Impact of Television on the Indian population.

Impact of Television on the Indian population. Free Online Research Papers Ever since the advent of modern communication technology that has allowed people around the world to communicate ever so easily, the world itself seems like a smaller space. Broadcasting is an especially effective manner through which millions of people are able to become unified on the basis that they are common recipients of a particular message. One of the most powerful transmitters of these messages is of course the television; programs of which can be seen around the world to serve many purposes. In most contemporary societies, television is a highly influential medium of Popular culture and plays an important role in the social construction of reality. (Morgan, 1990) The effects of television should therefore be recognized as having the ability to alter social, economic and political situations in its places of propagation and beyond. I will be exploring these cultural shifts in detail pertaining to India, a developing nation undergoing a grand cultural shift in part due to the rapid growth of satellite television in the 1990’s and its programming. Television is unlike any other medium of mass communication in that its social effects are prominent, and able to prompt substantial change. The strong cultural influence of television on developing nations can therefore be linked to the following factors as outlined in the book â€Å"Media and Social Changes: the modernizing influences of television in rural India.† First, television programming is easily accessible and inexpensive, which is mainly due to the fact that American television is sold inexpensively around the world after profits in its home market have already been made. Television’s potency is also a result of its broad scope and diversity of programs which therefore makes it appealing to almost anybody. Yet another reason for television’s mass appeal is its benign presence, which allows viewers to be in control of what they watch, how much they watch and when to watch it. (Johnson, 2001) Ultimately, it is these factors that propel the reliance on the medium which has the power to inflict many societal changes in developing nations such as India. Through the examination of diverse groups in India such as rural villagers, youth, women and the middle class, I intend to illustrate the vast social and cultural changes taking place in a culturally rich country, in large part due to the relatively recent popularity of television throughout the country. According to statistics the population in India was: ( see appendix 1) In 2000, it was 1,003 million people. In 2001, it was 1,019 million people. In 2002, it was 1,050 million people. In 2003, it was 1,060 million people. In 2004, it was 1,080 million people. In 2005, it was 1,094 million people. In 2006, it was 1,110 million people. While almost 75 percent of India’s one billion people live in villages,(Johnson 2001) their thoughts and actions consequently have a large influence on the country’s social, political and economic state. One of the most prolific changes in village life which can be linked directly to the influence of television is rise of consumerism in rural India. Just as we are enveloped with advertisements and endorsements which propel us to purchase that which we deem necessary, the same is true in rural India in which such things as blue jeans and hand cream have become necessities. Villagers themselves acknowledge this growing need: â€Å"I want many things that my parents never had. I want a motorcycle and a nice colour TV, I want to eat mutton once a week instead of three times a year† (Johnson 2001) Through this illustration, it is evident that needs are certainly growing and it is due to television and advertisements that the economically dependent third world is now being internally pressured to make shifts that may not be financially possible yet incredibly desirable. Another growing desire of the rural Indian population is to become urbanized, leading to a shift in behaviour and relationships.(Johnson, 2001) Not only do these villagers want to mimic the representations of their urban counterparts by changing their attire and consumer goods, their attitudes are also altered as a result. Such phenomenon can be seen as a positive shift which allows modern attitudes to flourish, through which more sensitivity and emotion are finding their ways into the rigid caste system and competition, therefore adding sentimental value to various relationships. In the case of rural parts of developing nations, mediation may also be useful as a way of educating villagers about their own country. The programs that are seen by the villagers are those which are produced in India yet reflect a Western undercurrent of values and lifestyles. The rural audience is therefore able to learn about other parts of their own country, which is useful due to the fact that many do not venture far from their village for touring purposes. Although touring the country may not be prioritized, with the glamorization of urban life through the media, many villagers are moving to urban centers in search for a better life. (Johnson 2001) The implications of such a shift are obvious in that the villages that are being abandoned are at a disadvantage, yet the urban cities have nothing to gain other than more overcrowding. Although the middle class in India is generally more urbanized and therefore more in touch with the globalizing effects of media, they resemble the villagers in terms of the effects of television on their daily lives. While villagers are enticed with what is outside their village, the urban middle class is able to see the correlation between the foreign and national trademarks. â€Å"Multinational companies consistently attempt to associate their products with signifiers of the Indian nation, for instance through sponsorship of the Indian Olympic team in the 1996 Olympics or through more subtle references to specifically Indian conditions such as the monsoon season† (Fernandes, 2000) While conglomerates such as Pepsi and Coke are striving to merge the Indian identity with their brands by sponsoring sporting events and relying on Indian celebrity endorsements, the Indian audience fails to see that what they see as sponsorship for India’s pride is actually a mere scheme to boost consumerism. It is therefore evident that just as the rural class is becoming increasingly commoditized, the middle class urban population is no different. Although many televised advertisements tug on the nationalized heartstrings, many direct correlations are also made between Indian cities and North American or European ones. In this sense, the existence of the Indian city dwellers is being justified on the basis of their city’s comparison to Western cities. It is through these processes that Indian’s are made to feel that they are being recognized, but the concern is whether this recognition is strong if it is formulated through comparison. While many of these discr ete messages are being transmitted through television and advertisements, they are transforming into ideals; and, just as the rural population is in search for an urban setting, the urban dwellers are looking towards Western societies for opportunity. According to static’s result India spends so much for their TV advertisements. (See appendix 2.) In 2002 US $718 million was spent out of US $ 37,682. In 2003 US $848 million was spent out of US $ 44,413. In 2004 US $ 899million was spent out of US $ 51,812. In 2005 US $1,034 million was spent out of US $ 61,478. In 2006 US $1,189 million was spent out of US $ 67,672. The effects of commercialism cannot be underestimated. Today’s children are besieged by manipulative commercial messages day in and day out, on TV, and even at school. Companies hire psychologists to help them target children and manipulate them; this is called the art of whine-making. The bombardment of commercial messages has created a sense of chronic dissatisfaction in children and, many psychologists think that is has contributed to the increase in teen depression. In terms of programming, television shows are either American, or Indian imitations of them. â€Å"Programs targeted specifically at the middle class are often characterized by a hybridized language which combines Hindi and English.This mixture, termed ‘Hinglish’ by the popular media, combines Hindi and English in different television shows† (Fernandes, 2000) Through this very example it is evident that Westernized ideals are seeping into Indian mainstream media through the use of television. Moreover, an important shift to consider is that while English is becoming increasingly predominant, the non-English speakers are being marginalized and degraded in their own home country. Secondly, the predominance of Hindi as the main language on television weakens the diverse languages spoken in India which have contributed to its cultural heritage for centuries. One of the most prominent examples of the hybrid of Indian and American culture is through the phenomenon of MTV and youth culture in India. â€Å"The two main foreign-owned music television channels operating in India, News Corporation’s Channel [V] and Viacom’s MTV, have followed a market strategy of aggressive â€Å"Indianization.† This has taken the form of programs featuring Indian film songs and music videos†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Juluri, 2002) Although it may hold true that television which is geared towards youth may support Indian entertainment, these channels directly model the American versions of them; therefore, enforcing a global Americanized culture upon middle-class Indian youth. Consumerism is extremely prominent among this group due to the cultural icons represented through music videos and advertisements, along with their parent’s willingness to support such spending. This seems to hold true as a characteristic of youth culture across the globe, which raises the question of whether this global identity was created to homogenize this particular group. Yet another concern that satellite television and its growing Western influence has brought about is the generational reformation of these viewers. â€Å"†¦ graduate students of classical dance and mainly Telugu Channel [V] viewers and say that they have frequently experienced discomfort (and so have their parents)because of the growing trend of obscenity in Telugu film songs (including nudity, suggestive body movements, and â€Å"double-meaning† lyrics).† (Juluri 2002) Families were once able to enjoy programs without any discrepancy among parents and children, the ever growing influence of Western ideology that ‘sex sells’ in the media has transgressed into the Indian market, and led to reformation of the family unit, creating obvious distinctions between tastes. The new trends in television broadcasting may therefore effectively deconstruct the family unit as the Western ideals transgressing through Indian television are slowly creating gaps within the home. Some young viewers of these provocative music videos seem to think that due to their promiscuous nature, that these television programs are also being aired in the West; (Juluri 2002) however, it is this misconception that demonstrates the young Indian’s desire to be recognized by its American counterparts. This ideal requires placing cultural regulations on the backburner, meeting and enjoying Westernized standards and masking them with an overarching Indian identity, all in a subconscious attempt to escape that very identity. Study has shown Television viewing occupied 10.9% of an adolescent time that is about 12 hours per week. 90% of this viewing occurred at home, 73% was done with other family members including 7% with grandparents, uncles, or aunts. This indicates that TV viewing is a typical family activity. Adolescents’ rates of viewing were correlated with mothers’ rates of viewing, with rates for both higher when mothers were unemployed. Adolescents’ TV rates were also correlated with fathers’ rates and with fathers’ type of unemployment. Study has prove, during TV viewing adolescents reported lower than average challenge, worry, and paying attention and higher than average choice, clam and relaxation. In short TV viewing of the middle class Indian youth is a relaxed antidote to the stress of the day that they share with their families. Television has a major impact on toddlers it influences their viewing habits throughout their lives. Since toddlers have a strong preference for cartoons and other programs that have characters that move fast, there is considerable likelihood that they will be exposed to large amounts of violence. Children do not become full-fledged viewers until around the age of two-and-a-half. As toddlers, they begin to pay more attention to the television set when it is on. They develop a limited ability to extract meaning from television content. At the age of eight, children are more likely to be sensitive to important moderating influences of television content, and will not become more aggressive themselves if the violence they see is portrayed as evil, as causing human suffering, or as resulting in punishment or disapproval. However, they are especially likely to show increased aggression from watching violent television if they believe the violence reflects real life, if they identify with a violent hero, or if they engage in aggressive fantasies. One major group which television watching has effected is the age group between 5-13 years of age. Television violence is accompanied by vivid production features; preschoolers are predisposed to seek out and pay attention to violence- particularly cartoon violence. It is not the violence itself that makes the cartoons attractive to preschoolers, but the accompanying vivid production features. With this preference for cartoons, preschoolers are being exposed to a large number of violent acts in their viewing day. Moreover, they are unlikely to be able to put the violence in context, since they are likely to miss any subtlety conveyed mitigating information concerning motivation and consequences. Preschoolers behave more aggressively than usual in their play after watching any high-action exciting television content, but mostly after watching violent television. Another important group that has faced major identity transformations, sparked by the engagement in television is women. In recent years, viewers of Indian film and television have witnessed a shift from portrayals of females as innocent and subordinate in nature, into independent sexual beings. (Malhotra, 2000) While India’s strong traditional heritage has always been significantly characterized by the traditional roles of women as homemakers and mothers, the portrayal of women on television has challenged this ideal, and therefore cultivated a new perception of womanhood for the Indian woman. â€Å"In the 1990s, the Indian ideal of female beauty changed to become more aligned with the Western concept of ‘thin is beautiful’. This change can be unhealthy because the average female Indian body type generally includes large hips.† (Malhotra, 2000) It is therefore evident that the increasing popularity of Western norms through television can be equated with the changing attitudes of Indian females and their bodies. The concern here is obviously the potential damage these ideals may inflict upon the health and self esteem of women exposed to such figures. One particular article which examined the portrayal of women in Indian television states, â€Å"Although many of the programs continued to relegate women to the role of either the glamorous host or the traditional housewife, there were many examples of non-traditional roles for women.† (Malhotra, 2000) Whereas traditional roles are still portrayed, and certain qualities are equated with feminism, the diversity in female roles can be viewed as an indication that women now have choices to fit into those roles that appeal to them. Through television, a range of options are presented, therefore reflecting the potential flexibility of women’s lives. The concern that arises in this case is the harsh reality of Indian culture that is caught between two contradictory gender role portrayals which may either promote female independence, or discourage it altogether. It is therefore important to consider those women who desire liberation, and are held back because they don’t coincide with traditional norms and expectations. The very concept of woman has been revolutionized by the integration of Western ideals and practices that are seeping into Indian-produced television. Conflicts are therefore surfacing which pertain to the issues of female identity. Similarly, with the recent uproar of music-based television, Indian youth culture is flourishing into an ‘Indianized’ group which depends on Western ideals to propel their tastes. This consequently, is creating drifts within the nuclear family structure, and producing a generation gap. The urban middle class, as well as rural villagers are also affected in that they now utilize commodities as a signifier of rank, and these commodities are determined by conglomerate advertising through mainstream Indian television. Television watching and physical activity both are related to obesity. However this has been investigated mainly in children. Television viewing takes up 10.9% of an adolescent’s time (about 12 hours per week) study proves. Children get glued to the television and do not exercise. They watch one program after another with out giving them self’s a break. They do not even have half an hour to do any kind of physical activities. This finally results in obesity. Socially, one of the greatest problems plaguing India today is the consequences of Americanization. Indian’s have eroticized the culture of America to such a degree where they do not realize that they are constantly consuming high priced merchandise at the expense of their own enriched diverse culture. The Indian economy is so motivated by the capital gain from multinationals that they often try to counterbalance the impact of the western images by enforcing radical Nationalistic themes. The growing popularity of television in all parts of India is therefore making way for a homogenized Indian culture whose cultural identity is becoming ever so fragile. Appendix 1. Asia Pacific Demographics Population By Country (Million) 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006(P) Australia 18.8 18.8 19.5 19.7 19.9 20.3 20.7 China 1,267 1,267 1,287 1,287 1,299 1,307 1,307 Hong Kong 6.7 6.7 6.8 6.8 6.9 6.9 7.0 India 1,003 1,019 1,050 1,060 1,080 1,094 1,110 Indonesia 210 213 216 235 238 219 221.9 Japan 126.9 127.3 127.4 127.6 127.7 127.6 127.6 Malaysia 23.3 24.0 24.5 25.1 25.6 26.1 26.6 New Zealand 3.9 3.9 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.1 4.1 Philippines 76.5 77.9 79.5 84.6 86.2 84.2 84.4 Singapore 3.3 3.3 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.6 n.a. South Korea 47.0 47.4 47.6 47.8 48.1 48.2 48.5 Taiwan 22.1 22.3 22.4 22.5 22.6 22.7 22.7 Thailand 60.5 62.9 62.8 63.1 62.0 62.4 62.4 Appendix 2. Asia Pacific Demographics TV Advertising Expenditure By Country (US$ Million) 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006(P) Australia 1,963 2,159 2,322 2,441 2,504 China 12,520 18,138 23,971 30,797 36,612 Hong Kong 702 766 845 900 1,019 India 718 848 899 1,034 1,189 Indonesia 864 1,208 1,436 1,810 2,145 Japan 15,172 14,989 15,838 17,080 16,426 Malaysia 249 270 352 354 368 New Zealand 339 389 423 438 461 Philippines 940 1,169 1,348 1,912 2,218 Singapore 405 422 489 453 311 South Korea 2,113 1,991 1,878 2,245 2,323 Taiwan 959 998 1,016 959 930 Thailand 738 866 995 1,055 1,166 Total 37,682 44,213 51,812 61,478 67,672 Bibliography Fernandes, Leela. â€Å"Nationalizing the global: media images, cultural politics and the middle class in India† Media Culture Society, 22 (2000): 611-628. Johnson, Kirk. â€Å"Media and Social Change: the modernizing influences of television in rural India† Media Culture Society. 23 (2001): 147 169. Juluri, Vamsee. â€Å"Music Television and the Invention of Youth Culture in India† Television New Media, 3 (2002): 367 386. Morgan, M. and N. Signorielli (1990) ‘Cultivation Analysis: Conceptualization and Methodology’, pp. 13–34 in N. Signorielli and M. Morgan (eds) Cultivation Analysis: New Directions in Media Effects Research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. Malhotra, S and E. Rogers. â€Å"Satellite television and the new Indian woman† Gazette, 62 (2000): 407-430. â€Å"Brand Equity TV Rating.† Retrieved June 23, 2007, from brandequity.com.my/Charts/AsiaPacific/Population_by_Country.htm. â€Å"Brand Equity – TV Rating.† Retrieved June 23, 2007 from brandequity.com.my/Charts/AsiaPacific/asiapacific_tv_advertising.html. â€Å"Impact of Television† Retrieved June 25, 2007 from http://world.std.com/~jlr/comment/tv_impact.htm. Research Papers on Impact of Television on the Indian population.Relationship between Media Coverage and Social andPETSTEL analysis of IndiaEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementDefinition of Export QuotasAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into Asia19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided Era

9 Weird Careers You Can Pursue in the USA

9 Weird Careers You Can Pursue in the USA 9 Weird Careers You Can Pursue in the USA Maybe you picked your major to pursue a specific career, but most of us go into our college education with an â€Å"open mind† (i.e., not having thought it through). As a result, we have a world of professional possibilities open to us. And though you might eventually opt for something conventional, it’s worth at least considering some more unusual options. Take this list of ten weird careers, for instance†¦ 1. Snake Milker Snake milkers have the peculiar job of squeezing the faces of deadly snakes, thereby extracting the venom for use in antivenoms. Although this is laudable, especially if you live in snake country, we can’t get past the fact that it involves putting your hands into the bitey bit of a venomous reptile. Not for the fainthearted. Theres nothing quite as refreshing as a cold glass of snake milk. [Photo: Barry Rogge] 2. Iceberg Wrangler Speaking of bravery, how do you fancy going toe-to-toe with an iceberg? That’s what the men and women of the International Ice Patrol do, patrolling the North Atlantic on the lookout for rogue chunks of ice! 3. Canine Surfboard Instructor While the International Ice Patrol focuses on keeping our coastal waters free from icebergs, others are working hard to fill them with surfboarding canines. Do the dogs get any say in it, though? Well leave you to judge how enthusiastic this guy feels about riding the waves. [Photo: Mike Baird] 4. Feeling Strangers’ Faces If you’re the kind of tactile person who instantly hugs strangers, why not put these skills to use as a professional â€Å"face feeler†? Otherwise known by the less-creepy term â€Å"sensory scientists,† face feelers run their highly-sensitive digits over people’s faces to test the effects of new cosmetic products. 5. Snuggling And if face feeling doesn’t satisfy your need for intimacy with strangers, you could always become a professional snuggler (don’t worry: it’s strictly platonic). 6. Dog Food Tester Maybe you think forcing dogs onto surfboards is cruel and want to do something to improve the lives of man’s best friend? How about testing their disgusting food? Yummy. The real question, of course, is why dog food manufacturers need professional testers when they cater for an animal that will happily eat its own vomit. Hungry yet? [Photo: NekoJaNekoJa] 7. Lip Reader (Sort Of) Nope, not the useful kind that interprets speech from watching lip movements alone. We’re talking about lipstick readers, who claim to tell your fortune based on the mark left by your lips. Like a palm reader, but with lips. Were sure theyre completely legit. Ahem. 8. Baby Name Consultant Picking a name for your child is a big decision, so why not get third-party advice? If you do follow this career path, please promise not to use your powers for evil by telling credulous parents-to-be that â€Å"Anusol† is a perfectly acceptable name for a girl. 9. Chicken Sexer Not quite as horrific as it sounds, but it does involve checking the sex of thousands of hatchling chicks in quick succession to divide them into males and females. So definitely a specialist interest.

Sampling Plan Utilizing Randomizer Research Paper

Sampling Plan Utilizing Randomizer - Research Paper Example The research paper "Sampling Plan Utilizing Randomizer" presents the overview of the software that allows the users to define the dominant age of Facebook users. The population of 2000 ruled out the possibility of the feasible census and instead a simple random sampling technique was used. This is powerful online software which generates samples randomly. All you need to do is to feed in the range of values and specify the number of sets. Then choose how many numbers to be picked from each set to represent the population. It is easy to use, faster and available free of charge on the internet. In order to assess the dominant age of Facebook users, my established contacts were used. I had 2000 friends on Facebook which is an online social networking site. I hoped to address the research question: What is the dominant age of Facebook users? The population of 2000 ruled out the possibility of the feasible census and instead a simple random sampling technique was used. The availability of the contacts on the site made it possible to establish a sampling frame from where a representative sample was to be drawn. In order to ensure the equal chances of selection into the sample space, the sampling units were represented by their number on the list generated from my friend's page. The contacts were arranged alphabetically and assigned position 1 to 2000. The numbers were fed into a randomizer to generate 25 sets. In each set, the randomizer picked 2 numbers bringing the sample size to 50.

Performing Arts - Film and Drama Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Performing Arts - Film and Drama - Essay Example In the silver screen, the audience, regardless of seat location, has a relatively better view of the presentation. In this regard, the actors may easily convey emotions or thoughts through their facial expression. The multiple cameras used in shooting a movie may zoom in on a particular angle such that the audience may have a good view of what the director and cinematographer intend for them to focus on. On the contrary, the audience of a live drama, especially in large theatres, may have a limited view of actors’ facial expressions. As such, they would have to utilize other non-verbal forms of communication to get their emotions across. With this, stage actors put much emphasis on gestures rather than facial expression to enable the audience to relate. In â€Å"The Constant Gardener†, movie actors Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz have portrayed the characters - British diplomat Justin Quayle and his activist wife Tessa, in a much toned down manner. They played the role a s if in real life, how real people normally react in dealing with the given dilemmas. In contrast, energy level of stage actors Kaleo Griffith and Ruth Eglsaer, who played the role of Jack Tanner and Ann Whitefield are relatively higher. They delivered dialogues and acted out gestures in a manner that electrified the audience and carry the story forward. Since film is recorded and edited prior to actual showing, the shift in the setting is quite flexible. Moreover, in the movies, scenes can be shot on location.

Applied Statistics at Grand Canyon University Essay Example for Free

Applied Statistics at Grand Canyon University Essay 1. Which patient scored the highest on the preoperative CVLT Acquisition? What was his or her T score? The 3rd patient scored 63 which is the highest CVLT T-score. 2. Which patient scored the lowest on postoperative CVLT Retrieval? What was this patient’s T score? The 4th patient scored the lowest on the postoperative CVLT Retrieval with a score of 23. 3. Did the patient in Question 2 have more of a memory performance decline than average on the CVLT Retrieval? Provide a rationale for your answer. Yes, because he scored 23 and the average is 38.2. 4. What is the mean ( X) and standard deviation (SD) for preoperative T score for CVLT Acquisition? The mean for preoperative T score for CVLT acquisition is 46.35, and the SD is 5.061, calculated using Excel auto sum function. 5. Is the preoperative Retrieval T score for Patient 5 above or below the mean for the norm of the group? Provide a rationale for your answer. The score for patient 5 on preoperative Retrieval T score (52) is above the mean for the norm of the group (47.36). 6. Assuming that the distribution of the preoperative CVLT Retrieval T scores is normal, the middle 68% of the patients had T scores between what two values? 7. Assuming that the distribution of scores for the postoperative CVLT Retrieval T scores is normal, the middle 68% of the patients had T scores between what two values? 8. The researchers state that it appears that the functional integrity of the left temporal lobe, despite evidence of structural abnormality, plays a considerable role when it comes to memory outcomes following left ATL. Can the findings from this study be generalized to a larger population? Provide a rationale for your answer. No, because, according to our source, the sample size is too small to generalize the results for a larger population. 9. If a patient had a raw score = 30, what would his/her postoperative CVLT Retrieval T score be? Tscore=10X/SD+(50-10Xo/SD) Tscore=10(30)/1.414+(50-10(39.294))/1.414 Tscore=-15.729 10. Did patients demonstrate more postoperative memory declines among CVLT Retrieval T scores than CVLT Acquisition T scores? Provide a rationale for your answer No, the number of declines in both postoperative categories is the same(13).

Indonesia Essay -- essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After Indonesia declared independence in 1945 the country’s leader, Sukarno, faced the extremely difficult task of creating a unified state out of Indonesia’s numerous ethnic groups. Also ever since its independence Indonesia’s rulers had to suppress uprisings of muslim groups because it threatened the country’s secular ideology.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The attempts by Indonesia’s leaders to maintain unity and the ways in which the military suppressed separatist movements fueled many of the economic, social, and political problems the nation is facing today. After the tsunami, many of the issues surrounding the nationalist issue resurfaced and might change the nature of the conflict between supporters of Indonesian unity and those seeking independence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The rebels in Aceh claim that the region was illegally annexed by Indonesia at the time of independence, and a separatist movement has been active there since 1976. During the regime of Suharto the military was given absolute power, and the continuous military presence in the region was marked by brutality towards the Acehnese and mistreatment of suspected rebels. Therefore many Acehnese feel a deep sense of distrust towards Indonesia. Since 2003 Aceh has been under Indonesian military rule and the area was closed off to foreigners as an attempt to isolate the area and crush the separatist movement. Indonesia allowed virtually no foreign presence in Aceh. Many believe that the isolation of the area was an attempt by the government t...

Hitler & Stalin: the Roots of Evil

Hitler & Stalin: The Roots of Evil Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin were two of the most ruthless and infamous dictators of the twentieth century. They each left a legacy of cruelty, terror, and death; managing to change the course of history to this day. Throughout their lives, both leaders surprisingly had many similarities. They both lived deprived childhoods, with violent fathers and adoring mothers. Both suffered from inferiority complexes and paranoia. Most importantly, they were both mass murderers.Joseph Stalin is responsible for the murders of more than 20 million lives, including those of his own people, political opponents, as well as innocent victims, whom he considered a threat. Born in the Georgian village of Gori on December 21, 1879, Stalin grew up with an abusive father who savagely beat both him and his mother. One time, Stalin was beaten so severely that he later found blood in his urine. This abuse had a lasting impression on him, leaving him with low self-esteem an d an inferiority complex throughout his life.Stalin’s mother hoped he may one day become a priest, and sent him to the church’s choir. At age 15, he entered the theological seminary. His intelligence, prestigious memory, and attention to details impressed his teachers, but they also witnessed a stubborn, violent side to his nature. He soon turned away from religion, and instead became attracted to anarchism, revolutionary terrorism, and Marxism. His violent, revolutionary activities lead to his expulsion from the seminary after just 5 years.As a child, Stalin was always quick to lose his temper and easily harbored grudges against people. His whole life consisted in struggle against those he put down in his mind as enemies. In 1927, after being examined by a famous neurologist, Stalin was diagnosed as paranoid. As a political leader, Stalin was aggressive and cruel. He eliminated the people he imagined as enemies, having them removed completely from all historical recor ds and pictures, thus erasing their memories from existence.His aggressive characteristics also dominated his family life. Like his own father, Stalin abused his wife, Nadia, and his sons, both psychologically and physically. His abuse caused one of his sons to become an alcoholic and the other to attempt committing suicide. On November 9, 1932, the morning after a violent argument took place between Nadia and Stalin at a party, Nadia was found dead in their apartment; shot in the heart. It is believed that Stalin either drove her to suicide, or killed her himself.After her death, Stalin never went to visit her grave at the cemetery. On March 5, 1953, he himself suffered a brain hemorrhage, and died suddenly. Thousands of mourners watched as he was later put to rest in the Mausoleum. Like Stalin, Adolf Hitler was responsible for millions of deaths in the Holocaust, including 6 million Jews, and hundreds of thousands of gypsies and homosexuals. Born in Braunau, Austria on April 20, 1 889, ten years after Stalin’s birth, Hitler also grew up with an abusive father.When he was 10, he tried to run away from home to escape the violence, but his father caught him and gave him such a beating that he was in a coma for days, his life hanging by a thread. That experience had a lasting impression on him, leading him to see much more evil in the world. As he grew older, Hitler became very compulsive, phobic, and paranoid, both in considering himself to be the object of persecution in attempts to kill him, and in believing he had a sacred mission to save Germany and the world from those he classified as â€Å"unworthy to live. When he was a boy, Hitler wanted to be a priest, and like Stalin, sang in the church choir. He had low self-esteem, and was unhappy with his looks, most importantly his plump nose, which he considered Jewish. Hitler was obsessed with the thought that his paternal grandfather could have been Jewish, leading him to believe that he was diseased; t hat nothing could remove this from him because it was in his blood. In school, Hitler was a poor student. Like Stalin, he was considered arrogant and forceful, demanding absolute subordination from the other pupils.After 5 years, Hitler dropped out of school, hoping to instead become an artist. He dreamed of entering the prestigious academy of fine arts, but was rejected two years in a row. He believed he had been rejected because several members of the admissions committee were Jewish, which added to his growing hatred towards them. After his rejection by the Academy and the death of his mother due to breast cancer, Hitler was miserable. Lonely and poor, lacking direction, Hitler enlisted in the army, where he finally felt like he belonged.With the ability to engage in killing as a soldier, he found an outlet, for the first time, to the murderous rage that had grown in him from treatment by his father. Because of his extreme closeness to his mother, together with his father’ s extreme brutality, Hitler grew up with an obsession with women and sex. He was dead set against marriage and children though, and never showed public affection towards any woman. After his mother, the most important woman in his life was his younger niece, Geli, who lived with him in his Munich apartment.Hitler worshipped her but treated her like he treated most people he knew, in an overbearing, controlling, authoritative way. While she lived with Hitler, Geli became pregnant by a Jewish man, whom she was in a relationship with. When Hitler found out, he and Geli had a terrible fight, after which Hitler drove out of town for work. The next morning, Geli was found dead in Hitler’s Munich flat, shot in the chest, similar to Stalin’s wife, Nadia. It is believed that Geli committed suicide.Hitler’s brutal dictatorship reflected his personal narcissism and paranoia. Like Stalin, he believed he was surrounded by enemies, waiting to betray him, and that he needed to strike first. Hitler grew up with the idea that it was necessary to kill if one did not want to be killed. He divided people into predators and victims, deciding to victimize the Jews. His secret plan was to liquidate all the Jews of Germany, Europe, and the Soviet Union under the cover of war. As the war went on, Hitler became increasingly dependent on amphetamines.He suffered from drug toxicity, which affected his judgment, and made him increasingly paranoid. Toward the end of the war, he began to show symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. When it became clear that he was losing the war, Hitler committed suicide. For his body, there was no monument; Not even a marker. Both Stalin and Hitler had a lot in common. They were deeply troubled as children, and the abuse they suffered then clouded their judgment of people around them in the future.They saw much more hate in the world than they possibly would have had they been treated better at that young age. It is hard to think that had it not been for their abusive fathers, both may have led normal lives. They could have been priests or artists, instead of the evil forces that they became later in life. Had they not been abused as children, history may have been much different today. Maybe such evil names would not have existed in history books, and the lives of millions upon millions of innocent people would have been spared.

Something About Something

Microbiological Media Table of results: Media| E. coli| Salmonella| Serratia| Pseudomonas| Proteus| EMB(Colour: Wine)| Metallic Green sheen on streak. Media: Pink| ColourlessMedia: Wine| Black dot in centre of colonies. Media: Wine| Similar colour to the media. Media: Wine| ColourlessMedia: Wine | XLD(Colour: Red)| ColourlessMedia: Yellow| Black dot in centre of colonies. Media: Pink| Pink/OrangeMedia: Pink| ColourlessMedia: Pink| Black dot in centre of colonies. (smaller dots than Salmonella)| BGA(Colour: Orange)| ColourlessMedia: Yellow| ColourlessMedia: Pink| ColourlessMedia: Yellow| Pink-RedMedia: Pink| ColourlessMedia: Pink|E. coli grown in EMB agar: As we can see from the table above, the streak of E. coli on a plate with EMB agar showed a metallic green sheen where E. coli was present. EMB stain is selective for gram-negative bacteria. It is made using 6:1 Eosin and Methylene Blue. EMB agar is a differential media and inhibits the growth of gram-positive bacteria while also us ing a colour indicator to tell the difference between organisms that ferment lactose and those that don’t. E. coli will give off a metallic green sheen when grown in EMB due to metachromatic properties in the dyes used, E. oli movement using flagella and the strong acid end products associated with fermentation. Salmonella grown in XLD agar: XLD can commonly be used as a selective growth medium for Salmonella and Shigella. Salmonella will ferment xylose to produce acid. This turns the media yellow due to the lowering of the pH which turns the phenol red indicator in XLD agar to yellow. Shigella colonies do not turn yellow as they cannot ferment xylose and therefore don’t produce acid in XLD. Once Salmonella has exhausted the xylose in XLD it decarboxylates lysine which increases the pH again and turns back to a similar colour of the Shigella colonies.Salmonella will metabolise thiosulfate to produce hydrogen sulphide and this is what leads to the formation of colonies with black centers, this allows for differentiation to the similarly coloured Shigella colonies. Salmonella grown in BGA agar: BGA agar is selective and differential for Salmonella. When grown in BGA agar, Salmonella will remain colourless as they do not ferment sucrose or lactose therefore they do not increase the pH level and no indicating colour can be seen. Brilliant Green inhibits the growth of gram-positive and most of gram-negative organisms.

Why You Should Avoid Multitasking

Why You Should Avoid Multitasking Most of us multitask. We have a million things to do and not enough time in the day to get it done. The common consensus is that multitasking will make us more productive because we’re getting more done. However, this simply isn’t true. As we’re going to see in the following infographic, there is a difference between getting a lot of work done and getting a lot of good work done. Here is why you should avoid multitasking:Source: [FuzeBox]

The Battle of Horseshoe Bend in the Creek War

The Battle of Horseshoe Bend in the Creek War The Battle of Horseshoe Bend was fought March 27, 1814, during the Creek War (1813-1814). Inspired by the actions of the Shawnee leader Tecumseh, the Upper Creek elected to side with the British during the War of 1812 and commenced attacks on American settlements. Responding, Major General Andrew Jackson moved against the Upper Creek base at Horseshoe Bend in eastern Alabama with a mix of militia and regular troops. Attacking on March 27, 1814, his men overwhelmed the defenders and broke the back of the Upper Creeks resistance. A short time later, the Upper Creek asked for peace which was granted through the Treaty of Fort Jackson. Background With the United States and Britain engaged in the War of 1812, the Upper Creek elected to join with the British in 1813 and began attacks on American settlements in the southeast. This decision was based on the actions of the Shawnee leader Tecumseh who had visited the area in 1811 calling for a Native American confederacy, intrigues from the Spanish in Florida, as well as resentment about encroaching American settlers. Known as the Red Sticks, mostly likely due to their red-painted war clubs, the Upper Creeks successfully attacked and massacred the garrison of Fort Mims, just north of Mobile, AL, on August 30. Early American campaigns against the Red Sticks met with moderate success that fall but failed to eliminate the threat. One of these thrusts was led by Major General Andrew Jackson of Tennessee and saw him push south along the Coosa River. Reinforced in early March 1814, Jacksons command included a mix of Tennessee militia, the 39th US Infantry, as well as allied Cherokee and Lower Creek warriors. Alerted to the presence of a large Red Stick camp at the Horseshoe Bend of the Tallapoosa River, Jackson began moving his forces to strike. Creek leader Menawa. Public Domain Menawa and Horseshoe Bend The Red Sticks at Horseshoe Bend were led by the respected war leader Menawa. The previous December, he had moved the inhabitants of six Upper Creek villages to the bend and built a fortified town. While a village was constructed at the southern toe of the bend, a fortified log wall was built across the neck for protection. Dubbing the encampment Tohopeka, Menawa hoped that the wall would hold off attackers or at least delay them long enough for the 350 women and children in the camp to escape across the river. To defend Tohopeka, he had around 1,000 warriors of which around a third possessed a musket or rifle. Fast Facts: Battle of Horseshoe Bend Conflict: Creek War (1813-1814)Dates: March 27, 1814Armies Commanders:United StatesMajor General Andrew Jacksonapprox. 3,300 menRed Sticks:Menawaapprox. 1,000 menCasualties:United States: 47 killed and 159 wounded, Native American allies: 23 killed and 47 woundedRedSticks: 857 killed, 206 wounded Jackson's Plan Approaching the area early on March 27, 1814, Jackson split his command and ordered Brigadier General John Coffee to take his mounted militia and the allied warriors downstream to cross the river. Once this was done, they were to march upstream and surround Tohopeka from the far bank of the Tallapoosa. From this position, they were to act as a distraction and cut off Menawas lines of retreat. As Coffee departed, Jackson moved towards the fortified wall with the remaining 2,000 men of his command (Map). Fighting Begins Deploying his men across the neck, Jackson opened fire with his two artillery pieces at 10:30 AM with the goal of opening a breach in the wall through which his troops could attack. Possessing only a 6-pounder and 3-pounder, the American bombardment proved ineffective. While the American guns were firing, three of Coffees Cherokee warriors swam across the river and stole several Red Stick canoes. Returning to the south bank they began ferrying their Cherokee and Lower Creek comrades across the river to attack Tohopeka from the rear. In the process, they set fire to several buildings. Battle of Horseshoe Bend. Public Domain Jackson Strikes Around 12:30 PM, Jackson saw smoke rising from behind the Red Stick lines. Ordering his men forward, the Americans moved towards the wall with the 39th US Infantry in the lead. In brutal fighting, the Red Sticks were pushed back from the wall. One of the first Americans over the barricade was young Lieutenant Sam Houston who was wounded in the shoulder by an arrow. Driving forward, the Red Sticks fought an increasingly desperate battle with Jacksons men attacking from the north and his Native American allies assaulting from the south. Those Red Sticks that attempted to escape across the river were cut down by Coffees men. Fighting in the camp raged through the day as Menawas men attempted to make a final stand. With darkness falling the battle came to an end. Though severely wounded, Menawa and around 200 of his men were able to escape the field and sought refuge with the Seminoles in Florida. Aftermath In the fighting, 557 Red Sticks were killed defending the encampment, while approximately 300 more were killed by Coffees men while attempting to escape across the Tallapoosa. The 350 women and children in Tohopeka became prisoners of the Lower Creek and Cherokees. American losses numbered 47 killed and 159 wounded, while Jacksons Native American allies incurred 23 killed and 47 wounded. Having broken the back of the Red Sticks, Jackson moved south and built Fort Jackson at the confluence of the Coosa and Tallapoosa in the heart of the Red Sticks holy ground. William Weatherford meets with Andrew Jackson. Library of Congress From this position, he sent out the word to the remaining Red Stick forces that they were to sever their ties to the British and Spanish or risk being wiped out. Understanding his people to be defeated, noted Red Stick leader William Weatherford (Red Eagle) came to Fort Jackson and asked for peace. This was concluded by the Treaty of Fort Jackson on August 9, 1814, by which the Creek ceded 23 million acres of land in present-day Alabama and Georgia to the United States. For his success against the Red Sticks, Jackson was made a major general in the US Army and achieved further glory the following January at the Battle of New Orleans.

Perfect learning environment and functioning of school tribunal Essay

Perfect learning environment and functioning of school tribunal - Essay Example At the same time it is the process by which an individual acquires and develops knowledge, understanding, skills, interests, and attitudes that are necessary to meet life situations. The effect of learning can be witnessed in the behaviour of an individual at various instances. Human has been able to progress just because of his capacity to make profit out of his and other’s experiences. His customs, manners, etc are the product of his learning. â€Å"Learning is the cognitive process of acquiring skills and knowledge†(Learning, n. d). It causes behavioural changes in ones’ life because of the constant interaction with the environment and the extra knowledge acquired about the environment. It is a continuous process which starts from the birth and ends only at the time of death of a person. It is a complex process which depends on many individual characteristics like socioeconomic background, attitude, philosophy of life, intelligence, physical and mental health, the environment in which learning occurs, genetic traits etc. Because of the dependability of various factors, it is difficult to have two persons with same learning abilities. School is a place where the teaching and learning process formally begins in one’s life. It is not necessary that all the schools provide same type of learning environment to the students. ... What makes the prefect learning environment? â€Å"Curriculum, instruction and assessment are the major means for effective learning. In the curriculum area, educators must place emphasis on intuition, feeling, sensing, and imagination, in addition to the traditional skills of analysis, reason, and sequential problem solving†(Learning styles, 2008). It is impossible for a teacher to teach everything related to a specific topic. On the other hand if the teacher was able to develop interest among the students about that particular topic, the students will do the rest part of the learning process by themselves. In other words, developing positive feeling, imagination, intuition etc can make the learning process easy. Curriculum plays an important role in preparing proper learning environment. As mentioned earlier, learning is a complex task and hence it is necessary to control the parameters which affects the learning judiciously. For example, it is difficult to stimulate learnin g in a noisy environment. Learning is a process which requires the combined efforts of the teachers and the students. The transfer of learning takes place from the teacher to the students only if the teacher was able to deliver his/her lecture in an appropriate manner. In order to help the teacher to deliver the lessons in an organized manner, students required to observe strict silence in the class. In other words, discipline is the primary requirement for preparing a proper learning environment. If the teacher keeps on delivering the lectures and the students keep on doing something else, learning will never take place. The students should follow the teacher with utmost care in order to learn the topics properly.