Friday, October 25, 2019

How To Die Essay -- Psychology

Death has always been part of human culture. It’s viewed in all kinds of manners, ranging from the worst enemy to a welcome liberator. In today’s society, death and the culture of death expand ever so quickly as people live longer on more advanced medicine, and thus die older and weaker. Of course, eventually everyone will face the prospect of taking their last breaths. Therefore it becomes necessary to give serious thought about how we choose to die in an intensifying plethora of options. Some believe in fighting until the disease wins with the best technology and best treatments without regard to cost. Others believe that after a certain age, or certain period of â€Å"extreme treatments†, the ill should accept their fate and die with â€Å"dignity†, off the machines and any radical treatments. Few physicians recommend the second option, because they are expected to do everything humanely possible to keep patients alive. With a range of increasing medic al technology, it’s only become easier to do so. However, the effectiveness and relative comfort of these new remedies are another question entirely. Renouncing the desperate fighting philosophy, the hospice institution takes the issue of dying in a different perspective. Hospice supports a submissive approach to dying, allowing the patient to experience a natural, dignified death without painful or bizarre treatments. Many times, spiritual and emotional counseling to the patient and his or her family is also offered. How to end a normal life seems to rest on how much people want to defy death. The point of disconnect occurs when people have to decide which is nobler: a courageous fight, or a graceful acceptance. We generally want to live as long as we possibly can, but can the way we end ... ...is-the-quality-of-life-it-gives-the-patient.html>. "Right-to-die Statement: Tony Nicklinson Says Stroke Left 'no Dignity or Privacy'" The Guardian. Ed. Press Association. Guardian News and Media, 12 Mar. 2012. Web. 02 Apr. 2012. . Siamak, MD, Nabili T. "MedicineNet.com." MedicineNet. Ed. Melissa C. Stà ¶ppler, MD. MedicineNet, Inc. Web. 02 Apr. 2012. . Steven, Reinberg. "Medicare Costs for Cancer Treatment Soar." US News. U.S.News & World Report, 10 June 2008. Web. 02 Apr. 2012. . Williams, Mary E. "Hospice Care Benefits The Terminally Ill." Terminal Illness: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 2001. 17-26. Print.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Baker v. Osborne Legal Review

Thomas Baker and others bought new homes from Osborne Development Corp. The new homeowners later filed a complaint against Osborne Development Corp. for multiple construction defects in the houses they purchased. The complaint alleged causes of action for strict liability, and other breaches of contract, and negligence. Baker and the other homeowners had along with the home purchases signed a builder application form containing the following language: â€Å"CONSENT TO THE TERMS OF THESE DOCUMENTS INCLUDING THE BINDING ARBITRATION PROVISION contained therein.† By signing the application, the homeowners were presumed to have â€Å"agreed to the terms of the warranty. † (Baker v. Osborne Development Corp. , 2008). The question posed is whether the new homeowners are bound by the arbitration agreement they signed, or whether they could just sue Osborne Development Corp. in court. The Fourth Appellate District of the California Court of Appeal answered both questions in its 2008 decision when it held that arbitration provisions in the HBW 2-10 warranty were â€Å"unenforceable,† because they were â€Å"unconscionable.† The warranty was unconscionable because the arbitration language was broad and did not â€Å"clearly and unmistakably† reserve the sole authority to decide whether the arbitration provision was enforceable to the arbitrator. The arbitration provision was procedurally unconscionable because it was hidden in a booklet not available when Baker executed the warranty application. It was substantively unconscionable because it was solely intended to benefit Osborne, as Osborne would have no reason to sue Baker after the close of escrow. In NCR Corp. v. Korala Associates, Ltd., (2008), the court of Appeals weighed the issue by determining the scope of the arbitration agreement based on the reason that a party should not be compelled to arbitrate a dispute which it has not agreed to arbitrate. To determine whether or not a c ase is arbitrable, the Sixth Circuit looked at the allegations in each count of the complaint to determine whether the agreement was a necessary part of each claim. The standard used by the Sixth Circuit was this; whether â€Å"an action could be maintained without reference to the contract or relationship issue† (NCR Corp.v. Korala Associates, Ltd. , 2008, p. 4). If it could, then it is likely to be outside the scope of the arbitration agreement. Going by the Court decisions in Baker and NCR, the homeowners are not bound by the arbitration clause, and are therefore free to pursue damages in a court of law. References Baker v. Osborne Development Corp. (2008) 159 Cal. App. 4th 884 [– Cal. Rptr. 3d –] NCR Corp. v. Korala Associates, Ltd. , No. 06-3685, 2008 WL 140978 (6th Cir. Jan. 16, 2008)

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

To What Extenet Has the Labour Party Abandoned Its Socialist Routes?

To What Extent has the Labour Party abandoned its socialist routes? The definition of socialism is ‘An economic, social and political doctrine which expresses the struggle for the equal distribution of wealth by eliminating private property and the exploitative ruling class’. In some ways it could be said that New Labour hasn’t abandoned its socialist routes. For example, New Labour’s idea of a minimum wage very much bares a socialist style of view, as this is seen as fair, equal and is a redistribution of income.The old Labour party very much believed in the redistribution of wealth, as this was seen as helping out the less fortunate people of Britain. In early November 2012, Mr. Miliband stepped forward in support of a rise in the minimum wage, to what he calls the â€Å"living wage† New Labour still share many of the same ideas that old Labour once believed. For example, old Labour believed that everyone in the country should work together and sho uld forget about social classes, and new Labour believes that poverty gaps should be smaller, and classes should work together.The idea of Ed Miliband taking the Disraeli slogan â€Å"One Nation† shows a real reversion back to the old ways of typical socialism, and the idea that Britain will be united. It is in conventional terms this is about being more left wing than Tony Blair – keener on taxes and regulation whilst more hostile to the private sector. Also, new and old Labour both believe in public expenditure on a large scale. This is to give the nation equal opportunities and the best possible standards of living, arguing the point of new Labour still sticking to its socialist routes.Old Labour believed that taxation should be high on the rich people of the country, as they have more money to give to the country to benefit the less affluent citizens of Britain. New Labour believes in less radical taxation, however stealth taxes are used to also benefit the country as well as the rise to the 50% taxation for anyone earning over ? 100,000 introduced in the April 2009 budget. This shows that both eras of the party believed in taxation benefiting the less ‘fortunate’ members of the country.New Labour is seen to be ‘expanding’ on old Labour’s views and adjusting them to fit in with Britain’s social aspects. For example, old Labour believed in free education from 5-18 years. However New Labour want 3-4 year olds to have free nursery education, something that wasn’t even around when Old Labour was still existent. Old Labour morals disagree with the idea of entrenched privileges toward education, as the state should create conditions that will give maximum opportunity to all sections of society.Whereas New Labour does not have a problem with public schools and they have the view that if people are prepared to spend more money on giving their children more benefits then so be it. New Labour still have ma ny socialist views such as the idea of the UK being fairer and more prosperous than it was a decade ago, and it having the highest employment rate in the G7, and also that the government lifted 600,000 children out of poverty in 2007. This shows that the New Labour government is still keeping in mind the working class people of Britain, showing us that Labour still share some socialist views.However, in some ways it can be shown that New Labour has detached itself from its Socialist routes. This can be in the different views on nationalisation. Old Labour believed that big companies, like the railway, the telephone, and electricity firms are owned by the country as a whole instead of privately by businessmen and this worked by the public owning shares in the companies. Whereas new Labour share the view that the idea of Private Finance Initiatives (PFI), they welcome private funds into national institutions such as hospitals and schools etc.However In 2008 New Labour nationalized Nor then Rock, and this was met with cries of outrage from its shareholders. The famous joke made by Labour MPs was â€Å"At last we’re enacting the 1983 manifesto† and â€Å"one down, 249 to go†. It was however embarrassing for the government of the time, who were keen to avoid nationalisation of any kind When old Labour first became a political party, they were to represent the working class people of the country, which were linked to trade unions.The unions had realized that the liberals and conservatives would not represent them, so they looked to Labour to represent skilled workers. The Labour party established a wide range of trade unions, socialists, Christians, Fabians and Marxists, this provided key amounts of support for the then liberal party. The common old Labour views consisted of, forgetting class, which meant that the country should work together to earn the best way of living for everyone. Old Labour believed that the working class should have their own say, which was to be non-violent.The idea of collectivism was a view shared by old Labour, which means to work as a group rather than as individuals, which links to the view of forgetting class. The same cannot be said for New Labour. Blair had a big focus on backing a sweeping overhaul of party funding which curbed the influence of the unions over the Labour party. Ed Miliband, who’s close victory for the leadership of the Labour Party over his brother was arguably due to the support of the Trade Unions, decided to back the Conservative government’s pay freeze in the public sector.This angered Trade Unions greatly, and Miliband did it to show he wasn’t going to be ruled by Trade Unions. Old Labour have the idea that free enterprise (An economic system characterized by private ownership of property and productive resources, the profit motive to stimulate production, competition to ensure efficiency, and the forces of supply and demand to direct the producti on and distribution of goods and services. ) will do nothing good for the working class. However new Labour believe that free enterprise is a good idea as the workers will benefit massively from this.New Labour is also broadly pro-Europe, and wants to lead the country to become more involved in the EU. Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander said in November 2011 â€Å"It is still my view that the Labour Government took the right decision on the Lisbon Treaty† However, the old labour view was that the EU doesn’t have the same values as Britain. This is a prime example of how new labour have strayed away from old labour and are becoming less socialist as a result of this, because these views are radically different from each other, showing that new labour may have differed from old labour views.There is also an argument that says that not only has New Labour abandoned its Socialist routes, but New Labour has been accused of being far too right wing on some policies. For example, in December 1997, 47 Labour MPs rebelled when the government carried through the previous administration's plans to cut the benefits paid to new single-parents. Tuition fees for university students were also introduced with no debate within the Labour Party itself. The government also promoted wider use of Public Private Partnerships and the Private Finance Initiative, which were opposed particularly by trade unions as a form of privatisation.Another example of Labour appearing too right wing is that the New Labour government has been closer to corporate business interests than any previous Labour government. This idea was opposed by old Labour views, and dramatically shows how different new Labour is now from when the party first started out. Since 1997 Labour's economic policies have sought to take a middle way between the more centralised socialist approach of past Labour governments and the free market approach of the Conservative government from 1979 to 1997. One o f the most popular policies introduced was Britain's first National Minimum Wage Act.This act was a massive revelation, and shows us that Labour still shares a socialist way of thinking, even in this modern day and age. In conclusion, it is fair to say that New Labour has abandoned its Socialist routes, but this can be attributed to Politics slipping into much more of a battle for the central spectrum of politics. The core vote now lies between the left and right, and to gain the power of government, the Labour Party has had to juggle appealing to its dye in the wool support as well as the core vote. Jono Davis

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

China and the Oppression of Tibet essays

China and the Oppression of Tibet essays Thousands of Tibetans are being jailed, tortured, and executed on a regular basis (Bernstein). Tibetans are simply trying to live lives of peace and happiness. Tragically, that serene way of life ended when China invaded and started settling in Tibet. Chinese rule is discouraging religious aspects of Tibet. Tibet practices Tibetan Buddhism. This religion focuses on meditation and mindfulness, for the purpose of arriving at a clear state of mind. Mindful clarity is then used to awaken and increase their compassion for others until it equals the unconditional compassion of the Buddha (Tibetan...). Chinese rule is depriving Tibet of its peaceful culture and is discouraging the religious beliefs of its people; the oppression must be stopped. One might argue that because Tibet's economy, agricultural output and foreign trade have been rapidly increasing since China took control, then Tibetans must be benefiting from Chinese rule (Faison). Money does not matter to Tibetans; they simply want peace, enlightenment and freedom. Although the country of Tibet may be receiving a larger gross income, Tibetans are not benefiting from Chinese rule if they are unhappy with the lifestyles forced upon them. Another common argument is that China is controlling religious beliefs to ensure that all religious activities are carried out in line with the doctrines, which are religious rules (Faison). There are no facts to prove China's claim, which is not true since China is forcing Tibetans to submit religious worship to the authority of communist party officials. Pictures of the Dalai Lama (head of state and spiritual leader), which are all that Tibetans have left, since he was forced to flee to India in 1940 when China invaded, have bee n banned (Bernstein). China is not monitoring religious acts in Tibet; it is controlling them. One might even believe that Tibetans could exist in a Chinese province like Eskimos exist in Alaska. The Eskimo culture coexis...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Carnivorous Plants

Carnivorous Plants Carnivorous plants are plants that capture, kill, and digest animal organisms. Like all plants, carnivorous plants are capable of photosynthesis. Since they usually live in areas where the soil quality is poor, they must supplement their diet with nutrients gained from digesting animals. Like other flowering plants, carnivorous plants use tricks to entice insects. These plants have developed specialized leaves that work to lure and then trap unsuspecting insects. Key Takeaways Carnivorous plants are plants that have the ability to eat animal organisms. These highly specialized plants are able to both lure and trap insects.The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is the most well known of the carnivorous plants. They live in wet areas such as bogs and swamps.Sundews are covered in tentacles. Their tentacles make a sticky dew-like substance that attracts insects.Bladderworts are plants that dont have roots and are often found in aquatic areas and in areas with wet soil. They capture insects via a trapdoor.Other examples of carnivorous plants include tropical pitcher plants and North American pitcher plants. There are several genera of carnivorous plants and hundreds of carnivorous plant species. Here are some of my favorite genera of carnivorous plants: Flytraps - Dionaea muscipula Dionaea muscipula, also known as the Venus flytrap, is probably the most well known of the carnivorous plants. Insects are lured into the mouth-like leaves by nectar. Once an insect enters the trap it touches tiny hairs on the leaves. This sends impulses through the plant triggering the leaves to close. Glands located in the leaves release enzymes that digest the prey and the nutrients are absorbed by the leaves. Flies, ants, and other bugs are not the only animals that the flytrap may snare. Frogs and other small vertebrates may sometimes become trapped by the plant as well. Venus flytraps live in wet, nutrient-poor environments, such as bogs, wet savannas, and swamps. Sundews - Drosera Sundew feeding on a green lacewing. Reinhard Dirscherl/WaterFrame/Getty Images Plus Species of plants from the genus Drosera are called Sundews. These plants live in wet biomes, including marshes, bogs, and swamps. Sundews are covered with tentacles that produce a sticky dew-like substance that glitters in the sunlight. Insects and other small creatures are attracted to the dew and become stuck when they land on the leaves. The tentacles then close around the insects and digestive enzymes break down the prey. Sundews typically capture flies, mosquitoes, moths, and spiders. Tropical Pitchers - Nepenthes Plant species from the genus Nepenthes are known as Tropical Pitcher plants or Monkey Cups. These plants are typically found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. The leaves of pitcher plants are brightly colored and shaped like pitchers. Insects are lured to the plant by the bright colors and nectar. The inside walls of the leaves are covered with waxy scales that make them very slippery. Insects may slip and fall to the bottom of the pitcher where the plant secretes digestive fluids. Large pitcher plants have been known to trap small frogs, snakes, and even birds. North American Pitchers - Sarracenia Species from the genus Sarracenia are called North American Pitcher plants. These plants inhabit grassy marshes, swamps, and other wetlands. The leaves of Sarracenia plants are also shaped like pitchers. Insects are lured to the plant by nectar and may slip from the edge of the leaves and fall to the bottom of the pitcher. In some species, the insects die when they drown in water that has accumulated at the bottom of the pitcher. They are then digested by enzymes that are released into the water. Bladderworts - Utricularia Utricularia australis (bladderwort). Paul Starosta/Corbis Documentary/Getty Images Plus Species of Utricularia are known as Bladderworts. The name comes from the tiny sacs, which resemble bladders, that are located on the stems and leaves. Bladderworts are rootless plants found in aquatic areas and in wet soil. These plants have a trapdoor mechanism for capturing prey. The sacs have a small membrane cover that acts as a door. Their oval shape creates a vacuum that sucks in tiny insects when they trigger hairs that are located around the door. Digestive enzymes are then released inside the sacs to digest the prey. Bladderworts consume aquatic invertebrates, water fleas, insect larvae, and even small fish. More About Carnivorous Plants For more information about carnivorous plants, take a look at the Carnivorous Plant Database and The Carnivorous Plant FAQ. Sources Reece, Jane B., and Neil A. Campbell. Campbell Biology. Benjamin Cummings, 2011.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

3 Types of Not Only . . . But Also Errors

3 Types of Not Only . . . But Also Errors 3 Types of â€Å"Not Only . . . But Also† Errors 3 Types of â€Å"Not Only . . . But Also† Errors By Mark Nichol Confusion about the proper arrangement of words in sentences in which the correlative conjunctions â€Å"not only† and â€Å"but also† appear is manifested in various forms of erroneous syntax. The following sentences, accompanied by discussion and corrected versions, demonstrate three categories of mistaken sentence construction. 1. â€Å"Digital cameras are not only changing photography, but our lives.† The placement of â€Å"not only† here implies that the sentence will refer both to changing and to some other action that will occur because of the existence of digital cameras. (For example, â€Å"Digital cameras are not only changing photography but also altering our culture’s norms about privacy.†) But because changing is the operative verb for both parts of the comparison, it should precede â€Å"not only† and should be shadowed by also after the conjunction: â€Å"Digital cameras are changing not only photography but also our lives.† 2. â€Å"His hard work in math class has not only helped him make the most of his abilities but also to gradually improve them.† The phrase â€Å"not only† is misplaced in this sentence it should follow the verb phrase â€Å"has helped,† rather than be inserted between the two words which is also complicated by an extraneous use of to before the phrase â€Å"gradually improve them.† That placement would be appropriate only if it matched a to inserted before â€Å"make the most of his abilities.† But to following a form of help and a noun or pronoun is unnecessary: â€Å"His hard work in math class has helped him not only make the most of his abilities but also gradually improve them.† 3. â€Å"I think of her both as an example of someone who does her work with care and pride but also as someone who treats others respectfully.† This sentence mixes two phrasing forms for making comparisons: â€Å"both . . . and† and â€Å"not only . . . but also.† For the sentence to make sense, use one or the other: â€Å"I think of her both as an example of someone who does her work with care and pride and as someone who treats others respectfully† or â€Å"I think of her not only as an example of someone who does her work with care and pride but also as someone who treats others respectfully.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Punctuate References to Dates and TimesPeople versus Persons50 Plain-Language Substitutions for Wordy Phrases

Saturday, October 19, 2019

India is similar (or not similar) to the Bodley profile of Tribal Essay

India is similar (or not similar) to the Bodley profile of Tribal Culture - Essay Example Yet certain characteristics of them all were common. For example, culture is always based on symbols which people hold in high esteem; a culture of a region is shared by the people living in that particular society; a culture is learned, that is, it is taught to everybody in the society; and lastly, culture is adaptive; in other words, as the world and times change, culture also evolves. When we speak of tribal culture we must remember that it varies greatly from place to place. Certain cultures in the Oceanic Islands (such as Fiji) would be cannibalistic, while tribal regions in India are staunch vegetarians. According to Bodley though, certain features are very much alike; for example, tribal cultures are predominantly agriculture based, with the natives producing their own food and not dependent on outside sources. By definition, a tribe generally consists of a few hundred people living together in settled villages. Their chief mode of gaining sustenance is farming (horticultural or pastorical) and hunting and their economy is simple and uncomplicated. People rely more on barter, gift swapping, and labor in exchange for goods, rather than on cash and credit. Hence comparatively, their monetary status is not as complicated as those living in more industrialized cultures. Neither, in fact, is their way of living. Tribal cultures are usually not as technologically dependent, relying mostly on simple tools for work. Their society is often divided into different lineages and ‘clans’ and most people can trace their descent to common ancestors. Every lineage and clan has a similar status in the tribe, with certain people (probably due to greater riches, or experience) are gifted with the title of ‘elders’ or ‘big men’. They are usually looked up to and have profound influence in most tribal decisions. India is one of the largest countries population-wise, and its growing industrialization is a credit to its present and