Models of God, Humanity, and Nature My Experiences, Thoughts, and Criti

Models of God, Humanity, and Nature My Experiences, Thoughts, and Critical Analyses I ask a lot of questions; I’m a curious person. I once asked my mom why people die, why there are bad things in the world if God is so good and all-powerful. Her response was that we just couldn’t really understand why God does anything because we can’t comprehend God’s â€Å"master plan.† I’m sure that she was right, but that response is not very satisfying to a curious little boy. I saw an inconsistency in my understanding of reality, and I wanted to get things straight. I guess this little anecdote begins to illustrate a couple of my basic life principles. A concise explanation of how I look at the world is just this: We humans, as finite beings, use models to understand complex things – God, Nature, Humanity – and in doing so must simplify things. There’s nothing wrong with this simplification, as long as we know we are doing so and why. Our models of these complex things can be based on a number of things – usually logic, evidence, and our experiences (I’m probably exluding a powerful one, namely tradition). These varying models of reality, however, must be internally and externally consistent – that is, with themselves and with other models used by a single person. When the models used by a person are internally or externally inconsistent with themselves or with logic, evidence, or experiences, the first reaction is probably confusion (or maybe anxiety), but in the continued search for consistency, one can arrive at further insight and a desired level of comfort in oneself and the way one views reality. I guess this is sometimes called the search for the meaning of life, although that’s a rather grand phrase for ... ... Humanity, and Nature are inter-connected internally and externally, I must work to understand these relationships, and in doing so, I must work to maximize the enjoyment and well-being of all things related to me, directly and indirectly, consciously and unconsciously. Additionally, I must treat all manner of things (entities perhaps) as subjects, rather than objects, recognizing that each has a level of being and enjoyment that it can attain, with the help of me and the rest of the world. I must work to avoid and eliminate violence of all forms by using memory, empathy, imagination, and true forgiveness to short-circuit the cycle. If I live my life in a continual state of change, using creative, responsive, and responsible love persuasively to acheive a higher level of good, then I will be living in a way that’s consistent with process theology’s Christianity.

R.K Narayan Biography Essay

R. K. Narayan (born 1906) is one of the best-known of the Indo-English writers. He created the imaginary town of Malgudi, where realistic characters in a typically Indian setting lived amid unpredictable events. Rasipuram Krishnaswami Narayanswami, who preferred the shortened name R.K. Narayan, was born in Madras, India, on Oct. 10, 1906. His father, an educator, travelled frequently, and his mother was frail, so Narayan was raised in Madras by his grandmother and an uncle. His grandmother inspired in young Narayan a passion for language and for people. He attended the Christian Mission School, where, he said, he learned to love the Hindu gods simply because the Christian chaplain ridiculed them. Narayan graduated from Maharaja’s College in Mysore in 1930. In 1934 he was married, but his wife, Rajam, died of typhoid in 1939. He had one daughter, Hema. He never remarried. Narayan wrote his first novel, Swami and Friends, in 1935, after short, uninspiring stints as a teacher, an editorial assistant, and a newspaperman. In it, he invented the small south Indian city of Malgudi, a literary microcosm that critics later compared to William Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County. More than a dozen novels and many short stories that followed were set in Malgudi. Narayan’s second novel, Bachelor of Arts (1939), marked the beginning of his reputation in England, where the novelist Graham Greene was largely responsible for getting it published. Greene has called Narayan â€Å"the novelist I most admire in the English language.† His fourth novel, The English Teacher, published in 1945, was partly autobiographical, concerning a teacher’s struggle to cope with the death of his wife. In 1953, Michigan State University published it under the title Grateful to Life and Death, along with his novel The Financial Expert; they were Narayan’s first books published in the United States. Subsequent publications of his novels, especially Mr. Sampath, Waiting for the Mahatma, The Guide, The Man-eater of Malgudi, and The Vendor of Sweets, established Narayan’s reputation in the West. Many critics consider The Guide (1958) to be Narayan’s masterpiece. Told in a complex series of flashbacks, it concerns a tourist guide who seduces the wife of a client, prospers, and ends up in jail. The novel won India’s highest literary honor, and it was adapted for the off-Broadway stage in 1968. At least two of Narayan’s novels, Mr. Sampath (1949) and The Guide (1958), were adapted for the  movies. Narayan usually wrote for an hour or two a day, composing fast, often writing as many as 2,000 words and seldom correcting or rewriting. Narayan’s stories begin with realistic settings and everyday happenings in the lives of a cross-section of Indian society, with characters of all classes. Reviewing Narayan’s 1976 novel The Painter of Signs, Anthony Thwaite of the New York Times said Narayan created â€Å"a world as richly human and volatile as that of Dickens.† His next novel, A Tiger for Malgudi (1983), is narrated by a tiger whose holy master is trying to lead him to enlightenment. It and his fourteenth novelTalkative Man (1987) received mixed reviews. In his 80s, Narayan continued to have books published. He returned to his original inspiration, his grandmother, with the 1994 book Grandmother’s Tale and Other Stories, which Publishers Weekly called â€Å"an exemplary collection from one of India’s most distinguished men of letters.† Donna Seaman of Booklist hailed the collection of short stories that spanned over 50 years of Narayan’s writing as â€Å"an excellent sampling of his short fiction, generally considered his best work† from â€Å"one of the world’s finest storytellers.† Narayan once noted: â€Å"Novels may bore me, but never people.† R.K. Narayan was born in Madras, South India, in 1906, and educated there and at Maharaja’s College in Mysore. His first novel, Swami and Friends and its successor, The Bachelor of Arts, are both set in the enchanting fictional territory of Malgudi and are only two out of the twelve novels he based there. In 1958 Narayan’s work The Guide won him the National Prize of the Indian Literary Academy, his country’s highest literary honor. In addition to his novels, Narayan has authored five collections of short stories, including A Horse and Two Goats, Malguidi Days, and Under the Banyan Tree, two travel books, two volumes of essays, a volume of memoirs, and the re-told legends Gods, Demons and Others, The Ramayana, and the Mahabharata. In 1980 he was awarded the A.C. Benson Medal by the Royal Society of Literature and in 1982 he was made an Honorary Member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. Narayan died in 2001. Works of R.K.Narayan (a) Novels: 1.Swami and Friends (1935) 2. Bachelor of Art (1973) 3. The Dark Room (1938) 4. The English Teacher (1945) 5. The Guide (1958) 6. The Painter of Signs (1976) (b) Story Collections : 1. Malgudi Days 2. Dodu and Other Stories 3. Cyclone and Other Stories 4. Gods, Demons and Others (1964) (c) Autobiography : 1. My Days (1974) 2. My Dateless Diary (1960) (d) Other Works : 1. Ramayana. It is an English version of the Tamil epic by Kamban

Teenage Prescription Drug Abuse Essay - 1427 Words

Teenage Prescription Drug Abuse Years ago, the common image of an adolescent drug abuser was a teen trying to escape from reality on illegal substances like cocaine, heroin, or marijuana. Today, there is a great discrepancy between that perception and the reality of who is likely to abuse drugs. A teenage drug abuser might not have to look any further than his or her parent’s medicine chest to ‘score.’ Prescription drug abuse by teens is on the rise. Also, teens are looking to prescription drugs to fulfill different needs other than to feel good or escape the pressures of adulthood. Teens may be just as likely to resort to drugs with ‘speedy’ side effects, like Ritalin to help them study longer, as they are to use prescription†¦show more content†¦Steroid abuse by teen athletes and abuse of performance-enhancing supplements like creatine is also on the rise (Performance-enhancing drugs and your teen athlete, 2008, The Mayo Clinic). Although some teens may feel jaded and cer tain that they know ‘drugs are bad,’ and drugs fry your brain like the famous fried egg in a pan in the popular television commercial immortalized during the 1980s, many well-educated teens and young adults do not see the same risks inherent in prescription drugs or drugs that make them feel better or run faster (The Partnership’s fried egg message, 2008, Partnership for a Drug-Free America). â€Å"For a sizable group of people in their 20s and 30s, deciding on their own what drugs to take - in particular, stimulants, antidepressants and other psychiatric medications - is becoming the norm. Confident of their abilities and often skeptical of psychiatrists expertise, they choose to rely on their own research and each others experience in treating problems like depression, fatigue, anxiety or a lack of concentration. 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The disparity of daily life in suburbs or the inner cities are why many people have fallen into their reliance on drugs, including alcohol. Patros and Shamoo (1989) describe the abuse of drugs and alcohol as a slow form of suicide. But many drug abusers choose to end their life before drugs have time to claimRead MoreThe Article A World Split Apart 856 Words   |  4 Pagesillustrating that our society is given â€Å"too much† freedom. As a result people cannot handle it, resulting in abuse and misuse of the rights bestowed onto us. This is exceptionally true in the world of medicine; meant for treatment of illness, has led abuse of prescription drugs. How are our prescription drugs being abused? First, an understanding of basic rights to treatment in relation to prescription medications recently enacted. 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Review Of Breast Size Health And Social Care - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 13 Words: 3787 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Health Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? 2.1 Definition of large breast women There is no united definition of the large breast size in the entire brassiere industry as well as in medicine. Many misconceptions appear that whoever looks fat likewise have large breasts. And some may define it as E cup or above due to the difficulties in purchasing bra in the recent market or grading the contour cup shape. Indeed, plus size usually refer to large chest women who may not really look fat. 2.1.1 Medical standard In medicine, there are many different standards on large breast size. KL.Dundas from The Royal Australian and New Zealand of Radiologists (2007) defined that large breast size can be divided into two categories: the bra size and the cup size. The bra size is the component size of chest-wall and the cup size is referred to the mammary gland components. Women who have cup size D or above or bra size 18 or above can be classified as plus size. Another study about the relationship between the respiratory and measurement method and the bra size calculation (Mcghee, D.E. Steele, J.R., 2006) involved subjects of large breast women. They indicated those with cup size C or above as large breast women. In other research of medical scanning, Indra. J. Das (2006) also defined large breast Japan women whose distance of chest-wall were greater than 22 cm. It can be seen that there is no united standard of the large breast size among the medicine. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Review Of Breast Size Health And Social Care" essay for you Create order 2.1.2 Market Standard People nowadays tend to have bigger cup size than before. Therefore, the plus size market is growing rapidly among the popular lingerie brands recently. Wacoal Hong Kong Company limited (2008) once launched a line mainly for large breast size women named à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“WACOAL Queen Sizeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?. Cup size from C to I, which means having 15 cm up to 30 cm difference between upper bust girth and lower bust girth, and band size up to 120 cm or 52 inch are available. For the reason of simplicity, cup size of C or above with shoulder pain problem would be categorized as large breast women in this study even though it is not really the market standard and the common practice in the lingerie industry. 2.2 Problems faced by large breast women Many women envy those who have large breasts since they think it is a symbol of sexy appeal. Many even undergo breast augmentation to enhance their bodies with silicone and saline implants (2010). However, it may not be the same feeling for the women who carry the heavy breasts around. The large breasts may trigger multiple problems like physical problems and psychological problems (Dave, 2009). These may affect our daily life or even our social life. 2.2.1 Physical problems Plenty of health websites and journals claimed that the weak chest tissue could easily be over stretched by the excessive weight of the large breasts and as a result causing a lot of problems like upper and lower back pain as well as shoulder pain. Sheer gravity was the main reason causing shoulder pain problem. The heavy breasts makes the shoulders have to work extra hard to keep the back spine straight from being pulled down by them (Ardian, 2010). The arching action also add lots of load to the acromion (Figure 2.1), which is the highest point of shoulder and one of the most sensitive parts of the body (Carol, 2002). Pain feeling would rise and the dark red marks would be left on the shoulder because of the excessive load from the breast and the tighten bra straps after period of time (Toni, 2008). Besides, there are many blood vessels and nerves like Brachial plexus located underneath the skin which are extremely sensitive to pressure and pain feeling. They are the nerve fibres that serve sensation and motor function in the shoulders, arms, and hands travel to and from the spinal cord in the neck (Carol, 2002). So, the wearer had fatigue and pain feeling easily when there is an excessive load applied on the shoulder. Sometimes, the wearers may even have upper arm pain additionally. Due to the shoulder pain as well as the arm pain feeling, exercise is not an easy task for busty women. Because their breasts would be all bouncy when they move and this may cause pain as the muscles around the breasts area are being consistently pulled during the sport activity (Carla Ardian, 2010). IMAG0103.jpg Figure 2.1 The acromion Source: Carol A. Oatis. (2002), Kinesiology the mechanics pathomechanics of human movement, pp. 123 2.2.2 Psychological problems Apart from the physically pain, large breast also accrue to women with emotional problems. Many women dislike their large breasts because they make them look fatter. It is harder for them to find some pretty clothes. Even worse, the patterns on the top would become deformed and as a result make them feel frustrated. These would prevent them from enjoying a higher quality of life (Dave, 2009). Therefore, this is not surprised that their self image drops dramatically because of all these factors. To improve the situation, some may even take the breast reduction surgery. According to the American Society of plastic Surgeonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s 2007 nation plastic surgery statistics, over 100000 women had taken the breast reduction surgery in 2007. And there were 25% growth when compared with the same survey last year (Toni, 2008). Base on the above physical and mental problems, the objective of this study is to look into the possibility of distribute or minimize the pain feeling caus ed by excessive pressure load from the shoulder straps. 2.3 Current plus size bra market practice Many plus size bras are available in the existing market. They are specially designed in terms of comfort and support for women with large breasts. Besides, some accessories could be found as auxiliaries for minimizing the pressure and pain feeling. https://www.biggerbras.com/productpics3/large/AVI/aviana-plus-size-underwire-minimizer-bra-2457.jpg Figure 2.2 An example of plus size bra Source: https://blog.biggerbras.com/?tag=best-plus-size-minimizer-bra 2.3.1 Special design of bra cup Plus size bra always appears as full cup with higher neckline to cover the entire breast. The full cup is designed to give more support for the breasts to help keep the shape and fullness of the breast. Most of them are thin padded cup with wire and inner sling for minimizing the movement of the breasts. Full cup bras are ideal for larger breast sizes and pregnant women as less support can lead to a slight sagging of the breasts and back pains (My Fine Lingerie, 2010). https://www.biggerbras.com/productpics3/large/AVI/aviana-plus-size-seamless-minimizer-underwire-bra-2460.jpg Figure 2.3 An example of full cup bra with higher neckline Source: https://www.biggerbras.com/productpics3/large/AVI/aviana-plus-size-seamless-minimizer-underwire-bra-2460.jpg 2.3.2 Special design of wings Wider wings with side bones are another features of plus size bra. They are used to keep the bra firmly in place and help to limit the breast movement. Hooks and eyes are available at the end of the wings for adjustments. Appropriate tension can be applied to the wearer so as to fit well with a secure frame for breast support. https://media.redcatsusa.com/is/image/womanwithin/mm/0027_76453_mm.jpg?wid=230qlt=95op_sharpen=1 Figure 2.4 Wider wing with hooks and eyes Source: https://media.redcatsusa.com/is/image/womanwithin/mm/0027_76453_mm.jpg?wid=230qlt=95op_sharpen=1 2.3.3 Special design of shoulder straps The average breast weight of adult women was around 200g without any pregnancy and lactation. The pregnancy women could have breasts weight from 400g to 600g and up to 800g in lactation. D cup size or above plus size women could have the breasts weight same as the pregnancy and lactation women (Laurence D.J, 1991). Therefore, the straps of plus size bra should be wide enough to allow better distribution of force. Mostly, the widths of them are more than 10mm. Some straps for plus size bra may even reach 19mm or more. It should contain minimal elasticity and good recovery at the same time as well. Sometimes, the front part of the straps appears as rigid to limit the breast movement. Also, the tension of shoulder straps should fit different body lengths by using strap material with proper power and elasticity or applying adjusters. If there are not enough adjustments of the shoulder straps, the required lift-up function cannot be provided if it is too loose, or cause fatigue and pain if it is too tight (Zhou Jie, 2010). Besides, padded or cushion straps are other designs for easing the neck and shoulder pain. https://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/na/natori-underwire-sport-bra.jpg Figure 2.5 Wider and padded shoulder strap Source: https://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/na/natori-underwire-sport-bra.jpg 2.3.4 Accessories One of the examples of accessories for minimizing the shoulder pain and discomfort is the shoulder pad. It is common in the U.S., U.K. or Europe, but it is not easy to find in Asian countries, especially in Hong Kong since lingerie brands mainly target on the small size. There are various kinds of shoulder strap pads with some designed in small size in foam material or gel pad to provide shock absorb effect and some designed in a hand- size big. The big pad is specially designed for post surgery women like mastectomy, chemotherapy and pacemaker implantation. The product shown in figure 2.5 and 2.6 were the attachable shoulder strap foam pad and silicone pad respectively which could provid the free movement along the shoulder straps. They could be the extra supporter placing under the straps for easing shoulder pain. However, the thickness of the shoulder pad could easily show though the outerwear, an innovation from the online shop called covered shoulder pad shown in figure 2.7 can help this. It is a pad with a channel in between for placing shoulder straps as well as providing a smooth shoulder contour with its finely tapered edges. https://www.independence.ltd.uk/userimages/3931%20Bra%20Strap%20Pad%202.jpg?rand=1219843165 Figure 2.6 An example of shoulder strap foam pad Source: https://www.independence.ltd.uk/userimages/3931%20Bra%20Strap%20Pad%202.jpg?rand=1219843165 https://www.ecrobot.com:81/offer/02_OutputOfferImage.php?n=10779926174548427985743820946206 Figure 2.7 A shoulder silicone pad Source: https://www.ecrobot.com:81/offer/02_OutputOfferImage.php?n=10779926174548427985743820946206 https://images.herroom.com/items/braza-brz001-2100-gs.jpgFlip Flap Satin Covered Shoulder Pads Figure 2.8 Covered shoulder pad Source: https://www.herroom.com/braza-2100-flip-flap-satin-covered-shoulder-pads.shtml 2.4 The mechanism of shock absorb According to a research done by Zhou Jie (2010), when the human body collides with the ground, impact forces develop. With each foot strike during walking or running, the shock wave would transmitted throughout the body and ultimately reach the head. The shock attenuation is brought by the shock absorbers in the human body such as joint positioning, muscle activity, synovial fluid, bone, and articular cartilage. Any forces that are not absorbed by the lower extremity will be transmitted up to the kinetic chain, which gives a force to breast and makes breast move. The movement of breasts results in pressure to the body. The applied load was 1.25 times of the body weight while walking. Shoulder pad provides a cushion effect to the wearer and it acts as a protector to reduce the pressure transmitted to the shoulder. Once there are compression force stroke on the cushion, the cushion was compressed and stored part of the strain energy. The cushion would become stiffness and thinner (Kevin, 1999). The strain energy stored inside the cushion would then be converted into heat energy and dissipated by the air. When the compression load removed, the cushion would be recovered into its original shape called energy return (Pi, et al., 2008). Because of the dissipation of part of the impact energy, the wearer would then feel lesser resilient force from the ground and superior comfort of relieving the shoulder pain. 2.5 Definition and functions of elastics Elastic is an essential component of lingerie. It is a narrow fabric which does not exceed 18à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? in width and it can be classified as woven or knitted. Elastics have been widely used in textiles as well as lingerie like the upper and lower band of wings, shoulder straps and the opening of the briefs. This is all because it can position the garment, support the garment as well as create a finished edge or hem (Yip, 2010). 2.6 Shoulder straps Shoulder strap is the essential part of the whole bra (Click n Click, 2010). It is one of the narrow elastics which functions to support and control the movement of the breasts. The breast weight could act as a large load on the straps and in turn, excessive pressure on the shoulder of the wearers (Zhou Jie, 2010). Therefore, to provide more comfort to the wearer, shinny surface with matt back are always the appearance of the shoulder straps (Yip, 2010). 2.6.1 Constructions of shoulder straps There are two basic constructions for shoulder strap which are woven and crochet (knitted) elastics. For woven straps, it is the narrow woven fabric having stretch properties consisting of monofilament nylon yarns woven together (Thompson and Bick Harlequin, 1952). They have smoother, finer and flatter surface as well as being more supportive than knitted elastics. For knitted straps, they are always produced by interloping which means forming yarns into loops and intermeshing the loops into a structure (LAMB Knitting Machine Corporation, 2010). And most of them are warp knitted. Knitted straps have higher elongation compared to the woven straps. Small gaps would appear when stretched. Also, it is much cheaper in price (Yip, 2010). There are several areas that must be taken into considerations during the fabric construction: 1. Details of materials Types of filaments, number of counts and ends used in both warp and weft direction are recorded in a basic unit of fabric cons truction. 2. Details of fabric construction The arrangement of picks and ends are clearly recorded in a data sheet, specifying which types of nylon filaments and spandex used. 3. Production requirements Details of number of reed, picks per unit length, elongation and shrinkage requirements are also needed to be laid down for reference. 2.6.2 Product types There are two types of bra straps in turns of woven and knitted. Woven bra straps are available in 8 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 27mm. Plus size bra tends to use wider shoulder straps to help the distribution of force. It is more shinny and smoother on the surface to provide a better appearance and matt with brushes at the back to provide a comfort feeling to the wearer. There are a variety of surface pattern like stripes, zig zags, checks, plain satin effects and Jacquard. Different types of edge can be found in the market, for examples, plain, picots, loops, frills, double loops, etc. For knitted bra straps, matt and shinny appearance are available in the market. Surface patterns like loops and curves can be found on them. Picots, loops and double loops are the common edge of the knitted straps. Although the support is not as good as the woven bra straps, it is relatively cheaper and has more different kind of fashion styles (Yip, 2010). woven.jpg Figure 2.9 Woven shoulder straps knitted straps.jpg Figure 2.10 Knitted shoulder straps 2.6.3 Materials used in shoulder straps A variety of materials were used in the construction of shoulder straps such as nylon, polyester, spandex or Lycra and metallic yarn. 90% of shoulder straps use nylon as nylon can be dyed more easily with lower temperature compare to polyester. For spandex, it can be stretched for many times and recover to its original length after load is removed. It is due to its special arrangements of the molecular structure (Yip, 2010). The structure consists of long chain molecules that take on the conformation of large random coils. These long chain structures show soft and flexible properties at room temperature. When stretched, they will deform or uncoil and return back to its original dimension after removing the force (Woods, 1987). Spandex usually wrapped around by nylon or polyester yarn and forms elastic by weaving. Sometimes, metallic yarns are used to provide a more attractive and shinny appearance (Yip, 2010). 2.6.4 Stretch and recovery of shoulder straps Stretch or elongation, recovery and modulus are three main considerations during construction of elastics. Both of them play the important roles in determining the supportive and comfortable level of a shoulder strap (Yip, 2010). 1. Elongation Elongation, combines with strength, indicates the ability of a yarn of fabric to absorb energy. (John Sons, 1977) Elongation means the percentage extension at the specified load. When objects are put under stress, they will stretch before breaking. If the stress is not great enough to break the object, the deformation is usually temporary and the objects original shape will return when the stress is removed. Knowing how shoulder straps will elongate is critical for designing a bra for large breast women which can ensure that they do not elongate so much that they no longer have enough strength to withstand the forces while elongated (Mark Kennan, 1999). To measure this, the original length of the shoulder strap sample should be subtrac ted by the length of the strap which under specified load first. And then the result would be divided by the original length of the strap. Lastly, it is to multiply the result by 100%. The final result would be the elongation of the strap. Below is the equation of elongation. Length under specified load original length X 100% Original length 2. Recovery Recovery means the percentage of the elastic that can be recovered when the load is released. After a load is released from a stress-strain test, some of the total deformation is recovered as elastic deformation (Mark Kennan, 1999). The higher the percentage states that the better the recovery a strap has. It is also very important to shoulder straps as they should keep a certain recovery rate say 85 % even after using repeatedly. To measure this, the elongated length of the straps should minus the recovered length and the original gauge length respectively. And then the former would be divided by the latter one. Lastly, the result should be multiplied by 100%. The final result would be the recovery of the shoulder strap. Below is the equation of it. ___Elongated length (in.) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Recovered length ___ X100% Elongated length (in.) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Original gauge length 3. Modulus Modulus means the amount of load (in lbs) needed to extend the elastics to 20%, 40%, 60% and 80%. In another words, it is the ratio of pressure (stress) applied to a body to the resistance (strain) produced by the body. The higher the modulus, the larger the amount of load has to applied to extend the straps (Yip, 2010). This is another important consideration for the construction of strap since the modulus should not be too low as straps should have certain stiffness to support the breasts weight. Elongation, recovery and modulus are three very vital checking points before the shipment of each batch of shoulder straps. Therefore, control of them should be extremely careful within the set tole rance. Besides, different cup size bras should match with different shoulder straps with different level of elongation, recovery and modulus because of the comfort and support level provided. 2.7 Physical properties of spandex fibre Property spandex Natural rubber Other synthetic fibres Elongation at break (%) 500-800 500-900 0-40 Tensile strength 6-12 2-4 30-70 (break tenacity, g/tex) Thickness available (tex) 2-60 17 upwards 2 upwards Stress at 200% elongation (g/tex) 0.4-1 0.15-0.3 N.A. Melting point ËÅ ¡C ca250 150 140-250 Moisture regain (% at 21ËÅ ¡C, 65%RH) cal.0 0.2 0.2-5.0 Table 2.1 Physical properties of spandex fibre From the table, it can be seen that, although the nature rubber also has a high value of elongation at break, it is not suitable for making elastic fabric because of its low tensile strength and high value of thickness (Randall and Lee, 2002). 2.8 Innovative design of shoulder straps 2.9 Design frameworks In the overall product life cycle, before the product manufacturing, product development is very important as many ideas generate and integrate to form new products. There are many different frameworks for product development and design, but not all of them provide the specific ideas for functional apparel. Only DeJonge (1984) and Watkin (1988) provide the specific ideas in this aspect (Chan, 2001). 2.9.1 DeJongeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s model DeJonge (1984) proposed a process for the development of functional occupational clothing that places importance on identifying user needs and analyzing user situations through systematic exploration. The full process guides the designer step-by-step from initial request to prototype completion and evaluation (Table 2.2). DeJonge provide a systematic model on design research and this helps designers a lot to determine the design specifications. This model provides a clear division between the development of design specification and the establishment of design criteria. It can clearly list out the important issues that designers should consider during the whole design process(Chan, 2001). DeJongeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s design stage Description 1. Initial request made Define design problem 2. Design direction explored Find design directions 3. Design goals defined Define the goals for research 4. Research for specification developed Develop in-depth research to find design factors 5. Design criteria established Ranking and weighting design criteria 6. Prototype development Develop the prototype for the design according to the criteria made in the previous stage 7. Prototype evaluation Evaluate the prototype Table 2.2 DeJongeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s design process 2.9.2 Watkinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s model Watkinsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ model (1988) adapts seven-step approach of design process that includes acceptance, analysis, definition, ideation, selection, implementation and evaluation. This model focuses more on the problem solving stages with a heavier weighting on the prototype implement part. Watkinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s steps Descriptions 1. Acceptaance Get motivation and find reasons to devote time and effort to the design problem 2. Analysis Find out all aspects of design situation by learning and interviewing 3. Definition Determining the most essential elements by sifting through the mass of data and ideas collected in the previous stages 4. Ideation Generate ideas and creative things as many as possible 5. Selection Select the best idea 6. Implementation Take action and try out the best idea 7. Evaluation Analyzing what happened when action was taken Table 2.3 Watkinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s design process 2.9.3 Selection of design framework Although both Dejongeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s and Watkinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s models provide the specific ideas for development of functional apparel, the later one is more or less used for the teaching of design process (Chan, 2001). Among these frameworks, DeJongeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s functional design process is generally accepted by clothing and textile researchers to be a landmark for the development of the design processes. It has also been used to guide research into the development of garment design criteria and prototype. Examples of previous research that have used the full or adaptations of DeJongeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s basic design framework are clothing for women with physical disabilities (Carroll, 2001), intimate apparel designs for women (Chan, 2001) and hospital clothing for neonates (Bergen et al.,1996). For the above reasons, this study was conducted to design and develop a set of new product of shoulder strap based on DeJongeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s design framework. Details of the design process based on DeJongeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s framework are presented in Chapter 5. Current scientific knowledge and systematic design framework are necessary to guide scientific investigation of design and development of shoulder straps. 2.10 Summary and conclusion of literature review

Different Film Industries in Different Countries - 2163 Words

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Anne Frank The diary of a young girl Essay Example For Students

Anne Frank: The diary of a young girl Essay Anne Frank: The diary of a young girl Essay I want to introduce you to, Anne Frank: The diary of a young girl, by Anne Frank and translated by B. M. Mooyaart. It is the story of a 13-year-old Jewish girl and her family who are forced into hiding by the Nazis during World War II The book is written over a two-year period, tells about her life while she and her family are in hiding in Holland. On her birthday she received a diary, Anne named it Kitty, and Kitty was her best friend ever since. From the first day she had it, she would write all the thoughts, feelings and wishes she had. They are staying in a secret attic of the office building where Mr. Frank used to work in order to escape from the Nazis during World War II. During their stay in the annex, they are supported by several people in the office building, who risk their own lives to insure the secrecy of the Jewish hideout and to provide them with food and basic supplies. Much of Annes diary tells about the daily routine of the occupants of the attic. It also describes in detail the characters of Annes father, mother, and sister, as well as the characters of the three Van Daans and Mr. Dussel, who share the attic with them. The Protagonist Anne Frank The author of the diary. Anne was born on June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany, and was four years old when her father moved to Holland to find a better place for the family to live. She is very intelligent and perceptive, and she wants to become a writer. Anne grows from an innocent and somewhat petty teenage girl to a sensitive thinker at age fifteen. Annes life changed, when in July of 1942, the Nazis came there searching for Jewish people. So the Franks made a hard decision: hide from the Nazis, living in the houses secret room. They were shearing this room with the Van Daan family, close friends to their family. Since that day a different life started, a life they didnt imagined, and didnt know what road would take. Living in the secret room wasnt easy; hiding scared every day and night, and running always with a threatening life. Worse, living with the Van Daans, a family Anne didnt like, with their little naughty daughter. Anyway, they were protected by people that gave them food and took good care of them. The Van Daans were becoming more and more impolite every day that passed; cause the pressure they were having about the war. Anne cried all nights wishing the end of the war. They had a radio that was the only way to receive notice of the war. Instead of hearing it finishing, they just heard bad news. In the city, things were hard, but in the secret room things werent easier. It was very boring, so Anne, Margot and Peter, the only son of the Van Daans, studied with the books that were in the room. It was the only thing to do, but they were old and the 3 students already knew all the books. They lived for 2 years in the secret room. August 1 of 1944 was the last day Anne wrote in her diary, 3 days after, the Nazis discovered the secret room, and both families were sent to forced work. In March of 1945, Anne died with a terrible disease called typhoid in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. My favorite part of the book was when she begins to confide in Peter. They start to tell each other what they are feeling, what it is that bothers them so much, they tell each other of all their wishes and dreams. .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711 , .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711 .postImageUrl , .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711 , .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711:hover , .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711:visited , .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711:active { border:0!important; } .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711:active , .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711 .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uadcb3ff6abb9c6fc6a38c24902cf7711:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Our Friends, Ourselves Essay And eventually they both come to realize that they each share a secret crush on one another. My least favorite part of the book is how she has to put up with Mrs. Van Daans complaining, Mr. Van Daan who is always in an uproar over something Anne does, Mr. Dussel constantly shhing her, and now her father telling her she needs to show more compassion .

Why does the definition of civil society matter to the evaluation of political transitions in Asia Essay Example Essay Example

Why does the definition of civil society matter to the evaluation of political transitions in Asia? Essay Example Paper Why does the definition of civil society matter to the evaluation of political transitions in Asia Essay Introduction The political configurations of constituent nations in the Asian continent have seen many significant changes over the last fifty years. The conclusion of the Second World War served as the precipitant event in transforming the erstwhile colonies in Asia into independent, sovereign nations. But, not all transformations have led to positive consequences. It would be simplistic to not look beyond official labels attached to governments in these nations. For example, classifying an Asian nation as a democracy or a dictatorship without taking into account the complex and often subtle political realities can lead to distorted perceptions. It is the objective of this essay to understand the real social, economic and demographic parameters that define a civil society and evaluate political transitions in Asia in this context. Many analysts have pointed out that the salient features of a vibrant democracy are quite different from superficial symbols of a democratic setup as seen in many coun tries across Asia. For example, in countries such as Indonesia, Philippines, etc, which were colonies of European imperial powers until half a century back, the effects of the protracted period of imperialism are still evident in the way their institutions function. These post-colonial societies are at crossroads of history and have to overcome challenges in the realm of economics and politics if they are to emerge as competent players in the new world order. In order to make an objective assessment of political transitions in Asia, we need to adopt a broad historical approach to the subject. While wide-ranging references add to the merit of analysis, care has been taken not to indulge in standards of moral relativism when evaluating the state of democracy in this region. Why does the definition of civil society matter to the evaluation of political transitions in Asia? Essay Body Paragraphs To begin with, let us consider the case of East Timor and its turbulent road to independence. It is now accepted in hindsight that the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975 was a blatant act of aggression, although it is a well documented fact that the western media did not strictly condemn the Indonesian atrocities in East Timor as and when it happened. By giving due consideration to facts and by applying universally accepted standard of human rights, it is obvious that the invasion of East Timor was perpetrated by an Indonesian leadership that is both authoritarian and ruthless (Fox, 2004). More than two decades later, with Megawati Sukarnoputri contending for political leadership of the country, the dark legacy of authoritarianism is still part of the fabric of the political establishment. This can be discerned from the fact that Megawati made no concessions to Timorese independence (not even local level autonomy) in the lead up to the elections. This goes to prove that democr acy and the instrument of elections alone are not sufficient for imposing acceptable standards of freedom, equality and justice in a country, which goes to strengthen the thesis that superficial labels and nominal institutions does not imply a functioning democracy (Razack, 2006). This is true as much in Asia as anywhere else in the world. Also, the catastrophe in East Timor cannot be divorced from the broader equations of power and dominance. While the close diplomatic relationship between the United States of America and Australia is well known, the role assumed by Indonesia as a subordinate agent of these two more powerful entities is not often mentioned in political scholarship. To elaborate further, for nearly forty years since 1965, the Australian government supported the atrocities carried out by General Suharto in neighbouring Indonesia. Jonathan Fox draws out this case of hypocrisy in an emphatic style thus, â€Å"During the long years of Suharto’s dictatorship, whi ch was shored up by western capital, governments and the World Bank, state terrorism on a breathtaking scale was ignored. Australian prime ministers were far too busy lauding the â€Å"investment partnership† in resource-rich Indonesia. Suharto’s annexation of East Timor, which cost the lives of a third of the population, was described by the foreign minister Gareth Evans as â€Å"irreversible†. As Evans succinctly put it, there were â€Å"zillions† of dollars to be made from the oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea†. (Fox, 2004) Another important aspect of post-independent history of this region is the blatant disregard for legislative power as well as the judiciary. As a result, several leaders have misappropriated their executive powers to impose emergency rule over the citizens and civil institutions, making the institution of democracy a total farce. While several justifications have been forwarded for the application of emergency powers, none has been accepted as valid by neutral observers of the international community. This infringement on legal and parliamentary authority had happened in almost all nations of the South East Asian bloc, including Indonesia and Philippines, which is ironical considering the fact that these two nations were supposed to be the more advanced in the region. The invoking of emergency powers by President Fidel Ramos in Philippines remains a classic case of abuse of power (Razack, 2006). A disturbing trend witnessed in East Asian democracies is the smooth transformation of the old authoritarian elite into top leadership of political parties. This defeats the very purpose of intended progressive changes, as those individuals accustomed to exercising autocratic rule assume roles in democratic institutions. Author Mervyn Bendle cites the example of the KMT in Thailand, the leaders of which held undisputed power in the country’s days of dictatorship as well as in the new period of democrac y. While political organization might have changed for the better, the regime has effectively been the same. The successful entry of authoritarian ruling class into democratic institutions is achieved, as in Thailand and Philippines, through patronage and intimidation of uninformed, illiterate and underprivileged masses. This is clearly evident from the re-emergence of autocrats from the Marcos era in the Philippines. So, political transitions in Asia need to be seen in their overall impact on civil society, as opposed to basing the assessment on token and illusory indicators of progress and prosperity (Bendle, 2005). A deeper analysis of the Asian polity reveals several nexuses between political parties and business corporations. In almost all countries of the region, the influential business class interferes in democratic processes, thereby undermining the will of the electorate. Razack terms this phenomenon as â€Å"money politics†, where political manoeuvres that favour b usiness interests can be bought with money. The disconnection between the military and electoral democracy is another major concern for people of the region. The South East Asian region had seen its share of military coups, which subvert the power of the citizens in determining political outcomes. The central financial institutions of the region wield too much power in shaping economic policies. Moreover, the central banks of Thailand and Korea basically act as agents of the IMF. The policy framework within which they work ensures that the international economic order is maintained, even at the cost of depriving its own citizens’ basic necessities of living (Razack, 2006). Considering that China is predicted to be the next global superpower and at present the fastest growing economy, it requires a more detailed analysis. For the prospects and fortunes of China and its people will have ripple effects on other nations in the Asian continent. To gain a historical perspective on this key nation, we should go as far back as the communist revolution of the late 1940s, and the subsequent formation of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1949, since when many developments have taken place both within the party as well as for Chinese citizens. The CCP and its cadres â€Å"are changing in ways that make creative solutions to political governance problems feasible than a repeated violent reaction to social change, as in 1989† (Smith, 2003). While progress and reform is on the party agenda, its leadership still retains useful traditions and customs. A case in point is the utilization of nomenklatura system for selecting party leaders. Its critics will point to its shortcomings, including its inability to curb corruption within the party ranks. But the nomenklatura system was not devised to deter corruption. Also, the cadre responsibility system was meant to act as an analytical tool for zeroing in on the primary goals of the party and assessing the success o f various policy initiatives; and it has proved equal to this stated objective (Dickson, 2006). The political transitions in China over the last sixty years have not been without moments of indiscretion and impasse. When in September of 1949, the communist revolution was complete and the CCP ascended to power, the people of China were relieved and also hopeful; Relieved of closing a conflict-ridden chapter of their recent history and hopeful of a brighter future. It can safely be said that their hopes were fulfilled to a large extent. The CCP has to be credited for bringing about a degree of economic and political stability in the first decade of their reign. The subsequent years proved to be more challenging for the CCP leadership, which had to deal with famine caused by its Great Leap Forward program. From these early days, when the party and its members were still learning the ropes of governance it has now become a sophisticated and well coordinated political machine. The party building efforts in modern urban settlements (also called ‘shequ’) is an innovative move (Smith, 2003). Further, â€Å"Such local experiments in limited political reform are creating a mixed regime based on one-party rule, Mandarin traditions, and intra-party elections, which will be democratic in its own terms even if not by Western standards.Chinese business classes are likely to play a role that their European counterparts did in the past by eventually promoting democratization†. (Smith, 2003) We will write a custom essay sample on Why does the definition of civil society matter to the evaluation of political transitions in Asia? Essay Example specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Why does the definition of civil society matter to the evaluation of political transitions in Asia? Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Why does the definition of civil society matter to the evaluation of political transitions in Asia? 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