Thursday, December 26, 2019

Who Are the Low Information Voters

Youve studied the issues and candidates for weeks, maybe even months or years. You know who believes what and why. Congratulations, your vote is very likely going to be canceled out by a low-information voter who has probably put very little effort into this all. If you are lucky, that voter will complement your vote. But with the press and mass entertainment industry against what you believe in, are you feeling lucky? The beloved low-information voters, as they are called, became a popular term for conservative activists following the 2008 election of Barack Obama. It popped up frequently during the 2012 election between Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney. While the phrase is often used jokingly, it is also a serious description of a very large group of people. Its probably the dominant type of voter in reality. But that is the world we live in. While the term might be viewed as being insulting to some voters, the reality is this segment poses a credible problem for Republican politicians. Who Are the Low Information Voters? The oft-talked about low-information voters are those people who have little interest in or understanding of political affairs, rarely watch the news, and cant name major political figures or national events and still make voting decisions on this limited knowledge basis. Low information voters can definitely be both Republican and Democratic voters, but Democratic outreach to these voters hit new heights in 2008. Typically, these are not highly-likely voters. Targeting these people in both 2008 led to a handsome victory for Obama in 2008. In 2007, the Pew Research Center found that among the voting age public, 31% didnt know that Dick Cheney was Vice-President and 34% couldnt name the Governor of their own state. Roughly 4 in 5 couldnt name the Secretary of Defense, and more than half didnt know that Nancy Pelosi was the Speaker of the House, while only 15% knew who Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was. Now, not all of these people are voters. But they are the people who would be heavily tapped into in coming elections. Rise of the Low-Info Voter In reality, there have always been low information voters. But the 2008 and 2012 elections saw these segments targeted more than ever before. Through advances in social media, the Obama campaign sought to position Obama as a celebrity as much as a politician. There was very little interest in who Obama was, what positions he held, or what he had accomplished. Instead, the campaign focused mostly on his race and the historic nature of his presidential run and focused on building up his image in the way celebrities are built up. While the Democrats knew they would lock up traditional Democratic voters, they sought out a way to turn out those who were very unlikely to vote: the low-information voters. By giving people a celebrity to vote for -- and turning Obama into Mr. Cool -- many younger voters turned out who otherwise usually would not have. After election day 2008, pollster John Zogby was commissioned to do a poll of Obama voters immediately after they voted. The results were not impressive. While Obama voters overwhelmingly knew frivolous information about Sarah Palin such as the RNCs $150,000 wardrobe expenditures and about her daughters, they knew very little about Obama. By more than 2-1 they attributed an Obama quote about coal and energy prices to McCain, while most were unaware of the comment at all, despite it being a heavily debated topic during the campaign. A second poll by Wilson Research Strategies found similar results. McCain voters were overwhelmingly more likely to have greater general knowledge on most questions, the only questions Obama voters scored high on were frivolous, such as knowing that McCain couldnt say how many houses he owned. Obama voters also outscored McCain voters in the question about which candidate said they could see Russia from my house. (84% of Obama voters chose Palin, althoug h it was a Tina Fey skit on Saturday Night Live. Do Republicans Want the Low Information Voter Pie? In all likelihood, the number of high information voters is relatively low. The number of people who are interested in politics, watch news regularly, and stay updated on current events is likely outweighed by those who do not. These high-information voters tend to be older and more likely to have made up their mind on issues anyway. While many conservatives seem wary of going the celebrity route and trying to win on personality over policy, it almost seems an uphill climb. While the Democrats micro-target every possible sub-section of America, conservatives hope to have a breakthrough through logical discussion of issues. Needless to say, that didnt work out too well for Romney even as exit poll voters on election day said they thought he would be better at fixing things than Obama on most issues. (At the end of the day, they still voted for Obama anyway.) We already saw the change in the 2016 GOP presidential hopefuls. Marco Rubio  showed his willingness to talk about his love of rap music while New Jersey Governor Chris Christie loved hitting the late night talk shows to grow his image. Social media, the entertainment culture, and self-celebritization are likely to become the norm. After all, how else do you reach low-information voters before your opponent does?

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

What is the Social contract theory Essay - 29901 Words

Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper in which you analyze the social contract theory of John Locke and how the values identified are consistent with the criminal justice system and private security settings. Do these values and principles apply to both venues? †¢ What are the key principles associated with Locke’s social contract theory? †¢ How are these principle inculcated in the U.S. Bill of Rights? †¢ How do the principles play out in the criminal justice system and security settings? †¢ Describe freedom in relationship to personal rights and ethical standards and obligations. Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper in which you analyze the social contract theory of John Locke and how the values identified are consistent with the†¦show more content†¦vWrite a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper in which you analyze the social contract theory of John Locke and how the values identified are consistent with the criminal justice system and private security settings. Do these values and principles apply to both venues? †¢ What are the key principles associated with Locke’s social contract theory? †¢ How are these principle inculcated in the U.S. Bill of Rights? †¢ How do the principles play out in the criminal justice system and security settings? †¢ Describe freedom in relationship to personal rights and ethical standards and obligations. Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper in which you analyze the social contract theory of John Locke and how the values identified are consistent with the criminal justice system and private security settings. Do these values and principles apply to both venues? †¢ What are the key principles associated with Locke’s social contract theory? †¢ How are these principle inculcated in the U.S. Bill of Rights? †¢ How do the principles play out in the criminal justice system and security settings? †¢ Describe freedom in relationship to personal rights and ethical standards and obligations. Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper in which you analyze the social contract theory of John Locke and how the values identified are consistent with the criminal justice system and private security settings. Do these values and principles apply to both venues? †¢ What are the key principles associated withShow MoreRelatedLife Without Laws And Regulations Essay879 Words   |  4 Pagesnature? The social contract would introduce and maintain a controlled society in which protects people’s rights to life, liberty and protection of ones property. John Rawls a modern philosopher carries on the social contract tradition alongside philosophers Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau developing his own theory of Justice that he states brings upon complete fairness and equality within society the theory of justice, developed in 1971 with the intentions to identify what seems toRead MoreThe Function of a Social Contract1676 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is the Function of a Social Contract? Philosophers have been concerned with the theories of a social contract for thousands of years. Plato mentions the concept in Crito and in Republic. These theories have stemmed from the concept of justice and for our society to be just. I will look at the works of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau and finally with John Rawls after which a overall view into the function of a social contract can be derived as well as any problems with the theory(s)Read MoreUtilitarianism And Social Contract Theory1476 Words   |  6 PagesMichelle VanDeren Moral and Political Philosophy June 11, 2016 Reflection Paper Utilitarianism and Social Contract Theory Part I: Utilitarianism in the Work Place While managing a law firm over the past 13 years one of the most consistent issues to deal with is office attire. We have hired numerous employees ranging from 20-30 years of age whose attire did not project a professional appearance. Some of the employees often wore jeans or shirts that clearly showed their tattoos or were too revealingRead MoreThe Basic Moral Standard Is Human Welfare975 Words   |  4 Pagesmoral standard is human welfare. Specifically, my welfare and the welfare of others. Each classical moral theory has propose human welfare. Some theories completely focus on motives while others completely focus on rules or acts. However, each classical ethical theory alone cannot provide a plausible guideline for impartial human welfare without controversy. Multiple-strategies utilitarianism theory is the most suitable because it provides various strategies for general welfare. The multiple-strategiesRead MoreEssay about The Criticism of Social Contract Theories1232 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Tatum Schneidmiller Justice Theory Assignment #1 Ward Churchills criticism of social contract theory clearly applies to classic social contract theories that we discussed.   However, Rawls adds the veil of ignorance concept to his more modern social contract theory.   A) Explain the basics of Rawls and Churchills arguments and how they each criticize classic social contract theories.   B) Discuss whether or not Churchills argument applies to Rawls modification and explain how and why it doesRead MoreEssay on What is the Function of a Social Contract?1637 Words   |  7 Pages What is the Function of a Social Contract? Philosophers have been concerned with the theories of a social contract for thousands of years. Plato mentions the concept in Crito and in Republic. These theories have stemmed from the concept of justice and for our society to be just. I will look at the works of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau and finally with John Rawls after which a overall view into the function of a social contract can be derived as well as any problems with theRead MoreSocial Contract Is The Formidable Obelisk For Peacebuilding And Statebuilding1269 Words   |  6 Pages Social Contract is the formidable obelisk for peacebuilding and statebuilding. One of the oldest and widely cited Social Contract theories is the one of theorist’s John Rawls. His theory proposed an objective perspective of the Social Contract concept that was rooted from medieval Europe, this widely accepted principle that â€Å"all men are by nature free and equal† (Lessnoff, 1990, p. 3) made Rawls disparate to his brethren who too theorized this concept. Rawls rendition of the theory was not onlyRead MoreThe Strength Of Rawls Social Contract Theory1160 Words   |  5 PagesThe strength of Rawls’ Social Contract Theory is most obvious when compared with other ethical theories. In my discussion with Professor Hill, it was made apparent to me that I should focus on the main concepts we have discussed in this unit: empathy, rationality, and fallibility. One theory that is easily comparable is Ethical Egoism. Ethical Egoism claims that every action committed by h uman beings must be out of self-interest. Anything done for another individual is considered unethical for anRead MoreThomas Hobbes And John Locke s Theory Of Social Contract Theory1449 Words   |  6 PagesIn this essay, I argue contemporary social contract theory extends itself beyond politics and into philosophy, religion, and literature. I begin by defining social contract theory and explaining the different perspectives of English philosophers, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. From there, I will introduce Dostoyevsky’s work, Grand Inquisitor, and conduct an analysis of the relationships between the Grand Inquisitor and his subjects as well as Jesus and his followers. Using textual evidence and uncontroversialRead MoreSocial Contract Theory On The Origin Of State1110 Words   |  5 PagesSOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY Introduction: The social contract theory is one of the oldest theories on the origin of state. This theory came into existence as a reaction against the divine origin theory. The term ‘social’ is something which is connected with the society, while ‘contract’ means an agreement between two or more people. Thus a term of political theory, ‘social contract’ implies an agreement that makes society possible .this theory holds that the state is the voluntary and deliberate agreement

Monday, December 9, 2019

Taxation Egypt From Augustus To Diocletian â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Taxation Egypt From Augustus To Diocletian? Answer: Introducation The capital gain or loss that is incurred by an individual needs to be clearly understood in any given scenario to ascertain his or her financial position. In the presented scenario, in the past 1 year Eric has acquired a number of assets such as an antique vase, an antique chair, a painting, a home sound system, and shares in a listed company for different prices. And last week he has sold the same at specific rates. Based on the provided details in the question, the assets were with him for less than a year. As per theory, when a capital asset is sold, the difference between the cost price of the asset and the amount realized from the sale refers to capital gain or capital loss. The capital gain or capital loss can be classified into long-term or short-term based on the time period for which it was held by an individual. If an asset is held for more than 12 months or 1 year, the capital gain or loss is said to be long-term in nature (Andreas Markus, 2014). Whereas if the asset is held for one year or less than a year, the capital gain or loss can be termed as short-term in nature. In the presented situation, Eric has been holding the assets since the past 12 months so his net capital gain or net capital loss for the year would be short-term in nature (Barseghyan Coate, 2016). Classification of Erics assets The assets that Eric had in the last year can be categorized into two types namely assets that are intended for his personal use and collectibles. The assets that are intended for ones personal use are the ones that an individual purchases for his own satisfaction and happiness. Out of the assets that were previously acquired by Eric, the home sound system and the shares of the listed company belong to this asset category (Becker, 2015). Collectible can be defined as the asset of limited quantity but whose value is significant. Mostly it includes antiques. The assets that Eric previously possessed and sold in the past week like antique vase, antique chair, and painting can be categorized under collectibles. Thus in the given scenario, to arrive at the net capital gain or net capital loss of Eric, the sale proceeds have to be deducted from the capital value of the same. Assets Cost of Assets Capital Proceeds of Assets Difference Net Capital Gain/ (Net Capital Loss) Antique Vase 2,000 3,000 1,000 Gain Antique Chair 3,000 1,000 -2,000 Loss Painting 9,000 1,000 -8,000 Loss Home Sound System 12,000 11,000 -1,000 Loss Shares in listed company 5,000 20,000 15,000 Gain Total 31,000 36,000 Net Capital Gain/Loss 5,000 Total Net Capital Gain Hence Eric has had capital gain while selling the antique vase and shares of the listed company. The gain together comes to Rs 16,000 /- While selling the other assets like an antique chair, painting, and home sound system, he has incurred a loss of Rs (11,000) /-. Hence the net capital gain that he has gained after the sale process comes to Rs 5,000 /-. As per the tax laws, the assets for personal use have been sold for over $ 10,000, thus the taxability rules relating to capital gains will be charged on them. Similarly, each collectible item has been sold for over $ 500 so the taxability rules relating to capital gains will be charged (Becker, Reimer Rust, 2015). Calculation of Brians taxable value of the fringe benefits for the 2016/17 FBT year: In the given scenario, Brians employer has given him $ 1 million as a three-year loan at the special interest rate of 1% p.a. which is to be repaid on a monthly basis. This particular loan scheme comes under the scope of loan fringe benefits that an employee receives from an employer (Bernheim Scheuer, 2014). That is the reason the rate of interest that has been charged is lower than that of the current market loan interest rate. For the proper and accurate computation of Brians taxable value of the fringe benefit, the current statutory rate of interest needs to be taken into consideration (Brownlee, 2016). Since the particular loan was offered in 2016, April 1st, the applicable statutory interest rate would be 5.65%. In order to calculate the taxable value of Brians fringe benefits for 2016/17 FBT year, the following process will have to be followed. In the initial stage, the loan fringe benefit must be ascertained after eliminating the deductible rule. So the actual interest (i.e. at 1.00%) must be deducted from the statutory interest (i.e. at 5.65%). Interest value (statutory interest rate of 5.65%) = $10,00,000 * 5.65% = $ 56,500 Interest value (actual interest rate of 1.00%) = = $10,00,000 * 1.00% = $ 10,000 Thus the taxable value is the difference between the above two interest figures: $ 56,500 - $ 10,000 = $ 46,500 At this stage, Brian has to calculate the interest on the basis of the statutory interest rate i.e. 5.65%. He must assume that this arrived figure is the real interest amount that is payable by him. The interest value based on the statutory interest rate = $ 10,00,000 * 5.65% = $ 56,500 As per the question, Brian has utilized 40% of the borrowed funds for income-producing purposes and met all his obligations relating to the interest payments. So now he must calculate the tax-deductible interest expense. The hypothetical situation relating to statutory interest rate is considered: $ 56,500 * 40% = $ 22,600. Now Brian needs to ascertain the actual tax-deductible interest expense: $ 10,000 * 40% = $ 4,000. The actual tax-deductible interest expense calculated by Brian must be subtracted from the hypothetical value: $ 22,600 - $ 4,000 = $ 18,600 The final taxable value of the fringe benefits of Brian must be arrived at this stage by deducting the value of the 1st process by that of the 5th process: $ 46,500 - $ 18,600 = $ 27,900 If this interest value had to be paid by Brian at the time of the termination of the loan, instead of the monthly repayment scheme, then the specific period of the loan has to be assumed from the particular time when the interest would be payable or paid by him (Drautzburg Uhlig, 2015). If Brian would have no responsibility to repay the loan interest then the same computation model would be adopted but the interest rate would be considered as 0%. Allocation of loss on property for tax purposes In the particular property backdrop, Jack and Jill have borrowed some financial resources to rent and use it as joint tenants. As per the written agreement between the couple, Jack is eligible to receive 10% of the profits from the property whereas Jill is entitled to receive 90% of the profits from the property. As per the stated agreement, in case of loss, Jack has to bear the entire 100% of the loss (Griffith, Miller O'Connell, 2014). Thus last year when they have sustained a loss of $ 10,000, Jack has to bear the entire burden of such loss Jill will not be having any financial obligation towards this loss. This loss of Jack can be set off with the other forms of income of Jack so that he can determine his net profit or loss of the year. He has one more option in hand i.e. to carry forward the loss for the following years (Henneman, 2015). If the couple decides to sell off the property, the subsequent gain or loss from it would be available for them. In case there is a loss from the specific transaction, the same has to be incurred by Jack and he has the entire right to carry it forward in the future years or use it in the very year to ascertain his total net profit or loss. Similarly, in case of gain, the particular amount must be distributed between Jack and Jill in the exact proportion that has been stated in the written agreement (Jaimovich Rebelo, 2017). The ratio decided by the couple for sharing of profits is 1:9 where Jack receives one portion of the profits and Jill receives nine portions of the profit. Jack has the complete right and authority to set off the particular loss against the gain that they would earn by selling of the property. Thus it can be concluded that Jack is in a position where he has the authority to treat the loss from the property as per his convenience and need. He could set of this loss from the property if he would gain from selling the same (Piketty, Saez Stantcheva, 2014). If Jack has no gains in the current year then the loss must be borne by him while his wife would not have any obligation towards the loss from the property. The treatment of tax would be insignificant for Jill whereas Jack would have to record such loss in his books of accounts. Principle established inIRC v Duke of Westminster[1936] AC 1 The particular case relating to IRC v Duke of Westminster[1936] is a popular case that has come under limelight due to the particular tax avoidance situation. After referring the case, it can be clearly stated that every individual is righteously entitled to utilize his or her legal rights and benefits to help him minimize his tax that is attached to his total income earned during the year. In laymans language, it can be stated that if a person adopts fair and legal methods to reduce his total income value and thus reduce his tax value, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue have no power and authority to compel a taxpayer to pay a higher tax amount (Pomeranz, 2015). This particular model is applicable only when a taxpayer uses the fair and honest methods to reduce the amount of tax that is supposed to be paid by him. Fair tools and techniques must be adopted by him in order to reduce his gross income at the end of the year with the purpose to decrease his tax payable amount. The case is one of the best examples that add value to the taxation model and acts like a breath of fresh air for honest taxpayers. The particular legal case covers various areas including every person who adopts fair strategic methods to manage his books of accounts has the right to take legal assistance to decrease his total income value (Scheuer Werning, 2017). If the ethical and moral principals are in place and they have not been altered, the person cannot be forced to pay further tax in the process. The use of legal mode by the person strengthens his position in the eyes of the law. So no authority can question the validity of the persons method since he has the legal backing. When the particular case was stated in front of the judge, he stated that the effective use of the legal model by an individual to lower his income is a fair technique. The law should stand by it since no ethical aspects have been hampered in the process. This particular rule holds immense relevance in the current times in Australia. It discourages business undertakings to manipulate their books of accounts to have an additional advantage. It even provides the legal right to function a business activity in a truthful manner (Schmitt, 2015). It encourages businesses to use ethical means to strengthen their financial performance instead of altering their books of accounts. Since this principle encourages individuals as well as businesses to operate efficiently it is a valuable case that makes the contribution to the taxation system of Australia. Logging company scenario In the presented situation, Bill has a large parcel of land on which there are numerous tall pine trees. He intends to use it for grazing sheep and so he wants to have it cleared. A particular logging firm is showing its willingness to pay him $1,000 for every 100 meters of the timber that they can take from the land. The first and foremost question that arises in the situation is whether the tax laws are applicable or not for Bill for the money that he would be receiving from the logging business (Thomson, 2015). The given circumstances in the question do not throw light on the fact that whether the receipts that he would receive from the firm could be considered as revenue receipts or not. This high degree of uncertainty shows that the rules relating to the capital gains taxes do not apply to Bills specific situation. If Bill would receive a significant amount of money of $ 50,000 from the logging business to remove the pine trees from his yard, the same amount would be considered as a capital receipt for Bill. The very reason for such treatment is the large value of the finance and the lack of recurring receipts in the situation. In this situation, relevant tax rules would apply to Bill. Thus the nature of the financial transaction between parties has a significant impact on the applicable taxation laws (Wallace, 2015). So in the mentioned scenarios, the value of the finance involved has a significant impact on the application of taxation law. In the former instance, Bill would be receiving smaller and repeated payments from the logging firm while in the latter situation; he would be receiving a financial figure in bulk and the receipt would be one-time in nature (Scheuer Werning, 2017). As per the taxation law, when one party is involved in a sales transaction for a specific consideration, the receipt received in the situation is considered to be a capital one and thus it is taxable in the eyes of law. In the first scenario, the taxation would be charged at normal tax rates and they would not be treated as capital gains for Bill. References Andreas, O. and Markus, H., 2014. Taxation of income from domestic and cross-border collective investment. Barseghyan, L. and Coate, S., 2016. Property Taxation, Zoning, and Efficiency in a Dynamic Tiebout Model.American Economic Journal: Economic Policy,8(3), pp.1-38. Becker, J., 2015. The Relation of Article 9 Paragraph 1 German Double Taxation Treaties to Domestic Tax Law and the Consequences for Current Value Depreciation under Section 1 Paragraph 1: Foreign Tax Act.Intertax,43(10), pp.589-594. Becker, J., Reimer, E. and Rust, A., 2015.Klaus Vogel on Double Taxation Conventions. Kluwer Law International. Bernheim, B.D. and Scheuer, F., 2014. ECON 242: PUBLIC FINANCE AND TAXATION II. Brownlee, W.E., 2016.Federal Taxation in America. Cambridge University Press. Drautzburg, T. and Uhlig, H., 2015. Fiscal stimulus and distortionary taxation.Review of Economic Dynamics,18(4), pp.894-920. Griffith, R., Miller, H. and O'Connell, M., 2014. Ownership of intellectual property and corporate taxation.Journal of Public Economics,112, pp.12-23. Henneman, J.B., 2015.Royal Taxation in Fourteenth-Century France: The Development of War Financing, 1322-1359. Princeton University Press. Jaimovich, N. and Rebelo, S., 2017. Nonlinear effects of taxation on growth.Journal of Political Economy,125(1), pp.265-291. Piketty, T., Saez, E. and Stantcheva, S., 2014. Optimal taxation of top labor incomes: A tale of three elasticities.American economic journal: economic policy,6(1), pp.230-271. Pomeranz, D., 2015. No taxation without information: Deterrence and self-enforcement in the value added tax.The American economic review,105(8), pp.2539-2569. Scheuer, F. and Werning, I., 2017. The taxation of superstars.The Quarterly Journal of Economics,132(1), pp.211-270. Schmitt, N., 2015. Social Norms or Income TaxationWhat drives a Couples Labor Supply? Experimental Evidence.Norma, (2/13). Thomson, W., 2015. Axiomatic and game-theoretic analysis of bankruptcy and taxation problems: an update.Mathematical Social Sciences,74, pp.41-59. Wallace, S.L., 2015.Taxation in Egypt from Augustus to Diocletian. Princeton University Press.

Taxation Egypt From Augustus To Diocletian â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Taxation Egypt From Augustus To Diocletian? Answer: Introducation The capital gain or loss that is incurred by an individual needs to be clearly understood in any given scenario to ascertain his or her financial position. In the presented scenario, in the past 1 year Eric has acquired a number of assets such as an antique vase, an antique chair, a painting, a home sound system, and shares in a listed company for different prices. And last week he has sold the same at specific rates. Based on the provided details in the question, the assets were with him for less than a year. As per theory, when a capital asset is sold, the difference between the cost price of the asset and the amount realized from the sale refers to capital gain or capital loss. The capital gain or capital loss can be classified into long-term or short-term based on the time period for which it was held by an individual. If an asset is held for more than 12 months or 1 year, the capital gain or loss is said to be long-term in nature (Andreas Markus, 2014). Whereas if the asset is held for one year or less than a year, the capital gain or loss can be termed as short-term in nature. In the presented situation, Eric has been holding the assets since the past 12 months so his net capital gain or net capital loss for the year would be short-term in nature (Barseghyan Coate, 2016). Classification of Erics assets The assets that Eric had in the last year can be categorized into two types namely assets that are intended for his personal use and collectibles. The assets that are intended for ones personal use are the ones that an individual purchases for his own satisfaction and happiness. Out of the assets that were previously acquired by Eric, the home sound system and the shares of the listed company belong to this asset category (Becker, 2015). Collectible can be defined as the asset of limited quantity but whose value is significant. Mostly it includes antiques. The assets that Eric previously possessed and sold in the past week like antique vase, antique chair, and painting can be categorized under collectibles. Thus in the given scenario, to arrive at the net capital gain or net capital loss of Eric, the sale proceeds have to be deducted from the capital value of the same. Assets Cost of Assets Capital Proceeds of Assets Difference Net Capital Gain/ (Net Capital Loss) Antique Vase 2,000 3,000 1,000 Gain Antique Chair 3,000 1,000 -2,000 Loss Painting 9,000 1,000 -8,000 Loss Home Sound System 12,000 11,000 -1,000 Loss Shares in listed company 5,000 20,000 15,000 Gain Total 31,000 36,000 Net Capital Gain/Loss 5,000 Total Net Capital Gain Hence Eric has had capital gain while selling the antique vase and shares of the listed company. The gain together comes to Rs 16,000 /- While selling the other assets like an antique chair, painting, and home sound system, he has incurred a loss of Rs (11,000) /-. Hence the net capital gain that he has gained after the sale process comes to Rs 5,000 /-. As per the tax laws, the assets for personal use have been sold for over $ 10,000, thus the taxability rules relating to capital gains will be charged on them. Similarly, each collectible item has been sold for over $ 500 so the taxability rules relating to capital gains will be charged (Becker, Reimer Rust, 2015). Calculation of Brians taxable value of the fringe benefits for the 2016/17 FBT year: In the given scenario, Brians employer has given him $ 1 million as a three-year loan at the special interest rate of 1% p.a. which is to be repaid on a monthly basis. This particular loan scheme comes under the scope of loan fringe benefits that an employee receives from an employer (Bernheim Scheuer, 2014). That is the reason the rate of interest that has been charged is lower than that of the current market loan interest rate. For the proper and accurate computation of Brians taxable value of the fringe benefit, the current statutory rate of interest needs to be taken into consideration (Brownlee, 2016). Since the particular loan was offered in 2016, April 1st, the applicable statutory interest rate would be 5.65%. In order to calculate the taxable value of Brians fringe benefits for 2016/17 FBT year, the following process will have to be followed. In the initial stage, the loan fringe benefit must be ascertained after eliminating the deductible rule. So the actual interest (i.e. at 1.00%) must be deducted from the statutory interest (i.e. at 5.65%). Interest value (statutory interest rate of 5.65%) = $10,00,000 * 5.65% = $ 56,500 Interest value (actual interest rate of 1.00%) = = $10,00,000 * 1.00% = $ 10,000 Thus the taxable value is the difference between the above two interest figures: $ 56,500 - $ 10,000 = $ 46,500 At this stage, Brian has to calculate the interest on the basis of the statutory interest rate i.e. 5.65%. He must assume that this arrived figure is the real interest amount that is payable by him. The interest value based on the statutory interest rate = $ 10,00,000 * 5.65% = $ 56,500 As per the question, Brian has utilized 40% of the borrowed funds for income-producing purposes and met all his obligations relating to the interest payments. So now he must calculate the tax-deductible interest expense. The hypothetical situation relating to statutory interest rate is considered: $ 56,500 * 40% = $ 22,600. Now Brian needs to ascertain the actual tax-deductible interest expense: $ 10,000 * 40% = $ 4,000. The actual tax-deductible interest expense calculated by Brian must be subtracted from the hypothetical value: $ 22,600 - $ 4,000 = $ 18,600 The final taxable value of the fringe benefits of Brian must be arrived at this stage by deducting the value of the 1st process by that of the 5th process: $ 46,500 - $ 18,600 = $ 27,900 If this interest value had to be paid by Brian at the time of the termination of the loan, instead of the monthly repayment scheme, then the specific period of the loan has to be assumed from the particular time when the interest would be payable or paid by him (Drautzburg Uhlig, 2015). If Brian would have no responsibility to repay the loan interest then the same computation model would be adopted but the interest rate would be considered as 0%. Allocation of loss on property for tax purposes In the particular property backdrop, Jack and Jill have borrowed some financial resources to rent and use it as joint tenants. As per the written agreement between the couple, Jack is eligible to receive 10% of the profits from the property whereas Jill is entitled to receive 90% of the profits from the property. As per the stated agreement, in case of loss, Jack has to bear the entire 100% of the loss (Griffith, Miller O'Connell, 2014). Thus last year when they have sustained a loss of $ 10,000, Jack has to bear the entire burden of such loss Jill will not be having any financial obligation towards this loss. This loss of Jack can be set off with the other forms of income of Jack so that he can determine his net profit or loss of the year. He has one more option in hand i.e. to carry forward the loss for the following years (Henneman, 2015). If the couple decides to sell off the property, the subsequent gain or loss from it would be available for them. In case there is a loss from the specific transaction, the same has to be incurred by Jack and he has the entire right to carry it forward in the future years or use it in the very year to ascertain his total net profit or loss. Similarly, in case of gain, the particular amount must be distributed between Jack and Jill in the exact proportion that has been stated in the written agreement (Jaimovich Rebelo, 2017). The ratio decided by the couple for sharing of profits is 1:9 where Jack receives one portion of the profits and Jill receives nine portions of the profit. Jack has the complete right and authority to set off the particular loss against the gain that they would earn by selling of the property. Thus it can be concluded that Jack is in a position where he has the authority to treat the loss from the property as per his convenience and need. He could set of this loss from the property if he would gain from selling the same (Piketty, Saez Stantcheva, 2014). If Jack has no gains in the current year then the loss must be borne by him while his wife would not have any obligation towards the loss from the property. The treatment of tax would be insignificant for Jill whereas Jack would have to record such loss in his books of accounts. Principle established inIRC v Duke of Westminster[1936] AC 1 The particular case relating to IRC v Duke of Westminster[1936] is a popular case that has come under limelight due to the particular tax avoidance situation. After referring the case, it can be clearly stated that every individual is righteously entitled to utilize his or her legal rights and benefits to help him minimize his tax that is attached to his total income earned during the year. In laymans language, it can be stated that if a person adopts fair and legal methods to reduce his total income value and thus reduce his tax value, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue have no power and authority to compel a taxpayer to pay a higher tax amount (Pomeranz, 2015). This particular model is applicable only when a taxpayer uses the fair and honest methods to reduce the amount of tax that is supposed to be paid by him. Fair tools and techniques must be adopted by him in order to reduce his gross income at the end of the year with the purpose to decrease his tax payable amount. The case is one of the best examples that add value to the taxation model and acts like a breath of fresh air for honest taxpayers. The particular legal case covers various areas including every person who adopts fair strategic methods to manage his books of accounts has the right to take legal assistance to decrease his total income value (Scheuer Werning, 2017). If the ethical and moral principals are in place and they have not been altered, the person cannot be forced to pay further tax in the process. The use of legal mode by the person strengthens his position in the eyes of the law. So no authority can question the validity of the persons method since he has the legal backing. When the particular case was stated in front of the judge, he stated that the effective use of the legal model by an individual to lower his income is a fair technique. The law should stand by it since no ethical aspects have been hampered in the process. This particular rule holds immense relevance in the current times in Australia. It discourages business undertakings to manipulate their books of accounts to have an additional advantage. It even provides the legal right to function a business activity in a truthful manner (Schmitt, 2015). It encourages businesses to use ethical means to strengthen their financial performance instead of altering their books of accounts. Since this principle encourages individuals as well as businesses to operate efficiently it is a valuable case that makes the contribution to the taxation system of Australia. Logging company scenario In the presented situation, Bill has a large parcel of land on which there are numerous tall pine trees. He intends to use it for grazing sheep and so he wants to have it cleared. A particular logging firm is showing its willingness to pay him $1,000 for every 100 meters of the timber that they can take from the land. The first and foremost question that arises in the situation is whether the tax laws are applicable or not for Bill for the money that he would be receiving from the logging business (Thomson, 2015). The given circumstances in the question do not throw light on the fact that whether the receipts that he would receive from the firm could be considered as revenue receipts or not. This high degree of uncertainty shows that the rules relating to the capital gains taxes do not apply to Bills specific situation. If Bill would receive a significant amount of money of $ 50,000 from the logging business to remove the pine trees from his yard, the same amount would be considered as a capital receipt for Bill. The very reason for such treatment is the large value of the finance and the lack of recurring receipts in the situation. In this situation, relevant tax rules would apply to Bill. Thus the nature of the financial transaction between parties has a significant impact on the applicable taxation laws (Wallace, 2015). So in the mentioned scenarios, the value of the finance involved has a significant impact on the application of taxation law. In the former instance, Bill would be receiving smaller and repeated payments from the logging firm while in the latter situation; he would be receiving a financial figure in bulk and the receipt would be one-time in nature (Scheuer Werning, 2017). As per the taxation law, when one party is involved in a sales transaction for a specific consideration, the receipt received in the situation is considered to be a capital one and thus it is taxable in the eyes of law. In the first scenario, the taxation would be charged at normal tax rates and they would not be treated as capital gains for Bill. References Andreas, O. and Markus, H., 2014. Taxation of income from domestic and cross-border collective investment. Barseghyan, L. and Coate, S., 2016. Property Taxation, Zoning, and Efficiency in a Dynamic Tiebout Model.American Economic Journal: Economic Policy,8(3), pp.1-38. Becker, J., 2015. The Relation of Article 9 Paragraph 1 German Double Taxation Treaties to Domestic Tax Law and the Consequences for Current Value Depreciation under Section 1 Paragraph 1: Foreign Tax Act.Intertax,43(10), pp.589-594. Becker, J., Reimer, E. and Rust, A., 2015.Klaus Vogel on Double Taxation Conventions. Kluwer Law International. Bernheim, B.D. and Scheuer, F., 2014. ECON 242: PUBLIC FINANCE AND TAXATION II. Brownlee, W.E., 2016.Federal Taxation in America. Cambridge University Press. Drautzburg, T. and Uhlig, H., 2015. Fiscal stimulus and distortionary taxation.Review of Economic Dynamics,18(4), pp.894-920. Griffith, R., Miller, H. and O'Connell, M., 2014. Ownership of intellectual property and corporate taxation.Journal of Public Economics,112, pp.12-23. Henneman, J.B., 2015.Royal Taxation in Fourteenth-Century France: The Development of War Financing, 1322-1359. Princeton University Press. Jaimovich, N. and Rebelo, S., 2017. Nonlinear effects of taxation on growth.Journal of Political Economy,125(1), pp.265-291. Piketty, T., Saez, E. and Stantcheva, S., 2014. Optimal taxation of top labor incomes: A tale of three elasticities.American economic journal: economic policy,6(1), pp.230-271. Pomeranz, D., 2015. No taxation without information: Deterrence and self-enforcement in the value added tax.The American economic review,105(8), pp.2539-2569. Scheuer, F. and Werning, I., 2017. The taxation of superstars.The Quarterly Journal of Economics,132(1), pp.211-270. Schmitt, N., 2015. Social Norms or Income TaxationWhat drives a Couples Labor Supply? Experimental Evidence.Norma, (2/13). Thomson, W., 2015. Axiomatic and game-theoretic analysis of bankruptcy and taxation problems: an update.Mathematical Social Sciences,74, pp.41-59. Wallace, S.L., 2015.Taxation in Egypt from Augustus to Diocletian. Princeton University Press.

Monday, December 2, 2019

The Religion Impact on the International Political Scene

Religion is a phenomenon that has a great impact on human society. Religion is an aspect that has facilitated changes in families, relationships, communities, and political lives. Religion affects human beliefs and values and triggers them to behave in a certain manner. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Religion Impact on the International Political Scene specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Johnstone, religion influences human action as it interprets their experiences based on the underlying religious meanings. Sociologists in this case have studied how religion influences different spheres of human life. In this context, we will review how religion has influenced politics and religious fundamentalism. In addition, we will review how social classes and gender differences influence religious expression. Many religious studies have concerned themselves with secularization. They study how secular instit utions such as politics affect society. The relationship that exists between religion and politics presents itself in speeches, roundtables, and congregations all across the globe. According to Christian, religion relates to politics in more than one way. It has affected political circles by bringing about legitimacy in different regimes. It has also triggered social changes by facilitating understanding in justice systems. However, the relationships that exist between the two social institutions depend on the content and level of the political system and religion. The two social institutions comprise of various subgroups of people who follow certain norms (17). The functions of the two institutions overlap each other. This brings about a conflict of interest as they both involve same parties. The same parties have expectations in relation to commitment and involvement to their followers. According to Christian, the difference that exists between the two institutions is an aspect o f secularization. The difference between the two has widened with time specifically in the west. For instance, the institutions that were once constituents of religious organizations have separated from the religious groups (15). Religious groups are no longer the providers of health, social welfare, and education. These functions through political influences have become independent. The distinction between secular spheres such as politics and religion results to secularization (Christian 19). According to Putnam, religious fundamentalism is a phenomenon that has influenced international politics as well as events occurring in the 21st century. Religious fundamentalism is a movement that concerns itself with the religious erosion as well as the role of such erosion in society (4). According to Johnstone, religious fundamentalism involves the protection of certain religious contents or protection of norms associated with religion. Advertising Looking for essay on social science s? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Relative to traditions, fundamentalism does not exist to defend its aspects (57). It accepts and re-modifies some of these aspects. Relative to modernity, fundamentalism accommodates some aspects but refuses others. For instance, it accommodates the technological and organizational aspects of modernization. On the other hand, refuses the ideologies of pluralism as well as relativism. Religious fundamentalists believe and view the world as an avenue of light and darkness. They believe that they represent the light. They also believe that their world is pure. The world that is outside the group represents darkness. This world accommodates sin and it is contaminated. According to Putnam, religious fundamentalists exist as small sects that do not have connections in politics (9). According to Christian, the social class has an influence on the religious expressions and involvement. On a sociological point of view, the truth-value of religion is not the only factor that entails belonging to a religious group (17).Lower class persons are less likely to associate themselves with religious groups compared to the upper class persons. A survey carried out in the year 2005 revealed that the income of the Baptists compared to the Unitarians was less than two thirds. The Unitarians are a denomination popular among the upper class members of the society. In addition, five percent more Unitarians graduated from college compared to the Baptists. This data reveals that a social class has an impact on a person’s religious affiliation (Christian 19). Gender differences have an influence on the religious expression and affiliation. According to Christian, gender difference exists as a factor that greatly determines a person’s association with religion (16). According to Johnstone, women have a tendency to associate with public as well as private religious practices compared to m en. The magnification of the difference comes about in relation to the age, educational status, and religious denomination. Relative to men, college students are skeptical towards religion and belonging to a religious group. On the other hand, men sought spirituality and religion as they advance with age. In other words, men seek religion and spirituality as they mature and take up permanent roles in the society. For example, family oriented roles trigger men to seek religion and spirituality. In conclusion, it is important that we acknowledge the impact religion has on the international political scene. Religion has become the basis of most conflicts both at the local and international scene. Religion is a tool that fuels hatred and facilitates violence when exploited maliciously. Usually, this involves protection of political interests. Here, religion and politics integrate to form destructive tools of violence and distraction.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Religion Impact on the International Political Scene specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Works Cited Christian, Smith. Souls in Transition: The Religions and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print. Johnstone, Ronald. Religion in Society, Sociology of Religion. Pearson: Prentice-Hall, 2007. Print. Putnam, Robert. American Grace. How Religion Divides and Unites Us. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2010. Print. This essay on The Religion Impact on the International Political Scene was written and submitted by user Fabian M. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Space essays

Space essays The play The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, Williams uses many symbols which represent many different things. Many of the symbols used in the play try to symbolize some form of escape or difference between The first symbol, presented in the first scene, is the fire escape. This represents the "bridge" between the illusory world of the Wingfields and the world of reality. This "bridge" seems to be a one way passage. But the direction varies for each character. For Tom, the fire escape is the way out of the world of Amanda and Laura and an entrance into the world of reality. For Laura, the fire escape is a way into her world. A way to escape from reality. Both examples can readily be seen: Tom will stand outside on the fire escape to smoke, showing that he does not like to be inside, to be a part of the illusionary world. Laura, on the other hand, thinks of the fire escape as a way in and not a way out. This can be seen when Amanda sends Laura to go to the store: Laura trips on the fire escape. This also shows that Laura's fears and emotions greatly affect her physical condition, more so than normal people. Another symbol presented deals more with Tom than any of the other characters: Tom's habit of going to the movies shows us his longing to leave the apartment and head out into the world of reality. A place where one can find adventure. And Tom, being a poet, can understand the needs of man to long for adventure and romance. But he is kept from entering reality by Amanda, who criticizes him as being a "selfish dreamer." But, Tom has made steps to escape into reality by transferring the payment of a light bill to pay for his dues in the Merchant Seaman's Union. Another symbol, which deals with both Amanda and Laura, is Jim O'Connor. To Laura, Jim represents the one thing she fears and does not want to face, reality. Jim is a perfect example of "the common man." A person wi...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Whats the Best Foreign Language to Learn in High School

What's the Best Foreign Language to Learn in High School SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Most students are faced at some point with deciding which foreign language to pursue. Some high schools offer many options while some offer only a few. Whatever the situation at your particular high school, the decision can feel very weighty: you're going to commit years of your life to learning a new form of communication, after all. In this article, we'll explain how to determine the best foreignlanguage to learn for you, such as your motivation and goals, along with some basic information on a few of the more common languages to learn. 3 Factors to Determine the Best Foreign Language for You There are certain factors that you'll want to take into account, no matter which language you're considering. These elements of the decision-making process can help you determine the very best foreign language to learn in high school. College Don't Care Which Language You Took Good news! You don't need to bear the possible effects on college admittance in mind.Yes, many colleges require, or at least recommend, taking a foreign language for multiple years- the exact suggestions change from school to school. Colleges do not, however, specify which language to take; Spanish, French, Hebrew, etc. would all work equally well, as long as you excelled in the class. There are far more important criteriato base your decision on than trying to impress an impartial institution. You'll be best off if you take several years of the same language, so your likelihood of sticking with a course through high school is much more crucial to consider. Taking a different language every semester is a really bad idea. Careers With Language Requirements Certain careers require, or at least encourage, proficiency in another language. There are obvious jobs (linguistics and translation) and less obvious jobs (music and health care). If you work directly with a language, as interpreters do, of course you need to know it inside and out. In fields like the arts, it may be helpful to know a certain language so that you more fully comprehend the terms used in your discipline; from the French used in danceto the Italian used in music,non-English vernacular appears in many forms of art. In a career such as medicine, where you're going to be working with a wide variety of diverse clients, it's helpful if you can communicate directly with the people you serve. Bear in mind, studying a certain language does not commit you to pursuing any particular career for the rest of your life; this is not an all-or-nothing decision. On the other hand, if you do know what field you want to enter, you might get a leg up by starting to learn the appropriate language early on. An important question at this point is how committed you are to pursuing the language to fluency. Many people graduate high school with a passing grade in a foreignlanguage, only to lose all that proficiency within the next few years. Are you willing and able to work hard at the language in high school and continue with it in college? If yes, it may well serve you in your career. If no, this is probably not the criterion to base your decision on; you may want to trust that you'll learn what you need in later years of schooling and training. It's still a good idea to take some language in high school, but you don't need to put the pressure of succeeding in your future career on a few years of secondary school education. Personal Interest and Motivation Are Key The language you work on in high school may be a language you use for decades to come, or it may be just another hoop to jump through. One of the primary questions to ask, then, is what you're trying to get out of learning the language. You may want a head start on college pursuits or a career, or you may just want to graduate high school. You may want to become functionally fluent in a language, or you may just want to learn a few crucial phrases. What it all comes down to, then, is what language you're inspired to learn. Learn a language that interests you and that has some meaning for you, whether that's because it's a career tool or because it will connect you better to your own heritage. As a French citizen who didn't speak French until high school, I had a lot of motivation to learn. 9 PopularLanguages to Consider Your school may not offer all of these languages (in fact, it probably doesn't). Also, take the considerations above into accountbefore you commit to anything; the verdicts on each language given below are not the final word in your particular situation. Spanish The United States has one of the largest populations of Spanish-speakers out there, and this number continues to grow. It's also a hugely prevalent language worldwide. Demand for Spanish-speaking employees is soaring as many industries serve a predominantly Spanish-speaking segment of the population along with the wider public. As a bonus, most English-speakers find Spanish relatively easy to learn. Bits of the language have worked their way into American culture, and there are a number of cognates (similar-sounding words) that the languages share. Verdict: If you want a language of great practical use in everyday America, Spanish is probably the best foreign language to learn. French French, according to Forbes, is growing in its global popularity. It's extremely dominant in Africa, and it also persists as one of the major languages for international diplomacy(the UN, NATO, and the Olympics use French to somedegree, for instance). Furthermore, it's widely used in art forms such as ballet, high fashion, and haute cuisine. Verdict: If you want a language of great practical use in the world at large and Africa in particular, or if you're keenly interested in the fine arts or diplomacy, French is a great option. German Germany is an economic giant, and German is the most widely spoken mother tongue in Europe. In addition, it's an important language in the history of religion and philosophy as well as science and technology. The downside is that many English-speakers find German a little harder to learn than French or Spanish, due in part to its more complex grammar. Verdict: If you're interested in international business dealings, or the history of religion, philosophy, or psychology, German ishard to beat. Learning German brings you that much closer to Freud- isn'tthat fun? Italian Learning Italian, itself a Romance Language, paves the way to easily picking up the other Romance Languages should the need or desire arise. Italian is also a crucial language to the development of music. As a bonus, most English-speakers find it quite easy to learn. Verdict: If classical music or Italian culture is your passion, or if you're devoted to acquiring multiple Romance Languages, Italian isan excellent choice. Latin Latin is a dead language; no one speaks it as a native tongue. That being said, it's extremely useful in terms of understanding the basis of the five Romance Languages it engendered. More than half of English vocabulary is also descended from Latin, and Latin is the language of science, medicine, and law. As a bonus, learning Latin can boost your overall vocabulary, which may show up as a positive trend on that SAT or ACT score. Verdict: If you're interested in linguistics, ancient texts, or scientific or legal pursuits, Latin is probably the best foreign language to learn. Arabic Arabic is a widely spoken language, both in and out of the United States. Demand for Arabic-speakers is quite high in industries such as hospitality and government, andthe supply is insufficient. Verdict: If you're interested in a practical language for international travel as well as making yourself a desirable employee in certain sectors, Arabic may be the best language for you. Mandarin There are many speakers of Mandarin in the world today- approaching 15% of the world population.In fact, China is the leading nation in the global marketplace. Verdict: If you're interested in international business or relations and gaining a practical language for travel in China, Mandarin is undoubtedly the most practical language to learn. No, no- MandarinChinese: the language, not the fruit. Japanese The culture of Japan holds a great fascination for many high school students who admire aspects of the culture, including, but not limited to, art forms such as animeand manga. Also, Japanese is not a very widely spoken second languagewithin the United States which could lead to job opportunities later on if you stick with the language to the point of mastery. Verdict: If you love the traditional and contemporary culture of Japan or if you're interested in bringing a relatively rare skillto the table at a future job, Japanese is a great choice. American Sign Language Learning American Sign Language (ASL) provides a unique windowinto a culture that's largely hidden within the broader culture of the United States (and around the world). The Deaf community is often overlooked, and it's deeply rewarding to become more aware of what this particular community's struggles and triumphs are on a daily basis. ASL is also fascinating, with the true intricacies of fluency sparking much interest in the linguistic community. Plus, ASL interpretation is also a great job opportunity. Verdict: If you're interested in advocacy for the Deaf community, linguistic research, or interpreting as a career, ASL willhelp you achieveyour goals. Conclusion: Which Is the Best Foreign Language to Learn? There are many, many languages out there to learn. It's hard to say which one is the "best" to study in high school, especially since colleges don't havea preference. That being said, thereare several things to consider before you commit to a course of language study. There's your overall motivation and desire to learn any particular language, there's the personal connection you feel to the language and corresponding culture, and there's the practical consideration of what might serve you best in your career. Each language has its benefits and drawbacks, and any one might be the best foreign language to learn depending on what you're hoping to get out of studying it. What's Next? Now that you've got a foreign language all sorted out, you may want to think about the other classes you've got to select. In addition to that general swath, you might be curious about choosing electives. Are you thinking about taking AP classes? That's a whole other question to mull over- but we're here to help.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

PHSIOLOGY 08 Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

PHSIOLOGY 08 - Lab Report Example The lower number (diastolic pressure) represents the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart the circulatory system. The lower number the blood vessels between beats, when the heart is resting. According to health guidelines, normal blood pressure is below 130/85 and 139/89. High blood pressure is divided into 4 stages, based on severity: stage1 (mild) high blood pressure ranges from 140/90 to 159/99; stage2 (moderate) is from 160/100 to 179/109;stage3 (severe) is from 180/10 to 209/119; stage4 (very severe) is 210/120 and up. The diagnosis of hypertension can be based on either the systolic or the diastolic reading. High blood pressure usually cannot be cured, but it can be controlled in a variety of ways, including lifestyle modifications and medication. Treatment should be at the direction and under the supervision of a physician. Heart attack uncomfortable pressure, fullness squeezing, or pain in the center of the chest lasting 2 minutes or longer; pain may radiate to the shoulder, arm, neck, or jaw; sweating may accompany pain or discomfort; nausea and vomiting may also occur; shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting may accompany other signs; what is required is immediate action at the onset of these symptoms. More than half of heart attack victims die within one hour of the onset of symptoms and before they have reached the hospital. Stroke sudden temporary weakness or numbness of face or limbs on one side of the body; temporary loss of speech, or trouble speaking or understanding speech temporary dim vision; unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness, or sudden falls. A blood cholesterol level over 240mg/dl (milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood) approximately doubles the risk of coronary heart disease. Blood cholesterol levels between 200 and 240 mg/dl are in a zone of moderate and increasing risk. An estimated 6.5 mil (10.8%) of youth aged 4-19 have level of 200mg/dl or higher. Cigarette

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Nation Building Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Nation Building - Essay Example To begin with, it is imperative to define nationalism. A force that is capable of rendering a national character to any uprising or event, nationalism is a phenomenon that permeates into the very core of a citizen's life. This has been studied in context of the book by Charles Tilly titled European Revolutions (1993) The hypothesis of this paper is the study of similarities and differences between UK, France and Russia as far as the aspects of the journey from revolution to nationalism is concerned, as discussed and hypothesized by Charles Tilly. These similarities and differences will be studied on the basis of the following three aspects: The basic hypothesis as put forth by Tilly throughout the book is that Europe is still in the making. Here, it is imperative to understand democracy so as to understand the ends of this journey and the point of the hypothesis. Democracy has been best defined as "of the people, for the people, by the people." It is a phenomenon that arises out of the various contextual realities that people represent in various walks of life as well as the socio economic strata of individual countries. To qualify as a democracy, a country must fulfil the following criteria: According to Tilly, Nationalism as a feature on any country's historical or cultural climate rises to the fore as a result of threats. It is only when confronted with a threat, does a country - made up of its people and their collective sentiments - wake up and recognise their strengths. This has been seen in the case of colonial expansion as followed by France and UK. These countries, with UK garnering maximum areas around the world by 1921, based their foreign policy of nationalism around colonization. France, in particular was a competitor for UK with its policy of colonization. These in effect become the strength of the nation and nationalism is born. (Tilly, 1993; P 10) In this way, nationalism is defined, anew; every time there is suffering followed subsequently by an upheaval. As a result of this, nationalism or nation building can be called dynamic concept. This is owing to the fact that its elements change with the changing times and the reasons for upheavals. (Elias, 2000) 2 The only thing constant about nationalism is its power to bind people together as a nation and the fact that it rises to prominence only in the face of adversity. In modern times, nationalism has become a matter of celebrating everything that a nation takes pride in. This includes independence days, art, literature, music and various other symbols that are a part of the national character as a whole - elements that remind nations of its past victories and present strengths. (Almond et al, 2001)3 Essentials of Revolution Tilly maintains that a revolution is a social movement. He argues that a social movement is one that is punctuated with a highly idealistic environment with realistic parameters that set the stage for immediate results and emergence of future trends that will go onto dominate the structure and functioning of that particular society for generations to come. (Tilly, 1993; Pp 47 - 48) Issues like principles, revolutionary change and personal strength and a search for identity of a group

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Evacuation was a great success Essay Example for Free

Evacuation was a great success Essay My personal view is that I agree with the interpretation that the Evacuation was a great success I will now explain why. The Evacuation scheme was entirely voluntary the children would be much safer and happier away from the big cities with the dangers will be the greatest. Childern were offered homes were they made feel welcome. Evacuating the children would safer guard the next generation. The childrens education wasnt affected as school teachers would have been have sent away to. The majority of children proved incredibly resolute and adapted to their new surroundings with relative ease. Handing over the children would make them safe from German bombs rather then keeping them at home to face uncertainty and danger. Mass evacuation was a beneficial method implemented by the government because it did the best to assure parents that evacuation at that time was in the best interest of the children. Source A is a primary source of a photograph of children smiling walking to the London Station which shows success they wanted to go . It could be seen as reliable as the picture was taken at that exact moment. Although mite not be reliable considering the children could have been smiling for the cameras the photo shows only a number of children what happened to the others. Source B is an interview once again a primary source the message given is that children were to afraid to talk which portrays that not all the children were happy, parents were anxious it could be a failure because the children were frightened . Reliability could be seen as children would be upset because they were leaving their parents which would prominently cause mixed emotions. In the interview of the teacher who was actually there so she must be telling the truth. Nevertheless the interview took place 50 years later so this could be a cause of unreliability. Source C an extract from a novel war Carries War in 1973 a secondary source its emphasising foster parents showing consideration. Realibality could be a factor since its an historical novel,some of the aspects have to be accurate she might have been through it and experienced it. Moreover its a fiction novel therefore could be exgarrated therefore it may not be realiable. Source D is an advert a primary source published by the government. It says its an appeal for more foster parents in Scotland, thanking foster parents, children were gratified. It maybe reliable because its an appeal and shows you a picture or poor children. Unreliability could be a factor theyre advertising for children its propaganda. Finally Source E is from an extract from a mass observation survey in May 1940 a primary source. The message given is parents didnt want to send their children and were worried about letting them go thinking about issues like starvation. It may be reliable because its a primary source and theres nothing to hide These sources give some failures and success although more success. Here are some successful points to consider evacuation as an accomplishment Children thought it an adventure as few children had ever enjoyed the luxury of rail travel and even fewer had ventured into the British countryside children marched patriotically songs. In addition children faced a better way of life they were treated like members of the foster family and showered with love and affection for the first time in their lives they actually encountered a lifestyle full of activities and amenities which could have never been felt before which included waling in the woods, indoor toilets, plenty of hot water, fresh vegetables, viewing live farm animals, trips to the cinemas. More general cleanliness including bathing more often. Overall they were safe from the bombing and had could concentrate on their studying. And they proved incredibly resolute and adapted to their new surroundings with particular ease. The Blitz was also a success because Britain managed to survive this they were prepared for the excepted bombings, many children had been evacuated form the cities, gas masks had been issued evacuation was carried out in stages. Volunteer organisations were set up to deal with the air raid threat. Blitz ended in summer 1941 more civilians had been killed in the war than British soldiers. Despite the above there was some points of failure which were the children were frightened they suffered the trauma of separation and isolation and were being terrified by the prospect of being removed from their parents. Another factor was that not all parents allowed their children to go because the uncertainly sometimes bordered on to paranoia mothers worried that her child would enjoy their new family to more than an extent and not want to return posters of played on parents fear to sending them away. Parents and had lost of questions about the fate of their children which were not answerable and caused hesitance. Some of the Southend parents thought there children would starve and they couldnt be looked after were the government was to send them. Poor foster parents caused distress and failure to the evacuation in a way many foster parents complained to the authorities that they did simply not want such children in their homes what a negative impact to have the conditions of the children simply failed to impress the foster parents. The absence of the government in some areas caused impatience to foster families. A few children suffered sexual and physical abuse. Foster parents did mistreat children by making them do hard work at the home/farm. Some children become so miserable that they returned home after a few weeks or days and ran away although only a minority of evacuees emphasised this. Selection was like a slave market which was another downfall to the success of the evacuation. The forced integration of people with very different backgrounds exposed the real divide present in the country at that time. Children were judged by their social and economic standing. Typically the cleanest and the heal theist children were to be adopted first. Those left had rely on government officials to replace them. These children sometimes ended up in homes where the adults had little interest in their welfare. The experience of the evacuees was determined on the home he/she went to. The process of this unfair selection was seen as 19th century slave market. Worries of parents was also an issue, they didnt want hand their children over to a complete stranger it was an agonising choice, parents had questions which couldnt be answered and basically some of the thought feared for the mistreat of their children. They lived a life of perpetual worry even ore if the worried about their husbands fighting overseas to. Parents also didnt know were their children were they were confusion to were children ended up, some travelled a few miles when others went as far a distance a British Isles. My final point is that some foster parents adopted for the wrong reasons to. The less noble, motivated, no doubt by the small government allowance and increase in rationed food to cover the cost of looking after these children. And abusing them, this was pure selfishness and the wring reason to agreeing to be foster parents. My conclusion is basically agreeing with the first point I made overall on looking the positive points the evacuation was a success remembering only a minority suffered distress.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

A Comparison of the Power of Will in Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse N

The Power of Will in Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The story of Heart of Darkness was adapted to film after many failed attempts. (Hearts of Darkness, Coppala E.). Finally, director Francis Coppala collaborated with his friend John Milius on writing a screen play for Conrad's masterpiece. The two came up with Apocalypse Now, utilizing a more modern setting than the original story which was based in imperialistic Europe. The modern setting was that of the Vietnam war. Apocalypse Now focuses on the insanity of a decorated military colonial. "Kurtz intended to enlighten the natives, but instead he circums to the primal temptations of the jungle and goes insane." (Hearts of Darkness, Coppala E.)    The fiction of Joseph Conrad, as seen in Heart of Darkness, represents the teachings of the German philosopher and idealist Arthur Schopenhauer. Schopenhauer thought of the world as having two distinct entities, both of which are parts of the whole [world]. First, there is the world of representation or appearance. This is the phenomenal world which is made of tangible objects. For Schopenhauer the second entity being the thing-in-itself is will, and is the cause of everything. {Frost}. "The phenomenal world [world of representation] is merely an image; it mirrors the will, the real world." (Sahakian). Schopenhauer, being of pessimistic views, argued will to be a force that both "creates all and destroys all in its insatiable demand for " 'More!' [More of what it does not know it only knows that it wants more.]" (Palmer). All human actions are a result of will. As seen through the character of Kurtz, the world of will manifestates suffering, evil, and insanity into the world of perce ption.    There are m... ..., Francis Copala, and John Milius. Paramount, 1989. Palmer, Donald. Looking at Philosophy; The Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy Made Lighter. 1988. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company, 1994. Sahakian William S. History of Philosophy. New York, Barnes and Noble Books, 1968. Schopenhauer, Arthur. Essays and Aphorisms. Trans. R. J. Hollingdale. New York, Penguin Books, 1970.    Works Consulted: Boyle, Ted E. Symbolism and Meaning in the Fiction of Joseph Conrad. 1965. ` Folcroft, PA; The Folcroft Press, 1969. Johnson, Bruce. Conrad?s Models of Mind. Minneapolis: Minnesota UP, 1971. Murfin, Ross C. Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness: A Case Study in Contemporary Criticism. New York: St. Martin?s Press, 1989. Wollaeger, Mark A. Joseph Conrad and the Fictions of Skepticism. Stanford, CA; Stanford UP, 1990.    A Comparison of the Power of Will in Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse N The Power of Will in Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The story of Heart of Darkness was adapted to film after many failed attempts. (Hearts of Darkness, Coppala E.). Finally, director Francis Coppala collaborated with his friend John Milius on writing a screen play for Conrad's masterpiece. The two came up with Apocalypse Now, utilizing a more modern setting than the original story which was based in imperialistic Europe. The modern setting was that of the Vietnam war. Apocalypse Now focuses on the insanity of a decorated military colonial. "Kurtz intended to enlighten the natives, but instead he circums to the primal temptations of the jungle and goes insane." (Hearts of Darkness, Coppala E.)    The fiction of Joseph Conrad, as seen in Heart of Darkness, represents the teachings of the German philosopher and idealist Arthur Schopenhauer. Schopenhauer thought of the world as having two distinct entities, both of which are parts of the whole [world]. First, there is the world of representation or appearance. This is the phenomenal world which is made of tangible objects. For Schopenhauer the second entity being the thing-in-itself is will, and is the cause of everything. {Frost}. "The phenomenal world [world of representation] is merely an image; it mirrors the will, the real world." (Sahakian). Schopenhauer, being of pessimistic views, argued will to be a force that both "creates all and destroys all in its insatiable demand for " 'More!' [More of what it does not know it only knows that it wants more.]" (Palmer). All human actions are a result of will. As seen through the character of Kurtz, the world of will manifestates suffering, evil, and insanity into the world of perce ption.    There are m... ..., Francis Copala, and John Milius. Paramount, 1989. Palmer, Donald. Looking at Philosophy; The Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy Made Lighter. 1988. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company, 1994. Sahakian William S. History of Philosophy. New York, Barnes and Noble Books, 1968. Schopenhauer, Arthur. Essays and Aphorisms. Trans. R. J. Hollingdale. New York, Penguin Books, 1970.    Works Consulted: Boyle, Ted E. Symbolism and Meaning in the Fiction of Joseph Conrad. 1965. ` Folcroft, PA; The Folcroft Press, 1969. Johnson, Bruce. Conrad?s Models of Mind. Minneapolis: Minnesota UP, 1971. Murfin, Ross C. Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness: A Case Study in Contemporary Criticism. New York: St. Martin?s Press, 1989. Wollaeger, Mark A. Joseph Conrad and the Fictions of Skepticism. Stanford, CA; Stanford UP, 1990.   

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Covert intervention as a moral problem Essay

The CIA has been greatly involved in the collection of intelligence as well as being engaged in covert action for the benefit of the United States. According to the 1991 Intelligence Authorization Act covert action is simply described as a particular â€Å"activity of the government of the United states that is meant to influence, economical, political, or military situations in the world, in that the role of the United States will not be acknowledged by many or publicly.† Under covert action, the exact intentions or the reasons behind the actions are not known by the foreign countries hence secrecy is the main component of covert actions. Covert actions and the role of the CIA Covert actions simply involves activities that include supporting political parties, covert propaganda, private groups, economic operations and even individuals through advice or subsidization with an aim of supporting or overthrowing the existing regime in a foreign country. There is a difference between covert actions and clandestine collection efforts whereby the covert actions are mainly designed for influencing conditions in foreign countries while the clandestine efforts are aimed at providing the intelligence community of the United States with information that can be used in designing the covert actions. The CIA is the body that is responsible for the purpose of obtaining intelligence and providing policymakers with relevant information for the purpose of designing covert actions on foreign countries. Apart from being the provider of the intelligence information to policymakers, the CIA is also the same body that is engaged in carrying out the covert actions as well as advising policymakers with regard to the intelligence they have gathered. The CIA as an intelligence body that is also involved in carrying out the covert action in foreign countries always strives to build and maintain its reputation both in the eyes of the United States citizens and foreign countries. To be able to maintain its reputation and put itself as an agency that is committed to serving the country and its citizens while at the same time promoting international relations, the CIA has to reach a compromise. The protecting the American citizens and the country at large as well as providing information for other foreign countries requires transparency. Under the covert actions and operations, there is a lot of secrecy and the only time information gets to reach the public is when operations have gone sour. This means that the CIA has an interest of protecting itself from critics within the public and avoids blame by the public while at the same time carrying out its operations. The CIA is also closely involved with administration officials and policymakers whereby the intelligence from the CIA is questioned and analyzed by the policymakers when making decisions. However, over the years, the CIA has been faced with the challenge of lack of commitment on the part of the policymakers to take time and read the intelligence provided by the agency. Instead, most policymakers have been keen on intelligence that is related to current risks. The unwillingness or the inability of policymakers to spend a lot of time in analyzing longer-range issues has been a source of frustration. The CIA have the duty to provide intelligence as they receive it and also take part in covert actions as they are assigned hence the need to have a balance between the two. The CIA has to ensure that it provides relevant information to policymakers because in the long run, it is the agency that is always blamed when covert actions to not go as planned. Therefore, the CIA has great interest in the intelligence and the covert actions that they take part in since the agency has to prove its worth and demonstrate that it performs its duties. Being the provider of intelligence and at the same time the user of the intelligence requires a lot of integrity to ensure that there is no biasness whereby the CIA provide information that it is aware will work in its favor. As a way of ensuring that the covert actions that the carry out and get involved in are successful to build their image in the eyes of the public, the CIA may tend to manipulate the information and intelligence they provide to policymakers. It is quite difficult to be certain with the kind of intelligence that the CIA provides to the policymakers as not being biased due to the reason that they are the same users of the information that they have gathered. The CIA as an intelligence agency and one that is held in high reputation would not want the public image that they have built get ruined by the kind of intelligence and covert actions they undertake. Therefore, based on the reason that the CIA is the provider and user of the intelligence they gather as well as the aim of protecting the agency from bad public image and reputation, it can be said that there is a conflict of interest. Furthermore, based on the issue that the intelligence the CIA gathers is provided to policy makers and in most occasions the policymakers do not take their time in reading and analyzing intelligence that is set for longer-use, the CIA has to ensure that the information they provide to the policymakers would not compromise the agency. Therefore, it can also be said that there is conflict of interest whereby the CIA, the provider and user of intelligence, has to ensure that policymakers to not make wrong decisions that will compromise the agency. The CIA also has the mandate of promoting democracy both locally and internationally but this is not the case with the intelligence gathered as well as the covert actions they undertake. There is a lot of secrecy whereby the public is left out on covert actions issues and intelligence hence it can be said that the CIA is practicing double standards. Democracy requires people to be well informed, something that is not the case with regard to the covert actions and intelligence gathered by CIA. Conclusion The CIA has greater duty of protecting the public, the United States government and its interest while at the same time maintaining a reputable public image both locally and internationally. There are times when the CIA has to provide some intelligence in certain situations while at times it has to avoid letting the public know of what is going on based on the reason that the image of the agency may be destroyed in case the covert actions do not go as planned and no positive results achieved. Therefore, the CIA, apart from being an intelligence agency that provides intelligence and gets involved in covert actions, has the duty of protecting itself from the public, both locally and internationally. This could result in biasness in the kind of intelligence that it provides to policymakers as well as how it carries out the covert actions, hence conflict of interest. References Beitz, Charles R. â€Å"Covert intervention as a moral problem.† Ethics & International Affairs 3, no. 1 (1989): 45-60. Berger III, Joseph B. â€Å"Covert Action: Title 10, Title 50, and the Chain of Command.† JFQ: Joint Force Quarterly no. 67 (2012 4th Quarter 2012): 32-39. By Bill Gertz, The Washington Times. â€Å"Military, CIA shun 9/11 panel on covert operations.† Washington Times, The (DC) (September 9, 2011): 1. Regional Business News Jeffreys-Jones, Rhodri. â€Å"Covert Action in the Cold War: US Policy, Intelligence, and CIA Operations.† Journal of American History 97, no. 4 (2011): 1173-1174. Little, Douglas. â€Å"Mission Impossible: The CIA and the Cult of Covert Action in the Middle East.† Diplomatic History 28, no. 5 (November 2004): 663-701 Meyer, Joel T. â€Å"Supervising The Pentagon: Covert Action And Traditional Military Activities In The War On Terror.† Administrative Law Review 59, no. 2 (Spring2007 2007): 463-478. Prouty, L. Fletcher. The secret team: the CIA and its allies in control of the United States and the world. Skyhorse Publishing Inc., 2011. Source document

Sunday, November 10, 2019

How Effective Is the Media in Creating Dissatisfaction in the Body?

How effective is the media in creating dissatisfaction in the body image of teenage girls? 1. Introductory Paragraph – Attention Grabber: 75% of teenage girls have a celebrity they look up to for a body image they would like to have according to the National Institute on Media and the Family. – Definition of Body Image: Body image refers to one’s sense of his or her own physical appearance influenced by his/her personal experiences, personality and various social and cultural forces. Thesis Statement: The trouble these days is that the media is constantly and greatly impacting the teenage girls of today’s generation who are aged 13 to 19 years of age to having a negative and distorted body image which leads to psycho-physical problems which cause teenagers to go to extremes in order to achieve what they perceive as the ‘perfect’ body. – Question: Do you feel ashamed, self-conscious and anxious about your body? If you do not, you have a negative body image and this essay is meant for you. 2. Supporting Paragraph 1 Topic Sentence: Teenage girls have an increasing desire to be either ultra-thin or to have more sex appeal under the influence of the media which cause a negative body image. – In the magazine, you can see what is considered as the ‘perfect’ woman and what is not the most ‘in’ thing. Teenagers shape how they see themselves based on what they see on television, magazines, newspapers and websites. – Media images depicting ultra-thin and digitally altered women models are the reason for body dissatisfaction in girls.What they see mostly in these advertisements are tall, skinny, flawless, and beautiful women selling fashionable products. – Fashion marketers use provocative marketing campaigns featuring young teenage models such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Guess. These ads are selling more than just clothing to teens. They are also selling adult sexuality. Moreover , the media’s trending definition of beauty as portrayed in celebrities and models would be having a curvaceous bodyline, and large breasts which supposedly increase the sexuality of a woman. Thus, they would eventually feel that they have to look like these perfect flawless women in order to be considered beautiful, though this ‘perfect’ appearance is one that few people can ever attain. Teenage girls are influenced and under constant pressure to be thin, beautiful and highly sexualized and this brings me to my next point on the severe impact of stimulating marketing campaigns. 3. Supporting Paragraph 2 – Topic Sentence: Teenage girls are both mentally and physically affected by pursuing such perfect body images as ensued by the media. Pretty pictures we see in magazines are often not what we would see in real life. However, teenagers aspire and go to extremes to get the ‘look’. Therefore, the media is responsible for creating ideals about bo dy image and the influenced teenagers suffer from inferiority complex and resort to unhealthy practices in order to achieve their perception of the ‘perfect’ body. – Firstly, the ultimate effect of the media on teenagers would be depression, and a loss of self-esteem. A study in 1995 found that spending 3 minutes looking at models in a fashion magazine caused 70% of the women to feel depressed, guilty and ashamed.Also, it has caused the development of unhealthy eating habits as the media often brings about the message that physical perfection is what we should all strive for if we want to be successful. – Being strongly influenced by the media, teenagers who are striving for the ‘perfect’ body and to achieve a strong sense of ‘achievement’ by reducing their weight will eventually start eating disorders. Teenage girls therefore follow blindly to achieve the ‘perfect’ image and suffer from psychological problems such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. refer to page 2 and 3 – preteens) – These psychological problems then lead to physical problems (refer to page 2 – teens) 4. Supporting Paragraph 3 – Topic Sentence: Not only do teenage girls suffer from psycho-physical problems, but they also go to extreme means and take drastic measures such as plastic surgery in order to achieve the perfect body crafted by the media which in turn, creates more health problems for girls. – A study done by BBC stated that three-quarters of girls who have had plastic surgery think it has improved their lives and 71% would do it again.During 2010, there were over 93000 people who had the plastic surgery in USA (if they cannot achieve the perfect body naturally, they would rather do so artificially. ) – Many girls want to undergo plastic surgery as they are obsessed with creating the ‘perfect’ body. Thus, they are open about having normalized surgery.  œ A dying young woman, Lisa Connell spent $40,000 on plastic surgery as she strongly desired to die looking like movie star Demi Moore. She was convinced that surgery would make her look as beautiful as Demi Moore who endorses cosmetic surgery herself. . Concluding Paragraph – After considering the points above, one has to agree that the media has negatively impacted teenage girls both mentally and physically and has caused the desire to have the ‘perfect’ body to take control of their lives. One thing is certain. The media are to be blamed for the 80% of girls who responded to More! Magazine that images of women on television and in the movies makes them feel insecure. The term ‘beauty’ holds different meanings and understandings to every individual teenage girl.The media has a large influence of what society believes is beautiful and what is not and made teenage girls feel insecure and fear that they are not good enough. However, the numerous probl ems and damaging impacts of such a negative body image are devastating and one must be sure that aspiring for such beauty is not the way to go about life. Inner strength is the key towards a happy and successful life and not beauty. We were all crafted and made by God and there is no need to bother about who you are or what you look like. The important thing is to love yourself and that is all that matters.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

What to Do If You Have a Dirty Roommate

What to Do If You Have a Dirty Roommate When you imagined what college life would be like, you probably didnt picture living with a dirty roommate. Unfortunately, however, a messy roommate can quickly turn your college experience into one that seems positively dreadful. From dirty dishes to clothes all over the place, living with a less-than-clean roommate can be a challenge for even the most easy-going college student. Fortunately, while the mess your roommate leaves around might seem overwhelming, there are several steps you can take to make the situation more bearable: 1. Figure out what bugs you the most. Is your roommate just messy, meaning he does things like leave dirty clothes and wet towels everywhere? Or is she dirty, meaning she leaves dishes in the sink for days on end and refuses to clean up after herself in the bathroom? Or does he continually wake up late, meaning he doesnt have time to shower before class - even though he desperately needs to? Figuring out where the main issues are can help you figure out an approach to the solution. Extra tip: Try to look at patterns of behavior, not necessarily specific instances. 2. Figure out where a comfortable compromise is. Part of having a good roommate relationship means learning the delicate art of compromise. While ideally, youd like your roommate to do everything exactly how you want, he or she probably wants the same from you - which means, of course, that something has to give. Try to figure out what youre willing to sacrifice in order to prove your willingness to work toward a solution. 3. Lead by example. You may find your roommates dirty dishes totally gross... and yet you yourself may be guilty of not washing your own stuff from time to time. If youre going to ask a roommate to change his or her behavior, youll have to make sure you can meet the standard you set. Otherwise, youre not being fair to your roommate - or yourself. 4. Drop hints. Sometimes, you can communicate with your roommate in an indirect, non-confrontational way by just dropping subtle hints here or there. If your roommate is always late because hes trying to figure out which clothes are clean (enough), you can jokingly comment about how doing laundry with you on the weekends might help him get to class on time, for example. Just make sure your hints are constructive and suggestive of solutions instead of passive-aggressive ways to get a dig in. 5. Talk to your roommate directly. At some point, if you have a funky roommate, youll have to talk to him or her about the things that bug you. Doing so doesnt have to be awkward and confrontational, however, if you follow some basic rules. Keep the conversation about the room instead of each other. (Example: The room has so many clothes thrown around that I cant find a place to study vs. You throw your stuff everywhere all the time.) Talk about how youre feeling in the situation instead of how frustrated you are with your roommate. (Example: When you leave your dirty rugby clothes on my bed, I think its super gross and worry about my stuff staying clean. vs. Youre really nasty when you come home from practice and you need to keep your stuff away from mine.) And follow the Golden Rule when youre talking with your roommate, too, meaning that you should talk to them the way you would like someone to talk to you if the situation were reversed. 6. Sign a roommate contract together. Your RA or other hall staff member should have a roommate contract available for both you and your roommate to sign if you didnt already do so when you first moved in together. The contract can help you both figure out what kinds of rules to set. If nothing else, a roommate contract can be a great way to initiate a conversation about each of your preferences and what kinds of things youll both need to pay attention to in the future. 7. Talk to an RA or another staff member. Even if youve tried to compromise, lead by example, drop hints, or address the issue directly, it is possible that your dirty roommate is, well, just too dirty and funky for you. If thats the case, youll need to talk to your RA or other hall staff member. Theyll want to know what youve tried to do to remedy the situation thus far. And, if you do need to get a new roommate, they can help you start the process.