Afghanistan Country Facts and History

Afghanistan Country Facts and History Afghanistan has the misfortune of sitting in a strategic position at the crossroads of Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East. Despite its mountainous terrain and fiercely independent inhabitants, the country has been invaded time after time throughout its history. Today, Afghanistan is once more embroiled in war, pitting NATO troops and the current government against the ousted Taliban and its allies. Afghanistan is a fascinating but violence-wracked country, where East meets West. Capital and Major Cities Capital:  Kabul, population 3,475,000 (2013 estimate) Kandahar, population 491,500Herat, 436,300Mazar-e-Sharif, 375,000Kunduz, 304,600Jalalabad, 205,000 Afghanistan Government Afghanistan is an Islamic Republic, headed by the President. Afghan presidents may serve a maximum of two 5-year terms.  Ashraf Ghani was elected in 2014.   Hamid Karzai  served two terms as president before him. The National Assembly is a bicameral legislature, with a 249-member House of the People (Wolesi Jirga), and a 102-member House of the Elders (Meshrano Jirga). The nine justices of the Supreme Court (Stera Mahkama) are appointed to terms of 10 years by the President. These appointments are subject to approval by the Wolesi Jirga. Afghanistan Population The population of Afghanistan is estimated at 32.6 million. Afghanistan is home to a number of ethnic groups. The largest is the Pashtun, 42 percent of the population. Tajiks make up 27 percent, Hazaras  8 percent, and Uzbeks 9 percent, Aimaks 4 percent, Turkmen 3 percent and Baluchi 2 percent. The remaining 13 percent are tiny populations of Nuristanis, Kizibashis, and other groups. Life expectancy for both men and women within Afghanistan is 60 years. The infant mortality rate is 115 per 1,000 live births, the worst in the world. It also has one of the highest maternal mortality rates. Official Languages Afghanistans official languages are Dari and Pashto, both of which are Indo-European languages in the Iranian sub-family. Written Dari and Pashto both use a modified Arabic script.Other Afghan languages include Hazaragi, Uzbek, and Turkmen. Dari is the Afghan dialect of the Persian language. It is quite similar to Iranian Dari, with slight differences in pronunciation and accent. The two are mutually intelligible. Around 33 percent of Afghanis speak Dari as their first language. About 40 percent of the people of Afghanistan speak Pashto, the language of the Pashtun tribe. It is also spoken in the Pashtun areas of western Pakistan. Religion The overwhelming majority of Afghanistans people are Muslim, around 99 percent. About 80 percent are Sunni, and 19 percent Shia. The final one percent includes about 20,000 Bahais, 3,000-5,000 Christians. Only one Bukharan Jewish man, Zablon Simintov, remained by 2005. All of the other members of the Jewish community fled when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Until the mid-1980s, Afghanistan also had a population of 30,000 to 150,000 Hindus and Sikhs. During the Taliban regime, the Hindu minority was forced to wear yellow badges when they went out in public, and Hindu women had to wear the Islamic-style hijab. Today, only a few Hindus remain. Geography Afghanistan is a land-locked country bordering on Iran to the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north, a tiny border with China at the northeast, and Pakistan to the east and south. Its total area is 647,500 square kilometers (almost 250,000 square miles). Most of Afghanistan is in the Hindu Kush Mountains, with some lower-lying desert areas. The highest point is Nowshak, at 7,486 meters (24,560 feet). The lowest is the Amu Darya River Basin, at 258 meters (846 feet). An arid and mountainous country, Afghanistan has little cropland; a scant 12 percent is arable, and only 0.2 percent is under permanent crop-cover. Climate The climate of Afghanistan is very dry and seasonal, with temperatures varying by altitude. Kabuls average January temperature is 0 degrees Celsius (32 Fahrenheit), while noon temperatures in July often reach 38 Celsius (100 Fahrenheit). Jalalabad can hit 46 Celsius (115 Fahrenheit) in the summer. Most of the precipitation that falls in Afghanistan comes in the form of winter snow. The nation-wide annual average is only 25-30 centimeters (10 to 12 inches), but snow drifts in the mountain valleys can reach depths of over 2 meters. The desert experiences sandstorms carried on winds moving at up to 177 kph (110 mph). Economy Afghanistan is among the poorest countries on Earth. The per capita GDP is $1,900 US, and about 36 percent of the population lives under the poverty line. The economy of Afghanistan receives large infusions of foreign aid, totaling billions of U.S. dollars annually. It has been undergoing a recovery, in part by the return of over five million expatriates and new construction projects. The countrys most valuable export is opium; eradication efforts have had mixed success. Other export goods include wheat, cotton, wool, handwoven rugs, and precious stones. Afghanistan imports much of its food and energy. Agriculture employs 80 percent of the labor force, industry, and services 10 percent each. The unemployment rate is 35 percent. The currency is the afghani. As of 2016, $1 US 69 afghani. History of Afghanistan Afghanistan was settled at least 50,000 years ago. Early cities such as Mundigak and Balkh sprang up around 5,000 years ago; they likely were affiliated with the Aryan culture of India. Around 700 B.C., the Median Empire expanded its rule to Afghanistan. The Medes were an Iranian people, rivals of the Persians. By 550 B.C., the Persians had displaced the Medians, establishing the Achaemenid Dynasty. Alexander the Great of Macedonia invaded Afghanistan in 328 B.C., founding a Hellenistic empire with its capital at Bactria (Balkh). The Greeks were displaced around 150 B.C. by the Kushans and later the Parthians, nomadic Iranians. The Parthians ruled until about 300 A.D. when the Sassanians took control. Most Afghans were Hindu, Buddhist or Zoroastrian at that time, but an Arab invasion in 642 A.D. introduced Islam. The Arabs defeated the Sassanians and ruled until 870, at which time they were driven out again by the Persians. In 1220, Mongol warriors under Genghis Khan conquered Afghanistan, and descendants of the Mongols would rule much of the region until 1747. In 1747, the Durrani Dynasty was founded by Ahmad Shah Durrani, an ethnic Pashtun. This marked the origin of modern Afghanistan. The nineteenth century witnessed increasing Russian and British competition for influence in Central Asia, in The Great Game. Britain fought two wars with the Afghans, in 1839-1842 and 1878-1880. The British were routed in the first Anglo-Afghan War but took control of Afghanistans foreign relations after the second. Afghanistan was neutral in World War I, but Crown Prince Habibullah was assassinated for purported pro-British ideas in 1919. Later that year, Afghanistan attacked India, prompting the British to relinquish control over Afghan foreign affairs. Habibullahs younger brother Amanullah reigned from 1919 until his abdication in 1929. His cousin, Nadir Khan, became king but lasted only four years before he was assassinated. Nadir Khans son, Mohammad Zahir Shah, then took the throne, ruling from 1933 to 1973. He was ousted in a coup by his cousin Sardar Daoud, who declared the country a republic. Daoud was ousted in turn in 1978 by the Soviet-backed PDPA, which instituted Marxist rule. The Soviets took advantage of the political instability to invade in 1979; they would remain for ten years. Warlords ruled from 1989 until the extremist Taliban took power in 1996. The Taliban regime was ousted by U.S.-led forces in 2001 for its support of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. A new Afghan government was formed, supported by the International Security Force of the United Nations Security Council. The new government continued to receive help from  US-led NATO troops to battle Taliban insurgencies and shadow governments. The US war in Afghanistan was officially ended December 28, 2014.

Economical Effects Of El Nino Essays - Atmospheric Sciences

Economical Effects Of El Nino Essays - Atmospheric Sciences Economical Effects Of El Nino Economical Effects of El Nio El Nio is a warm coastal current that flows south along the coasts of Ecuador and Peru (Wyrtki). El Nio is a Spanish term meaning the child. The name refers to the Christ child because it usually begins around Christmas and ends around Easter (Cane). El Nio has recurred about twenty four times in the last century (Erickson). It is first recorded as far back as the early 1500's and returns on average of once every four years (Cane). El Nio causes much destruction in the short time it lasts. This system has been known to cause forest fires, typhoons, torrential rains, unusually powerful hurricanes, flash floods, severe droughts, and freak snow storms (Nash). The 1982 El Nio is thought to have triggered the 1982 eruption of the El Chichon volcano in Mexico. The 1982-1983 El Nio also caused so much destruction that the weather-related damage estimated at more than $6.5 billion. A typhoon named Iwa, caused by El Nio, that hit the Hawaiian Islands in November, 19823 caused $2 million in damages (Erickson). El Nio is one of the strongest weather systems known to man and can destroy lives and production, both agriculturally and economically, with very little warning at all. When a major El Nio ocean warming occurs, the barometric pressure over vast areas of the southeast Pacific falls, while the pressure in Indonesia and northern Australia rises. When El Nio ends, the pressure difference between these two areas swings in the opposite direction, creating a mass seesawing of atmospheric pressure. This phenomenon is called the Southern Oscillation. The Southern Oscillation is related to large-scale changes in atmospheric circulation over the tropical Pacific and Indian oceans. When the Southern Oscillation index is low, summer monsoon rains in India fail, and when the index is high, the rains are abundant (Erickson). An irregular oscillation of atmospheric mass occurs between the Indonesian low pressure system, and the Easter Island high press ure system. This oscillation can last for several years (Wyrtki). El Nio has an immense effect on the economy in many ways. From the 1982-1983 El Nio, weather related damage around the Pacific rim estimated at more than $6.5 billion (Erickson). El Nio has caused destructive flooding, drought in the West Pacific, and is sometimes associated with devastating brush fires in Australia (TAO). Of the past twenty-eight El Nio's twenty-two have been associated with below normal rainfall in south east Africa. The Souther Oscillation and El Nio both have significant effects on state of weather and climate almost everywhere. The 1982-1983 El Nio caused destructive winds, tides, flooding, and landslides in California, caused more than $300 million in property damages, and over 10,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes (Erickson). Due to it's size and strength, El Nio has been the focus of international attention and millions of dollars in research (Wood). As a result of the 1982-1983 El Nio, it caused a typhoon, named Iwa in the Hawaiin Islands. Iwa struck in November of 1982, and caused around $200,000,000 in damages. In Peru, El Nio has caused torrential rain fall, resulting in flooding of the once dust-dry hillsides of the Peruvian coast (Carson). El Nio has also generated warm surface waters and biological disturbances that extended southward to Chile and northward to British Columbia (Wyrtki). As for farmers in Southern Africa, they have suffered from loss of water, crop failures, and widespread hunger, consequently more than 1,000,000 people faced possible famine (Erickson). Storms following altered tracks of El Nio disrupt normal patterns of wet and dry weather as far away as Africa (Williams). El Nio has been known to provoke heavy rains in the usually dry southwest and fires in the drought stricken rain forests of Malaysia (Newshour Forum). El Nio can and has prompted catastrophic disturbances in weather with very short advanced notice. Due to El Nio ther e are different cycles in the temperature, thus creating cold years and warm years. Farmers do not like the cold years because they cause drought and crop failures, but these years are welcomed by fishermen. The cold years come on the heels of strong El Nio years. Peruvians have reason to be

Online Companies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Online Companies - Essay Example Coupled with the developments in technology, specifically the internet and aviation, and the liberalization of international commerce, globalization is now becoming a reality to many people. One of the most efficient ways to become involve in globalization is through going online, a method that has proved popular and effective for companies of varying sizes and interests. The primary goal of becoming online is to be able to establish presences, gain access or exposure to markets and to survey or gather information regarding prospective markets. Some companies also opt to go online because their competitors do so. Among countries that have joined the World Trade Organization (WTO), a particular development for companies going online is to be able to take advantage of the liberalization of off-shore investments that they can now attract (Tubbs and Schulz, 2006). Establishing presence online attracts attention to the brand and the products regardless of where the company is operating. Being online is a statement of a company's adaptation of technology and competency to follow trends (Murphy, 2006). The efforts can be accomplished independently by the company or by participation in third party hosting. Third party hosting can involve being listed in directories, through page links or by participating in industry profile data basing or participation in online groups and message boards. The core of the objective is to create interest for the brand and product. Gain access or exposure to markets implies that the approach targets consumers. However, this objective may or may not involve actual selling to the target markets and the core of the objective lies in informing potential markets of the product. Access to markets can also include expanding supply and distribution chains. Being online means that another company can find you as a much as you can find suppliers and costumers for one's products. This can also be achieve independently or not however, there are distinct advantage in maintaining independent methods in accessing markets since this can also be a sources of market information and a means of providing support which may not available if one utilizes third party sites (Bly, 2004). Gathering information can be made more efficient online, profile of visitors of the site can give a company an idea who is interested in their products. Most companies online provide registered user privileges in accessing their sites to be able to collect information form users and track usage. This information can be used to develop markets approaches and competitive competencies directly from individuals who already have expressed interest in the brand or product as well as provide channels for marketing and promotion efforts (Perner, 2004). For companies who are trying to find new markets, these information can provide vital information for approaches to the market so that efforts can be streamlined and be cost-effective. Online Companies For the purpose of this paper, there kinds of business that are online will be studied. One of the companies to be studies is Tesco, a large retailing supermarket company based in the UK who has recently adopted online business operation to complement its existing ones. Next is Muji, a

Biology really matters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Biology really matters - Essay Example For example, young adults, who have low normal levels of human sex hormone, Testosterone tends to perform quite successfully on spatial tests, when compared to the ones with high normal levels. (Kimura, 2001). These fluctuations in the hormone levels could occur throughout the year, with higher levels happening in the autumn and lower levels in the spring, thus improving the subjects’ performance on spatial tests in the spring. On the other hand, women’s estrogen hormonal levels tends make quite effective in person-oriented occupations and functions. Unlike, the impact of seasons on the hormonal changes in men, women’s hormonal levels fluctuate around across the menstrual cycle, thus impacting their performance during those periods. (Kimura, 2001). Because of these biological differences in the hormonal levels, it is clear that women tend to gravitate towards fields like education, nursing and social work more often than men. (Kimura, 2001). On the other hand, al though, men and women are equally represented in the other health-related professions, in most cases men tend to perform better in the science fields. These differences in the hormonal levels also impacts men and women’s susceptibility to certain diseases, and which indirectly impacts their behavioral patterns. That is, according to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, estrogens offer women of reproductive age some protection against cardiovascular diseases. That is, before the age of 65, heart disease is one of the leading causes of mortality among the men, but on the other hand, cancer causes death mainly in women. After menopause and due to the hormonal changes in the women’s physical body, a kind of reversal takes place, with women facing a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases than men and in turn, men face higher risk of cancer than women. (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe). With the most important risk factors for cancers being tobacco sm oking and diet,

Company critical analysis - DHL Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Company critical analysis - DHL - Research Paper Example With time the company grew rapidly operating in over 200 countries with 110,000 employees and very recently the company was renamed as Deutsche Post DHL and established a new innovation centre division for more innovative and sophisticated way of logistic system (DHL, 2011). This research is concerned with the in depth study of the company for critical analysis of the core competence of the firm and the competitive analysis for DHL. Background of the company (DHL) and its problem with competitors The two companies under DHL are the exclusive delivery agents of the other company and the reason behind the domestic shipping of the company within US is mainly to reduce the cost and on the other hand increase reliability of the international shipping of the company. During the year 1990 the company on experienced 3% of the shipment inside the country but about 20% of the overseas shipment from US is accounted under DHL. From the beginning the company is focused towards delivering excellen t services to the customers and is always committed towards its activities. The success factor of the company is mainly its employee base that is always acting according to the needs of the customers and serving with a customized approach. Today the company is operating in over 220 countries worldwide with a wide network and diversified business expertise in express, ocean freight, contract logistics, international mail services and overland transport (DHL-a, 2011). The company’s main competitions in the market are Federal Express, UPS (Silverstein, 2011). The competitors’ strategies of using third party help during the logistic process is one of the problem faced by the company as the company follows a network of self owned agents which takes time for the company to enter into new market for establishment of the business. Another issue is intense price competition in the industry which needs to be evaluated by the company to implement an effective pricing strategy. Di fferentiation in the pricing strategy of documents and parcel should be there for the company and the company needs to evaluate its pricing techniques for different industries also which the competitors are taking advantages of. Interview Review The interview conducted with the different members of DHL also reflected the problems that are prevailing within the organization and its competitors. As the Regional Manager of DHL, Dean Jones mentioned that the company is mainly focused towards quality service rather than concentrating on the pricing of products or service. Due to this the company is losing market share to its competitors with competitive pricing strategies. Johnson Par, the country manager of Africa on the other hand mentioned about a problem on the logistic system. The company has their own logistic systems which sometimes fail to serve on time as the competitors use their third party service for faster delivery of products. But DHL believes that customers will trust in the companies on logistic system than on any third party channel. Analysis of the resources and capabilities of DHL DHL broadly comprises of four divisions which are mainly operated by their divisional headquarters. All the groups are managed by the centralized centre all under one group. The centralized internal services

Genre is useful for audiences

Genre is useful for audiences Compare examples of genre texts from different decades of any media genre of your choice. Genre is useful for audiences as it enables them to differentiate between the styles and types of narrative, allowing them to decide on what they enjoy. Producers benefit from genre as they can see what is most successful at the current time, and, therefore, make more of the same to capitalise on profit. Due to the ongoing existence and progression of genre, certain changes occur in film, but yet they remain reflective of the genre they are in. This observation is supported by Steven Neales description, that genre operates as a â€Å"repetition of difference†. Subtle differences may appear on screen, but the underlying repertoire of elements are exclusively the same. I will be considering the science fiction genre, within which, the films Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Invasion, and The Faculty will be discussed. These films are recognisable as being part of the science fiction genre due to the inclusion of aliens in all three texts. This is a common trend within the genr e and is apparent in countless other films. The repetition of such ideas is noticeably popular with audiences, who have consumed similar texts for decades. Audiences like this repetition as it fits into their schema, complying with the ideologies and values of previous texts which they have enjoyed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  However, genres do not endlessly repeat themselves. Instead, they evolve, adopting new conventions and narratives to excite the audience. This variation is well-liked by audiences who would become bored of watching the same thing over and over again. The repetition of difference allows the audience to enjoy the particular genre whilst being entertained by the application of new elements. The diverse nature and imagination of science fiction allows difference to be introduced with greater success than any other genre.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Haywards theory, that genres are not static but â€Å"shifting and slippery†, can be confidently implicated into the discussion, as they do not remain the same but adjust due to the audience and society at the time. This notion can be further enforced by theorist Toamshevsky, who suggested that â€Å"no firm logical classification of genre is possible. Their demarcation is always historical, that is to say, it is only correct for a moment of history†. This theory proposes that films produced as part of the science fiction genre, reflect attitudes, worries and conflicts within society at a given time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The texts held in question all exhibit differences due to the influences of historical contexts that were apparent at the time. Invasion of the Body Snatchers is manifestly a metaphor of society during the Cold War, with the pod people representing Russian communists. The 2007 remake, The Invasion, adopts different aspects as a result of society at this time. The anxieties present in this era are disease, infection and the idea that science is foolishly breaking boundaries, represented in The Invasion by a virus that turns people into an inhuman being. The faculty is more complex as it does not involve concerns of the present society. Instead, The Faculty presents a postmodern view of humanity through its self-referentiality; drawing attention to its own construction which offers little comment on social issues.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Neale supports Toamshevskys point and suggests that genre creates meaning in a fluid way. Genre can only make sense in relation to a variety of contextual factors. The contextual factors of institution, censorship, technology and gender representation have all affected these texts and created differences between them. Invasion of the body Snatchers was produced by Walter Wanger, who had an interest in topically political material, being responsible for the making of the anti-fascist film Blockade in 1938. The films screenwriter Mainwaring was even blacklisted himself as a communist sympathiser. Furthermore, the script was rewritten by Richard Collins, a former Communist Party functionary and co-author of the once notorious Song of Russia. These institutional aspects of the film clearly show its intentions and ideologies as being pro-communism, making a satirical attack on McCarthyism. The Invasion was produced by Warner brothers and therefore has values in keeping with traditional America. The narrative of this film concludes with the uninfected triumphing over the alien life form and restoring the world to its previous state. This clearly shows the difference in values as the ending is so definite, whereas in Body Snatchers the ending is not completely resolved, with the imagination of the audience determining the real outcome. The Faculty appears to struggle in commenting on the real world we live in until the very end of the film. We can see this ending as an ironic parody through Frederick Jamesons definition of the term, as The Faculty ‘mocks rather than plunders from tradition therefore interrogating other texts that it mimics. We ask questions about the way the narrative ends as it makes no sense, with everybody becoming better people due to the experience and contradicting there former characters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Censorship has shaped the three texts dramatically, having restricted the content of some and enabling others to show more varied footage. Invasion of the Body Snatchers was produced in 1956, a time where society was shielded from ‘unacceptable material by the MPDDA, therefore limiting the footage that could be shown, and which could be perceived as entertaining by the audience, for example violence, nudity and swearing. The Invasion and The Faculty, however, have not been affected by such rigorous censoring, being produced in a more lenient society. This has allowed both films to include more disturbing scenes such as the alien in The Faculty and the process by which humans are converted into aliens in The Invasion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Technology also plays a significant part in recognising the differences between the texts. Invasion of the Body Snatchers lacks impressive, large scale scenes partly due to the deficiency of technology but also due to the economic context, as films were made on a much lower budget than they are today. Body Snatchers cost a modern day equivalent of 4 million dollars whereas The Invasion cost a massive 80 million dollars. These economic differences have allowed films produced in the 21st century to be much more impressive in appearance than those created decades ago. The Faculty consisted of many scenes that relied heavily on special effects. However, the methods used could clearly be seen as fake and even comical. This may have been solely due to its postmodern influences but may also have been due to the standard of technology at the time. The Invasion includes much more realistic examples of technology in use, such as the shuttle falling to Earth and the suffocat ing green mucus that covers the peoples faces.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Representations of gender are very different in the three texts. Body Snatchers clearly portrays a patriarchal society where men are the bread winners and women are the housewives. Miles Bennell is the Proppian hero who is slowed down and hindered by his partner Becky Driscoll who has no relevance to the plot, ultimately becoming an alien and betraying Miles. The Invasion, however, swaps these roles, making the women the hero and the man the burden. This can be accounted for through the second wave of feminism in the late 1960s, characterised by the growing revolt by women against their oppression as a sex. The idea of the crisis of masculinity is also encompassed within the film as men, such as Daniel Craig and Kidmans ex-husband Jeremy Northam, appear week, being dominated by Kidmans character and eventually overcome.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Neales theory that genre exists through the repetition of difference is highly justifiable when looking at Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Invasion and The Faculty. All three films are extremely familiar with the two most recent films taking their ideas directly from the 1956 classic. The Faculty is a repetition of Body Snatchers due to its close compliance with the texts narrative and conventions of alien organisms, as well as the fact that it makes direct references to Body Snatchers consistently throughout the film. The Invasion is a remake of Body Snatchers, therefore existing exclusively due to the earlier film. It does however have differences to the original to make it more exciting and more in keeping with contemporary society, which has greater appeal to audiences. For these reasons Neales theoretical framework is valid, as are the additional views of Hayward and Toamshevsky.

Favorite Room

My Favorite Room Walking through the front door of my apartment, I enter my favorite and most relaxing place to be: the living room. Sitting in my living room I feel relaxed and stress free. The first thing I see when I walk in is my wife’s shoe rack. To the left is her creepy monkey picture. When I look to the right I can see the whole room. I try to keep it nice and clean, but with school work, it doesn’t always stay that way.As I sit down on my big comfortable couch, I look up at my huge three piece entertainment center in front of me. The entertainment center holds my new flat screen TV, PlayStation 3, and DVD surround sound system. To the right of the entertainment center is our black book shelf which holds our novel books; I love to read when I have free time. To the left of the entertainment center is a matching book shelf which holds all of our text books from school.On the right side of the couch is a match chair and foot rest. The furniture set was a gift to m y wife, so it has a lot of sentimental value to us. On the far left wall is the sliding glass door that leads to our patio. When the weather is nice, I like to sit on the patio and read or do my homework. When I’m sitting in my living room, I feel a sense of safety. No matter what kind of day I have had, as soon as I am in my living room, all of my stress is lifted; I can truly relax in my favorite place.

Dr. Albert Ellis Essay

Dr. Albert Ellis became known for setting frontiers in the field of psychology. He questioned many age-old beliefs throughout his career and tried to prove each of them with theories. His expertise expounded on human sexuality, psychoanalysis, ad cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. The focus that he gave in sexology and sexuality led to many publications and teachings accountable to him. It is not surprising so that he subscribed to Freudian ideologies. Among his more popular studies was the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy or REBT. REBT focused on the role of the mind in directing emotions. It specified that the mindset of people is what transforms into emotions. In return, these reactions become basis for future feelings and actions. Ellis assumed with his theories that psychology patients will get better faster and the treatments will be easier if they cooperate and have a change of mind as most of what makes negative emotions are wrong assumptions. By stopping oneself from making demands that cannot be easily satisfied and by being realistic, negative emotions and most problems can be resolved. This focus on cognitive behavior expounded many earlier studies on the area which lacked the focus it needed. Thus, Ellis was dubbed as the Most Influential Psychologist by psychologists and counselors in America and Europe. (Dr. Albert Ellis, 2006) In his death he left a legacy of intelligence. This intelligence helped and will continue to help millions of individuals who remain bothered by life issues that are mainly caused by wrong perceptions. Thus, this legacy was not for Ellis’ alone but for all practitioners and patients who will benefit in his work. INTRODUCTION As shown in many biographies and stories made out of the life of Dr. Albert Ellis, it was evident that a powerful influence was left to him by Freudian ideologies. He had many works that referred most especially to the human sexuality. In his lifetime, he was also able to maintain two consecutive marriages which definitely peppered reality into his many works and theories on sexology. (A brief biography of Dr. Albert Ellis, 2005) As Freud would have it he was also into psychoanalysis. He had a different way of studying the human mind—how it functions and how other bodily functions relate to it. Of his many works sexuality and psychoanalysis were the focal point of most and of which he became better known. (A brief biography of Dr. Albert Ellis, 2005) It’s all in the mind We perceive pain only when we already know that an occurrence or action causes pain. We become sad only when we know that something is saddening. These negative thoughts and feelings come from the mind. The mind is very powerful and it can dictate the whole body on how to behave. It can likewise tell the mind how to think and perceive things. Thus, how a person thinks affects how he feels. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy was created by Ellis in 1955. The theory found its way to a treatment method. It became possible with the thought that patients will get better faster if they change their way of thinking. The mind, it says, can cure. (Albert Ellis and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, 2006) For instance, a patient of depression can get out from his bouts by going to the cause of his depression and changing his reaction about it. Besides, depression as Ellis taught happens when the person convinces himself that the state of his person is not what it should be and rather should be another. These irrational idealisms cause worries and frustrations which leads to depression. (REBT by Dr. Albert Ellis, n. d. ) In concurrence, a neurotic, Ellis specifies, can get out of his neuroses by stopping it. Thus, Ellis promotes that the mind dictates what the body’s state will be especially when it comes to emotions. Ellis’ theory stresses that reactions to a certain event, state, or occurrence identifies the overall feeling of a person towards it. (REBT by Dr. Albert Ellis, n. d. ) Therefore, a person can alter his view of it by either changing the way in which he perceives it or convincing him to do so. When a person successfully does this, it will be easier for him to overcome his negative feelings and be more optimistic. Optimism then leads to a better outlook in life. Ellis psychology: Different psychology In its prime, Ellis’ schools of thought differed from the others at that it puts emphasis on different factors that are otherwise overlooked by other theories. Its combination of highlight points allowed these overlooked factors to be studied through this single theory. These factors include emphasis on early childhood, deep philosophical change and scientific thinking. (REBT by Dr. Albert Ellis, n. d. ) While these factors have been studied long before Ellis’ time, it was only through the focus that Ellis gave that the factors were brought together in a homogenous fashion yet for the resolution of a single objective. The objective here is to change the way of the pessimistic mind and create a mindset that will make it easy for a person to accept events that come his way and understand how to deal with them. The theory states that events which happen during the early childhood years drastically affect the state of mind of a person. The more negative these years were, the more pessimistic the person will likely get. Deep philosophical change is another factor. This is the one which changes the mindset of the person. By changing a person’s philosophy in life he can become at peace with his self and the things that happen to him. In changing his life’s philosophy a person may have to deal into scientific thinking as well. Here there will be no vague inexplicable thoughts and idealisms but rather specifics that can be explained and help the person understand himself and his ordeals. These three measures spell the difference between self-defeat and self-winning. The self can only be won by being rational. By these one explains to himself and understands that everything happens (or do not happen) for a reason. To be rational is to be realistic. When one leaves in a too idealistic or fantasy world is to deny oneself of the opportunity to win over situations. Being rational is a pre-requisite to being free, happy, and optimistic. The ABC and the Musts Ellis’ theory also developed the three ABCs which pose as the blueprint of emotions. The three includes the start of things (A), the beliefs of the person about the thing (B), and the reaction of the person about the thing (C). According to the process, every person’s ordeal has a beginning. It may be from the immediate time or from a distant past. It may be from his immediate surrounding or from a past neighborhood or workplace. Whenever or wherever that beginning may be, the fact is that there is a start. (What is REBT? , 2006) From the beginning of a situation a person starts to associate with it his personal beliefs and the beliefs that he form in concurrence to outside factors such as family and friends. These beliefs are developed from many different things, and so it is guaranteed that two persons under the same situation may have differing beliefs toward it. In connection, these beliefs affect the reaction that the person gives into the situation. As an example, a person who wants to get into a certain job position into a company he so much dreams of may feel very positive about applying, taking the application tests, and attending the interviews. He prepares for it and makes sure nothing comes between him and his dream of getting his dream job; and then he fails. He did not get the job. This person will most likely believe that he does not deserve the failure because he prepared so much for everything. This belief will lead to a reaction of anger and resentment. But when following the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, he will put off the grief and focus on future things that he can do—apply in other companies or improve on himself to take on the opportunity of re-application. This is the essence of REBT. The negative feelings that become reactions are often brought about by Musts. These are the assumed expectations of a person that when he fails to achieve can greatly give him negative thoughts and feelings. A person always feel he must do well and win the approval of others, that other people must be fair, kind, and true to him, that he must get what he wants when he want it. This spoiled-brat syndrome often leads to failed expectations. (What is REBT? , 2006) Getting away from thoughts that include these Musts allow one to be realistic. Sources say that these unrealistic demands when given up will solve 80% of a person’s problems. (What is REBT? Introduction, explanation, and application, 2007) This highlights that problems arise from the mindset of a person. A problem becomes so if the person perceives that this thing is really a crisis and so if he will think that it is not a dilemma then it will not pose itself as a predicament. Benefits of rational thinking Being realistic, people say, will save one from the hurts of disillusionment and broken fantasies. The same works with the theories presented by Ellis. Rational thinking bases itself on reality. Thus, it allows a person to be bound with facts. As it helps one overcome tribulations, it promotes a more positive self and mindset. Apart from this, there are other advantages brought about by Ellis’ theory. There is the accomplishment of goals, creation of manageable emotions, and promotion of behavior that allows survival. First, REBT allows one to achieve his goals and purposes. When a person has goals and purposes in life it may be overshadowed by negative feelings and wrong beliefs and reactions. Rational thinking can take these away. Being in touch with reality will keep one collected. Secondly, reality creates emotions that one can handle. Because he perceives things realistically, everything that he may experience will be almost expected. Thus the outpour of emotions will be controllable. Of course, the emotions cannot be stopped. Yet, he will be able ti handle them accordingly and still think clear to be on top of the situation. Lastly, being in touch with reality helps one behave in ways that promote aims and survival. The person who follows Ellis’ school of thought have clear aims in life and the enthusiasm to achieve them They are also survivors. They do not know how to quit because they know that there are other things that they are worth for. (What is REBT? Introduction, explanation, and application, 2007) The impact Dr. Albert Ellis’ works paved the way to modern thoughts in psychology which were specific and focused. It also set a new era for psychological therapy and views on cognitive behavior. Apart from these works on emotive behavioral therapy, Ellis also had studies on sexuality that also influenced that field of study. Freud’s work was on his armament, but he made progress by deriving from the scholar inspiration for fresh studies rather than repetition of old studies. With the works of Dr. Ellis studies on emotive behavior therapy became prominently based on the mindset of the person. Because the theory was very consistent to the results on many studies, many counselors subscribed to the idea and used it to treat their patients. It then became possible to treat patients easily because counselors had a process to follow—tracing the beginnings of the problem, modifying the beliefs of the person, and expectedly the change in his reaction. Dr. Ellis was able to think out of the box. He moved away from the generalities and devised new studies that created new methodologies for psychotherapy. This changed the way in which psychology operated. It made the work easier for doctors and patients alike. These outstanding works gave Dr. Ellis the brand for being the Most Influential Psychologist by American and European practitioners alike. (Dr. Albert Ellis, 2006) Being influential is not nomenclature alone for Dr. Ellis. He embodies the influential psychologist, with published and well-publicized breakthroughs in psychology. These influence that the doctor made helped the field of psychology propel and become what it is now. Definitely, psychology could have not been the same. CONCLUSION Psychology is a never-ending process of learning how the minds of people work. The mindset of people changes through time. It is therefore understandable why psychologists are working endlessly. This has been how Dr. Albert Ellis lived his career. The quest of Dr. Ellis to find the explanations to many of psychoanalysis’ questions wee the inspirations that he had to create studies that gave birth to sexology and emotive behavior therapy, rather old schools of thought that were given new concepts. Best of all, Dr. Ellis made his studies so thoroughly and among well-chosen populations. His works were lauded. His work saved many lives. It is evident that Ellis’ works were greatly influenced by his strong orientation of the works of Sigmund Freud. Known for thoughts and theories on human sexuality and psychoanalysis, Freud was also popular for many studies on the area. In his time, Ellis’ achieved the same level of integrity in psychological studies, albeit not the worldwide fame that Freud has achieved. However, his works were at par with that of the inspiring scholar from which he based many of his beliefs. His seriousness in his theories and studies may also be the one for which his own sexuality can be based, especially that he entered into two consecutive marriages. It will not be surprising to think that these marriages have influenced his concepts on human sexuality which in turn inspired his studies and theories. The good thing, however, is that Ellis’ confidently challenged existing ideologies, which enriched psychology. Through them, psychology has now advanced forward. Though Dr. Ellis, the mind became the cure for its own predicaments. References A brief biography of dr. albert ellis. 2005. Retrieved October 23, 2007, from http://www. rebt. ws/albertellisbiography. html Albert Ellis and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. 2006. Retrieved October 23, 2007, from http://www. rebtnetwork. org/whois. html Dr. Albert Ellis. 2006. Retrieved October 23, 2007, from http://www. rebtnetwork. org/ REBT by Dr. Albert Ellis. n. d. Retrieved October 23, 2007, from http://www. rebt. cc/_wsn/page11. html What is REBT? 2006. Retrieved October 23, 2007, from http://www. rebtnetwork. org/whatis. html What is REBT? Introduction, explanation, and application. 2007. Retrieved October 23, 2007, from http://www. rebt. ws/REBT%20explained. htm

Week One Textbook Problems Essays - Business Economics, Economy

Week One Textbook Problems Essays - Business Economics, Economy Week One Textbook Problems Megan O'Brien ACC/400 06/02/2015 Neil Fischer BE16.9 - Star Repairs Co. does all the repair work for a medium-sized manufacturer of handheld computer games. The games are sent directly to Star, and after the games are repaired, Star bills the game manufacturer for cost plus a 20 percent markup. In the month of February, purchases of parts (replacement parts) by Star amounted to $97,000, the beginning inventory of parts was $38,500, and the ending inventory of parts was $15,250. Payments to repair technicians during the month of February totaled $52,500. Overhead incurred was $121,000. a. What was the cost of materials used for repair work during the month of February? 38,500+97,000-15,250= 120,250 b. What was the prime cost for February? 120,250+52,500=172,759 c. What was the conversion cost for February? 52,500+121,000=173,500 d. What was the total repair cost for February? 120,250+52,500+121,000=293,750 E16.1 - Listed below are eight technical accounting terms introduced or emphasized in this chapter: Accounting Terminology Work in Process Inventory Cost of finished goods manufactured Conversion costs Cost of Goods Sold Period costs Management accounting Product costs Manufacturing overhead Each of the following statements may (or may not) describe one of these technical terms. For each statement, indicate the accounting term described, or answer "None" if the statement does not correctly describe any of the terms. a. The preparation and use of accounting information designed to assist managers in planning and controlling the operations of a business. Management accounting b. All manufacturing costs other than direct materials used and direct labor. Manufacturing overhead c. Direct materials and direct labor used in manufacturing a product. None - Prime costs d. A manufacturing cost that can be traced conveniently and directly to manufactured units of product. none - direct manufacturing cost e. The account debited at the time that the Manufacturing Overhead account is credited. Work in process f. The amount transferred from the Work in Process Inventory account to the Finished Goods Inventory account. Inventory cost finished goods manufactured g. Costs that are debited directly to expense accounts when the costs are incurred. Period costs 3. E16.2 -Into which of the three elements of manufacturing cost would each of the following be classified? a. Tubing used in manufacturing bicycles. Direct materials b. Wages paid by an automobile manufacturer to employees who test-drive completed automobiles. Direct labor c. Property taxes on machinery. Manufacturing overhead d. Gold bullion used by a jewelry manufacturer. Direct materials e. Wages of assembly-line workers who package frozen food. Direct labor f. Salary of plant superintendent. Manufacturing overhead g. Electricity used in factory operations. Manufacturing overhead h. Salary of a nurse in a factory first-aid station. Direct Labor 4. E16.3 - Indicate whether each of the following should be considered a product cost or a period cost. If you identify the item as a product cost, also indicate whether it is a direct or an indirect cost. For example, the answer to item 0 is "indirect product cost." Begin with item a. 0. Property taxes on factory building. Period cost a. Cost of disposal of hazardous waste materials to a chemical plant. Product cost - indirect b. Amounts paid by a mobile home manufacturer to a subcontractor who installs plumbing in each mobile home. Product cost - direct c. Depreciation on sales showroom fixtures. Period cost d. Salaries of security guards in an administrative office building. Product cost - direct e. Salaries of factory security guards. Product cost - direct f. Salaries of office workers in the credit department. Product Cost - indirect g. Depreciation on the raw materials warehouse. Period Cost h. Income taxes on a profitable manufacturing company. Period Cost 5. E16.6 - The Ryde and Rowe Inc. had the following account balances as of January 1: Flow of Costs through Manufacturing Accounts LO16-3 through LO16-5 Direct Materials Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 89,200 Work in Process Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178,400 Finished Goods Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Korean Divide essays

The Korean Divide essays North Korea and South Korea was once one country combined. That changed soon after World War II. Since the Soviet Union controlled North Korea it was mainly Communist. North and South Korea were separated on the 38th parallel line. The United States controlled South Korea so it was mainly democratic. The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when troops from Communist-ruled North Korea invaded South Korea. The Korean War was the first war in which a world organization, the United Nations (UN), played a military role. The UN thought that the invasion was a violation of international peace, and demanded that the Communists withdraw from South Korea. After North Korea kept fighting the UN asked its member nations to aid South Korea with military help. Sixteen countries sent troops to South America and 41 other countries sent military equipment, food, and other supplies. China fought on the side of North Korea, and the USSR gave military equipment to the North Koreans. North Korea invaded South Korea because there was a disagreement between the two countries. The UN General Assembly told Korea to hold elections throughout the entire country. The elections were to choose one government for the entire country. The Soviet Union opposed this idea and would not permit elections in North Korea. On May 10, 1947, the people of South Korea elected a national assembly. The assembly chose to set up the Republic of Korea. On September 9, North Korean Communists established the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. When both North and South claimed the entire country, their troops collided. North Korea had about 135,000 soldiers in their army. Most of the soldiers fought for China or the Soviet Union in WWII. North Korea had many advantages over the South Korean Army. The North had airplanes, artillery, and tanks. South Korea had about 95,000 soldiers, few planes or heavy guns, and ab ...

Defining Sports Tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5750 words

Defining Sports Tourism - Essay Example Daniels also recognizes that sports tourism is a realm to explore to increase an economic situation in a particular location. Adding sports teams or events to a geographic location can increase the local economy and will encourage spending in the area by those who are either participating or are spectators of the particular sporting event. She also adds that though some people like the idea of adding a sports team to their community for the entertainment value, it can be quite costly for the area. This is because a new stadium would have to be built and in turn, it could be publicly financed through taxation in the community. Therefore, this would, in theory, even out the economic status of an area. Though it increases visitors to come to watch a sports team play in a large new arena, it can hinder the local residents by having to deal with additional traffic, having to pay for law enforcement officers to work the events, and even having to contribute to the city through taxation to allow for various roads or whatever means it would take to create a stadium. While it stimulates the local economy, it could also hinder it. Although Daniels acknowledges that many communities host sports events in one way to entertain, it is also to stimulate the local economy. She also concludes that even though sports events hosted in a certain area can boost a local economy, it can also hinder certain areas that are not well equipped to handle as many people as a large scale mega event, for example as the Olympics, the Super Bowl or the World Series. Amateur sporting events, however, have little impact on the existing economy according to Daniels, unless it is an amateur sporting event that lasts over an extended period of days. The sporting events can increase tourism in areas that have offers additional attractions, services, etc and Daniels' central place theory helps predict which geographic locations (primarily based on the size of the city or town) would benefit best from sporting tourism and development due to the resources that are already available within that locale, particularly urban areas. However, there are many other factors that also come into play. The event that Daniels used as an analysis to test this theory is the United States National Softball Association where a youth girls' World Series was held in 2001 in locations of North Carolina and South Carolina that were near to each other. One city, Mecklenburg, was located near Charlotte and had a population of 650,000 people while the other city, York, South Carolina had only 170,000 people. The tournament was centralized in Mecklenburg with the event being held within one facility while in York, the tournament was in four different locations throughout the city. The week-long event had over 300 teams and over 20,000 in attendance between the two cities. Spectators were given questionnaires about how long they were staying, how far they had traveled to get to the tournaments from their ho metown, what their primary reason was for coming as a spectator and what their expense habits were while there. Data were analyzed from the results of these questionnaires and found that expenditures in both cities were approximately the same per person though lodging and dining were significantly higher in Mecklenburg.  Ã‚  

Slovenia and Its Economic Development After Entering EU Essay

Slovenia and Its Economic Development After Entering EU - Essay Example At the same time, the newly free countries of Central and Eastern Europe found that, if they were to establish their economic independence and provide a sound basis for their political independence, they first had to thoroughly liberalize and marketize their economies and stabilize their currencies. Slovenia joined the EU in 2004. And since that time, it has improvised its economic development and reestablished its banking system, balance exchange rates and create new employment places for native citizens. The EC has had policies on employment for decades, but the policies do not constitute a coherent, developed social program. Rather they are a collection of directives adopted in response to a specific concern and requiring minimal amounts of harmonization in national practices. Voting practices in the Council impeded the adoption of more sweeping measures. Because each member state had a veto, with a few exceptions, supporters of an EC social policy fought for the elimination of the veto (Dukes 49). They gained a partial victory with the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty. For Slovenia, the way is now open for a more fully developed EC social policy. A number of characteristics of the workforce in the EC are relevant for policy makers. One is the fact that the EC has a smaller proportion of adults of working age actually working than either of its main competitors. The statistics indicate that a relatively large number of working-age people are dependent on some form of public su pport. Some people apparently do not work by choice, but many are unable to find work. Following Egert et al (2007): some countries, namely Slovenia started transition with low credit-to-GDP ratios of around 20% in 2005" (201). Transitional banking systems initially tend to operate with very high ratios of reserves to deposits. This is partly the result of the fact that they start out as monobank systems with 100 per cent reserve backing of deposits, partly because of the extreme inefficiency of the payments system, which requires the maintenance of large commercial bank deposits at the central bank, and partly because of the great ease of obtaining central bank credit by commercial banks in the pre-stabilization period (Dukes 49). If this is the path followed then it would be prudent for the first principle of banking system evolution to be that in the short term, the stability of the monetary system must have priority over the freedom of action of the banks themselves in the management of their assets and liabilities. In other words, in the initial phases of the 'main sequence', when supervisory and banking skills are rudimentary, bank regulation needs to be rigorous and based on simple rules. This is bec ause of the vital role of macroeconomic stability in successful economic transition from state ownership and central administration of the economy to capitalism. The usual argument against tight regulation, which stresses that tight regulation leads to disintermediation is largely irrelevant in a context in which people have so little possibility of informed choice between risky and safe banks that the authorities feel themselves obliged to guarantee all deposits. The development of a dual system in which deposits at strictly regulated banks are known to be safe, while loans to unregulated