Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Natural Disaster Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Natural Disaster - Essay Example In my opinion, I like to see the term â€Å"natural disaster† as a word human beings use to blame nature for their lack of environmental sustenance. I believe most of the natural disasters are tied to the environment in which they occur, which is manipulated by humankind. In this speech, I will discuss earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods, citing their causes and effects, and possible prevention. Let us start with earthquakes. Theses happen when tectonic forces cause tectonic plates comprising the earth’s crust, to collide. This causes vibrations of varying magnitudes to be transferred from underground to the crust. If these forces have high magnitude, the effects of the earthquake will be severe as compared to low magnitude forces. An example of severe earthquake is the one that hit Haiti in 2010, leading to loss of close to 100 000 lives, and loss of property. Floods occur when there is an overflow of a water body. Floods lead to loss of lives, and displacement of people, as well as destruction of cities. Floods result from two waves rolling on a dry land surface or by excessively destructive rains. Floods can also be a result of hurricanes. For instance, New Orleans was destroyed by floods in 2005, because of the hurricane Katrina. In 2010, floods hit Pakistan, displacing more than 17 million people, destroying 1.3 million homes, and leaving millions homeless. Hurricanes are another type of natural disaster. These are strong storm systems, which have centers with low pressure. These result in powerful winds and rainfall, which cause high magnitude damages to infrastructure and landscapes. The most recent hurricane include hurricane Katrina in 2005, which destroyed most parts of the Caribbean and Southern USA, including New Orleans City. The most recent hurricane Sandy also affected parts of the USA, destroying infrastructure and displacing people. According to Alexander, some of the natural disasters can be prevented if preventive strategies are adopted

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Korean War :: essays research papers

The Korean War originated in the division of Korea into South Korea and North Korea after World War II (1939-1945). Efforts to reunify the peninsula after the war failed, and in 1948 the South proclaimed the Republic of Korea and the North established the People's Republic of Korea. In 1949, border fighting broke out between the North and the South. On June 25, 1950, North Korean forces crossed the dividing line and invaded the South. Soon, in defense of the South, the United States joined the fighting under the banner of the United Nations (UN), along with small continents of British, Canadian, Australian, and Turkish troops. In October 1950, China joined the war on the North's side. By the time a cease-fire agreement was signed on July 27, 1953, millions of soldiers and civilians had perished. The armistice ended the fighting, but Korea has remained divided for decades since and subject to the possibility of a new war at any time. The Korean War was one of the most destructive of the 20th century. Perhaps as many as 4 million Koreans died throughout the peninsula, two-thirds of them civilians. China lost up to 1 million soldiers, and the United States suffered 54,246 dead and 103,284 wounded. Other UN nations suffered 3,322 dead and 11,949 wounded. Decades later, Koreans still seek reconciliation and eventual reunification of their torn nation. From the day when North Koreans attacked South Korea on June 25, 1950 to the day of the armistice on July 27, 1953, the events of the Korean War revealed the mass destruction, pain, and suffering Koreans had to endure. The Korean war can be divided into three phases. The first phase began on June 25, 1950 and ended on the day United Nations (U.N) forces thrusted into North Korea's territory. The second phase of the Korean war was essentially the Southern unit's attack and retreat from North Korea. The last phase of the war consisted of the "see-saw" fighting on the thirty-eighth parallel, stalemate, and negotiation talks. On June 25, 1950 at 4 a.m., 70,000 North Korean troops with Russian T-34 tanks crossed the thirty-eighth parallel. President Truman appealed to the United Nations to take "police action" against the "unwarranted" attack. Hence, under the "name of the United Nations", the United States was able to send troops and forces. On June 29, the North Korean Army, Korean People's Army (KPA), pressed southward and captured Seoul.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Barbed Wire By Mary Emeny

Mary Emenys poem, Barbed Wire, depicts war as a negative force, destroying every decent aspect of human existence. Written during the Vietnam War, the work displays Emenys negative views on war. In one way or another everyone experiences and identifies with the presence of war. Although some wars are fought for justifiable reasons, every war tears into the lives of those undeserving. The tragic effects of war consume the innocent creating an unconquerable path of entanglement. The physical effects of war overwhelm the nave causing pain and suffering. Initially, war entangles the lives of youth, destroying the innocence that they experience as an aspect of their life. The girl glid[ing] gracefully down the path (1) and the boy rid[ing] eagerly down the road (9) have their enjoyable realities striped by the harshness of war. Likewise, war enters womens lives creating turmoil. The woman who works deftly in the fields ( ) no longer is able to experience the offerings of life. The wire cuts, ( ) pushing her away from the normal flow of life. In addition, man undergoes tragic obstacles as a result of war. A man walks nobly and alone ( ) before the horrible effects of war set in on his life causing disruptions. War enters the life of man destroying the bond man shares with his beloved environment ( ). Although a great deal of physical effects exist in Emenys work, the spiritual consequences of war serve as the most devastating ones. The will and spirit of those amidst the harshness of war diminishes because of the seriousness of war. Prior to the complexities of war, the spirit flees gleefully to the clouds, ( ) illustrating the freedom one expresses without repression. As soon as the wire catches, ( ) or the war commences, and intervenes with the lives of innocent bystanders, the innocence is lost. Furthermore, the hearts of the untainted human beings experience demolition due to the irrationality of war. Before the tragedy of war enters the picture, a heart goes openly to the street, ( ) showing the freedom that one possesses until the wire snares, ( ) and the sense of innocence disappears. Significantly, as a direct result of the entanglement of war, mans mind suffers pain and misfortune. A mans mind grows in searching ( ) preceding the brutality of war, exhibiting the ability of man to explore his surroundings without interference. Wars hampering of the innocent limits man to certain life experiences that repress his potential. ). Barbed Wire illustrates how the severity of war detracts from the innocence within and surrounding humans. Men and women languish from the tangible results of war, encountering barriers when attempting to complete normal tasks. On the other hand, the spiritual consequences of war such as the repression of the mind, signify the tragedy involved when faced with war. Ultimately, war serves as an aspect of life that possesses the capacity to destroy human experiences and beliefs.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The anthropology of globalization cultural anthropology enters the 21st century Essay

Cultural Anthropology Introduction Are Quang dab peg and epilepsy the same thing?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Throughout the book, the two words are interpreted differently. They seem to mean the same thing as it can be seen through Lia, whereby the Staff of the Merced Hospital conclude that Lia is suffering from Epilepsy, which further translated to Quag dab peg. However, the Hmong culture interpreted this differently. They believed that Quang dab peg is brought by a bad spirit known as dab, which is accountable of stealing the souls of the victims, thus, making the victim suffer. On the other hand, they believed that epilepsy is a western medicine that is used for the treatment of neurological conditions. Though both Quag dab peg and epilepsy has similar symptoms, each culture interpret the symptoms differently. This makes the both of them to appear differently, making the condition of them be different illness that requires different treatment. Drawing from â€Å"The Spirit Catches You†, the Hmong culture holds that the Quag dab peg as a condition with honor whereby the thoughts of the victim has authority to perceive things that are not visible to other people (Fadiman, 20).Therefore, regardless of the perception of the two cultures, the symptoms of the disease that Lia is suffering from is a clear indication that they are the same, thus, the two words, Quagdabs peg and epilepsy represents the same thing. How doctors and TXIVneebs fix bodies and souls in the book â€Å"The Spirit Catches You†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Drawing from the book, â€Å"The Spirit Catches You†, the doctors and the TXIVneebs were responsible for healing the patients. In both cultures, they used different approaches in line with their understanding about the illness. As such, the methods of the doctors caring for Lia is different from the method her parents would have taken. The doctor feels that, Lia conditions to treat her epilepsy is through writing her prescription and giving her dosages. Though the doctors did not understand how frequent to administer the drug, Lia’s parent also holds that it is not right to give their daughter too many tablets. Nevertheless, they opted for traditional Hmong medicine, including herbal and coin. Moreover, Lees also seek assistance of a Shaman, which is a type of alternative medicine famous among Asian-Americans. How the doctors perceived to treat the Lia’s condition was different from her parents’ perception. Wish ing to utilize Shamans goes with their believe about the symptoms of epilepsy. Shamans usually define their patients as missing intact souls and work to diagnose and treat the condition that cannot be treated by a physician (Fadiman, 28). Through this healing method, it is extremely distinct from the traditional forms of healthcare found in America. Lees prefer this method because of their cultural background, but despite the variation in the methods of healing, both the Lia’s and the Lees doctors conclude that they all want Lia to restore her health. Both the doctors are concerned about the end result of the disease as well as the well being of Lia.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Hmong culture, the Quag dab peg it treated through shamanic rituals whereby the TXIV were responsible for carrying out the ritual. A TXIVneeb treated the patients on a metaphysical plane as in the case of Lia, whereby Lia’s rituals were usually carried to lure her soul back to her in order to restore her welfare. A TXIV placed a bowl containing sacred water in Lia’s room in the anticipation that her soul would come back. Moreover, they would sacrifice pigs in her parents house and place string on Lia’s wrist so as to keep the soul from escaping. Lia’s doctor could not understand the concept of soul loss in the way the TXIV need to understand to negotiate for Lia’s souls. This was one of the things that brought misunderstanding of both cultures. The cause of Lia illness was misinterpreted by both the doctors and her parents, the belief of Lia’s parents was that Lia was suffering from Quag dab peg while the doctors believed that Lia was suffering from epilepsy. As a result, Lia parents opt to take Lia to tivxneebs for traditional treatment. On the other hand, the doctors contend that Lia condition can only be controlled through antiepileptic medications, which they gave her. The contradictory paradigms of each member bring about misunderstanding of the disease. As a result, different methods for treating Lia are suggested for Lia welfare. For example, Lia’s parents failed to provide Lia with medications because they felt it would harm her, and decided to take Lia to TXIV when she grow up.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, in both cases, the TXIV and doctor’s requirements were only the same in the fact that they both contacted the house through calls. The work of the doctor is to treat the physical symptoms. In this case, Lia’s epileptic symptoms were treated with different medication such as phenobarbital and Dilantin, whereby the dosages were directed though writing the prescription. Following the above case and given the problems that Lees had, do you think, as Fadiman asks that the â€Å"gulf† between these worlds is unbridgeable?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In my opinion, we cannon holds that the world is unbridgeable. It is only a matter of examining the problems as they occur. Taking Lia case, the doctors held that she was suffering from epilepsy, while the society held that it was Quang dab peg. This was just at this time whereby the statement can hold. In the modern world the breakthrough has developed, which also continues to develop. When Fadina was phrasing the question, she was caught between two different cultures that holds different views. There was complete discord between the doctors and the Hmong(Fadiman, 259).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The hospital staff saw as if Lia’s parent were not caring for her health, but the fact is that they cared and wanted to take her to a traditional doctor, which they had been using. Besides, her mother has been preparing salves for her every day. Therefore, it is clear that the world is bridgeable, though it depends on the people’s perception. It is a matter of time and knowledge in the usage of something, but there will always be a breakthrough in the world. Besides, it is clear that man cannot heal by science alone, there can be other form of mechanisms that can deliver treatment effectively through the cooperation between the doctor and the patient as seen through the tivxneebs doctors. People always seek for the best results to restore their life, regardless of the professionalism, but in the case for Lia, it is just because of the unbridgeable cultural gulf whereby the blame for what and who should have done the treatment should be attached ((Fadiman, 256). Some of the specific practical examples of people/groups that are trying to â€Å"bridge the gulf† in the life or the soul†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the relevant group that bridge the gulf in the life is the medical groups. Drawing from Fadiman claims that teaching medicine to students is a perfect job of separating students from their emotions, the various methods that are applied by medical doctors to prevent and treat illness provide the best treatment from traditional forms of treatment. The medical group spendstheir efforts and energy in research so as to provide solutions to problems that affect the society. In most cases, they come up with solutions concerning deadly disease that takes peoples life. For example, they have been able to develop measures for preventing HIV/AIDS, whereby a victim of HIV/AIDS can survive by just taking Antiretriviral drugs (ARVs). The medical groups have provided more attention since the Fadiman book was published because it incited doctors to concentrate on their profession ((Fadiman, 201).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Considering Lia last diagnoses, a health care professional who struggled for almost twelve hours to control her condition did not even noticed her sex. The physician was so dedicated to safe Lia’s life and it might be the reason that Lia survived. This shows clearly that the medical group bridge the gulf in order for the victim to survive. In most cases, the medical group does not sleep, they keep awake trying to provide services to the patients all the time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Lia was the first Hmong to have ever heard of being treated by different doctors with the aim of saving her life. Most nurses and doctors sacrificed their energy and time to help her get well, although after all she died. Lia’s condition established the turning point to bridge the gulf for the medical group. She was the catalyst for bridging the gulf in minds and hearts and institutions and policies that impact them, thus, contributing to one of the cultural shifts whose root becomes more obscure the more its impact is experienced.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The traditional groups also provide their sacred services with the mere aim of bridging the gulf of life. Through Lia’s case, it is apparent that the TXIVneeb dedicated their effort trying to negotiate for Lia’s life. The TXIV also dedicated their time to cooperate with Lia in the negotiation process. Moreover, the TXIV conducts an effective session of psychological therapy for Lia. Therefore, the traditional groups are also concerned about the life or the soul of the victim and hadly struggle to restore the soul. References Fadiman, Anne. The spirit catches you and you fall down: a Hmong child, her American doctors, and the collision of two cultures. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1997. Print. Barnard, A. (1998). Encyclopedia of social and cultural anthropology. London: Routledge. Haviland, W. (1996).Cultural anthropology (8th ed.). Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College. Lewellen, T. (2002).The anthropology of globalization cultural anthropology enters the 21st century. Westport, Conn.: Bergin & Garvey. Barnard, A. (1998). Encyclopedia of social and cultural anthropology. London: Routledge. Haviland, W. (1996).Cultural anthropology (8th ed.). Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College. Lewellen, T. (2002).The anthropology of globalization cultural anthropology enters the 21st century. Westport, Conn.: Bergin & Garvey. Source document

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

20 Tips For Winning Writing Contests

20 Tips For Winning Writing Contests 20 Tips For Winning Writing Contests 20 Tips For Winning Writing Contests By Guest Author Submitting stories to writing contests (Reedsy has an updated list with over 300 contests) can be quite lucrative if you know the tricks of the trade. At the same time it is easy to make an avoidable mistake and miss out. Many books published now use single quotation marks for speech. I followed this format for an entry in an American contest. After the contest I received an email from the main judge which said: You may have done well in this contest but for the fact that I could not get past the abominable use of apostrophes instead of quotation marks. Don’t let this happen to you. Worse, you will probably never know why you were not among the winners. Tip 1. Always adhere to traditional standards of correctness (see above). A contest is not the time to throw the rule book away. This applies most strongly in writing contests which are run by universities or colleges. Tip 2. If it says Literature contest, thats what it means. They are looking for subtlety, depth, a subtext, creativity, and clever (even poetic) use of language; an emphasis on interesting often dark characters, and setting rather than plot. Tip 3. If it says Writing competition, well written popular fiction is what will win. Now your emphasis must be on plot. You need a great opening line and an absorbing plot. Plot follows your main character’s conflict. Give this person an interesting difficult tussle of some kind. Your story ends when your character has resolved the conflict against all odds. Tip 4. If it states a particular theme in the rules, then that theme must be intrinsic to your story. Tip 5. Whatever kind of work you are writing, title is everything. The title is the judge’s first impression of your work. Spend time thinking of something relevant to the story that is eye catching and appealing. Tip 6. Use your delete key. Read and reread your work. That paragraph you really like that you spent hours over. Does it advance your story? No? Then delete it. Does your story only get going on the second page? Delete page one. Tip 7. Short stories work best from a single point of view. Don’t confuse the judge. Tip 8. Does your entry use the right tense? Present tense may be fashionable but it doesn’t work for every story. If your story is immediate and all is happening now, use present tense. If it spans a time period coming up to the present use past tense. Tip 9. Strive for active rather than passive voice. Tip 10. Do not use real people for your characters. Real people in fiction are boring. Your main character should be larger than life yet still believable. Tip 11. Do not use exclamation marks except possibly for a single word exclamation such as Ouch! Tip 12. Beware of clichà ©s. It is easy to use one without noticing. Tip 13 Use strong verbs rather than adverbs. Likewise avoid strings of adjectives and NEVER write suddenly. Tip 14 . Try to write something DIFFERENT. Think of the poor judge reading hundreds of stories set in her home country; then she gets to a well written entry set in Antarctica. Tip 15. If you know who the judge will be, read his work; try to read the entries of previous winners. Do everything you can to fit your entry to the contest. Tip 16. Use the entry form for all your details. NEVER put your name on the manuscript. Tip 17. Font: Use 12 point Times New Roman or Arial unless the rules ask for something else. Tip 18. Some contests give you a choice between paper or online entry. Choose paper whenever you can and pay the postage. Emailing submissions (unless as a Word attachment) can play havoc with your careful formatting. Tip 19. Please do not decorate your manuscript or add that nice picture of your pet dog or the photo of yourself. All that work to end up shredded. Don’t add a cute little note for the judge (Yes some people do). Tip 20. Proofread, proofread and do it again. If entering online print out to check your work. Read it out loud to yourself. If judges cant decide between two entries and one is missing a comma or has a word spelled incorrectly and the other has been submitted perfectly set-out without typos; guess which one will win? Good luck! Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Dialogue Dos and Don'ts7 Patterns of Sentence StructureHow to Address Your Elders, Your Doctor, Young Children... and Your CEO

Monday, October 21, 2019

Facts About James Buchanan the 15th President

Facts About James Buchanan the 15th President James Buchanan (1791-1868) served as Americas fifteenth president. Considered by many to be Americas worst president, he was the last president to serve before America entered the Civil War.   Here is a quick list of fast facts for James Buchanan. For more in depth information, you can also read the James Buchanan Biography Birth: April 23, 1791 Death: June 1, 1868 Term of Office: March 4, 1857-March 3, 1861 Number of Terms Elected: 1 Term First Lady: Unmarried, the only bachelor to be president. His niece Harriet Lane fulfilled the role of hostess. James Buchanan Quote: What is right and what is practicable are two different things.Additional James Buchanan Quotes Major Events While in Office: Pony Express (1860) Southern States begin secession (1860)Confederate States of America created (1861) States Entering Union While in Office: Minnesota (1858)Oregon (1859)Kansas (1860) Related James Buchanan Resources: These additional resources on James Buchanan can provide you with further information about the president and his times. James Buchanan BiographyTake a more in depth look at the fifteenth president of the United States through this biography. Youll learn about his childhood, family, early career, and the major events of his administration. Civil War: Pre-War and SecessionThe Kansas-Nebraska Act gave the settlers in the newly organized territories of Kansas and Nebraska the power to decide for themselves whether or not to permit slavery. This bill helped increase the debate over slavery. This increasingly bitter sectionalism would result in the Civil War. Order of SecessionOnce Abraham Lincoln won the election of 1860, states began to secede from the union. Chart of Presidents and Vice PresidentsThis informative chart gives quick reference information on the presidents, vice-presidents, their terms of office, and their political parties. Other Presidential Fast Facts: Franklin PierceAbraham LincolnList of American Presidents