Essay on Obesity in America on the Rise - 1266 Words

Obesity in America Today, 78.1 million American adults and 12.5 million children are obese. Obesity in America is a unstoppable epidemic. Since the 1960s, the number of obese adults have doubled and the number of obese children have tripled. Because of America’s obesity problems, Surgeon General David Satcher issued a report saying; The Surgeon Generals Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight, said that obesity have reached epidemic proportions in America. Obesity in America has no doubt reached epidemic proportions. Since 2001, America has been the most obese country in the world. This essay discusses what obesity is and how it is affecting today’s America by answers the following questions: 1. What is Obesity? 2. How is†¦show more content†¦During the seasons where food was abundant, humans needed to gorge themselves when the food was available in order to survive during the seasons where food was not available. Today, food is available in abundance during every season. The availability of food today causes humans to gain the fat because genetics are used to their ancestors having to gain that fat to survive. No matter the cause, obesity is greatly affecting Americans. How is Obesity Affecting America? Today, America is fatter than ever. Since the 1960s, the number of obese American adults have doubled; the number of obese American children have tripled. Since 2001 America has had the highest obesity rate in the world. In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control found that 78.1 million American adults and 12.5 million children were obese. Since than, that number has been increasing. In 2001 36% of Americans are obese; 11% more than the second obese country in the world, Mexico. (Diet, Nutrition, and Wellness: Obesity, 2013) The heaviest man ever, at 1,397 pounds, was Patrick Deuel from Valentine Nebraska. Obesity was slowly killing Patrick. At age 42 Patrick already had several life threatening ailments: heart failure and diabetes. In order to be placed in a special ambulance, a wall in his bedroom had to be removed. When at the hospital he received gastric bypass surgery and was placed on a strict diet. After a year he lost about 1,000 pounds ,Show M oreRelatedCauses And Effects Of Obesity In America870 Words   |  4 PagesPrevention defines obesity as having a BMI over 30 (CDC). In the year 2000, roughly 30 percent of 20 year olds in America were obese. By 2003 that number had risen to 32 percent. That is a small window of increase. From the 1970s to the early 2000s, the percent of obese Americans doubled. This means that in 1970, only 15 percent of Americans were obese, and in the thirty years following, obesity took a sharp rise. In 1960, 13 percent of Americans were obese. The mean percent rise per year in the 1960sRead MoreEffects Of Obesity On America And Is Reaching All Time Heights879 Words   |  4 PagesBradshaw AP Psychology May 7, 2015 Research Paper Obesity has been on the rise in America and is reaching all time heights. Obesity in America is at 27.7 percent and 1 in 5 children in America are obese currently and many will have to deal with it throughout their lifetime. With almost a third of our population struggling with this problem, the increasing obesity rates are becoming a major concern. Even though there isn’t a single answer to why obesity has become so prevalent, there are many contributingRead MoreIn The Last Twenty-Five Years, America Has Embraced A Lifestyle1314 Words   |  6 PagesIn the last twenty-five years, America has embraced a lifestyle that has discounted exercise and home cooked meals for sedentary lifestyles, and food that is readily available. As a result of this trend, America is seeing an increase in BMI of its population as a whole. This includes expanding waste lines, higher fat content, and higher risk for many preventable health issues that includes Type II Diabetes, high blood pressure, h eart diseases, liver failure, kidney disease, stroke, cancers, and aRead MoreObesity And The American Health Care System914 Words   |  4 PagesObesity is an epidemic that is putting uncomfortable strains on the American health care system. With just under two-thirds of the American adult population being overweight or obese, a lot of time and effort has gone into uncovering the causes of this rise in the weights of American citizens. Several theories have been developed to help solve the mystery of America’s rising size. Obesity cannot be traced back to a single factor, but rather many aspects have contributed to the rise of obesity inRead MoreIs Weight And School Performance Links?1388 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica is home to the free and brave†¦also the obese. Within the last 4-5 years there has been a decrease in childhood obesity but the numbers are still weighing high. According to the CDC in 2011-2012 as many as 12.7 million children ages 2-19 are obese in the United States. Considering children from 5-18 are still in school most of the day, it is a good place to begin. As the percentage of children who are obese rises, schools and parents should bond together and fight against the rise in obesityRead MoreObesity in America787 Words   |  4 PagesGood news! We’re Number 2! As declared by a 2013 report from the U.N., America has only the second highest obesity rate in the world at 31.8%, second to Mexico with an obesity rate of 32.8%. America has held on to the title of most obese country for over 60 years. From 13% obesity in 1962, estimates have steadily increased right up to 2013’s 32.8%. This may sound like good news, but the harsh truth is that America didn’t reach the number 2 spot through sweeping diet changes or social conscienceRead MoreObesity Epidemic Of The United States1489 Words   |  6 PagesIsacar Duarte 1 Professor Nichols 11/11/15 Obesity In The United States The United States has never seen such levels of obesity before, this epidemic is getting worse every year and the health complications associated with obesity can lead to the leading causes of death in America, heart disease and cancer. Obesity has been growing steadily since 1960, but in the late 80 s obesity levels started to rise like never before. Today six out of ten people are overweight, about 69% and more than one thirdRead MoreObesity : A Controversial And Big Medical Issue Within Today s Society991 Words   |  4 PagesCentral Idea: Obesity has become a controversial and big medical issue within today’s society. (Attention Getter): Take a look around you the next time you go to the store, to the mall, the movies, or anywhere that you go. What you will see is what has apparently become the new trend among children and adults. What you will see has become a big problem and it will continue to grow each year. Is obesity the fastest growing condition in the United States. Read MoreThe Obesity Epidemic : Obesity Essay1696 Words   |  7 PagesThe obesity epidemic proves to be an issue in America and continues to grow with time. In simple terms, obesity is a disorder where the subject has increasing amounts of fat, leading to health problems in the future. This epidemic has steadily increased in American bodies for decades and researchers have tried to find the root causes of this problem. Though there is controversy as to what is the primary cause of this rising epidemic, it is clear that there are many factors that contribute to theRead MoreWeight On Obesity1551 Words   |  7 PagesAll the Weight on Our Shoulders America is in danger; this rising threat is obesity, which is growing as the leading cause of preventable deaths just behind tobacco. Throughout its history, America has seen many different conflicts and threats rise and fall and with each threat. Each generation has risen to the challenge time and time again. Now, it’s the new age generation’s turn to do the same. Obesity is a significant problem and it must be curbed or it will crush us under its weight. As the citizens

The Challenges in Learning Foreign Language Free Essays

Georgiy Sichinava Peter Starr Writing 115 10/11/2012 The challenges in learning foreign language The case of being a foreigner while improving your skills is very common in the contemporary society. A lot more people are crossing the border of the home country either to advance their language skills or to get a better education in a certain sphere. Being the part of this reality, I recently moved to the United States to earn a degree. We will write a custom essay sample on The Challenges in Learning Foreign Language or any similar topic only for you Order Now Thus the situation shown in the David Sedaris’ essay â€Å"Me Talk Pretty One Day† is very close to me. As a matter of fact, I personally know the feelings that author expressed in his essay. Obviously there are plenty of other things that David I have in common. To tell the truth, I suppose each foreign student faces almost the same challenges. The biggest one that a foreigner faces is difference in a way of speaking and people’s behavior. As a result, international students have problems in interpreting the language and understanding the culture. â€Å"My fear and discomfort crept beyond the borders of my classroom and accompanied me out onto the wide boulevards, where, no matter how hard I tried, there was no escaping the feeling of terror I felt whenever anyone asked me a question. (Sedaris 298). In these words David illustrated the hardship of being in a foreign community. Learning second language seems really hard at the beginning. After a while it is getting much easier, but at a certain point you feel that this is it and you will not be able to advance your skills anymore. †Over time, it became impossible to believe that any of us would ever improve . † (Cedaris 299). Even a dedicated person like David had pessimistic thoughts about his improvements. There is a difference between listening to/hearing the foreign language and speaking the one. When you are speaking a foreign language you can only rely on the words you know. However remembering these words as well as appropriately using them is not an easy task. When you are listening/hearing you deal with understanding the words and their meaning. The poorer your vocabulary is, the more likely you are to face the difficulties in understanding the words and thus the meaning of the message. Speaking a foreign language is a great achievement. It requires a long process full of obstacles along the way. A person should learn a lot of words. However this does not guarantee that he will start speaking immediately. As a rule a person has a language barrier. David had that problem. â€Å"Understanding doesn’t mean that you can suddenly speak the language† (Sedaris 299). I had exactly the same experience. Back home I thought I was good at speaking English. But here in the United States the first day of my classes changed my opinion. I found it really hard to understand what people around me were saying. I felt like a black sheep. Even when I understood something, I could not respond correctly just because my vocabulary was far from being enough to express everything I wanted. Besides difficulties with the language, foreigners deal with challenging situations in understanding the culture and the ways local people are. Expectations and the reality do not coincide in most cases. â€Å"As an added discomfort, they were all young, attractive, and well dressed, causing me to feel not unlike PA Kettle trapped backstage after a fashion show. † (Sedaris 295). As for me, I found that people think completely different here. The way people think about life, priorities, humor and everything else is very different. The first day of school is never easy. Even for local students going to a new school for the first time is challenging. And when you do it in a foreign country, you are beyond nervous. This is true about all international students. Obviously David was very nervous on his first day of school. â€Å"The first day of class was nerve-racking because I knew I’d be expected to perform. † (Sedaris 295). Unlike David I did not have any expectations about my first class. I was simply nervous and I could not sleep the whole night. It is very common for a foreign student, who is unable to easily express his opinion out loud, to do lots of thinking of his own. I scrambled to think of an answer to what had obviously become a trick question. How often are you asked what you love in this world? More important, how often are you asked and then publicly ridiculed for your answer? I recalled my mother†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Sedaris 297) Like David, I did/do lots of analyzing during my classes. I was/am trying to digest everybody†™s messages, comparing them with my own experience. After reading the essay I do believe that the students’ attitude toward teacher was extremely negative. She was the only person who made her students hate her because of er taunts from the first day. Although the teacher was not the nicest person in the world and caused lots of confusion and scared students, the author admitted that teacher’s behavior motivated him to study harder and achieve better results. â€Å"Refusing to stay convicted on the teacher’s charges of laziness, I’d spend four hours a night on my homework, working even longer whenever we were assigned an essay† (Sedaris 298). This proves that David had a desire to advance his language, in order to easily argue with his teacher. In conclusion, I would say that the essay â€Å"Me Talk Pretty One Day† by David Sedaris is a must read story for those who are planning to study abroad. David made a really funny story that shows all the positive and negative aspects of being a foreigner. In fact, being an international student is a really challenging job. But it also the most amazing thing ever happened to me. You rediscover the world, get to know lots of new people and learn new culture. All those eventually help one become stronger and capable of managing the difficult situations. How to cite The Challenges in Learning Foreign Language, Essay examples

Oral-Passive Personality free essay sample

According to Freud, there are five psychosexual stages, including oral stage, anal stage, phallic stage, latency stage and genital stage. (Zimbardo, Johnson, McCann, 2008, p. 446) Once people were born, they immediately entered the oral stage and it lasted nearly two years. In this stage, baby’s main pleasure originated from his or her mouth. They obtain such pleasure through sucking, swallowing and biting. If a child experienced problems in those stages, the situation of fixation would occur and stay long when he or she grew up as an adult. (Schultz, 2008, p. 2) For example, chewing, smoking, nail-biting are the later fixated behaviors that appeared at adulthood. (Zimbardo, Johnson, McCann, 2008, p. 448) In a certain period of time, the baby has to abandon the initial source of satisfaction if he or she started to wean (Honig, Fitzgerald, Herb, 2001, p. 262). That could cause a profound effect on the child’s personality in the future. Shergill (2010) stated, â€Å"If you, in the first eight months of your life, are often frustrated in your need to suckle, perhaps because mother is uncomfortable or even rough with you, or tries to wean you too early, then you may develop an oral-passive character. We will write a custom essay sample on Oral-Passive Personality or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They often retain an interest in â€Å"oral gratifications†. (p. 429) In other words, people who are too early to be weaned would be desperately in need with oral satisfaction in their adulthood. Consequently, the experience of gratification a child gains in infancy would lead to specific personality in adulthood. If the baby weaned either too early or too late, he or she will develop personalities like passiveness, dependence and gullibility. In my case, my mother weaned me so early because she had serious fever the time when she was feeding me. Therefore, I started to have formula. Owing to the lack of oral gratifications in infancy, I also built up other fixated behaviors like sucking upon pacifier until primary school and biting straws when I was drinking. One of the characteristics of oral-passive personality is dependent. Speaking of dependence, I have been always relied on my mother and my sister. When I do not know how to do my project in my college, I always need my sister’s guidance. Many decisions I do depend on her assistance. Sometimes, she even offers me several of them. When I was form 6 in high school, a big incident happened. I was supposed to go to school for the leader training day in summer holiday. However, my mum asked me to go to Mainland China with her and I agreed. So, I asked her to call the school to take personal day leave. A few days after, when I backed to school, I was summoned to the discipline office. And I had to fill in a form to explain the reason why I was absent on that day. Then I was told that my grade of conduct would be dropped from A- to C+. Therefore, I asked my mum for help because I did not want to be punished. Then my mum and I went to school to meet the dean in the morning during the next school day. My mum did the whole talking part. She spoke for me and I just sat down and said nothing. Only when the teacher questioned me, otherwise, I rarely open my mouth and speak. I was extremely passive in the conversation. Finally, my mum talked her over and I did not have to be punished. From this incident, my oral-passive personality is clearly shown. Due to the overindulgence in childhood, I become excessively dependent on my family. I want them to solve everything troublesome for me. I do not know how to deal with my problems and overcome my hardships. This incident is just a small stuff and anyone in that age should or can handle it by themselves. Nevertheless, I, an eighteen-year-old form 6 student, cannot cope with that little problem. That is all related to my gratification in infant. I lost the initial source of satisfaction of sucking from mother’s nipple too early and now I am frustrated in need of oral satisfaction. Hence, I love to suck upon pacifier when I was 6 and bite straws when I was drinking.

Monitoring System free essay sample

Introduction Desmark Motor Monitoring System is a system made to help the retailer in recording the customers information in a fastest way and to make the process easier. Desmark Motor Monitoring System will tally each inputted information given from the customer and will show the list of all motorcylce products only. This system is just use when theres a client who wants to purchase an item and to view its record. The system is also used only by the retailer or the admin of Desmark Motor Monitoring System for better security. This study aims to develop a System for the said establishment. A Monitoring system is a method of monitoring the availability of the product and the client who purchased the product. It provides the client As Desmark continues to expand, it has evolved and continues to exert more effort to provide customers with life-building technology for their satisfaction. Experiments obtained by Desmark Monitoring System using complex road scenes are reported, which demonstrate the validity of the method in terms of robustness, accuracy, and time responses. We will write a custom essay sample on Monitoring System or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Experiments obtained by Desmark Monitoring System using complex road scenes are reported, which demonstrate the validity of the method in terms of robustness, accuracy, and time responses. 1. 2 Statement of the Problem Due to the absence of the Honda Desmark Motor Monitoring System the following problems were observed: Possibility of redundant files. Cataloging searching is time consuming. Prone to record losses. 1. 3 Objective of the Study The proponent aims to develop a Product Monitoring System. These are the following solutions in regards to the problems. Reduction of redundant records/information. To make the searching easy and fast. To lessen record losses. 1. 4 Scope and Delimitation of the Study This study will provide Desmark with a better way of managing the availability of the product. The information can be accessed only by an authorized personnel or staffs security issues are also addressed. And will focus on the motorcycle product and customer will not include payment transactions. 1. 5 Significance of the Study This study benefits the following: Client, With the help of this study, customer will be able to access this transaction anytime anywhere within the specific country where you registered only. And it may help also to make the work easier and faster. School, The study will help the address the upcoming concern regarding the common problems in monitoring system. CEIT Faculty Members. The study will help the teachers understand the benefits of a health monitoring system. Researchers, The study will help the researchers address the problem about monitoring system in an easier and convenient manner. It will also guide them and enhance their skills and capabilities in handling monitoring techniques. Future Researchers, The study will help and guide them in improving future researches in handling monitoring system prior to the demands of the client. Definition of Terms The following definitions are to clear up and focus on the term as they pertain to this study. Technology. The systematic scientific study of technique. The application of science to the solution of practical problems. Automation. The process of getting work performed without any human effort except that of instructing one or more machines what to do and when to do it. Entertainment. To engage a person or audience by providing amusing or interesting material. Monitoring system. Supervision of activities in progress system to ensure they are on-course and on-schedule in meeting the objectives and performance targets. Monitoring techniques. Mechanisms the team use to monitor changes. REFERENCES [1] Chestnutt, J. ; Carnegie Mellon Univ. , Pittsburgh ; Michel, P. ; Kuffner, J. ; Kanade, T. http://www. cuecent. com/includes/pdfs/IVMS_brochure. pdf [2] Honda, H. ; Aptina Japan, Tokyo, Japan ; Osawa, S. ; Shoda, M. http://www. google. com. ph/? gfe_rd=crei=y8sVU776KszA8gflt4GgBQ#q [3] Wako Res. Center, Honda RD Co. Ltd. , Saitama, Japan http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Honda [4] Hirose, M. ; Haikawa, Y. ; Takenaka, T. http://www. hondaph. com/about http://www. papercamp. com/group/scope-and-limitations-in-monitoring-system/page-270 Chapter 2 Review of Related Literature and Studies This chapter presents the overview of the related literature and the studies, which serve as the background information relevant to the problem of the studies. 2. 1 Related Literature 2. 2 Related Studies Youve probably seen your chart at your doctors office. In fact, you may have charts at several doctors offices. If youve been in the hospital, you have a chart there, too. These charts are your medical records. They may be on paper or electronic. To keep track of all this information, its a good idea to keep your own personal health record. What kind of information would you put in a personal health record? You could start with Your name, birth date, blood type, and emergency contact information Date of last physical Dates and results of tests and screenings Major illnesses and surgeries, with dates A list of your medicines and supplements, the dosages, and how long youve taken them Any allergies Any chronic diseases Any history of illnesses in your family CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This chapter explains the different phases that are used to carry out fully in developing the system. Such phases are the analysis modelling, system design, system requirements and Gantt chart. 3. 1 Analysis Modelling In Analysis Modelling stages gives out the details on the context diagram which show the flow of developing the Monitoring system. Context Diagram The context diagram contains the process that generalizes the function of the entire system in relationship to external entities. 3. 2 System Design On this stage, the researcher gives details on the development of the â€Å"Honda Desmark Motor Monitoring System†, and how its been design. The latter’s used various diagram that illustrate the flow and the different application of the system. Data Flow Diagram The Data Flow Diagram shows the main processes within the â€Å"Honda Desmark Motor Monitoring System. † Entity Relationship Diagram The entity relationship diagram enables the project team to identify data objects and their relationship using a graphical notation. During the making of analysis model, the project team initially an Entity Relationship Diagram for the Monitoring System. Gantt Chart 3. 3 Data Dictionary The data dictionary contains the field name, domain, with the parameters of attributes,constraints and the description of attributes. Table login Name Domain Constraints Description username String Not null Admin Username Password String Not null Admin Password Table Register Name Domain Constraints Description Username String Null Employee Username Password String Null Employee Password Confirm Password String Null Employee Confirm Password Gender String Null Employee Gender First Name String Null Employee First Name Last Name String Null Employee Last Name Address String Null Employee Address Employee Number String Null Employee Number Contact Number String Null Employee Number Employee Account Name Domain Constraints Description First Name String Null Employee First Name Last Name String Null Employee Last Name Employee Number Integer Null Employee Employee Number Contact Number String Null Employee Contact Number Gender String Null Employee Gender Customer Account Name Domain Constraints Description First Name String Null Customers’ First Name Last Name String Null Customers’ Last Name Motor Brand String Null Customers’ Motor Brand Motor Number Integer Null Customers’ Motor Number Gender String Null Customers’ Gender Customer Number Integer Null Customers’ Number Address String Null Customers’ Address Home Number Integer Null Customers’ Home Number Phone Number Integer Null Customers’ Phone Number Stock Monitoring Name Domain Constraints Description Model Name String Not Null Brand Model Name Model Number Integer Not Null Brand Model Number Quality String Not Null Brand Quality Price Interger Not Null Brand Price Availability String Not Null Brand Availability Credit App 1 Name Domain Constraints Description First Name String Null Credit App_ First Name Last Name String Null Credit App_ Last Name Middle Name String Null Credit App_ Middle Name Sex String Null Credit App_ Sex Citizenship String Null Credit App_ Citizenship Birthday String Null Credit App_ Birthday Civil Status String Null Credit App_ Civil Status Tin String Null Credit App_ Tin Date Issued Date Null Credit App_ Date Issued Place Issued String Null Credit App_ Place Issued Address String Null Credit App_ Address Length of Stay String Null Credit App_ Length of Stay Home Phone Number Integer Null Credit App_ HomePhone Number Office Phone Number Integer Null Credit App_ OfficePhone Number Mobile Phone Number Integer Null CreditApp_ MobilePhone Number Email Address String Null Credit App_ Email Address Name of Spouse String Null Credit App_ Name of Spouse Age Interger Null Credit App_ Age Credit App 2 Name Domain Constraints Description Name String Null Credit App_ Name Home Address String Null Credit App_ Home Address Residence String Not Null Credit App_ Residence Civil Status String Not Null Credit App_ Civil Status Sex String Not Null Credit App_ Sex Home Phone Number Integer Null Credit App_ Relation w/ Applicant String Null Credit App_ Relation w/ Applicant Birthday String Null Credit App_ Birthday Tin String Null Credit App_ Tin Mobile Phone Number Interger Null Credit App_MobilePhone Number Present Employer String Null Credit App_ Present Employer Date Hired String Null Credit App_ Date Hired Position String Null Credit App_ Position Employer’s Address String Null Credit App_ Employer’s Address Employment Status String Not Null Credit App_ Employment Status Credit App 3 Name Domain Constraints Description Brand String Not Null Credit App_ Brand Model String Null Credit App_ Model Color String Null Credit App_ Color LCP String Null Credit App_ LCP Downpayment Interger Null Credit App_ Downpayment 1 Month String Null Credit App_ 1 Month 3 Months String Null Credit App_ 3 Months 6 Months String Null Credit App_6 Months 12 Months String Null Credit App_ 12 Months 18 months String Null Credit App_18 months 24 Months String Null Credit App_24 Months 30 Motnhs String Null Credit App_ 30 Motnhs Remarks String Null Credit App_ Remarks Approve String Null Credit App_ Approve Approve w/ Condition String Null Credit App_ Approve w/ Condition Disapproved String Null Credit App_ Disapproved 3. 4 System Requirements This show the various hardware and software requirements. Hardware Requirements Some possible hardware components to be used for the developing the system Laptop Rating 2. 9 Windows Experience Index Processor:Intel(R)Atom(TM)CPU N550 @1. 50GHz RAM: 1:00GB System Type: 32-bit operating system Optical Mouse Software Requirements The following are the software requirements to be used in the study: Programming Language: MS Visual Basic 6. 0 Database: My SQL Microsoft Word Microsoft Access Monitoring system free essay sample ABSTRACT Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is a technology that uses radio waves to transfer data from an electronic tag, called RFID tag or label, attached to an object, through a reader for the purpose of identifying and tracking the object. RFID technology which is a matured technology that has been widely deployed by various organizations as part of their automation systems. In this study, an RFID based system has been built in order to produce a time-attendance management system. This system consists of two main parts which include: the hardware and the software. The hardware consists of the motor unit and the RFID reader. The RFID reader, which is a low-frequency reader (125 kHz), is connected to the host computer via a serial to USB converter cable. The Time-Attendance System GUI was developed using visual basic. Net. The Time-Attendance Management System provides the functionalities of the overall system such as displaying live ID tags transactions, registering ID, deleting ID, recording attendance and other minor functions. We will write a custom essay sample on Monitoring system or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This interface was installed in the host computer. Keywords: Radio-frequency identification, RFID technology, radio waves INTRODUCTION Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is a technology that uses radio waves to transfer data from an electronic tag, called RFID tag or label, attached to an object, through a reader for the purpose of identifying and tracking the object. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a matured technology that incorporates the use of electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling in the radio frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to uniquely identify an object, animal, or person. RFID chips contain a radio transmitter that emits a coded identification number when queried by a reader device. Some RFID tags can be read from several meters away and beyond the line of sight of the reader. The application of bulk reading enables an almost-parallel reading of tags. This small type is incorporated in consumer products, and even implanted in pets, for identification. The tags information is stored electronically. The RFID tag includes a small RF transmitter which transmits an encoded radio signal to interrogate the tag, and receiver which receives the message and responds with its identification information. Some RFID tags do not use a battery. Instead, the tag uses the radio energy transmitted by the reader as its energy source. The RFID system design includes a method of discriminating several tags that might be within the range of the RFID reader. RFID can be used in many applications. A tag can be affixed to any object and used to track and manage inventory, assets, people, etc. For example, it can be affixed to cars, computer equipment, books, mobile phones, etc. The Healthcare industry has used RFID to reduce counting, looking for things and auditing items. Many financial institutions use RFID to track key assets and automate compliance. Also with recent advances in social media RFID is being used to tie the physical world Copyright  © 2012 SAVAP International www. savap. org. pk www. journals. savap. org. pk 168 ISSN-L: 2223-9553, ISSN: 2223-9944 Academic Research International Vol. 2, No. 2, March 2012 with the virtual world. RFID in Social Media first came to light in 2010 with Facebooks annual conference. RFID is a superior and more efficient way of identifying objects than manual system or use of bar code systems that have been in use since the 1970s. Furthermore, passive RFID tags (those without a battery) can be read if passed within close enough proximity to an RFID reader. It is not necessary to show the tag to the reader device, as with a bar code. In other words it does not require line of sight to see an RFID tag, the tag can be read inside a case, carton, box or other container, and unlike barcodes RFID tags can be read hundreds at a time. Bar codes can only be read one at a time. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a matured technology that incorporates the use of electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling in the radio frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to uniquely identify an object, animal, or person. They are grouped under the automatic identification (Auto-ID) technologies. RFID tags are not an improved bar code as the proponents of the technology would like you to believe. An RFID system consists of three components which include: an antenna, a transceiver and a transponder (the tag). The antenna and the transceiver are often incorporated into one reader. The antenna uses radio frequency waves to transmit a signal that activates the transponder. When activated, the tag transmits data back to the antenna. The RFID can read the tag using Radio Frequency, meaning that the RFID reader can be read from a distance, right through your clothes, wallet, bags etc. An RFID tag consists of unique ID for each tag. The RFID technology has been in existence since the early 1920s. This technology has been used in libraries, museums, race timing, toll collection and contactless payment, tracking of persons and animals etc. The RFID attendance system is an automatic embedded system used in taking attendance of registered persons in a particular organization. The RFID attendance system offers an organization, the efficiency and convenience associated with RFID technology at a low cost. This method is fast as well as simple. Each employee uses an RFID card and the reader records the data when the employee enters or exits. RFID devices and software must be supported by a sophisticated software architecture that enables the collection and distribution of location based information in near real time. A complete picture of the RFID attendance system combines the RFID Tags and readers with access to global standardized database, ensuring real time access to up-to-date information on the card. The card contains a unique identification number called an electronic product code (EPC). Nowadays, there are lots of companies around the world and some of them consist of workers up to 10 thousand or more. To handle a large number of workers may be a problem especially to get the attendance of the workers. The manual process means that whenever a worker comes to work, he goes to sign at the time officer’s table. This manual process has some flaws because in a case where a worker bribes the time officer or is familiar with him, the time officer may tamper with the attendance records. This would be a big problem in the company and might affect the productivity and management of the company. The suitable solution for this problem is by designing a system that will record attendance automatically. In this project, RFID system is used to record the numbers of employees’ attendance automatically. The ID cards of the employees is embedded with RFID tag which is read by a reader. This RFID system is interfaced to a database through a computer. This method is more effective to prevent problem encountered when getting attendance manually. Below is the block diagram of an RFID attendance system. Related Works The use of Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology in automated electronic environment and for tracking objects has been widely researched upon by researchers and deployed by various organizations as part of their automation systems. References [21] and [7] provide examples of a real RFID contact less data link deployments that utilize RFID technology for object tracking and automated data collection solution. RFID is a technology that uses radio waves to transfer data from Copyright  © 2012 SAVAP International www. savap. org. pk www. journals. savap. org. pk 169 ISSN-L: 2223-9553, ISSN: 2223-9944 Academic Research International Vol. 2, No. 2, March 2012 an electronic tag, called RFID tag or label, attached to an object, through a reader for the purpose of identifying and tracking the object In 1945, Leon Theremin invented an espionage tool (for spy activities) for the Soviet Union which retransmitted incident radio waves with audio frequency information. Sound waves vibrated a diaphragm which slightly altered the shape of the resonator, which modulated the reflected radio frequency even though this device was covert listening device, not an identification device or tag, it is considered to be a predecessor of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology because it was likewise passive, being energized and activated by waves from an outside source. Similar technologies such as the IFF (identification friend and foe) transponder developed in the United Kingdom, was routinely used by the allies in the World War 2 to identify aircrafts as friend or foe. Transponders are still used by most powered aircrafts to this day. Mario . W. Cardullo was the first to have received the United States patent for an active RFID tag with re-writable memory on January 23, 1973 [4]. In that same year, Charles Walton, a California entrepreneur, received a patent for a passive transponder used to unlock a door without a key. A card with an embedded transponder communicates a reader near a door, when the reader detects a valid identification number stored within the tag, the reader unlocks the door. Walton licensed the technology to Schalge lock of San Francisco, a lock maker and other companies [1]. Time and attendance systems are a major part of today’s human resource systems, take organization towards better human resource practice, systems and excellence. The implementation of time and attendance system has a lot of advantages for the manager. The kind of system that is implemented depends upon what the organization is trying to achieve by implementing the system. There are different types of automatic attendance systems; each type of system is suited to different needs and requirements [9]. Some of the most common types include; biometric attendance system, magnetic stripe attendance system, barcode attendance system, and RFID attendance system. Barcode Attendance System The barcode system is a common type of time and attendance system through which the efficiency of measuring and tracking employees’ time could be increased to a great degree. With the automation through barcode technology, the errors previously made in the manual payroll or attendances are eliminated. As a result, the system provides high levels of accuracy and reliability in tracking of employee attendance. In addition, the costs associated with the installation of the system are not too much relative to the cost of payroll or attendance errors. The implementation of the barcode system is easy. Every employee is issued a badge/card in which there is a barcode. In order to check into or out of the company, the badge/card is swapped on the time clock, and the data is captured by the clock. This data from the clock can be downloaded by the manager or the administrator and then used for updating and maintaining time and attendance records. The Universal Product Code (UPC) is a unique 12-digit number assigned to retail merchandise that identifies a product and the vendor. The Universal Product Code (UPC) on a product typically appears adjacent to its barcode, the machine-readable representation of the Universal Product Code (UPC). The UPC for a particular product is always the same. The first six digits is the vendor unique identification number. All the products that the vendor sells will have the same first six digits in their UPCs. The next five digits identify the product. The last digit is called the check digit. This is used to verify that the UPC for that specific product is correct. Each time that UPC is read, typically by a scanner reading the barcode, a calculation is done. And, if the check digit is different compared from the one that is calculated, then the computer knows that there is something wrong with the UPC. Figure 1 is a pictorial diagram of a barcode with its universal product code (UPC) [11]. Copyright  © 2012 SAVAP International www. savap. org. pk www. journals. savap. org. pk 170 ISSN-L: 2223-9553 ISSN: 2223-9944 9553, Academic Research International Vol. 2, No. 2, March 2012 Fig. 1 picture of a barcode Biometric Attendance System This is the study of measurable biological characteristics. In computer security, biometrics refers to authentication techniques that rely on measurable physical characteristics that can be automatically checked. There are several types of biometric identification schemes which include:-face fingerprints, ecked. include: face retina, hand geometry, vein, voice etc. The computer uses any of these biometric identification schemes to determine who you are, and based your identity authorize your different levels of access authorize [12]. Under this system, there is time and attendance software that is paired with a time clock for employees which uses biometric technology for authentication purposes. When these systems are in use, the employees can use their finger prints for clocking in and clocking out. This method has the great benefit that the entire process is easy as well as quick. Other advantages include elimination of the cost previously incurred in getting the employees cards. In the other systems that uses card other (magnetic stripe and barcode systems), there is an ongoing expense associated with the damage, misplacement and stealing of cards and the continuous need for their restoration and maintenance. Magnetic Stripe Attendance System In the magnetic stripe attendance system, data is encoded in the magnetic stripe of the employee card. When the card, is swiped through the employee time clock, the information in the card’s magnetic stripe is recorded by the time clock. This system also reads one card at a time and also requires contact reads with the reader. Figure 2 is a pictorial diagram of a card embedded with magnetic strip. Fig. 2 picture of a magnetic stripe card Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) A radio-frequency identification system comprises hardware shown in figure 3a 3b, known as frequency interrogators or readers and tags, also known as labels, as well as RFID software or RFID tags , middleware. RFID tags are of two major types, which include Active Tag and Passive Tag. and Fig. 3a RFID tag Copyright  © 2012 SAVAP International www. savap. org. pk Fig. 3b RFID card and reader www. journals. savap. org. pk 171 ISSN-L: 2223-9553, ISSN: 2223-9944 Academic Research International Vol. 2, No. 2, March 2012 RFID tags can be either passive, active or battery assisted passive. Passive RFID does not use a battery, while an active has an on-board battery that always broadcasts or beacons its signal. A battery assisted passive has a small battery on board that is activated when in the presence of a RFID reader. Most RFID tags contain at least two parts: one is an integrated circuit for storing and processing information, modulating and demodulating a radio-frequency (RF) signal, and other specialized functions; the other is an antenna for receiving and transmitting the signal. Depending on mobility, RFID readers are classified into two different types: fixed RFID and mobile RFID. If the reader reads tags in a stationary position, it is called fixed RFID. These fixed readers are set up specific interrogation zones and create a bubble of RF energy that can be tightly controlled if the physics is well engineered. This allows a very definitive reading area for when tags go in and out of the interrogation zone. On the other hand, if the reader is mobile when the reader reads tags, it is called mobile RFID. An Electrical Engineering student of the University of Malaysia; Mohd Firdaus Bin Mahyidin designed RFID technology students’ attendance system 2008 [10], which only takes attendance of students and stores the information in the database. The block diagram of his project is shown figure 4. However, this system does not the incorporate a door unit which allows access to only registered users. Fig. 4: RFID Technology Students attendance system. Comparing Barcode with RFID is done on table 1. Table 1: comparisons between Barcode and RFID 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Barcode Rely on the user to make contact to the reader, hence cannot be read from a distance In Barcode, only one card read at a time is allowed. Embedded information cannot be updated, hence the restriction of the repeated overwriting if the embedded election information for each card It does not allow for the increase technologies like surveillance cameras to be activated with an employee being in the vicinity. RFID Do not require contact with reader, hence can be read from a distance. Multiple read at a time is permitted Embedded information can be updated; this allows the repeated over-writing if embedded electronic information for each card. RFID has increased technologies like surveillance cameras to be activated in conjunction with an employee being in their vicinity. It is slower and requires time of sight to RFID is faster and does not require line of function. sight. It has lower data storage transponder. It has higher data storage. This transponder is bogus, and cannot be The transponder is miniaturized, and can be incorporated in small items. incorporate in other items. For example in 2009 researchers successfully glued RFID micro-transponder to live ants [1] Copyright  © 2012 SAVAP International www. savap. org. pk www. journals. savap. org. pk 172 ISSN-L: 2223-9553, ISSN: 2223-9944 Academic Research International Vol. 2, No. 2, March 2012 Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Attendance System RFID READER GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE (GUI) DATABASE MICROCONTROLL COMPUTER ER DOOR UNIT POWER SUPPLY UNIT Fig. 5 Block diagram of an RFID attendance system with door unit The RFID attendance system offers the organization, the efficiency and convenience associated with RFID technology at a low cost. Each employee uses an RFID card and the reader records the data when the employee enters or exits. Operations RFID devices and software are supported by a sophisticated software architecture that enables the collection and distribution of location based information in near real time. A complete picture of the RFID attendance system combines the RFID Tags and readers with access to global standardized database, ensuring real time access to up-to-date information on the card. The card contains a unique identification number called an electronic product code (EPC). The RFID tag can be read from a distance and the embedded electronic information for each card can be over written repeatedly. This increases technologies like surveillance cameras to be activated in conjunction with an employee being in their vicinity. The RFID attendance system is faster, and does not require line of sight. The RFID system has higher data storage. In the RFID systems, the transponders are also easy to conceal or incorporate in other items. For example in 2009, researchers successfully glued RFID micro transponder to live ants in order to study their behavior [1]. Furthermore, multiple RFID cards can be read all at the same time. Information about the employees’ access and attendance can be stored on the database. RFID Frequency band Frequency refers to the size of the radio waves used to communicate between the RFID system’s components. It can be assumed that higher frequency resulting faster data transfer rate and longer reading distance. However as frequency increases, the sensitivity to environmental factor also increases. RFID system currently operates at Low Frequency, High Frequency and Ultra High Frequency. Generally a lower frequency means a lower read range and slower data read rate, but increased capabilities for reading near or on metal or liquid surfaces. The frequency chart is shown in table 2 [18]. Copyright  © 2012 SAVAP International www. savap. org. pk www. journals. savap. org. pk 173 ISSN-L: 2223-9553, ISSN: 2223-9944 Academic Research International Vol. 2, No. 2, March 2012 Table 2: RFID Frequency Table Frequency band Description Operating range Application benefits Drawbacks Access control, animal tracking point of sale application, product authentication, vehicle immobilizer etc Smartcards library books, airline baggage etc Works well around water and metal products Short range slower rate Low cost of tag High read rate when compared to low frequency 125KHz to 134KHz Low frequency Less 0. 5m to 1. 5ft than read and read 13. 56M Hz High frequency Less 1m to 3ft than 860MHz To 930MHz Ultra high frequency (UHF) 3m to 9ft Parking lot access, electronic toll collection etc EPC standard built around this frequency Does not work well with high water or metal content 2. 4GHz microwave 1m to 3ft Airline baggage, electronic toll collection Most expensive Fastest rate read Miniaturization RFIDs are easy to conceal or incorporate in other items. For example, in 2009 researchers at Bristol University successfully glued RFID micro-transponders to live ants in order to study their behavior [6]. This trend towards increasingly miniaturized RFIDs is likely to continue as technology advances. Hitachi holds the record for the smallest RFID chip, at 0. 05mm x 0. 05mm. This is 1/64th the size of the previous record holder, the mu-chips. Manufacture is enabled by using the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) process. These dust-sized chips can store 38-digit numbers using 128-bits read only memory (ROM) [7]. A major challenge is the attachment of the antennas, thus limiting read range to only millimeters. The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Application Areas In 2010 three key factors drove a significant increase in RFID usage. They include; decreased cost of equipment and tags, increased performance to a reliability of 99. 9% and a stable international standard around UHF passive tag. The areas of significant use are financial services for Information Technology asset tracking and healthcare with more than 60% of the top medical device companies using passive UHF RFID in 2010. RFID is becoming increasingly prevalent as the price of the technology decreases [7]. Therefore, the current uses include: Electronic Vehicle Registration With security of cars being a major concern in many countries, RFID technology is being leveraged by government for Vehicle Registration [21] [13]. This helps detect stolen cars and in their retrieval [14] [18]. Payment by Mobile Phones Since summer 2009, two credit card companies have been working with Dallas, Texas-based Device Fidelity to develop specialized microSD cards. When inserted into a mobile phone, the microSD card can be both a passive tag and an RFID reader [19]. After inserting the microSD, a users phone can be linked to bank accounts and used in mobile payment. Diaryqueen in conjunction with Vivotech has Copyright  © 2012 SAVAP International www. savap. org. pk www. journals. savap. org. pk 174 ISSN-L: 2223-9553, ISSN: 2223-9944 Academic Research International Vol. 2, No. 2, March 2012 also begun using RFIDs on mobile phones as part of their new loyalty and rewards program. Patrons can ask to receive an RFID tag to place on their phone. After activation, the phone can receive promotions and coupons, which can be read by Vivotechs devices [16]. Similarly,Nokias 2008 device, the 6212, also has RFID capabilities. Credit card information can be stored, and bank accounts can be directly accessed using the enabled handset. The phone, if used as a vector for mobile payment, has added security in that users would be required to enter a passcode or PIN before payment is authorized [16]. Transportation Payments Governments use RFID applications for traffic management, while automotive companies use various RFID tracking solutions for product management. Car-Sharing The Zipcar car-sharing service uses RFID cards for locking and unlocking cars and for member identification [20]. Toll Roads The tags, which are usually the active type, are read remotely as vehicles pass through the booths, and tag information is used to debit the toll amount from a prepaid account. The system helps to speed traffic through toll plazas as it records the date, time, and billing data for the RFID vehicle tag. This has been introduced in some places in Nigeria. Public Transit (bus, rail, subway) In South Korea, t-money cards can be used to pay for public transit. It can also be used in most convenience stores and vending machines in subways as cash. 90% of cabs in Seoul accept card payment, including most major credit cards and the T-money card. T-money replaced UPASS, first introduced for transport payments in 1996 using MIFARE technology [15]. Also, in Hong Kong, mass transit is paid for almost exclusively through the use of an RFID technology, called the octopus card. This has also been used in various other countries like Canada, Russia etc [15]. Asset Management and Retail Sales RFID combined with mobile computing and Web technologies provide a way for organizations to identify and manage their assets. It was initially introduced to major retail by Craig Patterson, Knoxville, TN. Mobile computers, with integrated RFID readers, can now deliver a complete set of tools that eliminate paperwork, give proof of identification and attendance. Web based management tools allow organizations to monitor their assets and make management decisions from anywhere in the world. Web based applications now mean that third parties, such as manufacturers and contractors can be granted access to update asset data, including for example, inspection history and transfer documentation online ensuring that the end user always has accurate, real-time data. Organizations are already using RFID tags combined with a mobile asset management solution to record and monitor the location of their assets, their current status, and whether they have been maintained. RFID is being adopted for item-level retail uses. Aside from efficiency and product availability gains, the system offers a superior form of electronic article surveillance (EAS) and a superior self checkout process for consumers. The financial services technology consortium (FSTC) set a technical standard for tagging Information Technology assets [21] and other industries have used that standard as a guideline. For instance the US State Department is now tagging IT assets with passive RFID using ISO/IEC 18000-6 standard [8]. Copyright  © 2012 SAVAP International www. savap. org. pk www. journals. savap. org. pk 175 ISSN-L: 2223-9553, ISSN: 2223-9944 Academic Research International Vol. 2, No. 2, March 2012 Schools and Universities School authorities in the Japanese city of Osaka are now chipping childrens clothing, back packs, and student IDs in a primary school. Similarly, Whitcliffe Mount School in cleckheaton England uses RFID to track pupils and staff in and out of the building via a specially designed card. In the Philippines, some schools already use RFID in IDs for borrowing books and also gates in those particular schools have RFID ID scanners for buying items at a school shop and canteen, library and also to sign in and sign out for student and teachers attendance [8]. Human Implants Implantable RFID chips designed for animal tagging are now being used in human beings. An early experiment with RFID implants was conducted by British professor of cybernetics Kevin Warwick, who implanted a chip in his arm in 1998. In 2004 Conrad chase offered implanted chips in his night clubs in Barcelona and Rotterdam to identify their VIP customers, who in turn use it to pay for drinks. In 2004, the Mexican Attorney Generals office implanted 18 of its staff members with the verichip to control access to a secure data room [15]. Fig. 6a Hand with the planned location of the RFID chip Fig. 6b The hand just after the operation to insert the RFID tag was completed. The yellow is from the iodine disinfection before inserting the chip APPLICATIONS OF RFID TECHNOLOGY IN NIGERIA The RFID technology has been suggested to be applied in various sectors in Nigeria to reduce corruption. These sectors include; the monitoring of crude oil, tracking the movement of money, drug agencies and monitoring containers entering the country. Other proposed applications include: the cloning of documents such as certificate of occupancy, bills of lading and university certificates etc. An RFID technology company in Nigeria started providing anti-money laundering (AML) solutions to banks. The technology tracks the movement of money and alerts the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit of any suspicious activities. The company is providing the service to five major Nigerian banks. This technology has been used by NAFDAC to reduce the importation and distribution of counterfeit drugs 2008 [17]. SYSTEM DESIGN AND IMPLEMETATION METHODOLOGY The method/approach used in achieving this project design include; the designing of a hardware unit consisting of a motor interfaced with a designed database and graphical user interface(GUI) that will be responsible for taking and storing the data received from the reader. And the software development Copyright  © 2012 SAVAP International www. savap. org. pk www. journals. savap. org. pk 176 ISSN-L: 2223-9553, ISSN: 2223-9944 Academic Research International Vol. 2, No. 2, March 2012 unit consisting the Microsoft visual studio, Microsoft . Net framework and Microsoft access. This is done by comparing the information received from the RFID reader to the information stored in the database. The Hardware The hardware architecture consists of the UME4100 RFID tag, the SEEED 125 KHz RFID reader, the ATMEL AT89S52 microcontroller, the computer, the door unit, the power supply unit, the universal serial bus (USB), USB to serial converter, the RS-232 interface, the universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) and the serial data transmission. The RFID reader in figure 7 uses low frequency band, and practically, the reading distance between the tag and the reader is about 7cm. The output of this reader is transmitted serially, and data is transmitted at 9600 baud rates. However, this reader has been chosen because it has a DB9 female header, which can be used to connect to the serial port of personal computer, and it can display the unique ID of the tag in Window operating system. Its applications includes Pet Toys and Access Control System Fig. 7 The SEEED RFID reader [2] (module and antenna) The figure 8 shows the RFID tags used in this paper. These RFID tags are passive tags thus it has no internal power supply. These tags activated by radio frequency transmitted by the reader. The reading distance is about 7 cm. When the RFID reader receives the data from the tag, the data then will be compared with the data in the database to identify the holder of the tag. Fig. 8 The UEM4100 RFID tag This design consists of the RS-232 circuit, the motor circuit and the microcontroller. The RFID reader sends signals to the RS-232 circuit which interfaces with the serial port. The microcontroller is programmed to receive signals from the RS-232 circuit and sends signals to control the motor circuit which controls the direction of movement of the door. The crystal oscillator generates pulses that enable the microcontroller to execute instructions. The microcontroller codes are written with assembly language. The motor unit controls the movement of the door. The microcontroller sends signals to the transistor which acts as a switching device. These transistors allow current flow into the relay. The RS-232 converts the transistor-transistor logic data to enables communication with the serial port. The Software The software development unit consisting: the Microsoft visual studio, Microsoft . Net framework and Microsoft access [3]. Copyright  © 2012 SAVAP International www. savap. org. pk www. journals. savap. org. pk 177 ISSN-L: 2223-9553, ISSN: 2223-9944 Academic Research International Vol. 2, No. 2, March 2012 Microsoft Access Database: There are two databases designed using Microsoft Access 2007. The databases named â€Å"regDB† and â€Å"attendance†. The â€Å"regDB† database stores information of registered users. This information is used by the administration to identify and manipulating attendance information.

Rainbows End + the Lost Thing Essay (Belonging) Essays

Rainbows End + the Lost Thing Essay (Belonging) Essays Rainbows End + the Lost Thing Essay (Belonging) Essay Rainbows End + the Lost Thing Essay (Belonging) Essay Describe how the concept of Belonging is shown in your prescribed text and at least one other related text. Belonging is the complex process whereby perceptions of self and social allegiances are forged or not forget. It is a concept and not a theme, meaning it is a general idea, which encompasses the idea of not belonging. According to Abraham Maslow, belonging is essential in human development and not belonging is a barrier in achieving self-actualisation. The concept of Belonging is not static as it may change overtime for a number of different reasons such as an individual’s socio-economic background, geographic location and many other barriers. Although individuals may not belong to self, people, places, communities or the larger world everyone must belong. It is inevitable. For example, a criminal who has been imprisoned and isolated from the rest of society still belongs to himself, the prison and the other prisoners. No man is an island, entire of itself† is a famous quote by John Donne, which represents this idea of belonging, where no body can be totally isolated. From his studies, Maslow developed a hierarchy of needs whereby the physiological needs of food, shelter and water were the fundamentals of human life and self-actualisation was considered to be the pinnacle of the hierarchy. Between these two stages was the need for belonging to self, people, places, communities and the larger world. The barriers to self-actualisation are shown through a variety of texts, whereby composers highlight differences between two subjects and demonstrate forms of segregation through the use of a variety of methods. In Rainbow’s End by Jane Harrison this idea is portrayed through the use of an extended metaphor of the colour white. The reoccurrence of the colour white represents the Aboriginal society conforming to the English settlers. For example, in Act 1 Scene 6 the inspector comments that Nan Dear’s â€Å"whites are so white†. This shows us that the white society expects the Indigenous people to ‘wash away’ their traditions and way of life and so to conform to them. This same technique is shown where Nan Dear finds an advertisement in the newspaper in Act 2 Scene 6 and says â€Å"they’ve got this new powder that guaranteed to turn your skin white. † to Dolly. Due to the differences in skin colour and tradition Aboriginals were seen as lower class citizens and were alienated from the white society. Harrison shows this through the use of a simile in Act 1 Scene 1B where Gladys describes the hessian used to hide the Aboriginal housing from the Queen as â€Å"a band-aid over a sore†, which creates a negative image of the Indigenous people and their housing. This idea of being different from others around you is also excellently shown in Shaun Tan’s picture book The Lost Thing where the majority of the book’s images are made up of dull, unattractive colours such as browns, greys and whites that create a plain and ordinary background. The colour of ‘the thing’ is a bright red that immediately catches the reader’s eyes, drawing their attention to it. This use of contrast of colour shows that ‘the thing’ is lost, as it obviously does not belong to its surroundings. The exceptional use of these techniques to develop an idea of segregation as a barrier to self-actualisation causes the responder to explore the character’s feelings of isolation and rejection. Although people may feel isolated and alienated from everything around them, they are never alone. It is not possible to be completely disconnected from everything. For example, a man who has lost all his family and friends and is the only person alive on an island can still relate to the island itself, any living things such as animals and plants and many other things that he shares similarities with. This theme is explored in Rainbows End through Harrison’s use of a number of effective techniques. In Act 1 Scene 2B Dolly whistles loudly to her cousins and yells â€Å"Oi! You little monkeys, get that ruddy bicycle back ‘ere or I’ll give youse a kick up the moom! † before turning to Errol and sarcastically saying â€Å"And you were worried about losing your map! †. This change of accent and use of word choice between when Dolly is talking to her cousins and when she is talking to Errol shows that Dolly is trying to link with Errol even though they are from different cultures and have different coloured skin. This use of diction emphasises Dolly’s attempt to conform to Errol based on the fact that they are both humans rather than distinguishing between minute factors such as cultural background. This same message is also portrayed through the use of stage directions and dramatic irony in Act 2 Scene 1 where Errol returns to apologise to Dolly about what happened the previous night. As Errol walked in Dolly’s direction, Gladys and Nan Dear (assuming Errol was the one that raped her), step towards Dolly showing the families sense of unity with one another. However, the audience knows from the previous scene that Errol was not guilty of raping Dolly, rather it was her cousin. So despite the emotional carnage that Dolly experienced such as feelings of neglect when she was left in the rain after she was taken advantage of by her cousin, Dolly still is a firm member of the family. This very significant message used by composers is also created in Tan’s award winning picture book The Lost Thing where Tan uses intertextuality of a painting called Collins Street, 5pm by John Brack. In Tan’s version of the painting he includes ‘the thing’ in the background of the image to show how despite it clearly not fitting-in with the people crowding the street it still has a purpose and meaning in the picture and therefore it is an important sector of the final image. The idea that â€Å"no man is an island, entire of itself† demonstrated by composers causes the responder to recognise the larger picture in which they can associate themselves with. Through the vast majority of techniques mentioned, it can be seen that many composers incorporate the concept of Belonging in their texts to help intrigue their target audience. The idea of belonging being a need and alienation being a barrier to self-actualisation incorporated with the fact that we are each like a piece of a giant jigsaw puzzle, whereby our connections are what make us belong, therefore meaning that belonging is inevitable.

How to Start a Book Discussion Club

How to Start a Book Discussion Club A book club is a great way to meet new friends and read good books. This step-by-step  guide will help you start a book club that can last for years. How to Start a Book Discussion Group Get together a core group - It is much easier to start a book club with two or three people who already have some connection. Ask around the office, playgroups, your church, or civic organizations. Sometimes you might find enough people to start a book club right away. Often youll at least recruit some help in completing the rest of the steps.  Set a regular meeting time - An ideal size for a book club is eight to 11 people. As you can imagine, it is often difficult to coordinate that many peoples  schedules. Go ahead and set a regular meeting time and date for your book club with your core group. For instance, meet the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. By setting the time before advertising the book club, you avoid playing favorites when working around schedules and you are upfront about what commitment is required.Advertise your book club - The best advertising is often word of mouth. If your core group doesnt know of other people to ask, then advertise in your circles of interest (school, work, church) with fliers or announcements.   Establish ground rules - Get together with your potential book club members and set the groups ground rules. You might want everyones input. However, if you have set ideas of what you want, then set the rules with your core group and announce them at this first meeting. The ground rules should include how books are chosen, who hosts, who leads discussions and what kind of commitment is expected.Meet - Set a schedule for the first few months and start meeting. If the book club is small at first, dont worry about it. Invite people as you go. Some people will be more likely to join an already established book club because they feel less pressure than they would as a founding member.Keep meeting and inviting people - Even if your book club is an ideal size, from time to time youll have the chance to invite new people as other members move away or drop out. Hopefully, youll always have a core group, and together you can reload. Example Ground Rules for Book Clubs Hosting Duties: You may decide to rotate hosting duties. The host may select the book, lead the discussion, and provide the meal or select the restaurant or coffee shop where you meet and perhaps provide appetizers and drinks.Food and Drink: Food is not required, but it helps the discussion roll and makes the book club meetings more fun. Some book clubs meet at a different restaurant each month. Sometimes meetings are held in peoples homes. (Check out this sample book club schedule  for some suggestions). How to Choose Books Some groups vote on what books they are going to read at the beginning of the year. Others let the host for the month choose. You can also use the bestsellers lists or a national book club such as Oprahs Book Club  as a guide. No matter how your book club chooses books, you also need to decide if there will be any restrictions on the choices (ie, just fiction, paperbacks, etc.).   You may want to base choices on whether they are available at the library or have a long waiting list, and whether they are available in electronic format or audiobook format. Leading the Discussion Be prepared with discussion questions. You can search for these online for most bestsellers. Even if youre shy about leading, a few creative pointers can get the ball rolling.

Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 7

Ethics - Essay Example Most would not think cheating Uncle Sam out of such a small amount as ‘unethical.’ These types of behavior illustrate both how conditioning and association function to determine our course in life. While we are influenced by how we were taught regarding what is right and wrong within a given situation and we make decisions based upon our association with these rules, ethics can ultimately only be quantified on a personal level. Slavery was just as wrong then as now and cheating is always wrong even if it’s the government that is the victim. During the days of slavery, many knew it to be wrong and it bothers some to exceed the speed limit or dodge taxes even to the smallest extent but why the disparity? The discrepancy lies within the experiences of the individual, what they witnessed as acceptable behavior and were taught as children. Whether or not a society progresses in a positive, productive manner ultimately depends upon how ethical it collectively decides to be, a reflection of the importance it gives to educating its citizens on understanding their own personal ethical conduct. Because society is, at its most basic level, a collection of individuals, it is necessary to define one’s own philosophy of proper business ethics before moving out into the field. For me, proper business ethics should include an individual’s constant attention to the common good and justice, which includes issues of sustainability and eco-efficiency as well as leading by example at the individual and organizational level. Ethical business practices give customers, employees, partners and shareholders reassurance that they will not be cheated. The ethical approach that favors the common good suggests that a corporation’s actions should benefit, ultimately, all of a community or society. According to Socrates, knowledge of oneself