myths and moundbuilders essays

myths and moundbuilders essays The extraordinary mounds found in the Midwest is home to many myths and stories of the Moundbuilders. The Moundbuilders mysteries reside around the Ohio and Illinois flatlands. Though this group of people have been wiped out for thousands of years now, many archeologists are fascinated with way of life. Their struggle to survive and how their culture functions are unique to no other. That is why many historians and archeologists are so amazed about the myths and stories of the moundbuilders. There are many stories that describe the way they lived, acted, and eventually wiped out from mankind. The stories began around the 1700s settlers around the area where the Moundbuilders lived. Many of the first stories that came out explained that they were not savage Indians but a civilized group of people. Even though evidence pointed toward the Indians. Scientists say that the Indians savagely attacked the Moundbuilders. Located in St. Louis, the most famous mound still stands. This mound stands over 100 feet high. Not only is it the highest mound, but also it is one of the oldest in history. It was home of the second group of moundbuilders. All societal events occurred on this enormous mound. The way the Moundbuilders survived was mainly based on the way they ate. Fish and fruits were the main source of food. Nuts was also a source of food. A motar and pestal was the equipment, much like Indians, they used the motar and pestal to crush their nuts. Harvesting occurred more than hunting. The Moundbuilders were more a civilized group than a savage group. The Moundbuilders were not really recognized in American culture. It is mostly historians and scientists that know about this group of people. Their way of life was very civilized in their time. It is amazing how they lived amongst Indians and regular people. Maybe they were wiped out because they were not tough enough to handle br ...

Franchthi Cave on the Mediterranean Sea

Franchthi Cave on the Mediterranean Sea Franchthi Cave is a very large cave, overlooking what is now a small inlet off the Aegean Sea in the southeastern Argolid region of Greece, near the modern town of Koiladha. The cave is the epitome of every archaeologists dreama site constantly occupied for thousands of years, with wonderful preservation of bones and seeds throughout. First occupied during the early Upper Paleolithic sometime between 37,000 and 30,000 years ago, Franchthi Cave was the site of human occupation, pretty much consistently up until about the final Neolithic Period about 3000 BC. Franchthi Cave and the Early Upper Paleolithic Franchthis deposits measured over 11 meters (36 feet) in thickness. The oldest layers (Stratum P-R in two trenches) belong to the Upper Paleolithic. A recent reanalysis and new dates on the oldest three levels was reported in the journal Antiquity in late 2011. Stratum R (40-150 cm thick), lower part is Aurignacian, upper part Gravettian, 28,000-37,000 cal BPStratum Q (5-9 cm), volcanic tephra representing ash from the Campanian Ignimbrite, Aurignacian lithic materials, rabbit and cat bones, 33,400-40,300 cal BP-Stratum P (1.5-2 meters thick), undistinguished lithic industry, poorly-preserved mammal bone, 34,000-41,000 cal BP The Campanian Ignimbrite (CI Event) is a volcanic tephra thought to have occurred from an eruption in the Phlegraean Fields of Italy which occurred ~39,000-40,000 years before the present (cal BP). Noted in many Aurignacian sites across Europe, notably at Kostenki. Shells of Dentalium spp, Cyclope neritea and Homolopoma sanguineum were were recovered from all three UP levels; some appear to be perforated. Calibrated dates on the shell (with consideration for the marine effect) are in roughly the correct chronostratigraphic sequence but vary between ca 28,440-43,700 years before the present (cal BP). See Douka et al for additional information. Significance of Franchthi Cave There are many reasons why Franchthi Cave is an important site; three of them are the length and period of occupation, the quality of preservation of the seed and bone assemblages, and the fact that it was excavated in modern times. Length and period of occupation. The site was occupied, more or less continuously, for about 25,000 years, during which time came the invention of agriculture and pastoralism. What that means is that changes that were wrought by these phenomenal leaps in human understanding can be traced at one place, by examining differences between different layers. Quality of preservation. In most of the layers excavated at Franchthi cave, remnants of animals and plants in the form of bone, shell, seed, and pollen were preserved. These kinds of artifacts have provided researchers with a wealth of information concerning diet and the course of domestication. Modern excavation techniques. Franchthi cave was excavated in the late 1960s and early 1970s, by the Universities of Indiana and Pennsylvania and the American School in Classical Studies at Athens. These researchers paid attention to stratigraphic layers, and kept much of the faunal and floral materials that would have been ignored or thrown aw ay in earlier times. Franchthi Cave was excavated under the direction of T.W. Jacobsen of Indiana University, between 1967 and 1979. Investigations since then have concentrated on the millions of artifacts recovered during the excavations. Sources This glossary entry is a part of the About.com guide to Upper Paleolithic, and the Dictionary of Archaeology. Deith MR, and Shackleton JC. 1988. The contribution of shells to site interpretation: Approaches to shell material from Franchthi Cave. In: Bintlinff JL, Davidson DA, and Grant EG, editors. Conceptual Issues in Environmental Archaeology. Edinburgh, Scotland: Edinburgh University Press. p 49-58. Douka K, Perles C, Valladas H, Vanhaeren M, and Hedges REM. 2011. Franchthi Cave revisited: the age of the Aurignacian in south-eastern Europe. Antiquity 85(330):1131-1150. Jacobsen T. 1981. Franchthi Cave and the beginnings of settled village life in Greece. Hesperia 50:1-16. Shackleton JC. 1988. Marine molluscan remains from Franchthi Cave. Excavations at Franchthi Cave, Greece. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. Shackleton JC, and van Andel TH. 1986. Prehistoric shore environments, shellfish availability, and shellfish gathering at Franchthi, Greece. Geoarchaeology 1(2):127-143. Stiner MC, and Munro ND. 2011. On the evolution of diet and landscape during the Upper Paleolithic through Mesolithic at Franchthi Cave (Peloponnese, Greece). Journal of Human Evolution 60(5):618-636.

Leisure Sleuth Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Leisure Sleuth Paper - Essay Example to believe that perhaps this person got involved in a more serious relationship in which she didn’t have the time or interest in writing things down. There are some pizza take-out menus for a local hangout lying around. There are several books on the shelf, many philosophical or fictional in nature—Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, On the Road by Jack Kerouac, The Iceman Cometh (a play), and various works by Latina women. The environment is somewhat chaotic and this person looks like she is a bit messy, but perhaps that is because so much of her time is taken up by a busy schedule. Based on the clues described above, there are several conclusions that can be drawn about the person who lives there. This is the person’s room. It is obvious that she has several interests, some of which obviously must have been left on the side since the tennis racket looks like it has dust on its cover. Other priorities seem to have taken over her life. The art in the closet suggests that this person is a daydreamer who wants to achieve many things in life but perhaps is not as organized as she would like. In addition,†¨it seems that her itinerant disorganization may be holding her back from having the most efficient life that she could live. She loves beauty, beautiful things, and values looking good—as there is evidence that all kinds of clothes, makeup, and jewelry are lying around the room. Perhaps she fears being alone or ugly or homeless. Obviously she is a hard worker because she doesn’t have a lot of time to spend on house chores. The space says that this person’s personality is very vibrant and alive. This person engages in passive leisure, and could greatly improve her lifestyle if she sat down and thought about what her goals were in life, and then avidly targeted those. This person obviously needs to have better time management, but other than that, it seems like she leads a very ideal life. She doesn’t seem to have a want for anything, and has

Literature Review to prove that Housing the Homeless is Cheaper than Essay

Literature Review to prove that Housing the Homeless is Cheaper than Leaving Them on The Streets - Essay Example However, counties and cities affiliated with a campaign identified as the 100,000 Homes movement have so far succeeded to take 80,000 of the families off the streets. Regional governments and NGOs do most of the job. (Portal.hud.gov, 2014)The money they use is mostly gotten from existing private donations and federal programs, and there is proof that this method saves taxpayer funds. A former prison in Colorado was recently converted into a homeless shelter. This move is not only benefit to the homeless but also to the taxpayer, as well. (Portal.hud.gov, 2014) In southeastern Colorado, the Fort Lyon Correctional Facility had housed prisoners until it was closed down in 2011 due to budget cuts. (Affairs, 2014) It stayed dormant for two years as the lawmakers debated on how the building was to be used (Portal.hud.gov, 2014). They decided on the creation of a $3.9 million project to reopen the Facility as a homeless shelter that would house 200 people majority of who were veterans. Although many conservatives may balk at the cost an urban-focused media outlet, Next City, makes and excellent and valid point. Even when not considering factors such as humane treatment and dignity, it is by far cheaper for taxpayers to shelter homeless people than to leave them out on the streets. Approximately 60% of the homeless people are drug and alcohol addicts while about 30% suf fer from very serious medical conditions. (Portal.hud.gov, 2014)Due to these increased medical conditions it is evident that leaving them in the streets is more dangerous as chances of contracting diseases is higher compared to them being in a shelter. (Cbsnews.com, 2014) More evidence to support this theory comes from the county of Los Angeles. Researchers concluded a comprehensive evaluation of a years-long campaign to shelter members of Los Angeles’ chronic homeless population dubbed Project 50. (Cbsnews.com, 2014) The program cost

Africa’s growing concern Essay Example for Free

Africa’s growing concern Essay Whoever ignites the flames of hate has succeeded considerably. Hatred has become a way of life for many people around the world. People envy other people and create hatred to those of better lives. But no human being is prepared for what the African continent actually reveals. The persecution of unwanted individuals is prevalent in this part of the earth. Poverty hounds Africa no end. The life there is very hard and disturbing. The place is filled with chaos and turmoil. No stability is in sight. The entire world is currently alarmed over the high incidence of death within its population. Countries over the years have pledged support to the stagnant economy of the African nation. All means of contribution have been given to the poor continent. But in spite of the continued aid, there seems to be no hope of rising within the nation. Africa has shoved itself into a hole so deep that the possibility of becoming buried is never a remote idea in the future. Men, women and children agonize over their situations. Food and resources are hard to come by. Thousands die of starvation annually. But more than that, countless people become victims of unnecessary violence. World leaders and governments around the globe have, time and again, met and discuss the events in Africa numerous times. Like a disease, the social demise of its population has been a primary concern for many nationalities worldwide. People are dying every minute. The media has played a vital role in revealing the abuses and brutalities of people. All eyes are focused on this place where individuals have disregarded the value of human life. The carnage continues, and will continue unless a swift and effective solution will be unveiled. There is a sense of urgency for the world’s leading governments to address the destruction of human dignity in Africa. However, in spite of the launching of countless humanitarian missions to solve the nation’s woes, death and suffering lingers on. Billions have been spent on relief operations but the social problem remains undefeated. The casualty toll piles up. The killing spree goes unsuppressed. And the rest of the world watches dumbfounded. It only shows that governments and its people are not doing enough to find answers to the African problem. Although food and the lack of basic needs is the primary concern among the African people, it is violence that must be silenced. Several decades of gun running and smuggling within the continent have only brought death to many citizens. As long as the armaments keep on coming, peace will remain to be an elusive and distant dream. The social instability in the African nation is about power. Individuals and their clans grapple for control. Gaining that momentum to hold every move in the tumultuous society means having the arms and weapons to subject everyone to their every word. The world is stretching its influence into every corner of the continent. But sadly, the troubled nation drives off the chance and rare opportunity to rebuild its communities. It is ironic that a very poor place can summon the strength to annihilate all intervening parties out of their motherland. Events are bleak. The panic button has been set. But with all the dangers and the deaths, Africans have little regard for the needs of their nation. Women and children go elsewhere to find peace. War escalates and the streets are stained with blood. If the world is keen on finding the answers to the growing social menace in Africa, analysts should dig deeper to gain a full and total understanding of the situation among its people. The United Nations must be aware to the motives and intentions of the African people. All along, the entire globe has only addressed the needs of the poor continent. The real reason for the chaos remains undetermined, and therefore, unsolved. Turmoil will continue to rob the African nation of its dream of peace and stability. With a disorganized crowd and a selfish government, senseless killings and looting will be around for a long time.

Government and Politics - We Need Election Reform in America Essay

"Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy or perhaps both." -- James Madison ("Focus" 1) The United States has strived to be a true democracy, a place in which the citizens are free to govern themselves, since its inception. For a democracy to work, the citizens must remain knowledgeable and elections must remain unbiased. Our current system of electing presidents fails in both of these regards: citizens are only given two choices that stand any chance of winning and their decisions between those two candidates are influenced not by knowledge, but instead by what they have seen on thirty second television commercials. In order to break up the complete political monopoly the Democrat and Republican Parties have on the United States, we as Americans need to reform our presidential elections so that third party and independent candidates have a legitimate chance of holding offices and so that citizens are able to vote on the candidates based on their political beliefs rather than on their ability to fundraise and advertise. Similar reforms should be made to the elections fo r other offices as well at the federal, state and local levels. The ideas and arguments presented in this paper can be applied to American elections in general although, because of the small scope of this paper, they only speak of the presidential elections. A candidate cannot legitimately compete in modern American elections without being able to finance a huge television advertising campaign. Commercials have become an integral part of our... ...Democrats and Republicans hold in this country would allow candidates with fresh ideas and new ways of dealing with old problems to take office. Through these new representatives, our government will become healthier and better able to adapt to today's changing political environment. Sources Cited Basham, Patrick. "The Illiberal Reality of European-Style Campaign Reform." http://www.cato.org/dailys/03-13-02.html. Donnis, Ian. "In Whose Interest?" http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/other_stories/multi-page/documents/02552297.htm. Targonski, Rosalie. http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/archive/elect00/primer.htm. "Focus - Freedom of Press and Information." http://usembassy.state.gov/islamabad/wwwhircalert0702.html Associated Press. http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/e1598.htm. CNN. http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2000/results/.

Executive Summary of Starbucks

SUMMARY OF â€Å"Howard Schultz : Building Starbucks Community† This text speaks about Howard Schultz and how he built a Starbucks Community. * Early Years This man was the oldest of three children in a modest family of Brooklyn. Indeed, his father combined 3 different jobs to support his family. His mother was a homemaker who transmits her values to her children. She was a strong-willed person who wants a good future for her children with the respect of these values. Her dearest wish was that all go to college. Howard, who believes in the American dream, felt that he had to plan his own future because he didn’t want to stay in Brooklyn.Indeed, he met many different people who came from different backgrounds. He said that â€Å"Diversity isn’t something I had to learn. I lived it†. It’s a point which influenced his future behavior. During his teenage, Howard and his father clashed often. He will realize later that sometimes you learn lessons, but yo u don’t realize them in the moment. But at the time he thought that his father could have accomplished so much more if only he had tried. This natural leadership ability stood out in the schoolyard. The Sport’s domain was the example.Indeed, it allows him to have a scholarship until University in Northern Michigan. After graduating, Schultz made a sales trainee in New-York in Xerox. Despite a good income, he didn’t like this job for several reasons: This Company was too bureaucratic, strict and rigid and he didn’t have a voice. Finally, he didn’t find a link between this company and his values. * Creating Starbucks Howard had already works in the field of coffee. So one day, he was encountered Starbucks Coffee and was very sensitive to the product and the business.He said that he felt he had discovered a whole new continent. After that, he joined Starbucks as a director of operations and marketing. He saw the enormous growth potential of this Compa ny especially in the gourmet and food markets. He realized that during a trip to Italy. Indeed, he noticed the unique community experience that Milanese espresso bars played in their customers’ daily lives. He will be based on this model to launch his own business: Il Giornale. This business was a chain of espresso cafes from Starbucks in downtown Seattle. It had three locations but had not yet turned a profit.So for answer to this problem, Schultz planned to consolidate the new company with the name of Starbucks Corporation. Indeed, this name was so known by customers. But the development of this business wasn’t so simple. The first in which Schultz has faced was the following: One of these original investors proposed to purchase Starbucks instead, on terms that would have dramatically diluted his stake and that of his other investors. Furthermore, investors put pressure on Schultz’s head. They said â€Å"If you don’t take this deal, you’ll never work in this town again. You’ll never raise another dollar.You’ll be dog meat†. As a leader, Howard Schultz didn’t renounced. He prepared an alternative plan cancelled the dilution and he managed. * Growing Starbucks The father’s death of Howard Schultz has completely changed his state of mind. He realized that his father’s life wasn’t the same as hers. In those days there was no health insurance and no workmen’s compensation. So, he decided to make Starbucks the first American company to provide access to health coverage for qualified employees. Indeed, this event is directly linked to the culture and the values of Starbucks.He wanted to build the king of company that his father never had a chance to work for, where you would be valued and respected no matter where you came from, the color of your skin, or your lever of education. He wanted to build a company that linked shareholder value to the cultural values that he created with the other employees of the company. The original business plan of Starbucks provided 125 new stores in five year. In the first year, the company had already open 15 stores in Northwest cities with a strong coffee culture. The growth was running.And for continue at this pace, Schultz recruited Howard Behar, an executive 10 years his senior who had 25 years of retail experience. His assignment was to innovate in response to customer requests and develop the customer experience. In an other hand, Starbucks focused its attention into values and culture of the stores, reasoning that satisfied and happy baristas made for satisfied customers. For continuing in this way, Schultz was aware that growth is intoxicating and seductive but also that it covers up a tremendous amount of mistakes.To solve this problem, he shared power with others. Indeed, Schultz & Behar wanted to stay in the way of their values so they decided to codify the values in the company mission and values statement. It’s important for the two leaders to sharing the culture of the company in each Starbucks stores. This is what distinguishes this company from others and allows it to continuing growth. For reach this goal, there were two key: The first was to hire people with like-minded values and the second was to reinforce the values and culture of the company.The expansion of Starbucks making this own language into a common usage (like â€Å"latte†, â€Å"half-caf†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦). Schultz was also proud of making difficult choices to pass up certain growth opportunities and to stay focused. The new way adopted by Starbucks was to explore marketing carefully selected. For example, they were experimenting to combined music and coffee stores and other entertainment ventures. It was a success. * Staying Grounded As an entrepreneur, Schultz should be irreproachable. For being that, he should learn several things like to manage vulnerability and doubt.But for understand him; there were n’t a lot of people. So he decided to talk with Warren Bennis, a widely respected leadership and with a rabbi, during a trip in Israel, where he had learned about the power of humility. These lessons helped Howard to understand that success is best when it’s shared and be better in his business. * Whither Starbucks†¦ and Schultz? The hope of Howard Schultz is that Starbucks can be a model for building a company the right way. Especially he wants that the size of the company can’t erase the integrity.It’s an illustration of the state of mind of Schultz. He took advantage of every opportunity for delivering his message like in leadership conferences for his store managers in which he focus on people and the human connection, not on numbers. He also focused on the consumer especially on customer experience. The brand wants to have a big place in customer’s life because it pretends that it wants to be the â€Å"third place in customers’ li ves between the home and the office. For that, Starbuck offers a global range from coffee to CD’s with the music that you can find in Starbucks stores.To combine these two ambitions, Starbucks responds to customer demand which is: Hungry for humanity and authenticity. * The Schultz E-mail After the big success of Starbucks, Howard Schultz was worried about one important thing for him: With the growth, Starbucks could lose the personal feeling of the neighborhood coffeehouse which Howard Schultz wanted to create. Indeed, at his arrival, his goal was to develop Starbucks as a model company including financial performance and mainly the respect of the human relationship. But this ambition wasn’t simple to apply in the reality.Indeed, Starbucks had become the fastest growing chain in the history of retailing: The brand began with three stores in Seattle for reach, twenty years ago, 40,000 outlets worldwide. This phenomenal expansion allows Starbucks to engage in competitio n with the big company like McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts. Despite this success in financially field, a question for Schultz was essential: Had Starbucks lost its soul in the process of becoming a global brand? For having an answer, Schultz decided to send an E-mail to Jim Donald, Starbucks new CEO, with copies to members of the executive team.In his mail, Schultz explained his point of view about the situation of Starbucks at this moment. He said that the growth had not a good effect in the customer experience. He described Starbucks with the sterility and the uniformity of store decor. The turnover is the first priority than the small coffee heritage of the brand and compromised the â€Å"passion for coffee†. He send this mail and waited the response of the senior team. Schultz ’memo was published on â€Å"Starbucks Gossip†, a web site about Starbucks, the experiences and opinions of the customers and employees. So, we could find some rumors in this about the co mpany.But when the memo was public, the corporate communication had tried to manage the crisis and the solution was to post a confirmation that the memo was authentic. For keeping a good image, Starbucks decided to position this memo as a new way of the company. Indeed, it explained that Starbucks â€Å"reinventing itself, saying it reflected the company’s philosophy that ongoing success was not automatically a given†. It created a buzz on Internet and in Press. The Wall Street Journal dedicated an article about Schultz’s memo with 1,500 words and some blogs like â€Å"BusinessWeek. om†, â€Å"Bloomberg. com†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ * Joe Nocera’s Challenge The buzz continued two weeks later when the business journalist for New York Times, Joe Nocera, wrote an article about Howard Schultz in his column â€Å"Talking Business†. He focused his attention on the two personalities of Schultz. So the name of article was â€Å"Two Howard Schultz†. Fir st, he described Schultz as a sensitive man who is attached on human’s values in his company with health assurance for employees, and coffee experience for customers. The article speaks about the huge social responsibility program established by Schultz.But in a second time, he described a face completely different of Howard Schultz. For him, Schultz was a businessman who thinks about profit, benefit and growth so an aggressive competitor. For Nocera, Schultz’s aim was to grow as soon as possible by making the best financial result. For illustrating this, he collected some testimonials of Schultz’s colleagues who said: â€Å"Mr. Schultz is an enormously competitive businessman† for example. An other colleague told an anecdote: â€Å"Howard said that they would never serve food. He thought it would dilute the experience. †¦) For Starbucks, there was always going to be a limit to how much coffee it could sell in any one location, so to goose same-stor e sales, it began selling food†. All these testimonies supported the thesis that Howard Schultz was a man who wanted a quickly growth with a big profit. His first face was just a disguise to hide his true nature as Nocera. After having made an opposition between the two faced of Schultz, the journalist concluded that there was in reality only one Howard Schultz and the two things he wanted were â€Å"incompatible†.Finally, after this event, Schultz analyzed the situation and some questions arrived: Was it possible to have it both ways, or were growth and authenticity incompatible? Starbucks pursue such aggressive global growth and remain the unique local coffeehouse that attracted customers in the first place? We can see that these issues were in link with the first ambition of Howard Schultz†¦ So we can ask us if this ambition was really feasible or if Schultz has failed to achieve his goal. One thing was certain: The issue wasn’t going to go away

Assess Different Sociological Explanations of SuicideAnomie Essay

Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess different sociological explanations of suicide. (21 marks) Suicide is the  intentional  taking  of  one’s  own  life and sociologists over the years have tried to put forward various explanations for why someone may do this. Within sociology there are many different views on suicide on the causes and explanations for it, these come from two main methodologies which are Positivists who believe that sociology is a science and they should aim to make causal laws on suicide rates, compared to Interpretivists who believe that they should look for meaning behind occurrences and certain individuals experiences before the suicide. Other perspectives also put in their views on what they believe to explain suicide for example, Realists. Item A references to Durkheim’s Structural Functionalist view on suicide, as stated Durkheim believes that due to sociology being a science with the topic of suicide it is very easy to make causal laws or as said in Item A ‘social facts’. Due to the fact Durkheim believed that there were a number of causes behind suicide he form four types of suicide from a Positivist viewpoint. Egoistic suicide which is when individuals are not integrated well enough into society for example people who live alone compared to those who live with family. Secondly Altruistic suicide which is when individuals are felt to be too integrated into society causing suicide, for example members of the armed forces were said to have greater suicide rates than civilian personnel as they were too strongly integrated into a united body. Durkheim also put forward the idea of Anomic suicide, this is when the norms and values in society become unclear or confused in times of great social change and an individual is not taught to adapt to changes well enough. For example an unexpected death of a family member is sudden social change which can cause Anomic suicide. Lastly, he suggested Fatalistic suicide. Fatalism is the thinking of the individual that they can do nothing to affect their situation and individuals find their future blocked and oppressed due to society over regulating them. For example slaves and prisoners may have this mindset when they take their own lives. Durkheim said that his work on suicide had several merits as it correctly revealed that suicide is a social rather than psychological occurrence and proved his methodology that you can establish laws and show that sociology is a science. However his theory on suicide has been met with some criticism. Douglas claimed that Durkheim’s work relied too heavily on the use of official statistics on suicide and he incorrectly assumed that these were representative of the real truth. Douglas notes that official statistics are socially produced and can be distorted in many ways, for example via concealment and varying definitions of suicide by coroners meaning that the validity of the statistics is doubted. So Douglas himself put forward an explanation for suicide. Douglas adopted a Symbolic Interactionist perspective, along with a interpretive methodology which is opposite to that of Durkheim. Some would argue that Douglas selected to look at suicide as an area of investigation as he thought it would illustrate the beliefs of Interactionists and highlight the short comings of the Structural Functionalists positivist approach. Douglas used psychiatrists reports and newspaper accounts to come up with his four patterns of social meaning for suicide and within his study he took a very subjective approach looking at meaning and motives. In Douglas’ view suicide could be due to four reasons, the first to gain release from the cares of the world to find happiness, to change the opinion of others in the suicides favour, to achieve a state of fellow feeling creating a climate of sympathy or to simply get revenge towards those who are causing pain towards them. Douglas believed that his work highlighted that suicide is a rational act rather than an automatic response to the environment as people are active not passive, and also to show that sociology is not a science and we should look into meanings over statistics. Obviously this was highly criticised by Structural Functionalists such as Durkheim who believed that Douglas’ work was too unscientific and that he incorrectly assumed that the nature of man is active rather than passive. Another sociologist who takes an Interpretivist methodology is Atkinson, believing that social meaning and context is more important in finding root causes. However unlike Douglas, Atkinson is a Ethnomethodologist which has a central belief of showing that each individual use their own members methods to work out what they see. This is why Atkinson decided to study suicide, also to show how official statistics are not enough. Atkinson focused on a Coroner’s report and underwent participant observation at an office to see what methods they used to decide whether a death was suicide or not. Atkinson stated that they used ‘common sense’ theories of suicide so if certain information were to fit the theories it would be called a suicide. They would look at clues to help decided, Atkinson named a few to which he believed was important within their decisions. Firstly was there a suicide note left, this clearly is a big clue to whether or not the individual meant to kill themselves. Secondly how did the individual die as certain ways such as hanging point towards suicide, also the location of the body, usually if it is hidden away out of sight then the person is indicating that they did not want to be found. Finally did the individual have any past mental illnesses or life history that could lead them towards suicide. Atkinson therefore stated that a suicide verdict reflects the assumptions and interpretation of the clues by the coroner rather than reality and facts. Atkinson’s study was said to have some merits as it did identify what clues coroners use to arrive at a suicide verdict, but also shows that positivists use of quantative data such as official statistics is not valid as they are produced by coroners who base the label of suicide on their own social assumptions. Hindess put forward a criticism for both Douglas and Atkinson, arguing that although Interpretive researchers have maintained that suicide statistics can be misleading they haven’t stated to what extent they distort people’s ideas, so therefore it may only be slight and still be possible to make accurate causal laws from a Positivist viewpoint. Taylor has put forward his view on suicide, taking a Realist approach which is very different from the explanations already stated. Taylor has tried to combine both Interpretivist and Positivist methodologies to come to a verdict on suicide. Taylor underwent a study on the London Underground and people who had died from falling underneath a train asserting that causal factors are important in considering suicide especially that of significant others such as family. In his investigation over half of the 32 who had died were said to have committed suicide although they were no actual evidence, coroners just based this on history of mental illness. Ignoring such factors of suicide and focusing on coroners is unrealistic, so looking at causal factors is from Taylor’s view a valid approach. But it is also important to gain a fuller understanding of suicide by finding a synthesis between the causes of the occurrence which is the Structural Functionalist side but also the exploration of the social meanings behind it, showing the Interactionist approach. Taylor therefore identified a category for suicide which is Sacrifice suicide, where it has occurred by the conduct of other people towards the suicide, for example family members have made the individuals life so unbearable this is the only way out. An advantage of Taylor’s approach to suicide is that it attempts to show how both positivist and interpretive methods are useful in trying to understand suicide, however certain sociologist have criticised it for being too one sided. It has been stated that Taylor focused more on the Interactionist failing to achieve ‘Structuralism’. Another criticism from Durkheim is that Taylor’s cause of suicide that he put forward seems unimportant compared to the large scale of the structural causes central concern such as sudden social change which is a more widespread reason. To conclude many sociologists have differing views to try to explain suicide and why they think individuals do take their own lifes, however these are just theories because no one will ever know the real root cause of why someone has ended their lives unless they leave a note explaining why and in many causes this does not happen.

Production Planning and Quality Management

Production Planning and Quality Management Free Online Research Papers An ERP system is a software package that attempts to integrate all data and processes of a company into one unified system. A typical system will use multiple components of hardware and software to achieve its goal. An MRP system is a software based planning and inventory control system that is used to manage certain manufacturing processes. An MRP should ensure proper amounts of materials and products are available, keep inventory as low as possible and plan manufacturing and purchasing activities and delivery schedules. Manychip should go with a MRP utility because their short term contracts, land the rapidly changing IT environment lends itself to low levels of in-stock products. The chips they make change rapidly and keeping large amounts of stock would no be feasible. Though MRP is an inflexible system some of it’s disadvantages will work at Manychip. The advantages of an ERP System are many and the one that stands out the most is its ease of use. This is a very user friendly type of system that requires minimum training to gain maximum efficiency from the software. An ERP system also introduces: Business best practices which helps provide greater control and standardized the way businesses perform their day to day processes, Ready-made solutions for the most common problems and Enterprise wide information sharing so everyone can see the same information from any computer in the company. Another thing that makes an ERP system so great is the fact that its made to be used â€Å"right out of the box† requiring only minor customization to fit a company’s particular requirements. Also, companies only have to enter information once into their database for all departments to be able to access what they need. This actually leads into another advantage of the ERP system and that is time reduction for task completion. Since all departments now have computerized access to information and are able to retrieve it quickly they are able to improve their times for decision-making. This all leads to the final advantage of the ERP system and that is increased customer satisfaction. The paper-based system often caused delays, lost orders and errors in processing due to so many hands being â€Å"in the cookie jar.† An ERP system, allows for quick movement of orders through each department with no in-basket to hold up the order. Even with all of it’s advantages, an ERP system does have it’s disadvantages such as the length of time it takes to implement the program, six months to 3 years in some instances. There are also major cost associated with this new system. The software and implementation phase can cost from $400,000 to $300 million with the average cost being $15 million. After this a company will be hit with costs ranging from training and customization, testing and implementation to data conversion and analysis. In the end the benefits will greatly outweigh the costs but, until then there will be a considerable bill for training and implementation. One advantage of an MRP system is its ability to keep inventory under control. This is good because lower levels of in-stock products mean that the company isn’t incurring charges for it to be stored. The biggest disadvantage to an MRP system is the integrity of the data. If there are any errors in the system your production schedule and output will be wrong. Another problem that many companies have with an MRP is the fact that the user must specify how long it will take to produce a product and it assumes that this lead time will be the same for every product, every time it is made and will not automatically change if the quantity changes. Finally, the other major problem with MRP is that it can and will give results that are very much impossible to implement however, MRP II takes care of most of this problem because it integrates the financials into its database. E-Z MRP was on my candidate list but, I discarded it because it was for very small businesses and it’s capabilities did not fit in with Manychip. Another package I really considered for a while was Sage Pro. It had everything that Manychip needed but, it was more of an ERP system than a MRP system. However, Merlin MRP Factory is geared for the IT manufacturing industry. This program is a new generation of software that manages ever level of your resource planning. The heart of this MRP is its ability to rapidly calculate shortages for all or just a selection of your production jobs. Merlin also allows the user to see all of their scheduled shop floor jobs, activites and work-station analysis at a glance with a simple color coding system. This color system also gives you the ability to quickly see jobs that are due and/or late. Merlin is fully customizable to fit any company’s exact needs with two programs that can be set-up on-site with installation and training done on premises. This means that when Merlin is handed over to you it is fully up and running with a well trained staff ready to take the reigns. Bolt-ons, ERP/SOA Resource Center. 06-18-2006. army.mil/ESCC/erp/bolt.htm. Retrieved 06-06-2007. ERPortal. Erp Advantages. bus.ucf.edu/awu/erp/pros.htm. Retrieved 06-06-2007. ERP. Enterprise Recourse Planning. March 25, 2003. http://people.clarkson.edu/~walczukj/ERP2.html#coursework. Retrieved 06-06-2007. INFOR, Focus on Essentials. Material Requirements Planning (MRP). 2007. lillysoftware.com/software_solution/manufacturing/material_requirement_planning_MRP.asp. Retrieved 06-06-2007. Merlin MRP Software for Manufacturing Plants and Job Shops. merlin-mrp-software.co.uk/. Retrieved 06-06-2007. Research Papers on Production Planning and Quality ManagementOpen Architechture a white paperThe Project Managment Office SystemBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaDefinition of Export QuotasStandardized TestingMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductThe Effects of Illegal Immigration

Top 7 Ways to Beat the Heat and Stay Cool During the Summer

Top 7 Ways to Beat the Heat and Stay Cool During the Summer The blazing heat of the summer is tough on our bodies. If you don’t have the luxury of staying indoors where your AC is blasting on high, then you know how hard it can be to stay cool during the summer months. Most of us need to work, so there is no escaping the brutal summer heat. But don’t let the heat stop you. There are ways you can beat the heat and stay cool without sacrificing your sanity. Here are the top 10 ways you can beat the heat and stay cool:7. Drink more waterThis may seem like a no brainer, but you’d be surprised at just how many people do not drink enough water during the day. To be safe, you should follow the 8 by 8 rule which states that you should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day.6. Take precautions to avoid excessive sweatI live in New York City. So I know how bad it is to be standing on a hot subway platform while sweating like a mad man. It’s brutal. There are tricks you can use to counter excessive sweating. You can try p utting on deodorant the night before. Your sweat glands are more active in the morning which causes your deodorant to be less effective.5. Get a portable fanThe other day I bought a portable fan that sprays mist into your face while fanning you. What a time to be alive. Get yourself one of these babies and take them with you on those scorching hot days.4. Avoid eating hot foodsA few weeks ago, I went to a nice little Korean place and got the soup. Bad decision. Since it’s already hot outside, eating anything hot will only amplify the effects of the heat. You definitely do not want to go down that road.3. Exercise comfortablyMy personal recommendation is to get a gym membership and avoid exercising in the heat. But if that’s not something that is possible, then there are alternative exercises such as swimming and various other water sports that can definitely get the job done.2. Sleep on top of a wet sheet or clothSleeping in the heat is the absolute worst because it of ten prevents you from getting the proper rest that you need in order to function the next day. If you’re trying to save money on your electric bill, you can try sleeping on a wet sheet or cloth. You’ll be able to remain cool even in the sweltering heat.1. Know your body’s best cooling pointsFinally, if you’re trapped in the heat and aren’t able to find a cooler place, then you can apply an ice pack, or cold towel to your cooling points. This can include wrists, forehead, etc. By knowing your cooling points, you’ll be able to cool yourself off faster and more effectively.Source: [Lifehacker]

Depression Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Depression - Research Paper Example If there was one word that could be used as an umbrella term to cover all the feelings resulting from depression that would be â€Å"hopelessness†. Depression is a serious disorder but can be treated if adequate measures are taken in time without delay. Learning about the potential causes, signs and symptoms of depression is indeed, the very first step in the way towards its resolution, treatment and prevention. What is depression? Depression is essentially an illness which affects and takes control of an individual’s mood, thoughts and the whole body. Under the influence of depression, an individual becomes pessimistic in his/her approach towards himself/herself and his/her eating and sleeping habits are particularly affected. Many people suffering from depression take eating as a means to escape depression. In their attempt to relieve their tension, they seek refuge in the taste of food. The resulting overeating makes them gain weight and many end up becoming obese. W here food intake is increased, there is a significant decrease in the amount of sleep. People suffering from depression either can not sleep or have nightmares when they sleep. They are haunted by ferocious dreams which interrupt the sleep. It is not possible for an individual that has a depressive disease to â€Å"pull himself/herself together† and start feeling better. ... There are four major kinds of depression, namely major depression, atypical depression, dysthemia, and seasonal affective disorder. They are explained below: 1. Major depression Thus type of depression is largely characterized by an individual’s lack of tendency to feel pleasure in life. The lack of enjoyment is persistent and uninterrupted. This makes the depression aggravate with the passage of time. However, even if no treatment is taken, major depression usually occupies the patient for 6 months. Most of the people experience a single episode of depression in their whole life. The disorder is generally recurring but there are medicines and treatment to minimize the recurrence. In the West, major depression is the No. 1 psychological disorder in the contemporary age (clinical-depression.co.uk, 2011) which is increasing among all communities and age groups, particularly among the youth. It is estimated that by 2020, major depression will be the second most disabling disorder in addition to the heart disease. In order to fight major depression, most patients resort to the use of antidepressants. They are undoubtedly effective in providing an individual with immediate relief, though they do little to guarantee the individual depression free life. 2. Atypical depression It is essentially a subtype of the major depression. Atypical depression is characterized by a particular symptom pattern that is inclusive of a temporal shift in mood as a result of positive events. An individual suffering from atypical depression feels good when he/she hears good news or when he/she hangs out with peers or friends. Nonetheless, the temporary emotional boost is ephemeral. The potential symptoms of atypical depression include but are not limited to increase of

English & Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

English & Literature - Essay Example They have developed a notion of utopia, an idealistic thinking in a way reflecting significance of the world being a perfect place. The community uses English as the primary language of communication among them. This is because the original population came from different regions of the world speaking different primary languages. English is the superior language in the U.S. As such, they adopted the language for ease in communication. The language is a symbol of unity and togetherness among the community members. Through the language, the community identifies themselves and their social background as being a perfect place to stay in the world. The near homogeneity of English within the community renders other languages inferior and the speakers experience a sense of isolation. This on the other hand asserts that only the superior speakers would feel the likely benefits accrued from English-speaking. Despite cultural diversity existing among different races within the region, the community tends to embrace a uniform perspective of socio-cultural ties attributed largely by the shared English language. For instance, the community members embrace a range of traditional foods and