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

Gastroenterology - Essay Example Some of the diagnosis of chronic abdominal pain in a 50- year old include: cirrhosis, peptic ulcer disease (PUD) (duodenal), peptic ulcer disease (PUD) (gastric), and diverticulitis (Shahedi, 2015; Buttaro, Trybulski, Bailey, & Sandberg-Cook, 2013). I agree with Rachel Layson that through a thorough examination and history of the patient, a practitioner can tell whether the patient is suffering from acute or chronic abdominal pains. The diagnosis varies between a 20-year old and a 50-year old. A 20- year old suffering from acute abdominal pains presents the following diagnosis; appendicitis, acute gastritis and bowel obstruction. While the diagnosis of chronic abdominal pains include irritable bowel syndrome, which is characterized by constipation and bloated feeling and inflammatory bowel diseases that affect a specific part or the entire bowel. Acute abdominal pain in a 50-year old is diagnosed by the following; appendicitis, acute gastritis, and acute pancreatitis. While diagnosis for chronic abdominal pains include cirrhosis and diverticulitis (Rowe, 2015; Mayo Clinic,

Human factors and ergonometric Essay Example for Free

Human factors and ergonometric Essay Injuries and as well as illnesses are usual things in the workplace and back injuries is said to be about 20% of it. Around 20 to 50 billion dollars are also estimated to be lost because of back injuries per year. Due to the seriousness of the problem and its economic costs, companies are implementing different ways such as the use of back belts in order to reduce if not totally eliminate back injury cases. Today, most workers are depending on back belts, also known as back support in order to protect themselves from back injuries that may happen in the workplace. There had been some claims that the use of back belts reduces the force on the spine and increase intra-abdominal pressure that counters the force exerted on the spine. It is also said that back belts also stiffen the spine and restrict bending motion. It also helps in reminding the wearer to lift properly and thus, reduces injuries specifically back injuries in the workplace. However, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and health or NIOSH, these claims lack scientific support and the validity and truthfulness of these claims cannot be proven. Studies done by the NIOSH also asserts that the difference in back injury incidence between those who use back belts and those who do not have no statistical significance. NIOSH also added that the strongest risk factor is the history of back injury and that the rate of having back injury of those who have history of having back injury is almost twice as the rate of workers without back injury history. Results of the study also shows that through comparing the injury claims and as well as self-reported cases failed to show any significant difference that is associated with the use of back belts even for employees who does the most strenuous type of jobs. Thus, NIOSH does recommend the use of back belts in order to reduce the cases of back injuries in the workplace. Still, although the use of back belts lack scientific evidences that it lessen the cases or the risk of having back injuries there is also no concreter evidence that will totally prove that using back belt have no effect in the performance and safety of the workers and so I will still recommend the use of back belts in the work place to reduce such cases. It would be better than using nothing at all and it may also improve the performance of the workers because they will that the company does care for their needs and safety. In order to guard the safety of the workers against back injuries any gadget is not enough. The best way to really reduce if not totally get away with back injuries is through ergonomics program that will help the workers not just to ensure their safety but as well to maximize their capabilities. Such program may include the assessment of all work activities. This is to make sure the every task in the company can be done without exceeding the worker’s physical capabilities. It is also important to provide a surveillance program that will identify any musculoskeletal problems that are potentially work related cases. Knowing those problems that may occur in the workplace will help the workers to really be cautious in certain types of works wherein the problems may originate. A medical management program is also needed as well as to monitor the workers condition and health to ensure that the workers are in good condition and to prevent not just back injury cases but other injuries and illnesses as well. Preventing the case before it is even able to develop is still the best way to eliminate such cases. Another important step that must be taken is to have a comprehensive training for all workers regarding lifting mechanics and as well techniques not just to be able to do the job better but also to do the job in a safely manner. This is not just for those who are newly hired by the company but also for those who had been working in the company for a long time. The proper ways and techniques especially in lifting are very important to prevent cases of back injuries. The use of back may not have sufficient scientific basis for its effectiveness is reducing back injury cases but there is also no concrete evidence that will disprove the claims. Also, using back belts may not just help the company regarding the issue of back injuries but it may be able to help the company in other ways. Through the use of back belts and right practice, the cases of back injuries in the work place can surely be avoided. References CCOHS. (10, November 2005). Back belt. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from http://www. ccohs. ca/oshanswers/ergonomics/back_blt. html NIOSH. (10, June 1997). Back belts do they prevent injury? Retrieved January 11, 2008 from http://www. cdc. gov/Niosh/backbelt. html NIOSH. (February 2001). Back belts. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from http://www. cdc. gov/niosh/backfs. html.

Culture Shock in The American Expatriate Community Essay -- Social Iss

Dealing with Culture Shock in American Expatriate Community The American expatriate community is the population of all Americans that are temporarily or permanently living outside the borders of the United States. These overseas-Americans, numbering over 6.32 million strong (Association for American Residents Overseas), confront many issues when they leave their homeland and transition to a new life in a foreign country. These issues can include dealing with the local language or trying to unravel the esoteric tax laws overseas workers must follow. One of the major issues that American expatriates (or â€Å"expats†) confront is the issue of culture shock (Top Eight). Culture shock, in general, is the stress a person may feel experiencing an unfamiliar way of life after immigration, visiting a new country, or a move between social environments (Macionis and Gerber 54). Culture shock results from differences in culture like language or values toward personal space or cleanliness. Cultural differences that cause culture shock have been classified by Annelies E. M. Van Vianen, Irene E. De Pater, Amy L. Kristof-Brown and Erin C. Johnson in their article â€Å"Fitting In: Surface- and Deep-Level Cultural Differences and Expatriates' Adjustment" as being either â€Å"surface-level† differences or â€Å"deep-level† differences (700). Surface-level differences are those differences that are readily apparent to new expats. These would be things like food, housing conditions, climate and other easily observable aspects that a tourist would notice on vacation. Other aspects of a culture, like beliefs and values (such as openness to change and attitudes toward self-advancement), are classified as deep-level differences. An expat will only recognize de... ...ra. â€Å"A Needs-Driven Approach to Expatriate Adjustment and Career Development: A Multiple Mentoring Perspective† Journal of International Business Studies , Vol. 36, No. 5 (Sep., 2005), pp. 519-538, JSTORS. Web. 4 Apr. 2012 Schilling, Maria.†Avoid Expat Culture Shock† HR Magazine, July 1993, FindArticles.com. Web. 12 Apr, 2012. "Shaking Hands Around the World." Welcome to Wisc-Online.com. Wisc-Online. Web. 01 Mar. 2012. . "The Top Eight Expat Concerns According to HSBC." Expat Info Desk. ExpatInfoDesk International Limited, 4 May 2011. Web. 23 Feb. 2012. Weeks, Kelly P., Mathew Weeks, and Katherine Willis-Muller. "The Adjustment of Expatriate Teenagers." Personnel Review 39.1 (2010): 24-43. Emerald Insight. Emerald Insight. Web. 27 Feb. 2012. .

The Expenditure Cycle

CHAPTER 10 THE REVENUE CYCLE: SALES AND CASH COLLECTIONS SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 10. 1This should generate a great deal of discussion. The basic issue concerns the willingness of consumers to divulge the kind of information that would allow companies to personalize the sales interaction versus concerns that such information would be misused or sold to other parties. In addition, with the growing problem of identity theft, consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the safety and security of their personal information. Companies that wish to collect this data will most likely have to demonstrate the need for this information to the consumer and also the company’s ability to keep this information secure. 10. 2Digitized products force little change on the four business activities of the revenue cycle. For all products, whether digitized or not, an order must be taken, the product shipped, an invoice delivered, and cash collected. The only thing that digitized products do is change the way these four activities are carried out. Digitized products actually facilitate the four activities by incorporating electronic sales orders, shipping, billing, and cash collections. 10. 3Employees need to be trained to use the POS properly. Such training should include understanding how the POS works, stressing that . In that errors on the employees part will directly affect the inventory master file numbers. If an item does not â€Å"scan†, then it must be rescanned or dealt with so that the integrity of the records is upheld. Similarly, employees should be trained not to skip sales. If an item does not â€Å"scan†, the employee should be trained to accurately enter in the â€Å"bar code† of the item. Entering a generic or erroneous code not only creates an inventory error, but it also frustrates the customer who may take their business elsewhere. In addition, employees should be trained to report and/or fix errors in bar codes as they are encountered and in a timely manner. 10. The report already provides dollar amounts outstanding by number of days past due by customer and by invoice. However, the percentage of total accounts receivable categorized by days past due would help to alert management of categories that are increasing. This could also be reported by customer and by invoice. This way if a particular invoice was not being paid, the company could more quickly identify the invoice, contact the customer, and potentially resolve any problems or disputes about the particular invoice. In addition, reporting by customer can help to identify chronic â€Å"slow paying† customers so that corrective action could be taken such as offering discounts for quick payment, changes in term, and notifying the credit manager to restrict credit for this particular customer. Furthermore, the company may have a certain threshold for each category of past due accounts either in percentages or absolute dollars. A metric could be calculated and presented that highlights the categories exceeding that threshold. 10. This is a good question to get students to explore and compare the role of technology in dynamic price setting policies. You may want to preface the discussion by relating the following scenario: You have graduated from collage and started your own consulting firm. A client has an urgent need that requires you to travel to his location. Since this is a last minute trip, you pay full price for an airline ticket. Since this client is on a fixed contract, you cannot char ge the cost of the ticket back to the client. While riding on the airplane you find yourself sitting next to a college student who is majoring in accounting. During the course of the conversation with this accounting student, you find that he purchased his airline ticket from a discount reseller and paid less than half of what you paid for the same flight. How do you feel about this arrangement? Do think this type of pricing arrangement could transfer to other products? Would the companies that sell these other products be put at a competitive disadvantage when customers find that they are paying different prices for the same goods or services? 0. 6The instructor can facilitate discussion of invoiceless pricing in a B2C environment by asking students how they would feel about not receiving a phone or cable bill. What are the problems the phone or cable company and phone or cable consumers encounter without a paper bill? What about billing problems and disputes. What about payment deadlines or consumers that want to pay in person or pay in cash? 10. 7Any form of electronic or digital cash has the same audit risks as physical cash: susceptibility to theft and loss of an audit trail. In addition, digital â€Å"cash† also has risks associated with the durability of the store of value – to what extent can the cash be recovered if the storage media becomes defective? Another issue concerns the potential loss of privacy, because the digital currency can be â€Å"marked† in a manner that enables tracing its path through the economy. 10. 8 Why not indeed? Copies of the sales order can be used by inventory personnel as a picking ticket to select inventory items ship to the customer. In similar fashion, the sales order converted into a picking ticket can also be used as a packing slip. Just make sure a copy is sent with the package and not the original so that in case there is a problem the original form can be reviewed for any errors or discrepancy. If sales orders are created electronically, the information contained on the electronic sales order can be used to create paper (or electronic) picking tickets, packing slips, or invoices. SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO THE PROBLEMS 10. 1Types of controls used at various steps in the revenue cycle. Process/ Activity ThreatApplicable Controls (P = Preventive, D = Detective, C = Corrective) Sales order entry1. Incomplete or inaccurate customer orders 2. Credit sales to customers with poor credit 3. Legitimacy of order 4. Lost sales due to stockouts, excessive carrying costs, and lost revenue due to markdownsVarious data entry edit controls P Proper credit approval, prior to delivery of goods or services P; accurate, current customer data P Authorized customer purchase order P; digital signatures D Inventory control systems P; periodic physical inventory counts D; improved sales forecasts P; better supply chain management P and C Shipping5. Shipping errors: †¢Wrong merchandise Wrong quantities †¢Wrong address 6. Theft of inventory Compare sales order with packing list and shipping documents D; bar coding P Physical access controls P; documentation of all inventory movements D; periodic physical inventory counts D Billing and accounts receivable7. Failure to bill 8. Billing errors 9. Errors in maintaining customer accountsSegregation of shipping and billing functions P; one-for-one matching of invoices (or EDI acknowledgments) against shipping documents D and C Comparison of sales orders, shipping documents, and invoices P and C; various edit checks D and C Data entry edit checks D and C; use of remittance advices P; monthly statements to customers D and C Process/ Activity ThreatApplicable Controls (P = Preventive, D = Detective, C = Corrective) Cash collections10. Theft of cash Segregation of cash handling and accounts receivable functions P; use of lockboxes or EFT P; bank account reconciliation by someone not involved in cash receipts processing D and C; segregation of bad debt/credit memo authorization from cash handling and accounts receivable functions P General11. Loss of data 12. Poor performance Backup procedures C; disaster recovery plans P; physical and logical access controls P Development and periodic review of appropriate performance metrics D and C 10. 2 Information Technology to enhance the restriction of physical access to inventory: 1. Electronic locks on all entrances and exits to the inventory area. 2. Smart card technology where employees must scan their ID card prior to entering/exiting the inventory area. 3. Install motion detectors. 4. Attach security tags to inventory items and install security tag scanners at each exit of the inventory area. . Attach RFID tags to inventory items to track the movement of inventory. 6. Install and monitor surveillance cameras in the inventory area. 7. Install an infrared alarm system. 8. Build a fence around the inventory area and equip the fence with cameras and sensors. 10. 3a. Shipping personnel should be required to document (on paper or by computer) receipt of goods from the finished goods storeroom. This procedure acknow ledges responsibility for custody of the goods transferred. b. Either a redundant data check or closed loop verification could be used. If the transactions are being entered in batches, redundant data such as the first five characters of the customer's name could be included in each input record; after finding a match on customer account number, the system would also verify that the name characters match before posting the transaction. If the transactions are being entered online, the system could respond to operator entry of the account number by retrieving and displaying the customer's name for the operator to review. c. Up-to-date credit records should be maintained, and credit checks should be made prior to approval of sales orders. . A receiving report should be required to support the authorization of credits for sales returns. e. Separate the function of authorizing write-offs of uncollectible accounts from the function of handling of collections on account, in order to prevent any single individual from perpetrating this type of fraud. f. Shipping personnel should be required to record the actual quantity shi pped on the order document and/or enter the quantity shipped into the sales order processing system, in order that bills can be prepared based upon the quantity shipped rather than the quantity ordered. . Supervision of mailroom operations, limitation of authority to endorse checks to the cashier only, and instructions to the bank to accept only those checks endorsed for deposit in the company's account. h. Cash receipts should be listed and totaled in the mailroom before the cashier receives the checks. A third person compares the amount deposited as shown by a validated deposit slip to the batch total prepared in the mailroom. i. All sales tickets should be prenumbered and accounted for. This would quickly spot a missing ticket. j. Segregate shipping and billing functions. k. Implement accurate inventory control and sales forecasting systems including periodic physical inventory counts and frequent review and revision of sales forecasts. l. A system of user IDs and passwords is the first line of defense followed by allowing â€Å"read only† access to customer data for sales staff, implement access controls over individual terminals, and maintaining activity logs. m. Regular backups with copies being stored off-site. n. Backup generators as well as cold and/or warm site contracted backup facilities. o. Encrypting sensitive data prior to transmission, creating virtual private networks, and transmitting data over secure socket layer (SSL) networks. p. A system of user IDs and passwords is the first line of defense followed by allowing â€Å"read only† access to price lists for sales staff, implement access controls over individual terminals, and maintaining activity logs. q. A system of user IDs and passwords is the first line of defense followed by allowing â€Å"read only† access to customer data for sales staff, implement access controls over individual terminals, and maintaining activity logs. In addition, formal non-compete agreement could be used when hiring personnel. r. A nightly backup with copies being stored off-site. s. Periodically testing backup data for access and compatibility with current company hardware and software. 10. 4 Formulas: Sales (1% Growth Rate) E5 and Row 5:=D5*101%, =E5*101%, =F5*101%, †¦ Cash Collections:D7:=D5*40% E7:=E5*40%+D5*30% F7:=F5*40%+E5*30%+D5*20% G7:=G5*40%+F5*30%+E5*20%+D5*8% Copy and paste G7 formula to remaining cells Beginning Balance:E2:=D9 (same formula for remaining cells in Row 2) Ending Balance:D9:=D3+D7 (same formula for remaining cells in Row 9) Spinner and Scroll Bar:

How to lose weight Essay

How to lose weight Girls are dreaming about losing weight all the tlme. They want to be thinner and thinner and thinner. So today,l’m going to talk about losing weight-There are some points of losing weight that you may be Interested In. You may have tried many ways to lose welght,and today I prepare three of the most Important tips about It. First ,you must choose a low carbohydrate diet-Low carb is the most effective way to lose weight. lf you only eat less to lose weight,you will give up soon because of the terrible eeling of hunger. Sugar and starch may increase your hunger, avoiding it may decrease your appetite to an adequate level. A low carb diet reduces your hunger and makes you â€Å"want to† eat less but not â€Å"have to†. A 2012 study also showed that people on a low carb diet burned 300 more calories a day – while resting! Another that I want to share with you is to measure your progress wisely. Focusing only on weight and standing on the scale every day might be misleading, cause unnecessary nxiety and undermine your motivation for no good reason. suggest measuring your waist circumference and weight before starting and then perhaps once a week or once a month. Write the results down so that you can track your progress. If you can, try to check other Important health markers when starting out, like these:Blood pressure,Blood sugar,Cholesterol profile. They’ll usually show that you’re not just losing weight, you’re gaining health too. The last important thing y ou must pay attetion to is that exercising smart. Studies show that if you just start exercising, you’re going to need at least one hour of tough workouts every single day to noticeably lose weight. It’s not a good idea to eat bad food, drink sugar water or be on medications which force you to train for hours daily Just to compensate. You must be more clear now,right? So are you still Jealous of ohthers’ great shape but doing nothing? Dont wait any more,you need to take action Immediately. Follow my tips and you’ll make lt. Wlsh you all have a dream body! That’s all,thankyou.

Ethnographic Reaction Paper

Ethnographic Reaction Paper The Cheyenne people The Cheyenne people refer to the American Indians whose ancestral land lies on the western side of the Mississippi river. Economically they are pastoralists, hunters and gatherers. Socially, they live in villages while the community has clans, which separate the families.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ethnographic Reaction Paper specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Politically, they have tribal councils, which ensure peace within the community. The next discussion summarizes the social, cultural, economic and political structures of the Cheyenne Indians, expounding on the impact of European exploration on their lifestyle. The Cheyenne Indians migrated to new places depending on their needs. For instance, economic affairs like trade and hunting, invasion of their land by the whites, and their nomadic lifestyle also propelled them to change their homesteads frequently (Hoebel 4). According to the anth ropological data, the Cheyenne Indians had different identification or names, which depended on the people they encountered. Some of the names used to refer to them include, Chaa, Shahiyena and Shahiela amongst others (Hoebel 2). Depending on the area of settlement, all the names had meanings. Initially, they migrated from their ancestral land for trading purposes. La Salle, a French explorer, was one of the men they relied on to initiate trading activities in their community. However, because of lack of tools used in shaving animal fur, they had to seek assistance from the European manufacturers. In addition to depending on the game meat, they also survived on wild rice from the nearby river, as well as fruits from the nearby forests. They constructed their houses using earth and barks of tree. On the other hand, some external forces like war with other communities or tribes like Ojibwa, Ute, Comanche, Kiowa and Chippewa encouraged them to, not only form military groups, but also a cquire horses and guns for defense purposes (Hoebel 8).Advertising Looking for essay on anthropology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Luckily, when the United States intervened on the territorial issue, it divided the Cheyenne Indians into two groups the Southern and Northern depending on their location. The Cheyenne Indians had so many cultural ceremonies like the renewal of the arrow, which takes four days to complete. The Cheyenne Indians had medicine men and chief priests who presided over most of the community rituals (Hoebel 20). The renewal of the sacred arrow promoted unity among the people, sanctified them and preached to the people to respect the norms of the community for their prosperity. Furthermore, it was to emphasize the unique powers and the superiority of the chief priests and the prophets in the community. Secondly, the sun dance is a symbol of purity or new world. The ritual takes about eight days . Each day has distinct ritual that people should perform. Some of the hallmarks in the ceremony include the multiplier, the erect horns and the sacred mountain. The third ceremony is the animal dance, which ensures the success of the hunting exercise, as well as victory during wars. The ceremony takes about four days. However, unlike the arrow renewal ceremony, women have a role to play during the ritual process. Socially, a family was a prominent structure in the culture. The conduct of girls and women was the centre of the family. Adolescent girls and boys did not associate to ensure purity among girls. Suitors could only approach girls but not seduce them. Therefore, there were strict rules and regulations concerning marriages and dowry was a mandatory practice. There was a division of families depending on their social status. Property ownership, the character of both the female and male people in the family and the ability to raid other communities are some of the features, wh ich categorized a composite family as either rich or poor.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ethnographic Reaction Paper specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There was Kinship in the family and the family traditions and norms, which the family had to abide by strictly. The men were the heads of the families and women had to be submissive. Women who deviated from the normal traditions had to face punishment through whipping or excommunication. There was a division of the families into Kindred, camps or bands depending on the number of people/primary or families present. Each division lays out rules on, which the members have to abide by. The kindred and camps form military personnel whose main role is to protect the community against external invasion. Some of the military structures included Elk, fox, shield and bowstring. The military groups had a different number of warriors with a certain role to play within the societ y. In addition, there was a tribal council, which presided over all the social, economic and political activities of the community. The council of chiefs solved both internal and external conflicts. They also ensured that peace prevailed in the community. The chiefs had certain virtues like generosity, solidarity and wise among others, which qualified them as leaders. Furthermore, the Cheyenne Indians had public laws, which assisted in solving the internal and externals conflicts. The laws ensured there was unity in the community by solving the internal problems. Most of the cases involved murder cases, marital problems, conflicts over property and behavioral. The law and justice structure allowed for reforming of the existing laws, enforcement of the society’s law and the use of military personnel and passing justice. There was a distinction on the roles of women and men and rarely misunderstandings ensued between the parties. Women were subsistence farmers who provided vege tables and other forms of grains while men were hunters and gatherers. The need for hunting ground always raised animosity between Cheyenne Indians and their neighbors. Consequently, the community instilled military tactics and bravery among its men to promote victory.Advertising Looking for essay on anthropology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Although they had inferior weapons compared to their enemies, the Cheyenne soldiers always showed bravery because of the reward that lie ahead on any victorious battle out victorious. As earlier mentioned, the Cheyenne Indians had religious and ritual practices. They had religious men like the medicine men who presided over both traditional practices and prayers. All the cultural and religious practices were not only sacred but also practiced in sacred places like on certain mountains. The social and cultural practices spelled out the personality of both men and women. In the mid to late nineteenth century, the Americans explorers, traders and missionary invaded the Cheyenne Indians homestead, which led to changes in their lifestyle (Hoebel 119). The presence of whites and the mining of gold led to the outbreak of diseases like cholera. After the war, the Cheyenne Indians signed a treaty in 1851 with the whites. However, two years later, a war ensued and there was signing of the sec ond treaty in 1861 fort wise treaty (Hardorff 20). The treaties interfered with the social, economic and politics structures of the natives because they had to live under the rule of the Americans. Besides farming and education, they also had to adopt Christianity abandoning their culture. Their dressing styles and languages changed due to the invasion of the Americans. Personally, reading about the Cheyenne Indians has enlightened me on their traditional practices, lifestyle and political structures. Besides being the natives of the Western side of the Mississippi river, they are also among the important people in the American history. First, I have learned about the reasons for their migration from the ancestral lands and they include search for new hunting grounds, adventure and after external invasion from other communities. Economically, they relied on game meat, wild fruits, vegetables and wild rice for food. Second, the family is the most influential social structure among th e Cheyenne Indians and each family member had a unique role to play. Some of the cultural practices were also religious rites. The political structure includes the tribal council, law and justice and the military group. However, the invasion of the whites did not only interfere with their social, economic and political settings but also forced them to acquire new economic practices like blacksmith. Christianity took over their traditional rituals and religion. In the contemporary society, the Cheyenne Indians call themselves the morning star people and economically they have large depots of coal used for generation of electricity. Finally, through archaeology, the history of the Cheyenne Indians is clear to the contemporary world (Haviland et al. 10) as it is the case in the above discussion. Historically, the Cheyenne Indians are among the natives of the United States of America. Besides their nomadic lifestyle, the invasion of the whites into their homeland did not only disrupt th eir cultural heritage but also changed their economic, political and social features. However, in the contemporary society globalization has utterly interfered with their culture. Hardorff, Richard. Cheyenne memories of the Custer fight. Nebraska: University of  Nebraska Press, 1998. Print. Haviland, William, Harald, Prins, and Walrath, Dana. The Essence of Anthropology.  United State: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2009. Print. Hoebel, Adamson. The Cheyennes: Indians of the Great Plains (Case Studies in  Cultural Anthropology. United States: Wadsworth Company, 1978. Print.

buy custom The West essay

buy custom The West essay Western Civilization refers to cultures whose origin is in Europe. Therefore, when we refer to the West, we describe European countries and their culture. Some of the major ideas evolving from Western Civilization include: technology, political systems as well as cultural, religious, social beliefs and values. In addition, some of the evolving ideas have highly influenced the world that includes the following: Christianity especially the Roman Catholic, political systems, and cultural values as Europe culture was rich in philosophy, scholasticism as well as mysticism. These ideas have been adopted in other parts of the world. Western Europe has gone through a series of leadership starting from Emperors and kings to the modern day forms of government (Barzun, 2000). Democratic, autocratic and military forms of government among others originated from Europe and spread to other parts of the world. Moreover, most economic ideas also evolved from Europe. When studying Western Civilization, one is likely to ask him or herself the following questions: what are the effects of western culture to other parts of the world?, how did Roman classical and renaissance in Europe affect them?, what impact did biblical Christian have on peoples thinking, cultural values and beliefs? , why did the Western Civilization since 15th century dominate the world? (Barzun, 2000), has the modern civilization in Europe been overtaken by the rest? , how did medieval ages influence civilization across the entire Europe?. With these ideas in mind, one can easily analyze any reading materials regarding western civilization. One can easily fathom the roots of western culture to the modern civilization in Europe as well as the sequence of events (McClellan, 1999). Civilization began in Europe in medieval period before renaissance swept across the entire Europe. Therefore, when analyzing western civilization, it is advisable to trace it since the medieval period. Thus, the west has been able to influence and lead to civilization of other parts of the world. Nevertheless, Western Civilization has also affected some cultures negatively especially in the 21st century. Buy custom The West essay

Explanation of Noun Clauses in English

Explanation of Noun Clauses in English Noun clauses are clauses that function as nouns. Remember that clauses can be either dependent or independent. Noun clauses, like nouns, can be used as either subjects or objects. Noun clauses are therefore dependent clauses and as subject or object cannot stand alone as a sentence. Nouns Are Subjects or Objects Baseball is an interesting sport. Noun: Baseball subjectTom would like to buy that book. Noun: Book object Noun Clauses Are Subjects or Objects I like what he said. Noun clause: ... what he said objectWhat he bought was awful: Noun clause: What he bought ... subject Noun Clauses Can Also Be an Object of a Preposition Im not looking for what he likes. Noun clause: ... what he likes object of preposition forWe decided to look into how much it costs. Noun clause: ... how much it costs objects of preposition into Noun Clauses as Complements Noun clauses can play the role of a subject complement. Subject complements provide a further description,\ or clarification of a subject. Harrys problem was that he couldnt make a decision.Noun clause: ... that he couldnt make a decision. subject complement of problem describing what the problem was The uncertainty is whether he will attend or not.Noun clause: ... whether he will attend or not. subject complement of uncertainty describing what is uncertain Noun clauses can play the role of an adjective complement. Adjective complements often provide a reason why someone or something is a certain way. In other words, adjective compliments provide additional clarification to an adjective. I was upset that she couldnt come.Noun clause: ... that she couldnt come adjective complement explaining why I was upset Jennifer seemed angry that he refused to help her.Noun clause: ... that he refused to help her. adjective complement explaining why Jennifer seemed angry Noun Clause Markers Markers are what introduce noun clauses. These markers include: that if, whether (for yes / no questions) Question words (how, what, when, where, which, who, whom, whose, why) Ever words beginning with wh(however, whatever, whenever, wherever, whichever, whoever, whomever) Examples: I didnt know that he was coming to the party. Could you tell me whether she can help us. The question is how to finish on time. Im sure I will enjoy whatever you cook for dinner. Noun Clauses Used with Common Phrases Noun clauses beginning with question words or if/whether are often used with common phrases such as: I dont know ... I cant remember ... Please tell me ... Do you know ... This use of noun clauses is also known as indirect questions. In indirect questions, we use a phrase to introduce a question with a short phrase and turn the question into a noun clause in statement order. When will he return? Noun clause / indirect question: I dont know when he will return. Where are we going? Noun clause / indirect question: I cant remember where we are going. What time is it? Noun clause / indirect question: Please tell me what time it is. When does the plan arrive? Noun clause / indirect question: Do you know when the plane arrives? Yes / No Questions Yes / no questions can be expressed as noun clauses using if/whether: Are you coming to the party? Noun clause / indirect question: I dont know if you are coming to the party. Is it expensive? Noun clause / indirect question: Please tell me whether it is expensive. Have they lived there long? Noun clause / indirect question: Im not sure if they have lived there long. Special Case of That The noun marker that which introduces noun clauses is the only marker that can be dropped. This is only true if that is used to introduce a noun clause in the middle or at the end of the sentence. Tim didnt know that she was available. OR Tim didnt know she was available.

Becoming Global Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Becoming Global - Coursework Example If the party promises to accept the agreement, the other party must promise to give something in return (Burnett, 2004). A valid offer has a clear communication and is specific and definite in its terms. Considering the above three proposals, the first proposal gives a valid offer. The contractor clearly communicates the terms of her offer. She also gives the time lapse of the offer. The other three offers only communicate the quantity of the product they would produce and the cost of purchasing them. They do not give definite terms of the offer (Moens & Gillies, 2000). Gloria wants to engage in a global business because she wants to expand her business. Her concern is that if she engages in a business with the large retailer supplier, she will have to cut down her costs. However, she should consider other issues. Such issues are the laws of that country, the taxes that she would pay and language issues. She should also consider employing trusted employees for her business to succeed ( Hayward, 2012). Gloria can protect herself and her family from persona liability by obtaining an insurance cover for her business. She can also have some by-laws that would allow another person from the company to act on her behalf (Annabel,

Housing crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 10

Housing crisis - Essay Example Eventually, homeowners fell into foreclosure and delinquency. These mortgages failed to yield returns to lenders, making institutions reluctant to re-evaluate their assets that could dispose of their insolvency. Lack of institutions to purchase loans made the market to freeze making lenders to incur losses they could not absorb. The collapse of the housing market has been blamed on many participants such as potential homeowners, lenders, investors, hedge funds and government interference (Smith & Susan 126). Lenders are responsible for the housing bubble in the United States. They were responsible for lending funds to poor credit people with a great risk of default. The flooding of the market with capital liquidity by the central bank lowered the rate of interest and depressed risk premiums while investors sought opportunities that are risky in bolstering their returns for investment. Lenders at this point had adequate capital for lending and were willing to indulge in more risk to e nable their realization of increased investment returns (Fried 11). Government The housing bubble started with the efforts of the government to expand homeownership to people. The legislation enacted by authorities required investors of government-backed mortgages such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, to guarantee loans to people with poor or no credit and incapable of making down payments. This policy of the Federal Reserve enabled interest rates to maintain lower levels. This eventually made house investments more attractive. Increase in prices compelled mortgage banks to relax standards of lending further. This made prices for homes to increase until the housing bubble began (Smith & Susan 131). Homeowners Potential homebuyers viewed homeownership as a less risky investment. Incentives provided by lending institutions led to the issuance of subprime loans with varying interest rates to households with no or poor credit histories. With the increased demand for houses, prices rose an d more homes built and availed in the market. They believed in price appreciation that would allow them to refinance at relatively lower rates. However, housing bubble erupted and prices reduced significantly. The rest of their mortgages made most of the homeowners incapable of refinancing their mortgages to lower rates since no equity was created as prices for houses fell. The homeowners decided to set their mortgage interests higher making them unaffordable. Most of them had no alternative than to default on mortgages (Fried 14). Investors are to blame for the collapse of housing market just as homeowners. This is because they invested in collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) and were willing to buy them at very low rates over bonds. The lower rates are responsible for the increased demand for subprime loans. Investors bear the blame for the housing bubble since it was their obligation to be diligent while investing and failed to make viable expectations (Fried 23). Banks The len ders increased use of the secondary mortgage market led to increased subprime loans originated by lenders. Instead of holding onto these mortgages in books, lenders sold their mortgages in the secondary market and collected fees that originated from these market. More capital for lending circulated all over eventually increasing liquidity. Demand for mortgages emerged from the availability of assets that accumulated to form securities such as CDOs.

Contemporary Issues in Consumer Bahaviour Essay

Contemporary Issues in Consumer Bahaviour - Essay Example Within the broader framework of globalisation and market capitalism, consumption choices give special meanings and symbols to individuals that make it attractive to consumers and help develop consumer culture that thrives on consumption. Aldridge’s ‘classification of images of consumers in Western discourses’ therefore indicates restructuring of the social identity based on evolving consumer culture. The notion of consumer discourse is broadly social and refers to consumers’ social practices that are influenced by myriad socio-psychological compulsions which influence his/her consumption pattern. Consumption has emerged as a concept which is market driven and highlights complex relationships between interrelated elements of the market that are intrinsically linked to consumer behaviour. It is distinct in its social identity, social activity and cause. The consumption of commercial goods becomes important because of the role of external environment that tends to impact consumers through rhetorical communication used by producers of goods and services. The various discourses adopted by the market give it a unique perspective that promotes consumer culture defined by new values and based on consumption of goods. Aldridge (2003: 7) analyses the discourse on growing consumption compulsions and investigates the way people are redefining not only their values but also the way they see themselves as consumers in contemporary society. He emphasizes that the images of consumers are need driven but at the same time, those needs are continuously being manipulated by external environment of personal and professional rivalry. Thus, consumers have becomes more conscious of the way they are likely to view themselves and also the way others look at them. He also says that modes of communication like advertisements greatly influence their behavioural pattern and consumption habits.

International marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

International marketing - Essay Example The Arab cuisine ay emphasis on the following items such as lamb and chicken preparation in the meat products, dairy products mainly consist of butter, yoghurt, white cheese and cream, herbs and spices that are mainly used are a mixture of mint and thyme known as za’atar, other spices include saffron, sesame, cumin, garlic, cinnamon, sumac, lentils comprise of chickpeas and favabeans, and most popular dressings of such cuisines comprise of olive oil, parsley, mint, etc. The company that is planning for its product launch in the international market is Al Qasr that is one of the famous names in Arabic cuisines and the restaurant chain is known for its Arabian delicacies, wide range of deserts and appetizers, and Lebanese cuisine. Al Qasr has been operating in Arabic regions for many years and meets the consumer tastes and preferences through its innovative dishes with traditional flavors. United States as the target market for the company offers great opportunity as the political conditions are stable of the country and even the consumer market has high disposable income and living standards. The demand is high in this market for Arabic cuisines because of its flavors and variety. Many companies have invested in this market because of its stable environmental factors and availability of raw materials, capital and labor. The target market for the Arabic cuisines to be launched by the company would be upper middle income and higher income group who prefer to dine at restaurants mostly in weekends. The other demographic factors comprise of age and for this specific cuisine the age group would be above 25 years who prefers to try out different cuisines apart from the fast food which are generally more preferred by the young generation under 20 years. Competition is very tough in the US market as it a hub for many companies serving different cuisines such as European

Plea Bargaining Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Plea Bargaining - Essay Example Besides, the delay of justice inherent in legal trials will also practically amount to a denial of justice. Therefore, plea bargaining is a legal option when a defendant willingly agrees to settle a particular case under certain conditions and guidelines. Plea bargaining allows for a settlement of many cases outside the court when the two adversarial sides agree to reach an agreement (Goldstein, 1985, p. 62). In cases subjected to plea bargaining, either of the two sides, which are either the defendant or the prosecution, can initiate negotiations for plea bargaining, if both sides are willing to reach an agreement (Goldstein, 1985, p. 63). Plea bargaining usually involves a defendant pleading guilty to some or all of the charges levied against him or her, in return for which the prosecution makes recommendations for leniency in the sentence to be awarded to the defendant (Goldstein, 1985, p. 63). The hallmark of plea bargaining is that under no circumstances a judge is bound to hono r the recommendations made by the prosecution (Goldstein, 1985). Much of the plea bargains are subject to the court approval. Though the option of plea bargaining has its positives, yet it is also predisposed to certain demerits. Plea bargaining allows a defendant to avoid the loss of time and resources required for defending him or her (Tonry, 2000, p. 469). Plea bargaining also allows a defendant a chance to avoid stringent and harsh sentences and the accompanying negative publicity that a full trial may achieve (Tonry, 2000, p. 469). This also saves the courts the burden of carrying out a full trial of all the charges brought before them. By engaging in plea bargaining, the prosecution also saves on time and resources. Besides, it goes without saying that a criminal trial involves much uncertainty and anxiety. Plea bargaining helps concerned parties to avoid such uncertainty and anxiety (Tonry, 2000). Plea bargaining readily offers a conviction to the prosecution and allows one t o shape the sentencing as per one’s inclinations and aspirations (Tonry, 2000). Plea bargaining also has a favorable impact on the already overcrowded prison system. Plea bargaining also has its demerits in the sense that the detractors of this option hold that it offers to the criminals an easy way out of the criminal justice system (Saney, 1986, p. 139). The other disadvantage of plea bargaining is that it is open to the approval of the courts. If a court does not agree to an agreement achieved through plea bargaining, the case is left open to a full trial (Saney, 1986, p. 139). Plea bargaining is also harsh on the defendants in the sense that once a defendant pleads guilty and signs an agreement reached through plea bargaining, one will be left with no option to submit an appeal at a later stage if the case goes for a full trial (Saney, 1986). Though it is pragmatic to conclude that the option of plea bargaining helps the courts being crippled by a deluge of trials, still the criminal justice system needs to contrive better options which would allow for the exercise of justice without weighing heavily on the scarce resources at its disposal. Luckily, besides plea bargaining, many other legal options are available to the criminal justice system. Diversion programs stand to be one such option.

International marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

International marketing - Essay Example The Arab cuisine ay emphasis on the following items such as lamb and chicken preparation in the meat products, dairy products mainly consist of butter, yoghurt, white cheese and cream, herbs and spices that are mainly used are a mixture of mint and thyme known as za’atar, other spices include saffron, sesame, cumin, garlic, cinnamon, sumac, lentils comprise of chickpeas and favabeans, and most popular dressings of such cuisines comprise of olive oil, parsley, mint, etc. The company that is planning for its product launch in the international market is Al Qasr that is one of the famous names in Arabic cuisines and the restaurant chain is known for its Arabian delicacies, wide range of deserts and appetizers, and Lebanese cuisine. Al Qasr has been operating in Arabic regions for many years and meets the consumer tastes and preferences through its innovative dishes with traditional flavors. United States as the target market for the company offers great opportunity as the political conditions are stable of the country and even the consumer market has high disposable income and living standards. The demand is high in this market for Arabic cuisines because of its flavors and variety. Many companies have invested in this market because of its stable environmental factors and availability of raw materials, capital and labor. The target market for the Arabic cuisines to be launched by the company would be upper middle income and higher income group who prefer to dine at restaurants mostly in weekends. The other demographic factors comprise of age and for this specific cuisine the age group would be above 25 years who prefers to try out different cuisines apart from the fast food which are generally more preferred by the young generation under 20 years. Competition is very tough in the US market as it a hub for many companies serving different cuisines such as European

Individuals who suffer from depression are more likely to use drugs Essay

Individuals who suffer from depression are more likely to use drugs - Essay Example Even though there is nothing that could prevent un-depressed people trying to hit a high with the use of drugs, according to the research work available and psychological treatment records on drug abuses and depression, it is the depressed lot who turn frequently towards drugs, although the drug-induced depression too could be equally true. Drug depression could be worse in people who are genetically susceptible to depression and hence, there is a strong connection between them. Curtis (2001) says that depression should be treated without even psychotropic drugs like Prozac and the depressed people should be able to 'pull the plug' on depression with 'directed thinking'. David Healey (2004) called the relationship between pharmaceutical antidepressants and depressed individuals, extremely unhealthy. When medicinal drugs are advised to be abhorred, it stands to reason that hallucinating drugs cannot make positive contributions. Still the fact remains that according to existing research and statistics available in the field of psychology, depressed people reach for drugs as the most hopeful means of controlling depression and feeling ecstatic driven by anxiety, loneliness and depression. Drug addiction can store metabolite in the body with further side effects. Depression and drugs can encourage one another and work together towards a horrible mental and physical end. This does not mean that non-depressed do not take drugs. Their number is negligible compared to the depressed, their percentage is negligible. An astonishing majority justifies my hypothesis and hence, I would like to conduct my study on this hypothesis with the support of researched evidence, articles, journals, books, reports, statistical data etc.

International risk management Essay Example for Free

International risk management Essay A Letter of Credit is a document issued by a bank at the request of its customer promising to pay the exporter for the goods and services provided that the exporter provides all the documents as stated in the terms and conditions. To the exporter a letter of credit guarantees payment and reduces production risk if the buyer has a change of his order. It ensures that buyers cannot refuse to pay due to complain raised over the goods. It also provides a chance to get financing incase of delayed payment. The importer can structure their payment plan, it helps confirm the shipment of the goods, helps them reduce pre-payment, it as well ensures that the exporter delivers exactly what the importer required it also creates confidence for bigger transactions in future. A bill of exchange is a document that acts as the evidence of a debt and informs the importer to pay the exporter a certain fixed sum of money at a certain specific time. They act as a guarantee that goods of certain stated specifications have been shipped and that and that that require payment. The Export-Import Bank of United States of America helps in financing sales of goods and services by proving guarantee of working capital loans, it helps crate jobs through export of goods, the bank guarantees the repayment of loans to foreign purchasers, it also provides credit insurance for U. S. exporters against. The disadvantage of the Export-Import Bank is that for it to support the products at least 50 percent of them must be from U. S and they should not have any negative effect to the economy. It also does not offer help to importers outside U. S. In conclusion, the letter of credit, the bill of exchange and the Export-Import Bank are very important for the import-Export business to prosper not only in U. S but also any where in the world.

long-term memory systems of the human brain

long-term memory systems of the human brain Current knowledge is summarized about long-term memory systems of the human brain, with memory systems defined as specific neural networks that support specific mnemonic processes. In the late 19th Century, German Psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus established that humans tend to forget most of what they learn in a class within thirty days. Without some aid to help us retain what we learn, massive amounts of crucial information are lost. This paper describes about the how to improve our memory, how repetition improves the efficiency of memory processing, by improving physical well-being how it helps improving memory, and ways to increase our depths of level of memory processing. Introduction In psychology, memory  is regulated by a constantly changing organization of consciousness or an organisms ability to store, retain, and subsequently retrieve information. It has been hypothesized that three processes occur in remembering: perception and registering of a stimulus, temporary maintenance of the perception, or short-term memory; and lasting storage of the perception, or long-term memory. Two major recognized types of long-term cognitive memory are: Procedural memory-involving the recall of learned skills. Declarative memory-the remembrance of specific stimuli. For long-term memory to occur there must be a period of information consolidation. A conscious awareness in remember that they are recollecting something of the past. Some of what we experience day to day is stored away in our minds for future reference, but much of it is not. For example, you might describe in vivid detail the interior of a quaint ice cream parlor you visited last summer, but be unable to recall what flavor ice cream you had. On closer reflection, this is only the tip of the iceberg when we look at the full range of human memory capabilities. One of the interesting features of your memory system is that you dont control what is stored because much of our memory is submerged from conscious view. Memory is an integral part of our existence, yet it is only vaguely understood. When you want to remember something doesnt mean that you can remember the entire. Indeed, when you thinking, most of what you thinking is not stuff that you consciously try to store. You didnt try to commit the whole thing that you did to your memory. In this regard, you might be unable to remember a complete of the event. Its hard to grasp just how specific, or narrow of your thoughts and your memories. For example, suppose you passing your neighbors house, you encounter a barking dog. There are several aspects of the dog that you could think about. Perhaps you could think about the sound of the dogs bark, what the dog looked like, or the meaning of the bark like why its barking, whether its barking at you, the possible that a barking dog will bite, and so on. Each of these thoughts will lead you to different memories of the event the next day. If you think about the sound of the dogs bark, the next day youll probably remember that quite well, but not its appearance. To put this example into broader terms, even simple concepts have multiple aspects of meaning, which one of these you think about will determine what you remember. Literature Review Ways to Improve Memory There are 16 ways to improve our memory. The ways included convince ourselves that we do have a good memory that will improve, exercise your brain, exercise daily, reduce stress, eat well and eat right, take better pictures, give yourself time to form a memory, create vivid and memorable images, repeat things you need to learn, group things you need to remember, organize your life, try meditation, sleep well, build your memorization arsenal, venture out and learn from mistake and listening to binaural beats. (Ben Rubenstein, Theresa Mulligan Tom Viren, 2010) In the article Improving Your Memory-Tips and Technique for Memory Enhancement (Ellen Jaffe-Gill, M.A., Amara Rose, Gina Kemp, M.A., and Suzanne Barston, 2007), they suggested the stages of memory foundation and maintenance. The stages are acquisition, consolidation and retrieval. Besides that, they stated the tips for memory improvements. They suggested that brain exercises can improve memory because memory is just like a muscular strength, the more we work out our brain, and the better we will be able to process and remember information. Furthermore, they also stated the general guidelines and mnemonic devices to improve memory. Healthy habits and nutrition also suggested by them to improve our memory. In Human Memory: What It is and How to Improve It suggested that there are many ways to improve our memory such as the use of certain mental technique, special care with nutrition and medicines (Silvia Helena Cardoso, 1997). For example, stimulate memory with using it to the utmost and challenge a novelty. Pay attention, concentrate and avoid all other thoughts can help us to improve our memory. Other ways which can improve our memory is relax, sleep and nutrition. Besides that, medication, alcohol, smoking and caffeine are believed that may interfere the memory function. Studies have shown that, when compared with non-smokers, individuals smokers of one or more packs of cigarettes a day had difficulties of remembering peoples faces and names in a test of visual and verbal memory (Turkington, 1996). We tend to forget things much easier as we age because the neurons in our brain responsible for memory lose elasticity over time. However, he suggested some methods to maintain a great memory for as long as possible. Sleep well is one of the methods he had suggested. Besides that, use acronyms and other mnemonic devices also help to improve our memory. Rest and eat brain super foods also suggested by him to improve our memory. (Todd ,2007) There are 7 mnemonic devices to improve our memory. First, pegword method that is useful for memorizing lists of unrelated items in order with create a visual image of each item in the list with a peg word. Second, method of loci which is useful for memorizing lists of unrelated items in order with commits a mental walk to memory. Third, use acronym method which creates an acronym using the first letter of each of the items. Fourth, use the acrostic method which creates a sentence in which the first letter of each provides a cue for the materials. Fifth, music or rhymes method can be use to set a familiar tune, rhythm or rhyme on the materials that we going to memorize. Sixth, mnemonic association is the method which associated to-be-remember materials with an aspect of the material that is hard to remember. Lastly, the keyword method can be use for foreign vocabulary words. (Daniel T. Willingham, 2009) Almost everyone would like to improve their memory. The temporal lobes of the brain are located behind the eyes and under the temples at the sides of head. The temporal lobes of the brain are associated with short-term memory and transferring memories to long-term storage. In addition, the temporal lobes are involved with language, reading social cues, understanding music and tone of voice, and mood stability. The hippocampus is another part of the brain located closer to the center and next to the temporal lobes. The hippocampus stores new information for several weeks and helps a person learn new skills. Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants are important in improving our memory. (Wendy Hodsdon, ND, 2006) A multitude of molecular, cellular, systems and behavioral findings have demonstrated the need for sleep after learning for the consolidation of memory. (Seung-Schik Yoo, Peter T Hu, Ninad Gujar, Ferenc A Jolesz and Matthew P Walker, 2007) Short-term memory Short-term memory-closely related to working memory-is the very short time that you keep something in mind before either dismissing it or transferring it to long-term memory. Short-term memory is shorter than you might think, lasting less than a minute. Its what allows you to remember the first half of a sentence you hear or read long enough to make sense of the end of the sentence. But in order to store that sentence (or thought, fact, idea, word, impression, sight, or whatever else) for longer than a minute or so, it has to be transferred to long-term memory. Short term memory (STM) is a limited capacity store that, for example, can be assessed with a digit span task. Most people can hold between five and nine items in STM, but by chunking items together can hold more information. Without rehearsal, this memory trace fades over the course of minutes. A current debate is about how much of this is due to decay alone or interference from subsequent stimuli. Recall for items often shows a J-shaped serial position curve where early and late items presented in a list are recalled better. Late item success is known as the recency effect and reflects short term memory fading, while early item success is known as the primacy effect and is tough to reflect a long term store (Matlin, 1996). Short-term memory allows one to recall something from several seconds to as long as a minute without rehearsal. Short-term memory is believed to rely mostly on an acoustic code for storing information, and to a lesser extent a visual code. Conrad (1964) found that test subjects had more difficulty recalling collections of words that were acoustically similar (e.g. dog, hog, fog, bog, log). This is the process whereby we can take advantage of prior knowledge to package information more effectively and hence to enhance storage and retrieval. For example, sequence of digits that comprised a number of familiar dates, such as 1492 1776 1945, would be easier to recall then the same 12 digits in random order. However, short-term memory has been an unexplainable phenomenon with certain individuals gifted to remember large amounts of information, quickly, and be able to recall that information in seconds. Short-term memory is supported by transient patterns of neuronal communication, dependent on regions of the frontal lobe  (especially dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) and the parietal lobe. The limited information which manages to pass the hurdle of selective filtering is not necessarily retained with any degree of permanence. It is placed in a temporary storage unit, where information is held just long enough for it to be analyzed and transferred to long term memory. Information received is held only for about five to twenty seconds, and if it is not attended to, either decays or is lost (Magill, 2001). Part of the process of registering the information in the STM is to transform or encode it so it is capable of being rehearsed or practiced and later stored. Emphasis should be on rehearsing the information. It is here that the learner understands the meaning, message, intent, value and the representation of the information in relationship to other information in the memory. In motor skill learning, it is important that coaches and teachers should take into account the capacity of the STM. If a lot of information of a particular skill is given at any one time, then it is impossible for most students to remember all the instructions. So instructions are best kept brief, or broken down into parts to the degree that attention is properly maintained. As we grow older with many cognitive conditions, our short-term memory span often becomes even shorter. This makes us more likely to have trouble keeping up with certain tasks, such as remembering which button to push in a banks phone menu. It also gives our brains less time to successfully move new information to long-term memory, which makes us more likely to forget details of recent events, such as a story our children tell us or instructions our doctors give us. Long-Term Memory Long-term memory, or LTM, is the storehouse for information that must be kept for long periods of time. But LTM is not just a more durable version of STM; the stage model of memory suggests its a different kind of memory altogether. The storage in sensory memory and short-term memory generally have a strictly limited capacity and duration, which means that information is available only for a certain period of time, but is not retained indefinitely. By contrast, long-term memory can store much larger quantities of information for potentially unlimited duration. Its capacity is immeasurably large. Long-term memories, on the other hand, are maintained by more stable and permanent changes in neural connections widely spread throughout the brain. The hippocampus is essential (for learning new information) to the consolidation of information from short-term to long-term memory, although it does not seem to store information itself. Without the hippocampus, new memories are unable to be stored into long-term memory, and there will be a very short attention span. Furthermore, it may be involved in changing neural connections for a period of three months or more after the initial learning. Types of Long-Term Memory Tulving (1987) has proposed the existence of three kinds of long-term memory stage, each with distinctly different properties, and each probably based on different brain mechanisms. The three type of Long-term memory: Procedural Memory -Memory for motor movement and skills -Knowledge about how to do something Semantic Memory -Memory for meaning without reference to the time and place of learning -Memories that recall a personal moment from our past Episodic Memory -Knowledge about the world -Memory for specific experiences that can be defined in terms of time and space -Stores as facts that make little or no reference to ones personal experiences These various parts of long-term memory do not operate in isolation from one another. While it is not clear how they work together, it is clear that they are related and overlap. (Tulving,1972) Storing Information for the Long-Term Memory To store information over the long-term memory, you need to produce elaborate and distinctive memory records. Focusing on the meaning of the input, relating to be remembered information to other things in memory, and forming visual images of the input all lead to distinctive memory records. Forming a visual image is particularly effective, and many memory aids, or mnemonic devices, are based on the use of imagery. Long-term memory also depends on how information is actually presented: Item presented near the beginning and end of a sequence are remembered well, are as items that have been repeated. Spaced or distributed practice turns out to be more effective than massed practice. Two major problems related to the use of long-term memory: To transfer the information accurately to long-term memory. To retrieve the information accurately. The primary strategy for transferring information from working memory into long-term memory is referred to as encoding or elaboration. These terms refer to the process of relating information to other information that is already stored in long-term memory. Piaget and other constructivists have developed detailed theories regarding how information is stored in long-term memory. Differences between LTM and STM in four major ways: The way in which information is recalled: The amount of information stored in LTM is so vast, we cannot scan the entire contents of LTM when we looking for a bit of information, as we do in STM. Instead, LTM has to be indexed. We retrieve information from LTM using cues, much as we use a call number to locate a book in the library. This retrieval can be an intentional act or an unintentional one, as when hearing a particular song brings back memories of a lost love. In either case, only information relevant to the cue is retrieved, rather than the entire contents of LTM. The form in which information is stored in memory: LTM differs from STM in the kind of information that is most easily stored. You will recall that information is usually stored in STM in terms of the physical qualities of the experience (what we saw, did, tasted, touched, or heard), with a special emphasis on acoustic codes. Although sensory memories can be stored in LTM, information is stored in LTM primarily in terms of its meaning, or semantic codes. The reasons that forgetting occurs: Unlike STM, where information that is not rehearsed or processed appears to drop out the system, information stored in LTM is not just durable but actually appears to be permanent. Not all psychologists agree that memories in LTM are permanent, but there is a great deal of evidence supporting this view. If memories in LTM are indeed permanent, this means that forgetting occurs in LTM not because the memory is erased buy because we are unable to retrieve in for some reason. The physical location of these functions in the brain: STM is primarily a function of the frontal lobes of the cerebral cortex, whereas information that is stored in LTM is first integrated in the hippocampus and then transferred to the areas of the cerebral cortex involved in language and perception for permanent storage. Stages of Memory Foundation and Maintenance There are 3 stages of memory foundation and maintenance: acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval. At acquisition stage, new information enters our brain. The key to encoding information into our memory is concentration. Unless we focus on information intently, otherwise it goes in one ear and out the other. At second stage, that is consolidation, hippocampus sends a signal to store the information as long-term memory. When we need to recall the information, we reach retrieval stage. Our brain have to activate the same pattern of nerve cells used to store it. The more frequently you need the information, the easier it is to retrieve it along healthy nerve cell connections (Ellen Jaffe-Gill, M.A., Amara Rose, Gina Kemp, M.A., and Suzanne Barston, 2007). How To Improve Memory A) Sleep Well Everyone in the world needs consistently 7-8 sleeping hours to increase our memory. While sleeping, the brain disconnects from the senses, proceeds to revising and storing memory. Besides that, the brain appears to firm up memories of newly acquired information during sleep. At day time, a quick nap can be the impetus for a solution to a problem you have been working (Todd, 2007). Sleep is necessary for memory consolidation. The amount of sleep will affect the brains ability to recall recently learned information. According to recent studies conducted at the Harvard Medical School, getting a good nights sleep may improve our short-term memory and long-term relational memory (Ben Rubenstein, Theresa Mulligan Tom Viren, 2010). Insomnia would produce a chronic fatigue and would impair the ability of concentration and the storing of information (Silvia Helena Cardoso, PhD, 1997). B) Nutrition Eat well and eat right are very essential to improve our memory. Roughly 50-60% of the brains overall weight is pure fat, which is used as insulation for its billions of nerve cells.   The better insulated a cell, the faster it sends messages and the speedier our thinking.   Therefore eating foods with a healthy mix of fats is essential for long-term memory.   Fish, especially wild salmon, mackerel and anchovies, and dark leafy green vegetables are excellent choices (Todd, 2007) B vitamins, especially B6, B12 and folic acid are good for our memory. These vitamins protect neurons by breaking down an amino acid, homocysteine, which is toxic to nerve cells. These vitamins also involved in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen. The best sources of B vitamins is spinach and other dark leafy greens, broccoli, asparagus, strawberries, melons, black beans and other legumes, citrus fruits and soybeans (Ellen Jaffe-Gill, M.A., Amara Rose, Gina Kemp, M.A., and Suzanne Barston, 2007). Besides that, antioxidants like vitamins C, vitamins E and carotene are also essential in improve our memory. Antioxidants fight free radicals which are highly reactive and can damage cells that can occur with age. Antioxidants interact with them safely and neutralize them. Antioxidants also improve the flow of oxygen through the body and brain (Ellen Jaffe-Gill, M.A., Amara Rose, Gina Kemp, M.A., and Suzanne Barston, 2007). Eating many colors of fruits and vegetables ensures a wide variety of antioxidants to nourish and protect the brain. The best sources of antioxidants are blueberries and other berries, sweet potatoes, red tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, green tea, nuts and seeds, citrus fruits, liver (Wendy Hodsdon, ND, 2006). Furthermore, Omega-3 fatty acids are a major component of the gray matter of the brain and can also improve brain activity. They count as healthy fats, as opposed to saturated fats and trans fats, omega-3 fatty acids protecting against inflammation and high cholesterol (Ellen Jaffe-Gill, M.A., Amara Rose, Gina Kemp, M.A., and Suzanne Barston, 2007). The fat in the brain is essential to proper nerve function, in nerve membranes, and as a component of brain synapses. People who eat diets high in saturated fats or trans-fatty acids frequently will show signs of dementia earlier than people who eat fish regularly. Omega-3 fatty acids can found in wild-caught, deep sea fish like wild salmon, tuna, mackerel and herring. Fish oil supplement is good for the brain and memory (Wendy Hodsdon, ND, 2006). Moreover, water is also an essential source for our memory. Water help maintain the memory systems working, especially in older persons. According to Dr. Trukington, lack of water in the body has an immediate and deep effect on memory, dehydration can generate confusion and other thought difficulties (Silvia Helena Cardoso, PhD, 1997). C) Brain Exercise Memory, like muscular strength, is a use it or lose it proposition. The more we work out our brain, the better we will be able to process and remember the information. Regularly exercising the brain keeps it growing and spurs the development of new nerve connections that can help improve memory (Ellen Jaffe-Gill, M.A., Amara Rose, Gina Kemp, M.A., and Suzanne Barston, 2007). By developing new mental skills we can keep our brain active and improve its physiological functioning. The mental skills can be puzzles and games like crossword and Sudoku which can practice on for several minutes per day. Novelty and sensory stimulation are the foundation of brain exercise. We can use our memory to the utmost and challenge a novelty and they can be fun. Almost any silly suggestion can work, says David Eagleman, PhD, neuroscientist and assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. For example, if you work in an office, learn to dance. If you are a dancer, learn to deal with a computer. This could stimulate your brains neural circuits to grow. Besides that, we can try a neurabic exercise, which is an aerobic exercise for our brain. This will force us to use your faculties in unusual ways, like showering and getting dressed  with our eyes closed, take a course in a subject we dont know much about, learn a new game of strategy, cook up some rec ipes in an unfamiliar cuisine, drive home via a different route, brush teeth with opposite hand. Thats the most effective way to keep your synapses firing (Ben Rubenstein, Theresa Mulligan Tom Viren, 2010). D ( i) Repetition Priming Definition: the repetition effect: a repeated stimulus is processed better on the second occurrence than on the first. (Christophe Pallier , Nuria Sebasti ´an-Gall ´es and Angels Colom ´e, 1999) Repeated process of a stimulus often facilitates performance on a cognitive task. This facilitation is known as repetition priming and, because it can arise in the absence of conscious recollection of the original stimulus presentation, is often assumed to reveal an implicit form of memory. Repetition priming is a very reliable phenomenon and has been observed in numerous tasks for example, lexical decision (Scarborough, Cortese, and Scarborough, 1977) and word-fragment completion (Tulving, Schacter, Stark, 1982) The basic effect reported in numerous masked repetition priming studies is that manipulating the similarity of a briefly presented, pattern masked prime word and an immediately following and clearly visible target word produces systematic differences in target reaction time (RT; greater overlap = faster RTs). Such effects have typically been interpreted as reflecting processing that is started by the masked prime and then modified when the ensuing target is similar to or different from the prime along some dimension of interest (e.g., orthographic, lexical, or semantic). Because subjects are usually unaware of the identity of the prime, it is widely believed that this type of priming is predominantly sensitive to the fast feed-forward (automatic) components of word recognition (Forster, Mohan, Hector, 2003; Lamme, Zipsser, Spekreijse, 2002). Recently, several masked priming studies have reported that certain measures of neural activity are also sensitive to processes involved in visual letter and word processing (e.g., Dehaene et al., 2004; Grossi Coch, 2005; Holcomb Grainger, 2006; Petit, Grainger, Midgley, Holcomb, in press). In the late 19th Century, German Psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus established that humans forget 90% of what they learn in a class within thirty days. Without some aid to help us retain what we learn, massive amounts of crucial information are lost. The most powerful and simple technique to improve retention is repetition. D (ii) Repetitive Learning Science and plain, old-fashioned observations have proven that humans learn massive quantities from repetition. Advertising is a primary example of this phenomenon with companies spending billions of dollars to present us with seemingly mind-numbing repeated messages. These messages work, even though they are basically passive. Repetition is even more effective when it is an active process and if repetition has meaningful results, then learning will take place. (Jarrett Thoms, 2001) Many studies have demonstrated strong positive effects of repetition on learning. Repeated presentation of items increases memory for those items (Cyndi McDaniel, 2003). Repeated retrieval is also reported to improve memory. By repeating important concepts and then forcing the learner to retrieve those concepts several times, you strengthen the neural pathways, making subsequent retrieval easier and retention more durable and long-lasting. In us, memories do not naturally sit still in cold storage. (John Sutton, 2004) As repeated stimulus is processed better on the second occurrence than on the first, this shows that working memory can be reinforced via repetition, for example, students who practice more in mathematics will have a better chance to solve mathematical question easily when a similar question came out. E) Mnemonic devices Mnemonics are clues of any kind that help us remember something, usually by causing us to associate the information we want to remember with a visual image, a sentence, or a word. (Daniel T. Willingham, 2009) Peg-word system. Peg-word system is a method which is useful for memorizing list of unrelated items in order as well as the specific numbers associated with the words. The key to success in using the peg system is visual association. We can create a visual image of each item in the list with peg word. The pegs provide cues to memory. This method using bizarre imagery helps to ensure that the cues are distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other cues. For example, pegs which is rhyme with numbers, one is a bun, two is a shoe, three is a tree, four is a door, five is a hive and so on. Next, match these items with the list of words we want to remember. It becomes a task similar to the imagery activity in which we had to remember word pairs using visualization. For example: If we have to write an entry in your journal for school, we also have a geometry assignment due tomorrow, we also have to read a chapter from our psychology text book. We could use either a mental image of our t extbook, or an image that represents the topic in history that we are studying. Lets say we also had to walk the dog. Perhaps leash would be a good keyword. Then, we also have to remember to feed the dog dog bowl. We also plan to eat supper with our friends perhaps a plate or the dining room table would be good for this. We dont want to forget to brush our teeth after dinner. After dinner, you put your pajamas on, drink a glass of water, and go to sleep. We can use the peg system to track our schedule. (Daniel T. Willingham, 2009) bun + journal shoe + geometry shapes tree + history book door + leash hive + dog bowl sticks + plate heaven + toothbrush gate + pajamas vine + water hen + sleep Method of loci. This method also useful for memorizing lists of unrelated items in order. We can commit a mental walk to memory that is a familiar route with separate and identifiable locations, and then create a visual image that associates each item on the list with a location on the mental walk. In order to use the method of Loci, we must first imagine a place with which we are familiar. There are several possible places we could use. We must be able to identify several locations within that one place. It is best if these locations can be given a logical order, such as clockwise, or top to bottom. As with the peg-word strategy, method of loci using bizarre imagery helps to ensure that the cues are distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other cues. For example, heres a mental walk from my front door to my driveway. The first location is my front porch, which has a birds nest by the door, the second is the sidewalk, which has a large crack, and the third is my asphalt driveway with a red paint stain. To memorize the list onion, duck, artist, I would associate onion with my front door, perhaps by putting onions in the nest instead of eggs. Then Id associate duck with the sidewalk by imagining the duck with its beak stuck in the crack, and artist with an artist admiring the paint stain on the asphalt. (Daniel T. Willingham, 2009) Acronym and Acrostic. Create an acronym using the first letter of the items that we have to remember, if we can remember the acronym, we have a good cue for the items. For example, the planets, in order of their distance from the sun: Mecurey, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. We can memorize using acronym method: MVEMJSUNP = My Very Earnest Mother Just Served Us Nine Pickles. The colors of the rainbow, in order: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet. The acronym method used to memorize is ROY G. BIV (A made-up name). (Daniel T. Willingham, 2009) Music or Rhymes. The item that we have to remember is set to a familiar tune, set to a rhythm, or made into a rhyme. Rhymes are easier to remember because they can be stored by acoustic coding (a type of short term memory coding in which us remember information by the way it sounds). Music and rhymes are always use among young children as in learning alphabet with ABC song. If we forget the words, the melody can provide a cue to help us remember it. (Daniel T. Willingham, 2009) Keyword. This method is often used for foreign vocabulary words. When we would like to learn foreign language, we can find a word from any language we

A Room With A View by E.M. Forster and The Remains of the Day by Tovah

A Room With A View by E.M. Forster and The Remains of the Day by Tovah Martin 'A Room with a View' and 'The Remains of the Day' are two novels which involve journeys of physical and spiritual discovery. The main characters of the stories are dissimilar in gender, age and social status but both experience situations and encounters which challenge their perspectives and personal values. The authors of these books have both included references to nature and landscape to emphasize, mirror and reinforce the reactions and emotions of their characters. They have also used nature and landscape to highlight key events. 'A Room with a View' was written in 1908 and the opening chapters are set in Florence, Italy, a vibrant country, where the high temperatures and natural beauty can stir the emotions. Lucy Honeychurch, chaperoned by her spinster cousin, Charlotte Bartlett, is on a grand tour, and struggles to understand the unfamiliar emotions which are stirring within her. 'Lucy's rebellious thoughts swept out in words - for the first time in her life.' Suppressed emotions are released and she discovers a maturity, independence and strength of character which allow her to analyse and perceive individuals in a new light. She has the audacity to challenge Mr Eager, who finds it 'intolerable that she should disbelieve him.' Lucy and Charlotte face initial disappointment with the views from their rooms. They had been promised 'south rooms with a view' but had north rooms overlooking a courtyard. This dull, uninteresting outlook reflects Lucy's upbringing in rural England, where she has restricted freedom and a limited stimulation in a climate inclined to be damp and cloudy. This contrasts with her expectations for ... ...d leaving the reader with clear, reflective images of a bygone era in an English landscape which still exists. 'A Room with a View' has more dramatic contrasts and energy. The story begins in Italy and the descriptions are strong and powerful, reflecting the events and emotions which develop in the characters. The feelings of the people are passionate and full of vitality and the landscape and nature vividly echo and illustrate what is happening. England is changeable and blustery, gloomy and grey, illuminated by flashes of brilliance and beauty. The atmosphere contrasts with Italy as the plot changes pace and people re-evaluate and alter their course. This book contains romantic illusions to pastoral subjects and makes use of nature to support events and feelings, which brings the book to life and provides excitement and entertainment for the reader. A Room With A View by E.M. Forster and The Remains of the Day by Tovah A Room With A View by E.M. Forster and The Remains of the Day by Tovah Martin 'A Room with a View' and 'The Remains of the Day' are two novels which involve journeys of physical and spiritual discovery. The main characters of the stories are dissimilar in gender, age and social status but both experience situations and encounters which challenge their perspectives and personal values. The authors of these books have both included references to nature and landscape to emphasize, mirror and reinforce the reactions and emotions of their characters. They have also used nature and landscape to highlight key events. 'A Room with a View' was written in 1908 and the opening chapters are set in Florence, Italy, a vibrant country, where the high temperatures and natural beauty can stir the emotions. Lucy Honeychurch, chaperoned by her spinster cousin, Charlotte Bartlett, is on a grand tour, and struggles to understand the unfamiliar emotions which are stirring within her. 'Lucy's rebellious thoughts swept out in words - for the first time in her life.' Suppressed emotions are released and she discovers a maturity, independence and strength of character which allow her to analyse and perceive individuals in a new light. She has the audacity to challenge Mr Eager, who finds it 'intolerable that she should disbelieve him.' Lucy and Charlotte face initial disappointment with the views from their rooms. They had been promised 'south rooms with a view' but had north rooms overlooking a courtyard. This dull, uninteresting outlook reflects Lucy's upbringing in rural England, where she has restricted freedom and a limited stimulation in a climate inclined to be damp and cloudy. This contrasts with her expectations for ... ...d leaving the reader with clear, reflective images of a bygone era in an English landscape which still exists. 'A Room with a View' has more dramatic contrasts and energy. The story begins in Italy and the descriptions are strong and powerful, reflecting the events and emotions which develop in the characters. The feelings of the people are passionate and full of vitality and the landscape and nature vividly echo and illustrate what is happening. England is changeable and blustery, gloomy and grey, illuminated by flashes of brilliance and beauty. The atmosphere contrasts with Italy as the plot changes pace and people re-evaluate and alter their course. This book contains romantic illusions to pastoral subjects and makes use of nature to support events and feelings, which brings the book to life and provides excitement and entertainment for the reader.

Gmos and Organic Food

October 30 2012 Similarities and Discrepancies between GMOs and Organic Products encompass analyzation Why spend more money on organic food? Why are GMO products lasting longer? These are commonly asked questions which will be explained. By the definition of GMO products, they encompass alimentary products grown from seeds that have been genetically altered. Organic products are those that are grown under the traditional way, without any intervention of Bio-engineering, and also without the usage of chemicals, known as pesticides.The Author, Michael Pollan in both, â€Å"Omnivore’s Dilemma† and â€Å"In Defense of Food† makes an extensive and detailed analyzation of the production of food now days. The big corporations (farms) are now known as manufacturing factories; where practically all the elements of their production process are strictly controlled. This highly technological system reduces the nutritional value of their products and in many cases their flavo r as well, but it guarantees high volumes and longer shelf life of the products.An example of a food that would be known as a GMO would be tomatoes, which would be less healthy and again it wouldn’t taste the same as an organic one. Organic products are grown by small farmers according to old farming techniques. These products do not need the addition of micronutrients like GMOs; they maintain all the nutritional values and the original taste. Unfortunately, small farmers can not satisfy the demand that the market needs, let alone, the prices are higher. For example, if you were to sell organic tomatoes, you would have to need to sell them locally.If a company such as organic valley were to be ship organic products from California to New York, with them having shorter expiration date, they would end up going bad. It would be hard for everyone to have the budget to buy and eat organic food; even expensive restaurants don’t use organic food. So, what is better? Feeding a large growing population with GMO products; or to go back to square one, and run the risk of not having enough supply and have the prices skyrocket. At the end of the day, people will eat more GMO food for not everyone has money to buy organic food.

Painting: Vincent Van Gogh, Bedroom in Arles

On a smaller canvas than two other similar paintings, Vincent Van Gogh carefully painted for the third time his bedroom in Arles, a charming town in the south of France, and thus created this approximately 22 ? x 29’’ artwork. In fact, Van Gogh made three almost identical paintings on the theme of his bedroom and are named  « Bedroom in Arles  ». The first one, kept at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is painted in October 1888. About a year after, Van Gogh made two copies: one of which is the same size and is preserved today at the Art Institute of Chicago. The third one is currently at De Young Museum in San Francisco (but originally belongs to the Musee d’Orsay in Paris) and is smaller than the others1. This oil painting on a linen canvas represents Van Gogh’s tidy bedroom. Nothing lets us think that this is the room of a painter. We do not know this because he does not display his painting equipment. Nothing lies around, not even a paint tube in a corner or a brush. This bedroom seems to be for relaxation and not for his work as a painter. Here, he could finally forget his fatigue, have some comfort, sleep in peace. The bed is thus the dominant subject of the painting, suggesting the importance of comfort and rest. By painting his bedroom where everything is in its place, the painter may also want to show that he is a very neat man who cares for himself, and who organizes his life in a reasonable manner. In addition to the prominent bed, this room exudes quietness and expresses, absolute rest by its various shades. Indeed, the room has beautiful shiny colors. In Holland, where the painter was born2, the weather is not always nice and the sky is therefore often gray. Here however, there are multiple vibrant colors that certainly illustrate the happy life he had in France. Perhaps he had come to Arles for the sun and for him, it was an immense joy to live in such bright bedroom, bursting with colors. What is also fascinating about this piece of art is how the painter highlights the simplicity of his bedroom through the medium of color:  « the pale lilac walls, the floor of an old brown, the chairs and bed chrome yellow, the blood red cover, the orange little table and the blue basin†, as the painter describes it. Van Gogh asserted that he wanted to express a complete rest by handling all these different shades2. The color black, which could be evocating a certain form of anguish, is almost nonexistent in this painting. Only the frame of the mirror and windows is black. We wonder if this could mean that Van Gogh was afraid of his future and afraid to face up to reality. This is a possibility. In fact, despite the evidence of his happiness, present in this painting, Van Gogh was not married2 and many clues here let us think that he wished to be. Although the bedroom is very sparsely furnished and only contains essential items (which shows, in addition to the choice of colors, a great simplicity), we notice that many of these objects go together in pairs (two pillows, two chairs, two portraits on the wall, two drawings, and even two doors). Thus, this painting on canvas was perhaps his way of expressing his wish to meet someone and that his bedroom was arranged so as to welcome her. But because it was just him in this bedroom, he certainly felt less lonely by doubling the objects. Van Gogh’s painting consists almost entirely of straight lines. This is reminiscent of a children’s coloring which would have been filled in with color pencils, because the edges of objects are bolder and their filling up seem almost slapdash, neglected. This elaborate post-impressionist design may be compared to such work as Georges Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte (book p. 370). But whereas Van Gogh favored paintings composed of multiple thin brush strokes, Seurat preferred the use of the pointillism system, which consisted of â€Å"applying color to the canvas in tiny dots. 3† In this painting of Seurat, the color also focuses on hues. There are numerous colors too, their contrast is intense, and the sun shine, like in the Van Gogh’s bedroom, fills the picture, suggesting happiness and tranquility. Like Van Gogh, Seurat played with repetitive forms (the parasols, people in profile, trees, and boats). People in this piece are rigid. In fact, they do not seem to move, but on the contrary, seem to be strangely paralyzed, paralleling the furniture of Van Gogh’s bedroom. Strangely, Van Gogh’s furniture seems to be even more â€Å"alive† than the people in the Seurat’s painting. The two painters did not have the same approach when they decided which colors they wanted to illuminate their canvases; while Van Gogh was guided by his emotions and instant feelings, Seurat carefully analyzed the colors and â€Å"meticulously calculated values. † But in both pieces, Van Gogh and Seurat express their sense of organization by making objects, forms, motifs and colors coherent. To conclude, the mesmerizing, luminous colors, and the well organized motifs of the depiction of Van Gogh’s bedroom, were not the game of chance. Everything in this painting seems to echo the emotions of Van Gogh, expressing at the same time his happiness in Arles and the great pea ce and tranquility he felt there, but also his desire to find his soul mate, with who he could share his home and thus, reach happiness certainly even more.