state supreme court upheld the lease and ensured ownership over the company to Morgan, Ramsey and the original owners. The legislature, at the time, began to propose control of railroad management, prevent stock watering, and tax profits. William H. Vanderbilt, the legislature, at the time, began to propose control of railroad management, prevent stock watering, and tax profits. Vanderbilt inherited eighty seven percent of the stock of the New York Central Railroad. He made a secret agreement with Morgan to sell 250,000 shares of his stock to English investors. Vanderbilt also agreed to combine the Central railroad with the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad. When the news broke out about the deal, Morgan was praised as an economic genius and stepped out of his father's shadow. As Morgan enjoyed his position on the board of the New York Central, he used his position to settle a dispute of railroad organization in 1885. New York Central was competing with Pennsylvania railroad for control over the West Shore line. The two companies were engaging in rate wars and for control over surrounding lines. A second offspring, the South Pennsylvania line, was built by the Central to compete with the Pennsylvania line. Morgan argued that is was senseless for Vanderbilt and Gould, the two leaders, to compete over the lines. The two parties agreed and Morgan was again hailed as an industrial wizard. Mr. Morgan developed into the nation's railroad reorganizer. Morgan was brought in to slash the value of the watered stock, reduce interest rates on the bonds, and assess the shareholders for more money. Morgan's plans for the Philadelphia and Reading lines were working well until their president A. Archibald McLeod waged was against Pierpont. In 1888, John Pierpont was again called on to reorganize railroads in the east. Morgan was unsympathetic with governmental regulation; however, he sought to help enforce the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. After the Panic of 1893, the government called on Morgan once more to reorganize a large number of leading railroad systems of the country. Various devices were used to ensure Morgan's continued control and that of his associates over the companies. Morgan's methods of railroad organization followed a standard pattern with small variations. Third, Morgan and his associates would always charge enormous fees for their services. Morgan's reputation most likely grows from his role in the emergence of many modern companies. Morgan, through his innate business sense, helped launch some of America's largest corporations. Morgan was now known throughout the land for reorganizing the railroad system. Morgan was one of the earliest of Thomas Edison. Morgan continued to support the growing company by acquiring many stock shares and facilitating the company's merger with the Thomson-Houston Electrical Company. This merger created the General Electric company, one of the most prominent companies in the modern world. Morgan went on to help create the Federal Steel Company, the National Tube Company and the American Bridge Company. One of Morgan's most famous business deals was the formation of the United States Steel Corporation in 1901. Morgan collaborated with Elbert Gary and John Gates to consolidate different steel companies to form a â€Å"supercombination. † The U. S Steel Corporation was organized and acquired the outstanding bonds and stocks of the Carnegie Company. The company also bought the preferred stocks of Federal Steel, National Steel, National Tube, American Steel & Wire, American Tin Plate, American Steel Hoop, American Sheet Steel, Lake Superior Consolidated Iron Mines and American Bridge Company. Morgan agreed to reorganize the situation and the two companies Deering Harvester and McCormick Harvesting Machine were merged with three other small companies to create the International Harvester Company. A Boston firm primarily financed the American Telephone and Telegraph Company when they faced a consortium of New York bankers in 1902. The New Yorkers, led by J. P Morgan, brought back Theodore Vail as head of the company and funded the company with one hundred million dollars to reorganize the company on a national scale. After 1906, the company was revived and a commanding force it was also principally backed by the house of Morgan. At the time many people believed that Morgan as well as other wealthy financiers including Carnegie and Rockefeller were stronger than the government and were not subject to ordinary laws. Morgan was said to have greatly profited from the transaction, although much upheaval was caused when Morgan refused to reveal his profits to a congressional committee. The panic of 1907 had begun with the public in mayhem and the government turning once again to Morgan for his leadership. Morgan pooled together an emergency committee with Rockefeller, Harriman, Frick, Schiff and H. H. Rodgers. This meaning of great financial leaders decided to help deal with the problem and deposit money into the government funds. Morgan rejected this idea; however, the group did instruct the secretary of Treasury to deposit substantial government relief funds and organize thousands of banks nationwide to deposit excess money into the relief fund. Pierpont Morgan was a man of many pecuniary gains and along with these gains came speculations and controversy into his financial dealings. The public often questioned the large undisclosed sum of money Morgan made by supporting the Treasury in 1895. This event was only one of many debatable issues that concerned Morgan and his control over the government and the American market. President Roosevelt investigated Morgan's large deal with the U. S. Steel Corporation and Tennessee Railroad Company but found that that the â€Å"means employed were none the less effective, as well as profitable. † The culmination of the government and public's suspicion of Morgan's activities were the Pujo hearings of 1912. The House Banking and Currency subcommittee headed by representative Arsene Pujo had been trying to establish that a â€Å"money trust† ruled over America's major corporations, railroads, insurance companies, securities markets, and banks. The attorneys prosecuting Morgan made the pivotal point that eighteen financial institutions effectively controlled a two-thirds majority of the 1912 capital resources, over twenty five billion dollars. The lead attorney questioned J. P. Morgan about his actions in a famous cross-examination. Morgan was questioned on his supposed monopolies, earnings and business practices. The value of Morgan's organization of companies and funding is immeasurable, as these companies are some of today's leading corporations. Pierpont built America with more in mind than that of personal financial gain.

Reflection Paper on politican system essays

Reflection Paper on politican system essays In analyses of different geopolitical struggles, social constructivism has taken into account most, if not all, of the factors associated with state security by starting at the level of the populace of each state. By taking into account internal political struggle, historical oppression, imperialism, and economic factors, social constructivism has overshadowed realist theories of state insecurity by incorporating all aspects of state functions instead of regulating definitions of global insecurity to describing a current global climate. Historical references are interwoven with cultural factors to flesh out a perspective on global interaction that considers everything that forms a state. Two specific examples of insecurity formation that are more accurately explained by social constructivism rather than realism, are the reasons behind interactions that both the Middle East and New Zealand have with the west; these areas will be used to illustrate the overwhelming superiority of soci al constructivism in realistically portraying the global power structure. Political scientists aligning themselves on the side of realism might argue that the theory encompasses all forms of international security and the definitions behind insecurity. Realism is a theory based upon threats inherently existing in the global system without addressing why or where the threats originated from outside of military proximity. Social constructivism thwarts all efforts by realists to describe and explain the global balance of power purely in the realm of states. By formulating a theory based on the cultural explanations behind what causes states to act and therefore cause other states to feel insecure, social constructivists explain the world from a perspective where there are no objective threats. In this realm, the historical and political values shape the present actions of a state and thus the situations that can potentially be threatening. The re...

Don’t Miss the National Career Summit †FREE This Week!

Don’t Miss the National Career Summit – FREE This Week! The job search process has become more complicated in the last several years. No longer can a job seeker simply look up interesting positions in the Classifieds, then send in a resume and cover letter on nice bond paper, hoping to get an interview. There is a whole world job seekers need to know about that includes job search strategy, branding, networking, social media, and more. Writing is still a key piece of the job search process, and the Essay Expert focuses almost exclusively on writing resumes and writing LinkedIn profiles (in the other aspects of the business, we edit business documents and help students write college application essays). If you need to bring your written documents up a level or two, we are a great resource. Although I will be taking a Job Search Strategist Course starting this week, I still plan to provide clients primarily with writing services. For the other aspects of the job search, I’m thrilled to announce the National Career Summit, which is being offered FREE by a top-notch group of career experts this week. You may have noticed my announcement of the event in my newsletter – it started November 4 – and there is still a week to go. If you are a job seeker or considering starting a business, this is a rare opportunity to learn from the best! Some of the topics include: Building Your Online Reputation Preparing Veterans and Others for Federal Employment (a great tribute to Veteran’s Day) Entrepreneurship: Creating a Business Plan Great Jobs for Everyone 50+ Networking (On and Off Line) Twitter and Facebook for Job Seekers How to Do Research to Find the Job You Want It’s quite a full schedule for the week – a tremendous opportunity really. If you consider job seeking as a full-time job, then it will be a clear choice for you to spend a couple of hours a day learning from these experts. Sign up for the National Career Summit here. View the schedule here. Events are being recorded and can be accessed after the telesummit is over for a small fee. Register now and take advantage of this weeks session at no cost! I’m so convinced you’ll get value from this summit that I am announcing it even though I am not one of the speakers! It’s important to me to provide resources to my readers and this is a great one. It’s also important to me to support my colleagues who are doing such important work supporting job seekers and entrepreneurs to reach their goals. I highly encourage you to participate in the presentations that look useful to you. If you do participate, please let me know how the sessions went!

Whistle-blowing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Whistle-blowing - Research Paper Example As high officials in the organization, they became privy to information that they thought would be damaging to the company. The Government Accountability Project (GAP) defined a whistle blower as: An employee who discloses information that s/he reasonably believes is evidence of illegality, gross waste or fraud, mismanagement, abuse of power, general wrongdoing, or a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety. Typically, whistleblowers speak out to parties that can influence and rectify the situation. These parties include the media, organizational managers, hotlines, or Congressional members/staff, to name a few. These 3 women could not be properly called whistle blowers under the rules cited in Chap 4 of Whistle blowing,:â€Å"employees who follows established procedures is not a whistleblower† As in definition above, whistle blowing should take into account to whom the information is given in order to achieve the desired change. Merely passing information to higher authorities in the organization is not whistle blowing and is only part of their duties. Their testimony in Congress could not be called whistle blowing as they were legally required to do so, and were not done voluntarily. Their memos only formed part of exhibits for testimony. Rowley could not be a whistle blower because her position requires utmost confidentiality, so she could not divulge to outer sources. Watkin’s advise. When Sherron Watkins wrote a lengthy memo to her boss, Ken Lay, she knew of the ticking time bomb that would explode into a scandal. She uncovered fraud that involved many persons in the organization. When she advised Ken Lay to develop a â€Å"clean up Plan†, she probably meant to have an organizational clean up that would correct the system, and purge erring employees. In an ethical perspective, she was

Executive Summary for the Automated Banking System Essay

Executive Summary for the Automated Banking System - Essay Example This would result to increased transactions at a less time and avoidance of customers overcrowding in the banking hall. The management information system (MIS) of PNC if implemented according to the given attributes would solve their problem by increasing revenues, providing a reliable banking system and reducing operating expenses. It would solve real world problems because it would create convenience for their customers to transact without the need of visiting the bank. Furthermore, though all banks possess ATM services, theirs if implemented, could mean a total revolution of e-banking services. Their MIS does not exist but can be invented as they have stipulated that it is their future plans. The conclusion based on their future plans is concise and engaging. However, I think their plan is ambitious and requires mega investment. If I were an executive, I would read into their business plan because it is unique and for prosperity in business, one has to take risks. In conclusion, their executive summary is well stated and it has a new sense of adding what does not exist in the banking sector. If their MIS is well implemented, it would offer competitiveness to other banks at the same time satisfying their clients. Finally, it would give a new approach to how banking is carried

Proofread Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Proofread - Essay Example The facility ensures that it preserves the resident’s dignity and respect. I had the privilege to collaborate with Wendy, who gave me a brief introduction of the facility and the rules and regulations that I had to abide to in the facility. During this time, Wendy who was the point of contact provided an updated plan which outlined the activities to be conducted. The first day’s activities included playing bingo, exercising, word games and cherry blossom sight seeing in Washington DC. Such activities helped with memory stimulation and social learning. My time at the facility was well spent through interaction with residents as we played varied games, and shared stories. Assessment As I entered the facility, I fell in love with the place. It was neat and well decorated, and there was a grand piano at the lobby. Some of the residents were sitting at the lobby reading newspapers and socializing together while others were still in the dinning room having breakfast. The smal l puppy started barking and jumping because it had seen a stranger. I observed that many of the residents were at risk of falling due to unsteady gait. Many of the residents used walkers or electronic wheelchairs. One of the residents approached me and asked if I needed any assistance. I kindly told him that I was a student from Stratford University and that I was there for clinical attachment, and I would like to see Wendy. The resident escorted me to Wendy without any hesitation. Wendy informed me of the various activities that will be taking place today such as word game, bingo, exercising and cherry blossom sightseeing in Washington D.C. These various activities helped the residents to socialize with the staff and other residents at the same time making them physically active. This is with the realization that cognitive activities help them stay physically and mentally strong. As for other residents, cognitive impairment and diminished mental status makes it difficult for some r esidents to enjoy the activities provided, thus, creating a distraction for other residents. The staff members were extremely pleasant and courteous to the residents, through interactions that were respectable and courteous. During the word game, I selected a couple of residents to spell certain English words. English being my second language was extremely challenging, but with their assistance the word game went on successfully. Some of the words spelt out were new to me as I had by no means used them before, but one of the residents educated me on the implication of the new terminology. At the end of the game, I thanked the residents and showed them how grateful I was to have the opportunity to interact with them. During the assessment, I noticed that most of the residents had memory loss making it difficult to perform daily activities. It was noted that the facility was well staffed to assist the residents that needed assistance with activities of daily living. Wendy informed me that some of the residents use the stairs to go up to their rooms. I found this idea unsafe for the residents since a majority of them have unsteady gait and balance making them prone to accidents and falls. Another potential problem observed was the risk of elopement since these residents were allowed to go and sit in the porch by themselves without any supervision. Strength The strength I observed in this community is that all residents

Accutane for Acne: An Analysis

Accutane for Acne: An Analysis Before the iron curtain fell any Information about acne was rare. But with growing advances in dermatology and medicine now understanding the cause of acne and its accurate treatment is available worldwide. Acne is one of the most common skin conditions in the world. Although it’s common but accurate information about acne can be scare. This makes it difficult to get clearer skin. Therefore the information in this document can help you understand acne and how to treat/ prevent it successfully. [1]Overview of acne: Acne, or acne vulgaris, is askinproblem that starts when oil and dead skin cells clog up your pores. Some people call it blackheads, blemishes, whiteheads, pimples, or zits. When you have just a few red spots, or pimples, you have a mild form of acne. Severe acne can mean hundreds of pimples that can cover the face, neck, chest, and back. Or it can be bigger, solid, red lumps that are painful (cysts). Acne is very common amongteens. It usually gets better after the teen years. Some women who never had acne growing up will have it as an adult, often right before their menstrual periods. How you feel about your acne may not be related to how bad it is. Some people who have severe acne are not bothered by it. Others are embarrassed or upset even though they have only a few pimples. Acne starts whenoil and dead skin cells clog the skins pores. If germs get into the pores, the result can be swelling, redness, and pus. Causes of Acne Acne can be caused or exacerbated by a number of different things, including: Changes in hormone levels (such as during puberty or menstruation) Cosmetics or hair or skin products Having a family history of acne Some medications Something rubbing on the skin (like a hat or helmet) Vigorous scrubbing of the skin Stress For most people, acne starts during the teen years. This is because hormone changes make the skin oilier afterpubertystarts. Using oil-based skin products or cosmetics can make acne worse. Use skin products that dont clog your pores. They will say noncomedogenic on the label. Acne can run in families. If one of your parents had severe acne, you are more likely to have it. Symptoms of acne : Acne commonly appears on the face and shoulders. It may also occur on the trunk, arms, legs, and buttocks. Other symptoms include: Crusting of skin bumps Cysts Papules (small red bumps) Pustules Redness around the skin eruptions Scarring of the skin Whiteheads Blackheads The good news is that there are many good treatments that can help you get acne under control. What is Accutane[2] [3]Accutane’s chemical composition resembles that of retinoic acid, a compound derived from Vitamin A. The primary application for Accutane is for nodular acne in patients that do not respond to topical applications (such as benzoyl peroxide) and standard antibiotic treatments.it is administered orally in pill form. It reduces the amount of oil released by oil glands in your skin, and helps your skin renew itself more quickly. People with severe cases of nodular acne can display red, tender and swollen bumps under the skin. These bumps can have a diameter of a quarter-inch or larger. Left untreated, these bumps can lead to permanent facial scarring and disfigurement. Accutane treats these bumps by slowing the rate of chemical production that leads to skin breakouts. It was originally recommended for people with severe acne that did not respond to other treatments,but has gained in popularity in the past 25 years and is prescribed more and more frequently for less severe acne How Accutane works Exactly how Accutane works on a cellular level is unknown but we do know that it affects all four ways that acne develops. 1. It dramatically reduces the size of the skinsoil glands(35%-58%) and even more dramatically reduces the amount of oil these glands produce (around 80%). 2. Acnebacteria(P. acnes) live in skin oil. Since oil is dramatically reduced, so is the amount of acne bacteria in the skin. 3. It slows down how fast the skin producesskin cellsinside the pore, which helps pores from becoming clogged in the first place. 4. It hasanti-inflammatoryproperties. Researchers have published several studies attempting to gauge whether people with mild to moderate acne can achieve long term remission of acne with lower dosages of Accutane. Initial data is showing that people with mild to moderate acne may be able to achieve long term remission with significantly lower dosages, and thus suffer fewer side effects, including lower incidence of scarring. Relapse rates with lower dosages do not seem to increase, leading some researchers to posit that it is not cumulative dose that brings about permanent clearing as much as it is the length of time that the oil glands are suppressed. Intermittent dosing (taking Accutane only 1 week of every month) appears to work less well, producing significantly poorer outcomes for more than half of the patients studied. Why is Accutane better Only solution for severe acne Effective than antibiotics Quick results as compared to other remedies Easier to consume and continue , just an oral pill Long term results Lesser scares left after complete course Dosage:[4] Accutane should not be consumed unless prescribed by your physician, and its dosage should be as prescribed by the physician. Please refer the table below to get a glimpse of the approximate dosage of Accutane. [5]Precautions: Before starting Accutane treatment, make sure you tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking (including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, herbal remedies, etc.). Do not take vitamin A supplements. Vitamin A in high doses has many of the same side effects as accutane. Taking both together may increase your chance of getting side effects. Do not receive any kind of immunization or vaccination without your doctors approval while taking accutane. Inform your health care professional if you are pregnant or may be pregnant prior to starting this treatment. Pregnancy category X (accutane may cause fetal harm when given to a pregnant woman. This drug must not be given to a pregnant woman or a woman who intends to become pregnant. If a woman becomes pregnant while taking accutane, the medication must be stopped immediately and the woman given appropriate counseling). Because of the extremely high risk that a deformed infant can result if pregnancy occurs while taking accutane in any amount even for short periods of time, for both men and women: Do not conceive a child (get pregnant) while taking accutane. Two methods of effective contraception are recommended for women of childbearing potential, unless absolute abstinence is the chosen method. Discuss with your doctor when you may safely become pregnant or conceive a child after therapy. Do not breast feed while taking this medication Side effects of Accutane: [6] Doctors prescribe Accutane when other acne treatments fail. Because serious cases of acne can be such a physical and social burden, patients may be willing to tolerate some of the common side effects that come with Accutane use, including dry skin, headaches and cold-like symptoms. A less-common side effect of the drug is pseudotumor cerebri – benign intercranial hypertension. This is a condition in which the brain acts as though there is a tumor when there is not. It can lead to blindness. Early signs of pseudotumor cerebri include headache, nausea, vomiting and visual disturbances. About half of Accutane users are women of childbearing age, making birth defects associated with Accutane use a significant concern. Unfortunately,Accutaneis linked to a series of serious side effects, including bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease, liver damage, depression, and miscarriage and birth defects if taken during pregnancy. Apart from these excessive dose of Accutane can lead to hypertension, suicidal tendencies, depression , liver damage, gastrointestinal problems , hearing impairment etc, there for as a matter of fact it is higly recommended to consume Accutane under medical supervision only. [1] American Academy of Dermatology (2007). Guidelines of care for acne vulgaris management. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 56(4): 651–663. Also available online: http://www.aad.org/education-and-quality-care/clinical-guidelines/current-and-upcoming-guidelines. [2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1349820/ [3] http://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00982 [4] http://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00982 [5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotretinoin [6] http://www.drugwatch.com/accutane/side-effects.php The Fall Of Rome | Essay The Fall Of Rome | Essay The debate about the fall of Rome and the way it happened is a centuries-old one and its vitality has been undiminished over the years. The traditional theory has the Roman Empire being violently overturned by barbarian Germanic tribes who started invading en masse during the last years of the fourth century. That wasn’t the first time that the Empire had to deal with pressure on its borders, but this time it eventually collapsed because it had already declined as a civilization due to internal problems. The first scholar to support this line of thought was Gibbon in the late eighteenth century. His great, multi-volume, work goes by the title ‘The Decline and fall of the Roman Empire’, which speaks for itself as for its writer’s thoughts (?). He argued that the most important cause which brought about the end of the Roman Empire was the expansion and gradual predominance of Christianity. First, the new religion and the structures that came with it (such as the church and the monasteries) interfered with the distribution of wealth inside the Empire, by accumulating it in institutions that were inaccessible by the state. Second, its pacifist ideology reduced the army’s will to fight and its theology corrupted the classical ideals through the spread of superstition. Another scholar arguing along the same lines was Rostovtzeff. He states the Late Empire was in retrogradation?, a sad and decadent remnant of its former self, partly because of the increase in absolutism during the reigns of Diocletian and Constantine and the emperors who succeeded them. Together with Gibbon, his arguments form the core of the ‘traditional’ theory, which puts stress especially on the issue of ‘decline’ as the main reason which made the disintegration of the empire, as a political entity, eventually inevitable. Due to the work of these two scholars, the ‘Fall of Rome’ has ended up being seen as something like the platonic idea of decline. Along with the traditional theory, we should consider the work of a more recent scholar. Following the same methodological path as Rostovtzeff, Jones credited the barbarians with the destabilization and collapse of the Roman Empire. Their invasions, he argues, should be seen as a destructive agent which placed strain on the Roman administration. At the same time, in a well-known passage, he speaks of a large part of the population that was consuming without producing anything, such as senators, soldiers and the clergy. These ‘idle mouths’, as he calls them, partly a result of barbarian pressure again, at least as far as the army was concerned, was the main reason for the economic waning of the Late Empire. Jones’ contribution was twofold. To begin with, he proposed a new chronological period, extending further than 476, the date traditionally considered as signaling the moment of death of the Roman Empire. His ending date was 602, the year of the emperor Maurice’s death as he strongly believed that the Roman Empire continued its existence, albeit geographically diminished, in the East, at least until the advent of the Slavic tribes in the Balkans at the end of the sixth century. This way, he managed to provide a connection between late- and post-Roman societies, hinting that there might have been a causal relation between the two. Secondly, he breathed new life in a period that was all but put aside by his contemporaries as of not much particular interest and after him scholars gradually started to perceive the Late Roman Empire in its own right. This was countered by ‘traditionalists’ in 2005 with the publication of a book under the title ‘The fall of Rome and the end of civilization’. In this book, the author Bryan Ward-Perkins is arguing fervently that the fall of Rome was a violent experience for the people involved, which involved much bloodshed and catastrophe. It was centered more on radical change than gradual transformation and was characterized by decline and resulted in a decline in civilized values which actually that a number of Roman cultural achievements were lost. Although this view has its merits and should not be discredited without consideration, it needs to be examined carefully because it conceals the danger of oversimplification. First, it can be argued that the author has gone too far with his emphasis on violence and catastrophe. Violence, no matter how hard on a society, is not by principle an agent of radical change which rules out any chance of transformation. Human history is full of violence and it would be surprising if the fourth and fifth centuries did not involve any at all. Despite Ward-Perkins vivid depictions, much of what was considered Roman did not disappear with the Empire. Roman qualities, such as a literate culture, can be shown to have survived as late as the seventh century, proving that the devastating barbaric invasions did not actually have such a devastating effect after all. Stemming from that, we should examine if there was a specific moment in time when Rome actually ‘fell’. If we cannot point out such an instance, then we should regard it as a more gradual process. Italy, for example, shows that society was able to maintain its order in the face of much devastation. And if, as Ward-Perkins himself admits, ‘there was no single moment, not even a single century of collapse’, then we should discard catastrophist theories as inadequate and try more. We should also keep in mind that the author comes from an archaeological milieu and, as a result, most of his proof comes from the study of material evidence. Archaeologists of the period tend to be advocates of the notion of decline more often than historians, mainly because such a decline is much more evident in the material remains of the Late Roman era. In addition to that we have to be careful with the origin the evidence. In the case of Ward-Perkins, he doesn’t hesitate to support his theory on data from Britain, but Brittania (i.e. the part of Britain which was conquered by the Romans) had never been the archetypal Roman province. So Britain is far from being the typical example of what happened after the Romans had left the island, particularly given the fact that we can find other provinces of the Roman Empire, which shared a completely different fate, such as Egypt and Syria. When talking strictly about the west, one has to be extremely cautious when trying to combin e both the archaeological data with historical sources that might give the impression of continuity. One way approaches, such as the one only just discussed, will not do. Late Antiquity With good reason one might ask what the need of such a dramatic reassertion of the traditional view on the fall of the Roman Empire. The word traditional itself implies the existence of an opposite, neoteric theory. In 1971, Peter Brown published a book which defied all the assumptions of the traditionalist school. His book ‘The world of Late Antiquity: from Marcus Aurelius to Muhammad’ argues about continuity, transformation, cultural and religious renewal. The enthusiasm that the book was met with in academic circles, especially in the United States, resulted in the banishment of terms as catastrophe, change, crisis and decline. Brown was influenced by the views of an earlier scholar, Henri-Irà ©nà ©e Marrou, who argued that late antique art had not deteriorated and that it should be looked at in its own terms. Brown was influenced by the work of Henri Pirenne. In his works the Belgian scholar supported that there was continuity to be found in terms of long-distance trade in the Mediterranean which was not affected by the barbarian invasions but collapsed with the great Arabic conquests of the seventh century. Brown placed a new stress on the period resulted in a recent rethinking of Pirenne’s views through the prism of the newly proposed notion of continuity. Finally, Brown could also be considered an influence because, as we saw earlier, he was the first to propose a causal connection between the Late Roman Empire and the post-Roman era. Thus, given the entailed predominance of continuity which was easily detected in themes such as art and religious belief, a new historical period has been founded with its own characteristics, that of Late Antiquity, in which â€Å"some of the basics of classical civilization still survived†. Its boundaries stress from the third to the eighth century, but they are still unfixed, with every writer proposing different dates, according to the issues they deal with. Brown relied heavily on the methods of historical psychology and psychoanalysis. This methodological innovation is a general trend among scholars of Late Antiquity, particularly those in the United States. They have more or less identified themselves with the kind of history that falls outside the scope of socio-economic history. For example, the history of Christianity has proven very fertile for studying Late Antiquity, especially the effects it has had on different aspects of human life, such as death, sexuality and the family. Thus, this school of thought has made astonishing contributions in such fields as gender and culture history, the history of mentalities and of popular belief. Such methods, however, often tend to function with no respect to periodization and as such they lead to fragmentation. Indeed, the work of these scholars shows more emphasis towards individuals and their perspectives than to the society they live in. As a consequence, post-modernist theories concerning source analysis have relied heavily on the works of scholars after Brown, while, in the meantime, the old philological approach has been largely abandoned. Ancient texts are dealt with not so much for their narrative value, but as agents the mentality of their authors. Of course, works exclusively focused on different authors have a lot to offer to the ongoing discussion of the period, but dogged commitment to them might create a handicap for our understanding of the period as a whole. Furthermore, partly as a response to the traditional view of catastrophe, scholars of Late Antiquity have been particularly keen on seeing continuity and transformation. But this attitude can be harmful in two ways. First, the notion of continuity seems to have an overshadowing effect on the particularity of issues in a certain period. If everything is proven to carry on from the past not changed in the least, then historical periods will automatically lose their individual tone, by which it is defined. Simultaneously, by relying to heavily historical sources (as they provide ampler evidence for continuity) we may be overturned by the findings of archaeological research (in the way Ward-Perkins was). Second, emphasis on continuity and transformation is the expulsion of their opposites from contemporary history books. Terms such as â€Å"crisis† and â€Å"decline† seem to have been anathematized in modern research and this has started to raise objections, even by scholars who are not polemicists of continuity itself. Powerful words like these falling into disuse can only be detrimental for historiography. These terms are usually avoided because of their moral implications, and it is somehow assumed that if there is decline someone needs to be charged with it. But we always have to bear in mind that history is a science and historians should concentrate purely on the facts of their research. Nevertheless, Late Antiquity’s impact shouldn’t be confined within strict scientific limits. Continuity along with transformation, apart from being objects of historiographical debate, is also too powerful of terms to be overlooked by contemporary politicians. From 1993 to 1998 a large research project, funded by the European Science Foundation (ESF), brought together scholars from across Europe. Its title was â€Å"Transformation of the Roman World† and its aim was to provide a widely accepted interpretation of the fall of Rome, along the lines of a smooth passage to what was to become today’s Europe. Two thousand years after Augustus history is being repeated: the European Union is commissioning its â€Å"poets† to create its own foundation myth. Late Antiquity is a new period that has had to carve its way bravely into powerful, deep-rooted views of modern historiography, much like the barbarians who had to carve their kingdoms fighting against the mighty Roman Empire. But unlike the former, somewhere along the way it had to make sacrifices which rendered it less effective as a means of interpretation and more limited in its scope. Also, it came to associate itself with â€Å"allies† with political agendas, who might have promoted it, but in the long term damaged somewhat its credibility in terms of objectivity. After all that, it is not surprising that Avril Cameron, a great advocate of the Brown school, herself admits â€Å"‘Late Antiquity’ is in danger of having become an exotic territory†, just before suggesting that it should be tested also in the fields of economic and administrative history. Pekepersonal thekerkerethoughts-synthesis/LA+med west Thus far, we’ve witnessed in brief a powerful debate: Ward-Perkin’s book came as a vivid reaction to a whole school of thought formed around Brown’s work, which itself was another dramatic response to an older tradition. But extremism is inherent in violent reactions, because only through opposition one side can define itself and stand out in relation to its adversaries. Naturally, the existence of opposition itself should not lead us to believe that one side is absolutely right, while the other is absolutely wrong (and in most cases they are not). Rather, it should direct us towards an evaluation of the new conclusions that emerged from the conflict and setting the problem on a new base. However, it should be noted that both books have something in common: they are heavily focused on different geographical areas, where their conclusions seem to be more frequently affirmed. This way, Brown was able to find plenty of continuity in the eastern part of the Empire, while Ward-Perkins discovered a great deal of catastrophe in its former western provinces. As Jones had underlined long before those two, historians often tend to forget that only a part of the Roman Empire actually fell to the barbarians. So, nothing would be amiss if things were so well defined, but they are not. And although it seems that Late Antiquity is better suited for early Byzantine history, there are also those medieval scholars who deem it rewarding to try their hand at the concepts that this new approach brought with it. Late Antiquity and early medieval history One of these was jean claude van dam (‘the muscles from brussels’) mouahahhahahaha Late Antiquity and the barbarians The exclusion of notions of violence and catastrophe from the debates concerning the fourth and fifth centuries, which Late Antiquity scholars promoted, created a historiographical vacuum and a way had to be found for depicting the relations between the Roman Empire and the new arrivals. If violence could not be used to describe them, then the sources had to be searched for a different sort of evidence. The subsequent reexamination of the sources gave birth to the notion of accommodation. The first scholar to do that was Walter Goffart. In a well-known book, published in 1980, he described in detail the way that the barbarians were settled on Roman lands. According to Goffart a fairly straightforward arrangement between the late Roman administration and the barbarian tribes can be derived from the sources. The critical feature of this arrangement was that the Empire relinquished its rights on the taxation of the region in which a group of barbarians were settled and instead those taxes would be collected by the barbarians. However, according to this theory, there was no expropriation of land, no partition of it to smaller units to be apportioned and no need for extra money from the tax payers. The only one who had something to lose in the process would be the central administration and this definitely helps explain the fact that there is no sign of any noteworthy resistance from the local population in the regions where the barbarians were settled in this way. The aforementioned theory was further elaborated by Durliat. After analyzing the sources rigorously, he managed to take Goffart’s theory one step further. He argued that land tax in the Late Roman Empire amounted to no more than 20% of the harvest and it was collected and administered by the curiales. They split it in three and kept one third for their city’s expenses. The other two thirds were then sent to Rome to be used for the needs of the army and the central administration. With the advent of the barbarians, this system was very conveniently transformed to accommodate them: the curiales no longer sent anything to Rome but instead conferred the appropriate amount to the barbarian group that happened settle in their city’s administrative region. Furthermore, he argued that this modus operandi continued unaffected after the fall of the western Roman Empire, in the different successor-states, until the collapse of the Carolingian Empire. This theoretical synthesis was attractive to scholars, not only due to its clarifying simplicity and astonishing applicability, but also because it served to explain the lack of any negative sentiment in the sources. The importance of it becomes clearer, if we take under consideration that actually there were complaints on the part of the sources, wherever the barbarians had not settled peacefully but by force. As we saw earlier, the curiales were unconcerned if two thirds of the land tax changed recipients, as long as they were still obtaining their part undiminished. One can easily imagine the effect that this argument had on the debate on continuity, especially since it was centered on Western Europe. Of course, this theory didn’t fail to raise some eyebrows. Liebeschà ¼tz criticized Durliat’s arguments on a twofold basis. First, he doubts that late Roman cities actually collected for themselves any part of the imperial taxes and second, he argues quite convincingly that such an agreement would eventually provide little actual security to the settling barbarians, as security is usually better ensured through direct property of the land, than through any fiscal rights. Whats more, it seems perfectly reasonable to assume that it was exactly this security that the barbarians were looking for and of course, their position of power during the last centuries of the Roman Empire made sure that they were not likely to settle for anything less. Moreover, Durliat’s theory was commented on further in an article in 1998. There, Wickham analysis Durliat’s arguments and dismisses them one by one. Initially, he disagrees that the strict fiscal meaning which the latter ascribes to terms such as possessors and fundus is actually the one intended by the legislators of the fourth and the fifth century and in so doing he undermines the theory from the beginning. But he goes on to challenge other aspects such as the idea that Church constituted a part of the state administration in the post-Roman kingdoms (and thus church property consisted only of fiscal lands) and the view that servus is the term used to suggest a free landowner. By providing hard evidence following the chronological order (Late Empire, Romano-Germanic Kingdoms, Carolingian Empire), Wickham manages to discredit convincingly the arguments about fiscal continuity throughout this period. But, it should be noted that in the end of his article, where he dis cusses briefly the issue of continuity, he states that while he is not averse to it himself, it should not be considered tantamount to complete absence of change. However, the predominance of continuity does not sit well with terms like ‘barbarian invasions’ and ‘Germanic immigration’. So, historians had to find ways to circumvent this problem; they started by looking at the ethnic identities of the Germanic peoples, because it could be argued for example that there was no clear-cut sense of common identity between barbarian groups, such as the Goths, or some common characteristics that defined ‘Germanic’ then it would be possible to downplay the importance of the aforementioned terms. This way, Late Antiquity affected another heated debate (and in the meantime was affected by it); that of European national identities. The contribution of Walter Goffart has been essential at this point. Apart from fiscal continuity, in his Barbarians and Romans, he was also arguing about against the existence of definite ethnic identities among the barbarians. Another centuries-old historiographic tradition before him interpreted the movements of the Germanic tribes according to contemporary political ideas. For example, before the Second World War, Kossina had argued that there was a separate, identifiable culture to be associated with every Germanic tribe we come across in the sources and in 1961 Wenskus had maintained that there was a core of tradition carried by the elite of each barbarian group, according to which the whole mass of the tribe was defined. But, according to Goffart ‘migrations have served as the factual underpinnings of early Germanic unity’. Thus, if he could prove that no such unity actually existed, the migration and invasion theories would lose all sense. Indeed, he argues for a ‘short history’ of these peoples oblivion was a result of translocation. The common past of these peoples at any point stressed as back as the time before their last migration. He refuses to use sources of the sixth century such as Jordanes because, in his opinion, they only reflect the ideas of their own times and cannot be trusted for their evidence of the distant past. Finally, after taking under consideration also the deductions of archaeological research, he thinks that, if one wanted to look at the discontinuity provoked by the advent of the barbarians, he should definitely put the emphasis on Rome and its security. It was the appeal that the Empire had on the barbarians and not their own expansionist agendas that brought about the fall, in an ‘imaginative experiment that got a little out of hand’. It is therefore clear that Late Antiquity has given historiography of ethnic identities new areas of research to explore. This process gets even more complicated with the interference of modern international politics and historians of the Early Middle Ages recently find themselves and their research at the center of contemporary political debates. One can discern a pseudo-history in the making, which serves political and nationalistic purposes in the sense that it tries to define distinct nations that were created centuries ago once and for all. Another assumption is that by right these nations should form separate political entities, according to their defined ethnicity and territory. To sum up, the search for continuity of the Late Antique scholars might not have been successful in the field of fiscal policies and accommodation but it ascertained the fact that we cannot presume long histories and ethnic identities of the Germanic peoples. This certainly confirmed transformation instead of catastrophe and crisis for some aspects of the fourth and fifth centuries but it surely proved that there was much discontinuity and heterogeneity concerning the notion of identity. And since the Early Middle Ages are of such a great importance in the international political stage, scholars of the period should benefit from the results of research in this field in order to prevent their academic field from becoming a plaything in the hands of international politics. (†¦Projecting their own experiences on another period of time (as historians often do) Bibliography A = Heather, P., The fall of the Roman Empire: a new history of Rome and the barbarians (London and Oxford, 2005) B = Ward-Perkins, B., The fall of Rome and the end of civilization (Oxford, 2005) C = Cameron, A., The Mediterranean world in Late Antiquity 395-600 (London, 1993) D = Marcone, A., â€Å"A long Late Antiquity? Consideration on a controversial periodization† Journal of Late Antiquity, 1 (2008), 4-19. E = Jones, A.H.M., The Later Roman Empire, 284-602 a social, economic and administrative survey (Oxford, 1964). F = G = Wickham, C., The inheritance of Rome: A history of Europe from 400 to 1000 (London, 2009). H = Innes, M., An introduction to Early Medieval Western Europe, 300-900 (London, 2007). I = Brown, P., The world of Late Antiquity: from Marcus Aurelius to Muhammad (London, 1971). J = Liebeschà ¼tz, W., â€Å"Cities, taxes and the accommodation of barbarians. The theories of Durliat and Goffart† in Noble, T. F. X. (ed.), From roman provinces to medieval kingdoms (New York, 2006), 309-323. K = Wickham, C., â€Å"The fall of Rome will not take place† in Rosenwein, B. H., Little, L. K. (eds.), Debating the Middle Ages (Oxford, 1998), 45-58. L = Goffart, W. A., Barbarians and Romans A.D. 418-584: the techniques of accommodation (Princeton, 1980) M = Goffart, W. A., â€Å"The barbarians in Late Antiquity and how they were accommodated in the West† in Noble, T. F. X. (ed.), From roman provinces to medieval kingdoms (New York, 2006), 235-261. N = Wood, I., â€Å"Barbarians, historians and the construction of national identities† Journal of Late Antiquity, 1 (2008), 61-81. O = Heather, P., â€Å"Late Antiquity and the Early Medieval West† in Bentley, M. (ed.), Companion to historiography (London, 1995), 69-87. P = Noble, T. F. X., â€Å"Romans, barbarians and the transformation of the Roman Empire† in Noble, T. F. X. (ed.), From roman provinces to medieval kingdoms (New York, 2006), 1-27. B, 40. A, 14. C, 3. D, 7. E, 1027. Also in other instances, such as 1039 and 1067. E, 1045-47. E, 1026. H, 6. C, 4. B, 13-14. B, 182-3. G, 8. H, 126. B, 123. B, 3. For example, in Chapter V, he is arguing for a drop in living standards mainly by looking at the quality and distribution of ceramics, B, 87-121. B, 87, G, 9. Especially in Chapters V and VI, B, 87-137. G, 9. Brown, P., The world of Late Antiquity: from Marcus Aurelius to Muhammad (London, 1971). B, 3-4.