s Judicial Branch

Panama’s Judicial Branch Panama is a federal democracy. As with all democracies, there is a national and state government. Of the three branches of government, executive, legislative and judicial, I will be discussing the judicial branch of government. The power of all three branches is shared and intertwined. The President, head of the executive branch, nominates members to the Supreme Court of Justice (Conniff, 2002). Those nominees must be ratified by the legislature (Conniff, 2002). If so, they serve office for a period of 10 years (Conniff, 2002). Within the judicial branch itself, there are five Superior Courts, three Appellate Courts and other tribunals such as Municipal Courts (Conniff, 2002). There are five Superior Courts in the Republic of Panama; Family Courts, Minor Courts, Maritime Courts, Boards of Conciliation and Decision and of course the Supreme Court (AAM, 1). Beginning with the Family Courts, this court is based in the capital of each province and has jurisdiction over adoption related topics as well as divorce proceedings (AAM, 1). Then, there are Minor Courts, which, as it’s name obviously points out, â€Å"has jurisdiction over offenses committed by minors up to 18 years of age† (AAM, 1). Next, there are Boards of Conciliation and Decision. This court has complete jurisdiction in Panama as well as handling law suits claiming labour benefits under $1,500 and case dismissals (AAM, 2). Another superior court is the Maritime Court created by law 8 of March 1982 and ratified by law 11 of May 23, 1986 (AAM, 2). These courts, as the name suggests, has jurisdiction over areas concerning maritime commerce and traffic within Panama (AAM, 2). Maritime Courts also handle â€Å"claims arising elsewhere form maritime commerce and traffic when actions are filed against a vessel or it’s owner and the vessel is attached within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama† (AAM, 2). Finally, there is the Supreme Court... 's Judicial Branch Free Essays on Panama\'s Judicial Branch Panama’s Judicial Branch Panama is a federal democracy. As with all democracies, there is a national and state government. Of the three branches of government, executive, legislative and judicial, I will be discussing the judicial branch of government. The power of all three branches is shared and intertwined. The President, head of the executive branch, nominates members to the Supreme Court of Justice (Conniff, 2002). Those nominees must be ratified by the legislature (Conniff, 2002). If so, they serve office for a period of 10 years (Conniff, 2002). Within the judicial branch itself, there are five Superior Courts, three Appellate Courts and other tribunals such as Municipal Courts (Conniff, 2002). There are five Superior Courts in the Republic of Panama; Family Courts, Minor Courts, Maritime Courts, Boards of Conciliation and Decision and of course the Supreme Court (AAM, 1). Beginning with the Family Courts, this court is based in the capital of each province and has jurisdiction over adoption related topics as well as divorce proceedings (AAM, 1). Then, there are Minor Courts, which, as it’s name obviously points out, â€Å"has jurisdiction over offenses committed by minors up to 18 years of age† (AAM, 1). Next, there are Boards of Conciliation and Decision. This court has complete jurisdiction in Panama as well as handling law suits claiming labour benefits under $1,500 and case dismissals (AAM, 2). Another superior court is the Maritime Court created by law 8 of March 1982 and ratified by law 11 of May 23, 1986 (AAM, 2). These courts, as the name suggests, has jurisdiction over areas concerning maritime commerce and traffic within Panama (AAM, 2). Maritime Courts also handle â€Å"claims arising elsewhere form maritime commerce and traffic when actions are filed against a vessel or it’s owner and the vessel is attached within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama† (AAM, 2). Finally, there is the Supreme Court...

Essay Sample on Biracialism The Identity Development

Essay Sample on Biracialism The Identity Development Essay on Explication from Two Themes: This novel is based mainly on the theme of biracialism. This theme has been clearly brought out in the fact that the novel is set in a family of parents from two different races. The main character in the story, Birdie, is a white girl whose parents are from different races. Her father is black, while the mother is white. She is confused to be of a Jewish-American origin. The theme of biracialism is contrasted with the theme of identity rationalization. This is well observed in the fact that the main character, Birdie, has no clear race due to the difference in the race of the parents. Her father, who is black, does not approve of her, since she is white, and often disregards her. Birdie is helped by Cole, who understands the difficulties she is going through identifying herself with her family and the rest of the world. A child identifies herself with her parent’s origins. If the parents are from different races, the child may identify herself with the race of one of the parents. Birdies mother on the other hand, is so involved with civil activities that she barely has time for her children. She is the white parent, and is the most suitable one to indentify herself with Birdie. Birdie in this case cannot be classified as an American or a Jew. She has to search for her own identity. They even go ahead and come up with their own language with her sister. They can communicate in the language very well but it cannot be understood by other people. It is in the search for her identity that one night her father, his black girlfriend and her sister leave, for a place they are later to understand to be Brazil. In the United States, interacialism is not supported. The Americans believe that the land is strictly for the whites and those from other races are considered to be evil people and may be arrest ed by the government on grounds of underground illegal activities. Biracialism in the States is often faced by many challenges. Those individuals from different races have troubles identifying themselves with the Americans. This is the reason as to why Birdie is forced to live a lie. She is forced to adopt a white identity in order to remain safe in America. The issue of biracialism in the states can be considered a disadvantage in the sense that parents from different races may be forced to separate in search of secure places where there is no racism, and where Biracialism is accepted. Biracialism often leads to individuals, especially children, lacking racial identity. This is what happened to Birdie. She does not have a race to identify herself with and is forced to adopt a different identity to be safe in the United States of America. IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT In the modern world, various different races have come in contact and have over the years learned to coexist together in a cosmopolitan world. However, this does not come or did not come without various challenges, which threatened the coexistence which many strived for. Even so, many people are faced with issues of identity and the roles that they should play in order to achieve their identity. In the novel, Caucasia by Danzy Senna, these issues are illustrated through a mixed family setting involving a mixed family in which the mother is white and the father being a black man. The white woman and the black man have got two daughters one named birdie while the other is called Cole. From this perspective, it is evident that this is a family, which is faced with a lot of racial and cultural issues, which are expressed throughout this book. The writer has illustrated the issues from one of the daughter’s perspective and managed to analyze them in an interesting way which grips the reader (Senna, 39). In the story, issues of race are outlined in various ways. As such, the novel talks of the two blood sisters who are very different in appearance. Although born from a white mother and a black father, birdie the younger sister looks white while her elder sister looks black. This fact has brought out various issues one being that people believe that birdie is an adopted child of the family. The book was set in the 1970s and 1980s a time where America was still struggling with racism issues. Such racial politics are seen to distort the lives of the two girls as they struggle with finding their own identity in a society with little or no mercy for other races. At the time, racial intolerance was still rampant, and the girls had to deal with racial politics every single day given the nature of their family. Birdie who looked white had to deal with the issue of having a black sister, as well as a black father. For birdie, it was rather difficult for her to commit to an identity since she was of mixed race but looked white. She had to also deal with her socially accepted identity on one hand and her psychological construction of her identity. The society identified birdie as a white person and for this reason she was said to be adopted by the family. To further highlight this, her sister Cole looked black in a way which did not raise any form of doubt. It was difficult for her to be able to relate with other people in society without having being declared a misfit one way or the other. It was a constant battle of family relations and identity issues over societal expectations. The family eventually splits under various racial issues as well as politics of race having the separation of the daughters when the family breaks apart. Cole goes with her father while birdie goes with her white mo ther. This shows the strain of maintaining a multiracial family at the time which is posed by society, as well as family individuals. The splitting of the family also posed a lot of strain on the two girls finding their own identity amidst social and personal expectations. Birdie is said to be like a chameleon that has to keep changing in order to fit in society. At one point Birdie in Caucasia asks â€Å"what is the point of surviving if you have to disappear?†(Senna 29). This line shows how issues eg identity will influence the lives of many people. The reason for this being that every person such as birdie in this novel will have to construct their own identity either based on societal expectations or in relation to personal and individual views. From the novel Caucasia, it is evident that multiracial marriages at the time were encountered with very many issues leading to such marriages being dissolved. Birdie and Cole’s parents split due to strained relations brought about by issues of race (Senna 55). This further brought about issues of identity confusion especially to children born the mixed families. Interracial differences at the time of setting the novel was highly magnified leading to rampant and reckless discrimination. Even multiracial families brought together by love seemed to crumble with time due to strained interracial relations affecting both parents and children alike. However from the novel it is evident that children in such families were much more tolerant of racial differences as opposed to their parents (Hooks, 66). Birdie lee and Cole lee despite their appearances were very close and were traumatized by their untimely separation. They also had to struggle to find their own identity amidst the racial tension evident in the book at the time. From this we learn that people have got different views about issues relating to identity and how to deal with role confusion due to construction of identity. CONCLUSION In conclusion, therefore, the novel has highlighted that identity issues will have to be determined by the person in relation to the social placing and in relation to societal expectations. The issue of man overcoming adversity shows how people will strive to overcome challenges in life. This has also been elicited well by the author.

CONTEMPORARY DOCUMENTARY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

CONTEMPORARY DOCUMENTARY - Essay Example Numerous naturalists and every living creatures common sense entitlement activists acknowledge Disney for raising their sympathy toward the earth (Van Riper 181). Anyhow, this gratefulness has not been conveyed in a quality free bundle. From the beginning, Disneys tendency movies have upheld the idea that the characteristic worlds boss quality lies in the benefit that modern culture can remove from it. At first, this backing took the type of straightforward paeans to the honorability of logging, mining and urban improvement. Presently, in the midst of the expanding commodification of everything from tribal myth to basmati rice, the worth removed from nature is the privilege to characterize nature. Disney desires that privilege and will pick up it at our hazard. Very little other than insight into the past recognizes the organizations initial work from its ancestors and rivals. Where nature showed up, it was in its customary part of the destructive danger, or as humanoid cartoon creatures (Van Riper 148). It was not until Bambi (1942) that Disney discovered the structure on which his later nature works would hang. Instead of living clearly human lives, wearing garments, managing a furrow or in charge of a steamboat, the creatures in Bambi were far closer to the genuine article. They were not people; that part was saved for the films scalawag. They were, notwithstanding, individuals. So that the passing of Bambis mom because of the Hunter is plainly killed. Bambi was the model for Disneys later nature work, most outstandingly the Genuine Life Adventures, a progression of what were inexactly alluded to as documentaries, set in environments from the Sonoran Desert to the Canadian tundra (Van Riper 166) Winged Migration (2001) is an outwardly staggering "narrative enterprise" that takes a few groups of feathered creatures on their occasional transitory excursions. Despite the fact that the

Personel Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Personel Finance - Essay Example In the event that I lose my job and I do not have a source of income, I will adjust my financial lifestyles, budget and the financial plans that I have. The following analysis will look at the specific steps and how my new lifestyle will be like. The loss of job will be characterized by decline in my income; hence difficulties in making my ends meet. The first will be to accept this new situation and discuss it with my important people in my life. I will adjust my budget so that I only spend my money on the basics of the life and only on what I can afford at the current economic status. This means I will adjust from spending on the things that do not bring any value in life at current status. For example I will stop going out or adjust to going out to the places that I can comfortably afford. I will invest the remaining resources to get another source of income such as securing another job or any income generating project. I will stop buying expensive clothes and only buy the basics. On the long term basis, this will affect my expected investments such as building my own

N.R.A. Paper (second draft) Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

N.R.A. (second draft) - Research Paper Example The organization further aims at popularizing shooting sports, enhancing safety training, and, as its leadership states, defend the US constitution, largely by defending the right of Americans to own guns (National Rifle Association, par. 1). Some of the political reasons why the NRA retains its stranglehold over the proponents for tougher gun legislation are described below. This term is widely used in economics and political science to imply lack of collective efforts by proponents of an agenda to push their scheme to required success. According to De Mesquita and Ludwig (par 3), the proponents of tougher legislation on gun control are more in number than the opponents. The opponents are mainly NRA members, most with licensed guns and willing to retain them. However, the proponents do not have as much will to fight collectively for gun control, since they have relatively lesser to lose even when guns are available to people with questionable backgrounds (Harcourt 15). The public does not have a common opinion over whether the NRA plays an extremely assertive role in protecting gun owners, even when the many defeats to alternative legislation have formed a lens through which opinion makers have been trying to portray the association. According to a Pew Poll conducted in May 2013, the percentage of respondents who believed the NRA was either applying the correct amount or too little pressure comprised 53% of the sample. The problem is sustaining the interests of the larger less concerned population so that their feelings do not wane over time. The NRA appears to have learnt this trend, and it has been using it successfully in its favor. Drake (par 5) and The Center for Public Integrity (par 3) also alluded to the fact that the majority, noisier population without guns has been particularly reluctant to sustain interest in fighting gun violence. This section

Cocaine Abuse Detection with Double Confirmation Technique

Cocaine Abuse Detection with Double Confirmation Technique Introduction Throughout history, natural and synthetic drugs have been used for many uses. The first drugs were based on natural sources [1] and it is common practice to isolate a drug from its natural sources before synthesis. Usage of these drugs is regulated by governmental organizations, in the U.S.A. the Food and Drug Organization achieves this goal, and any use that is not approved is commonly frowned upon. The deviation of the use of drugs from their approved medical practice is termed drug abuse. The practice of drug abuse is as old as drugs itself. Drugs that alter mood have always existed and the approved usage is partially constructed by society. For example, alcohol use is normal, and sometimes excessively celebrated, in western culture but is prohibited in some religious cultures. While there are several other drugs that are abused daily, this review will be mainly focused on cocaine and its abuse [2]. Originally derived from the coca plant, the history of cocaine use can be detailed as far back as 600 AD. It was common practice for Peruvian Indians to digest the leaves for its euphoric effects. In the 1880s, it was first isolated to use in anesthetic agents due to its abilities as a vasoconstrictor. By 1885, coca could be found in various products such as cigarettes and Coca Cola. Other soft drinks and alcoholic beverages also contained cocaine at the time. However, once news surfaced of cocaine addiction, the perspectives regarding cocaine began to shift. Laws were enacted against cocaine use and by the 1950s, the earlier cocaine abuse was forgotten. However, the more potent version of cocaine, crack, became popular in the 80s and a rise of cocaine abuse followed. It was popular to administer the alkaloid via inhalation or intravenous injections. It was also placed under the tongue (oral sublingual), rubbed on the skin, or inserted into the vagina/anus [2]. Due to its rampant usa ge, it became evident that a method to test for cocaine presence in the human body was necessary to curb its abuse. The purpose of general drug testing is to identify and detect the drug in question, and in turn, deter its usage. An unlimited amount of drugs can be detected in drugs and the sample can be re-tested several times. The analytical techniques utilized in drug testing are separated into two classes: assays based on molecule recognition and separation techniques such as gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography (LC-MS), and capillary electrophoresis (CE). The art of drug testing combines different analytical techniques into a two-tier system where the first step is a quick screening followed by a confirmation step to confirm the results. While the quick on-site screening reduces costs and errors from delays between sampling and analysis, the possibility of false results is lowered with a confirmation step [3]. The biological specimen normally used in these tests is blood and urine; each with its benefits and downfalls. The use of urine as a biological speci men is the cheapest option and as a result, it is most commonly used. However, it is difficult to handle and it is easy to cheat the testing system since people are not watched when the sample is collected. The use of blood offered the advantage of monitoring the patient while the sample is collected. However, blood is also difficult to handle and store and isolating the sample from blood complicates drug testing [4]. As a result, other biological specimens such as hair, sweat, and nasal mucus have been researched as alternatives. In the case of cocaine, this article shows that mucus can be used as an alternative specimen to test for cocaine presence. A two-tier system was developed that utilizes ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and infrared spectroscopy(IR) to test for cocaine in mucus was developed and refined. Mucus was the specimen of interest because it is a non-invasive collection process and unlike blood and urine, the parent compound is present. IMS is a technique with high sensitivity so it will be able to identify positive samples and IR possesses high selectivity so it will be able to confirm these positive results. As a result, IMS is used to detect if the sample is present and IR is used to confirm the original result. Methods and Results Twelve seized cocaine samples with concentrations varying from 25-80% w/w were utilized in conjunction with mucus specimen collected from cocaine users. These users were male from 25 years old to 40 years old. Cocaine-free mucus was obtained from males and females from 25 40 years old. Note that the seized cocaine samples were utilized to develop the method and the collected samples were used to test the method. A liquid chromatography procedure was utilized as the reference procedure. A LC Dionex P680 system was utilized and an acetonitrile-phosphate buffer was used as the mobile phase. For the IMS procedure, an IONSCAN-LS system was used to analyze the samples. Nicotinamide acted as an internal calibrant in order to collect a plasmagram for the sample being tested. A Teflon membrane was used to insert the sample into the machine and to prevent any systematic errors, a blank Teflon membrane was inserted in the machine beforehand. For the IR procedure, a Tensor 27 FT-IR spectrometer was used to obtain the spectra and this was analyzed using the OPUS program. The transmission cell utilized to insert the sample had an open upper side in order to strengthen sensitivity. As a result, a normal cell with 2 mm windows now had Teflon spacers that were 0.5mm thick [3]. The IMS results comparing cocaine containing samples to non-cocaine samples are shown in figure 1a. The highest peak is from the internal calibrant with a K0 of 1.860 cm2 V-1sec-1 . Despite needing a mass spectrometer to assign the peaks, it can be hypothesized that the main peak present in the cocaine seized samples that is absent in non-cocaine users can be attributed to cocaine. Cocaine presents a peak at 15.07 ms drift time with a reduced mobility of 1.16 cm2 V-1sec-1 which matches the literature values. As a result, the characteristics of this peak were used to formulate a criterion that determines the presence of cocaine. Within each plasmagram in question, one must look for the K0 value, a variability value of 50  µg of the peak drift time, a peak amplitude of 1.5, a threshold value of 20, and a full width value at the 1/2maximul amplitude of the peak of 200  µs. Once the IMS results were formulated, two seized samples that tested positive underwent an IR procedu re. The resulting spectra presented a plethora of absorption bands but three are of interest: the stretching of the carbonyl group causes a band at 1726 cm-1; the mono-substituted benzene stretches and causes a band at 1017 cm-1; and out-of-plane bending vibrations cause a band at 965 cm-1. Therefore, a criterion must also be formulated to determine the presence of cocaine. Within an IR spectrum, one should look for peaks within three regions: 1786 to 1701 cmà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢1, from 1363 to 1257 cmà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢1, and 1166 to 950 cmà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢1 [3]. In order to determine the most effective means in collecting mucus, an artificial sniffer to replicate the nose was developed and two different types of swabs were tested. In these studies, a benzocaine, lidocaine, and lactose mixture was utilized. 50 mg of the mixture was sniffed with the artificial sniffer and different swabs were used to collect the samples. The procedure was repeated thrice in order to determine recovery efficiency. The two swabs tested were a double cotton tipped polystyrene stick and single cotton tipped wood stick. Looking at figure 1b and 1c, it is evident that the double cotton tipped polystyrene stick is better for powdered compounds mixed in with mucus so this stick is recommended for mucus collection [3]. If one is to develop a technique to detect and identify an analyte, thresholds must be determined for these assays. By using successive dilutions of a cocaine standard of 1000 mg/L, the limit of detection (LOD) of the IMS technique was determined to be 15 pg. This means that if cocaine is present at any lower amounts, the IMS technique cannot be used to generate a true positive value. The limit of concentration (LOC) was used to determine the threshold for the IR technique. This value was determined to be 100  µg and if any sample is tested to be below this concentration, it cannot be confirmed to be cocaine[3]. Another factor that must be considered is the time delay between administration of drug and drug testing. As a result, the IMS+IR method was performed on these samples with varying times from 15 minutes up until 120 mins, and then after 24 hours. In figure 2c, cocaine was still identifiable up until 120 mins and even after 24 hours, traces were still detectable via the IMS technique [3]. In order for this new method to be viable, the possibility of interference from other compounds must be ruled out. In street cocaine, the product is cut in order to maximize profit. In other words, other anesthetics are mixed in to reduce the amount of cocaine needed to make a profit. In order to show that these common cutting agents do not interfere with the method, these compounds were analyzed by IMS and IR. Evident in figure 3, almost all cutting agents do not overlap with the distinct cocaine peak except for tetracine that has a peak at 15.25 ms with a K0 of 1.151 cm2 V-1sec-1, oxymetazoline at 14.90 ms with a K0 of 1.165 cm2 V-1sec-1, and xylometazoline at 14.77 ms with a K0 of 1.168 cm2 V-1sec-1. These three were analyzed by IR and their spectra (Figure 3) can be distinguished from cocaines spectra. The correlation coefficents were calculated to be less than 90% so the probability of false positives is close to zero. The worry that competitive ionization would also create false positives was also quenched by evaluating different mixtures of cocaine and cutting agents and in most cases, cocaine was detected. The use of other compounds such as a xylomethazoline-containing nasal spray and a topical ointment were tested using the double confirmation method. The only exception is the 1:5 and 1:10 ratio of tetracaine and cocaine. It seems like when cocaine is diluted, the cutting agent causes a shift in cocaines peak in the IMS plasmagram. However, the IR spectra can confirm the presence of this sample. Throughout this process, only one false positive showed up, the 1:10 ratio of lidocaine and cocaine due it the correlatio n coefficient being less than 90% [3]. Now that the method has been fully developed, it was tested using the cocaine samples collected from individuals. 35 samples were collected, nine samples were from individuals who did not use cocaine and the rest used. It is a bit difficult to quantify the amount of cocaine in the mucus due to the matrix but the purpose of the method to detect and identify the analyte. The samples also underwent a liquid chromatography procedure as a reference for the data. As evident in figure 4, the number of false positives is zero using the double confirmation technique. Even when the nose was cleaned with saline before sample collection, the method was still able to detect and identify the analyte afterwards [3]. Discussion This double confirmation technique has been proven to be a successful method for cocaine abuse. The thresholds for each step has been determined and it is recommended that a double cotton tipped polystyrene stick should be used for extractions. The laboratory equipment used can be found in smaller sizes, in order to use outside of lab. As mentioned earlier, some advantages with this technique include easier specimen collection, high selectivity and sensitivity, low risk of interference, and its ability to generate a true positive response up to two hours of exposure [3]. Other techniques with similar advantages are currently being developed as well. Scientists in Europe have developed a surface mass spectrometry technique that detects cocaine from fingerprints [5]. Researchers have suggested sweat patch testing as an alternative to urinalysis for cocaine abuse [6]. However, the possibility of cheating this new method via nasal irrigation and neti pots raises some questions about its application. In other words, if someone has the ability to flush out the main analyte from their nose, in what cases should this technique be utilized? Is it viable for drug testing for employers since people can just flush out their nose in succession a few days before the test? Is this technique more viable in a forensic sense? These are questions that need further research. References (Note:re-format for all of them to have the same format and re-order alphabetically) [1] Goodman Gilmans: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 12e Eds. Laurence L. Brunton, et al. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, , http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com.ezproxy.fiu.edu/content.aspx?bookid=1613sectionid=102124003. [2] Das, Gopal. Cocaine abuse in North America: a milestone in history. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 33.4 (1993): 296-310. [3] Noninvasive Double Confirmation of Cocaine Abuse Sergio Armenta, Miguel de la Guardia, Manel Alcalà  , and Marcelo Blanco. Analytical Chemistry. 2013. 85. (23), 11382-11390 [4] Klaassen, Curtis D., and Mary O. Amdur, eds. Casarett and Doulls toxicology: the basic science of poisons. Vol. 8. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013. [5] Bailey, Melanie J., et al. Rapid detection of cocaine, benzoylecgonine and methylecgonine in fingerprints using surface mass spectrometry. Analyst 140.18 (2015): 6254-6259. [6] Liberty, Hilary James, Bruce D. Johnson, and Neil Fortner. Detecting Cocaine Use Through Sweat Testing: Multilevel Modeling of Sweat Patch Length-of-Wear Data. Journal of analytical toxicology 28.8 (2004): 667-673. Print.

In Superman and Paula Browns New Snowsuit the main character feels Essa

In Superman and Paula Browns New Snowsuit the main character feels betrayed by others. Compare how feelings of betrayal are shown in this story and another story of your choice. a) The ways in which the main character is let down by others. b) How the authors show the feelings of betrayal by the way in which they write. c) Differences in the stories. I am going to talk about themes of betrayal, comparing "Superman and Paula Browns New Snowsuit" and "Chemistry". In both of these stories, some characters are betrayed. The narrator in "Superman and Paula Browns New Snowsuit" is betrayed by her community when they think she is guilty of pushing over Paula Brown and ruining her new coat. She felt especially betrayed by her Uncle Frank, whom she compares with Superman, as he is her hero in the story. When he does not believe her, she describes it as; "the year the war began and the real world, and the difference." The experience taught her lesson, and marks the end of her childhood. In "Chemistry", it is Grandfather, who is betrayed by his daughter and Ralph. The narrator, his widowed mother and grandfather once lived together in harmony in the grandfathers' house. Their harmony is disturbed by the arrival of Ralph, his mothers' boyfriend. Grandfather becomes increasingly isolated when his daughter and Ralph are mean to him so he retires to his shed, and eventually commits suicide, leaving the others to begin a new life. The stories are both about themes of betrayal, and at the same time are very contrasting stories. "Superman and Paula Browns New Snowsuit" is about more trivial things, a Snowsuit being ruined, but it was important to the narrator because it showed her the "real world", and taught... ...s much more factual whereas the other is more opinionated and uses much more metaphors and similes. The style of "Chemistry" is such that it always seems to keep to the point, and when there are sometimes long descriptions about things which do not seem t first important, there always seems to be a hidden meaning behind them, for example the door to the shed which symbolised a "step out" or half way out of life for Grandfather. In "Superman and Paula Browns New Snowsuit" there are a lot of things which do not have much significance to the story, and which add more detail to just set the scene; "he taught me some ju-jitsu in the living room until mother called us for supper". They have some similarities, they are both about relationships between family, and about their childhoods. They are also about changes in their lives and in the way they look at life.

A Comparison between the Hindu Gods of Good and Evil Essay

In Hinduism, the primary goal of an individual is to achieve the so-called Nirvana or â€Å"becoming one with God. † Nirvana connotes the transcendence of the human spirit to the Oneness of the Divine Spirit (Hemenway, 2003). Hence, many Hindus practice a variety of evolved rituals and esoteric practices to enable their spirit to adapt to the divine essence. The hope of spiritual transcendence given by Nirvana became the basis for creation or conceptualization of many gods in the Hindu religion. These gods are basically derivatives of the â€Å"One God†; the â€Å"One God’ being represented in all aspects of nature (Hemenway, 2003). Thus, in order to simulate the specific characteristics of this God, Hindus focus on worshipping all the representations of this God. In general, the Hindu religion speaks of about 300 major and lesser gods. The primary three gods are known as the Holy Trinity. Brahma is the creator; Vishnu is the preserver (pattern-maker); and Shiva, the destroyer. The three are inseparable from each other. In order for creation to proceed, there must be a period of destruction. In order for destruction to occur, a period of preservation must happen (prior). Thus, the existence of the three gods presents a vivid description of the Hindu’s belief on the existence of man. If man is to be born, he must be preserved from the impediments of bad life and evil, and he must face the reality of death. To be born is to be created; to be preserved is to be rectified from the evils of daily living; to die is to acknowledge the origin of the human spirit. Only in this way that the human spirit would be able to achieve Nirvana (transcendence of the human spirit to the divine essence). Thus, Hindus hold on the assumption that once man is born (and reborn) in this world, there are powers who would guide and misguide him to attain Nirvana. The guiding powers are essentially the gods of good. The powers misguiding man to his true purpose are the gods of evil. This is though unlike the Christian conception of good and evil. Evil here is not seen as non-functional. Rather it serves as a manifest of test during the preservation period of man’s being; that is, the necessity to achieve Nirvana. Good here is seen something as an end; that is, the representation of Nirvana on earth. We can therefore assume that the conception of good and evil is a rectification of ideological misconceptions in the Hindu religion. The first clarification is concerning the source of good and evil. It is quite clear in Hindu religion that both good and evil gods came from the same source. Evil is the perversion of good. In order for evil to exist, good must first come into existence. The second clarification states â€Å"good gods are often transformed into evil gods as they experience strange circumstances. † The conception connotes the existence of One Divine Essence represented as both good and evil in nature. Evil is not a natural phenomenon, it springs from the Divine Essence serving as a test to humanity. Thus, when we compare Hindu gods of good and evil, take note that we are essentially talking of functional difference. This functional difference is manifested in the perceived roles of the gods in nature. The Hindu gods of good are represented in things â€Å"perceived† by the Hindus as rudiments of a â€Å"good life. † For example, Ganesha is often described as a god of good because he bestows good fortune to those seeking his favor. Specifically, he is considered the source of prosperity and wealth for Hindus. Some call Ganesha the Lord of Good Fortune and the Destroyer of Obstacles. Often, Hindus attribute their economic and social well-being to the hands of Ganesha. Added to that, because man is located in a physical world full of dangers and obstacles, he continuously provide his divine guidance to man. Hence, he is sometimes called the god of wisdom and intellect in Hinduism. Ganesha is seen as a good god who bestows his wisdom and divine intellect to man in order for him (man) to attain Nirvana. Frankly speaking, he is seen by many Hindus as the source of hope and aspiration. Besides Ganesha, there are three other gods considered to be good by many Hindus. Durga is a goddess representing the power of the Supreme Being who maintains moral order (Hindu Gods, 2005). In Sanskrit, her name means a â€Å"fort or a place that is protected. † Thus, Durga is known as the Divine Mother. In her arms, she protects the human race from evil by destroying the sources of evil. Like Ganesha, Lakshmi is considered a goddess of good-living and prosperity. In Sanskrit, her name literally means â€Å"goal† (Hindu Gods, 2005). Thus, she signifies the goals of life. These goals of life can be achieved either in the physical or spiritual realm. Most Hindus pray to her for guidance. Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, and wisdom. She is often associated with Brahma, the creator of the universe. In Sanskrit, her name means â€Å"the essence of the self† (Hindu Gods, 2005). Hinduism puts knowledge on a higher pedestal, being the prerequisite for creation. To the Hindu worshipper, Saraswati provides guidance to humanity in accomplishing their daily tasks. Hindus believe that Saraswati, during the early part of creation, provided man with practical knowledge. This practical knowledge allowed man to create civilizations, far greater than any in the animal kingdom. In Hinduism, there are gods considered to be the source of evil in this world. In Pauranic traditions, Asuras and Devas are the step sons of Kasyapa, an unknown god considered to be the primordial source of evil. They are considered to be demon gods projected as enemies of humanity. The Asuras (this is a group of demon gods) became too proud of their ancestry and power. Thus, the Devas became enraged over the war mongering of the Asuras and decided to punish them. The punishment though was self-serving. The Devas thought by forcing the Asuras to serve them, they would be able to project themselves as rulers of the physical world. This view of the Asuras and Devas was expanded in Iranian mythology. Iranian mythology presented Asur Mazda as the embodiment of good in this world and Devas as the villain. It should be noted though that in Hindu mythology, both the Asuras and the Devas are perceived as demon gods; that is, gods that would take all hope from humanity in the attainment of the Nirvana. The term Asuras, unlike the terminological evolution in Iranian mythology, came to signify in later times (in Hinduism) as the representation of evil; demon itself. In Hinduism, there are gods considered evil precisely because they are perceived to be enemies of the â€Å"good gods† and humanity in general. Vritra, for example, is a serpent god often called as the â€Å"enemy of the gods† (The Complete Book of Devils and Demons, 2005). His favorite animal, the serpent, carries the scent of death to those who would call his name. Yama is a Hindu god considered to be the lord of death. His two dogs drag humanity into the fervor of spiritual death; the essence of which is the loss of spiritual transcendence to the Divine Essence. The same is true for Ravana, the Demon King (The Complete Book of Devils and Demons, 2005). He is seen as the incarnation of evil in this world. At times, he would lure humans into his trap, forcing them to pledge loyalty to his evil will. There are also evil creatures considered to be the direct descendants of the evil gods. Kasyapa, the primordial source of evil (and the father of both the Asuras and the Devas) gave birth to the Daityas. These are unpleasant demons who roamed the physical world to destroy man’s sacrifices to the good gods. The good gods are therefore their natural enemies. Kasyapa also gave birth to the Danavas (The Complete Book of Devils and Demons, 2005). These are creatures often disguised as man to motivate man to rebel against the good gods. These creatures (who at times became demon gods) possessed powers of persuasion and bad luck. They often seduce man to covet the properties of the gods and to stop offering sacrifices. Added to that, they also offer their services to the primary â€Å"evil gods† in their fight against the good gods. The good gods are sometimes forced to seek refuge to other places in order to avoid the rage of these demonic creatures. In the end, however, the good gods succeed in defeating these evil creatures (in alliance with the evil gods). There are also other â€Å"entities† described as evil in the Hindu religion. The Darbas are destructive that â€Å"tears† human flesh (hence the name, â€Å"tearers†). The Rakshasas are goblins and ghouls which descended from the foot of Brahma. They can be titans or as little as a cat that haunt cemeteries and other religious places. They disturb sacrifices, animate the dead, eat people, and spread disease and disorder. These creatures often serve the evil gods in their fight against the good gods. In sum, evil goods in the Hindu religion are either the enemies of the gods and humanity or those which prevent humanity from attaining Nirvana. These gods descended from the three primary gods (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva). At times, they trace their ancestry to good gods. This explains the proposition stated earlier that the â€Å"good is the prerequisite of evil. Added to that, some evil Hindu gods (like the Asuras and the Devas) in Hinduism present their identity as the result of perversion on the part of the good gods. Take note that the â€Å"good gods† are not by nature good. Like in Greek mythology, Hindu gods are often involved in intrigues that affect their functions as gods. At times, even the good gods struggle against each other for supremacy. Only when the threat of evil becomes preeminent, the good Hindu gods join forces to defeat the evil gods. Most of the time, they achieve success. At some time, they flee from the hordes of the evil gods. We come now to the discussion of the primary differences of Hindu gods of good and evil. As stated earlier, the main difference between these gods can be derived from the concept of functionality. Hindu gods of good are represented as the â€Å"good rudiments† of nature (and man’s guidance in attaining Nirvana). Hindu gods of evil are essentially the symbols of a corrupt humanity. This corruption is the ultimate obstacle (and often irreversible) of man in attaining Nirvana. There are though specific differences between these sets of deities. Here are as follows: ) Culturally speaking, the Hindu gods of good are often associated with the mystical founders of Hindu civilization (Hemenway, 2003). For example, in the Vedic manuscripts the ancient founders of the Indus civilization are often given divine attributes. These gods are the progenitors of practical and divine knowledge to the people. The evil gods are often associated with the invaders; that is, the barbarians who destroyed the Indus civilization and established the caste system (note that the caste system is functional in the eyes of a Hindu – this connotes that evil itself is functional in some ways); ) The good gods are often represented as the symbols of perpetuity and healthy living (Hemenway, 2003). Animals such as the elephant, cow, and rat are associated with the good gods because of their dual symbol of power and humility: the very virtues that humanity adheres to. The evil gods are represented by serpent, monkey (symbol of arrogance and maliciousness), and in some cases the vulture: symbols of decay and corruption of the human spirit. Take note however that these creatures are respected in the Hindu religion because evil is seen as a manifest test of humanity in achieving Nirvana; ) Lastly, the good gods are usually are represented as bringers of justice and love to humanity. The eight arms of Ganesha symbolize love for humanity. The swords loaded to arms of Ganesha symbolize justice and his will to protect humanity from evil powers. The evil gods carry weapons that aim to destroy and misguide humanity. We must though take note that there is no sharp demarcation between good and evil (Abhedananda and Math, 2007). In Vedanta philosophy, there is no such thing as a natural good. Any action can be viewed as either good or bad depending on the one who views it. Thus, it can be said that â€Å"every action, whether backed by good or bad motives, is covered with its opposite, as fire is enveloped with smoke† (Abhedananda and Math, 2007). Thus to assume that the good gods in the Hindu religion are naturally good is a misconception. It is often noted some â€Å"good gods† gave birth to evil ones. This instance indicate that evil is the offspring of good.

How gender bias can become a factor in research

How gender bias can become a factor in research Gender bias refers to the situation whereby people of one gender are indiscriminately treated differently from the other gender. In the traditional ways of doing research, male respondents were being given more attention compared to their female counterparts.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on How gender bias can become a factor in research specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Feminist research methodologies were however, developed over the years to ensure that even women get the chance to participate in the research activities. One of the factors that promote gender biases in research includes lack of sufficient research on the positions held by men and women in society. The other factor is the kind of the research whereby the most of these psychological researches are based on stereotypes rather than the real differences between man and women. Finally, is the differences in behaviors between men and women in that women ha ve a lot of strange behaviors brought about by changes in their hormonal balance such as during the PMS and PMT stages. Gender bias has been a factor in research for many years. The most affected research area by this factor is medicine owing to the stereotype that most of the health disorders affect either males or females and rarely can you find ailments that affect both genders with equal magnitude. A good example of this is when research is being conducted on cardiac disorders. These are largely believed to be common in men; hence such researches are done on male samples. The assumption made in such cases is that the female population affected by these disorders is trivial hence insignificant in the research (Brannon 231). The result of this is that cures and control mechanisms are developed for men, and it is assumed that this will work for women too. This however could not be the case because it has been discovered that women react differently to medications compared to men. I n some cases however, gender bias in research is valid, a good example being the case of research on the condition of women during pregnancy. This will never affect men and hence using female samples to collect the data is warranted.Advertising Looking for essay on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Brannon, â€Å"women had always been excluded from research activities that led to the validation of most clinical drugs owing to what was referred to as safety reasons. However, this prohibition did not have clear information on the effects of clinical drugs drugs on women† (234). This finding sent most of the drugs to the laboratory also owing to the fact that women were being affected adversely by these. Psychological research was also generally conducted on men as the original respondents then women came in second as secondary respondents. This changed after it was discovered that most people with psychological problems can be traced with a problem that affected the mothers either during pregnancy or when bringing up the child. This perspective changed, and a conclusion was made that â€Å"men may be the prototype of modern psychology’s picture of the typical person, but mothers remain the typical kind of parent† (Brannon 233). From these illustrations, it is clear that gender bias is a major factor in research especially of a psychological nature. The researchers should be very sensitive to the needs of both groups before coming up with any conclusions. They also need to come up with ways of determining with accuracy the gender that is affected by that research mostly before coming up with conclusions of the research. This will ensure that the findings are more accurate and avoid the cases where over time most psychological research findings are being considered void. An example of this is like the one stated above which involves medication. Most o f the drugs that had been produced were banned from the market when it was realized that they had adverse effects on the health of women. This could have been avoided initially by equally selecting population samples containing a mixture of men and women.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on How gender bias can become a factor in research specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Brannon, Linda. Psychological Perspective 5th ed. Louisiana: McNeese State University, 1996.

Free Essays on Tests

What is at Stake? When students graduate from high school, the public expects that each student will possess the skills to be successful at either work or secondary education. We know however, that not all students meet this expectation. A 2000 report from the Employment Policy Forum reported, â€Å"that is many as 70% of students entering the workforce do not have simple writing skills† (Workforce Preparation 1). In an effort to improve student achievement, (State Law 2, statutes of 1999), authorized the development of the California High School Exit Exam (CHSEE). Seniors in the class of 2004 will be the first California public school students who must pass the CHSEE in order to receive their high school diploma (Rubin, par. 5) Advocates say exit exams will motivate students and teachers to reach higher standards, therefore improving student achievement. Critics contend, however, that exit exams have no educational value and do not answer the question of how to best measure student learning. Furthermore, they argue that these high stakes tests will lead to higher dropout rates and do not ensure that students have an opportunity to learn the material being tested (Hicks 1-2). Graduation decisions should be based on many factors; one test should not be the sole determinant of any major decision. Proponents argue that high school exit exams are a crucial key to educational reform. A statewide exam will set uniform expectations and use the same evaluation instruments for all students. The CHSEE will hold all students accountable to the same with graduation requirements and hold schools accountable for student performance. Supporters of the CHSEE make strong arguments for the use of exit exams. However, whether these exams are accurate indicators of a student's abilities, is highly debatable. Stanford University's Linda Darling-Hammond writes, â€Å"there is no evidence high stakes testing improves school quality. Indeed, th... Free Essays on Tests Free Essays on Tests What is at Stake? When students graduate from high school, the public expects that each student will possess the skills to be successful at either work or secondary education. We know however, that not all students meet this expectation. A 2000 report from the Employment Policy Forum reported, â€Å"that is many as 70% of students entering the workforce do not have simple writing skills† (Workforce Preparation 1). In an effort to improve student achievement, (State Law 2, statutes of 1999), authorized the development of the California High School Exit Exam (CHSEE). Seniors in the class of 2004 will be the first California public school students who must pass the CHSEE in order to receive their high school diploma (Rubin, par. 5) Advocates say exit exams will motivate students and teachers to reach higher standards, therefore improving student achievement. Critics contend, however, that exit exams have no educational value and do not answer the question of how to best measure student learning. Furthermore, they argue that these high stakes tests will lead to higher dropout rates and do not ensure that students have an opportunity to learn the material being tested (Hicks 1-2). Graduation decisions should be based on many factors; one test should not be the sole determinant of any major decision. Proponents argue that high school exit exams are a crucial key to educational reform. A statewide exam will set uniform expectations and use the same evaluation instruments for all students. The CHSEE will hold all students accountable to the same with graduation requirements and hold schools accountable for student performance. Supporters of the CHSEE make strong arguments for the use of exit exams. However, whether these exams are accurate indicators of a student's abilities, is highly debatable. Stanford University's Linda Darling-Hammond writes, â€Å"there is no evidence high stakes testing improves school quality. Indeed, th...

Crime Rates in Qatar Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Crime Rates in Qatar - Research Proposal Example As the report declares USA, on the other hand, is another developed country, but experiencing a relatively higher crime rate than Qatar. In as much as this is a country with first-class police services like the FBI and the likes the level of crime rates still has not gone down as expected. Each day, shockers of news like armed robbery, murder rock the news. The country experiences a crime rate of up to 4.1% on average. From the essay it is clear that USA has very many factors that contribute to its high crime rates as researched prior by... One of the primary factors they can accuse is the high rate of immigration by other people from different countries who come to the US hopeful of better jobs. When some of these immigrants do not succeed in their goals, or they find the wages and salaries too small, they assume the role of burglars and bandits hence increasing the daily crime rate. This is despite the strict law enforcement mechanisms put across by the government. USA is a country experiencing rapid economic growth each year. Newer buildings are constructed each time. Due to this, the young and the able-bodied tend to move towards the construction projects in search of employment or wages. These areas are reportedly over crowded in terms of settlement. Crimes are more prevalent in these regions. The foreign workers also add to the congestion in these places. Drug use has been one of the factors influencing criminal offences in USA. Large amounts of drugs have been seized in USA in the recent past.

Unschooling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Unschooling - Essay Example They study at home and learn from their own life experience. Unschooling is rather controversial: from one point of view it can give young people more opportunities to learn from the natural experience, from the other point of view, it can prevent children from receiving normal education. Here I would like to emphasize that home schooling is possible and good but everything depends on parents and their efforts. In the article the author presents the case of the 6-year-old boy who is unschooled. He does not go to school but plays games and goes shopping instead. His mother does not care if he reads textbooks or learn vocabulary. He learned to read from Pokemon cards and to count in the supermarket when choosing what is cheaper and what to buy. The opponents of unschooling are sure that such children may miss important points given in school. But boy’s mother does not think so. She says that her son will get standard education but with the help of soft and unobtrusive approach. For example, when she wants her son to read a textbook, she does not order him to do that. She just leaves the book in the room and one day he starts reading it himself. I consider unschooling to be a very interesting new approach. However much depends on parents. They should assess their efforts and opportunities before making a serious decision to let their child remain