English Writing Dictations for Beginning Learners

English dictation provides writing practice for English-language learners. Listen to the phrases via the links in this article, then take a piece of paper, or use a writing program on your computer. Write or type what you hear. Listen as many times as necessary. Dictation helps your spelling, listening and understanding skills. Each of the following dictations focuses on a specific learning point. The dictations are for beginning-level learners and include five sentences in each dictation. Each sentence is read twice, giving you time to write what you hear. At a Hotel This  dictation link  will give you a chance to hear—and write—comon phrases used at hotels, such as: Can I make a reservation please? and Id like a double room with a shower. and Do you have any rooms available? Remember that you can hit the pause button to give yourself more time to write your answer. Introductions This section includes  simple sentences  like, Hello, my name is John. Im from New York. and English is a difficult language. As you know from your studies, this is certainly a very accurate statement. At a Government Agency These  dictation sentences  cover phrases youll find useful at a government agency—such as at a motor vehicles or Social Security office. The sentences cover topics such as filling out forms and standing in the correct line. Knowing the sentences on this topic can save you hours of potential aggravation. At the Restaurant These  dictation sentences  cover common phrases used in a restaurant, such as What would you like to have? and Id like a hamburger and a cup of coffee. If youre up for more practice on eatery terms, youll find them in these extra  practice phrases. Present, Past and Comparisons In English, the present and past tense can take many grammatical forms, involving an array of confusing terms. You can memorize the grammatical forms, but its often easier to listen to a native speaker dictate phrases and sentences involving present and past tense events. Making comparisons can also be a difficult concept. Use the following links to practice such sentences as: I started work in October last year and Peter is playing the piano at the moment. Now—sentences that describe things happening at the momentPast events—sentences with the simple past tense to describe things that happened in the pastComparisons—sentences comparing two things or people Other Topics The more practice you can get listening to and  writing  American-English phrases the better. Buying or choosing  clothing, describing habits, giving directions, and even buying souvenirs can be difficult unless you know a few basic phrases that cover these issues. To help you, these practice dictation sentences cover topics including: Clothing—common phrases related to shopping for clothesHabits—sentences that express daily habits and routinesMy town—phrases regarding your communityWork—sentences about daily routines at workDirections— common phrases used when asking for and giving directionsQuestions—a variety of simple questions in different tensesSouvenirs—common phrases used when shopping for souvenirs

War Was The Only Option - 1547 Words

Like two spoiled children throwing a fit, the Union and Confederacy found themselves in a situation they were unprepared for. Neither side had an army large enough to conduct a full-scale war. Each side had trepidations about engaging in armed conflict, but like the years leading up to secession the most extreme political voices triumphed over moderation. Dr. McClintock argues that hard-liners in the north refused to negotiate for peace feeling they had nothing wrong. Southern leaders had become so arrogant they could not imagine northerners would be willing to die to keep the south from leaving. Arrogance on both sides would prove catastrophic. Once shots fired at Fort Sumter, war was the only option. This rush to action was the greatest failure in the war. As Catton describes in his book, a war began neither side prepared for. The mobilization of men was so large that in terms of percentage no other war in American history required such a large percentage of American men. Old world military tactics combined with new world technology resulted in human carnage never seen. Combined with utter hatred for the other side, this war went beyond conventional military logic into the realm of politics. These realities came crashing down on both sides resulting in failures so tragic they are beyond comprehension. Both sides shared in failures. The Union quickly mobilized an Army the size of which the nation had never seen. They had to do this without some of the greatest militaryShow MoreRelatedThe Syrian Civil War Essay1311 Words   |  6 PagesSyrian civil war started in 2011 was the outcome of the opposition against the President Bashar al-Assad regime. The uprising emerged as a response to the Arab spring movement that lead to regime change in Tunisia and subsequently turned into mass unrest rooted into the discontent with long-term dictatorship and poor economic situation in the country (Manfreda, n.d.). The number of Syrian citizens killed in the civil war reached 140000 since March 2011 (SBS 2014). The European Commission (2014, 2)Read MorePatrick Henry Speech892 Words   |  4 Pagesthat there is no other alternative but war. Henry starts off by acknowledging the patriotism and abilities of the men who spoke before, and against him. Henry goes on to persuade his audience by use of rhetorical questions and compari sons to religious beliefs. Henry’s speech was very motivations, and inspirational, as well as urgent and persuasive. Patrick Henry did a good job, and at the height of his speech, he convinces the House of Burgesses that the war needs to be fought. The first thing HenryRead MoreTrumans Utter Destruction with the Atomic Bomb1079 Words   |  5 PagesTruman had several options presented from his Joint Chiefs of Staff. First option was the invasion of the Mainland of Japan, specifically Kyushu. (36) Second option was to continue bombing Japan’s infrastructure and food supply. (39) Third option was to wait on the till the Soviets acted upon their agreement and join the war against Japan. (41) Fourth option was to change the policy of unconditional surrender to allow Japan to keep Emperor Hirohito on his throne. (42) The final option Truman receivedRead MorePresident Truman Made A Nuclear Weapon1745 Words   |  7 Pagesbomb was dropped on Japan in the city of Nagasaki. P resident Truman made this choice in an effort to end World War II. World War II began on September 1,1939 and ended on September 2,1945 ending in an Allie victory. This world was fought primarily by the Axis Powers: Germany, Austria, Italy, and Japan and the Allie Powers: Great Britain, France, The USSR, and the United States. President Truman made a difficult decision to drop nuclear weapons on Japan, because the factors leading up to the war, theRead MoreWorld War I Am Become Death, The Destroyer Of Worlds1165 Words   |  5 Pageswhat Robert Oppenheimer said when an atomic bomb was first tested at Los Alamos. On August 6, 1945 an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later, another was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. These bombs killed over 100,000 instantly and approximately another 100,000 died from the fallout affect of the bombs. Nobody will ever forget this tragic day, when America destroyed the lives of thousands but also stopped the wa r with Japan. 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The Allies would accept nothing but unconditional surrender with the document being concluded with â€Å"We call upon the Government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all the Japanese armed forces †¦ the alternative forRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay1450 Words   |  6 Pageswith PTSD will Reduce the Rate of Suicides Soldiers who return home may not only have physical setbacks, but are mentally traumatized from what they have witnessed while serving our country. Veterans are more prone to be diagnosed with PTSD due to the combat they experience or witness on the field. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans has been prevalent for decades and there is still no known treatment option that has been found entirely effective. Many Vietnam veterans who never soughtRead MoreHarry S. Truman For Defeating Japan s Barbaric Regime And Ending The Bloodiest War1641 Words   |  7 Pageswhen Harry S. Truman was forced to decide whether or not to drop the atomic bombs on Japan, the moral choice was clear: dropping the bombs was the most viable option available that would end World War II, minimize casualties on both sides of the war, and ensure American victory. Every other option available to Truman would have resulted in a much greater loss for the people of both Japan and the United States. Whil e dropping atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was undeniably an atrocityRead MoreShould Us Go To War In Iraq Essay820 Words   |  4 Pagespeople believed that our government was looking for a reason to go to war in the middle east, specifically with Iraq. We believed that the â€Å"people of Iraq are an oppressed people, and the world has a duty to help these people† (Kelly). However, after going through the Vietnam war, our citizens did not want to enter into another war and send more soldiers away from home. We were currently having our best years financially in our country and were involved in zero wars. But, looking for ways to have better

Managing Technologies and Innovation-Free Samples for Students

Questions: Discuss about the Role of Information Technology in all Sectors. Discuss about the Innovation through IT in Google Inc. Discuss about the Customer Relationship Management. Answers: 1.Information Technology is becoming the backbone of several industries. All the companies are becoming dependent on IT for achieving operational efficiency and improving customer service. IT plays a significant role in various industries like: Media: IT has upgraded this field and has enabled the distribution of news on a wider scale. Online news websites like www.bbc.com have also been launched for keeping the people updated. Banking: IT has automated the flow of information in banks. Online banking via banking apps and websites has improved the satisfaction level of customers. Education: IT has facilitated students to gain knowledge regarding any subject and share information with other students in an effective manner. Online journals and books have made the process of education easier. Medicine: Advanced technologies, equipments and techniques that are developed by IT have enabled the physicians to provide accurate treatment to the patients. Transport: IT innovations and inventions have upgraded this industry. People are able to check the schedule and seat availability of trains and flights. IT plays a major role in technological companies. IT has promoted efficient management of business and develops new services and products by automating business processes (Drnevich and Croson 2013). Technological companies are able to improve its communication process via e-mail, video calls and social media. MIS has helped the companies to track various data and information for maximizing profit and minimizing cost. CRM systems have enabled the technological companies to improve its customer service level and generate more revenue. IT is known for fostering and promoting innovation in technological businesses. Innovation leads to improved database management, faster data processing, smarter apps and wider distribution of information. Innovation through IT increases productivity, enhances quality and increases the value. Digital marketing, online shopping and VoIP communication are examples of innovation via IT. IT and innovation are closely related (Guzman, Pealba, and Morejn 2013). IT improves business performance through innovation. 2.Google believes in developing and launching innovative products regularly and to improve the products on a continuous basis by an iterative process. The main aim f the Google research team is to bring practical benefits to the users. The research procedure begins with exploring research ideas, developing and maintaining software. The focus of the entire organization is on rapid innovation. According to annual report of Google, the RD expenses in the year 2015 were 16 % of the revenue. The expenses had increased by $ 627 million between the year 2014 and 2015 (Abc.xyz 2017). The RD budget is allocated for facilities, labor related costs and development of new services, product and equipment related expenses. Innovative research is carried out in Google. The strategic focus of the RD department of Google is on certain areas like advertising, search, machine learning and developing new services and products. Google uses service-based delivery model that gives benefit to the RD department. Designing, testing, production as well as maintenance processes are simplified by using the service-based model. Talented employees are hired for the engineering operations. Hybrid research model plays a significant role in inventing new products and services (Spector, Norvig and Petrov 2012). The aim of this model is to disseminate knowledge by flexible collection of various methods and approaches. The advanced projects are focused on newness and creativity. The research team creates new technologies and concepts. Several innovations have been promoted by IT like language translation, speech recognition, market algorithm, computer vision and machine learning. Google invests in research for developing efficient IT infrastructure. Google has a secretive lab called Google X, which is responsible for experimenting with future technologies. Google innovative projects include driverless cars, project glass and robotics avatars (Business Insider 2017). Latest innovations of Google include Google Assistant that uses Google Lens technology to analyze the surroundings and give relevant information on the Smartphone screen. Google has tried to incorporate AI to the camera of the Smartphone. Google is turning the smart speakers into phones. Google recently offers photo books that are printed. Google is focused in developing moonshot projects. 3.CRM refers to technologies, strategies and practices that organizations use for managing and analyzing customer details and interactions throughout the lifecycle of the customers for the improvement of business relationships. This technology collects and integrates information from various channels like company website, live chat, mail, social media, telephone and marketing materials (Nguyen and Mutum 2012). CRM systems provide the companies with detailed customer information like purchase history, concerns and buying preferences. CRM systems store information in a single centralized database. Business users can manage and access the information stored in CRM. This technology is also known for automating workflow processes such as alerts, calendars and tasks. Managers are able to track productivity and performance by utilizing CRM systems. CRM tools can automate same or repetitive tasks for enhancing marketing efforts. Automation of sales force is also achieved by CRM systems. CRM systems have the capability to create marketing campaigns in different geographic locations. Cloud based CRMs are based on SaaS service model where information is stored on a remote and external network (Kumar and Reinartz 2012). Most of the companies use cloud based CRM system for enhancing the quality of customer service. Companies are able to increase its sales level and improve its digital marketing capabilities by adopting CRM systems. Banks are able to achieve competitive advantage by targeting specific and potential customer groups. CRM solutions are used in consulting companies for client acquisition and management. It also helps in project management. CRM solutions support several functions in IT companies. It supports customer consultation, project planning and software marketing. There are several communication channels via which the customers can contact the companies. CRM systems have the capability to integrate information from all the channels and presenting it to the companies. Engineering companies use CRM for controlling costs and creating quotes. It enables the companies to view all the customer and project details. Scientific institutions also use CRM for planning, organizing, managing projects and transferring technology. CRM systems are responsible for increasing the level of custo mer satisfaction (Khodakarami and Chan 2014). CRM technology can be tailored for meeting the exact needs of the clients. References Abc.xyz.,2017.GoogleInc.[online]Availableat:https://abc.xyz/investor/pdf/20150331_google_10Q.pdf [Accessed 10 Nov. 2017]. Business Insider., 2017.A pill that can detect cancer cells. [online] Available at: https://www.businessinsider.in/Google-and-Alphabets-20-most-ambitious-moonshot-projects/Driverless-cars/slideshow/50988332.cms [Accessed 10 Nov. 2017]. Drnevich, P.L. and Croson, D.C., 2013. Information technology and business-level strategy: Toward an integrated theoretical perspective.Mis Quarterly,37(2). Guzman, G.M., Pealba, J.E.M. and Morejn, V.M.M., 2013. The Relationship between Innovation, Information Communication Technology, and Quality: A Latin American Enterprises Perspective.Journal of Business and Economics, p.1265. Khodakarami, F. and Chan, Y.E., 2014. Exploring the role of customer relationship management (CRM) systems in customer knowledge creation.Information Management,51(1), pp.27-42. Kumar, V. and Reinartz, W., 2012.Customer relationship management: Concept, strategy, and tools. Springer Science Business Media. Nguyen, B. and Mutum, D.S., 2012. A review of customer relationship management: successes, advances, pitfalls and futures.Business Process Management Journal,18(3), pp.400-419. Spector, A., Norvig, P. and Petrov, S., 2012. Google's hybrid approach to research.Communications of the ACM,55(7), pp.34-37.

Ethics and Sustainability for Eradication - MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theEthics and Sustainability Analysisfor Poverty Eradication. Answer: Increased poverty is a long-term problem and eradicating the situation has been the key component in development strategies for decades. It is reported that more than 1 billion people around the world live in extreme poverty (Kolezynski 2014, p.1). This implies that one in at least five persons in the developing nations lives on less that $2 each day, millions still make little more than this, and many risks slithering back into poverty (Sustainable Development Goals 2017, p.1). Poverty is associated with more than just the lack of salary and wages and resources to guarantee a sustainable living. Some of the poverty indicators include hunger and undernourishment, restricted access to education, social exclusion and lack of active engagement in decision making which prevent people from being productive. As much as various organizations are putting many efforts to eradicate poverty, it is in itself the biggest global challenge, and there is an immense need to end poverty in every dimen sion of sustainable development to realize the Millennium Development Goals. Main Environmental Elements The environment greatly matters to the people living in abject poverty. The perceptions of the well-being of the people living in poverty are strongly associated with the environment in terms of their susceptibility, livelihoods, health, and empowerment to improve their lives. The environmental changes affect the poor in three core manifestations of poverty namely: the livelihood, well-being, and susceptibility. The poor tend to rely heavily on the environment and the direct use of natural resources for their livelihoods and food security e.g. agriculture, fishing, and livestock farming ((Shah 2013, p.1). As a result, they are mostly affected when the environment is degraded, and their accessibility to natural resources is restricted. More than one-fifth of the diseases burden in the developing countries is connected with the environmental risk elements. The poor men, women, and children tend to suffer the most when the water bodies, land, and air are polluted contributing to a major cause of deteriorating well-being and health issues in developing nations. Undernourishment which stems from food insecurities is the primary source of disease burden. It is, therefore, evident that the environment in which people live is directly linked to the society's health and well-being. When it comes to susceptibility, the poor people are mostly exposed to environmental perils and related conflicts and are not capable of coping when these events happen (Narloch 2014, p.1). The issue of climate change, for example, means that the weather conditions are expected to become more deplorable and severe. These events will severely affect those living in developing world since their capability to adapt is limited. These factors prompted us to evaluate the relationship between empowerment and the environment and how it impacts the poor people and the efforts to reduce poverty levels. The environment is susceptible to the effects of poverty and ignoring the sustainability of growth li mits the development and aggravates poverty levels. It is, therefore, vital to eliminate poverty through effective management of the global resources. Critical Social Elements Poverty is perceived as a social issue that is a profoundly entrenched injury that pervades every direction and form of the society and culture. Social discrimination forms an integral part of the social elements of the conception of poverty. This element is a multidimensional process. Social discrimination leads an individuals ability to actively engage in social, economic, cultural, and political life developments and relationships with others. This affects the quality of life of the people and the equity of the society as a whole. The income, basic requirements, and empowerment perspectives are some of the principles developed to understand the concept of poverty (Fao n.d, p.3).Employment is one key factor that creates an opening to understanding the concept of poverty. Jobs are fundamental to helping the poor people in evading poverty. However, rising complications from poverty interfere with those seeking to acquire employment. Increased development is present in many parts of t he world holds a promise for those seeking employment, yet, those living in poverty find it hard to take advantage this opportunity. All in all, the employment environment is meant to be conducive and offer fair wage otherwise the opportunities provided will worsen the problem. Economic Elements Lack of jobs that pay fair wages increased healthcare costs; inadequate education, increased income gap, increased economic globalization and its adverse impact on workers are some of the factors that go hand in hand with poverty. A key challenge for the developing nations is to create an empowering environment that makes their economies attractive for foreign investors. Economic growth is therefore regarded as one of the most powerful elements for alleviating poverty and enhancing the quality of life of the people in the developing world (Shah 2013, p.1). There is a great need for innovation and strong effectiveness in mobilizing domestic resources with a special emphasis on the linkages to eradicating poverty and improving economy growth. In this context, a robust financial structure is essential for economic and social growth. Necessary measures must be taken into account to establish a solid fiscal policy that allows organizations to enter the market and operate efficiently and a lso help restructure enterprises to function effectively in the domestic and international markets. With respect to those living in poverty who work in informal economic sectors, there is need to engage them in the formal financial segment. Two Major Ethical Problems Connected with Poverty Eradication The principle of ethics studies the nature and extent of just and social institutions at the inmost level of examination. The ethics of poverty refers to the basic arguments used to justify the process of empowering poor people. Poverty and inequality have been concerns of progression economics (Barrientos et.al 2016, p.12). Alleviating poverty and improving the extreme levels of inequality boosts economic growth. Poverty and inequality are not just considered as an economic challenge but are ethical issues (Barrientos et.al 2016, p.12). Minimizing poverty levels is reinforced by equal access to quality education and a fair society to enable every individual with an education to have more options to fulfil their aspirations. Access to education and a fair society promotes economic growth as well as ensure human dignity. These issues call upon the wisdom of ethical responsibility. The concept of equality refers to that which is owed or is due to a person. This principle also proposes that the society has an obligation to those in severe need and all people have a role to play to those in need. Thus, every person is entitled to fair access to resources for their livelihoods. In addition, decisions concerning the allocation of resources should be based upon the quality of persons. Also, the extreme income gap in the developing nations is alarming which tends to corrode the social cohesion. Social cohesion is concerned as a sense of trust between individuals that are unfamiliar with each other (Komatsu 2015, p.1). An effective social cohesion is important to the society to enable it to function properly and for people to maximize their efficiencies and livelihoods. Ethical Problems on the Relevant Ethical Theory From the above discussion, it will be incomplete to offer explanations as to why poverty associated with income gaps and unequal distribution of wealth occurs. As such, there is need to take on board two ethical variables namely: the libertarian and utilitarian theories. The libertarian theory of poverty which expounds on the unequal distribution of incomes and wealth is varied but puts emphasis on rights. According to Nozick, he describes the libertarian theory of distribution to hold that people possess the Lockean rights (Corlett 2016, p.19-21). Acknowledgment of these rights poses side limits on how people should behave towards other persons so that everyone remains responsible for his or her own unique livelihood without being coerced by others (Zwolinski 2015, p. 522). This can only be realized through the theory of economic justice which ensures that each person own personal properties, goods, assets, and money that have been acquired fairly. Persons are also allowed to dispos e of their assets as they chose unless an individual had a previous attachment to them due to the breach of the Lockean rights (Zwolinski 2015, p. 520-522). Significant to the entitlement principle of economic distribution is how the assets and properties are obtained. For example, when a person legitimately owns a property, then the economic distribution is fair. Property rights are derived from a person's moral rights over social and legitimate structures established by the society. The utilitarianism theory proposes that with the maximization of individual happiness it should be determined what is just and unjust actions. It may not be easy to identify the activity that will enhance comfort for the need of a consistent standard of utility (Sheng 2012, p.15). An unclear standard of equality, there emanates conflicts as to how to examine the principles becomes inevitable. In understanding the concept of wealth distribution, it is important to ask the question as to whether it is fair that competent employees should be granted higher compensations that their less capable colleagues. While looking at the justice viewpoint, this is not applicable. It is clear that the society receives more from the more efficient and competent worker whose services are considered useful and thus the society owes him/her a high return. The social utility has the capacity to choose the preferences when random differences between the equally reasonable reactions were to be shunned (She ng 2012, p.26). Therefore, the utilitarian theory is crucial for resolving the challenges that arise between the rival doctrines of equality. Major Threat and Opportunities Poverty eradication has the chance of creating opportunities for businesses. These opportunities include acquiring more skilled workers and increased innovativeness. When poor people are empowered economically, socially, and culturally, they become more healthy and educated, and businesses have a wide range of skilled employees to choose from. Also, reliable access to education allows people to become more knowledgeable, efficient, innovative and competent which are some of the valuable assets to any business when recruiting to help improve their companys overall performance. In contrast, the major threat to businesses is that they may be reluctant to recruit highly skilled workers. Businesses in developed countries are used to acquiring low-skilled workers with low incomes. As such, when people become more literate and skilled, their skill levels are improved thereby demand high wages which most businesses may find to drain them financially. Ethical and Sustainability Solution to the Problems That Underpin Poverty Eradication Alleviating poverty is the main topic of the Agenda 21. Chapter 3 of the Agenda 21, states that poverty is a complex, multifaceted challenge with sources in the national and international spheres (Liu, Yu and Wang 2015, p.71). There seems to be no consistent solution that can be developed for global application. Instead, state-specific programs should be established eradicate poverty, worldwide efforts must be enhanced to support the national efforts, and the parallel process of building a supportive global environment are significant solutions to this problem. There are various factors that hinder poverty reduction including environmental degradation and resources inequality. Energy, for example, is an essential element for sustainable development and poverty alleviation. The relationship between energy and development is significant to reduce poverty since it is linked to human requirement and various aspects of development like education, health, and poverty. Renewable energy tech nology is one of the energy projects contributing to sustainability (Liu, Yu and Wang 2015, p.69). This project helps to improve the environmental, economic, and social parameters including developing skills especially for the local people and offering opportunities for businesses. Ethical resource creation and allocation are crucial from the selfishness of the rich outlook. Participating in ethics screening serves as a yardstick for the engagement in the business of poverty alleviation through resource creation by all parties involved. List of References Barrientos, A., Abdulai, A., Demirag, D., Groot, R., and Ragno, L. P. 2016. Why Assist People Lining in Poverty? The ethics of poverty reduction. https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_27.pdf. Accessed on 19 May 2017 Corlett, J.A. ed., 2016. Equality and liberty: analyzing Rawls and Nozick. Springer. Fao. n.d. better forestry, less poverty: a practitioners guide. ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/009/a0645e/a0645e05.pdf. Accessed on 19 May 2017 Kolezynski, C. 2014. Sustainability Decreases Poverty.https://borgenproject.org/sustainability-decreases-poverty/. Accessed on 19 May 2017 Komatsu, T. 2015. Poverty and Inequality: Our Ethical Challenges. https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/responses/poverty-and-inequality-our-ethical-challenges. Accessed on 19 May 2017 Liu, Q.Q., Yu, M. and Wang, X.L., 2015. Poverty reduction within the framework of SDGs and Post-2015 Development Agenda. Advances in Climate Change Research, 6(1), pp.67-73. Narloch, U. 2014. Sustainable poverty reduction and green growth. https://blogs.worldbank.org/developmenttalk/sustainable-poverty-reduction-and-green-growth. Accessed on 19 May 2017 Shah, A. 2013. Poverty Facts and Stats. https://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats. Accessed on 19 May 2017 Sheng, C.L., 2012.A new approach to utilitarianism: A unified utilitarian theory and its application to distributive justice (Vol. 5). Springer Science Business Media. Sustainable Development Goals. 2017. Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/poverty/. Accessed on 19 May 2017 Zwolinski, M., 2015. Property rights, coercion, and the welfare state: The libertarian case for a basic income for all. The Independent Review, 19(4), pp.515-529.

Addictions and Social Connections Essays

Addictions and Social Connections Essays Addictions and Social Connections Essay Addictions and Social Connections Essay Essay Topic: The Social Contract Drug and alcohol addiction is part of todays culture. Many people have engaged in drug addiction due to various factors which include developmental, environmental and biological (Kuhar, 2012). Many people, however, perceive those who use drugs as people who do not have the willpower or moral principles and that they have the option of stopping their behavior by simply making a choice. Such people lack knowledge on how drug abuse is because it is a complex illness and takes up more than the drug users strong will or good intentions. They change their brains in various ways thus making them have hard times when trying to quit the act even when one is more than willing to do so. Alcohol is the most addictive substance used all over the world (Goodman, 2013). There are other drugs commonly abused as well and their include marijuana, tobacco, cocaine, and heroin. Social workers have played a huge role in the treatment of drug users and their post-intervention treat ment. Canada marijuana legalization There are legalized drugs and those that are considered illegal. Alcohol and tobacco are the main legalized drugs. People who use the drugs are embraced as citizens in good standing however when they cause public inebriation; they could be arrested and incarcerated for their actions (Nasr Phillips, 2014). Alcoholism has been regarded as a social acceptance in the society, and few people are punished for indulging in alcohol. Tobacco has lost its importance of social acceptance over the recent years, and it has been restricted to indoors or designated smoking area zones in Canada. The tobacco industry has fought the restrictions but the health ministry with the public health administration have argued with the effects tobacco causes to users and passive users as well unlike alcohol. Marijuana has been illegal in most states in America. In Canada, illicit drugs are present in the high-risk population such as street youth, natives, injectors and the inner-city poor. The illegal drugs i nclude marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. Cannabis is however preferred areas such as Canada. It is still used regularly despite it being an illegal drug as there are cartels undertaking illegal drugs trade in the nation. Its usage among adults aged 25+ has been constant from 2004 to 2015 (Leyton, 2016). The government as well as the citizens have argued that it is similar to most drugs especially the legalized ones such as alcohol. Others have argued that it even has better effects to a user than alcohol. In a study by Pearson Janz Ali (2013), alcohol users were 21.6% while cannabis users were 6.8% in Canada. Alcohol has been found to be more addictive than marijuana in the nation. Many marijuana users in Canada are not regular users, and few of them become dependent on the drug. Those taking alcohol, on the other hand, become addicted to it after using it for some time and quite a number end up becoming alcohol users. Alcohol has been found to be more damaging to the body as well than marijuana. Alcohol causes liver disease among various kidney problems while cannabis is only linked to lung cancer when a user smokes it. In the society, alcoholism causes violence and reckless behavior, unlike marijuana. Most marijuana users are conscious after taking it. Hence they can realize when they are acting wrongly in public, unlike a person who has taken alcohol and does not know the acts he or she did after becoming drunk (Payne, 2014). The Canadian government has advocated for regulation an d legalization of marijuana for entertaining use. The legislation is in place to allow the drug to be sold in a similar way as alcohol in various shops in Canada using different provincial alcohol control boards retail shops. Some of the large pharmaceutical sellers have begun applying for retail licenses to trade medical marijuana also. Drug addiction treatment Addiction is regarded as a chronic illness described with the drug use and seeking which is difficult to control, compulsive, and with detrimental consequences. Most people begin taking drugs voluntarily. They, however, make it a habit that leads to changes in the brain which make the drug user have difficulty in self-control thus interfering with his or her capability to resist acute urge to depend on the drugs (Romach, Schoedel Sellers, 2014). When the brain changes become persistent, it leads to addiction. It has been found to be a reversing illness and it evident where people who are rehabilitated from drug use still go back to the behavior some few months or years of not taking the substances. Reverting to drug abuse is common to many previous drug users, and it should not bring a worry to families who have used a lot of finance in the rehabilitation of a loved one, but no change seems to be visible. The treatment process is an ongoing process that may take many years based on how fast the user responds to the treatment (Vaughn Perron, 2014). The plans of the treatment, therefore, need to be reviewed as the treatment process goes on to fit the users changing needs. Drug addiction effects In 2012, 10.1% of the Canadians had substance use disorders (Kuhar, 2012). The reward circuit of the brain is the major part likely to be affected by many drugs. The part controls a persons power to have the desire and encourage the person to iterate behaviors required to make him or her happy such as visiting new places. When the person overstimulates the reward circuit, it makes him or her extremely pleasurable which can make a person who loves taking drugs as a form of finding satisfaction taken them persistently (Goodman,2013). The brain adapts and adjusts to the high production of dopamine when the person goes on taking the drugs by minimizing the power of the reward circuits cells in the response. Tolerance occurs where the high feeling one gets normally reduces compared to the feeling one has when he or she takes drugs making the person to rely on the drug to attain the same high levels of dopamine. Drug intake helps these people to focus on the other activities that made them have pleasure as the drugs offer enough comfort. Substance abuse makes the liver function harder which accelerates the rate at which it becomes damaged or suffers from liver failure. Drug users have abdominal pains, vomiting, and nausea (Nasr Phillips, 2014). They also have a weak immune system which increases ones susceptibility to contracting infections. Drug and alcohol abuse have led to stroke, seizures and brain damage as well and it leads to memory lapse, decision-making, and attention issues among the drug users. They have encountered permanent brain damage or mental confusion. Other effects include cardiovascular conditions that include heart attacks and abnormal heart rate. Those who use injections may in the long term have collapsed veins, heart valves, and blood vessels infections (Leyton, 2016). users encounter appetite fluctuations and increase of body temperatures. Some have inflamed kidneys while others encounter gastric distress and muscle wasting.

Essay on Readings in Humanities

Essay on Readings in Humanities Essay on Readings in Humanities Readings in Humanities The human condition encompasses the unique features of being human in both a social and personal context. It is why we seek praise and gratification. It is the reason for your curiosity, your conscience and your judgment of others. It is separate from status, race, sex or cultural background. The human condition is like that of no other living species on earth. It is what makes us superior to every other living organism. These writers all are all polarizing in their own right and each has a unique perception of the human condition. Sun Tzu is one of the most important people in history in terms of war. He was an evolutionist and a pioneer on the battlefield. Sun Tzu’s principles are still widely used and valued to this day. Some of the things he believed in that I found particularly interesting while reading â€Å"The Art of War†. Tzu defended that his success on the battlefield wasn’t necessarily because of superior weaponry. He knew the importance of strategic planning and understanding your opponent. He was able to diagnose the strengths and weaknesses of his opposition and then plan accordingly to exploit those weaknesses on the battlefield. I think it’s impressive for someone who lived so long ago in a much different world that we live in today to realize that war is as much, if not more of a psychological struggle as it is a physical one. He was one of the first really intellectually minded generals in the modern world. It could be said that his best weapon was his brain and t hat was a weapon that would remain solely in his possession as long as he lived. Because Tzu is so keenly aware how there are many types of weakness that can make us vulnerable, I wonder what form of government he thought as the most effective. Would it be with a strong tyrant who appeared to have little weakness? Or would his government be diverse and portray an even-keel to outsiders? If Tzu were to rule would he try to conquer others? I don’t think I will ever know the answers to these questions but if I were to talk to Tzu these would be some of the things I’d ask him. Charles Manson to me is one of the most intriguing human beings to ever live. I always thought he was guilty and should be in jail until he dies but his take on his â€Å"guilt† is interesting. Manson sort of maintains in his book the fact that he, his physical self, did not commit any murders so he shouldn’t be in jail for murder. I think that society is set up in the way where people will hold others responsible based on their own perception of guilt regardless of the way the law is set up. Everyone in society saw Manson as a sociopath and a threat so they convict him and put extricate him from society. He is seen as a radical outcast and so we as humans see him as someone who is too vastly different than ourselves and so we find ways to remove them from everyone else. He was someone who people didn’t understand and that is why they were fearful of him. The overwhelming majority of people feel that murder is wrong so we punish those who do it. And the majority of people believe that those who murder should be ashamed and feel guilty. And people like Manson don’t feel that we are shocked for some reason but the reality is that this behavior is in our nature. Ever since the beginning of mankind we have been killing each other. Hundreds of millions of humans over the course of time have murdered one another. We as a race do this to each other and alwa ys have so I just don’t fully understand why we are surprised when people like Manson do the things that they do. I feel that there is a conflict of morals where Manson feels that since there is no blood on his hands that he isn’t guilty, but our society believes that he is still responsible. I think that it’s a good thing that our society is set up this way to regulate the actions of people like Manson because he is ultimately more dangerous than the average person. To be fair to Manson, he was someone who in

Southeast Asia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Southeast Asia - Essay Example Tourist travel several miles to come and enjoy the culture in Africa and Asia, this evidenced the appreciation of culture diversity. Regardless of insecurity in some parts of Africa and Asia, European tourist still tour. If civilization was to clash, the westerners would not be interested in the culture of other nations. Huntington observes the position of the west to various combat in the world and claims there are instances of favoritism and use it as a reason for the possibility of a clashing civilization. It might be true, but still friends still become enemies and end up being friends again. This is the case with fighting nations it is only a matter of national interest and once sorted things will be back to normal. Civilization cannot be hampered by few nations that are not in peace with each other. If a majority of the world is ready to coexist, civilization is on track and its benefit will be enjoyed in perpetuity. As I end my argument, it will be wise for Huntington to revise his

Servicescape Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Servicescape - Essay Example The amplified significance of providing exceptional service is obvious in service marketing contents. This report presents the fundamentals of servicescape in the Emirates and their influence on customers’ viewpoints based on Bitner model (Bitner, 1992).Emirates   airways was set up in 1946 with a starting fleet of 138 aircrafts. It is currently a huge airline based in Qatar operating 172 destinations in 39 countries providing passenger and cargo services. The servivescape elements found on Emirates Airlines include ambient conditions, colour, lighting, physical designs, background music, artefacts, functionality, and signs. The service the paper will deal with is air transport with special consideration with Emirates airlines.Introduction and Research QuestionsIn the past couple of years, researchers and marketing managers have identified with the features of servicescape terming them as useful in the attraction and retaining of consumers particularly in the service industr y. This research purposes to answer one major question and that is there any impact of servicescapes on marketing? The research seeks to identify the effect of this environment on five employees and five consumers. The study will analyse the relationship between the use of servicescapes and the increase in clientele in Emirates Airlines. It will also show the effect of the environment in the Emirates on five customers and employees (Barsky & Nash, 2003). In this chapter, the methodology of the research consisted of four sections.

Explain the concepts of both individual and cultural relativism Essay

Explain the concepts of both individual and cultural relativism - Essay Example Of importance to note is that, at times this concept counters itself and its subsequent argument of what might be perceived as right of wrong could be concluded as baseless (Brooks, 2011). This ethical relativism concept articulates that the perception of what is ethically right is dependent on a given culture. For instance, one culture might believe in cannibalism as being morally right while another culture is against the practice. Needless to say, this concept assists in understanding why certain practices are common in some cultures and not others (Brooks, 2011). Apparently, the concept Utilitarianism argues that action could be defined as morally right or wrong when the consequences are at hand unlike ethical relativism where right or wrong is determined by an individual or culture (Brooks, 2011). Kantian theory is described as one of the best ethical principles as it articulates that human beings have the opportunity to effectively use their reasoning faculty to determine what their obligated to do and do it diligently. Conversely, ethical relativism does not entail actual reasoning on a particular action but simple perception (Brooks, 2011). This contract theory revolves around an agreement that is formed by two differently organized groups of people where responsibilities are assigned to each member of the group. Moreover, limitations and rights about certain issues are defined. In ethical relativism, cultural relativism where society is incorporated does not have limitations and rights, but practices that are perceived morally right or wrong (Brooks, 2011). Actually, divine command theory argues that actions deemed to be moral rightly ought to be equivalent to what God has commanded and that being moral is following what God has commanded unlike Ethical Relativism where an individual or culture decides what is right or wrong (Brooks, 2011). This theory articulates that natural laws that are created as a result of human reasoning could

Pathogenesis and Course of AIDS

Pathogenesis and Course of AIDS Title: Give a detailed account of the pathogenesis and course of AIDS. Undergraduate Degree Level Essay 2,500 words   The study of HIV / AIDS is a vast topic and the literature on the subject fills many volumes. In this essay therefore we propose to take an overview of some of the most current views and developments in the field with particular emphasis on the pathophysiology of HIV / AIDS In 1997 the World Health Organisation gave the assessment that since HIV / AIDS had been recognised, over 11.7 million people had died of the condition world wide and at the time of publication 30 million more were thought to be infected with 16.000 new infections occurring daily. Current predictions estimate that at the current rate of infection 55 million will have died by 2010. (Greek R et al 2002) Perhaps the most worrying of all of these gargantuan statistics was the fact that of the 30 million infected, 27 million were thought to be unaware of their condition. Quite apart form the devastation the disease causes on a personal basis, the vast majority of those infected are young adults which has enormous implications for the social structure of their communities. (Graham B S 1998) Pathophysiology of the condition As we have implied earlier, the volume of work relating to the pathophysiology of HIV / AIDS is enormous, in this essay we therefore intend to â€Å"cherry-pick† a number of selected topics and discuss them in some detail. The implications of genetics in both the acquisition of HIV and the subsequent development of AIDS is a rapidly expanding field. The interaction between virus and host is a multifaceted and extremely complex one. From the point of infection onwards there is usually a significant HIV viraemia even though in the early stages, the patient may be completely asymptomatic. It is known that the degree of virus replication is directly related to the degree of T-cell depletion and equally correlates with progression of the disease process. It would therefore appear that HIV induces symptomatic disease process by replicating in, and subsequently destroying, CD4 and T-cells thereby weakening the immune system. (Stilianakis NI et al 1997), .Different hosts and indeed different genotypes of hosts (see on) have differing patterns of disease expression. CD4 and T-cell levels are rapidly diminished in the early stages of the disease but are not restored by effective anti-viral therapy if given later in the disease. (Littman D R 1998) One area of obvious interest is in those who appear to survive with HIV for a longer than average time before it progresses to AIDS. A study by Dean (M et al 1995) proved to be seminal in this area, with a prospective study of nearly 2,000 men. The authors considered the status of CCR5 genotype and its relation to the likelihood of disease progression. The paper is both long an detailed, but provides a strong evidence base for further research (Berwick D 2005). In essence, the main findings of the paper were that most people have two normal alleles for the CCR5 gene, but 1 in 7 has one mutant allele (technically 32bp deletion), which means that they still have one normal allele (heterozygous genotype). 1 in 100 have two mutant alleles. The rates of mutation are highly racially specific ranging from 11% in Caucasians to The significant finding in the study was that none of the 1,300 HIV +ve people in the study had the homozygous mutation, 15% of the HIV +ve had the heterozygous genotype, so the heterozygous genotype clearly does not protect against infection, but the significant difference is that the average transition time from HIV to AIDS for the homozygous man was 10 years whereas the average transition time for the heterozygous genotype was 13 years. Possibly even more significant is the fact that of the 17 people in the entry cohort who were homozygous for the mutation and in the high risk of infection group, none of them had contracted HIV. It would therefore appear that the CCR5 mutation plays some critical role early in the primary stages of HIV infection since it appears that HIV infection can be blocked if a functioning version of this receptor is not present. During the later stages of the infection it would appear that other co-receptors (the CXCR4 has been implicated) can take over the role as the properties of the virus evolve within the host. (McMichael A 1998). On this basis some authors have suggested a classification taxonomy that differentiates HIV virus sub-types on the basis of their CCR5 receptor affinity. (Berger E A et al 1998). It would appear that the viruses eventually evolve into the R5X4 (in this classification) type which allows them to eventually produce the full blown AIDS syndrome. The absence of one working CCR5 allele simply retards the evolutionary progress. (Chan DC et al 1998), This is in congruity with other pathophysiological observations. For example, it is already known that the influenza virus enhances the CXCR4 dependent HIV infection. It is thought that the pathway of influenza infection activates the CD4 and T- lymphocytes which, in turn utilise the CXCR4 co-receptors on the cell. This activation would therefore appear to increase the potential number of HIV target cells in an individual which would clearly accelerate viral spreading. (AIDS RU 1998). In the same way, syphilis is known to be an active agent in increasing CCR5 expression and is also known to be a strong predisposing factor for the overall HIV risk whereas it does not induce CXCR4 (Lafeuillade A et al 1997), From our considerations thus far it is clear that the pathophysiology of the HIV infection revolves around the build up (replication) of the HIV virus in the CD4 and T-cells. This is not an immediate process as new T-cells are being produced (albeit from a progressively dwindling stock) of non-infected bone marrow stem cells. (Greek R et al 2002) Why are there a number of specific AIDS-defining diseases? This is a vast area in its own right. The presence of HIV in a T-cell does not immediately destroy the cell, but alters its function. Each T cell has a number of receptor areas determined by the V region of the receptor gene, and these determine the subclass (and specificity) of the T-cell itself . Each sub-type has specific receptor sequences that allow it to recognise a broad spectrum of histocompatibility complexes. (Hecht F M et al 1998) The HIV presence alters the expression of the V site region and thereby allows certain pathogens to be sub-optimally challenged (Connors M et al 1997). It is the nature of HIV infection that specific colonies (or sub-types) of CD4 T-cells are depleted before others are altered. This translates clinically into the situation where certain pathogens ( viz. Pneumocystis carinii, Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, and cytomegalovirus. ) can be present, virtually unchallenged even though the T-cell population may be apparently quite active. Typically the reservoir of CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes may remain skewed despite the overall apparent adequacy of circulating T-cells. (Nosik M N et al 2002), Alongside this altered state of immunity a number of other immune-related phenomenon can be seen including some types of autoimmunity and AIDS-related malignancies including squamous cell carcinoma of skin, testicular cancer, myeloma, Hodgkins disease. Some investigators have recently demonstrated a statistically very significant relationship between a profound immunodeficiency state (with marked CD4 depletion) and the development of a non-Hodgkins lymphoma, presumably by a similar mechanism. (Voulgaropoulou et al. 1999) Aggressive anti-viral therapy has been partially successful in reducing the frequency of malignancies such as Kaposis sarcoma and B cell lymphomas. Study of these progressive â€Å"blind spots† in the T-cell’s response mechanisms suggest that a diversity of the T-cell receptor V genes can be re-established in patients with an undetectable viraemia for longer than a six month period, which is strongly suggestive of the fact that regeneration of uninfected (or immuno-protected) naà ¯ve precursors is possible with aggressive therapy. (Connors M et al 1997), There is an overall increase in the incidence of AIDS-related malignancies. This is not thought to be due to any new or progressive evolution of the HIV virus, but mainly due to the development of new and more effective antiretroviral therapies together with more efficient prophylaxis for opportunistic infections which is allowing the HIV / AIDS patient to survive for longer in the immunodeficient state. Treatment We do not intend to present any detail relating to specific treatments for HIV / AIDS but will make a few general comments. A current pressing question for clinicians is â€Å"can antiretroviral therapy ever be safely stopped?† The current generations of protease inhibitors that are combined with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are capable of reducing viraemia to undetectable levels. (Jordan R et al 2002), Clinical experience suggests that as soon as treatment is stopped, viraemia tends to rapidly recur at pre-treatment levels. This strongly suggests an ability of the HIV to enter a latent phase or to remain in immunoprivilleged sites (such as the testes and central nervous system). Like most retro-viruses, the HIV has the ability to integrate its DNA into the host genome even though it may remain transcriptionally dormant and thereby avoid cellular detection and apoptosis until it enters its replication cycle (Wei X et al 1995), It is difficult to draw specific conclusions from a presentation such as this as the overriding impression that one gets from any examination of the literature on the subject is both the speed and the diversity of the research that is currently being undertaken world-wide. There appear to be two main thrusts as far as research is concerned. One is the development of new antiretroviral and immunoactive therapeutic measures to try to combat the pathophysiology of the disease process itself, the other is the search for a vaccine which would ultimately be the â€Å"holy grail† in this particular pandemic. (Malegapuru W et al 2002) One of the main stumbling blocks as far as vaccine development is concerned is the difficulty in targeting the antigenicity of the frequently changing immunological profile of the HIV. (Musey L et al 1997). Considerable interest has been shown in the persistently sero-negative partners of sero-positive patients who have been frequently found to have a specific ability to produce interleukin 2 from peripheral mononuclear cells together with the detectable presence of HIV specific IgA in mucosal secretions. (Mazzoli S et al 1997), Many vaccine research projects are currently exploring the avenue of designing vaccines which have the potential to stimulate and produce HIV-specific CD8 cytotoxic T-cell responses to the HIV. Initial primate studies suggest that prevention of infection at a mucosal site (as opposed to parenteral infection) is actually possible as mucosal infection is relatively inefficient and only a small number of HIV virons are likely to be involved. (Matano T et al 1998). Phase one clinical trials have been undertaken in this regard already but with disappointing results as the immunogenic responses that have been engendered are 5-10 times lower than those produced by HIV infection with a comparatively short half-life. (Mugerwa R D et al 2002). There are a number of approaches with recombinant viral entities of various types which have also met with limited success Currently it would appear that vaccine candidates can manage to induce CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses with killing activity across different strains which can last a significant length of time, but they are yet unable to induce neutralising antibody with activity against typical transmitted HIV virus. (Lenzer J 2003) References AIDS RU 1998 AIDS research updates. Science 1998; 280: 1856-1894 Berger E A et al 1998 Nature 391:240, 1998 Berwick D 2005 Broadening the view of evidence-based medicine Qual. Saf. Health Care, Oct 2005; 14: 315 316. Chan DC, Kim PS. 1998 HIV entry and its inhibition. Cell 1998; 93: 681-684 Connors M, Kovacs J, Krevat S, Gea-Banacloche JC, Sneller MC, Flanigan M, et al. 1997 HIV infection induces changes in CD4+ T-cell phenotype and depletions within the CD4+ T-cell repertoire that are not immediately restored by antiviral or immune-based therapies. Nature Med 1997; 3: 533-540 Dean M. et al 1996 Science 273:1857, 1996 Finzi D, Siliciano RF. 1998 Viral dynamics in HIV-1 infection. Cell 1998; 93: 665-671 Graham B S 1998 Science, medicine, and the future: Infection with HIV-1 BMJ, Nov 1998; 317: 1297 1301 Greek R, Pandora Pound, and Nancy L Haigwood 2002 Animal studies and HIV research BMJ, Jan 2002; 324: 236 ; Hecht FM, Grant RM, Petropoulos CJ, Dillon B, Chesney MA, Tian H, et al. 1998 Sexual transmission of an HIV-1 variant resistant to multiple reverse-transcriptase and protease inhibitors. N Engl J Med 1998; 339: 307-311 Jordan R, Lisa Gold, Carole Cummins, and Chris Hyde 2002 Systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence for increasing numbers of drugs in antiretroviral combination therapy BMJ, Mar 2002; 324: 757 ; Lafeuillade A, Poggi C, Tamalet C, Profizi N. 1997 Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 dynamics in different lymphoid tissue compartments. J Infect Dis 1997; 175: 804-806. Lenzer J 2003 Claim that smallpox vaccine protects against HIV is premature, say critics BMJ, Sep 2003; 327: 699 ; Littman D R 1998 Chemokine receptors: keys to AIDS pathogenesis? Cell 1998 May 29;93(5):677-80. Malegapuru W, Makgoba, Nandipha Solomon, and Timothy Johan Paul Tucker 2002 Science, medicine, and the future: The search for an HIV vaccine BMJ, Jan 2002; 324: 211 213 ; Matano T, Shibata R, Siemon C, Connors M, Lane HC, Martin MA. 1998 Administration of an anti-CD8 monoclonal antibody interferes with the clearance of chimeric simian/human immunodeficiency virus during primary infections of rhesus macaques. J Virol 1998; 72: 164-169 Mazzoli S, Trabattoni D, Lo Caputo S, Piconi S, Ble C, Meacci F, et al.1997 HIV-specific mucosal and cellular immunity in HIV-seronegative partners of HIV-seropositive individuals. Nature Med 1997; 3: 1250-1257 McMichael A. 1998 T cell responses and viral escape. Cell 1998; 93: 673-676 Mugerwa R D, Pontiano Kaleebu, Peter Mugyenyi, Edward Katongole-Mbidde, David L Hom, Rose Byaruhanga, Robert A Salata, and Jerrold J Ellner 2002 First trial of the HIV-1 vaccine in Africa: Ugandan experience BMJ, Jan 2002; 324: 226 229 ; Musey L, Hughes J, Schacker T, Shea T, Corey L, McElrath MJ. 1997 Cytotoxic-T-cell responses, viral load, and disease progression in early human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. N Engl J Med 1997; 337: 1267-1274 Nosik M N, Matsevich G R 2002 HIV-1 chemokine receptors and their role in the pathogenesis of AIDS Vopr Virusol. 2002 Jan-Feb;47(1):4-8. Stilianakis NI, Dietz K, and Schenzle D, 1997, Analysis of a model for the pathogenesis of AIDS Mathematical Biosciences, 145, 27-46 Voulgaropoulou et al. 1999 Distinct Human Immunodeficiency Virus Strains in the Bone Marrow Are Associated with the Development of Thrombocytopenia, J Virol 1999 Apr;73(4):3497-504 Wei X, Ghosh SK, Taylor ME, Johnson VA, Emini EA, Deutsch P, et al.1995 Viral dynamics in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. Nature 1995; 373: 117-122 ############################################################# 17.3.06 PDG Word count 2,514

Tourism Industry Essay -- Urban Development, Rural Areas

Tourism industry is influenced by various factors including sociocultural evolution and political relationship. Particularly after the Islamic Revolution of 1978 in Iran, a new policy on tourism brought new conditions of tourism with emphasis on pilgrimage tourism. Generally, tourism is known as one of the essential element of rural development. In Iran, there are many sacred places where are regularly visited by pilgrimages. Some of the holy places are located in rural areas, and they are attractive to many visitors. In the undeveloped rural areas, the community suffers from several socioeconomic problems including poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and even depopulation. Sometimes the rural development is ignored by state planning, in the favor of urban development. The Government’s open market policy on agriculture[if it is open, why government]. These problems lead to the stagnation of economy, and eventually the degradation of the quality of life in rural areas. Rural tourism provides opportunity to create jobs and to diversify incomes for rural households. In recent years, the local government has considered the tourism activities. Since 2005, the state authority of Iran has been playing a leading role in the development of rural tourism. The Tourism Sample Village (TSV) is a main project to study the possibility and potentiality of local resources. In addition, the TVS focus on the development of rural tourism and the encouragement of local inhabitants. Rural tourism is a sustainable program to support the local society and to conserve the local environment. In other words, the TVS acts as a pivotal basis to establish a sustainable local tourism in the country (Clarke, Denman, Hickman & Slovak, 2001). Rural tour... ...and low level of income. The unsuitable traditional agrarian system exacerbates this situation; rural lands are no longer supportive for local households. As a result, this condition is the main reason of poverty; hence, per capita rural income is less than national average. Rural areas in Iran suffer from low public services, high unemployment rate, and high emigration rate; these factors jeopardize the whole structure of life. As a result, tourism is as a supplementary approach to reverse the decline in the productivity of rural areas. Rural tourism offers solutions to many of the problems facing rural areas such; these include economic growth, sociocultural development and environment development. Therefore, tourism is an integral element of sustainable rural development policy. These effects of rural tourism are indicated in Figure 1 (Sharpley, 2002).

Analysis of Fire and Ice by Robert Forst Essay

This article tries to analyze the unique features in structure, words, phonology, syntax and rhetoric in the poem of 40-Love by British poet Roger McGough in order to have a deeper understanding of the content and form of a poem. Keywords: McGough, 40-Love, Love, Style 1. Introduction It is well known that in a variety of literary genres, the form of poetry has been stressed most. Efforts have been exerted on the skillful combination of rhythm and structure to create numerous great works all over the world. Modern American poet E. E. Cummings (1884-1962) is a good case in point. He is famous for odd style, novel and unique form in the poetic world. His â€Å"l (a† has been regarded as the â€Å"the most elegant and beautiful structure of the literature created by Cummings†. (Kennedy, 1980). Therefore, his poems are renowned as â€Å"poem picture† or â€Å"visual poetry†, or the concrete poetry that we are quite familiar with. The features of it is that vivid visual images of words coming from irregular syllables, letters, punctuation, syntax, format and print strengthen the internal imagination of poetry, deepen the artistic conception, convey and enrich the connotation. (Abrams, 2005). Coincidentally, besides E. E. Cummings, contemporary British poet Roger McGough (1937- ) is another master in writing concrete poems. His 40-Love can be considered as one of the greatest concrete poems. McGough is the second of the three in Liverpool Group. The other two are Henry Adrian Henri and Patan Brian Patten. McGough, born in 1937, 5 years younger than Henry, is always in naughty mentality. His poems are full of secular fun and display more profound life from the perspective of a child. This article, from the viewpoint of stylistics, analyzes the features of structure, words, phonology, syntax and rhetoric in the poem of â€Å"40-Love† in order to gain a eeper understanding of this poem. 2. Stylistic Analysis Greek poet Simonides once said, â€Å"Poetry is the picture with sound while the pictures are the silent poems. † (Zhu, 2005). That is to say, the content of a poem must be combined with its form to achieve its perfection, namely, the combination of form and spirit, what we often cheris h. Here we will try to find how Mcgough do it in his â€Å"40-Love†. The poem tells that a middle-aged couple is playing tennis. Then they go home. But the net is still between them. It reflects the gap between middle-aged couples. I will quote the poem here to help to explain my opinion. 40-Love (Peng, 2000) middle couple tenwhen game and go the 118 aged playing nis the ends they home net Asian Social Science will be tween 2. 1 Structure still be – them June, 2009 As a whole, the poem has a total of 20 words. But the two words â€Å"tennis† and â€Å"between† are separated by hyphens to be symmetric in structure. The words in the poem are set in two sequences, like two sides of the couple. The middle blank or empty is like a net to separate the two. There are only two words in each line to symbolize the bouts of the ball. The title of 40-love, the top of the net, is right on the top of the poem, signifying the scoreboard. This poem looks like a tennis court with a net being used to separate the words. It is like a tennis game. This side serves and the other side hits back. Many bouts form the poem. The invisible net is like the barrier between the middle-aged couple. Even if they finish the tennis game, they still have the net, which still exists invisibly. However, it is this net that they can depend on to handle their marriage and have the responsibilities not to break the rules. There is a net in tennis and there are rules to obey. With the net, there are more difficulty and more interests. So, accordingly, more training and attention is a must. Imagining that, when playing tennis with no net or rules, people would feel difficult to last their games for longer period. In addition, only the letter of â€Å"L† of â€Å"Love† in the title is capitalized and the rest is de-capitalized, which shows that, to some extent, the couple has not been in the pursuit of the perfect details again, because love between the middle-aged couple has faded away. Furthermore, there is no punctuation in the whole poem, indicating that life of marriage is closed and uninteresting. Since there is no end, gap appears. 2. 2 Words The poet pays special attention to the words in the poem. First of all, the title â€Å"40-Love† one of interests embodied in the poem. The figure of 40 stands for the age of middle-aged people. And 40-Love is a scoring term in tennis. Tennis scoring is love, 15, 30 and 45 in sequence. Love here means zero. Three goals scores 40. No goals, no score. Thus, the title is of pun with two meanings. One refers to be 40-year-old love and the other is 3:0. Whether 40-year-old love is vain or not depends on attitudes of the two parties. Let come to two words of â€Å"middle† and â€Å"aged† in the first line. â€Å"Middle-aged† means people are in their midlife. The poet deliberately separates it to achieve the reunification of form and others. It also symbolizes that middle-aged husband and wife can not be integrated again. The two important words of â€Å"tennis† and â€Å"between† are placed in two vertical columns to get a metaphorical meaning that there is an invisible net in the emotional world of the man and the woman. They are not intimate any longer. Game† in the fifth line can be referred as either play game or sport. The scoring in tennis competition is more complex. Tennis game has games and sets. In a game, those who win 15, 30 and 45 will get one point. And the player who gets 6 points will win one set. In the poem, the couple does not finish even one game and go home since they hav e a deep estrangement. â€Å"Still† in the ninth line shows that the middle-aged husband and wife have ineffable anguish and can not get rid of their unpleasantness and gain relaxed though they make concessions as far as possible. 2. Phonology Words in the poem are basically monosyllabic. They are mechanical and boring to read and easy to suggest that the life of the couple is dull and lack of amenities. From the perspective of phonology, the short vowel such as /i/, is used for many times in the poem to leave the pressing impression to the readers to realize the urgent emotional crisis of the middle-aged couple. But there is slowness in the urgency. The diphthong /ei/ and / u/ are employed to slow down the speech rate and demonstrate that the middle-aged people have become calm and unhurried when dealing with things. Especially, the long vowel / i: / in â€Å"tween† in the last line leaves enough time for the middle-aged couple in crisis to think over the issue. In addition, there are rhymes in the poem, such as, middle and couple, ten and when, game and they, go and home, will and still. Rhymes here give the readers boredom, and symbolize the dull life of the middle-aged couple. Moreover, the alliterations of be and be-, tween and them, make the two words close and imply that the middle-aged husband and wife still have the ties that can not be cut off although there is a gap between them. 2. Syntax For the convenience of analysis, I rearrange the order of the whole poem: middle aged couple playing ten-nis when the game ends and they go home the net will still be be-tween them. First of all, from the angle of tense, the plain and flat present tense, used from the beginning to the right end of the poem, indicates the dull or prosaic marriage life of the middle-aged couple. Nevertheless, â⠂¬Å"playing† is used unconventionally. If â€Å"plays† is used here, readers will know that the couple play tennis often rather than occasionally. There will be not much gap between them. Playing† indicates that there is absence of regular communication between the husband and wife. It stresses that it is just at this moment that they are playing tennis. In sentence structure, there is a time adverb â€Å"when† to combine the sentence. As usual, however, there is no conjunction of â€Å"and† between the main clause and the subordinate clause. Thus â€Å"and† is added here to deliberately create a loose state, suggesting that there is no close contact between the husband and wife. And there should be an adversative conjunction of â€Å"but† in front of the next sentence â€Å"the net will still be be-tween them†. As we 119 Vol. 5, No. 6 Asian Social Science all know, an adversative conjunction word usually give people an unexpected, rising and falling impression. The word â€Å"but† is omitted here to inevitably imply that life of the middle-aged couple is no longer full of ups and downs, great happiness or sadness. 2. 5 figure of speech Poets often use figure of speech because, as Emily Dickinson once said, the mission of a poet is to â€Å"speak the truth, but to put it in an implicit way† in order to seize the readers’ interest and stimulate their imagination. In the poem of â€Å"40-love†, the poet employs the figure of speech, e. g. metaphor. On the one hand, in form, the blank along the net is like a net to suggest the gap between the middle-aged couple. On the other hand, everyday life is like playing games. Everybody hit the ball to the others. Such routine game results in no passion at last. Moreover, in my opinion, the writing technique of understatement is employed in this poem. The tone of the whole poem is calm, without any fluctuating. However, it is the deliberate understatement that discloses the theme of the poem incisively and vividly. . Conclusion This poem written by McGouph with unique style has rich connotation in its unique form. In this poem with perfect combination of the spirit and form, the emotional gap of the middle-aged couple can be discerned and expressed by the stylistic techniques in the structure, words, phonology, syntax and figure of speech. In Mending Wall, a poem written by American poet Robert Fr ost, the neighbor is intransigence and stubborn. Even at the last line of the poem, he still murmurs that â€Å"good fences make good neighbors† (GU, 2005). Every couple, therefore, especially the middle-aged couples, should pull the fence between them down, believing â€Å"good communication makes good couples†. References Abrams, M H. (2005). A Glossary of Literary Terms. Beijing: Foreign language Teaching and Reasearch Press. Gu, Zhengkun. (2005). Treasury of Appreciating English Poems, Volume of Poetry. Kennedy, Richard S. (1980). Dreams in the Mirror: A Biography of EE Cummings. New York: Liveright. Peng, Yu. (2000). Two Concrete Poems. College English. Zhu, Guangqian. (2005). Poetics. Shanghai Century Publishing Group. 120

Examine how systems engineers at Northlinks Consultants control access to email files and network communication The WritePass Journal

Examine how systems engineers at Northlinks Consultants control access to email files and network communication Examine how systems engineers at Northlinks Consultants control access to email files and network communication Introduction Q1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What should Gwen do? Lawrence, manager at Northlinks Consultants believes staff spends a lot of time sending ‘personal’ emails to friends and family. As a result, he wants Gwen the systems engineer to help him have access to email files on all PCs in the office. Gwen is faced with mainly a morality issue. The morality issue in this case involves ‘spying’ on employees emails which though may be work related but may also contain information that they would not want in the public domain which Gwen views as a breach of trust. In ethically though, Bourke v. Nissan (www.loundy.com/CASES/Bourke_v_Nissan.html) is an example of a situation where a court has ruled as regards non privacy of emails when it is used on company internal network. Thus, if an e-mail system is used at a company, it belongs to the employer and as such; the employer is allowed to review its contents. These emails also include messages sent both internally (within the company) and externally and web based email accounts such as Yahoo too. As an employee at Northlinks, one may feel like the employer has breached one’s trust if one hears that the employer views their email files. However, if notice is given before such a policy is introduced, the situation might be better managed. It should be noted however that the company has no ethical obligations to inform the staff of the new policy (maybe only moral). Therefore in this regards, Gwen has no option but to do what Lawrence requires and her morals cannot be given higher priority than her work conduct. However, alternatively, Gwen could also suggest to Lawrence that workers should be told their emails are being reviewed so that they can keep private talk outside of work emails. Furthermore, Gwen may go ahead to let staff know about the ‘new’ policy before it is implemented. Another alternative for Gwen is to hand the job to another member of the team at least for this task if her morals cannot handle executing the task. Q2 Professional Codes of conduct as developed by Professional bodies are mainly a set of guidelines designed to show acceptable behaviour for members of the body. One virtue could be that adhering to professional ethics gives satisfaction to members of that group. As such, as a member of that body, in addition to having the satisfaction of meeting other requirements, one also gets the satisfaction of remaining a member because one has kept to the ethical codes of the body. Another virtue is highlighted in the fact that for most bodies, as one rises in degree in the body implies also the number of years he/she has spent adhering to the ethical standards. As such, one who has fully kept the standards of the body to the fullest is also most likely to be one in the top ratings of the body. For instance, a chartered Engineer would have kept within the codes of ethics of the engineering Society to get to that level and as such is accorded more respect in that field. Short comings of these ethical codes may be summarised in two subheadings – Enforceability and Vagueness. Vagueness – Most ethical codes are vague. This is actually a ‘quality’ of such codes as their vagueness helps in giving it room for interpretation. In most organisations, this interpretation is done by top level members. For example, the C.R.12 of the IMechE code of ethics states that â€Å"Members shall act honourably, responsibly, and lawfully so as to uphold the reputation, standing and dignity of the profession in general and the Institution in particular†. What does the term ‘act honourably’ imply? Does it mean that members of this body cannot be involved in say, a civil protest? Can that be termed as not acting honourably? Enforceability – like every law, ethical codes need to be enforced to be effective. However, for bodies like the IET, ImechE, etc., enforcing these codes on every member can be a hideous task. Unfortunately, when this is not done properly, the codes cannot be effective. As can be seen from the above, while having an ethical code has its virtues, it also has its short comings. However, the short comings while valid and can be misinterpreted and misapplied, like in the example given of the IMechE C.R.12 code. An example is the Goodrich A-7 brake case in 1972 (Harris, Pritchard and Rabbins 2009) when Goodrich corporation won a contract for the supply of brakes for the Navy A-7 aircraft. Testing showed clearly that the design would not function correctly based on Government regulations but Managers tried to trick government into thinking the design worked correctly. Searle Lawson (a young graduate Engineer) and Kermit Vandivier both working for Goodrich understood that their professional ethics mandated that public safety must be paramount in all decisions, informed the FBI which then informed Government Accounting office. Goodrich immediately fired Vandivier and Lawson had to resign. Keeping to the Engineering codes cost Lawson and Vandivier their jobs. If they had not reported the case, they may have kept their jobs but lives may have been lost as in the DC-10 case also in 1972 (Harris, Pritchard and Rabbins 2009). Ethical codes help keep Engineers on their toes giving them ‘laws’ to refer to when litigations arise. Therefore, this writer feels that having professional ethics do not in any way, outweigh not having them. Q3 According to an online resource (wiktionary), Ethics is â€Å"the study of principles relating to right and wrong conduct or standards that govern the conduct of a person, especially a member of a profession†. In essence, within every profession lies a set of standards or ‘ground rules’ which guard that profession and which every member of that profession must adhere to. Any member of the profession who goes against these set standards can be dismissed or where possible, his membership of the profession can be cancelled. These set of ground rules are said to be the Ethics guarding that profession. Bower (notes) lists that ethical standards would typically include: A Code of Ethics Legal Requirements Moral and Personal Values Morality on the other hand is an ‘adopted’ set of rules and regulations or code of conduct within an environment for what is right and wrong. In modern society, morals have formed the spine of modern society especially in the case of religion. It should be noted that morals define an individual’s character while ethics are more guidelines for a group or society which members must follow and which morals are applied. An example can be seen in the case of a lawyer whose personal morals may define murder as a crime that should be punished but whose professional ethics expect him to defend an accused as vigorously as possible. With the advent of the internet and revolution in the Information Technology, there has been a need for the introduction of ethics or guidelines to guard against abuse. These ethics known as cyberethics is a code of responsible behaviour for using the Internet. Internet ethics however refer to code of conduct guarding against inappropriate use of online resources. Online resources could be documents in online libraries, etc. An example of inappropriate use of online resources could be sending of spam messages (RFC 1087). Computer ethics overall cover the way computing professionals should make decisions regarding professional and social conduct (Bynum 2005). This as we can see is not restricted to the use of computers as in the case of Internet and Cyberethics, but covers the individual professionals themselves and how the conduct themselves. Like Margaret Anne Pierce and John Henry said, these ethical decisions related to computer technology and usage can be categorised thus: The individuals own personal code. Any informal code of ethical behaviour that exists in the work place. Exposure to formal codes of ethics. Q4 There are some key issues involved in this article. The bridge had reached a critical stage which according to Engineer A’s recommendation and expertise suggestions by a consulting and inspection firm, required urgent repairs. The current state of the bridge also meant that it was a danger to the general public and so it was closed. However, probably due to the inconvenience caused by closing the bridge, the idea of closure did not go down well with the public and closure signs were ignored and when permanent signs were placed, the public protested. Also may be due to public outcry, the bridge was reopened with a limit on load going over it and which Engineer A has clearly seen is being ignored. As it stands, due to the reopening of the bridge, there is a danger to the general public. One of the fundamental Canons of a many Engineering codes including the American Society of Civil Engineers says that â€Å"Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their professional duties†. This engineering code request that the safety and welfare of the public be placed paramount in every situation. This implies that even in the situation where comfort is sacrificed, in this case, the inconvenience of having to go around the bridge, the welfare and safety should be put first. In addition, it can be seen that the Commission may have been swayed by political motives in the reopening of the bridge. Engineer A’s duty as dictated in another fundamental Canon of Civil Engineering code – â€Å"Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honour, integrity, and dignity of the engineering profession and shall act with zero-tolerance for bribery, fraud, and corruption†. This means that irrespective of public outcry or the pressure on him by politicians to reopen the bridge, Engineer A must maintain his stand and by putting the welfare of the public first. He should make his dissenting views known to the County Commission even if it is just for him to have a clear conscience. References Online resource. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ethics sourced 10/03/2011. Dr. Bowers’s Notes from the 4 Ethics Articles taken from Engineering Dimensions, Magazine Sourced online from http://web2.uwindsor.ca/courses/bondy2/lectures/ethics.pdf on 01/03/2011 Bynum, Terrell Ward. A Very Shory History of Computer Ethics. Southern Connecticut State University. Archived from the original on 2008-04-18. http://web.archive.org/web/20080418122849/southernct.edu/organizations/rccs/resources/research/introduction/bynum_shrt_hist.html. Retrieved 10/03/2011. Margaret, A, Henry, J. â€Å"Computer Ethics: The Role of Personal, Informal, and Formal Codes†. Journal of business ethics. Sourced online from springerlink.com/content/m3201253822641r0/ on 12/03/2011. Harris C.E., Pritchard M.S., Rabbins M.J. 2009. â€Å"Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases†. Fourth Edition. Wadsworth Engage Learning, Belmont, USA.

Armor and Weapons of the Spanish Conquistadors

Armor and Weapons of the Spanish Conquistadors Christopher Columbus discovered previously unknown lands in 1492, and within 20 years the conquest of these new lands was proceeding quickly. How were the Spanish conquistadors able to do it? The Spanish armor and weapons had much to do with their success. The Swift Success of the Conquistadors The Spanish who came to settle the New World were generally not farmers and craftsmen but soldiers, adventurers, and mercenaries looking for a quick fortune. Native communities were attacked and enslaved and any treasures they may have had such as gold, silver or pearls were taken. Teams of Spanish conquistadors devastated native communities on Caribbean islands such as Cuba and Hispaniola between 1494 and 1515 or so before moving on to the mainland. The most famous conquests were those of the mighty Aztec and Inca Empires, in Central America and the Andes mountains of South America respectively. The conquistadors who took these mighty Empires down (Hernan Cortes in Mexico in 1525 and Francisco Pizarro in Peru, 1532) commanded relatively small forces: Cortes had around 600 men and Pizarro initially had about 160. These small forces were able to defeat much larger ones. At the Battle of Teocajas, Sebastian de Benalcazar had 200 Spanish and some 3,000 Caà ±ari allies: together they fought Inca General Rumià ±ahui and a force of some 50,000 warriors to a draw. Conquistador Weapons There were two sorts of Spanish conquistadors: horsemen or cavalry and foot soldiers or infantry. The cavalry would usually carry the day in the battles of the conquest. When the spoils were divided, cavalrymen received a much higher share of the treasure than foot soldiers. Some Spanish soldiers would save up and purchase a horse as a sort of investment which would pay off in future conquests. The Spanish horsemen generally had two sorts of weapons: lances and swords. Their lances were long wooden spears with iron or steel points on the ends, used to devastating effect on masses of native foot soldiers. In close combat, a rider would use his sword. Steel Spanish swords of the conquest were about three feet long and relatively narrow, sharp on both sides. The Spanish city of Toledo was known as one of the best places in the world for making arms and armor and a fine Toledo sword was a valuable weapon indeed. The finely made weapons did not pass inspection until they could bend in a half-circle and survive a full-force impact with a metal helmet. The fine Spanish steel sword was such an advantage that for some time after the conquest, it was illegal for natives to have one. Foot Soldiers Weapons Spanish foot soldiers could use a variety of weapons. Many people incorrectly think that it was firearms that doomed the New World natives, but thats not the case. Some Spanish soldiers used a harquebus, a sort of early musket. The harquebus was undeniably effective against any one opponent, but they are slow to load, heavy, and firing one is a complicated process involving the use of a wick which must be kept lit. The harquebuses were most effective for terrorizing native soldiers, who thought the Spanish could create thunder. Like the harquebus, the crossbow was a European weapon designed to defeat armored knights and too bulky and cumbersome to be of much use in the conquest against the lightly armored, quick natives. Some soldiers used crossbows, but theyre very slow to load, break or malfunction easily and their use was not terribly common, at least not after the initial phases of the conquest. Like the cavalry, Spanish foot soldiers made good use of swords. A heavily armored Spanish foot soldier could cut down dozens of native enemies in minutes with a fine Toledan blade. Conquistador Armor Spanish armor, mostly made in Toledo, was among the finest in the world. Encased from head to foot in a steel shell, Spanish conquistadors were all but invulnerable when facing native opponents. In Europe, the armored knight had dominated the battlefield for centuries and weapons such as the harquebus and crossbow were specifically designed to pierce armor and defeat them. The natives had no such weapons and therefore killed very few armored Spanish in battle. The helmet most commonly associated with the conquistadors was the morion, a heavy steel helm with a pronounced crest or comb on top and sweeping sides that came  to  points on either end. Some infantrymen preferred a salade, a full-faced helmet that looks a little like a steel ski mask. In its most basic form, it is a bullet-shaped helm with a large T in front of the eyes, nose, and mouth. A cabasset helmet was much simpler: it is a large steel cap that covers the head from the ears up: stylish ones would have an elongated dome like the pointy end of an almond. Most conquistadors wore a full set of armor which consisted of a heavy breastplate, arm and leg greaves, a metal skirt, and protection for the neck and throat called a gorget. Even parts of the body such as elbows and shoulders, which require movement, were protected by a series of overlapping plates, meaning that there were very few vulnerable spots on a fully armored conquistador. A full suit of metal armor weighed about sixty pounds and the weight was well distributed over the body, allowing it to be worn for long periods of time without causing much fatigue. It generally included even armored boots and gloves or gauntlets. Later in the conquest, as conquistadors realized that full suits of armor were overkill in the New World, some of them switched to lighter chainmail, which was just as effective. Some even abandoned metal armor entirely, wearing escuapil, a sort of padded leather or cloth armor adapted from the armor worn by Aztec warriors. Large, heavy shields were not  necessary for the conquest, although many conquistadors used a buckler, a small, round or oval shield usually of wood or metal covered with leather. Native Weapons The natives had no answer for these weapons and armor. At the time of the conquest, most native cultures in North and South America were somewhere between the Stone Age and the  Bronze Age  in terms of their weaponry. Most foot soldiers carried heavy clubs or maces, some with stone or bronze heads. Some had rudimentary stone axes or clubs with spikes coming out of the end. These weapons could batter and bruise Spanish conquistadors, but only rarely did any serious damage through the heavy armor. Aztec warriors occasionally had a  macuahuitl, a wooden sword with jagged obsidian shards set in the sides: it was a lethal weapon, but still no match for steel. The natives had some better luck with missile weapons. In South America, some cultures developed bows and arrows, although they were rarely able to pierce armor. Other cultures used a sort of sling to hurl a stone with great force. Aztec warriors used the  atlatl, a device used to hurl javelins or darts at great velocity. Native cultures wore elaborate, beautiful armor. The Aztecs had warrior societies, the most notable of which were the feared Eagle and Jaguar warriors. These men would dress in Jaguar skins or eagle feathers and were very brave warriors. The Incas wore quilted or padded armor and used shields and helmets made of wood or bronze. Native armor was generally intended to intimidate as much as protect: it was often very colorful and beautiful. Nevertheless, eagle feathers provide no protection from a steel sword and native armor was of very little use in combat with conquistadors. Analysis The conquest of the Americas proves decisively the advantage of advanced armor and weaponry in any conflict. The Aztecs and Incas numbered in the millions, yet were defeated by Spanish forces numbering in the hundreds. A heavily  armored conquistador  could slay dozens of foes in a single engagement without receiving a serious wound. Horses were another advantage that the natives could not counter. It’s inaccurate to say that the success of the Spanish conquest was solely due to superior arms and armor, however. The Spanish were greatly aided by diseases previously unknown to that part of the world. Millions died of new illnesses brought by the Spanish such as smallpox. There was also a great deal of luck involved. For example, they invaded the  Inca Empire at a time of great crisis, as a brutal civil war between brothers Huascar and Atahualpa was just ending when the Spanish arrived in 1532; and the Aztecs were widely despised by their subjects. Sources Calvert, Albert Frederick. Spanish arms and armour: being a historical and descriptive account of the Royal armoury of Madrid. London: J. Lane, 1907Hemming, John.  The Conquest of the Inca. London: Pan Books, 2004 (original 1970).Pohl, John. The Conquistador: 1492–1550. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2008.