Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The United States Was Justified For The Attack Of...

For decades, people have been debating whether the United States was justified for the attack to Hiroshima, Japan. The nuclear bomb was made in the south western for the sake of the United States under top mystery conditions. The Manhattan Project was constructed by Dr. Robert Oppenheimer who was a German Jew that fled from the Nazi party. For a long time, the Germans and Americans were in a race to finish the bomb first. It was viewed as a stupendous achievement when on July 1945, in the New Mexico betray, the primary nuclear bomb exploded in a trial. On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima by The United States. The United States was legitimized because of the unwarranted assault and shelling of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, that happened three years before the besieging of Hiroshima. After Pearl Harbor, the United States’ confidence was beat down. The writer Akira Iriye claims that â€Å"Japan s treacherous attack on Pearl Harbor got the nation involved in the war, which it ended with atomic bombing. American soldiers, weapons, technology, and ingenuity were massively and successfully employed to punish Japanese militarism for its aggression and atrocities† (Iriye, p.90). It was important to stop the war since it spared many American lives. The primary bomb, dropped on the city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, lost around 135,000 lives. The second bomb hit Nagasaki three days later and killed from 50,000 up to 74,000 deaths. In the article The View from Under theShow MoreRelatedOn August 6, 1945, The United States Of America Dropped1173 Words   |  5 Pagesthe United States of Ameri ca dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. For decades, there have been feuds relating to the justification of the bombing. Was the U.S justified? It depends on your vantage point. The United States was justified due to the unprovoked attack and bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which occurred three years prior to the bombing of Hiroshima, it was necessary to stop the war because it saved thousands of American lives. Until then, the fight had never been on United StatesRead MoreShould We Have Dropped The Atomic Bomb?1180 Words   |  5 Pagesthe United States of America dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. For decades, there have been feuds relating to the justification of the bombing. Was the U.S justified? It depends on your vantage point. The United States was justified due to the unprovoked attack and bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which occurred three years prior to the bombing of Hiroshima, it was necessary to stop the war because it saved thousands of American li ves. Until then, the fight had never been on United StatesRead MoreShould The Us Dropped Atomic Bombs On Japan?1183 Words   |  5 Pagesthe United States of America dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. For decades, there have been feuds relating to the justification of the bombing. Was the U.S justified? It depends on your opinion. The United States was justified due to the unprovoked attack and bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which occurred three years prior to the bombing of Hiroshima, it was necessary to stop the war because it saved thousands of American lives. Until then, the fight had never been on United States soilRead MoreHiroshima, By Robert Lewis, Co Pilot Of Enola Gay1473 Words   |  6 PagesLewis, co-pilot of Enola Gay over Hiroshima, Japan, presently after 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945. The too-large gust of wind, and the looming mushroom cloud rising over the blackened city were all vaguely mentioned in his captain’s log. A small sketch of the first e ver nuclear warfare attack can be found hastily scribbled on the back of Lewis’s log that was later stowed away, the sight destined to plague his mind in the years to follow. Captain Lewis’ account of Hiroshima is only one of thousands who neverRead MoreWar Crimes Against Harry Truman1743 Words   |  7 Pageswhether or not Harry Truman should have been convicted of war crimes after the drop of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. People believe Truman was innocent, but at the same time a large amount also believe he should have been punished for his actions. Which side one believes to be true depends on the perspective of the situation. An American might believe President Truman was justified for allowing the atomic bombs to be dropped in order to save hundreds of American soldiers. From the pointRead MoreThe World s Second Atomic Bomb1282 Words   |  6 Pagesearlier at a United States test site in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The Enola Gay carried one atomic bom b, with an enriched uranium core. The bomb had been named Little Boy. It had an explosive force of some 12,500 tons of TNT. At 8:15 a.m. that morning, as the citizens of Hiroshima were beginning their day, the Enola Gay released its horrific cargo, which fell for 43 seconds before detonating at 580 meters above Shima Hospital near the center of the city.† â€Å"Three days after destroying Hiroshima, afterRead More Drop The Bomb? Essay656 Words   |  3 PagesBombs Dropped on Japan, Justified? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;On August 6th and 9th of 1945 U.S. bombers dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, causing utter destruction and many deaths. These bombs were dropped as the Pacific battles of World War II were coming to an end. Soon after Japan surrendered, ending the war. But, was the use of atomic warfare necessary? Was it too harsh and cruel to the Japanese? The first question was whether or not toRead MoreThe Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki700 Words   |  3 PagesThe Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki The United States was completely unjustified in dropping the atomic bomb because it was used so we could have a sense of â€Å"power† over the rest of the world. President Harry Truman had paid no heed to his prior statements as to the intended use of the bomb; and not only had it violated the Hague Convention, but it also caused lifelong repercussions for Japan’s land and people. The United States, nearly 70 years later, has yet to apologize to the victims orRead MoreWas The Bombing Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki Morally Justified?1736 Words   |  7 PagesWas the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ethically justified? – Why Truman decided to drop the atomic bombs on Japan – By Grace Kelsall World War 2 saw the emergence of America as a new world power on August 6th 1945, also internationally known as the traumatizing day for Hiroshima; after an American B-29 bomber dropped the world’s first atomic bomb. World War Two is considered a great turning point in modern history, it being one of the bloodiest and horrific wars; exposing all countries aroundRead MoreHarry Trumans Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb1314 Words   |  6 PagesTo what extent was Harry Truman’s decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki justified? A. Plan of Investigation Research Question: To what extent was Harry Truman’s decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki justified? This investigation assesses President Harry Truman’s decision to drop atomic bombs on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It will determine whether or not his decision was justified. This investigation will scrutinize the reasons that made Harry Truman

Monday, December 9, 2019

IT Performance and Communicating Value

Question: Describe about IT performance and communicating value and capitalism? Answer: 1. Measuring IT Performance and Communicating Value 1.1 Purpose of Paper This paper is based on the analysis of different factors which CIO of IT firm uses to measure their organization performance level and communication. This paper proposes several measures which management of any IT firms takes to improve their overall performance in comparison of other IT organization. 1.2 Important points/ Arguments Presented CIO of IT firm should focus on their communication process as communication help in improving the level of performance, customer satisfaction, quality of product and other. IT firm main pillar is their customer so management of IT firm should try to work as per the customer requirement and demand which requires good communication channel between client and customer. As IT firms is determined by their performance metric dimension which is important for their stakeholders. So the CIO of IT firm should try to increase the level of performance metric which is based on revenue and profit of the firm (Merino, 2010). IT firm management should try to improve their business process in comparison of their competitors to increase the profit share, revenue. IT firm function is dependent on different factors as communication between customer and firm, technical support used by firm for working and others so management of IT firm should always try to analyze these factors to end business process on time. 1.3 Approaches used This paper is having different guideline or methods which can be used by CIO of IT firm to resolve the communication gap or problem and improve their performance as management of IT firm should plan a internal assessment or inspection which will be conducted by their executive or other experienced employee for analyzing the issues which employees face while contacting different clients (Ingham, 2008). IT firm should try to work as per their customer requirement and demand within the allocated duration. Business and IT firm should always focus on their stakeholder, customers, employees, technology used by them and other. 1.4 Issues and their Solution The issues regarding IT firm can be regarding their technology and ethics. IT Technology is based on technology which is ever changing so the main issue which IT firm management can face. Suppose today IT firm updated its framework from older version to new CIO framework and few years later new technology came in market. IT firm should always try to keep them updated regarding their technology. 2. Capitalism 2.1 Purpose of Paper This paper is written to explain the capitalism condition in business. This paper is based on the analysis of economic system and privatization culture presently adopted by many business processes (Brocke and Rosemann, 2010). There is explanation of mutual significance concept which focuses on the connection of business societal growth and economical growth. 2.2 Important Points/ Arguments presented Mutual significance concept is adopted by maximum business process which shows their link between their community and financial growth. Three main methods adopted by companies are explained which are as by considering all market and products together for increasing profit, by identifying the value chain system of business and evaluating it and by working for both local and national customers so that business increases worldwide. Business should consider there supply chain system, employees, customers, and their health and safety which will help in increasing their productivity. By reducing their packaging and other expenditure keeping quality of product in mind can reduce their overall expenditure cost and increase profit share. Organization should work for their employees welfare so that employees trust and level of loyalty is continued for long term. Organization should perform their work under the government rules and regulation. While changing their working style or policies all rules and regulation mentioned by government should be considered by organization. 2.3 Approach used The approaches suggested by writer regarding capitalism and other are organizations while working on common goal or value should consider society, economy and growth of employees as well as organization (Future Prospects for Capitalism Nature Socialism, 2014). To increase the business profit rate organization should always keep them updated regarding technology and should be aware of their customers requirement and demand. Organization before starting any new process should decide their long term and short term benefits. Capitalization helps organization should improve their productivity, market shares and etc. 2.4 Issues and their solution While capitalization organization do not consider all problems which may occur in future while operation is on. Common significance process does not consider all society related problem, management issues and other business related problems which can effect organization. Some organization while working does not follow government norms and ignore society welfare. References Brocke, J. and Rosemann, M. (2010).Handbook on business process management 2. Berlin: Springer. Future Prospects for Capitalism Nature Socialism. (2014).Capitalism Nature Socialism, 25(4), pp.1-2. Ingham, G. (2008).Capitalism. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press. Merino, N. (2010).Capitalism. Detroit, MI: Greenhaven Press.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Tim OBriens The Things They Carried Eating Them Essay Example For Students

Tim OBriens The Things They Carried Eating Them Essay AwayFor young people, the Vietnam War is a thing of the past and they can only learn about it from second hand sources. In Tim Obriens The Things They Carried, it becomes very apparent that the Vietnam conflict has proved to be one that many of the participants have not been able move away from, while getting on with their lives. Obrien shows that the conflict takes on a parasitic form that eats away on its victims for the rest of their lives. A parasite is defined as an organism that grows, feeds, and is sheltered on or in a different organism while harming its host. The war in this case takes the place of the organism, and the host becomes the soldiers. There are several examples of the parasitic nature of war through out the book. In one particular section, Tim OBrien returns to Vietnam with his daughter. Twenty years had gone by, but it seems as though all of his thoughts are geared back to the time he had spent in the jungle so long before. The two of them travel all over the co untry, but before their departure, he returns to the field where he feels he lost everything. On this list he includes his honor, his best friend, and all faith in himself. For OBrien, evidence of the parasite is not solely in his return Vietnam, but rather a constant personal preoccupation that seems to flow through the collection of stories. OBrien shows how the memories of the war take on a parasitic form, and uses himself as an example. In the chapter Speaking of Courage, OBrien introduces a character by the name of Norman Bowker. In the story Norman finds him self home after serving his time in Vietnam. Even though he is back in his home town, things do not seem the same to him. The was seems to have put a new spin on his life. Most of the story he spends driving in circles while thinking about the war and his lack of place in his old society. The war becomes his whole life, and he feels as though he is to far distant from the town people for them to understand. The reader then finds out that Bowker commits suicide because the parasitic affect of his memories became to much for him to handle. There is another section in the book where a man named Jimmy Cross comes to visit OBrien after the war. They talk of experiences and hardships, then it becomes apparent Cross has also been unable to totally move on with his life. There are still secrets, and they still weigh heavy on his mind even during his his every day civilian life. OBrien never complains about these problems, but it is clear the they bother him a great deal. There are countless themes in this book, but one of the major ones is the after effects the war had and still has on the men that were there. It is clear from OBriens writing on Cross, Bowker, and himself is more than just story telling. In using these people he attempts to show what the war has done to the population of soldiers that participated in the conflict. Words/ Pages : 551 / 24 We will write a custom essay on Tim OBriens The Things They Carried Eating Them specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

How to Find Adult Education and Earn a GED in Michigan

How to Find Adult Education and Earn a GED in Michigan You may be pleasantly surprised to find some refreshingly unusual education opportunities for adults on the Education page at Michigan.gov. It takes a few clicks to find these treasures. From the main landing page, click on the Education tab at the top, and then on Students on the left navigation bar. On the Students page, click on Adult Learning on the right navigation bar, under Timely Topics for Students. Here you will find links to wonderful and unexpected programs like Becoming an Outdoors Woman, getting work as a Seasonal Farm Worker, and help for the blind at the Commission for the Blind. There is also a link for the Michigan Historical Museum Volunteer Program/Docent Guild, a fantastic way for lifelong learners to share their love of history, knowledge of the local areas, and hard-earned wisdom. College Career Prep Under the College Career Prep heading, there are links for the more traditional kinds of adult education. Unfortunately, at the time of this publishing, the link for Adult Education Resource Center simply takes you back to the Education landing page. The Michigan Career Portal link does take you to a new site focused on helping Michigan citizens find jobs, from management careers to skilled trades. There is a counter that shows Michigan has more than 90,000 jobs available! Use the search box to find the jobs appropriate for you. On the Career Explorer tab on this page, youll find helpful tools for assessing and developing your skills, and a very interesting opportunity under the Career Jump Start tab to work with a liaison who can point you in the right direction. There are 10 of them, each assigned to a region of the state. Contact info for each is at the bottom of the Career Jump Start page. Earning Your GED in Michigan Sadly, the GED link at the bottom of the Education/Students page opens a PDF that does not appear to be current, and it is the only apparent link for GED information. The best way to find GED information at Michigan.gov is to search for GED in the search box at the top of the page. The first result is a link to the Michigan Workforce Development Agency, which oversees this aspect of adult education in Michigan. When GED and high school equivalency testing options became available in the United States on January 1, 2014, Michigan chose to continue its partnership with GED Testing Service, which now offers a computer-based GED test. Your best option for information is to visit GED Testing Service, where you can find testing centers in your own county. In March of 2015, the state transitioned from paper transcripts and certificates to a paperless, web-based credentialing system. Its an easier, much faster way to receive your credentials, and they can be easily forwarded to schools and potential employers in Michigan. This is a state credentialing service, not national. You can still get a paper copy if you desire. There may be a small fee. Registered Apprenticeship If you are looking to develop skills in a particular trade, you will want to be sure to visit the Registered Apprenticeship page, also found on the Michigan Workforce Development Agency site. Opportunities are available in skilled trades, energy, health care, information technology, and advanced manufacturing. If you participate in this program, youll receive extensive on-the-job training under supervision in addition to classroom education. Youll find addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for the people to contact. Return to the list of states.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Get the 411 on the 809 Area Code Scam

Get the 411 on the 809 Area Code Scam Viral alerts circulating since 1996 warn consumers not to comply with telephone, pager, or email requests to dial phone numbers beginning with the area code 809, 284, or 876. Its a real scam, but less prevalent than the alerts suggest. These alerts have been circulating since the mid-1990s. Heres an example of one that appeared on Facebook in February 2014: VERY COSTLY NEW AREA CODE:- READ AND PASS ALONG0809 Area CodeWe actually received a call last week from the 0809 area code. The woman said Hey, this is Karen. Sorry I missed you- get back to us quickly. I have something important to tell you. Then she repeated a phone number beginning with 0809. We did not respond, this week, we received the following e-mail:Do Not DIAL AREA CODE 0809,0284, and 0876 from the UK .This one is being distributed all over the UK ... This is pretty scary, especially given the way they try to get you to call. Be sure you read this and pass it on. They get you to call by telling you that it is information about a family member who has been ill or to tell you someone has been arrested, died, or to let you know you have won a wonderful prize, etc.. In each case, you are told to call the 0809 number right away. Since there are so many new area codes these days, people unknowingly return these calls.If you call from the UK you will apparently be charged a minimu m of  £1500 per-minute, and youll also get a long recorded message. The point is, they will try to keep you on the phone as long as possible to increase the charges.WHY IT WORKS:The 0809 area code is located in the Dominican Republic ....The charges afterwards can become a real nightmare. Thats because you did actually DID make the call. If you complain, both your local phone company and your long distance carrier will not want to get involved and will most likely tell you that they are simply providing the billing for the foreign company. Youll end up dealing with a foreign company that argues they have done nothing wrong.Please forward this entire message to your friends, family and colleagues to help them become aware of this scam. Analysis: Somewhat True Variants of the 809 area code scam alert have circulated via email, online forums, and social media since 1996. Albeit in an exaggerated and not entirely accurate fashion, the warnings describe a real scam in which consumers are tricked into dialing international phone numbers and racking up unexpected long-distance charges (though nowhere near the whopping $24,100 total or  £1500 per minute reported in these rumors). According to ATT, the scam has become less prevalent in recent years thanks to the preventative efforts of long distance carriers. The 809 area code scam can work because a few regions outside the U.S., including the Caribbean and Canada, can be dialed directly without the usual 011 international prefix. 809 is the area code of the Dominican Republic. 284 is the area code of the British Virgin Islands. 876 is the area code of Jamaica. Since these numbers arent subject to laws outside those countries, theres no legal requirement to inform callers in advance of any special rates or fees. Perpetrators have conned victims into dialing the numbers by leaving messages claiming that a relative has been injured or arrested, an unpaid account must be settled, or a cash prize can be claimed, etc. ATT advises that consumers always check the location of unfamiliar area codes before dialing. This can be done by querying the NANPA website (North American Numbering Plan), checking an area code locator website or simply Googling the area code and viewing the top result.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Multicultural Counseling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Multicultural Counseling - Essay Example Hence besides acquiring knowledge of the shared values, it also becomes necessary to acquiring knowledge of the different values in the class system among the African Americans. After all each individual is unique and needs to be looked at it from this perspective, in the counseling process. The common cultural values prevalent in African American communities are essentially those of the African American communities originating in West Africa. These cultural values on various points clash with those of the dominant white cultural values. For instance the American cultural values are oriented towards individualism, competition, material accumulation, nuclear families, religion, religion as distinct from the other parts of culture and domination of nature. This is in sharp contrast to the to the values dominant in the African American communities with importance given to the collective over the individual, kinship and affiliation, extended families, spirituality, connectedness, harmony with nature, and holistic thinking. Centuries of racist practice have made all African Americans view the whites as a dominating community and the variance in cultural values have caused the African American to have the view that the white cultural values are being thrust on them, and do not want anything to with them, as a sign of their freedom from white dominance. This feeling is bound to be more intense in the lower classes of society, as there is a tendency to lay the blame of their social position on the attempts of the whites to dominate them. Changing socio-economics among the African Americans have brought with it a growing middle class of society to the African Americans. This class of African American society, while retaining the common cultural values is more amenable to understanding and accepting the values of the dominant white community (Baytops, Day-Vines, & Patton, 2003). Cultural

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

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

Britton - Essay Example On the other hand, developed countries are defined as ‘technologically and ecologically advanced, enjoy relatively high standards of living and have modern social and political institutions and structures’ (Huybers, 2007, p. 28). Britton expresses his own view on underdeveloped countries by quoting ‘third word countries are seen to suffer from a series of common structural distortions in their economic and social organization. Britton makes emphasizes that third world countries are characterized by forms of dependent development. Britton claims that dependency is conceptualized as the process of historical conditioning that alters the internal functioning of social and economic sub-system within an underdeveloped country. He further outlines that foreign parties have a legacy of political, ideological and economic transformation in the third world countries (Britton, 1982, p. 333). He elaborates that dependency entails the subordination of the national economic ind ependence, which has to meet the requirements of foreign individuals and upper class society as a substitute of political priorities. According to his analysis, Britton believes that structural alterations include lack of fundamental infrastructure like air space, roads and proper knowledge of the tourism industry are the main cause of the underdevelopment. Telfer and Sharpley also attributes this underdevelopment to gender issues like lack of human safety, rights and security (Sharpley & Telfer, 2008, p.4). Britton through his journal draws the fact that colonialism is a major key in how much development takes place in a certain country. Colonization is defined as the invasion and control of other people’s resources and land. During colonization, the original population is kicked out of large plots of land and settlers from another country occupying their land (Mowforth & Munt, 2003, p. 73). Britton also argues that, colonial and imperial domination has largely contributed t o the downfall of many underdeveloped countries especially during the post-colonial period. Many post-colonized countries have close ties with the government of the countries that colonized them. However, according to Britton, this benefits the underdeveloped countries and offers them a chance to flourish due to these benefits since members of the ruling class bear the power required in dealing with the foreign government representatives and officials of the industry itself. According to Britton, many underdeveloped nations use tourism in generating foreign exchange as well as increasing employment opportunities that attract development capital. Therefore, these underdeveloped countries mainly target tourists from these developed countries since they are seen as higher valued in terms of tourism (Kunkel, 2008, p. 37). In order for the underdeveloped nations, to develop a strong tourist economy they have to be rely on the developed nations since capital from foreign tourism is necess ary and beneficial to any developing nation. Therefore, post-colonial countries always seek overseas investments in order to aid them in developing tourism plans. Due to this, many underdeveloped nations have developed business ties with developed countries that are their major tourists since they largely assist them in raising revenue (Lea, 1988, p. 27). Additionally, Briton states the fact that third world countries do not have a choice but to accept the high degree

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Health care Essay Example for Free

Health care Essay Leaders are the key people for any organization’s success, for they play an important role in directing and influencing how employees work. Leaders have a lot to do in order to promote healthy behavior by employees for instance in a health organization, leaders need to influence workers in away such that they maintain their healthy behavior at hand. Since health is a very sensitive issue, it needs a lot of concentration as pertains the behaviors of the employees. Leaders need to effect financial incentives to the workforce to encourage health behavior. This incentive tends to upgrade the health of the employee through reduction in the risk that he/she would have faced. This also have an impact on the target and efficiency on the output. For a health organization for instance, workers will produce better result for they are comfortable. There should be provision of tools that encourage safety and wellness. This helps to improve the health of the worker throughout the working period. With general fitness, the worker is healthy at the same time able to behave well when it comes to delivering, urgency and proficiency. Leaders need to involve senior management in promoting emotional health and productivity. Since the management is the one that is much close to the workforce and are the ones implementing strategies, in campaigning for this will make it possible for the out come to be a good healthy behavior from the work force. Leaders need to offer economic incentives for the betterment of the lives of the workers. When it comes to economic wellbeing, one needs to access social amenities with ease. When assisting workers in their workload as providers of their houses through gaining from the economies of scale the health organization gets, workers will access appliances easily thus enabling them to get what they need utmost cheaply. This will make their life well as they have the full diet affordably thus better health. Better health leads to better behavior. Leaders need to educate employees on safety at work. This tends to ensure they get to know how to handle things with care as health organization tend to operate with lots of risky items. With their knowledge on this, they will tend to observe correct protocol with respect thus remaining discipline. With correct protocol follower, they will never be infected thus which means they are adhering to the healthy behavior taught by the responsible body. Health care is a broad field that deals with lives of individuals. For the preparation of interviews, many areas need to be covered for the exact and discrete information to be unveiled. For my analysis, I will consider my interview questions directed to the health care interviewees. It will be categorized into five major items that need to be emphasized on.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Seeking the Living Story: A Comparison of SongCatcher and molly has her say :: Essays Papers

Seeking the Living Story: A Comparison of SongCatcher and molly has her say Drama is a medium of truth-telling about the unseen substance of our lives. Challenging accepted Western stories of power, of truth, of morality and of self, Native American playwrights Marcie R. Renton and Margaret Brubauc develop dialogue that spans physical and spiritual realms, both on and off the stage. Within Renton’s SongCatcher and Brubauc’s molly has her say, spiritual character and multidimensional space are blended in modern day settings, calling Native American peoples to defy Western history books and seek Native roots. Using real historical data, these playwrights craft the power of drama into an inspirational conversation of true Native American identity. In the intimate relationship between performer and audience, there is power to challenge the stories we believe, both what we know about ourselves, and our world. Onstage interactions and struggles with the supernatural defy audiences to deny of the possibility of its existence and more generally the possibility for existence of things we cannot know fully. As characters struggle with preconceived notions of reality and interfering spirit characters, so audiences must suspend assumptions of history and engage in the cultural conflict of Native Americans dealing with spirit forces on stage. Supernatural character Molly Ockett is a symbol of the â€Å"past† story grad student Molly Marie longs to deny in her â€Å"personal history† (Bruchac 320), just as the spirit of Francess Denmore is a symbol of Western pomposity Jack desperately wants to trust in as he learns â€Å"[his] history, learn some things about who [he] really [is]† (Renton 22). These symbolic charact ers and modern day casts are a means of engaging in greater themes of cultural rights and the meaning of heritage. Shared space and physical proximity of characters proves the connection between history, heritage and modern day life. Renton builds a dream dimension in her play, allowing the reality of spirits to coexist in both real and imagined time. Bruchac’s play is more of a relationship between two spirits and one woman, and needs no dream element. Molly Marie and Molly Ockett co-exists in real time, as does Old Mali, ever present and completely invisible, though only Molly Marie is living today. Each space is multi-dimensional and transcendent of time, as supernatural characters interact freely with modern characters through shared objects like doors, cigarette lighters, coffee cups. As spiritual characters go into modern character’s space, touching physical props, the ethical questions of identity each drama poses transcend time to modern minds and hearts.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

How Does Arthur Miller Create Tension? Essay

The Crucible is a ‘semi-fictional metaphor,’ as Miller described it himself, based upon the real life events that occurred in the United States after World War II. Using accurate historical accounts, the play is set during the 1692 Salem Witchcraft Trials when several young girls accuse innocent town members of witchcraft to avoid getting into trouble for participating in witchcraft themselves. The husbands of some of the women involved try to convince the judges of the girls’ deceit, but find them hard to break, to say the least. Eventually even the most prominent members of the community find themselves under threat, and the tension mounts, and the small town becomes a circle of lies, fear, and hypocritical accusations. John Proctor, a local man of much respect and authority, must confess to his adultery with the young nai ve Abigail in order to save his own wife from being hanged. Proctor is given the chance to save his own life by confessing to witchery and naming names, but chooses to die rather than betray his friends and fellow villagers. The play was written shortly after the Second World War, in 1953. Still showing today, it remains one of the most popular politically based plots of the twentieth century. Many say this is due to the complexity of the many characters involved; some say it’s the relevance to today’s American political policies; however, in my opinion, the Crucible manages to keep theatre lovers going back for more time and time again with the nail biting scenes that keep the audience on the edge of their seats. But how does he create this atmosphere? That is the question I hope to answer in this essay – How does Arthur Miller create tension? A crucible is a container in which metals are heated to extract the pure element from dross or impurities. This definition is very easily connected to the play. For instance, witches are traditionally said to use cauldrons to brew their magical potions and what not, and a synonym for cauldron is crucible. Not only do witches use cauldrons, but the word crucible also could have some metaphorical meaning. The actions in Salem were like that of a brewing cauldron, there were many heated arguments, and people were being ‘stirred’ and ‘mixed’ around like a vile potion.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Challenges of Scholarly Writing

Writing is a means of expressing oneself through words and even a method of sharing information about different fields of study. Many have enjoyed and appreciated various forms literature that have transformed readers to another place or make them feel that they are someone else. The benefits of writing are endless. More so, it has become an integral part of a person's life and an inevitable component of the society. For without it, the world today would be bland and monotonous. Since we were toddlers we were trained to read and write so that in our adult years, we will be equipped with a tool that can advance our status in the society which can either be for personal or professional purposes. For me, writing has been an arduous but rewarding part of my life. At first, I was a little apprehensive about writing because it requires the writer to know a lot about sentence constructions, proper usage of punctuations and others. It seemed that writing was a tedious task that demanded time and effort in order to produce high-quality outputs. But after numerous writing exercises and trials, I was able to get used to with the rules and guidelines involved in writing. Because of this, I was able to be exposed to various forms of writing such as creative, technical and scholarly writing. Among the three, creative writing is the easiest and most enjoyable because it gives freedom to the writer to write about anything under the sun. It is like typing on the keyboard or scribbling on a piece paper everything that pops in your head. Meanwhile, technical writing demands technical knowledge about a certain subject which makes it harder than creative and scholarly writing. However, scholarly writing is a different story because it is arduous to write but the end results are beneficial and helpful particularly to the academe. During my days as a student, I was bombarded with a lot of scholarly papers which helped us to learn more about the courses that we took in college. There were days that ideas just came flowing in your mind that helped me finished my research or writing papers in a short amount of time. But there are also moments when you can not seem to extract any good thoughts from your brain even if you spend hours and hours researching, reading and brainstorming. This type of incident is famously known as writer’s block wherein the writer experiences a short-term inability to start or continue the writing process which is frequently caused by the lack of drive and creativity. Also, another writing obstacle is the generation of ideas or thoughts. The most difficult part of writing is the beginning and the conclusion phase. As a writer, I found it hard to organize and develop properly my views and perceptions about a certain subject matter. Even though there is a lot of information, sometimes it is difficult to synthesize all of them to make coherent and logical paragraphs. Aside from this, writers particularly students also go through many obstacles in scholarly writing such as poor structure of writing composition, incorrect usage of grammar and words, citations and plagiarism. When these factors remained unnoticed, the likelihood of generating a solid writing material would be impossible. The key to producing a well-structured scholarly paper is that the thesis statement must be direct and concise. Also, it should be supported by strong arguments at the body of the paper and followed by a conclusion that summarizes the main points and answers the thesis statement. More so, grammar and language used should be appropriate to the topic to make the paper credible and smooth-flowing. However, the most important factor to consider in writing is using proper citations to avoid plagiarism. In writing, it is inevitable to borrow ideas from other writers or previous studies. In order to avoid committing a professional misconduct, writers should cite all sources that they have used in their scholarly papers as a sign of acknowledgment that the incorporated information were taken from other publications. As an alternative, it would be better if writers tried to create their own ideas instead of copying other people’s work thus their skills in writing and critical thinking would be further developed. There is no shortcut in making excellent scholarly papers. Writers must learn the basics of writing before they can be able to yield productive outputs. Moreover, there is no alternate for sitting down and jotting down your ideas on paper so writers should make the best out of writing and try to be honest and responsible .

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Life-Changing Things to Do in Puerto Rico Top 10 List

Life-Changing Things to Do in Puerto Rico Top 10 List SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Puerto Rico tops my list of favorite Caribbean destinations. Not only does it have beautiful beaches and sunshine, but it’s also full of fascinating history, art, and architecture. Combine all this with great food and the chance to practice Spanish, and you’ve got a place that appeals to any traveler. Did I mention that U.S. travelers don’t need to bring a passport or exchange money? You can forego the usual hassles of leaving the mainland while still getting an incredible international experience. If you’re planning your trip or just curious about the â€Å"Island of Enchantment,† read on for 10 unforgettable things to do in Puerto Rico! #1: Admire the Architecture in Old San Juan The blue, cobblestoned streets of old San Juan, Puerto Rico wind through pastel buildings from the 16th and 17th century. As you stroll past cafes, shops, and historic plazas, you’ll find a mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture with a distinctly Spanish feel. As a National Historic Landmark, the area looks much the same as it did 400 years ago. Where to Go: Meander through the streets of old San Juan and soak up history, culture, and color. The entire historic area will have you taking photographs left and right, but there are a few stops you shouldn’t miss: Calle del Cristo (Cristo Street): Cristo Street is one of the oldest and best preserved streets in old San Juan. You’ll find a mix of old churches, tree-shaded parks, and lively shops and restaurants. San Juan Cathedral: San Juan Cathedral, built in 1540, sits at one end of Calle del Cristo. Once inside, you’ll find the tomb of Ponce de Leon, the mummy of St. Pio, and rich stained glass windows. San Jose Church: This church, first built in 1532, is the oldest in San Juan, as well as one of the oldest examples of Spanish Gothic architecture in the Western Hemisphere. La Fortaleza: This residence of the governor of Puerto Rico has been in continuous use since the mid-1500s. It remains the official residence of the governor of Puerto Rico, and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Old San Juan is a small, walkable area of criss-crossing streets. How to Get There: Old San Juan is an island linked to the mainland by three bridges. You might take a taxi, bus, or rent a car and drive. Taxis from San Luis Munoz Airport should have a set fare around $20, with an additional dollar or two for luggage. Buses are typically less than $1.00, but they don’t go direct; you’ll have to change lines to make it into old San Juan. If you opt to rent a car and drive, you may look for parking lots off Recinto Sur and Norzagaray Street, as well as La Puntilla lot. Parking rates are reasonable at less than $5 for five hours and 50 cents for each additional hour. If the lots are full, though, then you may have a hard time finding parking on the narrow streets. What to Know: Old San Juan is just an eight to ten block area, but you can easily spend at least a day exploring its nooks and crannies on your own or with a guided walking tour. Surrounded by stone walls, the historic district is known as The Walled City, or La Ciudad Amurallada. The area is very walkable, but it’s also hilly and hot. Wear light clothing, comfortable shoes, and sunscreen. If you get tired, you can hop on the free trolley service that drives throughout the city! #2: Time Travel in 17th Century Forts Old San Juan is surrounded by fortifications and old stone walls that protected the city from invasions between the 16th and 19th centuries. These massive structures encircle the historic city and offer gorgeous views over the blue waters of the Atlantic. As UNESCO World Heritage Sites, they’re well preserved today. Where to Go: Castillo de San Felipe del Morro: This 16th century citadel sits grandly on the northwest coast of old San Juan. Once you get in, you can explore the cliff-side barracks, turrets, and dungeons with a tour group or on your own. Castillo de San Cristobal: This fortification is located on the northeast side of old San Juan, a 17-minute walk or 9-minute drive from San Felipe del Morro. It’s larger, slightly less crowded, and offers panoramic views across the coastline of Puerto Rico. Fortà ­n San Juan de la Cruz (El Caà ±uelo): This fort, also known as El Caà ±uelo, is a stout, square fortification that sits at the entrance of San Juan Harbor on Isla de Cabras (Goat Island). Unlike the other forts, it’s a half hour drive from old San Juan. How to Get There: If you’re in old San Juan, Puerto Rico, you can easily walk to both Castillo de San Felipe del Morro and Castillo de San Cristobal. The free trolley also stops at both forts, or you can take a taxi. To get to El Caà ±uelo, you’d need to drive 20 to 30 minutes from old San Juan along Route 22. A lot of travelers leave this small fort off their itinerary, but it could be worth a stop if you’re visiting the nearby Bacardi Factory in the same day. What to Know: The fortifications that surround old San Juan are impressive examples of 16th century Spanish military architecture. Over the years, the fortifications helped ward off attacks from the British, the Dutch, and the U.S. You can buy a pass to explore all of these National Historic Sites for just $5. Kids under the age of 15 are free. The forts are open everyday from 9 AM to 6 PM. #3: Relax on World-Renowned Beaches If Puerto Rico’s gorgeous white sand beaches are your top priority, you won’t be disappointed. Several of its more than 300 beaches have been named Blue Flag Beaches, which are the best beaches in the world. I’ve picked out the top three, but there are so many more. Where to Go: Flamenco Beach, Culebra: My personal favorite, Flamenco Beach, is your quintessential, perfect Caribbean Beach. With its white sand and turquoise waters, you can easily spend the day switching between sunbathing and swimming. One weird/cool feature: there are washed up U.S. tanks from WWII on one end of the beach (now decorated with colorful graffiti). Luquillo Beach: Like Flamenco Beach, Luquillo is classified as a Blue Flag Beach. On Puerto Rico’s east coast, Luquillo has a long shoreline, calm waters, lots of water activities, and an abundance of food kiosks for mid-day seafood or ice cream. El Escambrà ³n, San Juan: If you’re staying around San Juan, then you should head to El Escambrà ³n for your beach day. You can rest in the shade of palm trees, float in the calm waters, and hang out with locals. Finding your perfect beach could take you all over the island of Puerto Rico and beyond. How to Get There: The easiest way to access Puerto Rico’s beautiful beaches is by car. You can rent a car for about $40 a day, and the roads are easy to navigate. To get to Culebra (with Flamenco Beach) or other islands, you’ll need to hop on a ferry. Small buses will be waiting when you land to take you to the beach. Ferries are $4.50 round trip; the shuttle is $2. Just make sure you arrive well ahead of time so you don’t get stuck! What to Know: With over 300 beaches, you can find whatever you’re looking for- long shorelines, secret swimming spots, family friendly destinations, or posh areas surrounded by resorts. The northern beaches touch the Atlantic, while southern beaches border the Caribbean Sea. Depending on where you’re traveling in Puerto Rico, some other top beaches are La Playuela (especially good for hiking), Blue Beach, La Posita, and Sandy Beach. If you’re looking to surf, head to the northwest coast; Rincon is the place for big waves. #4: Kayak in a Bioluminescent Bay David Resz/Flickr If it’s not already, kayaking in a bioluminescent bay should definitely go on your bucket list. Drifting along a lake at night while sparkly phytoplankton trails from your fingers is a surreal experience. Puerto Rico’s bays have some of the most striking bioluminescence on earth. Where to Go: Mosquito Bay in Vieques: Mosquito Bay is on the south shore of the island of Vieques. Don’t be scared off by the name, but do remember to wear bug spray. Many consider Mosquito Bay to be Puerto Rico’s best and brightest bio bay. Laguna Grande in Fajardo: I chose to kayak in Laguna Grande, as it’s easily accessible by car from San Juan with a drive of a little over an hour. The bio bay was other-worldly. I went on a cloudy night, so it looked like the stars had disappeared overhead and gotten captured in the sparkling water below my kayak. La Parguera: This bay is on the southern shore of Puerto Rico. You’ll find several tours, but La Parguera hasn’t been as well preserved as the other two. It’s a good option if you’re in the area, but if you’re not limited by location, then I’d suggest Mosquito Bay or Laguna Grande. How to Get There: To get to Vieques, you can fly or take a ferry. The ferry takes off from Fajardo, which is about an hour’s drive south of San Juan. The ferry typically departs around three or four times a day and costs only $2.00 each way. You can also book a bio bay tour that includes ferry, bus, and a meal. Driving is the best way to get to Fajardo and La Parguera. Starting from San Juan, it’s about an hour and 15 minutes to Fajardo and two hours and 15 minutes to La Parguera. What to Know: Bioluminescence is the light emitted by microorganisms when they move. You can’t swim in the bays, as the ecosystems are protected. All three of the bio bays are popular and offer eco-friendly night kayak tours for around $45 to $70 per person. Some of the best tour groups are Island Adventures and Abe’s Biobay Tours in Mosquito Bay; Kayaking Puerto Rico and Yokahu Kayaks in Laguna Grande; and Aleli Tours and Rincon Vacations in La Parguera. You’ll likely go in double kayaks and paddle through narrow channels lined by mangroves to get to the open bay. The darker it is, the better you can see the bioluminescence, so the best time to go is during the new moon. #5: Enjoy the Local Cuisine As someone who travels on her stomach, I almost considered putting Puerto Rican cuisine at the top of this list! You’ll find a great diversity of delicious food with Caribbean, Spanish, African, U.S., and indigenous Taà ­no influences. Your trip may take you all over the island, but since most people spend some time in San Juan, I’ve narrowed my top picks to the capital city. Where to Go: El Jibarito: Located in the heart of old San Juan, El Jibarito has a large menu with Puerto Rican mainstays, like mofongo (mashed plantains with meat, shrimp, or vegetables), alcapurrà ­as (meat or yucca-stuffed fritters), seafood, and local cervezas at reasonable prices. Marmalade: For those looking for a fancy night out, Marmalade is considered one of San Juan’s best restaurants. The frequently changing menu plays with new fusions and traditional Puerto Rican flavors. Entrees range between $20 and $35, and it’s definitely advisable to make a reservation. Cafe Manolà ­n: This cafe’s a great stop in old San Juan if you’re looking for a quick lunch or breakfast. It has yummy omelettes, fresh fruit juices, and an array of traditional Puerto Rican dishes, like mofongo, shrimp in garlic, and fried plantains, all at reasonable prices. Farmer's Market at Park La Ventana al Mar: If you’re willing to travel to the neighborhood of Condado, just over the bridge from old San Juan, then you’ll find an awesome outdoor market full of artisanal food and products. Beyond the fresh, locally produced coffee, honey, fruits, vegetables, and sangria, you’ll see food carts with delicious snacks and meals. The market’s open from 9 to 5 on the first Sunday of every month. How to Get There: There’s no shortage of great Puerto Rican restaurants in old San Juan; El Jibarito, Marmalade, and Cafe Manolin are just three of many. Since the historic center is only an eight block area, all of the restaurants can be reached by walking. You could also take advantage of the free trolley service that goes around the city. To get to the farmer’s market at Condado, you could drive, take a taxi for $10 to $15, or take a bus from old San Juan for less than a dollar. What to Know: Seafood, pork, rice, garlic, and plantains are all key ingredients in Puerto Rican cuisine. You should definitely try mofongo, mashed plantains that are typically combined with chicharron, or pork cracklings, and covered in broth. You might also enjoy plenty of spicy rice and beans with a side of pasteles, meat wrapped in vegetable dough and boiled in banana leaves. Many restaurants will make their own hot sauce, or pique, for you to add to dishes. This vinegar and red pepper sauce can range from mildly spicy to life-threatening, so proceed with caution (and no, that wasn’t meant to be a challenge!). #6: Drink Rum and Coffee + Get Behind the Scenes Whether you want to wake up with caffeine or relax with a pià ±a colada, Puerto Rico’s got you covered. Beyond the old-timey bars and cafes, you can get behind the scenes to see how some of the best rum and coffee in the world is made. If you’d rather skip the tour and go straight to the bar or cafe, I’ve got a couple suggestions for those stops, too. Where to Go For Rum: Casa Bacardà ­: If you’re a fan of rum, then you should definitely set aside an afternoon to spend at the Bacardi Factory. You can learn about the history of the company, tour the distillery, take a mixology class, and sample different rums. After the tour, relax on the open-air pavilion with a cocktail or two and enjoy a panoramic view of old San Juan. Cost of tours: $15 for historical tour; $45 for rum tasting and mixology tours. Barrachina: There are plenty of bustling spots for nightlife in San Juan, but Barrachina has one particular claim to fame: it claims to have served the first ever pià ±a colada in 1963. Stop here at the beginning of your night so you can forever say that you’ve tasted the first rum, coconut, and pineapple cocktail. Caribe Hilton: While Barrachina invented the pià ±a colada in 1963, Caribe Hilton invented it in 1954. Wait, what? As it turns out, both bars claim credit for the invention of this tropical cocktail. You may not find the true origin story, but you can sample both while in Puerto Rico and see which you like better! Where to Go for Coffee: Hacienda Pomarrosa: At the top of curvy mountain roads stands Hacienda Pomarrosa, known for its gourmet coffee and conservation work. Make a reservation to take a tour and learn how coffee is grown and roasted. You can also stay overnight in the cottages and enjoy great local food and sweeping views over the Puerto Rican countryside. Hacienda Buena Vista: This fully functioning, 19th century coffee plantation was restored by the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico. You’ll learn about the history of the 87-acre farm, its conservation efforts, and the hydro-power that runs all the machinery on tours available in both Spanish and English. Caficultura: This artsy cafe in old San Juan serves excellent coffee in all different varieties. You can also enjoy local foods, fresh fruit juices, and homemade crepes as you sip your cafe con leche outdoors or inside under the glass chandelier. Cafà © Don Ruiz Coffee Shop: Don Ruiz cafe, tucked in a plaza across from Castillo del Morro in old San Juan, serves rich and flavorful coffee grown on the owners’ farm. It also has a collection of photos and antiques to teach you about coffee production and the history of the Don Ruiz plantation. How to Get There: As with most destinations outside of San Juan, the easiest way to arrive at Casa Bacardà ­ or the coffee plantations is by car. You can follow the route on Google Maps, plus check the websites for detailed directions. Casa Bacardi is less than half an hour from San Juan, while the coffee plantations are an hour and a half to two hours southwest of the capital city. Some of the roads are windy with steep drop-offs, which can be a little nerve-wracking, but they do offer gorgeous views of the jungle scenery. What to Know: Puerto Rico is famous for its locally-produced rum and coffee, both of which are some of the best in the world. Enjoy pià ±a coladas and cappuccinos at the artisan cafes in San Juan, or go straight to the source for a tour of Casa Bacardi or a coffee plantation in the mountains. The drinking age in Puerto Rico, by the way, is 18. #7: Hike the Trails of El Yunque In the northeast corner of Puerto Rico sprawls the tropical rainforest, El Yunque. The only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System, El Yunque has miles of hiking trails. It’s the perfect day trip to get outdoors while taking a break from the sun under the cool, dense canopy. Where to Go: Hiking trails: There are several hiking trails in El Yunque, ranging from easy to difficult. A few short hikes are Angelito Trail, Caimitillo Trail, and El Portal Trail. The hikes to the waterfalls are a little longer and can get crowded. More challenging hikes take you up the mountains: Mt. Britton, La Roca, Los Picachos, and El Yunque Peak, which is the tallest at 3,496 feet. Visitor Center: Stop at the Visitor Center for a map and information on El Yunque’s flora and fauna. I was glad to learn there were no bears or poisonous snakes, just lots of frogs and birds. La Coca and La Mina Waterfalls: Do go chasing waterfalls! Hike 0.7 km to get to La Mina Falls or 1.8 miles to get to the less popular La Coca Falls. Once there, you can swim beneath the falls, but a word of caution- the water can be crazy cold. Yokahu Observation Tower: This tower, built in 1936, is easy to access, as it’s just about 30 feet from a parking lot. After climbing a little over 90 stairs, you can enjoy 360 views over the lush green forest and mountains. How to Get There: El Yunque is about a one-hour drive from San Juan along highway 26. You can drive right into the park; entrance and parking are both free. What to Know: The park is open from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM everyday. It's home to over 50 species of birds, 11 species of bats, and 13 species of coquà ­, or tree frogs. You’ll hear the coquà ­s â€Å"singing† in the morning and evening. There aren’t any accommodations in El Yunque, but you can get a permit to camp in the forest if you want to rough it. The trails can be challenging and muddy, so make sure to bring good sneakers, as well as a towel and change of clothes if you want to swim. #8: Adventure in the Great Outdoors Are you looking for outdoor adventure? With its diverse ecosystems, from beach to jungle to misty mountain- Puerto Rico has a huge outdoor adventure industry. In addition to all the hiking you can do in El Yunque, you can also find climbing, ziplining, rapelling, caving, snorkeling, hang gliding, and kite boarding. Where to Go: Acampa Nature Adventure Tours: Acampa’s tours will have you ziplining over the jungle, rappelling into caves, and climbing up waterfalls. Along with the adrenaline rush, you’ll get a side of historical and environmental education. Rocaliza Adventure Tours: Rocaliza is a great tour for climbers, as they take you to the best spots for top roping, lead climbing, and bouldering. You’ll climb up-river, rappel down a waterfall and into a canyon, and go zip lining over the jungle. Rincon Surf School: The oldest surfing school in the area, Rincon Surf School offers solo and group lessons, along with guided adventures. It caters to beginners and advanced surfers. 15 Knots: Kite-boarding, or kite-surfing, has you riding the waves with the help of a kite catching the wind. 15 Knots teaches people of all levels how to catch the wind and learn this unique water sport. There’s no shortage of outdoor adventure companies in Puerto Rico. Some other highly rated groups are Aventuras Tierra Adentro, Toro Verde, Campo Rico Ziplining Adventure, Ecoquest Adventures Tours, and Batey Zipline Adventures. How to Get There: There are adventure tours all over the island; some of the most popular ones take you to El Yunque, the Camuy Caves, Rincon, Culebra, or Vieques. Most of the adventure tours will pick you up bright and early from your hotel if you’re staying in or around San Juan. What to Know: All of these tours are open to complete beginners, so you don’t have to be an experienced climber or outdoor enthusiast to sign up. Most outdoor adventure tours pack a full itinerary of hiking, climbing, rappelling, swimming, and climbing into a day tour, plus they include transportation and lunch. Make sure to make reservations in advance, wear good sneakers, and pack a change of clothes, bug spray, and sunscreen. #9: Spend the Day Shopping for Caribbean Clothes and Crafts The Puerto Rico shopping scene includes everything from traditional handicrafts to high-end luxury brands. You can find authentic souvenirs in the shops and markets of old San Juan or head to familiar stores at the Caribbean’s largest shopping mall. Plus, you can easily find some of the world’s best rum, coffee beans, and hand-rolled cigars. Where to Go: Puerto Rican Arts and Crafts: This large shop is full of handmade jewelry, traditional carvings, native foods, ceramics, sculptures, paintings, and silkscreens. Located in the heart of San Juan, Puerto Rican Arts and Crafts rests in a restored Spanish colonial building. Address: 204 Calle de la Fortaleza, Old San Juan. Ole Curiosidades: If you’re looking for a hat to shade your face from the sun, then you should head to Ole Curiosidades. It’s known for its Panama hats and attentive merchants who will help you find the perfect fit. The shop also has Puerto Rican and Latin American art and antiques. Address: 105 Calle de la Fortaleza, Old San Juan. Caribbean Trading Company: This multi-room store is packed full with local souvenirs, including clothing, jewelry, arts and crafts, hot sauces, and rum cake. It lands firmly on the touristy side of things, but it has good prices and is a nice stop if you’re going to or leaving the rainforest, El Yunque. Address: 4 Calle Principal, Rio Grande. The Poet’s Passage: This artsy spot in old San Juan is a shop, gallery, and cafe all in one that hosts frequent poetry readings. You can enjoy the coffee, browse paintings by local artists, and order personalized crafts, like a colorful â€Å"Door of San Juan.† Address: 203 Calle de la Cruz, Old San Juan. Plaza Las Americas: If you’re looking for some serious shopping, then you should head to Plaza las Americas, the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean. It has over 300 stores, (the usuals, like Macy’s, Ann Taylor, Zara, etc.), plus a big local artisan section on the third floor. It’s also packed full of restaurants and a movie theater, Caribbean Cinemas. Address: 525 Roosevelt Avenue, Hato Rey, San Juan. How to Get There: Puerto Rican Arts and Crafts, Ole Curiosidades, and The Poet’s Passage are all located in old San Juan. As you now know, walking or hopping on the free trolley is the best way to get around the historic district. Caribbean Trading Company is just a few minutes from El Yunque, so it’s a great stop on your way to the jungle or after your hiking trip. Finally, Plaza de las Americas is about a 15-minute drive from San Juan at the intersection of Routes 18 and 22. What to Know: Since Puerto Rico is a transportation hub and popular stop for cruise ships, it has a big shopping scene. You can find lots of authentic handicrafts and artisanal products, as well as big brand department stores, like Macy’s, or luxury stores, like Louis Vuitton. Two traditional handicrafts that you’ll find are caretas, masks for Carnival, and santos, carvings of patron saints in wood, stone, or gold. Puerto Rico is also known for its handmade lace, or mundillo. On my trip, I got a wood carving of a coquà ­ (tree frog) that now hangs on my wall at home. #10: Road Trip on the Panoramic Route Winding 167 miles across the island, Puerto Rico’s Panoramic Route leads you into rural Puerto Rico. This one of a kind road trip will take you past roadside barbecues, sprawling coffee plantations, and cascading waterfalls. If you’re looking to get off the beaten track and find some spectacular views, then you’ll enjoy this scenic route from east to west and back again. Where to Go: Carite Forest Reserve: Carite is the first of four forest reserves along the Panoramic Route, and it’s a beautiful stop to stretch your legs under the palm trees. Just five minutes along the main trail is Charco Azul, a natural, bright blue creek pool that’s great for swimming. Aibonito: The highest village in Puerto Rico at 2,500 feet, Aibonito is known for its flowers. In fact, it’s nicknamed the City of Flowers and has a flower festival every June. From here, you can also explore the cliffs and waterfalls of San Cristobal Canyon. Maricao: The mountain town of Maricao will be your last stop on the Panoramic Route. Surrounded by huge coffee plantations, Maricao is known as La Ciudad del Cafà ©, or the City of Coffee. After you’ve reenergized with caffeine, you can go hiking in the nearby Monte del Estado Forest, Puerto Rico’s largest state forest. How to Get There: The Panoramic Route slices east to west across Puerto Rico, starting in Mayaguez and ending in Maunabo. It’s made up of Routes 105, 143, and 182 and takes you over mountains and through valleys. You can start in San Juan and move west, perhaps staying overnight in the mountain town of Jayuya. Since there’s a tangle of numbered roads along the way, it’s often better to follow the sign for a town than for the route itself. More importantly, bring a map and pre-loaded GPS or Google Maps directions. If you’re driving the Panoramic Route, GPS will be your friend. What to Know: The Panoramic Route takes you into the heart of rural Puerto Rico. Some of the roads are narrow and winding, so take it slow and honk when turning blind corners. Because of the twisting, hilly roads, this trip might not be a favorite for those prone to motion sickness. For anyone who wants to go deeply into the Puerto Rican countryside, this road trip will dazzle you with misty mountains, dense rainforest, and patchworks of coffee farms. Since you’ll be venturing off the beaten path, you may benefit from brushing up on a few Spanish phrases! So there you have it- the top 10 unforgettable things to do in Puerto Rico and the 41 best places to do them! As you can see, there’s a huge number of places to see and experiences to have in Puerto Rico. To help you put it all together, consider this brief itinerary for a week on the Island of Enchantment. 1 Week in Puerto Rico: Your Itinerary Now that you have a sense of the top things to do in Puerto Rico, how can you make a plan that includes all your favorites? That all depends on how much time you have, but here’s one suggested itinerary for travelers who are in Puerto Rico for about a week. Day 1: Fly into San Luis Muà ±oz Marà ­n International Airport. Pick up your rental car, and drive into old San Juan. Spend the afternoon strolling around the historic district, eating Puerto Rican food, and shaking off any jet lag or traveling fatigue. Day 2: Explore old San Juan. Admire the colorful buildings, go shopping, and take a tour of Castillo de San Felipe del Morro and Castillo de Cristobal. Punctuate your day with good coffee, food, and the world’s best pià ±a coladas. Day 3: Beach day! Head to a beach in San Juan, like El Escambrà ³n, or road trip down to Fajardo and take a ferry to Culebra. Swim, snorkel, sunbathe, repeat. If you stick close to San Juan, then head to Casa Bacardi and sample rum in the afternoon. Day 4: Go hiking. Drive to El Yunque in the morning and spend the day hiking the trails and swimming under waterfalls. You might stop at the Caribbean Trading Company to buy souvenirs for yourself, friends, and family. If you want more of an outdoor adventure experience, go on a ziplining and caving tour. Day 3 or 4 are also good times to go kayaking in a bioluminescent bay. Tours usually depart at 6 or 8 PM. Day 5: Road trip. Set out bright and early on the Panoramic Route. Go hiking in a national forest, walk around the City of Flowers, and explore the San Cristobal Canyon. Alternate plans: go on an outdoor adventure tour, visit a new beach or coffee plantation, or spend the day shopping. Day 6: Road trip, part 2. Continue west to explore the rural Puerto Rican countryside and coffee plantations along the Ruta Panoramica. If the Panoramic Route isn’t your thing, you could also spend the day hiking, snorkeling, and swimming at a beach or visiting art museums. Day 7: Take any last-minute photos of the Spanish colonial architecture or massive stone forts. Enjoy your last delicious cup of coffee in an outdoor plaza while watching the passersby. Finally, figure out when you can get yourself back to Puerto Rico. Of course, you could also throw the itinerary out the window and spent your days relaxing on the beach with a bottomless pià ±a colada in hand. Or you might eschew schedules altogether and just see where your adventure takes you! Planning Your Puerto Rico Vacation Whether you want to adventure in the great outdoors, spend your days at the beach, or admire art and architecture, Puerto Rico has got you covered. Its beaches are world-renowned, and its centuries-old plazas and fortresses transport you to a Spanish colonial past. While Puerto Rico’s now a commonwealth of the U.S., it has its own cultural identity shaped by Spanish, African, Caribbean, and Taà ­no influences. The streets of old San Juan feel Caribbean and European at once, and you don’t even have to bring a passport or exchange money. Learning a few Spanish phrases, if you don’t know them already, could be helpful, although you’ll find that lots of people speak excellent English. Depending on what you’re looking for, your trip can feel as familiar or as exotic as you want it to. Puerto Rico allows travelers to find their perfect balance of beach holiday, cultural excursion, and outdoor adventure. Its versatility, combined with delicious food and sunshine, makes Puerto Rico a destination that you’ll never forget.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Creating Data Driven Content With Susan Moeller From BuzzSumo

Creating Data Driven Content With Susan Moeller From BuzzSumo Data-driven marketing is a magnet for traffic, backlinks, and word of mouth. To produce it, you need to do some research and present it in an appealing way. In return, you’ll be able to boost the traffic to your site. Today we are talking to Susan Moeller, the business development manager at BuzzSumo. She’s going to tell us about how she finds, analyzes, and translates data for her readers. A bit about BuzzSumo and what Susan does there, as well as her marketing background and what brought her to BuzzSumo. How Susan defines data-driven content and how she uses it in her position at BuzzSumo. Why it’s important for your content’s authority to research and have sources for things you know to be true. Why using data in your content can boost backlinks and shares. How Susan determines which questions to ask to find the data that her readers are looking for. Susan’s processes for gathering, analyzing, and translating the data that she finds. Susan’s best tips for starting to create data-driven content for someone who hasn’t done it before. Links: BuzzSumo BuzzSumo Expert Webinar Series Anders Pink BloomBerryIf you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Susan: â€Å"I like to actually do the research and see what comes out of that even if the result does tell you that yes, puppies and babies are popular on Facebook.† â€Å"There’s a lot of data available to people and there are a lot of posts that are not about data. But there isn’t nearly as much content out there that is developed based on research.† â€Å"I look for patterns. I look and determine if there are any patterns that emerge.†

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Huckleberry Finn Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Huckleberry Finn - Term Paper Example n 19th century America in the South and the main characters are represented by low social castes and it is through their experiences and their view points that society’s values and norms are challenged by the young protagonist. Twain presents Huck as a young, independent boy endowed with both strength and stamina of character. He is characterized by 19th century society as an â€Å"outlaw† and an â€Å"outcast† (Johnson 1996, 5). Yet the reader is left with the distinct impression that this characterization of Huck is more of a condemnation of the society in which he is viewed as an outcast and an outlaw. Johnson (1996) explains that Huck’s outcast status is derived from society’s failure. Huck’s childhood â€Å"has scarcely been an idyllic one, nor has he lived the life of a typical carefree boy† (Johnson 1996, 5). Twain characterizes Huck as a sensitive and unselfish individual who struggles with moral choices, often questioning the hypocrisy of societal values and demonstrating his own sense of right and wrong. Huck’s society characterizes him as a misfit who is almost always in â€Å"some kind of trouble, or out of sympathy† with those in control (Johnson 1996,5). Early on Huck is seen as an incompatible fit even with his good friend, Tom Sawyer and his gang. This characterization of Huck continues and strengthens as the plot moves along. For instance, in Huck’s brief encounter with the Grangerfords, he cannot understand their social values and contradicts it in helping their daughter escape with the son of a family the Grangerfords are feuding with. The biggest manifestation of Huck’s characterization as a misfit however, is his determination and efforts to help Jim the slave, escape the Phelps, rather than turn him into Miss Watson. In summary, Huck is characterized as â€Å"continually at war with society, and with society’s values† (Johnson 1996, 6). It is through his experience on the run with Jim, that Huck matures and is able to

Friday, November 1, 2019

Mobile Technologies for Increased Productivity Research Paper

Mobile Technologies for Increased Productivity - Research Paper Example The way business is done changes through innovative ways to work, team efficiency and giving better value to the customer. It is against this backdrop that many companies want learn the potential of mobile technology in relation to employee productivity and increased business profitability.  Benefits include ease of communication through networking and connections between the business and its employees, critical suppliers and customers. Twitter, Linkedin, Skype, Whatsup, Facebook and many other social media applications are enable direction between the business and key stakeholders. This connectivity and direct communication is important in shaping the customer experience. The connectivity and direct communication through mobile technology firms get important customer feedback on products and services hence better product development. The marketing aspect of companies benefits greatly from mobile connectivity as potential clients can access advertisements and promotions on their ce ll phones from anywhere in the world. The use of text messages, IVR, and mobile websites can really aid in customizing marketing adverts for specific audiences. A lot of commerce can be achieved by mobile technologies through mobile ticketing, issuance of loyalty cards, vouchers and coupons. A token that is virtual is delivered to a mobile phone and the customer can come with it to the point of sale for value. Customers are also able to conveniently purchase various contents such music, video clips, books.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Case study-scientific glass Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

-scientific glass - Case Study Example Similarly, the alternative of accuracy and reliability of the managers’ records should be investigated (Cannella and Ciancimino 21).The alternatives can be evaluated by for example physically counterchecking the inventory and the recorded figures. If they indicate similarity, then the records can be relied upon. Otherwise, the managers should be trained on how to keep updated records. In 2009, the cost of goods sold according to the balance sheet was $38.9 million while the inventory stood at $8.7 million. Dividing $38.9 with $8.7, the answer is 4.47 which represent the inventory turnover. Months of inventory is then obtained by dividing 365 by 4.47 is equal to 81.66. In order to get the days of inventory based on months, 81.66 is divided by days which equals to 2.7. The ratio of inventory against sales is obtained by dividing total inventory in 2009 by total sales which stood at 86.3 million which is equal to 0.1. If SG increases the sales by 20 percent in 2010 thus getting total sales of $103.86, and keeps the inventory coverage the same, the forecasted inventory in for the company would be 1.04 while that of North America which contributes 50.9% 4.44/8.72*100 of the whole inventory would be 0.53. One of the policies that the company focuses at adopting is eliminating trunk stock. In order to ensure that the customers’ demands were effectively met by the company, the sales people are allowed to check up a maximum of $10,000 in their cars as well as homes. However, after some deliberation, Beane deemed it fit to remove the trunk shots. Even if this would be apart of the solution to the inventory problem, some managers were hesitant to apply the policy. The maximum amount of inventory that would be saved would stand at $320,000 that is gotten by multiplying 32 salespersons by 10,000. By emulating the policy change, I estimate that the company

Sunday, October 27, 2019

A Christian Music Guide

A Christian Music Guide Music forms an integral part of all communities and religions. Christian music is no exception to that. Christian music primarily consists of the music played and sung in churches for the purpose of worshipping and praising the Lord. Christian music has different forms and has a different name for each form. However, Christian music also conforms to the music outside the regular church service. The various forms of Christian music include anthem, antiphon, cantata, chant, chorale, hymn, mass, motet, plainsong, carol and oratorio. An anthem is a song sung with a religious or political significance having a meaning itself. An anthem can be sung in church or any other place with or without any other companions. By Christian terminology it often denotes a song sung for praising loyalty. An antiphon is sung after the narration of a psalm or canticle in response to it. A cantata is performed primarily by a group of people who sing in the church and are known as the choir. However, a cantata can also comprise of solo performances accompanied by musical instruments. A chant is a repeated utterance of short and simple words or syllables sung in the same tone and melody. A chorale is a German hymn known to be much more simpler than the English ones. They came into existence to replace the plainsongs in order to be sung to announce the congregation participation in the liturgy. A hymn is sung as note of thanksgiving, devotion and praise towards the lord almighty. A mass is sung to celebrate public celebrations mostly in the Roman Catholic Churches and a few Protestant Churches. A motet comprises of the sacred text, mostly from the Bible, and is usually sung alone without any companion. Any Christian song sung without the restrictions of meter are known as plainsong. Often plainsong is also sung alone. A carol usually celebrates joy and celebration such as the Christmas carols. They are accompanied with dancing and loud singing in groups. An oratorio is a musical composition accompanied with orchestra and chorus depicting a sacred tale without any kind of stage enactments. The Christian music has evolved over the years keeping in tact its tradition and customs and yet, giving way for the contemporary Christian music, largely influenced by the secular music. The music from the different gospels along with the Christian Country Music is the most popular forms of music in the US. Christian Pop Music Pop music is considered to be the short form of popular music. Pop music generally appeals to the teenage and young section of the listeners. It is mostly accompanied by electronic musical equipments and is characterized by a heavy rhythmic pattern. The themes may include personal or loud group emotions, although the most common and popular themes are derived from emotional or physical love themes. Christian pop music found its existence in the term Contemporary Christian Music in the year 1970, which was based on Christian Faith. The music derived its root from the hippie Jesus Movement, from which the genre of Jesus Music began. In the early days, Christian pop music consisted of folk pop songs depicting the artists belief and faith in Jesus. Soon, Christian pop music became quite popular and began being aired on various radio stations and sold in local stores. Popular artists like Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith made the Christian pop music a flourishing Industry by 1980 when millions of their records started getting sold. The early Christian pop music was divided into four main groups known as the separatist, purist, spiritually reflective and incidental positions. Each group prophesied their own view in deciding the motive and themes of the pop music and composed music accordingly. Eventually, this separate genre of music was opposed by some of the other artists who deviated from this genre to form other Christian music genres such as hip hop, punk, alternative, metal etc. Some of these artists include Lost Dogs, Joy Electric etc. In the present scenario however, Christian pop music has found its place beside all the other existing genres of Christian music. The contemporary pop music is a combination of inspirational, sacred, gospels and emotions strains. Over the years, quite a number of artists have made Christian pop music durable and popular among the young generations. Christian Music Charts Music charts usually functions as an overall rating report of the contemporary songs based on their popularity and music quality. Like every other genre of music, songs belonging to the Christian music also find its way up and down the music charts decided by the various criterions. An overall survey is done through various means of communications such as Internet polls, sms and of course letters and online public forums. Based on this survey a song would enter the hit chart and find its position on the top slot. These positions may vary from one week to another as new songs and albums keep entering the music charts. As a result, the song or album, which was on the top slot a week before, can lose its position and come down the rating charts. The way of airing and popularizing a song or an album, are the various radio stations and innumerable television channels. These radio stations and television channels help in making these songs and albums popular, which in turn help them enter the music charts. However, these music charts are not always the best way to judge the quality of a song or an album. Often, it might be possible that a really good song has not been able to enter the music charts because it is not a part of a very high budget project. In that case song does not appear on air or television channels and thus is not a part of the top music charts of a country or state. Usually Christian music charts are divided according to the different genres of Christian music such as Contemporary, Rock, Adult Contemporary, Inspirational, Pop to name a few. However, they can also show an overall rating combining all the genres and types of music prevalent. The songs and albums are often listed starting with the most popular ones on top and the count going up with the following numbers. Christian music charts can be found in the various online websites, and are transmitted through multiple radio and television channels regularly. Christian Karaoke Music The word Karaoke derives its meaning from the combination of two Japanese terms. Kara in Japanese means empty or void and oke means orchestra. Together they formed Karaoke to establish a different genre of Christian music. Karaoke music is a live performance by the artist accompanied by a pre-recorded orchestra. It is very popular in a lot of places, including stage performances. The pre-recorded orchestra and video displays act as a guide to the singer whose microphone volume is usually kept low. The singer merely lips the songs, which are already played in the background. Christian Karaoke music shows usually take place in open areas such as parks, fairs and other public get-togethers, which provides a platform for all those who are not so confident about their singing alone. The pre-recorded voice helps them to sing along and yet participate in the shows. This also serves as another way of spreading the word of God providing the flexibility of local gatherings instead of going to the church. Christian Karaoke music often consists of hymns and other popular genres of Christian music which, when played and participated by the general people help in making them popular. Although, usual Karaoke music is popular in bars and nightclubs Christian Karaoke Music do not associate itself with such places and is mostly comprised of gospels, carols and other religious streams. Singing along with the Karaoke has become a popular profession and various websites have come up to train the singer about the ways off singing in a Christian Karaoke. Christian Karaoke Music lists are available on most online music shopping websites with the latest and most popular artists and albums in store. However, it is advisable to compare and check the different sites and price rates offered by them before buying a certain album. Prices may vary depending on the popularity and music chart ratings of an album.

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Evolution of Cell Phones :: Expository Essays Research Papers

The Evolution of Cell Phones The cellular telephone, as many other current technological products, started off in the military and eventually made its way to the common consumer as a result of the high demands for such communications technologies. The concept for cellular technology was often thought to be limited to science fiction or futuristic communities. Well the future is now, and computerized technology with the help of transmitters and satellites brings nearly unlimited contact to anyone in the world. The transition of the cell phone from thought to reality was made possible by military technologies and a stress towards communications advancement. Cellular technology evolved from its early development to commercial use sometime in the late seventies as the first cell phones were expensive, appeared bulky, and was fairly inconvenient and inefficient. Currently, cell phones have become efficient, useful, and relatively inexpensive. Into the future, cell phones can only become smaller, more efficient, and g lobally renowned. Cellular phones are widely used and accepted into modern culture as one of the most popular forms of media communication. Cellular technology was actually originated in the military two years after the end of the Second World War, in 1947 (about.com). Despite many who believe that the cell phone is a relatively new product on the market, the first usage of any cellular component was very large and strictly for the use and development of the United States military. Actually, the cell phone derives from a two-way radio that uses a mobile phone type of communication of signals. Basically, the first cell phones were simply glorified mobile phones, in essence, that is what all cell phones are. The system uses many stations to divide an area into many cells. As a user moves from cell to cell, calls are transferred from base to base. Around 1968, the Federal Communications Commission, that had haltered the development of cellular broadcasts, now freed up necessary airwaves to allocate the usage of the first cell towers that acted as base stations for phone calls (about.com). This was certainly a start, but the se towers only broadcasted a couple miles in radius and there was still no device comparable to today’s cellular technology. The seventies saw the first working cellular phone components to reach the common market, although bulky, expensive, and inefficient. At a time when disco was lying in its death bed and spandex became popular as a wave of workout videos and aerobics struck the land like a pestilent plague, the demand curve met the supply curve for the commercial development of cellular technology.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto Book Critique Essay

McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Chipotle, Subway, Jimmy Johns, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Popeye’s and countless other food places are visited by thousands of Americans each day. Sadly, because of the convenience and price I am one of these people who give in to the endless fast food options we have in America today. Grocery shopping for most Americans is buying food that is the â€Å"best bargain,† or something you can get your moneys worth for. Quantity over quality is the mindset that a lot of people have in today’s society and how can you blame them? With rising costs in every aspect of living, a lot of people cannot afford to purchase organic, better quality food. Reading Michael Pollan’s book In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto has surprisingly helped me in becoming a better consumer and to make healthier choices in what I eat on a regular basis. As the title suggests, throughout the book the author tries to get the reader to take common sen se approaches in improving the way they eat. The main argument he points out is that having science incorporated into the way we eat (especially the additives and chemicals put into foods) has vastly decreased the quality of our food and increased diseases and health complications in America. The â€Å"Western diet† compared to other regions of the world is obviously not the best diet and it would be in the best interest of everyone to go back to a more traditional diet. Pollan also wants us to remember to â€Å"Eat food, not too much. Mostly plants.† Interestingly enough while I was writing this paper I was drinking Mango Passion Fruit Juice from Welch’s and I thought I would read the ingredients because there is a section in Pollan’s book that says to not eat or drink things with ingredients you don not know or cannot even pronounce. My juice contained high fructose corn syrup, filtered water, apple juice concentrate, mango puree concentrate, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, sodium citrate, ascorbic acid, gum acacia, beta carotene (color), and ester gum. Most of the ingredients listed sound like they are from a science laboratory experiment and not the ingredients needed to make simple fruit juice. Pollan discusses many methods an d guidelines of how to eat healthy and what foods to avoid and to eat more of. Throughout the book the main arguments that I thought were the most important and that I agree with was that having science dictate what we deem is healthy or nutritious in our diet should be changed and have us go  back to traditional diets, that foods are essentially the sum of their nutrient parts, nutritionalism (the history of the isolated nutrients in our diet) is not a good approach to eating and the food manufacturing industry does not help the consumer’s health because all they really care about is marketing their products and increasing yields, and that our mindset when eating and purchasing food should be quality over quantity. The first main argument from In Defense of Food is the one that says having science dictate what we deem is healthy or nutritious in our diet should be changed and we should go back to traditional diets (versus a Western diet). An article by Livestrong.com compares a specific Asian diet versus a western one. The traditional Japanese diet includes fresh fish, rice, soy, vegetables, fruits, and green tea, while the Western diet relies heavily on red meat, poultry, fried foods, and processed foods that are high in salt or added sugar (Campbell). Looking at the two diets from a broad perspective and not from a narrow scientific view, it seems that the Japanese diet seems much more healthy to the consumer. Another few guidelines he lays out is that people should eat whole foods, purchase free range meats, buy from fair and local farmers markets or even directly from the farmer, savor your meals at the table with friends or family, avoid foods your great grandmother would not recognize, and to grow a garden to get the most fresh, ripe produce. I whole-heartedly agree on all of these points. It seems that the most natural and close you can get your food from the original source itself, the better quality it will be. There are many health claims and benefits about eating free-range meats, which include less cruelty inflicted on the animals, being able to obtain better nutrients from the meat itself, and to help local farmers. Compared to free range meats, conventional meats are fed a specific grain diet that increases rapid weight gain (Walls-Thumma). There actually is a difference in the meat that comes from rapid weight gained animals from the slow free-range animals. Slow growing animals produce meat with lower lipid content and higher proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids, making this type of animal attractive from a nutritional point of view (Bianchi et al. 318). In today’s world, science and technology are a part of our everyday lives and has improved our quality of life tremendously. With such improvements in our well being due to science, it seems silly that there would be a drawback to having â€Å"too much science† in one’s life. However,  with the increase in health conscious consumers, most food products that are currently sold have added ingredients in them to make them more nutritious. Jennifer L. Pomeranz writes that health and nutrition claims have been shown to increase consumers’ perception of healthfulness and willingness to purchase the products. However, studies indicate that these claims are misleading and confusing, detract from the use of the Nutrition Facts Panel, generate inaccurate references and often convey healthiness for products that do not meet objective nutrition standards (2). Minute Maid’s Cranberry Apple Cocktail advertises that it is â€Å"all natural† but in actuality contains citric acid, while Thomas’ Hearty Grain English Muffins claim the muffins are â€Å"made with the goodness of whole grain† but is mostly unbleached enriched wheat flour (white flour) (Center for Science in the Public Interest). This goes along with not eating anything your great grandmother would not recognize as food. Too many people are informed on diet by untrustworthy marketing with little knowledge of real science, and even scientists cannot agree with each other. One report would claim that saturated fats are bad while another claims they are healthy (Parker-Pope). Pollan writes that in response to the 1977 and 1982 dietary guidelines, animal scientists genetically bred for leaner pigs and beef. A pork chop could now compete with chicken and be advertised as having â€Å"reduced saturated fat intake.† Genetically modified foods have been ever increasing in our supermarkets and grocery stores because they can be produced in greater quantities and at lower costs. Alcaraz, Bellows, and Hallman reports that by 2004 the U.S. accounted for 59% of the total area cropped with genetically modiï ¬ ed varieties worldwide. This proportion could grow in the coming years due to the increasing rate of adoption of genetically modified crops by U.S. farmers (541). Several health concerns have been raised by researchers on genetically modified foods including not having enough research done on the long and short-term effects on our bodies, how the changes may mutate within our bodies, and the loss of natural seeds (taken from native wild plants) from be ing replaced by genetically modified seeds (Domingo 722). The ideology of nutritionalism (isolated nutrients in our diet) is not in any means a good approach to eating. Throughout the book there are several examples of how overall a particular diet is great for a group of people, but when the nutrients are isolated and added to other  foods, the achieved health effects are not the same. Nonessential and essential nutrients cannot be considered to operate in isolation; rather, they work in a dynamic, constantly changing milieu. Greater attention to all components of the diet and elaboration of their interactions should make possible specific and appropriate recommendations for the general population and allow for recommendations tailored to specific subgroups or individuals (Milner 1658). Also, the food manufacturing industry promotes false health advertising in order to market their products and increase yield. They have helped to justify â€Å"foods† such as vitamin enriched Diet Coke and bread with Omega-3 fatty acids (Pollan 53, 80). Similar to nutritionalism, reductionism also takes complex things and reduces them to simpler constituents. Reductionism as a way of understanding how certain foods or drugs work may be harmless and quite beneficial, but when it comes to actually practicing it by applying to the way we eat (reducing foods and plants to their most salient compounds), can lead to problems. Nutrition scientists especially those involved with conveying health messages should adopt as their primary public health perspective one which recognizes that the influence of diet on health and diseases likely results not only from the subtle effects of a vast multitude of individual food components but from whole foods and the interactions that occur among t heir constituents (Appel et al. 1417). By isolating nutritional elements from the whole foods package in which they originate, food manufacturers can convince us that their highly-processed and nutrient-poor products are heart healthy, rich in omega-3’s, contain zero trans fat, provide daily fiber requirements, or contain no cholesterol. Lastly, I thought that one of the more important arguments Pollan talked about in the book was how we should consume and purchase food that chooses the value of that product over the amount of what we are purchasing. However, in today’s world where our food system is organized around quantity rather than quality, the more low quality food one eats, it seems that the more one wants to eat in a unsuccessful but highly profitable quest for the absent nutrient (Pollan 124). Farmers have doubled or tripled the yield of most major grains, fruits and vegetables over the last half-century. American agriculture’s single-minded focus on increasing yields over the last half-century created a blind spot where incremental erosion in the nutritional quality of our food has occurred. The concentration of a range  of essential nutrients in the food supply has declined in the last few decades, with double-digit percentage declines of iron, zinc, calcium, selenium and other essential n utrients across a wide range of common foods. As a consequence, the same-size serving of sweet corn or potatoes, or a slice of whole wheat bread, delivers less iron, zinc and calcium (Halweil 5). Understanding not just what to eat to obtain our nutrients in the best way possible, but in how to eat will help to improve people’s lives that are on the Western diet. Many health problems, avoidable deaths, and other negative factors that have come from the way they eat will be eliminated if we take into consideration the many valid points that Michael Pollan lists in his book. The few arguments Pollan listed that I was able to validate from other sources were the ones that I thought were the most important but by no means were they the only ones.