The Awakening :: essays research papers

The Awakening â€Å"Edna began to feel like one who awakens gradually out of a dream, a delicious, grotesque, impossible dream, to feel again the realities oppressing into her soul.† (Pg. 42) In Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening the constant boundaries and restrictions placed on Edna Pontellier by society will lead to her struggle for freedom and her ultimate suicide. Her husband Leonce Pontellier, the current women of society, and the Grand Isle make it evident that Edna is trapped in a patriarchal society. There are constant boundaries and restrictions imposed on Edna Pontellier that ignite Edna’s struggle for freedom. Edna is a young Creole wife and mother in a high-class society. Leonce Pontellier, her husband is declared â€Å"†¦the best husband in the world†, while Edna sits and feels unsatisfied with her marriage. Edna did not respect her husband as the other women did. Leonce condemned Edna for neglecting their children. Edna’s mind was at rest concerning the present material needs of her children. Edna’s thoughts are clouded with her unhappiness, one night she awakes and sits in the night air and cries. She does not know how to explain her crying, but the reader is able to understand that it is because she is unhappy with her life. Unlike many of the women that Edna is surrounded by she does not worship her husband. In a fit of rage one night she rips her wedding ring from her finger and throws it on the floor. She tries to stomp on it, but her small heel makes not indentation. Later, Edna feels like a child, but the action holds a lot of meaning. A wedding ring is meant to bind two people together through a promise, and Edna wants out of this promise. Determined to leave the life she doesn’t want, Edna leaves her family while they are away and rents a small house. Edna lives with the knowledge that she is not a â€Å"woman-mother†. Her own husband chides her for not paying more attention to the children. Edna’s affections for her children depend on her mood, although she her state of mind always makes clear that she loves them. While talking to a close friend she attempts to explain how far she would go for the sake of her children, "I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself.

Fad Diets: Look Before You Leap Essay

Association. â€Å"Fad diets are a short-term, quick-fix approach to weight loss that don’t work over the long haul. These diets tend to over-promise results but don’t deliver. Food choices are often monotonous, and caloric intake may be very restricted, so that once the novelty wears off, so does the motivation to continue.† Even the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recognized the huge popularity of fad diets, and in February it sponsored the Great Nutrition Debate, a discussion panel that featured popular diet book authors as well as nutrition and weight loss researchers. While the panelists agreed that Americans are too fat, there was no consensus about the best way to lose weight and keep it off-although it led to interesting and sometimes heated debate. In the end, USDA indicated that it might be time for government researchers to evaluate the various diets to help sort fact from fiction. There is a dire lack of scientific research to corroborate the theories expounded in the majority of diet books currently on the market. Most promise weight loss programs that are easy, allow favorite foods or foods traditionally limited in weight loss diets without limitations, and do not require a major shift in exercise habits. Often, adds Sachiko St. Jeor, PhD, RD, Director of the Nutrition Education and Research Program at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, â€Å"fad diet book authors take a scientific half-truth that is complex and use that as the basis for their arguments.† Authors may simplify or expand upon biochemistry and physiology in an effort to help support their theories and provide a plethora of scientific jargon that people do not understand but that seems to make sense. And few, if any, offer solid scientific support for their claims in the form of published research studies. Instead, most evidence is based on anecdotal findings, theories, and testimonials of short-term results. Some of the most popular diets to hit the news wires these days are those that promote low carbohydrate and high protein intakes and promise significant weight loss. These diets are nothing more than low calorie diets in disguise, but with some potentially serious consequences. Following a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet will encourage the body to burn its own fat. Without carbohydrates, however, fat is not burned completely and substances called ketones are formed and released into the bloodstream. Abnormally high ketone levels in the body, or ketosis, may indeed make dieting easier, since they typically decrease appetite and cause nausea. However, ketosis also increases the levels of uric acid in the blood, which is a risk factor for gout and kidney disease in susceptible people. Additionally, notes Dr. St. Jeor, â€Å"following these diets can result in dehydration, diarrhea, weakness, headaches, dizziness, and bad breath, and over the long term, can also increase risk of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis.† Here’s a rundown on some of the more popular high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets that are making headlines. Sugar Busters! By H. Leighton Steward, Sam S. Andrews, MD, Morrison C. Bethea, MD, and Luis A. Balart, MD Premise/Theory:Sugar and certain carbohydrates (those with high glycemic indices) are toxic to the body causing blood sugar levels to rise and increasing the levels of insulin production, thereby prompting fat storage and weight gain. Supposedly, decreasing sugar intake can help people lose weight and decrease body fat, no matter what other foods are eaten. Dietary Recommendations: * Eliminates refined and processed carbohydrates, especially sugar and white flour and all foods made from these ingredients. Also eliminates foods like potatoes, corn, white rice, beets, carrots, corn syrup, molasses, honey, soft drinks, and beer. * Encourages consumption of whole grains, low-glycemic-index carbohydrates (high-fiber vegetables and fruits), and lean meats with no restrictions on protein foods. * Authors claim that washing food down with liquid does not allow for proper chewing. Claims excess fluid with meals also dilutes digestive juices and can result in partially digested food. * Average intake of calories is 1200 calories/day distributed as 30 percent carbohydrate, 32 percent protein, and 28 percent fat. Recommended calorie intake in this diet is low, accounting for short-term weight loss. Concerns: * There is no scientific basis or published data for the Sugar Busters! weight loss theory. The explanation of insulin’s role in weight gain that is provided is simplistic. The body does produce insulin in response to a rise in blood sugar levels, but it does not promote storage of fat unless excess calories are consumed. * There is no scientific evidence supporting the claim that the consumption of fluids during meals negatively affects digestion. Drastically decreasing dietary intake of carbohydrates forces the body to burn reserves of stored fat for energy, a condition known as ketosis, which leads to decreased hunger and a metabolic advantage. Dietary Recommendations: * Limits carbohydrates to 20 grams/day for the induction phase of the diet and 0 to 60 grams/day in the ongoing weight loss phase. Carbohydrate intake ranges from 25 to 90 grams/day in the maintenance diet. * Unlimited quantities of protein foods and fat-steak, bacon, eggs, chicken, fish, butter, and vegetable oil-are allowed. Avoid or limit carbohydrates, specifically breads, pasta, most fruits and vegetables, milk, and yogurt. Concerns: * No published scientific studies support the diet claims. * Offers extremely limited food choices. Diet is nutritionally unbalanced and excessively high in protein, fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. * Promotes ketosis as a means of weight loss. * Suggests that a high-saturated-fat, low-carbohydrate diet does not have an effect on lipids. * Dehydration is possible if large amounts of water are not consumed. * Diet is low in calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, and folate (dietary supplements are recommended). Enter the Zone By Barry Sears, PhD Premise/Theory: The â€Å"zone† is a metabolic state in which the mind is relaxed and focused and the body is strong and works at peak efficiency. A person in the â€Å"zone† will allegedly experience permanent body fat loss, optimal health, greater athletic performance, and improved mental productivity. Insulin is released as a result of eating carbohydrates and leads to weight gain. Because food has a potent, drug-like effect on the hormonal systems that regulate the body’s physiological processes, eating the right combination of foods leads to a metabolic state (lower insulin levels and lower eicosanoid levels) in which the body works at peak performance and which results in decreased hunger, weight loss, and increased energy. Dietary Recommendations: * To get into the â€Å"zone,† rigid quantities of food, apportioned in blocks and at prescribed times, are recommended in a distribution of 40 percent carbohydrate, 30 percent protein, and 30 percent fat. Meals should provide no more than 500 calories and snacks less than 100 calories. * Food should be treated like a medical prescription or drug. * Menus suggest lots of egg whites, nuts, olives, peanut butter, and monounsaturated fats and large amounts of allowable (low-glycemic-index) fruits and vegetables.Alcohol is okay in moderation, but â€Å"zone† followers are advised to avoid or limit carbohydrates, especially pasta, bread, high-glycemic-index fruits and vegetables such as carrots and bananas, saturated fat, and arachidonic acid. * Diet averages 1,300 calories per day, although some menus may run as low as 850 calories. Concerns: * Oversimplifies complicated physiological processes. For example, eicosanoids are one part of a complex system, and no studies suggest that they are dangerous or cause disease. * The metabolic pathways explained in the book that supposedly connect diet, insulin-glucagon, and eicosanoids are not found in standard nutrition or biochemistry texts. The premise that any type of diet completely controls insulin and glucagon secretion is not supported by current nutrition or biochemistry knowledge, nor is the theory that the insulin-glucagon axis controls production of eicosanoids. * Relies upon unproven claims based on case histories, testimonials, and uncontrolled studies that are not published in peer-reviewed journals. Although all of these diets may promote short term weight loss, their long term effectiveness is a different story. The bottom line for lasting and healthful weight loss is a varied diet, reduced caloric intake, and regular physical activity. â€Å"The truth is that losing weight permanently takes work. It’s not glamorous-eating habits need to change and activity usually needs to increase,† notes Quagliani. â€Å"If a diet sounds too good to be true, it probably is.† Glossary Arachidonic acid: fatty acid precursor for eiconsanoid production. Eicosanoids: biologically active class of compounds that are involved in a wide range of regulatory processes such as synthesis of certain fatty acids. Glycemic index: a ranking of the effect on blood glucose of the consumption of a single food relative to a reference carbohydrate (e.g., white bread or glucose). Glucagon: has an effect opposite to that of insulin. Insulin’s and glucagon’s opposing effects help maintain carbohydrate metabolism in a steady state. Tips on Spotting Fad Diets Claims or implies a large or quick weight loss of more than 1 to 2 pounds per week. Slow, gradual weight loss increases the chance of weight loss success and of keeping weight off over the long term. Promotes magical or miracle foods. No foods can undo the long-term effects of overeating and not exercising or melt away fat. Restricts or eliminates certain foods, recommends certain foods in large quantities, insists on eating specific food combinations, or offers rigid, inflexible menus. Implies that weight can be lost and maintained without exercise and other lifestyle changes. Relies heavily on undocumented case histories, testimonials, and anecdotes but has no scientific research to back claims. Contradicts what most trusted health professional groups say, or makes promises that sound too good to be true.

Computer and Internet Effects on Society

In today’s society the world could not function 10 minutes without the technology it has readily available for its inhabitants. The world today is too depended on the convienience that these products of future abilities offer. They make entertainment, work, social networking, education, and communication so much easier. However, there are some significant negative effects like, eye sight problems, social problems, and general laziness issues. The question is, do computers and internet benefit or devastate society.Computers and internet has advanced humanity in various ways. One way includes typing papers. Before computers were invented people had to use typewriters which were much slower and if the writer made a mistake, he or she would have to cover it up with white ink rather than â€Å"backspacing†. Another example of something that computers and the internet have changed, is the way people are entertained. Not only can a person play games on a computer, but they can also watch movies, socialize, find new people, listen to music, and create extremely awing works of art.Also before computers and the internet, the only way of gaining knowledge was literally through others; speeches or reading articles, books, magazines, or any other printed document. Now, computers and the internet makes all of this incredibly convenient. In today’s society people more than likely could not even function without the internet, let alone gain knowledge because more and more kids are reading less and less books due to the internet. In most ways computers are beneficial to society, one major way is through that of the work force.In general, a computer makes typing, which is needed by nearly every profession in one way or another, easier to do. Computers are much faster than old typewriters and obviously faster than hand writing anything. Another reason why they make typing more convenient is the backspace key. Back when it was the typewriter, if a person made a mistake while typing they had to take out the paper and put white ink over the mistake. Or if it was a giant mistake, the writer would then have to take a completely new piece of paper and start anew.Also, instead of looking up how to spell word in the dictionary or knowing how to spell every word in the English language, if the writer were to misspell a word on the computer, it would show an derror on the scree, therefore reducing mistakes as well. In saying this, computers save a vast amount of paper due to not writing directly on the paper itself. Another way computers benefit the work force is through email. These instant messages go from person to person, or from one person to a quantity of people.This, compared to writing out one letter, or even making multiple letters, saves time and is more convenient. Again this method will save paper which in turn helps save the environment. Yet another great example of how computers and internet benefit the work force is through online communication. A specific example of this is video calls. A person who needs to go across the world to present something to a business partner for example, could easily just setup a video call and presen right from his or her own office to another computer somewhere else.This gaain is convenient in saving traveling time and saving money the person would have to spend to travel to wherever was needed. Furthermore, another benefit is a job itself. With today’s technology people have designing careers that need a computer to make, view, or edit photos and movies. They can take a picture with a camera, upload it to a computer, and begin their own form of artwork on the photo. In general there are countless ways that computers effect the work force. Another major benefit computers have to offer is that they improve everyday normal living.One way they do this is by helping people manage their financials. With a computer, a person can open a spreadsheet, create a budget, and manage that budget over time. This could help a person save money in the long run. Also, computers come with on board calculators so there is no need of getting one yourself. Another way computers make everyday life better is that in all appliances, microwaves, ovens, televisions, washer and dryers etc. , and handheld devices, mp3’s, phones, or any other media device, all have what’s called â€Å"embedded systems† which is like a mini on board computer.Without these systems our laundry would take longer to clean, our food would be harder to prepare, and entertainment like movies, shows, or music, might not even exist. Also, people can go onto the internet to research a product before they buy it. This would save time and money because instead of going to the store to ask customer support about a product, a person can look up online what the product has to offer. Order it if they would like, and someone else can deliver it for them. â€Å"Although these tasks can be do ne without a computer, the invention makes doing such tasks much easier. An example of this is something previously mentioned, entertainment. People are able to access millions of websites that offer movies, short videos, games, or music. Because these are so easy to get to people can entertain themselves as much as they would by going out to the movies or going to an arcade. Something else that computers make easy is making cards. There are computer programs that help a person setup any type of card they need, which would save money rather than going out and buying one from a store. Yet another ability computers make easier is communicating with people.People are able to go online and get on video chat and talk to someone across the world with no problem. If a family member is on vacation and would like to talk with you more than over the phone, he or she could just open up a computer and be face to face with whoever they’d like. Also, online gaming provides a vast opportuni ty to talk with people. The chat boxes that these games provide hosts hundreds, or even thousands of people at a time, all able to talk with each other. Along these same lines lies online chat rooms.People can get on one of these websites and talk with people from around the world, this function is sometimes used for online dating as well. If these ways of communication are not available then there are always emails. These are like notes passed to one another but instead of across the room, it’s to wherever the sender would like. â€Å"Communication with others is growing as an application of computers by children, particularly as more homes and schools gain access to the internet. † A fourth way computers and internet impact society is through education.Computers are becoming less and less expensive so schools are able to afford more and more of them. Computers can help kids learn by having software that teaches them the needed information for a class. Also, with the internet, kids have millions of sources to gather for any necessary research papers or projects. There are online textbooks, so if a kid forgets his or her book at school, they can access the exact same information online. Another example is that online games that educate are very helpful to learning children.

How to Talk Like a Soprano Family Member

How to Talk Like a Soprano Family Member Ever wondered how Italian stereotypes came to be? Or why the Mafioso stereotype- Italian Americans with thick accents, pinky rings, and fedora hats- seems to be the most prevalent? Where Did the Mafia Come From? The Mafia came to America with Italian immigrants, mostly those from Sicily and the southern part of the country. But it wasn’t always a dangerous and negatively perceived crime organization. The origins of the Mafia in Sicily were born out of necessity. In the 19th century, Sicily was a country constantly being invaded by foreigners and the early Mafia was simply groups of Sicilians who protected their towns and cities from invading forces. These â€Å"gangs† eventually morphed into something more sinister, and they began to extort money from landowners in exchange for protection. Thus the Mafia we know today was born. If you’re curious about how the Mafia has been portrayed in the media, you can watch one of the many movies that follow the activities in the south, like The Sicilian Girl. If you’re more interested in doing some reading or watching a show, you might like Gomorrah, which is world-renowned for its story. When Did the Mafia Come to America? Before long, some of these mobsters arrived in America and brought their racketeering ways with them. These â€Å"bosses† dressed fashionably, in line with the amount of money they were extorting.   The fashion of the time in the 1920’s America consisted of three-piece suits, fedora hats, and gold jewelry to display your wealth. So, the image of the classic Mob boss was born. What About the Sopranos? The HBO television series The Sopranos, widely regarded as one of the best television series of all time, ran for 86 episodes and greatly impacted how Italian-Americans are viewed. But its impact on our language- with its use of mobspeak- also is quite significant. The show, which premiered in 1999 and closed in 2007, concerns a relentlessly foul-mouthed fictional Mafia family with the surname of Soprano. It revels in the use of mobspeak, a street language that employs bastardized Italian-American forms of Italian words. According to William Safire in Come Heavy, the characters dialogue consists of one part Italian, a little real Mafia slang, and a smattering of lingo remembered or made up for the show by former residents of a blue-collar neighborhood in East Boston. The vernacular of this famiglia has become so popular that its been codified in the Sopranos Glossary. In fact, Tony Soprano even has his own form of currency. In The Happy Wanderer episode, for example, he lends his old high school buddy Davey Scatino five boxes of ziti, or five thousand dollars, during a poker game. Later that night, Davey borrows- and loses- an additional forty boxes of ziti. This Is Southern Italian-American Lingo So you wanna be a â€Å"Sopranospeak† expert? If you sat down to dine with the Sopranos and discussed Tonys waste management business, or maybe the witness–protection program for one of New Jerseys 10 most wanted, chances are youd soon hear words like goombah, skeevy, and agita tossed around. All of these words derive from southern Italian dialect, which tends to make the c a g, and vice versa. Likewise, p tends to become a b and d transmutes into a t sound, and dropping the last letter is very Neapolitan. So goombah linguistically mutates from compare, agita, which means acid indigestion, originally was spelled acidit, and skeevy comes from schifare, to disgust. If you wanted to talk like a Soprano, youd also need to know the correct usage of compare and comare, which respectively mean godfather and godmother. Since in small Italian villages, everybody is the godparent of their friends children when addressing someone that is a close friend but not necessarily a relative the terms compare or comare  are used. â€Å"Sopranospeak† is code for endless, unoriginal obscenities that have nothing to do with la bella lingua, with the various dialects of Italy, or (sadly) with the significant and varied contributions Italian–Americans have made throughout United States history.

Beware of the Irregular Past Participle Forms

Beware of the Irregular Past Participle Forms Beware of the Irregular Past Participle Forms Beware of the Irregular Past Participle Forms By Maeve Maddox When reading articles on the web, especially those on personal blogs, if I see one grammatical error I hesitate to be too critical. Typos happen. When I see the same error a second time, I sense a problem. Here are examples of the same error that occurred in two separate posts on the same site. They really stood out because overall the blogger was writing standard English. Ive began to feed she has began disciplining Television dins incorrect forms into our ears every hour of every day, and not many teachers outside the English classroom insist that their students speak a standard dialect at school. Errors with the few remaining English irregular verbs are bound to proliferate. The most common errors with irregular verbs occur with the past participle form. The past participle is the form of the verb that is used with the auxiliaries has, have, and had. The usual error is that the writer or speaker uses the simple past where the past participle is called for. Most English verbs form the simple past and the past participle by adding -ed to the simple present, but about 150 common English verbs do not. More than half of these irregular verbs do not present a problem with the past participle because its the same as the simple past. For example: fight fought [have] fought find found [have] found cling clung [have] clung feed fed [have] fed That leaves 65-70 irregular verbs whose past participle form is different from the simple past form. For example: go went [have] gone begin began [have] begun see saw [have] seen Most ESL sites include alphabetical lists of common irregular English verbs. If youd like to see a breakdown of the irregular verbs according to the form of the past participle, Ive categorized them on my AmericanEnglishDoctor teaching site: Category One: simple present, simple past, and past participle all spelled the same: Ex. cut cut cut Category Two: simple past and past participle spelled the same: Ex. find found found Category Three: past participle different from simple past: Ex. begin began begun Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:10 Rules for Writing Numbers and NumeralsA While vs AwhileEducational vs. Educative

How have the criminal justice system evolved Research Paper

How have the criminal justice system evolved - Research Paper Example Criminal justice system forms an essential part of the society in every country. Enforcements of the laws, courts and corrections are the major components of the system, where every part has their individual responsibilities and has to work independently keeping in focus the effects of their decisions on the other parts as well as on the human societies as well. The Anglo-Saxons and the Tithing system are known to be the oldest system as far as criminal justice is concerned. In this system, a division of civil government involving ten families launched the standard of cooperative liability for preserving law and order. The ten families were referred to as the tithings (Hess & Orthmann, 2011, pp.1-7). Hue and cry was referred to the shout by a citizen by whom any crime has been witnessed. This would be followed by grabbing the attention of any other individuals present in the scene who might chase the offender and catch him if possible. It was considered as a general alarm leading to citizen’s arrest. In 1066, the Norman Frankpledge System came into existence that demanded for loyalty to the law set by the king and communal neighborhood accountability of all free Englishmen to uphold tranquility. In the twelfth century, the enforcement of law was developed into a public matter by Leges Henrici. The jury system was established by Henry II in 1154 where people had to give information to a judges panel in regard to any crime that has taken place (Hess & Orthmann, 2011, pp.7-8). The current system of criminal justice has been based much on the Magna Carta which refers to a â€Å"decisive document in the development of constitutional government in England that checked royal power and placed the king under the law† (Hess & Orthmann, 2011, p.9). This document involved the rights of the individuals and rested the establishment for necessitating leaders to support the law; forbade taxation lacking illustration; obligatory outstanding procedure

Brand Community of Harley Davidson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Brand Community of Harley Davidson - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that brand community for Harley Davidson is the Harley Davidson riders. Whenever one thinks of Harley Davidson, the first thing come in the mind is, of course, the bike but alongside they probably may think of an open desert highway with open jacket and boots and an exhaust rumbling that could make a jet engine meek. The bike stands for individuality, freedom, and rebelliousness. And these qualities are reflected on a Harley Davidson rider. The brand community which will form part of the report is Harley Davidson Owners Group. It is a community which was started in 1983, a web-based community. This community is supported financially by Harley Davidson.The club has more than million members around the world. The members of the Harley Davidson owners group tend to be a little different. It has a heritage of the early 1903 and it has been associated with loners and rebels. The motorcycle is referred as personal expression. The Harley Davidson riders are not just buying a machine which is faster, bigger and powerful but they are buying a lifestyle. The bike is all about brotherhood and self-expression, hanging out with friends and traveling easy. Subcultures of consumption are distinct and it is a homogeneous group who are formed for a particular set of consumption or activities. Harley Davidson motorcycle owners form such a group of subculture. Four main phenomena of Harley subculture were presented. Harley owners are stylish and technological advanced in motorcycle equipment and their clothing. They exhibit a subculture of an extraordinary commitment which is usually not unique to a biker’s subculture. One of the heritages of Harley is the grass root innovation. Harley in modern days continues to have an intimate relationship with its riders through its activities in rallies and corporate sponsorships. The clothing of Harley Davidson is regarded as hardcore biker’s style. For example, the black leather ves t with insignias serves as the uniform of the Harley Owners Group. By 2000 HOG has about 60,000 members.