Life of Pi Essay

During Life of Pi, and Castaway, characters in each experience disastrous deaths of loved ones which play with their will to survive. However, their hope and determination pull through and overcome this heart- wrenching event. For Pi, from Life of Pi, there are numerous deaths that have a huge toll on him. Pi’s whole family dies when the boat they are travelling on sinks. Growing up in an Indian culture, Pi was very close to his family, and a part of Pi also died that day. â€Å"Every single thing that I value in life gas been destroyed. And am I allowed no explanation? I am to suffer hell without any account from heaven? † [OR SHOULD I USE â€Å"To lose a brother is to lose someone with whom you can share the experience of growing old, who is supposed to bring you a sister-in-law and nieces and nephews, creatures who people the tree of your life and give it new branches. To lose your father is to lose the one whose guidance and help you seek, who supports you like a tree trunk supports its branches. To lose your mother, well, that is like losing the sun above you. It is like losing–I’m sorry, I would rather not go on. †] Although Pi is devastated he is determined to survive. Likewise in Castaway, the protagonist: Chuck Noland’s plane crashes and he washes up to shore. While isolated, Chuck makes himself a companion out of a volleyball who he names Wilson. This ball becomes important to Chuck because it is the only object he has contact with for four years while on the island. He talks to Wilson as if he was a person and when he loses Wilson, he becomes wounded. This is a hard time for Chuck because all he had that was keeping him sane leaves. Nevertheless Chuck perseveres through the hardships and keeps moving forward with hope and determination. Despite the battle of deaths these characters Pi and Chuck Noland were presented, they prove that with hope and determination to live it is possible to overcome their adversity if death, and any other difficulty that arose. Aside from the emotional destruction due to the deaths both protagonists endured, they also have to deal with the physical destruction as well. These events are what trigger both Pi and Chuck’s journey. In order to defeat the odds, characters must be courageous, obtain hope, and stay determined. In Life of Pi, Pi and his family are moving to Canada from India on boat. When the ship sinks, Pi is the only one from his family to make it to a life boat. â€Å"The ship was sinking. My mind could hardly conceive it. It was as unbelievable as the moon catching fire. † While this was happening, Pi is very optimistic. Although fear and negativity flowed through him, in the end Pi gains hope. Throughout the novel, Pi would constantly go through episodes of defeat and self-pity. However, Pi is determined to survive. It was through this determination and courageous acts that Pi beats the odds and lives through this destruction. Similarly to Pi, Chuck Noland from Castaway also had an unexpected change of events while travelling. Chuck was on his way to Russia when he mentions to Kelly, his love interest â€Å"I’ll be right back! † as he was boarding the plane. Little did Noland know that it was about to crash. This physical destruction is a gigantic catastrophe for Chuck, and after four years of being stranded on an island, decides to undertake the Atlantic Ocean back to civilization. To achieve this, after being isolated Chuck needed courage. Along with determination, and hope Chuck strives for salvation and saves himself. With the unfortunate events Pi and Chuck are faced with, each made their way home relatively safe- considering the circumstances. The characters proved that despite the expectations of failure that were set for them, if they had courage, hope, and determination they would survive any tragic event that came their way. There is no argument that both the novel Life of Pi, and the movie Castaway are both tragedies- a sinking ship and crashing plane are tragic events. However, protagonists in each stay hopeful and determined to have a happy ending. Pi, from Life of I is a very obedient, sensitive person. He follows his parent’s rules strictly. Pi was always very observant of his older brother, and strived to stay out of trouble. When Pi was stranded on the life boat alone, he lost life as he knew it. Pi experiences monstrous behavior, even going as far as to eat human flesh-cannibalism. Every rule Pi had been taught that human restraint has â€Å"gone out the window†. The way Pi viewed the world completely changed. Death is so real, so close to Pi, his views altered entirely. â€Å"By the next morning I had lost all fear of death, and I resolved to die. † (page 268) Pi also had very strict rules when it came to religion, spirituality and faith. Pi was a strict vegetarian due to his belief in God. While stranded, Pi had no other choice but to kill and eat animals. Because of this, he loses his innocence. â€Å"Lord, to think that I’m a strict vegetarian. To think that when I was a child I always shuddered when I snapped open a banana because it sounded to me like the breaking of an animal’s neck. I descended to a level of savagery I never imagined possible. † This proves how this tragedy made Pi lose hope in himself. He went against every standard he has ever believed in. Chuck from Castaway’s views on life and the world also changed drastically after the plane crash. Chuck Noland’s whole life revolved around time and work before the crash. Once chuck had witnessed how quickly life could turn for the worst, he had a complete change in attitude. At the beginning of the movie Chuck really did not care about other people’s feelings. As chuck gained hope to survive, and determination to do so, he even treated Wilson- a volleyball with respect. By the time Chuck returned home, he had a genuine concern for people around him. With both of these characters, it is clear that the tragic experiences altered their hearts, and outlook on life. Both the stories of Pi from Life of Pi by Yann Martel, and Chuck from Castaway are very similar. Each has experiences of death, destruction, and tragedy that take a great toll on both characters. However they resolve their adversities, and prove it is possible to beat the likelihood of failing by turning to hope and staying determined to survive. Each story ended with a new beginning for each character: the prize from the pain. The theme of hope continued to their future lives with Pi: through this wife, children, and new home, and new openings. In the same way, Chuck also had a chance to start over.

Utilizing Online Social Networking Sites

Social Networking Business and Human Services organizations all over the world try to look for different ways to improve and be successful. One of the ways organizations have been able to maintain success is by networking and linking themselves with similar organizations. A website that provides organizations with this type of networking is LinkedIn. In week two I was given the task to research and understand why such sites as LinkedIn help human service organizations stay connected with their professional community and other human service professionals.In addition to researching how these sites enhance more quality services and support and how additional training keeps you up to date and competitive against other organizations. History of LinkedIn LinkedIn is a site used by business professionals all over the world. This site provides business professionals and other types of organizations the ability to exchange information and other networking types of opportunities. Created by fi ve founders, LinkedIn’s website officially took off in 2003 (LinkedIn. com, 2012).The five founders asked 350 of their closest contacts to join their site and within the first month had over 4500 members in the network (LinkedIn, 2012). By the end of 2003 they had over 81000 members and now present day has over 41 million members (LinkedIn, 2012). LinkedIn had a vision to redefine the social networking community and set a new standard. Considered by many to be the businessman’s Facebook, it continues to grow and help businesses to gain new opportunities through social networking. Using LinkedIn to Stay ConnectedLinkedIn has provided human service organizations the ability to reconnect to past and present colleagues, which allows them to stay in constant touch. In addition, help them gain inside connections with similar types of organizations that enhance their growth and success. The network also provides similar organizations within their network to share advice and a nswer questions. Human Service organizations grow and remain successful by linking themselves, working together and gaining referrals from similar types of organizations.Being tied into an online community helps an organization stay connected to other human service agencies and the ability to offer more types of support services. For example, one human service agency may provide speech and occupational therapy, where as their community link specializes in integration behavioral therapy, which their client needs. What then happens is a quality referral to that agency. These two organizations were able to work together, provide more services, all for the greater good of the client’s needs.How it works is that an online user can search for an organization under the search tool. Once an organization is found the user could research statistics regarding the organization, location, and who runs it. The user can then ask to follow the organization and become a networking connection. Training Training and continuing education is an important aspect to any human service agency. Organizations need to be able to provide training opportunities to their employees to keep them up to date and remain competitive in their field.New types of therapies and research are developed all the time and directors and employees need to be aware of them. Through LinkedIn and staying in touch within their online community, organizations can now attend approved training sponsored by different organizations. Some organizations can even upload the training online so that employees can do their continuing education hours without leaving the office. Sites such as NHS on LinkedIn have provided numerous human service organizations with online training, consulting, professional development, and human services training (NHS-LinkedIn. om, 2012). In addition to finding online training and development, employees can also look for employment for human service organizations through the LinkedIn c ommunity. Instead of putting an ad in the newspaper more organizations are looking to LinkedIn and other online sources to find knowledgeable and qualified employees. Technology Used to Stay Connected Some other ways that human services or other business organization use technology to stay connected to their business contacts and employees is by the internet and other social online networking websites.Sites like Facebook and Twitter can be an essential tool in keeping contact and the ability to provide constant updates. My friend’s son attends a specialized Autism School in the Salinas area. The director has 2 offices in the San Luis Obispo area and one in the Stanford area. Although her job as director keeps her on the road visiting the different sites, there are times when she is unable to visit the area. She keeps in constant contact with the assistant director and employees by using Skype.Skype is an online tool where you can have instant face- to- face chats and hold mee tings without all being at the same place at the same time. This way she is always able to attend weekly meetings, get updates, and hold training sessions with her employees. This site has enabled her to grow her organization in different areas while not having to visit the site daily. Staying Connected to the Community If I was trying to find a way to stay connected to other human service professionals in my area I would turn to the internet in order to build and find online networks.Sites such as LinkedIn would be perfect for my individual needs and allow me to build contacts while enabling me to advertise my organization. I would look to LinkedIn to help me build my online website. The purpose of this site is to allow registered users to follow your organization and become notified when other contacts or updates have been added like training, fundraisers, or networking opportunities. This can help me grow a professional contact list that I trust and find other business opportunit ies recommended by someone from another contact network.Conclusion Social and online networking is an online platform that can be used to build contacts and other business opportunities. Sites such as LinkedIn, has given human services and other business organizations the ability to grow, keep in contact, and build relationships. Since 2003, LinkedIn has continued to be the number one site that businesses turn to in order to build their online community. Since that time LinkedIn has continued to improve their site by designing better applications to make building an online community easier.Human Service organizations will do what they can in order to achieve their mission. Working together with other organizations is the key to building relationships, offer more support services, and provide quality referrals to their clients. References LinkedIn. com, (2012). Company history. Retrieved on October 25th, 2012 from http://press. linkedin. com/history/ NHS (2012). NHS management servic es. Retrieved on October 25th, 2012 from http://www. linkedin. com/company/nhs-management-services

Critical Analysis of a Journal Article Essay

The study of Oncology concerns most and every citizens. Oncology is the study of anything about the nature, medication, and strategic methods in understanding and treating cancer (Kaminsky, 2009). Based on the information provided in the two articles, Oncology was the main focus of the authors. The authors discussed two distinct strategies in dealing with treating the cancer patients. However, I found Takimoto’s (2008) article more convincing than the other article written by Bertino et. al. (2007). To start with, the article by that of Takimoto discusses the proposed method of phase 0 clinical trials to human and animal testing in attempt of the doctors and clinicians to find a cure against cancer. Also, in the article, several advantages of using the clinical trials are imparted like: the reduction of time, and minimal cost of injury or any other harm to both human and animals. Therefore, I agree that phase 0 clinical trials should be performed. In the article innovation was emphasized and linked to the development of products (medicines) through creative manipulating of the dosages that the sample animals or humans, as participants of the trials should receive. Moreover, it was preconceived my many that several dosage could make a patient weak or worse. Thus, it is important among clinicians to define how the dosage should be executed and when shall it stop (Takimoto, 2009). References Bertino, J. , & Greenberg, H. J. (2007). College of clinical pharmacology position statement on the use of microdosing in the drug development process. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 47,418-419. Retrieved January 28, 2009 from the Medline database. Kaminsky, A. (2009). What is oncology? Retrieved January 31, 2009 from http://www. wisegeek. com/what-is-oncology. htm Takimoto, C. (2009). Phase 0 Clinical trials in oncology: A paradigm shift for early drug development? Cancer Chemotherapy Pharmacology, 63,703-709. Retrieved January 28,2009 from http://www. SpringerLink. com

TPM components, TPM keys Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

TPM components, TPM keys - Research Paper Example Attestation on the other hand is a verification process of the computer’s trustworthiness and determining if it has been breached or not. Other devices such as network equipment and mobile phones can be computed using TPMs (Trusted Computing Group, 2012). In summary, the TPM has four main functions which include platform monitoring, secure storage, encryption operations and authentication services (Hewitt, 2006). Operations on sensitive data can only take place in special locations, called shielded locations, which must be incorporated in the TPM. It should be impossible for user programs to access these locations. Protected capabilities are the set of commands which one can use to access the shielded locations. This set of commands protect the shielded locations and report integrity measurements at the same time. The TPM has several major components which are illustrated in the following diagram. TPM COMPONENTS The SecureI/O component It is a control component that manages th e TPM’s information flow to the outside and also controls and routes internal signals (Hewitt, p.3). The I/O encodes and decodes the information passing over the internal and external buses (Gunupudi, p.11). The Cryptographic Co-Processor This is a major subdivision of the TPM containing various cryptographic engines. The RSA key generator, RSA encryption/decryption and SHA-1 engine must be included in its functionality (Microsoft 2012). Other asymmetric algorithms such as DSA or elliptic curve, are allowed by the specification. The strength of 2048 bit RSA key should be the threshold of all storage and identity keys as this is enough to offer sufficient protection from malicious access. Digital signatures and encryptions are made using the RSA algorithm. If RSA encryption is not used when a signing is done within the TPM, it stands the risk of being rejected by other TPM devices. The engine must support key sizes ranging from 512,768, 1024 and 2048 bits. The minimum recommen ded size is 2048 bits. The specified public exponent of RSA is (2raised to 16 +1). The SHA-1 engine requires 160-bit keys and provides the primary hash algorithm used by the TPM. The implementations of the HMAC engine are dictated in RFC 2104. It involves turning a keyless hash function in to a keyed hash by incorporating a cryptographic key. This will allow the chip to detect proof of knowledge of Auth Data and also ensure that authorized incoming requests have not been tampered with (Hewitt, p.4). The TPM also uses the symmetric encryption algorithm internally because they cannot have user-accessible interfaces. They are used in encrypting internal data that was fed in to the TPM from an outside source and encrypting authentication exchanges. Other algorithms such as AES are allowed by the specification depending on the sufficiency preference of the implementer (Hewitt, p.5). The Key Generator It’s a protected capability function that manages the generation of keys and nonc e (Gunupudi, p.12). The keys generated are used for encryption.The specification of the key generator is not strict. It however emphasizes that data that has existed in a non-protected location as a key should not be used. The specification also requires that all nonces be from the TPM’s Random Number Generator (Hewitt, p.5). The Random Number Generator It’s the source of entropy in the TPM (Gunupudi, p.12). It consists of a post-processor with a hashing

Describe the services currently delivered by this organisation Essay

Describe the services currently delivered by this organisation - Essay Example Police is inclusive of a wide range of activities, which ensure the lawful existence of citizens, without any discrepancies in the society due to negligence over unlawful occurrences. They include not only the activities related to safety and security, but also those related to improving the overall quality of life. Commercial Agents Unit: They provide licenses and authority to security officers and personnel to carry firearms and batons, to control situations that need immediate attention and swift action. This way, inflammatory situations are averted and controlled. However, it is not always that licenses are issued for these purposes. Only select applicants, matching the criterion required are provided with the equipment and the right to carry forward the application of those, in select circumstances. Community Diversity: A society that is pluralist and is a heterogeneous mixture of varied communities requires a strong security service, to recognise and upkeep the diversity. In providing this safety, it is imperative to avoid hurting the sentiments of certain groups. The Western Australia Police recognises this diversity and maintains this diversity, by providing equal protection for all and sundry, especially the senior citizens, without any form of discrimination or dilution of authority. Classifications: The Western Australia Police are classified under varied types to provide all-round services of protection and safety. Mounted Police, who are mounted on trained horses are one fo the fastest detectors and providers of security to the citizens. Next, the Air Wing Police operate via helicopters and aircrafts. They have two units and are extremely efficient operators of the Police Department. Further, the

My Driving Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

My Driving Experience - Essay Example I was driving with my dad to the beach on a hot summer day when our car got stuck in traffic. It was a holiday and, thus, most of the people were out. Our car was at a signal. On green light, the driver in front of our car did not move. My dad has always been very short-tempered but, still, he kept his nerves. We got out of the car, and went to the driver. I saw that he was trying to grab his cell phone from the back seat that his kid has thrown there. â€Å"Excuse me! The signal is green from ages. Will you mind moving?† My dad asked him. â€Å"Yes, I will mind moving until I grab my phone,† he replied with much arrogance. â€Å"How rude that is!† Dad exclaimed, â€Å"Don’t you know you are bugging others in the line?† â€Å"No, I don’t!† He shouted at dad, â€Å"I’ll move, just go, I know I don’t have to stay here forever. Hey Jimmy, did you find the damned phone?† This time he shouted at his kid. The signal had already turned red again. My dad wanted to end the situation without any quarrel. But he looked annoyed, and this annoyed me. I wanted to punch that man right in his face. He really wanted some lesson. But I kept silent, and let my dad talk. â€Å"Hey man,† Dad said loudly this time, â€Å"I won’t allow you to be rude to me. Move your car right now. I’m getting late.† Everyone was giving horns and shouting at us to move. I could see all other drivers staring at us. The man had found his phone by then. He gave us a wave with his hand with a look as if trying to tell us to shut up. I heard him say, â€Å"Piss off, you old man!†... I could see all other drivers staring at us. The man had found his phone by then. He gave us a wave with his hand with a look as if trying to tell us to shut up. I heard him say, â€Å"Piss off, you old man!† That infuriated my dad, but I held his arm and told him not to indulge in quarrel. I could sense him getting furious. The man turned his ignition on, and moved away with a jerk staring at us which was even more exasperating. We, at once, got into our cars and moved away from the scene to unblock the traffic behind us. We, then, talked about road sense and driving tips. I could see that my dad was trying to make me learn how to be conscious on road. Although this experience was a bad one, but it left a big positive impact on me, since I found out how important driving sense could be. I decided to learn more about driving and road sense, and to be respectful to people I met on road. There was a lesson for me in this experience. I learned that, it is a very unmannerly thing to annoy other drivers on road, especially on signals. No driver should look hither and thither, looking for lost things, eating food, reading magazines, talking on cell phones, quarreling with other passengers, or doing things that distract him from concentrating upon driving. Hence, to ensure peaceful driving, drivers must stick to the indispensable dos and don’ts of driving, if they want to keep others and themselves safe and courteous. Safety of others is just as important as our own safety on road. This lesson was something that I learnt from the overall experience that day, and that has continued to make me a good driver since then. I would suggest the audience to drive positive lessons and impacts from any negative event that they encounter.

Stage 3 Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Stage 3 - Case Study Example In addition, integrating of technological solution in the center will aid in attracting many youths who are the center’s targeted group in the market, hence maintaining client’s loyalty. The center ought to establish a secure and free WI-FI system in the premises as well as improvise a membership database, which is digital. Therefore, coordination and timesaving in the center would be easier to suit both the clients and the center’s staff. In addition, usage of smart cards and key chain rings for store vital information will make clients feel comfortable in the center. To attain this, the center ought to embark on intensive advertising of its products and services via the internet besides employing personal trainers especially for clients with special needs. Hardware: The essential hardware aspects associated with e-commerce are server, input as well as output tools and database management system. This server will contain critical information and will act as a backup for information preservation system. Input devices such as mouse and keyboards are efficient tools in the e-commerce system (Carter, 2008). Software: Software is the other vital aspect of e-commerce business process. The most essential software for e-commerce is the database management system, which can store vital information in the form of text and images. The database for UMUC Healthy Fitness Centre can be located in the central server or multiple workstations (Carter, 2008). Internet accessibility in the center is very important thus ranked â€Å"high† because it was not there before. It is very important because the clients will be accessing center’s membership database to deposit their payments and view advertisements by the Fitness Center. The technology system ought to be available always to both prospective and initial clients. Its rank is â€Å"high† because the center being a 24-hour enterprise must enable essential systems

Interventions Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Interventions - Research Paper Example g programs is enlarged to take in the actual job requirements vis-Ã  -vis the knowledge and skill levels on an individual basis, whereby the learning needs of the individual are identified, and the training program removes this deficit in the individual (Buckley & Caple, 2010, p.108). Analyses of the training needs are from two perspectives. The first perspective relates to the knowledge and skills required for the job or task, while the second perspective pertains to the specific learning needs of the individual for the job or task. The analyses provide a list of knowledge and skills that need to be delivered to the individual. The list is then translated into the behavioral objectives of the training, which paves the way for opting for the most appropriate sequence for delivering the training needs. Transfer of the training is achieved through putting into practice the knowledge and skills received through the training at the workplace. No training is complete in the absence of evaluation of the exercise. Evaluation of the training is done through examining the effectiveness of the training and the value provided by the training (Buckley & Caple, 2010, p.108). The system level at which one-to-one training is most applicable is when the individual is about to start on a new job or task assigned. This may occur when a new employee joins the organization, and needs to be trained on the new job. Alternatively, an existing employee may be assigned a new job function or a new job task. In both these eventualities one-to-one training is the most appropriate training method (Buckley & Caple, 2010, p.108). There are three elements involved in the best practices for one-to-one training. The first element is delivering the training at the right time. Immediately prior to an individual undertaking a new job or task is the right time to deliver the training. The second element is delivering the training at the right place. By right place, the meaning pertains to giving

Manifest Destiny & Frederick Jackson Turners frontier thesis Essay

Manifest Destiny & Frederick Jackson Turners frontier thesis - Essay Example On the other hand, the Frontier Thesis as released by Frederick Jackson Turner in 1893 asserted that American development was explicated by the existence of a free land, its constant recession, as well as westward advancement of the American settlement (Turner 56). This concept was said to depend on Darwinism concept of survival for the fittest, where primitive political and economic conditions of the frontier shad to evolve into complex city life. Frederick Turner’s American identity epitomizes Manifest Destiny from the perspective of Anglo-Americans. This is attributed to the fact that Turner describes Americans as strong in individualism and selfishness, with nervous energy, coarseness and strength, and inherent expansive power. In his research, Turner established that the selfish and individual qualities characteristic of Anglo-Americans forced them to push westward; thus, claiming land and expanding democracy. The terms are extremely important in the US history. This is attributed to the fact that they give historians apparatuses that facilitate the using of social history as the basis for all economic, social and economic developments in the American history. Additionally, they give guidelines on the path American democracy has followed in its creation and

Reformation for the Health of the Population Essay Example for Free

Reformation for the Health of the Population Essay Population health is an ever progressing branch of medicine that is fundamentally concerned with improving the health of a population as opposed to the sole health of the individual. Advances in technology continue to improve the average life expectancy, yet the American healthcare system is failing to evolve. Insurance companies routinely collect huge profits, yet a significant portion of the American population remains subject to poor health care. Reconstructions in academia and at the legislative level are a necessity if there is to be any advancement to our healthcare system and increase within population health. Medical training has proven to be insufficient in teaching students how to care for patients outside of the primary demographic to which they were exposed during their studies (Greenlick, p. 2). Future physicians should be trained to better understand the dynamics and diversified needs of the individuals from the populations in which they will be serving. Having a working awareness of multiple patient populations would allow physicians to better serve that individual and collectively improve the population. Socioeconomic disparities, ethnic variances, access to proper nutrition, and genetic predisposition to particular diseases are a few factors that need be considered to provide quality care. Reshaping of medical school curriculum to better prepare students to understand the distribution of disease, the environmental effects on health and disease, and how to interpret the needs of a larger variety of populations should become a priority in medical academia. Reformation is not isolated to any gender, ethnicity, social class, or age group. Health care reform remains a hot topic amongst the one-percenters, the bottom bracket, and the classes in between. Universal reforms need to be made in order to equalize our health care system. Quality care should not be about the bottom line for profit but about respect and concern for one’s fellow-man. The greatest opposition for reformation tends to come from a small, privileged demographic who is satisfied with the status quo and rather not pay reasonably higher taxes in order for the poorer population to access adequate health care. Legislation like the Affordable Care Act is in a sense socializing health care but its  ideals are a step in the right direction for successful reformation. Further clarity is needed to determine an exact methodology to make improvements in population health and the barriers that must be overcome for them to succeed (Eggleston, Abstract). Nevertheless, a financially sound method to fund health care for all should be implemented by the government. Millions of Americans are still uninsured or underinsured and taxing the wealthy to redistribute wealth and improve health resources for the population could alleviate some of the burden our system is facing. Insuring more Americans will prevent the uninsured from having to use emergency rooms due to untimely care of preventative disease which ends up being more costly and ineffective in the long run. Better access to health care for the disadvantaged would improve society on the whole as they would be better able to find and to remain healthy on their jobs thus becoming more productive contributors to society.†¨ In order to improve the quality of life for all, reforms in healthcare practice and academia need to be initiated. There is no room for political bias and unfounded claims for opposition if there is to be any improvement in the health of the population. Health care should be accepted as an essential human right, not a privilege. Social and financial factors must be eliminated when access to care is assessed in order to improve the health of the population and improve society.

Art Of Dissolving Boundaries English Literature Essay

Art Of Dissolving Boundaries English Literature Essay The art of dissolving boundaries is what living is all about. 1 Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, an Indian immigrant woman writer anticipates through her writing to dissolve boundaries among people of different backgrounds, communities, ages and even different world. She spent 19 years of her life in India and learned all the costumes and traditions of her own, thus, she knows her motherland very well. But her migration from one country to another made her comprehend about the feeling of dislocation and homelessness. She felt the adjustments to get shifted from one place, which is your own homeland or roots. Before she became a writer, Chitra Divakaruni was only a simple young woman in a novel country, far away from her own country. She was excited at the prospect studying in America, but forlorn missing her family in Kolkata and the traditions of her culture. For her, it has been such a great attempt just to make it to the U.S. because her very traditional family didnt understand why she would want to leave her home. Ultimately, she was able to convince her family to let her go. In 1976 when she came to the U.S., she went through some incidents and realized the gap between the East and the West. Once while walking down on a Chicago street with some relatives she was horrified when a few white teenagers shouted nigger and hurled sludge at her. This incident deeply shamed that she didnt want to discuss even. But somehow it stayed in her mind and acted as the spur kick her to start writing and then one evening, her five-year-old son Abhay came back from school and tried hard to wash off t he dirt color of his skin. Through these episodes she realized that still there is the sense of other and this made her interest to start writing about her own experience of immigration, which are the same for the many other immigrant women. She identified that people still behave them as alien. Divakaruni said in one of her interviews that, It was a big adjustment, moving from a big city like Calcutta to Dayton, Ohio, which, at that time, didnt have many Indians and was not cosmopolitan; I felt a real sense of being other. People were so startled to see an Indian person in Indian Clothesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. I think all people come to a new country with preconceived notions, so there was an adjustment on both sides. 2 It arouses several views to think about once own identity and roots. The question Where are you from? put her in a shock that people even didnt know about them. It would be really a challenge to get settled in a country where all their lives or their appearance would proclaim them Foreigners. Moving to the United States really made me renegotiate my boundaries and in some ways, even reinvent myself as a woman, says Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni 3. For her, writing is the only way to fight for her self-identity. Before her migration she never thought to be a writer, but later on she felt that whatever feeling she had that was also the same for many-many other immigrant women and she wanted to share it with her readers. That understanding taught Divakaruni that she had stories to tell- stories that could get people together and disclose the common humanity in everyone. The totally new experiences or environment turned her into a writer. She spotted a light on it by saying, In some ways, I think that immigration made me into a writer, because it gave me a subject to write about. When I lived in India, I was so immersed in the culture that I didnt really think about it. But when I moved halfway across the world, I began to think a lot about what it meant for me to be Indian, and also how immigration changes us. 4 Thats why all the way through her skills she wants to write about the life of immigrant women and their problems of dislocation or cultural clash. By showing her own culture the author would like to remove the gap between the two different communities. She believes that situations, conditions, circumstances or destiny are the same everywhere only the implication and reactions are different. The main theme of Divakarunis work is immigrant conflict and acquired values vs. adopted one. There are so many challenges if someone is writing about two distinct worlds. She says, Its okay to be an Indian person who loves Indian culture but now Im an American citizen and committed to making life in this country better. We need to remain secure in our own identity but participate fully in the culture, politics and daily life of America. The important part of integration is that you dont give up, you share. For me as a writer, a major challenge is to keep my finger on the pulse of both worlds. That means talking to people on both continents, observing them, learning what is changing with them and what remains the same. This also means that Im writing for audiences that are very different. This is difficult, especially as I refuse to explicate culture. 5 Divakaruni has studied both Eastern and Western literature. She likes to bring the two together in her writing. She feels this is the only way to enrich both traditions. She recognized that different readers will take different things from her works. She really likes that her books have different kinds of readers or observers. She would want South Asian or South Asian American audience, who will read the books and think about the issues in their communities and lives. She hopes that her readers will see that though we come from different places, what we have in common is humanity. She conveys her great desire that people may eventually come together and make a better world. This chapter will provide an introduction to Divakarunis essential theme. She writes to unite people by dissolving boundaries among them. She is a bridge-builder between these two different cultures, one is her own motherland India and another is where she is living United States. May be both these communities are different in their traditions, customs and lifestyle but feeling, emotions and sensibility are the same. Yet, over the course of 15 books, her motivation remained clear her books are a bridge of words, an attempt to take a reader to understand both themselves and those they might have labeled other 6. So, being an award-winning poet and author, Divakaruni senses a lot about her early days in America. As a creative writing professor at the University of Houston, she makes an effort to use her knowledge to help out worldwide students to feel comfortable in their new environment. Thus, such understanding of her life directed her to write, first poetry, and then fiction. The author also writes about family, domestic violence, emotional abuse, cultural alienation, and human trafficking. Thus, we can analyze how Chitra Benerjee Divakaruni promotes healthy family relationships. She recognizes the positive aspects of traditional culture or values and its places in family and community. Like her fiction her life walks in a careful line between the two worlds. Six months ago, she shifted to Houston with her husband and two sons from the Bay Area to Texas, where she teaches at the University of Houston. Like the characters in her books, she sometimes finds herself struggling to keep in equilibrium the demands of family and career, tradition and modernity. According to her the solution is to combine the best parts of both but she also knows that it is not always easy. Its really a juggling act. Some days, its clear what the best aspects are, some days its not, Divakaruni said with a warm chuckle 7. The author talked about the boundaries between the two East and West plus the two different cultures and the differences among the psychology of the human being. She wants to get rid of the gap between her adopted land and motherland. She has experienced both of these worlds very well and realized that each has its own positive and negative aspects. India has valuable traditions, enrich culture or ethics and on the other side the U.S.A. has modernity, freedom plus lots of exposure in every field. Her writing relates to her homeland and culture of origin; it shows the powerful relations to the culture of the native soil. She tried to give knowledge to her readers about her origin or identity as well as the experience of her new home, thus, she wants to be an Indian-American. Divakaruni shared her views in one of her articles Indian Born in the U.S.A. that, In my dark kitchen I bow my head to pray for strength for India, facing, on her 50th anniversary of freedom, the severe challenges of poverty and illiteracy and communal violence. And for us all, children of the Indian Diaspora, here on the other side of the world, who have our own challenges. I pray that we may be able to preserve the values weve gained from our past: love of family, of traditions, of spirituality and the simple life. That we may combine them with what weve learned in our new home: energy and enterprise and how to fight for our rights. This, perhaps, is the best legacy we can leave our children: The art of being Indian American. 8 Aug 21, 1997. Hence, the act of migration implies a bodily shifting out of the familiar place and relocation in the new and unfamiliar land. It was due to the colonial impact and its after effect which created uprooted and dislocation of identity. Edward Saids Orientalism (1978) enlarged the range of the post colonial approach by revealing the Eurocentric Universalism which establishes Western superiority over the East, recognized as the other. In other World (1987) by Gayatri Spivak, Nation and Narration (1990) by Homi Bhaba, The Empire Writes Back (1989) by Bill Ashcroft, Culture and Imperialism (1993) by Edward W. Said and such other works accelerated the study of colonialism and its effect on other cultures. They all are stuffs of Western education and living outside from their native environment. They can imagine a pre-colonial at best; mythological motherland in Africa or Asia to articulate or end up expressing a cross identity. Therefore, the native speaker of English language shifted to th e foreign land and tried to create their self-identity, culture, and individuality in an alien atmosphere. All those hardships and obstacles which they have faced provide them a new mindset. All these experiences are well dealt in Diaspora literature. This concept of Diaspora often focused on a forced displacement along with centered on negative experiences in terms of unfriendliness, disaffection, loss, and persecution. Even as their ancestral deficiency is an overpoweringly negative concept, the idea of the Jewish Diaspora describes a community whos socioeconomic, cultural, ancestral and political networks across boundaries of states, and protect a common shared identity. Although transformed by the influence of nearby cultures; for many the dream of return to the homeland provided a fundamental principle of identity. Thus, Central to the concept of Diaspora is the image of a journey; however, not all journeys can be understood as the Diaspora. Diasporic journeys are not the same as casual travel; they are about setting down and putting roots elsewhere (Brah, 1996) crossing geographical and mental borders. These discussions of the Diaspora are inevitably bound up with the notion of borders and territories the arbitrary lines of social, cultural and psychic demarcation. 9 The migration experience does not finish with the point of settlement or agreement; it is handed down through the age groups, consciously or unconsciously making its role to the way in which those Diasporas bargain their existence through societies in which they and their culture is in the minority. Being in Diaspora means living in a cross-cultural circumstance, one in which fusion, change, and expansion are predictable. Those alerts of the complexities of this recognize the notice to redefine their identity and the requirement to discover a medium through which to articulate their progress. In their process of defining and redefining their individuality and the struggle this involves, South Asian women in Britain have had to tackle the combined issues of gender and society. Most of all, Diaspora is understood as transcontinental the socio-cultural collection reminiscence of diasporic people is a community having its ties to a homeland, which establishes the false appearance of an ideal past. Emigrants inhabit their communal imagined homeland, which has its location in another place and time. A longing and affection for the discarded homeland is the driving force, which hypotheses an image of the lost country. Divakarunis depiction of her inherited home has, is committed to region in part, her otherwise lost Indian personality. Her accounts are derived from a memory blurred by the distance of time and space. A settler or immigrant are distanced by space and time, as they no longer reside in their country of ancestry and the inhabitance of language and culture of the birthplace is removed from their daily lives. To synthetically recreate the milieu of the lost motherland is flowed due to wistful and false memories, which are created in part to endure a sense of identity and maintain a link to the disconnected motherland. Currently there are almost 20,000,000 people of South Asian origin living outside of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, with the majority in Africa, the U.S., the Caribbean, and Oceania 10. Although there are regional differences in their adaptations in many ways, still tried to display a common Indian identity. They may want their children to flourish in their adopted countries, but at the same time they may wish them to accept Indian family values, share their common culture, and get married to other Indians. In other words, many Diasporas living over as tend to reproduce their Indian culture, language, values, and religion as much as possible. People are getting migrated to other countries because of so many reasons; it could be education, business, residential, and so on. Many writers have also migrated to the West and have been producing a large mass of literature in English which is a powerful organ to voice their emigrant sensibility and migrant experience in the West. The inactive social or cultural hostilities, feeling of isolation from their roots and thereafter a steady search for attaching and assimilating these ancestries in the Western surroundings constitute the center themes in their works. Themes of homelessness, migration, loss of identity, exile, culture clash, cultural assimilation, and rootlessness are often discerned in their works with remarkable similarities. The dilemma of these immigrant writers in a multi-cultural circumstance often get combined with their personal suffering due to bias or a sense of rootlessnesss, if they are rejected by their host countries. Indian Americans writers have made their presence felt in American culture, society, business, and even politics. These writers are writing about common people, identity, a feeling of uprooted, immigrant experience, East-West relations, and life in the United States or the Indian Diaspora. Indian American writing broke new earth from the 1970s and so on. With the relation of immigration laws, Indians migrated to the United States in large number. One consequence of this has been a propagation of women writers. They got the right exposure may be because of the modernity and free atmosphere of the foreign countries. In large American cities, one can easily find their books. Their readership has widened, with many women who are reading novels and short stories in order to learn about their own communities. Indian American women authors wrote about the experiences of immigrant life, which became the reading materials for thousands of immigrants. As it is evidence in the works of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. She has studied both Eastern and Western literature, thus, she likes to bring the two together in her writing; she feels it is a way to enrich both these traditions. Divakarunis books, which are set in both Indian and American, A feature Indian born woman torn between Old and New world values. She gives laser-like sight and skilled use of story, plot, and lyrical description to give readers a many layered look at her characters and their respective worlds, which are filled with fear, hope, and discovery. 11 Most of her work is partially autobiographical and based on the lives of Indian immigrants which she has dealt with. She writes to help people and unite them by breaking down old stereotypes. Divakaruni skillfully expresses the experience or familiarity of South Asians in America. She says that her books are somewhat based on practice plus social observation. But Divakaruni endeavors to interlace such observation with the factor of magic, myth, and ancient culture alongside contemporary culture. She tries to bring a sense of the daily realities of immigrant life and ancient culture together. But she also insists that she doesnt write for a specific spectator in mind. She explains in a soft, gentle tone of voice that, I like to stay close to the story, think about the story, stay close to the characters. I find it distracts me if I begin to think of audience while Im writing 12. Therefore, it shows that she is still attached to her own motherland while adopting another one very well. She only explains her adjustments and conflicts during her journey to the U.S. from India. Divakaruni accepts that both sides have the same problems and circumstances only the way of looking towards those situations are little different. Somehow she realized the frontiers between these two worlds and strived to remove them. Chitra Banerjee has an empathetically personal and boldly imaginative style of storytelling that draws readers into the lives of people across cultures, particularly the lives of Indian and Indian American women. Thus, she has an unusual ability to breakdown different kinds of boundaries, e.g. those between the East/West, prose/poetry, magic/realism, past/present, and native/immigrant. She was able to do all such through the dramatic style and social content of her work. If we look through the geographical point of view there are boundaries or gaps between the East and the West countries, but its all about our psychology only. If we glance it positively and treat all of them as a human being, then there is no boundary as such. No doubt that there is a difference between the culture, lifestyle, atmosphere, customs, and dressing sense; but it doesnt mean that their sensibility is also different. The author tried to show it in the course of her characters that they are able to adopt the new rules of a new country after a lot of adjustments. Divakaruni wants to explain whether they got shift to another country but they have never sensed any boundary between their motherland and foreign-land. They are still attached towards their own roots and homeland. While they have adopted the lifestyle along with the customs of their new home but by some way they still feel the attraction towards their own tradition. Thus, she makes it clear that shifting to another culture or land doesnt mean to leave something; its all about to adopt another home. By her writing Divakaruni illustrates that how difficult it is to remove the border line between East/West and maintain the gap between these two different cultures. Divakaruni brings together wide critical applaud with the publication of her first collection of short stories Arranged Marriage (1995), which pays attention on women who came from India and caught between two worlds. That book also went on to American Book Award in 1996. Many characters in Arranged Marriage deals with this rapid transform in worldview, at once exciting and also horrifying. They have to build a sense of the new condition, which begins to convert them as women. Even it begins to transform their relations with the people in their family like their parents, who are usually back in India and their husbands, who are with them in the novel country. There are kids also who are now born in the new milieu, still wedged between two cultures, so far with an entirely different worldview. Well this is also an awfully chief theme in her another story collection The Lives of Strangers (2001), with movements back and forth between the two worlds. Divakarunis more than 15 books address the stories about to the understanding of women or immigrants in a new nation. Though she said her books are not autobiographical, but many of her characters contribute to similar apprehensions. She is concerned with how we make a new home for ourselves in a place that is so far away and so unlike from our home culture. The author also said that, she is concerned about how we as immigrants change the places in which we find ourselves. She is very much interested in the ways womens roles have changed as we move into different cultures. Eventually, Divakaruni expects that her words will challenge readers to think about what it means to be an immigrant and about larger issues such as family and home. She further says that, What I hope people get out of my books is that it will encourage them to think about important issues. I also hope that they see that although we come from many different places, what we have in common is the humanity we want the same things, we desire the same things. I hope my books will dissolve boundaries and bring people together. 13 Therefore, in her writing Divakaruni keeps on to be stimulated by her students at the University of Houston, many of them are immigrants themselves. In her time at UH, Divakaruni has been pleased to see the increasing variety among faculties, particularly at the highest level with President Renu Khator, who is also from India. Divakaruni talks about the strength of Renu that, Her having come from a different background and really having overcome many difficulties in her own personal background makes her an inspiring role model. She can also understand the struggles of some of our students who maybe come from different backgrounds where they havent been given the kind of support they need for college success. 14 Through her writing Chitra Banerjee wants to share all her experiences and also wish to unite the East/West by telling the stories of different characters. In her novel Sister of my heart (1999), Divakaruni presented two different characters Anju and Sudha, who were born at the same time. They both grew up together in the guardianship of their mothers in India. After marriage Anju went to America with her husband and on the other side Sudha lives in India with her in-laws. Author figured out Anju as a young woman in a new country, far away from home as well as from the sister of her heart Sudha. Anju tries to adjust in a new atmosphere with the past memories of her family and culture. There was no family support for her and she had to do everything by her own. She says while living alone in her new apartment, I dont like walking into the empty apartment. Theres something about the air unpeopled and stagnant, as though its from the bottom of a well that dried up a long time ago that makes me uncomfortable. Thats when the longing for the house of my childhood shakes me the most. How irritated I used to be at the constant commotion milkmen, vegetable sellers, Ramur Ma shouting at the neighbors cat whod snuck into the kitchen, Pishi calling me to go for my bath. Now Id be glad to see even the teatime aunties!15 Thus, through both of these protagonists the author wants to show two different lives in different cultures. Anjus life is entirely different from Sudhas. There is a gap between both of them, but this is physically only not mentally. Distance didnt change anything much between the relationships of these two sisters, after all they are sisters of the heart. They used to keep their connection through phone calls or letters as well as share each and every experience or growth of their life in different surroundings. By showing the life of these two sisters the writers aim is to remove the gap between the East and the West. She also gave us an idea about the contrast between the two different cultures Western culture splendidly as well as Indian. Anju presents her positive attitude and advantage of American customs. She says, Unlike some of the other Indian husbands I know, Sunil has always encouraged me to feel comfortable in America. He taught me to drive and introduced me to his colleagues at work. He bought me jeans and hiking boots, and when I said, Go for it! Hes taken me to malls and plays and dance clubs and the ocean. And finally though money is short, he has been enthusiastic about my going to college to get a degree in literature. 16 By showing the contrast, Divakaruni gave a picture of her motherland plus her current home (America). Thus in her book Sister of my Heart, she discussed the relationship between the older generation of India, who lives in a world full of mystical tales and magical occurrences plus Anju and Sudhas generation which is more drawn to western ideals. She believes that her readers must know about each others culture. If we put a glance on her other works like Mistress of Spices (1997), Queen of Dreams (2004), and Vine of Desire (2002); we will feel the same sensibility among the protagonists. They all are trying to get adjust and make their life better in the new and free atmosphere of the United States, keeping their past in their heart or memories. In her novel The Vine of Desire, the same story runs between the two sisters. Anju was living in America with her husband and now Sudha also joined them with her little daughter Dayita. Now Sudha is also trying to enjoy the new place and learn new things. Sudha turns on the T.V. Anju has told her she must, it will help her to understand Americans. So she watches a weather report that states theres a 70 percent chance of rain; a commercial for paper towels that features a giant male, a dirty floor, and a tiny, agitated woman; and then return of a game show. 17 They all are living far away from India and somehow they have adopted the new culture but still India is alive in their memories as their motherland. Thus, by heart they never go far away from it. Sudha is pretending to be happy, so once Anju asked her disappointedly, Do you miss India? 18. The whole setting of this novel is in America, but we also get a glimpse of India through the inner feelings of the characters. We can know about the different lifestyle of America, their way of thinking, rules, choices, and culture. Sudha also understands that, All the rules are different in America, and she knows none of them yet 19. The author made an effort to explain us about the reason that why people are getting attract towards the foreign culture; its all because of their free rules and open mentality. Thats the technique of the writer to break down the barrier among different continents. She not even presented the combination of east/west but also blends past and present together in her novels very well. It is to be sure that the element of secrecy or mystery is an integral part of Divakarunis work. She skillfully conveys her experiences of South Asian in America. She said that her books are partially based on the experience of social observation. But the author strives to weave such observations with the element of magic, myth, and ancient culture beside contemporary culture. She tries to bring those belongings together- the daily realities of immigrant life and a sense of ancient culture. She does so in her novel Queen of the Dreams that combines the story of a dream-teller mother and her young Indian-American daughter with the event of September 11, 2001. In her novel Queen of Dream, Rakhis mother is a dream teller, born with the ability to interpret and share the dreams of others. Her work is to foresee and direct them through their fates. This gift of vision fascinates Rakhi but she is totally separated from her mothers past in India and the dream world which she inhabits. She puts an effort for something to bring them closer. Rakhi was totally caught beneath the burden of her own painful secret; her comfort comes in the discovery after her mothers death through her dream journals, which began to open the long closed door to her past. Thus, the whole story wonderfully deals with the concept of past and present. It gives us the sense of a new America as well as the sense of traditional India. Via this novel we also get a glance of dream world and real world, there is a fine combination of both of them. Thus, This story of an emotionally distant mother and a daughter trying to find herself transcends cultural boundaries. Queen of Dreams combines the elements that Divakaruni is known for, the Indian American experience and magical realism, in a fresh mix. The tale succeeds on two levels. She effectively takes the reader into an immigrant culture but she also shows the common ground that lies in a world that some would find foreign. The search for identity and a sense of emotional completion is not confined to small corners of the world. It is a dilemma that all readers can understand. (Denver Post) 20 Divakarunis another novel The Mistress of Spicesis unique in its style. It is written with a combination of prose and poetry, thus this book has a very mystical quality to it. She wrote this novel in a spirit of play to collapse the divisions between the timeless one of myth or magic and the realistic world of twentieth century America. Its her attempt to create a modern fable. The novel follows Tilo, a magical figure who owns a grocery store and uses spices to help the customers and overcomes their difficulties. She also develops dilemmas of her own when she falls in love with a non-Indian. This creates great conflicts, as she has to choose whether to serve her people or to follow the path leading to her own happiness. Tilo has to decide which part of her heritage she will keep and which parts she will choose to abandon. The writer has well succeeded in her aim to remove gap between east/west, magic/realism and past/present in her novels which are discussed as above. In her article Dissolving Boundaries, she shared her experience which made her a new turn towards the theme of dissolving boundaries. She shared her feelings in it, It was Memorial Day. I waved good-bye to my two year old son and his grandma as my husband pulled our car out of the driveway, tires squealing. Ill be back in a few days, I called out to my son, with a brand new baby brother for you. As our car speed onto the freeway, I tried to reassure my nervous husband, telling him the pains werent too bad, and that everyone said the second time around was much easier. I had no premonitions at all. I didnt know that a normal delivery would not be possible for me. That the ensuing Caesarean surgery would go wrong in every way. That I would end up having to remain in the hospital for over a month, unable to take care of my newborn. I didnt know that I would balance precariously for weeks on the frail and perilous boundary between living and dying.21 That was really a tough time for her. She went through no dark tunnel, saw no bright lights. She did not rise out her body even. That encounter with death affected her deeply, though not in ways one might expect. She got the sense of life and death. But that time she felt a strange, dizzy sense of emptiness, of peace, in the way Buddhists use the term. She felt as though she drifted between states of death and life, and that it didnt matter which side she landed on. Because the boundary which we humans had drawn between these two states was not as irrevocable, nor as important, as we believed. She committed, I mused a lot about boundaries as I lay in bed recovering over the next few months, learning to live again. And it seemed t

22 Awesome Beaches in Cebu to Visit in a Lifetime

22 Awesome Beaches in Cebu to Visit in a Lifetime Foreign tourists and local travelers alike, visiting Cebu is always included in the bucket list being one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines. Whether in a month-long vacation or simply winding up for a day, Cebu beaches are something that one shouldnt miss. Below is a list of awesome beaches in Cebu you should visit in your lifetime. The list has no particular order. 1. Sta. Fe Beach in Bantayan Island Sta. Fe Beach Club, located in Bantayan Island, is a travelers paradise with perfect clear waters, friendly folks, amazing culture and excellent food. With its convenient location, a 10-minute travel from Bantayan Port, you can already enjoy interesting activities such as snorkeling, biking, island hopping, eating sea foods, etc. for a camping minimum fee of P100.00 only. It also offers top-class recreational facilities such as massage, non-motorized water sports, private beach, etc. Guests can enjoy on-site features like smoking area, restaurant, meeting facilities, BBQ facilities, bar, etc. Its comfortable and convenient accommodations are best for unwinding after a hard day. Mobile number: 09287787770 Telephone number: (032)4389090/ 4389107 Email: [emailprotected] 2. Tingko Beach in Alcoy Tingko Beach, located in Daan Lungsod, Alcoy, has extensive beach lined with coconut palm trees and limestone cliffs, and shallow waters with relaxing environment and fun activities. Its a 2 to 3-hour travel from Cebu City and is situated in a lagoon across Mabad-on Reef, a coral island that is completely submerged during high tide and exposed during low tide. It is great for families and groups with pets, and a nice stop for southern travelers. However, as it is a public beach, it can get crowded during weekends. Telephone number: (032) 483 9298 Mobile number: 09182874023 Email: [emailprotected] 3. Santiago White Beach in Camotes Island Santiago White Beach, a gorgeous public white sand beach, has the widest beach on Camotes Island and a shoreline that stretches as far as you can walk. Its wide white sand beach is being shared by Santiago Bay House Resort, Masamayor Beach Resort and Payag Beach Resort. Some of its facilities include Hut Cottages, motorized outrigger Bangka for half day use and Beach Games such as balls, floats, kayaks, etc. Some of its small restaurants also offer KARAOKE up to 2AM. It is being managed by the Camotes Local Government Unit (LGU). 4. Dalaguete Beach Park Dalaguete Beach Park, also known as Arguete Beach because its located within the boundary of Argao and Dalaguete, is best for skim boarding due to its strong and big waves. It is one of Cebus best public beaches for its clean and well maintained environment and facilities. There is, however, a minimal fee of P5.00 per person and P20.00 for parking. Cottages are also for rent for about P100.00 to P200.00, and shower fee of P20.00 per person. The fees are charged by local authorities to help maintain the area. 5. Hidden Beach in Aloguinsan Hidden Beach Resort, located in the municipality of Aloguinsan, Cebu, is one of the most natural beaches in Cebu province. Since its hidden, it is untouched by resort development projects. The road to the beach is covered with thickets of trees and coconut palms. The coral rocks are the indication that you are getting closer to the beach. Getting around, youll find lots of marine animals, a whitish sand, clean water and shoreline hemmed with coconut trees. A Peaceful and not crowded place perfect for relaxation. Its facilities include tables for P150.00, Hut Cottages for P250.00, grills for meat, fish, etc. Cooking Request is also available for a fee. If planning to stay overnight, simple rooms are available for P500.00 and making a reservation is highly advised. 6. Lambug Beach in Badian Lambug Beach, a public beach located in Badian, is one of the hidden beaches in Southern Cebu. Its a virgin beach with a long coastline of powdery white sand bordered with palm trees, clear waters, and hospitable locals. It has no entrance fee but camping is charged P50.00. As it is undiscovered, there are no big resorts around the area except for the Grandeur Beach Resort. Along its coastline, however, are many cottages and rooms for rent. Lambug Beach is a Badian pride that has astonishing sunrise and sunset; a perfect place to relax. 7. Basdako Beach in Moalboal Basdako Beach, one of the known beachfronts in Moalboal, is a pristine white sand beach and an awesome spot for snorkeling, scuba diving and delicious food. Best of all, the beach is free. Moalboal is rich with marine life which makes it best for diving. Basdako beachfront is preferred as it is budget-friendly with many small resorts to choose from within the beach. But, if you wish to camp on the beach, tents are available for P500.00 a night. During summer and long weekends, though, most resorts in Basdako get full; it is advised to get a room as early as possible. Telephone number: (032)417-2445. Cellphone number: 09209028888; 09176236057. Website: www.clubserenaresort.com. 8. Sayaw Beach in Barili Located along the highway of Barili, Cebu is Sayaw Beach Resort. It is a white sand beach resort where the popular Mantapuyan Falls is located. It has an entrance fee of P20.00 and cottage rentals ranging from P150.00 to P500.00. Its facilities and other services are not established and food resources are not very available. It is advised to bring your own supplies in coming here. 9. San Remigio Beach Club Sports and Leisure Resort Located in San Remigio, a three-hour travel from Cebu City, San Remegio Beach Club is Cebus longest beach line and one of the prettiest beaches. It is a good venue for reunions, birthdays, and weddings; offers packages for Group Tour, Day Tour, Side Trip and many more; and has a very spacious Sea Pool Party Area. It also has a coaster and van service for a convenient transportation for groups. A bus costs P120.00 per person. Telephone number: (032) 344-6181. Contact number: 63-32-2310382, 63-32-4352030, and 63-32-5160630 Website: www.sanremigiobeachclub.com.ph 10. Mactan Blue Reef Resort Mactan Blue Reef Resort, located in Tongo, Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City, is an affordable place for any gatherings in addition to a nice dip in the beach. It has an entrance fee of P50.00 and reasonable price for cottage rental. Bringing in food is also allowed. Telephone number: (032) 494-2644; (032) 494-2911. Contact number: 63-32-4923209 or 63-32-4923217 11. Eden’s Resort The lovely sea view from its spacious, big rooms creates a romantic ambiance that makes this place perfect for a couples retreat. Edens Resort is located in Liloan, Santander, an approximately three-hour drive from Cebu City. With only 10 rooms, it assures its guests of private leisure. Among the activities to do here are ocean kayaking, mountain biking, motor cycling, snorkeling, etc. It has a nice hassle-free package and room-only rates. It also has an all-inclusive rate if you wish to take a worry-free vacation. Telephone number: (032)480-9321 Contact number: 63-32-4809321 Website: www.eden.ph 12. Durhan White Beach Resort A little paradise in Tabunok, Tabuelan, about three hours travel time from the city. Durhan White Beach Resort boasts a fine white sand beach fit for groups and family gatherings. It has an entrance fee of P20.00 per person, rooms that could accommodate two to eight persons, big tents for 20 persons and small tent for 15 persons. Its cottages have gas stoves and a refrigerator available to cook your own food. Telephone number: (032)461-9318; 461-9073 Contact number: 63-32-4619318 or 63-32-4619073 Website: www.durhanwhitebeach.com 13. Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa A luxurious vacation for guests, an appealing garden view to nature lovers, and an ideal place for travelers, Shangri-Las Mactan Island Resort and Spa is considered a premier resort in Mactan Island. Located in Punta Engaà ±o, Lapu-Lapu City, it boasts of its large spa and various restaurants. Telephone number: (032) 231-0288 Contact number: +63-32-2310288 Website: www.shangri-la.com 14. Plantation Bay Resort and Spa A resort in an 11.4 hectare lot in Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa distinguishes itself in its saltwater lagoons and freshwater pools. It has colonial plantation architecture, and among its amenities are a wall-climbing facility, a fitness center and a spa at Mogambo Springs. Telephone number: (03)505-9800; Cellphone number: 09176313750; 09176313917 Contact number: +63-32-3405900 Website: www.plantationbay.com 15. Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort is a 158-room resort located in Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City. Its been known for its bungalow type of accommodation and has become a favorite venue for weddings. Most wedding receptions here are held in its Alegrado Island, a 1.1 hectare man-made island. While the kids get an encounter with the mascot Dolpo, a dolphin. Telephone number: (032) 492-0100; (02) 817-5751 Contact numbers: 63-32-2345411 or 63-32-4920100 Website: www.bluewater.com.ph 16. Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort and Spa Located on ML Quezon National Highway, Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City, Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort and Spa is the best place for water fun. Its themed pools such as Amazon River Pool (with inflatable tubes), Wave Rider, Beach Pool, Captain Hooks Pool, and the Toddler Pool are all one of a kind. Telephone number: (032)494-5000; 494-5282 to 85, 87, 88 Contact number: 63-32-2361367 Website: www.imperialpalace-cebu.com 17. Kalumpang Beach Resort A perfect escape destination of the South, Kalumpang Beach Resort is located in Highway, Looc, Poblacion, Argao. It is also a popular place for gathering and events. Besides that, it offers day tour packages upon request for group activities like swimming, snorkeling, diving, sunbathing, skim boarding, etc. The rate starts from P2, 500.00 depending on arrangements. For water and sea sports, you can rent a Kayak for P100.00. Jet ski, boats, etc. are also available. Telephone number: (032)367-7505 18. Cordova Reef Village Resort At the southeastern tip of Mactan Island, surrounded by Camotes Sea and Bohol Strait, is Cordova Reef Village in Poblacion, Cordova. It has well-equipped rooms and offers facilities such as tennis courts, steam room, spa, swimming pool and restaurant. A combination of luxury and natures tranquility, this resort provides its guests with absolute privacy and exclusivity. Telephone number: (032)238-1878 19. Malapascua Exotic Island Dive Resort Located in Sitio Pasil, Logon, Daanbantayan is Malapascua Exotic Island Dive and Beach Resort, the pioneer dive resort in Malapascua. It is also known for its thresher sharks that usually appear at sea before dawn. It has a natural garden frontage overlooking the white sand beach and Visayan sea. Diving here ranges from P1, 200.00 to P1, 500.00. Room rates are from P1, 000.00 to P4, 200.00. Telephone number: (032) 437-0983; 406-5428. Cellphone number: 09173276689; 09999976601. 20. El Salvador Beach Resort Located along the National Highway in Danao, El Salvador Beach Resort is the biggest and nicest resort in Danao. With 39 rooms set in tropical gardens, 2 swimming pools and a beach front, it has 24 hour standby generator and security. It also has air-conditioned function rooms that can accommodate 15 to 200 people. Entrance fee for adults is P150.00 during weekdays and P175.00 during weekends and holidays, P125.00 for children during weekdays and P150.00 during weekends and holidays while for kids below 3 years old, entrance fee is free. The cottages are available for rent at P495.00. Telephone number: (032)200-3622/ (032)254-7863. Website: www.elsalvadorresort.com Email: [emailprotected] 21. Sumilon Bluewater Resort In Sumilon Island, a tranquil 24 hectare sorrounded by white sand beaches with a lagoon, a hiking trail, lighthouse, historical watchtower, cave and other resort facilities overlooking Cebu, lies Sumilon Blue Water Island Resort, a sister resort of Maribago Bluewater Resort in Mactan Cebu. The island is the first marine protected area in the Philippines, beautifully secluded on the southeastern tip of the mainland. The resort is a three hour drive from the city to Bancogon pier in Oslob and another 15 to 30 minute boat ride, provided by the resort, to the island itself. A good spot for diving with varied marine species and occasional sightings of black tip sharks. Phone: (63 32) 318 3129 / 318 9098 Mobile: 0917 631 7512 / 0999 885 8337 Email: [emailprotected] Website: www.bluewater.com.ph 22. Badian Island Resort Located on the southwest coast of Cebu, an almost private tropical island with landscaped gardens and white sand beaches, The Badian Island Resort and Spa is an eco-friendly, romantic resort paradise overlooking the lagoons and mountains. It is a 2-hour and 20-minute drive from Cebu Internation Airport and a 15-minute boat ride with free parking for cars. Among the activities offered here are diving, wind surfing, paddle boats, tennis, billiards, darts, volleyball, spa treatments and many more. It has large and beautifully designed rooms with private balcony, cascading saltwater pool and organic grounds. Its suites feature a blend of traditional and modern Philippine decor. Tel: (+63-32) 401-3303 to 05 Fax: (+63-32) 401-3302 Email: [emailprotected] Website: www.badianhotel.com Sales Reservations: (+63-32) 401-3303 to 05 Cell Phones: (+63) 920-952-6293 (+63) 920-953-3362 (+63) 917-727-4931 Fax: +(+63-32) 401-3302 SMS: +63-917 727 4931 ***

The Importance of Adam Smiths Work to Economic Thought Essay -- Adam

The Importance of Adam Smith's Work to Economic Thought Adam Smith is widely regarded as the father of economics as a social science, and is perhaps best known for his work The Wealth of Nations. Throughout this work Smith states and informs towards his belief that society is not at its most productive when ruled over by rules and limitations with regards to trade, and that in order for markets to maximise prosperity, a free trade environment should be made accessible. In this essay I intend to asses the way in which many of Smiths theories taken directly form his works can be applied to past and current situations, first from an economic then social, and then a political point of view. I will also outline some of Smiths major theories on market determining factors, such as supply and demand, and the labour theory of value, with focus on how these theories can be applied to current day situations, demonstrating the strength of his works. I believe it is first important to mention that Smith was raised in a market environment in which Mercantilism was regarded as the most positive policy with which to increase a countries wealth. This theory is based upon the idea that a countries assets are a measure of its prosperity as a nation, and so therefore was often implemented using such policies as high rates of exports, and low rates of imports. In order to ensure this low rate of imports tariffs were often imposed on goods entering the country. Adam Smith was one of the first men to voice his opinions on this mercantile system, stating that the policies were flawed, and that assets and wealth were not good measures of a countries prosperity, and that in fac... ...cy. I don’t believe that without Smith, economics would not exist, but I do feel it would lack in much of its transferability between past and modern day scenarios. References http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercantilism http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/wealth_nations.html - Shopping trolley example of invisible hand http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_of_labour Bibliography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercantilism http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/wealth_nations.html - Shopping trolley example of invisible hand http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_of_labour Canterbury E R A History of Economic Thought, Penguin, London 1991 Dowd D Capitalism and Economics, Pluto, London 1995 Smith A The Wealth of Nations, Dswavid Campbell Publishers 1991

The Computer Nut :: essays research papers

Title: â€Å"The Computer Nut† Author: Betsy Byars Setting: â€Å"The Computer Nut† takes place in Kate’s small town. Overall, the different settings are in her house, in school, at a carwash, at Willie Lomax’s house, her dad’s office, a pep rally at her school’s football rally, and that’s basically where all the action takes place. Most of the time, the action takes place during the day. Towards the ending, however, most of the action takes place at night around 8 pm- 9pm. Major Characters: The main character of â€Å"The Computer Nut† is Kate. Kate is like any other kid. She is obsessed with computers, she has red hair, and she is an average middle school student. She is receiving messages from an â€Å"alien† who calls himself BB-9. Willie Lomax is the boy who helps find out who is sending Kate messages over the computer. Willie is also Kate’s crush and he is the only one who is truly willing to help Kate find out who really is sending her messages over the computer. He is around Kate’s height, chubby, he has reddish/blondish hair, and is very interested in Kate’s mystery â€Å"alien.† BB-9 is the self-proclaimed â€Å"alien comedian† who wants to come down to Earth to make people laugh, since Earth is the only planet in the universe where people laugh. He is an adult’s age and can take form as anything he wants. He was once a cow on another mission to Earth. A physical description is not availa ble. And lastly, Linda is Kate’s best friend. She is short, has brown hair, and very humorous. Plot Summary: One day, for an art project, Kate is just drawing a picture of herself on her dad’s computer in her dad’s office. After she is all done with her self-portrait, she receives a message from a strange person who later reveals himself as BB-9. BB-9 is an alien in search of a good laugh on Earth, which he says is the only planet where people laugh. After a series of message, Kate hopes the person contacting her is her secret crush, Willie Lomax, who just so happens to know about computers. Kate is determined to find out who it is.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Kate’s best friend, Linda, finds out about the messages, she goes on and on and insists about how it HAS to be Frank Wilkins, a boy who told Kate he loved her at band camp a couple years back.

In paper for Martin Luther Trial

Martin Luther is a German monk. He has given himself up to the authority of the Catholic Church to address the charges that he is a heretical revolutionist. The year is 1520 and it is taken place in the city of Worms. Historians have said that this trial has led to the birth of the modern world. Martin Luther was on a journey to Worms when a bolt of lightening knocked Luther to the ground. Luther took the lightening to be a call from God, and to the disappointment of his father, who hoped he would become a lawyer, took vows at an Augustinian monastery to begin a profoundly Christian life.A trip to Rome in 1510 caused Luther to begin to seriously question certain Catholic practices. As he watched incompetent, flippant, and cynical clergy performing their holy duties he began to experience doubts about the Catholic Church. Encouraged by the reception to his views, Luther aimed at new targets. He challenged the power of the Church to excommunicate its members, writing that only God coul d sever spiritual communion. He also questioned the primacy of the Church in Rome, suggesting that there was a lack of historical support for putting its authority above that of other churches.By holding steadfast to his interpretation of Scripture, Luther provided the impetus for the Reformation, a reform movement that would divide Europe into two regions, one Protestant and one Catholic. This set the scene for religious wars. Martin Luther is being charged on 2 counts. One, inciting members of the Catholic Church to rebel against the authority and established doctrines of the universal Christian church. Two, willful denial of the authority of the Pope and the Catholic Church.Opening statement: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. My name is Elizabeth and it is my privilege to represent Martin Luther in this case before you today. You have heard the prosecutors explain what they hope to be proven, but the prosecutors did not tell you â€Å"all† of the facts. It is said that Luther was ‘inciting members of the Catholic Church to rebel against the authority' but Luther was representive of his time in the sense that he articulated the widespread desire for reform of the Christian church and a deep yearning for salvation.It has also been said that Luther has a willful denial of the authority of the pope and the Catholic Church when it is just that he arrived at a new understanding of the Christian doctrines. He became to believe that salvation comes not through external observances and penance but through a simple faith in Christ. The witnesses we will be examining is Martin Luther, Henry VIII, John Calvin, Queen Elizabeth, Jan Hus, John Wycliffe, and Anabaptist. After listening to what the witnesses have said we would ask you to keep an open mind and listen to ALL the evidence and return a verdict of not guilty. Thank you.

Enterprise-Level Strategic Uses of Technology At Baderman Islands

The advent of information technology and other technological products has lead to a more competitive market environment for different organization. In this regard, more and more companies and institutions are trying to invest on innovative and technology-specific products, and Baderman Islands is never an exemption. Accordingly, technological innovation for products and servers is known as integrated principle of technology and development to be able to meet current demands of the target market. In various ways, technological innovation is said to have specific use in enterprise-level of an organisation.The alignment of technology with the business strategy of the company is important. Primarily, the main goal of this paper is to determine the enterprise-level strategic use of technology at Baderman Islands. Overview of Baderman Islands Baderman Island is known as an independent, all inclusive resort destination with various features from hotels, restaurants, convention centre and ot her leisure activities that a tourist is looking for. It is an island resort community with vast essentialities to give innovative services to sustain their competitive advantage.The management of the company aims on providing quality tourisms services for their target market. In doing so, the company is pursuing technological innovations to be more distinctive and add to the entire experience of their target market. Enterprise-Level Strategic Use of Technology In order to sustain competitive position in the marketplace, the company has adapted technological innovation which specifically focuses on the Dolphin Boat by Innerspace Technology. The alignment of this technology has enterprise-strategic use for Baderman Island’ includes the following.The first strategic use of this technology is to meet and satisfy customer demands. Since tourists in this generation are seeking for an island retreat which provides business, leisure and other escapades and extraordinary experiences, the company considers technological alignment to provide the needs of the customer for an island-getaway. This technological innovation can help the company to provide distinctive and effective service provision. It is said that the successful and effective alignment of the company’ management, staff and technology, is important for attaining customer satisfaction.Such alignment begins with the purposeful alignments of the company’s operations employed by Baderman Island’s management (Johnston & Clarke, 2001). Another enterprise-level strategic use of technology with Baderman Islands is with regards to the enhancement of the management system of the company. By considering technologically innovated products such that of the Dolphin Boat, the company will be able to enhanced their differentiation strategy, and business strategy of the company which include the management skills and resources.In addition, the company will be able to improve their creative flair, product engineering, strong marketing abilities and strong capability in basic research. Furthermore, as part of the enhancement of management system of the company through the alignment of technology, their corporate reputation is also improving to attract more tourists in choosing their tourism services among other competitors (Nickols 2000). Such mentioned skills and capabilities brought by the alignment of technology and business strategy are very important for the company to retain or attract internal and external stakeholders.In addition, strategic alignment of technology and business strategy is associated with the satisfaction of the customers in a way that providing unique services mostly satisfy tourists or clients (Duffy & Ketchand, 2002). Another important enterprise-level strategic use of aligning technological innovation in Baderman is with regards to the improvement and of the service quality of their tourism services. The use of new technology can be able to guide th e company towards the expansion strategy of the company.Accordingly, the central attribute of technological innovation, specifically for the products and services provides by organizations like Baderman Island, is the interaction between the marketing management and the company itself. Things like labour intensiveness, high consumer contact are some of the mitigating features of the alignment of technological expansion and service quality alignment. Hence, technological innovation can provide sensual benefit for the company (Watt, 2007). Part of the business approach of the tourism service industries is their adherence to the context of service quality.Consequently, the context of service quality is considered as the outcome of the strategic alignment of new and technologically improved products and services and service delivery system (Ghobadian, Speller & Jones, 1994), specifically in the case of service industries like Baderman Island. By and large, the underlying principle of bu siness strategy and technological alignment aims to determine and provide the needs of the clients. Through this alignment, the company has been able to have a unifying theme which aligns their service provision, marketing strategy and management system to satisfy stakeholders.The alignment of the technology and business strategy has different enterprise-level strategic uses to sustain competitive advantage of the organization. It is said that the alignment of these aspects should see to it that the company would be consistent in providing high quality among their tourist clients. Reference Duffy, JA & Ketchund, AA 2002, â€Å"Examining the Role of Service Quality in Overall Service Satisfaction†, Journal of Managerial Issues, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 240+. Ghobadian, A, Speller, S. and Jones, M. (1994). Service Quality: Concepts and Models.International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 11(9): 43-66. Johnston, R. & Clark, G. (2001). Service Operation Management. 1st Ed ition. London: Prentice Hall. Nickols, F 2000, Distance Consulting, viewed October 11, 2008 . Watt, P. (2007) â€Å"I Need People that are Happy, Always Smiling: Guest Interaction and Emotional Labour in a Canadian Downtown Hotel† Just Labour, Vol 10, Spring: 45-59 (http://www. justlabour. yorku. ca/volume10/pdfs/04WattPress. pdf) retrieve October 11, 2008 .

Life as a Teenager in 2014 Essay

When I was younger, I always thought my parents knew everything and were never wrong. I believed that they never made mistakes, they were too old and wise. The same went for my teachers, older members of our extended family and just adults in general. I felt so safe, comforted by the fact that they knew and were in control, so I didn’t have to be. The older I became, the more I realized how faulty my ideas were. I never did become any wiser as I grew up; I had information and data that bombarded my brain and knowledge on how I must act to be socially accepted. I was told what I could do and what I mustn’t do. Perhaps I do know more about life and the world, but I don’t understand it; perhaps that is for the better. I remember when I first heard the song ‘Teenagers’ by My Chemical Romance, and I began to think about the meaning behind it. ‘They’re gonna clean up your looks†¨With all the lies in the books†¨To make a citizen out of you†¨Because they sleep with a gun†¨And keep an eye on you, son†¨So they can watch all the things you do Because the drugs never work†¨They’re gonna give you a smirk†¨Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Cause they’ve got methods of keeping you clean†¨They’re gonna rip up your heads†¨Your aspirations to shreds†¨Another cog in the murder machine They say that teenagers scare the living s*** out of me†¨They could care less as long as someone’ll bleed†¨So darken your clothes or strike a violent pose†¨Maybe they’ll leave you alone, but not me The boys and girls in the clique†¨The awful names that they stick†¨You’re never gonna fit in much, kid†¨But if you’re troubled and hurt†¨What you got under your shirt†¨We’ll make them pay for the things that they did’ The s ong did change my view on how teenagers are seen by society, but not in a way that I expected. I think that the singer, Gerard Way, is exploring how society wants to change teenagers to make them do as they are told and fit in and do well at school. However, the more they do this, the more teenagers rebel. In the chorus, Way expresses his fear of teenagers, of their tendency to perhaps be unpredictable and violent. ‘So darken your clothes or strike a violent pose Maybe they’ll leave you alone, but not me’ I  think he is trying to put forward the idea that society might ignore them or leave them alone if they act threatening and imposing, but as he is an adult, he is expected to stay in line and meet the expectations of society. I think it’s difficult being a teenager. People don’t seem to realize or might have even forgotten. I am at the age where I am too old to rely on others and make mistakes but not old enough to take control of my life and look after myself. This time in my life that makes up my teenage years is important, and I want to make the most of that but I find myself overwhelmed by set backs and a severe lack of control. There are so many aspects of my life the government wants to control. They want to cram so many exams and so much work into these few short years of our lives that we find ourselves snowed under it all. It seems that these years of our lives are the most important. They define us and decide what our future holds. The pressure is on: if you fail your science G.C.S.E then you won’t be able to take it for A level. If you can’t take it for A level, you won’t be able to study it at university, or get a PHD, or ever become a doctor. The government has decided that exams mean everything. An A and an A* could mean the difference between your dream job and being unhappy for the rest of your life, stuck with a boring job that perhaps pays decently, becoming miserable and dying a failure. It’s too much. This has to be the reason why we find that more and more teenagers each year are turning to drugs, self harm, eating disorders and depression. Why does everyone question the rise in the number of these cases? Is it not obvious? Iâ€℠¢m sure it also has something to with the rise of the internet and everything that we are being exposed to. Quite frankly, we can’t cope with it. It seems that no one understands but teenagers themselves. Of course, it’s all quite a cliche to say that no one understands teenagers, but it does seem to be true. I wouldn’t say that all teenagers can’t cope and I realize that some cope better than others, but I know that our system isn’t working. Not the corrupt government with its exams and heavy pressure on students, and the not the corrupted internet with its social networking sites and pornographic images that seem to be everywhere. The adverts that tell us what a perfect person looks like are crushing and I find them insulting. There is a silent reminder that lingers in the air telling us to be normal, a clone of everyone else and to fit in. Some people come to a point in their life when they decide that enough  is enough and they wear what they want and act how they like. I have a theory that people are like sling shots: the more they are pulled back and restrained, the further they go when they are let go. They get to a point where they cannot be pulled back any further. This is when people pierce and tattoo their bodies or wear socially unacceptable clothing to show the world that they are not going to be told what to do. There are also the quiet ones who starve themselves to be in control, take drugs to take away the pain or self harm to prove that the pain they are feeling is not just in their heads, its real and they can control it. There are even people who work themselves sick to be in control of their future. What I find interesting is that every generation is different: each has its own pressures that differ from the last. Not long ago, I would have been expected to get married not too soon from now and raise a family, possibly with a man I didn’t even love. Only recently has homosexuality become socially and legally acceptable. So before, teenagers would have had trouble fitting in, or would have had to pretend to be heterosexual. We as teenagers never really have been in control and with a personality like mine, that can be extremely overwhelming. It seems now we are finding our voice and are able to express ourselves. I can see that there are positive aspects about being a teenager in this day and age: some of us turn to positive hobbies to take our minds off the stress of exams. More and more teenagers are relying on their great passion in life and developing it to take their mind off their diffic ulties. This might be music, cooking, writing, designing, drawing or sport. I still remember the first time I played the drums and I’ve never looked back. They made me love music even more and I started playing the guitar as well. I wrote songs and started to sing. Music became my obsession and it is one aspect of my life that I can control. I can do it myself without having to listen to the people who tell me what I should be listening to, what I should be playing or what I should be writing. I do believe that if nothing is going to change, then we all need something to turn to in life that reminds us we can cope. I know that it wouldn’t work for everyone, but perhaps people who take drugs could start drawing or painting. Instead of people focussing on their body weight they could start to cook their own food and be in control of that instead. People who self harm could write down their feelings or express it through music, or even go out and run off  their sadness. I think people need to remind themselves what makes them happy and if nothing does then they should find something. I know nothing will change for some time, but in the meantime we need to find a way to make the most of our teenage years.