Essay on The Truman Show - 3520 Words

The Truman Show is the story of a baby who is bought by a television company at birth. He becomes the star of the television programme, but he has no idea that his life is being filmed. All the people in his life, such as his wife, best friend, and colleagues are actors. There are no set scripts. There are three different worlds shown in the film: Trumans world, the producers world, and the real world when we see the viewers watching the programme in the homes. The film starts when Truman is twenty-nine. We see him begin to become suspicious, by odd occurrences, such as a light falling from the sky, the way his friends and family advertise things, and people that accidentally get on the†¦show more content†¦With the introduction to reality TV programmes such as Big Brother and Survivor, The Truman show gives us an idea of how these programmes can maybe affect people as they did Truman. Also, Peter Weir might have been showing us how far television companies will go in the not-so-distant future to increase audience share. It shows how important making money is in the modern world in the way that a persons life is being exploited all for a television programme to be successful. Subtly, I think that he was showing us how people nowadays are controlled by the Government and in different institutions without really realising it, as Truman didnt realise how much his life was controlled. The invasion of privacy could also be something Peter Weir tried to show us. There are so many CCTV cameras everywhere nowadays, its almost as if we cant do much without being caught on camera. We dont really notice or think about it though, except if we were planning a bank robbery, so it is almost as we dont realise theyre there. The director couldve been showing us that humans arent all that clever, and they can easily be controlled. I think Truman is seen as a very vulnerable character, almost like a child. The director could be making connections between adults and children; he could be trying to show the message that adults arent superior, becauseShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Truman s The Truman Show 977 Words   |  4 PagesThe Truman Show is centred on a man-made island called SeaHaven where a man named Truman Burbank has been televised without his knowledge since birth. The show is a 24 hour live tv show where every aspect of Truman’s life is shown. As Truman grows older he begins to notice unsual events that leads him to believe that there is something incongruent with what people are telling him and what he experiences in his day to day life. As Truman begins to test the boundaries he realizes that the town seemsRead MoreAllegory and Truman Show774 Words   |  4 PagesAllegory and Truman Show The Allegory of the Cave has many parallels with The Truman Show. Initially, Truman is trapped in his own â€Å"cave†; a film set or fictional island known as Seahaven. Truman’s journey or ascension into the real world and into knowledge is similar to that of Plato’s cave dweller. In this paper, I will discuss these similarities along with the very intent of both of these works whose purpose is for us to question our own reality. In his Allegory Plato shows us how a manRead MoreThe Truman Show Essay764 Words   |  4 PagesThe Truman Show Utopia - A perfect world. Trumans world was an utopia. Everything, including the weather, was controlled in a huge Hollywood dome. Truman grew up having no idea he was being watched every hour of the day, and that every step he took was being viewed by millions all over the globe. As the show progressed, it became clear how much media influenced Trumans life, and also how Christof played a huge role in Trumans well-being. First, the influence of media affects our livesRead More The Truman Show Essay904 Words   |  4 Pages The Truman Show is a film which has been developed through a range of images. Peter Weir has creatively directed a film portraying the media and its impact on society. Within this film we see the effectiveness of techniques, which include camera angles, framing, shot types, camera movement, style of music, costuming and sequencing. By using a range of different techniques Weir is able to create emotive images and portray three different worlds to the audience. Image is everything in today’s societyRead MoreThe Truman Show - Religion1925 Words   |  8 PagesThe movie, The Truman Show, can be related to religion in many ways. Jim Carrey stars as Truman Burbank, a 30-year-old man, whose whole life has been the plot of an acclaimed TV show. The movie shows how reality can be altered and created when confined into a small space. The movie is set in the town of Sea Haven, which is built inside a studio in Hollywood, California. Truman was born and adopted by a corporation, and thats when the show started. Throughout the movie, there are three religiousRead MoreThe Truman Show Movie1571 Words   |  6 PagesThis film is about Truman Burbank, a 29 Year old insurance salesman who lives in a small town called Seahaven, which is located on an island. Truman is a sincere and nice person and as the film progresses he learns that for the entirety of his life he has been broadcast on a live T.V show that is broadcast 24 hours a day to the entir e world. He learns that everyone and everything he thinks he knows is actually a part of a giant television studio designed to record his life. Truman decides to escapeRead MoreEssay on Truman Show608 Words   |  3 PagesThe Truman Show Manipulation and delusion are at the heart of the movie The Truman Show. Carefully crafted, this movie portrays television and its producers as producing a fake environment with a â€Å"real person† designed to appeal to the American masses. The smooth packaging lulls the audience into being in on the joke, but perhaps the joke is on the audience to even sit through the almost two hours of bland entertainment. In fact, the story of Truman Burbank is small town boring, takingRead MoreThe Meaning of the Truman Show1550 Words   |  7 Pagesexecuted) satire, The Truman Show, it shows us a character who also challenges -- and ultimately escapes from -- a contrived world that is an invention of media. Both movies have the same message: we will have to stand up to the manipulators of television and news if we want to protect ourselves from the absurdity and falsehood that now surrounds us at every turn. As most people know by now, The Truman Show conveys this message by depicting a series of fateful events in the life of Truman Burbank, (playedRead MoreRhetorical Analysis of The Truman Show1521 Words   |  7 Pagesin the film The Truman Show. It is important for a viewer to fully understand the underlying messages and subtle undertones in between the lines, so to speak. The Truman Show is one man’s life being played out in a closed environment for the entertainment of the outside world. Most important to note, Truman Burbank has no clue that his whole life has been little more than just a television program produced on a grand scale to produce the image of reality in a dome. The Truman Show blends ethos, logosRead MoreThe Truman Show By Peter Weir Essay1236 Words   |  5 PagesThe Truman Show (1998), directed by Peter Weir portrayed a grand metaphor for American culture in the 90’s. The movie’s message to us is that we are stuck in a media landscape full of fantasies that is catered to the interests of more powerful people. If we want to live an authentic life and be free, we should put distance between ourselves and the comfort that is our media filled culture. We have to leave the safety that is the media’s grasp and be willing to live in the world the way it actually

Colonization Of The United States - 1097 Words

The creation, evolution, and ascension to greatness of the United States of America is often attributed to the deeds and works of men. Presidents, leaders, and other great minds often take credit for the formation of this once great nation. However, behind those prominent figures, there are processes and concepts that are in motion. Ideas such as settler colonialism, chattel slavery, and globalization are the things that have truly shaped the United States. The first 13 colonies were founded upon the basis of settler colonialism, the growth of the nation was enabled by chattel slavery, and the rise of the country as a world power was brought about by Globalization. Despite all of this, one must take into consideration the repercussions of such rapid development. Globalization connected the US to other nations and allowed Settler Colonialism and Chattel Slavery to affect more groups of people. The unequal material conditions of land and labor that resulted from these processes benefit ed the US to the detriment of other races. Christopher Columbus came to the Americas with the ideas of Whiteness and the Doctrine of Discovery. With Early European settlers began the long and ongoing process of settler colonialism. They forced or coerced the Indians out of their lands and then colonized them for themselves. Shortly after, the slave trade commenced and slaves were brought in from West Africa to the Americas. This completed the Settler Colonial Triad, with white settlersShow MoreRelatedThe Colonization Of The United States1687 Words   |  7 Pagesan end in an anonymous note. Today British Honduras that is known as Belize became independent and sovereignty, being a part of the UN and the Caribbean community. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Spain tried to maintain a monopoly on trade and colonization in its New World colonies, but northern European powers were increasingly attracted to the region by the potential for trade and settlement. These powers resorted to smuggling, piracy, and war in their efforts to challenge and then destroy SpainRead MoreColonization Of The United States1074 Words   |  5 PagesColonization in America has demonstrated all of the US history themes of exploration, encounter and exchange in the Americas. From the beginning of colonization, in 1492 by Christopher Columbus, to the establishment of the first American colony, Jamestown in 1607, and to the creation of the thirteen colonies, there have been countless examples of exploration, encounter and exchange. The exploration of vast waters and unchartered territory led to new and undiscovered land and America being colonizedRead MoreThe United States And The Colonization Of The Philippines1239 Words   |  5 Pagesimperialism. After the colonization of the Philippines the Filipinos could come and work in the United States because they had passports that allowed them. The Filipinos then work in agriculture, fishery and service industry, however when they are in the mainland and technically they were not aliens because the Philippines is U.S. territory, the Filipinos weren’t exempted to racism. In the 1930 signs that says â€Å"Positively no Filipinos allowed† can be seen in stores. In the United States. The signs showRead MoreThe European Colonization Of The United States1174 Words   |  5 PagesFrom Gaelic to English Throughout history colonization seems to follow a distinct sequence that can be compared to Freytag’s pyramid. Let’s take the European colonization of the United States as an example, beginning with a rather peaceful and seemingly innocent interaction, the natives are oblivious to the severity of what is to come next, this is the exposition. What follows is an event that triggers violence and disorder, the climax, this forces the natives to except the reality they areRead MoreThe Indian Removal And The Colonization Of The United States Essay1296 Words   |  6 Pagesover one hundred thousand Indians from sixty different tribes were relocated from their homelands and moved west; around thirty thousand Indians would die en route. The Indian Removal stands as one of the cruelest periods in the history of the United States, and is the result of a long history of war and disagreement between whites and Indians. Indians and Europeans had their differences. The culture of the Indian tribes was very different than that of the incoming white settlers. Indian nationsRead MoreColonization Or Imperialism Is Done By Treaties Or Agreements?1652 Words   |  7 Pages Colonization Lis Mendez AIU Online Abstract Prior to the modern or new era it was believed that conquers who conquered other lands had the right to take possession of that land, its riches, resources and even the people in order to achieve their own political agenda. Today the concept has changed, colonization or imperialism is done by treaties or agreements, they are acts in which governments negotiate with a less powerful country, they lead them to believe that their colonization willRead MoreCharacteristics Of American Colonization Society1527 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Colonization Society Introduction One organization that was instrumental in ending slavery in the United States was the American colonization society. Formed in 1817, this society was able to end the discrimination of the blacks in slavery. However, the society was greatly affected between different activists on the freedoms of the black Africans in the respective country. A few saw that the Americans Africans would not be thrilled by ‘complete’ freedoms in the US. This group arguedRead MoreThe Conflict Between The Old World And The New World1299 Words   |  6 Pagessupremacy is at the heart of colonialism, where one nation-state takes political control over another and exploits that nation-state economically. The conflict over power in colonialism is especially true in the interactions between the Old World and the New World, when the Western European nations began to colonize the newly discovered Americas. However, the development of colonialism has become less noticeable over time, as the method of colonization continues to change and humans become more and moreRead More The Colonization of the Philippines Essays1415 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica’s â€Å"occupation,† â€Å"supervision† or â€Å"intervention† in the Philippines. They seem to be afraid to use the word â€Å"colonization.† According to Webster’s Dictionary the definition of colonization is, â€Å"The colonial system of political government or extension of territory, by which one nation exerts political control over another nation, territory, or people, maintaining the colony in a state of dependence, its inhabitants not having the same full rights as those of the colonial power. The controlling powerRead MoreEssay on Why Did Japan Turn to Militarism?749 Words   |  3 PagesMeiji modernization had caused the rise of militarism and repudiation of democracy. Though Japan’s unstoppable and irresistible growth and alliance with fascists and Nazis had pushed Japan to expand its domain to even the territory of the United States, the United States occupation authorities used military force to defeat Japan. A lot of historians insist that there are several causes that incurred the rise of militarism and that one of the key causes is that Japan had suffered from worldwide economic

Human Resource Management for Compensation - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the Human Resource Management for Compensation and Training. Answer: Introduction The following essay is based on the statement that Human Resource strategy should be aligned with the corporate strategy of the company to perform well and achieve competitive edge. Most firms have been observed to be viewing the department of HR as administrative functions and avoid the requirement and opportunity to align it with the corporate strategic plans. Many studies have been conducted to identify the link and importance between HR strategy and corporate strategy of the firms. The purpose of the essay is to analyze the fact that HR strategy needs to be aligned with the corporate strategy. It is observed that human resource departments are sometimes left to deal with only administrative functions like selection, performance management, compensation and training. However, these functions have no significance to the action of how an organization plans for the appropriate level of human resource to provide on its plans and objectives. Thus, Buller and McEvoy (2012) mentioned that empowering the HR department to increase value to the business strategy helps to ensure that it undertakes its functional activities in a manner that sustains growth and success. In order to conduct a detail analysis, 8 journals articles have been used in the essay as the supporting evidences. Moreover, the analysis has been performed linking with the findings provided in the previous studies. Some statements are established in the content with the real-world facts and scenarios. Discussion Strategy alignment is treated as the integration of visions, mission, goals and objectives with the regular organizational operation. As put forward by Sharma, Sharma and Devi (2011) strategy alignment facilitates persistent monitoring, evaluating and updating of strategy in accordance with changes in the business environment. In this context, Jackson, Schuler and Jiang (2014) also commented that, to have a successful strategic alignment, a requirement exists to create a strategic culture that consists of the behavior, beliefs, values and norms with the way the firm performs the operation. Moreover, Kalyani and Sahoo (2011) in their experimental study, mentioned that Human Resource Management and the corporate strategy should be aligned with each other. In the form of action, the senior human resource manager should take part with organizations top management in the strategic decision-making techniques. It is identified that that link between the HR strategy and corporate strategy is found when the HR professionals are seen to be spending more time as well as effort in understanding the business environment and the potential strategic issues. Huselid and Becker (2011) mentioned that human resource strategy should be linked to the corporate strategy because when the organization intends to implement a strategic plan it needs to ensure that it has the required the strength and capability. Understanding the external business environment, the organization makes strategic plans but when it comes to the implementation of the plans, the firm certainly needs the internal resource including the financial and human resources. For example, the large retail firm Coles in Australia has started selling the products online, which is a significant strategic initiative in the field of technological development (Coles.com.au 2017). However, to implement this strategy, the firm required to hire more e mployees for the distribution and technological supervision. On the other side, the large sports products retailer Sportsdirect located in UK is an internal sports products provider running its operation in all European nations but in the recent time, the first wanted to enter the Asian market (Au.sportsdirect 2017). However, due to poor reputation of the organization in terms of work culture, employee reward and recognitions, the organization suffered an unexpected employee turnover (Au.sportsdirect 2017). This means the human resource strategy of SportDirect is not supportive toward its corporate strategy. Therefore, it can be mentioned that corporate strategy should be aligned with the human resource strategy. According to Jackson et al. (2011), organizational success in terms of the corporate strategy achievement depends on the internal strength and the resources. Untrained and unskilled labors might not able to contribute to the achievement of organizational and corporate goals. The organizations might want to achieve its corporate goals in six months but due to lack of human resource or unskilled labor, the project might be delayed. For example, the furniture company IKEA is known to have the competitive advantages due to their low cost business model, which helps them to reduce the cost of operation and sell the products at low price (IKEA 2017). This is possible because IKEA has large and lasting supply chain network. Among organizational resources, the suppliers and manufacturers are the key resource of IKEA and the company develops a strong relationship with the suppliers and manufacturers, which creates deficiency of resource in terms of suppliers and manufacturers for other organi zation in the sector. Moreover, the organizational culture of IKEA is also liked to its business strategy. For example, IKEA sells disjointed furniture items that customers need to assemble and in the outlet these are placed in a way that customers could easily find an understand which product they need to buy, without borrowing knowledge from sales person (IKEA 2017). Due to this reason, IKEA does not hire a mass number of employees. IKEAs stores do not need sales person to accompany and guide the customers in purchasing. HR strategies are linked to the organizational operation and corporate strategies. As put forward by Guest (2011), an emphasis on human resource might help to gain a positive concept about the role of HR generally observed in tactically gaining competitive edge. A significant relation between human resource and corporate strategy exists because the larger similarity between the strategy and HR, the more effective and stable the organization could be and the skills of those strategies could be different. Thereby, the firm following the strategies could require different skills and because of this fact, HR strategy need to be aligned with the corporate strategy. In this context, Van Buren, Greenwood and Sheehan (2011) commented that the competiveness of an organization could be derived in a more easiest way, when its HR is appropriately associated with its business or corporate strategy. With a different perspective, it can be mentioned that it can be ascertained that when human resource is strategic as well as engaged to relate to firms performance, it plays a great role in the growth and development of operation (Ployhart and Moliterno 2011). It can also be added that by measuring the potential HR elements to strategy, the implementation of HR activities is transformed to the base of value generation of the organization. The measurement of the HR issues could provide the association between the business operation and HR. Conclusion It can be mentioned that alignment and strategic plans remains as the significant endeavor for every firm. The previous studies strongly are in the favor of a positive relation between HR, and performance. Moreover, the real-world examples demonstrated that HR plays a strong role in implementing strategy and gaining competitive advantages. The above-mentioned discussion helps to ascertain that HR should expand beyond administrative functions and insist more on how it could support the organization in strategic planning as well as implementation. Moreover, when the organization measures HR from a business perspective and by the value it brings to the firm, the top management might avoid HR in the strategic process. Rather, the senior management could welcome HR input, as they know how they could gain a clear understanding of how HR affect the bottom line from a business. References and Bibliography Au.sportsdirect 2017. [online] Au.sportsdirect. Available at: https://au.sportsdirect.com/ [Accessed 21 Oct. 2017]. Buller, P.F. and McEvoy, G.M., 2012. Strategy, human resource management and performance: Sharpening line of sight.Human resource management review,22(1), pp.43-56. Coles.com.au. 2017.Operations. [online] Available at: https://www.coles.com.au/corporate-responsibility/environment/operations [Accessed 21 Oct. 2017]. Guest, D.E., 2011. Human resource management and performance: still searching for some answers.Human resource management journal,21(1), pp.3-13. Huselid, M.A. and Becker, B.E., 2011. Bridging micro and macro domains: Workforce differentiation and strategic human resource management. IKEA. 2017.IKEA.com - International homepage. [online] Available at: https://www.ikea.com/ [Accessed 21 Oct. 2017]. Jackson, S.E., Renwick, D.W., Jabbour, C.J. and Muller-Camen, M., 2011. State-of-the-art and future directions for green human resource management: Introduction to the special issue.German Journal of Human Resource Management,25(2), pp.99-116. Jackson, S.E., Schuler, R.S. and Jiang, K., 2014. An aspirational framework for strategic human resource management.Academy of Management Annals,8(1), pp.1-56. Kalyani, M. and Sahoo, M.P., 2011. Human resource strategy: A tool of managing change for organizational excellence.International Journal of Business and Management,6(8), p.280. Marler, J.H. and Fisher, S.L., 2013. An evidence-based review of e-HRM and strategic human resource management.Human Resource Management Review,23(1), pp.18-36. Ployhart, R.E. and Moliterno, T.P., 2011. Emergence of the human capital resource: A multilevel model.Academy of Management Review,36(1), pp.127-150. Sharma, S., Sharma, J. and Devi, A., 2011. Corporate social responsibility: The key role of human resources management.Human Resource Management: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities,9. Van Buren, H.J., Greenwood, M. and Sheehan, C., 2011. Strategic human resource management and the decline of employee focus.Human Resource Management Review,21(3), pp.209-219.

Addiction Essay 4 Essay Example Essay Example

Addiction Essay 4 Essay Example Paper Addiction 4 Essay Introduction INTRODUCTION Addiction is a chronic disorder proposed to be precipitated by a combination of genetic, biological/pharmacological and social factors. Addiction is a compulsion to repeat a behavior regardless of its consequences (Webster, 2003). Addiction is often characterized by a craving for more of the drug or behavior, increased physiological tolerance to exposure, and withdrawal symptoms in the absence of the stimulus (NIDA, 2008). The purpose of this paper is to review a recently published book that focuses on family involvement in addiction. The book selected for this project was, â€Å"The Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment† by Dr. Carlton (Carl) K. Erickson. Dr. Erickson is a research scientist studying the effects of alcohol on the brain for over 30 years. He received his Ph. D. degree in pharmacology from Purdue University in 1965 and taught and preformed research at The University of Kansas and The University of Texas since 1969. He presently is th e Pfizer Centennial Professor of Pharmacology and Director of the Addiction Science Research and Education Center in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Erickson is a published professional with over 150 scientific articles and co-authored multiple books on addiction and drug abuse. As a neuroscientist, he believes that addictions are neurochemical disorders. Although, in 1988 the United States Supreme Court declared alcoholism to be willful misconduct (Gerde, 2005), Dr. Erickson bases his belief on decades of comprehensive genetic and neurobiological research that provided evidence that addiction is a disease of the brain with genetic connection. Addiction 4 Essay Body Paragraphs He believes if the addiction is diagnosed early it can be treated successfully. Dr. Erickson is more than qualified to speak on the subject of addiction and any subtopics related to addition. Dr. Erickson’s book is written to a general audience and easy to understand. The book provides a clear and detailed overview of current neurobiological information and treatment programs for addiction based solely on science and provides a brief description of genetics. According to Dr. Erickson there have been possible causative genes identified. He emphasizes in his book that any treatment approach cannot rely on pharmacological solutions alone and that treatment must be individualized, but does not go into great detail. Although, he does refer to group, individual and family counseling his main focus is pharmaceutical treatment. The first chapter of the book clarifies the terminology used throughout the book. The next 7 chapters provide a crash course in the basics of the brain, the an atomy and neurobiology of addiction, genetics and pharmacology. Chapter 8 lists various treatment programs offered for the most widespread addictions to include several types of counseling methods and pharmaceutical treatments. Dr. Erickson focuses on addiction as a disease process and dismisses most psychological aspects of the addicted person, claiming the addicted person is not responsible for their condition. Dr. Erickson’s simply ignores other research and evidence that support a psychological bases for addiction. Although there has been no clear-cut cause identified for addiction, research has identified numerous factors as potential causes. Potential cause are everything from genetic, physiological, biochemical, social and prenatal factors to emotional conflicts, personality traits, learned behavior and stress. His treatment modalities focus on pharmacological treatments disregarding the psychological piece of prevention and treatment not to mention free will and moral responsibility. Scientific research supports addiction as a disease and also supports the idea that there are psychological factors present as potential causative factors as well as plays a significant role in prevention and treatment, (SAMSHA, 2004). According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) family does influence prevention and treatment. One of the individual factors related to successful prevention and treatment include motivation to change drug-using behavior and the degree of support from family and friends is crucial. It is important for the families to be part of treatment. They need to be referred to support groups designed to helping them understand their role is intertwined in the addiction. These groups will provide education about the disease in general and how they will assist in treatment. Although, Dr. Erickson has valid scientific research on the topic of addiction and his research is accepted in the medical community his treatment modalities lacks th e whole person concept. NIDA agrees addiction is a disease of the brain because addiction changes the brain’s structure and how the brain works. NIDA explains, the initial decision to indulge in addictive behavior is voluntary, but over time the individual’s ability to exert self control is seriously impaired. Dr. Erickson’s book implies the primary and only contributing factor to addictive behavior is genetic. This is in contrast to NIDA research. NIDA expresses that there are many factors contributing to an individual susceptibility in displaying addictive behavior range from physical make up to environmental influences. According to NIDA only about 40% of the total contributing factors are possibly genetic the rest is psychological, environmental and by choice. The influence of the home environment is in most cases a significant influence. Parents or older family members who abuse alcohol or drugs can increase an individual’s risk of developing their o wn addictive behaviors. NIDA does support the ideas that addiction is a treatable disease. With the discoveries in science and research there have been many advances in addictive treatment. Like other chronic diseases, addiction can be managed successfully. Research shows that combining medications with behavioral therapy is the best way to ensure success for most patients. NIDA and Dr. Erickson agree that treatment approaches must be tailored to address each individual, but differ on the appropriate care plan. Behavioral treatments are recognized by the medical community as an essential part of addiction treatment. Behavioral treatment assists in modifying an individual attitudes and behaviors related to their addiction and increasing their skills to handle stressful circumstances and environmental cues that may trigger intense craving and enhance the effectiveness of medications (SAMSHA, 2004). Getting an addicted person to stop is just one part of the treatment and recovery proce ss. Addiction has disrupted how they function in their family lives, at work and in the community. Because addiction can affect so many aspects of an individual’s life, treatment must address the needs of the entire individual to be successful. Treatment need to meet the individual’s medical, psychological, social, vocational, religious and legal needs (Capuzzi Stauffer, 2008). This is why the best programs incorporate a variety of services into their treatment program. Successful treatment programs across the U. S. include cognitive behavioral, group and family therapies as well as motivational incentives. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps individuals recognize, avoid, and cope with the situations in which they are most likely to fall into addictive behaviors. Motivational incentives use positive reinforcement such as providing rewards or rivileges for appropriate behaviors such as for attending and participating in counseling sessions, or for taking medications as prescribed. Group therapy helps individual face their addiction realistically and come to terms with its harmful consequences, and boost their motivation. Family therapy uses the family strength to assist the individual to find resources to continue in treatment (NIDA, 2008). Dr. Erickson is definitely a qualified professional in the field of addiction and has the credentials in his field of study. He is an accepted expert and member of the medical community. Although, Dr. Erickson’s book â€Å"The Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment† has valid research and support from the medical community it has areas in conflict with the medical community as a whole in the area of contributing factors for addiction and treatment modalities. His research on the contributing factors for addiction is validated by the medical and research communities, but is lacking in the complete picture of addiction including other contributing factors such as environment, psycholog ical factors and treatment modalities other then pharmacological treatment. He does make some mention of counseling and therapy, but focuses mostly on pharmacological treatments and therapies. Dr. Erickson’s book did not add to or detract from the text used for this course. The information in Dr. Erickson’s book was straight forward and easy to follow, but could be misleading or misinterpreted simply by not including all factors related to the cause of addiction and treatment. His book was consistent with most other addiction research, but did not follow the line when it came to the whole person concept in causes and treatment. This could possibly be due to the fact that Dr. Erickson has a degree in pharmacology and is a Professor of Pharmacology. His views may be biased as a result of his profession. Although, Dr. Erickson has some differing views his research is valid and does provide useful information to base addiction research, prevention and treatment. Although, this book did not directly focus on family involvement in addition it did focus on the genetic link to addiction which is part of the theory linking family to the root of addictive behaviors. REFERENCES Capuzzi, D. Stauffer, M. (2008). Foundations of Addictions Counseling. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ Erickson, C. (2007). The Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment. W. W. Norton Company, Inc: New York, NY Gerde, L. (2005). Addiction : Opposing Viewpoints. Greenhaven: San Diego Ca Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition (2003). Merriam-Webster: Springfield, MA NIDA (2008). The Science of Drug Abuse Addiction. Retrieved 10 August 2008, from http://www. drugabuse. gov// SAMSHA (October 4, 2004). Addiction Treatment Should Include Family Therapy Practical Guidelines for Counselors. Retrieved 15 August 2008, from www. samhsa. gov/ We will write a custom essay sample on Addiction Essay 4 Essay Example specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Addiction Essay 4 Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Addiction Essay 4 Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Biography of Marco Polo, Famous Explorer

Biography of Marco Polo, Famous Explorer Marco Polo was an inmate in the Genoese prison at the Palazzo di San Giorgio from 1296 to 1299, arrested for commanding a Venetian galley in a war against Genoa. While there, he told tales of his travels through Asia to his fellow prisoners and the guards alike, and his cellmate Rustichello da Pisa wrote them down. Once the two were released from prison, copies of the manuscript, titled The Travels of Marco Polo, captivated Europe. Polo told tales of fabulous Asian courts, black stones that would catch on fire (coal), and Chinese money made out of paper. Ever since people have debated the question: Did Marco Polo really go to China, and see all of the things he claims to have seen? Early Life Marco Polo was probably born in Venice, although there is no proof of his place of birth, around 1254 CE. His father Niccolo and uncle Maffeo were Venetian merchants who traded on the Silk Road; little Marcos father left for Asia before the child was born, and would return when the boy was a teenager. He may not have even realized that his wife was pregnant when he left. Thanks to enterprising merchants such as the Polo brothers, Venice flourished at this time as the major trading hub for imports from the fabulous oasis cities of Central Asia, India, and far-off, wondrous Cathay (China). With the exception of India, the whole expanse of Silk Road Asia was under the control of the Mongol Empire at this time. Genghis Khan had died, but his grandson Kublai Khan was Great Khan of the Mongols as well as the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China. Pope Alexander IV announced to Christian Europe in a 1260 papal bull that they faced wars of universal destruction wherewith the scourge of Heavens wrath in the hands of the inhuman Tartars [Europes name for the Mongols], erupting as it were from the secret confines of Hell, oppresses and crushes the earth. For men such as the Polos, however, the now stable and peaceful Mongol Empire was a source of wealth, rather than of hell-fire. Young Marco Goes to Asia When the elder Polos returned to Venice in 1269, they found that Niccolos wife had died and left behind a 15-year-old son named Marco. The boy must have been surprised to learn that he was not an orphan, as well. Two years later, the teenager, his father, and his uncle would embark eastward on another great journey. The Polos made their way to Acre, now in Israel, and then rode camels north to Hormuz, Persia. On their first visit to Kublai Khans court, the Khan had asked the Polo brothers to bring him oil from the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, which Armenian Orthodox priests sold in that city, so the Polos went to the Holy City to buy the consecrated oil. Marcos travel account mentions various other interesting peoples along the way, including Kurds and Marsh Arabs in Iraq. Young Marco was put off by the Armenians, considering their Orthodox Christianity a heresy, puzzled by Nestorian Christianity, and even more alarmed by the Muslim Turks (or Saracens). He admired the beautiful Turkish carpets with the instincts of a merchant, however. The naive young traveler would have to learn to be open-minded about new peoples and their beliefs. On to China The Polos crossed into Persia, through Savah and the carpet-weaving center of Kerman. They had planned to sail to China via India but found that the ships available in Persia were too rickety to be trusted. Instead, they would join a trade caravan of two-humped Bactrian camels. Before they departed from Persia, however, the Polos passed by the Eagles Nest, scene of Hulagu Khans 1256 siege against the Assassins or Hashshashin. Marco Polos account, taken from local tales, may have vastly exaggerated the fanaticism of the Assassins. Nevertheless, he was very happy to descend the mountains and take the road toward Balkh, in northern Afghanistan, famed as the ancient home of Zoroaster or Zarathustra. One of the oldest cities on earth, Balkh did not live up to Marcos expectations, primarily because Genghis Khans army had done its best to erase the intransigent city from the face of the Earth. Nonetheless, Marco Polo came to admire Mongol culture, and to develop his own obsession with Central Asian horses (all of them descended from Alexander the Greats mount Bucephalus, as Marco tells it) and with falconry - two mainstays of Mongol life. He also began to pick up the Mongol language, which his father and uncle already could speak well. In order to get to the Mongolian heartlands and Kublai Khans court, however, the Polos had to cross the high Pamir Mountains. Marco encountered Buddhist monks with their saffron robes and shaved heads, which he found fascinating. Next, the Venetians traveled toward the great Silk Road oases of Kashgar and Khotan, entering the fearsome Taklamakan Desert of western China. For forty days, the Polos trudged across the burning landscape whose very name means you go in, but you dont come out. Finally, after three and a half years of hard travel and adventure, the Polos made it to the Mongol court in China. In Kublai Khans Court When he met Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, Marco Polo was just 20 years old. By this time he had become an enthusiastic admirer of the Mongol people, quite at odds with the opinion in most of the 13th century Europe. His Travels notes that They are those people who most in the world bear work and great hardship and are content with little food, and who are for this reason suited best to conquer cities, lands, and kingdoms. The Polos arrived in Kublai Khans summer capital, called Shangdu or Xanadu. Marco was overcome by the beauty of the place: The halls and rooms... are all gilded and wonderfully painted within with pictures and images of beasts and birds and trees and flowers... It is fortified like a castle in which are fountains and rivers of running water and very beautiful lawns and groves. All three of the Polo men went to Kublai Khans court and performed a kowtow, after which the Khan welcomed his old Venetian acquaintances. Niccolo Polo presented the Khan with the oil from Jerusalem. He also offered his son Marco to the Mongol lord as a servant. In the Khans Service Little did the Polos know that they would be forced to remain in Yuan China for seventeen years. They could not leave without Kublai Khans permission, and he enjoyed conversing with his pet Venetians. Marco, in particular, became a favorite of the Khans  and incurred a lot of jealousy from the Mongol courtiers. Kublai Khan was extremely curious about Catholicism, and the Polos believed at times that he might convert. The Khans mother had been a Nestorian Christian, so it was not so great a leap as it might have appeared. However, conversion to a western faith might have alienated many of the emperors subjects, so he toyed with the idea but never committed to it. Marco Polos descriptions of the wealth and splendor of the Yuan court, and of the size and organization of Chinese cities, struck his European audience as impossible to believe. For example, he loved the southern Chinese city of Hangzhou, which at that time had a population of about 1.5 million people. That is about 15 times the contemporary population of Venice, then one of Europes largest cities and European readers simply refused to give credence to this fact. Return by Sea By the time Kublai Khan reached the age of 75 in 1291, the Polos probably had just about given up hope that he would ever allow them to return home to Europe. He also seemed determined to live forever. Marco, his father, and his uncle finally got permission to leave the Great Khans court that year, so that they could serve as escorts of a 17-year-old Mongol princess who was being sent to Persia as a bride. The Polos took the sea route back, first boarding a ship to Sumatra, now in Indonesia, where they were marooned by changing monsoons for 5 months. Once the winds shifted, they went on to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and then to India, where Marco was fascinated by Hindu cow-worship and mystical yogis, along with Jainism and its prohibition on harming even a single insect. From there, they voyaged on to the Arabian Peninsula, arriving back at Hormuz, where they delivered the princess to her waiting bridegroom. It took two years for them to make the trip from China back to Venice; thus, Marco Polo likely was just about to turn 40 when he returned to his home city. Life in Italy As imperial emissaries and savvy traders, the Polos returned to Venice in 1295 laden with exquisite goods. However, Venice was embroiled in a feud with Genoa over control of the very trade routes that had enriched the Polos. Thus it was that Marco found himself in command of a Venetian war galley, and then a prisoner of the Genoese. After his release from prison in 1299, Marco Polo returned to Venice and continued his work as a merchant. He never went traveling again, however, hiring others to make expeditions instead of taking on that task himself. Marco Polo also married the daughter of another successful trading family and had three daughters. In January of 1324, Marco Polo died at the age of about 69. In his will, he freed a Tartar slave who had served him since his return from China. Although the man had died, his story lived on, inspiring the imaginations and adventures of other Europeans. Christopher Columbus, for example, had a copy of Marco Polos Travels, which he notated heavily in the margins. Whether or not they believed his stories, the people of Europe certainly loved to hear about the fabulous Kublai Khan and his wondrous courts at Xanadu and Dadu (Beijing). Sources Bergreen, Laurence. Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu, New York: Random House Digital, 2007. â€Å"Marco Polo.† Biography.com, AE Networks Television, 15 Jan. 2019, www.biography.com/people/marco-polo-9443861. Polo, Marco. The Travels of Marco Polo, trans. William Marsden, Charleston, SC: Forgotten Books, 2010. Wood, Frances. Did Marco Polo Go to China?, Boulder, CO: Westview Books, 1998.

Why is contributing comments to a study group more effective than Essay

Why is contributing comments to a study group more effective than (just) reading other students comments on paper - Essay Example Asking questions is the converse of contributing comments; essentially, asking questions is a way of encouraging the members to formulate their own explanations. By asking for clarification whenever one fails to understand something, the student will gain useful insights that he might not yet have considered. By arranging his confusion into a question, any inconsistencies in the student's thinking can be pointed out to him, and the assumptions implied by his question are at the same time exposed to the scrutiny of the group. Furthermore, because of the diverse personalities in study groups, each individual will likely have something unique and useful to contribute to the group; and by asking questions, these unique traits can be encouraged to surface. A good way of reviewing one's knowledge is by explaining the concepts involved in the subject matter, especially to a study group, thus it is advisable that students take the responsibility of teaching each other.

Managing People Global Context Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Managing People Global Context - Essay Example Two major objective of HRM should be ensuring availability of the competent and developing a willing workforce of the organization (Mondal and Shastri, 2009, p.245). With the rise in competition talent acquisition and retention has become an integral part of the corporate strategy. Organizations now identify human resource as the most valuable asset. This study looks to analyze the Human resource strategy of an organization with respect to some focal points such as workforce, work environment, organizational culture, innovation, and consistency in HR strategy, extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. Keeping the focal points in mind and after conducting in depth research H & M has been chosen. H & M has been very highly appreciated due its unique and innovative human resource policy. It has also been tagged as a fun place to work and is respected as one of the leading employer brand. This study will focus on the overall HR strategy of H & M with respect to the key focal points mentioned before. H & M is famous for their innovation. Initially they were a single women’s wear store in 1947. Since then they have become a global company providing fashion products for all the family members, and their home, under the variety names of H&M, Monki, COS, Weekday, Cheap Monday, as well as Other Stories and H&M Home. Therefore the employees require having ability to be flexible and adapt to changes probably a lot faster than any other tech. firm. This is where H & M is believed to be different from other firms. H & M doesn’t try to provide any formal learning plan to the employees. Rather they expect the employees to be self- sufficient. Many would be surprised to know that the retail sales force of H & M doesn’t get any formal training on selling. This is certainly unconventional to say the least. For H & M it’s simple. They feel that providing stagnant training can reduce self sufficiency and innovation. On the other hand self owned training and developme nt program