A Cultural Approach essays

A Cultural Approach essays The cultural and developmental aspects of American history in the 17th and 18th centuries are certainly among the most important and influential factors in the shaping of this country's long and storied history. Historiographically speaking, there are undoubtedly thousands upon thousands of different studies and opinions on the most influential cultural strides of early Americans well as the pros and cons that each colonial region developed in shaping America and readying it for the Revolutionary Era. Each of these four studies brings a slightly different and even, at times, conflicting approach to analyzing the cultural and social roots of early America, but each one provides a fresh perspective that enhances the idea that America is a true "melting pot" of ideas, social values, and cultural traits. Zuckerman, in his article, focuses his attention on the middle colonies and the erroneous tendencies of historians to ignore controversial or pertinent historical issues in favor of obvious, harmless social arguments. Historians have focused on New England as the true "birthplace of America" because of its early literature and thought that focused solely on Puritanism, and therefore offered an obvious and easy starting point with which to measure the region's cultural metamorphasis. However, as Zuckerman points out, New England was fairly unrepresentative of the real America, as it was a homogenous society dominated by English Puritans and their inflexible doctrines and unstatic customs and economy. The middle colonies, on the other hand, were made up of people of many different origins, races, and creeds, and their interrelationships are definitely more symbolic of American culture. Like most people's idea of America, the middle colonies developed a commercial culture ba! sed on a balanced economy, and, besides that, showed no real homogenous cultural traits that ran through the region. Indeed, most of th ...

15 Great Word Games

15 Great Word Games 15 Great Word Games 15 Great Word Games By Mark Nichol Writers and editors are among the most dedicated (read: obsessive) fans of word games. (I play Scrabble once a week a relatively low frequency that may indicate only a mild addiction.) As the name of an old Reader’s Digest feature suggests, they enrich your word power, but they’re also fun. Here is a roster of some of the most entertaining games, from traditional contests like Password to innovative variations like Upwords. Most games listed have children’s versions, and many are available in both analog and digital form. 1. Apples to Apples Players take turns judging which noun selected by a player from a hand of cards, each labeled with a noun, best matches on criteria such as funniest, most appropriate, or least appropriate an adjective printed on another card. (Cards) 2. Balderdash Players take turns crafting fake definition for obscure words in the hope that others will select the false meaning from a set of possible definitions. (Cards) 3. Boggle Players take turns jumbling a four-by-four grid of letter cubes, and all players try to form as many words as they can from letters displayed on adjacent cubes. (Letter cubes). 4. Bulls-Eye Players create words from cards labeled with single letters; they take turns rolling a die to determine the word length that earns points for each round, then advance tokens on a board according to how many points they earned. (Cards and board with tokens) 5.Catch Phrase Players take turns providing teammates with clues to the identity of a secret word before a timer goes off. (Handheld electronic timer with a database of words) 6. Password Players try to get teammates to identify a secret word by providing one-word clues; teams take turns, and the number of points awarded for a correct guess decreases with each failed attempt. (Cards) 7. Scattergories Players list as many words belonging to a category and starting with a given letter as they can. (Cards) 8. Scrabble Players use letter tiles to form words they can attach to words already placed on a grid ; they rack up points based on the relative values of the letters and of grid squares that, when used, multiply the value of letters or words. (Board and letter tiles) 9. Scrabble Upwords Players form words by placing letter tiles on a board, but, unlike in Scrabble, all letters have equal value, and bonuses are earned by forming new words by placing new tiles on top of some existing ones. (Board with letter tiles) 10. Taboo Players try to get teammates to guess a word by providing other word clues, but they are prohibited from using a list of the most obvious clues. (Cards) 11. Text Twist Players form as many words as possible from a randomly generated group of letters before a timer runs out. (Computer) 12. Word Blur Players use word tiles to prompt teammates to correctly guess a secret word. (Tiles) 13. Word Zigzag In this Boggle-like game with a grid of letters (unlike as in Boggle, in this game, the size of the grid is variable), players attempt to find as many strings of letters that form words as they can. Not to be confused with Zig-Zag, described below. (Application, or paper and pencil) 14. Words with Friends This high-tech multiplayer variation on Scrabble, which has achieved phenomenal success thanks, in part, to a number of celebrity aficionados, allows multiple simultaneous games with known or unknown opponents. (Application) 15. Zig-Zag Players try to guess each other’s secret words by testing how many letters of another word are in the secret word, and where the letters in common are positioned. (This game seems to be out of print, but used copies are available online, or prospective players could recreate the game materials from descriptions.) Update: Looking for more? We created another list with 50 more great word games, so check that out Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Incorrect Pronunciations That You Should Avoid50 Nautical Terms in General Useâ€Å"Least,† â€Å"Less,† â€Å"More,† and â€Å"Most†

The British Constitution And Modern Democracies Essay

The British Constitution And Modern Democracies - Essay Example UK’s rules describing the powers of government, civil rights of its citizens among others exist in other statues, treaties, judicial decisions, regional conventions, and parliamentary acts among others (Republic.org, n.d.). Since the original influences of Norman conquest of England, drafting of the Magna Carta and its enactment into law, 1689 bill of rights and the successive parliamentary acts and reforms, especially in the 20th and 21st century, was the beginning and evolution of the of the English citizen’s right and the UK parliament powers in shaping its unwritten constitution. Critically, the legal and political consequences of Britain over time have led to its constitutional evolution, but not enough to enable its single documentation of laws. Over the last four decades, there have been numerous proposals for a codified UK constitution brought forth by groups and people of different political outlooks (Blick, 2011). One of the major arguments against the proposa l revolves around the process, intensity, and impacts of the amendments while comparing a written and unwritten constitution. The role of the UK parliament and its power acts central to the repeals of the constitution, to keep it flexible to the later adjustments and ensure all the functions of government are in order and operational. Initially, the monarch in ancient England held the authority and could use it to raise armies and taxes whenever they saw fit, or suspend the laws made in parliaments regardless of who constituted the house.... Initially, the monarch in ancient England held the authority and could use it to raise armies and taxes whenever they saw fit, or suspend the laws made in parliaments regardless of who constituted the house. The parliament had existed at the will of the monarchs, but during the reign of Charles I, there developed tension between the parliament and the king. The king had demonstrated personal rule, which was not in line with the house’s will, forcing the monarch to rule without a parliament for close to eleven years. This was followed by drastic actions taken by parliament that led into a civil war between the two parties; the parliament overthrew the king and demonstrated a commonwealth government for ten years without the house of lords and the king (Parliament.uk, n.d).Over the centuries, the parliaments’ (especially the house of common) authority has gradually developed to affect the entire British society through its constitution involvement. The declaration of the bill of rights towards the end of the 17th century enabled the parliament to take up powerful roles of the monarchs, which gave them more mandate to control and have a say to actions and matters pertaining Britain. Apart from the House of Lords, the British people can now elect their representatives who make the House of Commons, and from whom the ministers are chosen to represent the interest of the public. The declaratory act to facilitate UK’s parliament ability to legislate for their colonies is an indication of the powers accorded to the parliament back then (Totallyhistory.com, 2012).The modern parliament has the authority and capacity to discuss bills, amend, and enact them for a

Cyber Terrorism Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cyber Terrorism - Case Study Example It is generally understood to mean unlawful attacks and threats of attack against computers, networks, and the information stored therein when done to intimidate or coerce a government or its people in furtherance of political or social objectives. Further, to qualify as cyber terrorism, an attack should result in violence against persons or property, or at least cause enough harm to generate fear. Attacks that lead to death or bodily injury, explosions, plane crashes, water contamination or severe economic loss would be examples† (Denning, 2000, p.1). Two other definitions of the term were created by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Coleman whose definitions are as follows: â€Å"unlawful attacks and threats of attack against computers, networks, and the information stored therein when done to intimidate or coerce a government or its people in furtherance of political or social objectives† (Wilson, 2008); and â€Å"the premeditated use of disrupt ive activities, or the threat thereof, against computers and/or networks, with the intention to cause harm or further social, ideological, religious, political or similar objectives, or to intimidate any person in furtherance of such objectives† (Coleman, 2003). ... Statement of the Purpose The purpose of the current case study is to present details on cyber-attack that had persisted between Pakistan and India over their territorial conflict on Kashmir. According to Vatis (2001), â€Å"this conflict illustrates the vulnerability of critical infrastructure systems to cyber attacks and the increasing willingness of groups to target sensitive systems during political conflicts† (p. 5). The case study, therefore, enhances awareness on conflicting parties’ increased vulnerabilities to cyber terrorist attacks and, thus, should focus on installing increased protection and security measures to prevent destructive disruptions. Description of the Subject The case covered the conflict between India and Pakistan over a territory: Kashmir. Historical events have traced the geopolitical dispute after the British occupation in 1947. Armed conflicts were used through the years before 1998 to resolve problems, after that the dispute eventually reso rted to electronic warfare ranging from hacking incidents to web defacements that disrupted websites in both private and public sectors of India and Pakistan. Chronology of the Case Study The India – Pakistan conflict over Kashmir could be traced from the end of the British occupation in 1947, when, according to a summarized discourse: â€Å"two countries stood where there once was one. Pakistan separated with the intention of being the nation for the Muslims of India. Kashmir, the roots of the boundary dispute between the two nations, was an autonomous state under British rule and remained so post-partition, when initially given a choice between Pakistan and India. Eventually though,

Does post-development represent the end of development or a new way of Essay

Does post-development represent the end of development or a new way of thinking about how development should be promotedExplain - Essay Example It would give an illustration as to how alternative techniques should be designed to overcome any problem which may occur during the development process. At the end of the 1980s, there was and still is little proof that the ever-present Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) had motivated any development, or shaped circumstances helpful to growth. In these situations it was barely astonishing that a lot of individuals involved in development started to sense that the previous theories had unsuccessful (a remarkable exception incorporated those practitioners and intellectuals who were linked with the Washington, and other support organizations, that had prepared a considerable intellectual and economic investment in such plans as SAPs). The query was where to go from that place. Such was the character of the ‘impasse’. In the deficiency of any reliable hypothetical foundation many theorists have sought a trail through the impasse by reference to the body of premise usually known as ‘post-modernism’, or post-structuralism. History is analyzed merely as a reliant series of events. Post-modernists would also be likely to condemn what is frequently observed as an unusually modernist trust in the talent of human race to advance their situation through science, generally visualized as the capability to form and shape their world through the use of technology and such processes as balanced techniques of planning. This is not to declare that post-modernists quarrel that technology and planning never end in the most wanted, or at least useful results, although some approach quite near to such a point at times (e.g. Paul Feyerabendon science). However, they are generally doubtful of the capability of planners and social engineers to attain their apparently benevolent objectives for society (and this is to close the eyes to the chance that they may state such benign goals as a coat for less generally

Definitions of Health and Illness

Definitions of Health and Illness Victorine Diana Goin According to the definition offered by the World Health Organisation (WHO) (1948)[1] health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. This paper seeks to offer critical analysis on the definitions of health and illness in respect of prominent academics in the field. Furthermore an in-depth discussion will be raised on the ways health can be perceived in a social context with regards to the relationship between negative social factors and health through the use of studies and surveys. To find the definition of health one can refer to Kenworthy (2002) who revealed the apparent links to theories that directly relate to health care. A noticeable theory consists of the biomedical concept. This concentrates on the belief that being healthy is to be without recognisable disease. One can see a direct contradiction of the biomedical concept of health in contrast to the definition offered by WHO (1948). On the other hand the WHO recognises that health is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. This undoubtedly questions the strength of the biomedical concept in its definition of health. The definition revealed by WHO (1948) has similarities with the holistic concept of health which makes reference to the various dimensions of health each relating to each other and the need for health care professionals to treat the individuals and not just one aspect of their health. Ewles and Simnett (1992) made reference to the individuals physical, mental, emotional spiritual, social, sexual, societal and the environmental aspect of their health. Equally important is the definition of illness. When the elements of the WHO definition are not fulfilled then the individual may be regarded as ill. This is reflected by the definition offered in Mosbys Medical Dictionary (2009)[2]. He defines illness as an abnormal process in which aspects of the social, physical, emotional, or intellectual condition and function of a person are diminished or impaired compared with that persons previous condition. McWhinney (1987)[3] described illness as the subjective perception by a patient of an objectively defined disease. This is an interesting argument as it tells us the extent to which a patient may perceive their own illness. Indeed acknowledging this may be helpful in understanding the definition of illness. However on the other hand it does not allow for a uniform concrete definition as we are made aware that social aspects come to play as well as the individuals own perception. Kenworthy makes an interesting argument when he outlines that health is seen in the context of the distribution of illness, epidemiological patterns and class structures of that society. Helman (1992) builds upon this when he states that the presentation of illness and the way in which an individual responds to it is largely determined by sociological factors. In addition to this he elaborates that these factors influence the perception of which symptoms and signs are abnormal in a given culture. He gives the example of how a child growing in a particular culture learns how to respond to, and express a range of physical or emotional symptoms or social stresses in a culturally patterned way. (Helman 1992) This respect that everyones perception of illness will vary. Abraham Shanley (1992)[4] have adopted a health belief model which raises four key components of a persons belief about their own health. This includes how susceptible we are to the illness in question, the seriousness of the illness, the potential costs and the effectiveness of this action in relation to possible alternatives. The reasons behind the recognition of the socially constructed concept is illustrated by Kenworthy (2002) who points out that nurses for example have become more person centred and individualised whereas prior to this there was a more medical -disease orientated approach. This is emphasised by Corbett (1995) who identifies the recognition of the patient in healthcare as an active participant rather than a passive recipient of care Thus it is arguable that with the changing emphasis of care the study of the sociological aspect of patients has become almost a central feature in the education of nurses and doctors. According to the Poverty Site[5] (2009) poverty and health site the relationship between poverty and health is complex. Various factors are considered such as poor environmental conditions, poor housing, pollution, low education levels and unawareness of needed medical care, financial barriers in accessing health services, and a lack of resources necessary to maintain good health status which may entail poor diets. The Hillingdon Crime Survey 2004[6] is a good representation of the direct effects of crime on health. Although it was carried out five years ago it does offer insights into figures as to the direct and indirect effects of crime on health. The survey was based on a random sample of over 2400 residents on the electoral register of whom 25% responded. Twelve point six percent encountered direct effects of crime including physical injury, disability and death resulting from violent assaults, abuse and accidents, including those caused by dangerous driving. It was discovered that when asked the impact of crime on their health almost seven per cent reported an injury; 6.1% onset or relapse of an eating disorder; 9.4% increased use of alcohol, drugs and/or smoking; nearly 60% increased stress or anxiety, 28.2% depression and about 17% each reported isolation and insomnia. (Hillingdon Crime Survey 2004). On the other hand the indirect effects of crime on the victims health consisted of time off work, financial losses and changes in home circumstances. The findings also disclosed that for some victims, there were long term consequences of higher rates of mental health problems, smoking, alcohol and drug misuse, neglect of their health and risky sexual behaviour'[7]. The Acheson report ()[8] supports this finding as it revealed that fear of crime and violence can affect peoples quality of life and also be a cause of mental distress and social exclusion. The British Medical Association (2003)[9] identifies the important contribution made to health and illness by the standard of accommodation. Undoubtedly the quality of accommodation is strongly related to income, Therefore it is reasonable to conclude that those with a satisfactory or higher income can minimise the adverse effect of poor housing resulting in better health. The report also reveals that social and physical characteristics of the surrounding area are also vital in maintaining good health. Indeed the fact that poor quality accommodation is often situated in impoverished surroundings contributes further to making vulnerable individuals housebound.The report cited the elderly, the very young and those suffering from long-term ill health amongst the vulnerable individuals who are at particular risk. Thus these groups have the greatest exposure to many specific hazards. These studies and surveys highlight the importance of social and economic factors as an adverse effect of poor health. We can see that especially those in poor housing conditions and those habiting in deprived high crime areas are most likely to suffer ill health. However there are encouraging policy and legislation which exists to minimise these social factors on the health of individuals such as the Health and Social Care Act 2008, The Health Act 2006 prohibiting smoking in certain premises and provides a minimum age of persons to whom tobacco may be sold and the Health Bill 2009 that attempts to improve the quality of NHS care and public health[10]. It is apparent that the definition of health and illness endorses not only the individuals objective medical condition but also the impact of social factors. Whereas the biomedical model of health has a more individualistic approach the socio medial approach is more valuable in giving a considered perception of the definitions of health and illness. Indeed one agrees with Helmans analysis (1992) as he reveals that the presentation of illness and the way in which an individual responds to it is largely determined by sociological factors. It is also evident that whilst applying the social medical approaches that the relationship between poverty and health should also be acknowledged. If the individuals perception of health is to improve positively then negative social factors which contribute will need to be addressed further; such as low educational attainment levels, poor housing, and dangerous environments including crime levels. Bibliography Book Kenworthy N, Snowley G, Gilling C, (2002) Common Foundation Studies in Nursing third edition Churchill Livingstone: Philadelphia Mosbys Medical Dictionary (2009), eighth edition Helman 2002 Ewles and Simnett (1992) McWhinney (1987 Abraham Shanley (1992) Corbett (1995) Ebook Shakespeare T, (1998) The Disability Reader :Social Science Perspectives http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3Pnzk9WfiPkCdg=shakespeare+1998+disabilty+readersource=gbs_navlinks_s Denny E, Earle S, (2005) Sociology for Nurses Polity Press http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_MVl26vxeqwCpg=PA1lpg=PA1dg=sociology+for+nurses+denny+earlesource=blots=p59GMnjfw9sig=WYRQ6-mit1nli5-nk049BUZQwDUhl=enei=8Yr5SuPoOsTl4QaEtsytCwsa=Xoi=book_result ct=resultresnum=1ved=0CAgQ6AEwAA #v=onepageq=f=false Journals Lynch, J. W.; Smith, G. D.; Kaplan, G. A.; and House, J. S. (2000). Income Inequality and Mortality: Importance to Health of Individual Income, Psychosocial Environment, or Material Conditions.British Medical Journal320:1200-1204 Marmot, M. (1999). Acting on the Evidence to Reduce Inequalities in Health.Health Affairs18(3):42-44 McWhinney IR (April 1987). Health and disease: problems of definition.CMAJ136(8): 815 Websites An Introduction to Social Policy (2009) http://www2.rgu.ac.uk/publicpolicy/introduction/contentf.htm Accessed on 17/11/2009 Palmer G, The Poverty Site http://www.poverty.org.uk/. Accessed on 17/11/2009 World Health Organisation (WHO)(2003) http://www.who.int/about/definition/en/print.html Accessed on 17/11/2009 NHS The Hillingdon Crime Survey 2004 Chapter 3 Health and Crime http://www.hillingdon.nhs.uk/uploads/aphr04/Annual%20Public%20Health%20Report%202004%20chapter%203.pdf accessed on 14/11/2009 Housing and health: building for the future (2003) http://www.bma.org.uk/health_promotion_ethics/environmental_health/housinghealth.jsp accessed on 14/11/2009 World Health Organisation (WHO)(2003) http://www.who.int/about/definition/en/print.html Accessed on 17/11/2009 Mosbys Medical Dictionary (2009), eighth edition Palmer G, The Poverty Site http://www.poverty.org.uk/. Accessed on 17/11/2009 NHS The Hillingdon Crime Survey 2004 Chapter 3 Health and Crime http://www.hillingdon.nhs.uk/uploads/aphr04/Annual%20Public%20Health%20Report%202004%20chapter%203.pdf accessed on 14/11/2009

John Fowles Essay -- Biography Biographies Essays

John Fowles It's A Boy! Robert and Gladys Richards Fowles give birth to a baby boy on March 31, 1926, in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex County, England. The proud parents have high hopes for their son and send him to two prestigious schools, Alleyn Court School (1934-1939) and Bedford School (1939-1944), where he excels in scholarship and sports. After his primary education is complete, the family moves from London to the Devon countryside, to avoid the invasion of troops in World War II. After serving two years in the Royal Marines (I 945 -1947), John Robert Fowles studied literature at Oxford University, graduating in 1950. He greatly admired Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre, both existentialist writers. After graduation Fowles taught at a number of institutions, including Anargyrios College (1951-1953) where he met and married his wife, Elizabeth Whitton. Here, he wrote poetry and several novels, though he did not submit any for publication at this time. Fowles continued to teach in London until his writing enabled him to concentrate on a career as a writer. His first published novel in 1963, The Collector, was an immediate best seller. The critical acclaim and commercial success of the novel finally allowed Fowles to write full time. A collection of art and philosophical thoughts called The Aristos appeared in 1964. His most enduring work, The Magus, has become something of a popular cult novel in the United States. It involves the traditional quest narrative with elaborate twists and dilemmas resembling a detective story. In the 1970's Fowles began a line of projects, from a series of essays to a collection of poetry called Poems. Besides writing his own poems, short stories, screenplays, and novels, Fowles has translated Fr... ... resembles Victorian society while also showing the reader the similarities to the present day. His attempts to demonstrate the double standards of all societies continue to be seen throughout his other works. The dualistic recurring theme penetrates the minds of the readers and keeps them coming back to Fowles' work. The French Lieutenant's Woman, because of its modem day comparisons and success with the public, is now a motion picture starring Meryl Streep in the title role. Fowles' accomplishments in writing continue to gain him critical acclaim and popularity with readers. He continues to write today with his latest work, Wormholes, published in May, 1998. Certainly, Fowles' success in his writing career has made his parents proud and confident of his success in the future. Work Cited Fowles, John. The French Lieutenant's Woman. Signet: New York, 1969.