Essay --

Picture the ultimate dream car. Is it a brand new Mustang right off the show room floor? Maybe it is a SUV with heated leather seats. Or it might by something fast and imported, like a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Porsche. For some people, dream cars don't come from the present or the future, but the past. But getting that dream car from the past isn’t always easy. A lot of the times it is rusting away in some old barn or out in a field with weeds growing through the floorboard. When someone finds that dream car in those conditions they can do a couple different things they can build it into a rat rod. A rat rod is where the outside of the car is left rusty and in the shape it was found in, and has a big powerful motor and a good strong transmission. Or the other choice is to restore the car to its former glory. When someone restore a car to its former glory there are four main categories or steps that they need to do; body work, paint, interior, and engine/transmission. The first step in body work is to take the car apart so that it is easier to get rid of all the dents, paint, and rust. Then take out all of the interior, and take off the mirrors, hood, fenders, and all of the extra parts that will make it easier to get off the paint. Paint stripping methods usually fall into two main categories: abrasive and chemical. In abrasive paint striping there is media blasting, and good old fashion sanding. The way media blasting works is the process of blasting an item with small particles of various abrasive substances at an extremely high velocity in order to remove paint and rust off a vehicle. There are many materials used to media blast cars like walnut shell, plastic beads, baking soda, and different types of sand. D... ...ne have less power. If the original transmission is being used then it as well should be gone through and cleaned. If someone doesn’t want to take the time to take the engine apart and clean every little part and then try to remember where every little piece went then just replacing both the engine and transmission might be the way to go. Buying a brand new engine and transmission has its advantages and its disadvantages. An advantage of buying them new is that they have all new parts and are less likely to break and can take less time than taking apart the engine. A disadvantage is that it can be more expensive than just using the old motor. By completing these steps an old rusted out car can be turned into the ultimate dream car. Whether it is turned in to a rat rod or in to the restored classic car, it is worth all that hard work to get that ultimate dream car.

A Comparison of Two Versions of The Big Sleep Essay -- Big Sleep Essay

A Comparison of Two Versions of  The Big Sleep The Production Code attempted to censor sex and violence in film of the 1930's and 40's. Instead of impairing, it encouraged directors to use artistic ideas and integrity to surpass the viewers' expectations -- actively involving them in the film despite Hollywood's censorship. Howard Hawks is one such director who used the restrictions of the Production Code to his advantage. His screen adaptation of the Raymond Chandler novel The Big Sleep portrays the same amount of sexuality and violence apparent in the written word, using a distinctly subtle style, which develops broader themes. Comparisons with the extremely dull 70's remake by Michael Winner further suggest the superiority of Hawks' film noir. While Hawks masterfully creates an original world of sexuality and suspense, Winner unsuccessfully focuses on violent and sexual images in a vain attempt at filmmaking. There is not a trace of nudity in Hawks' The Big Sleep, yet it thrives on sex. The viewer will not catch a glimpse of a buttock, nipple nor a whole breast. This scarcity of skin is attributed to the superb screenplay writers Leigh Brackett, William Faulkner and Jules Furthman. They depict a charming Marlowe, played by Humphrey Bogart, interacting with various frisky femmes exhibiting innuendo that brilliantly illuminates the screen. Marlowe and the Acme Bookstore clerk flirt with an elegance even the slyest viewer would envy. The scholastic seductress flashes her beautiful eyes at him saying, "You begin to interest me, vaguely." Bogie's response -- "I'm a private dick on a case." With a loud, tumultuous clap of thunder, the audience sits bolt upright, anticipating the sultry shenanigans to ... ...blood trickles down their faces. There is no cohesion between the death scenes; Eddie Mars does not die in this version, so there is no build up or statement made. At a first glance, it is obvious that the two films, with 32 years between them, are quite different in style and theme. No matter when the film is viewed, Howard Hawks' film engages the audience presenting interesting themes in a sleek, stylistic fashion. His version may contain a limited amount of bare skin and violence, but proves that these inclusions are unnecessary if the film has voice and direction. To Winner, there is no direction or voice. He makes a hollow shell of a film extracting Chandler's exact scenes, harnessing the nudity and violence instead of the deeper themes that stand out in Hawks'. Works Consulted: Chandler, Raymond. The Big Sleep. New York: Random House, 1939.

The Destructive Growth of Alcoholism in America

Drinking alcohol has become a past-time for teenagers and adults during weekends. People drink to relax, feel more confident or to forget temporarily any worries that they currently have. Everyone knows that alcohol in moderation do not harm one's body or society at large. The problem lies when drinking becomes uncontrollable and excessive. The social, health and mortality problems associated with alcohol have been perceived as early as 1920's, which was when the Temperance Movement started.The consumption of alcohol began in 1600-1700. People drank alcohol because they had no other alternative. The milk was unpasteurized and the water was unsanitary. In addition, the price of tea and coffee did not fit the budget of most people. According to the article What in American's history could lead to prohibition, â€Å"the average American was drinking 7 gallons of pure alcohol. † During the early years of the American colony, drunkenness was not viewed as offensive.The History of A lcohol article enumerated how people in the colonies â€Å"showed little concern over drunkenness, [in fact] spirituous liquors had become the greatest factors in colonial commerce. † Later on, the demand for alcohol created Saloons where people could drink and take part in different form of vices. The History of Alcohol article stated that â€Å"[i]t was not uncommon to find one saloon for every 150 or 200 Americans, including those who did not drink.Hard-pressed to earn profits, saloon keepers sometimes introduced vices such as gambling and prostitution into their establishments in an attempt to earn profits. † However, people soon realized that alcohol drinkers acted differently and far worse after they have consumed liquor. Prohibition or temperance, which simply meant a â€Å"reduction or elimination of the use of alcoholic beverages,† was enacted to combat these â€Å"social ills† that were developing due to the effects of alcohol.Hence, according t o the History of Alcohol, â€Å"[i]n 1920 America saw prohibition in an effort to prevent the social problems caused by alcohol abuse. † Thornton, an economics professor, expressed that during 1920-1933, â€Å"national prohibition of alcohol [in the US was a] ‘noble experiment'- undertaken to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poorhouses, and improve health and hygiene in America. † Supporters of the Temperance Movement firmly believed that alcohol had â€Å" addictive properties.† In addition, the History of Alcohol stated that â€Å"the Temperance movement swept across the United States preaching that alcohol was immoral and destroyed family life. † The same article also says that the benevolent intentions of the Temperance Movement finally materialized when the government included the ban on alcohol in the 18th Amendment, which took away the business licenses of â€Å"brewers, distill ers, vintners, and the wholesale and retail sellers,† of the Constitution. Despite genuine concern about the negative effects of alcohol, liquor cannot be eliminated from the market.The History of Alcohol states that people started to bootleg alcohol from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean- since Americans were prohibited from producing liquor- to cater to their growing customers. Organized crime was established to meet the increasing demand of the public for the prohibited product. According to the What in American's history could lead to prohibition article, the illegal nature of alcohol led â€Å"criminal organizations [to] resort to real crimes in defense of sales territories, brand names, and labor contracts. †Eventually, the government realized that their efforts only increased the reliance on alcohol and made the social ills imposed by it more severe. Therefore, they repealed prohibition in 1933. Even though the Temperance Movement was dissolved, the criminal group s that were formed out of it still remained intact. These groups â€Å"branched out into narcotics, gambling, prostitution, loan sharking and extortion, concerns they still control today,† according to The History of Alcohol article. Moreover, societal problems incurred from alcohol also affect family dynamics.Parents who constantly drink might end up spending more time outside the house and neglect their responsibilities to their children and spouse. Thus, the article entitled Scientific Facts on Alcohol brought up the point that â€Å"[d]rinking can impair how a person performs as a parent, [and] a partner as well. † Likewise, the Scientific Facts on Alcoholic indicated that â€Å"[t]he financial costs of alcohol purchase†¦ can leave other family members destitute. † This is because parents may end up using their salary to sustain their habit to the extent that their children become hungry in the process.Children of alcoholics may not be adequately taken care of as well because their basic needs, such as clothing and shelter, are not provided for because indulgence in the habit makes their parents lose focus on what is important in their lives. The detrimental effects of alcohol become exacerbated to the point that it manifests itself in physical violence or abuse towards other people. A relationship might be jeopardized because the man, as is usually the case, beats up his wife or girlfriend after consuming immense amount of liquor. The wife or girlfriend has a toleration limit in allowing this kind of dismal treatment.After awhile, she is bound to leave him if the behavior does not stop or improve. Information contained in the Alcohol and Women article provided by Loyola Marymount University states that â€Å"57% of female victims [experience] intimate violence (i. e. , current or former spouses, boyfriends, etc. ) [and] reported that the offender had been drinking at the time of the offense. [While] 62% of female victims of alco hol-related violence reported experiencing some form of injury. † Unfortunately, these victimized women have a high likelihood of sticking by their man.As a result, they may end up drinking as well to deal with the abuse that they experience. Furthermore, the article entitled Alcohol, Violence, and Aggression notes that aggressive behavior of alcohol drinkers’ result in â€Å"86 percent of homicide offenders, 37 percent of assault offenders, 60 percent of sexual offenders, up to 57 percent of men and 27 percent of women involved in marital violence, and 13 percent of child abusers. † Excessive alcohol drinkers engage in such actions because according to the Alcohol, Violence, and Aggression article, alcohol has been known toweake[n] brain mechanisms that normally restrain impulsive behaviors, including inappropriate aggression. By impairing information processing, alcohol can also lead a person to misjudge social cues, thereby overreacting to a perceived threat. Simultaneously, a narrowing of attention may lead to an inaccurate assessment of the future risks of acting on an immediate violent impulse. Besides aggressive behavior that is exhibited due to the lessening of inhibition, ease of interaction amongst a group of people also ensues.Thus, men usually drink with acquaintances or colleagues at work to develop rapport and comradeship. Hence, the Alcohol and the Workplace article indicate that â€Å"[s]tudies of male-dominated occupations have described heavy drinking cultures in which workers use drinking to build solidarity and show conformity to the group. † On the contrary, alcohol can be harmful in the workplace when an individual's job performance suffers. Limitless alcohol consumption can result in people suffering from a hangover the following day, which affects and hampers concentration, memory and motor skill.Thus, the Alcohol and the Workplace article state that hangover has a positive correlation between â€Å"the frequ ency of feeling sick at work, sleeping on the job, and having problems with job tasks or co-workers. † The same article also mentions that productivity losses are attributed to alcohol. Performance at work may be affected both by the volume and pattern of drinking. Co-workers perceive that heavy drinkers have lower performance, problems in personal relationships and lack of self-direction, though drinkers themselves do not necessarily perceive effects on their work performance.In addition, the aforementioned article also explains that There is ample evidence that people with alcohol dependence and drinking problems are on sick leave more frequently than other employees, with a significant cost to employees, employers, and social security systems†¦. Therefore, constant and excessive alcohol consumption can negatively affect work performance. Persistent pattern of alcohol drinking becomes a problem because it does not enable the employee to finish tasks, has a drastic effec t on one's output at work and will hurt the company in the long-run if an employee repeatedly accumulates absences.Nevertheless, the negative impact of alcohol on someone’s means of livelihood is still not enough to detract people from taking it. Writer Caroline Ryan of BBC News says that the reason being is alcohol triggers the internal composition of our body. Alcohol releases dopamine which â€Å"which produces feelings of satisfaction. It also increases the production of the brain's natural painkiller – endorphin – which scientists think could be the means by which the brain becomes trained to crave†¦. Scientists believe this effect is part of the development of tolerance to, and dependence on, alcohol.† Also, excessive alcohol drinking can contribute to health issues. According to Dr. Berman, alcohol can either directly or indirectly cause: cancers of the mouth, throat, liver, larynx, and esophagus; stomach ulcers and bleeding in the upper gastr ointestinal tract; pancreatitis; cirrhosis of the liver; hypertension; cardiac arrhythmias; congestive heart failure; peripheral nerve problems; increased susceptibility to infections. Nissl, author of Alcohol and Drug Problems, also indicates that â€Å"[l]ong-term heavy drinking damages the nervous system, heart, and brain.It also can lead to stomach problems, medicine interactions, sexual problems, osteoporosis†¦ † While an article entitled Alcohol Myth says that sparse drinking will still result in the â€Å"slow[ing] down [of] the heart rate, lower[ing] [of] your blood pressure, and slow[ing] [of] your breathing rate. † Also, food digestion is inhibited from fully functioning. The Alcohol and Nutrition article exhibits that alcohol interferes with the nutritional process by affecting digestion, storage, utilization, and excretion of nutrients†¦ Alcohol inhibits the breakdown of nutrients into usable molecules†¦Alcohol impairs nutrient absorption by damaging the cells lining the stomach and intestines and disabling transport of some nutrients into the blood†¦ Even if nutrients are digested and absorbed, alcohol can prevent them from being fully utilized by altering their transport, storage, and excretion†¦ alcohol can impair the mechanisms by which the body controls blood glucose levels, resulting in either increased or decreased blood glucose. Again, the said article also explains that lack of nutrients can result in deficiencies that can lead to â€Å"severe and permanent effects on brain function.Specifically, thiamine deficiencies, often seen in alcoholics, [which] can cause severe neurological problems such as impaired movement and memory loss. † It is also a fact that mental and emotionally faculties can also be affected. According to Green Facts, anxiety, fear and depression are common problems encountered by family members of an alcoholic and the alcoholic himself. For alcoholics, the Why Do People Drin k Alcohol article discusses that alcohol intake actually causes depression since alcohol is a depressant.While feelings of a depressed person is magnified two-folds when depression medicine stays in the system at the same time that alcohol is in one’s body. Despite the health risks involve with excessive alcohol consumption, some women may still engage in the act even when they are pregnant. According to Nemours Foundation, â€Å"[i]t's estimated that each year in the United States, 1 in every 750 infants is born with a pattern of physical, developmental, and functional problems referred to as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), while another 40,000 are born with fetal alcohol effects (FAE).† Fetal Alcohol Syndrome results in birth defects in infants that can debilitate or permanently damage one's normal capabilities and functioning. Indeed, alcohol can become toxic when there is too much of it. Infinite amount of liquor can be the cause of death for a relatively few people. This unfortunate incident is known as alcohol poisoning, also called acute alcohol intoxication. The Alcohol Myth article explains that in this specific instance, alcohol acts as a poison that attacks the body and results in death.On a lighter note, a mild form of sleep disturbance can be induced by alcohol especially among college students who usually have the notion that â€Å"alcohol is not as bad as what people claim it to be. † The Alcohol and Sleep article points out that â€Å"[t]he more one drinks, the faster the person will fall asleep, but the likelihood of sleep disturbances increases. Alcohol consumed up to 6 hours before bedtime can affect sleep patterns. † And we are all aware that lack of sleep can make a person feel easily irritated and unfocused on the tasks at hand.Also, we should not exclude the fact that financial costs can dampen one's available resources. According to Estimating the Economic Cost of Alcohol Abuse article, the health cost of alcoh ol dependence behavior which include medical, alcohol abuse and dependence treatment does not come cheap. Furthermore, hospital bills and medical inconvenience does not end there. Accidents caused by drunk driving, which endanger public safety, can accrue more damages to the physical and financial well-being of a person. Also, mental irregularities can happen when an alcoholic attempts to commit suicide.According to Women and Alcohol article, â€Å"40% of alcoholic women attempted to commit suicide, compared to 8. 8% of non-alcoholic women. [While] [y]ounger women who are alcoholics are nearly twice as likely to attempt to commit suicide (50. 5%) than older women who are alcoholics (25. 5%). † Tendencies like this transpire because a person is emotionally unstable. The main reason why alcoholics turn to alcohol for comfort is to numb their feelings or to forget their problems. They fail to realize that trying to forget about their unpleasant situation is only fleeting and doe s not solve anything in the long-run.For instance, the Why Do People Drink Alcohol article explains that drinking alcohol to deal with a break up or death in one’s family â€Å"delays the healing process because the people aren’t giving themselves a chance to heal. † This is because they are not confronting their problem and letting themselves experience emotions that naturally surface in this kind of circumstance. Hence, the behavior that they are engaging in-regularly drinking loads of alcohol-does not help them at all even though they will like to think so otherwise.Thus, immense alcohol consumption may unfortunately lead to death. According to Dr. Berman, the â€Å"third leading cause of mortality in the United States, and is responsible for approximately 100,000 preventable deaths per year,† is alcohol. Hence, premature death due to excessive alcohol consumption is within our ability to control and avoid from happening. Also, if death does not occur due to reckless driving, diseases that take over the body gradually-as was mentioned earlier- can also take away one's life.If an alcoholic somehow manages to stay out of harm's way, alcohol can contribute to risky behaviors like unprotected sexual activity, use of tobacco and illegal drugs. The article entitled Alcohol: An Addictive Drug tackles the fact that alcohol â€Å"is frequently the entry-level drug that leads to harder drugs, such as cocaine and heroin. † These acts that may seem â€Å"harmless†-especially to those actively taking part in the habit- cost the government money because they shoulder any expense that is brought up. This is because effective law enforcement has to be increased and strengthened via mandatory regular training to deal with misdemeanors.Also, according to Estimating the Economic Cost of Alcohol Abuse article, other parts of society are involved like the â€Å"criminal justice system, social welfare administration-† just to name a few- to ensure that society is not greatly troubled by the reckless behavior that alcoholics enact. Overall, limitation and prohibition of alcohol will never be successful as demonstrated by the Temperance Movement. This is because people find ways to get around the system and defy laws that go against what they want to do with their personal lives.The key to the problems that alcohol presents is not to eliminate the source of the problem, in this case alcohol itself, but to educate young people about the adverse effects that alcohol places on them and on society as a whole. Also, tough enforcement of established laws regarding alcohol should be done. In addition, assistance should be available and given to alcoholics so that violence, alcohol craving and health issues that they have are addressed in a timely manner. Finally, people should keep in mind that alcohol does not solve anything.It only creates or increases the existing problems that one faces. Additionally, people have the power to change the glamorized notions about alcohol consumption-how it is the â€Å"in† thing to do because all the â€Å"cool† kids are doing it- and its supposed positive effects which mostly deals with a smoother social interaction with other people. The media plays a crucial role in changing this persistent view. The media should stress-via their print publication, billboard ads, television and radio programs- that the negative impact of alcohol outweighs any positive impact that may be derived from it.Also, it is essential that alcoholics are aided in finding ways to control their urges and direct it to an outlet that will be more beneficial for them. It will also be important to make people aware that proper and moderate alcohol consumption is an obligation that they should perform and abide by at all times because it is for their best interest. Hence, alcohol regulations serve people by protecting their well-being. References â€Å"Alcohol and Sleep. â₠¬  (2006). Loyola Marymount University. â€Å"Alcohol and the Nutrition. † October 1993. Alcohol Alert.22. 29 January 2008. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. â€Å"Alcohol and the Workplace. † July 1999. Alcohol Alert. 44. 29 January 2008. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. â€Å"Alcohol Myths. † (2006). Loyola Marymount University. 30 January 2008. â€Å"Alcohol, Violence, and Aggression. † October 1997. Alcohol Alert. 38. 29 January 2008. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Berman, James. January 2003. â€Å"Alcohol and drug addiction†. University of Pennsylvania Health System. 29 January 2008 â€Å"Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. † 2008. Nemours Foundation. 30 January 2008. â€Å"History of Alcohol. † (n. d). 30 January 2008 Nissl, Ian. 23 February 2007. â€Å"Alcohol and Drug Problems. † Peace Health. 29 January 2008. Ryan, Caroline. Why alcohol is addictive. 15 March 200 4. BBC News. 30 January 2008. http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/health/3537387. stm â€Å"Scientific Facts on Alcohol. † (2008). Green Facts. 29 January 2008. â€Å"The History of Alcohol. † (2005). Drug-Rehabs. org 30 January 2008. Thornton, M. (1991). â€Å"Alcohol prohibition was a failure. † CATO institute. 30 January 2008. Walters, G. D. (2002).The heritability of alcohol abuse and dependence: a meta-analysis of behavior genetic research. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 28(3), 557- 584. â€Å"What in American's history could lead to prohibition? † (n. d). 30 January 2008. Why Do People Drink Alcohol? (n. d) 30 January 2008. Women and Alcohol. (2006). Loyola Marymount University. 30 January 2008. Alcoholism in America I. History of Alcohol A.lack of other drink alternatives B. American Revolution C. Emergence of Saloons D. Temperance Movement 1. Definition of Temperance 2. Reasons for the movement 3. Problem with Temperance II. Personal Problem with Alcohol now A. Family problem 1. ineffective parent 2. money spent on alcohol instead B. Violence 1. between partners a. statistical information b. victimized women 2. statistics of criminal offenses C. Alcohol at the workplace 1. reason to bond especially with men 2. negative effect on work performance a. productivity b. absence D. Alcohol Cravings E. health problem 1. damages parts of the body2. slows down bodily functions 3. interferes with digestion process 4. nutritional deficiencies 5. mental health problem 6. fetal alcohol syndrome 7. alcohol poisoning 8. sleep disturbances 9. health related costs F. Accidents 1. different damages accrued 2. suicide statistical evidence G. Deaths 1. statistical evidence III. Other negative effects of alcohol A. Vices associated with alcohol B. Government expenditures Note cards page â€Å"Alcohol, like nicotine and marijuana, is frequently the entry-level drug that leads to harder drugs, such as cocaine and heroin. † †Å"Alcohol: An Addictive Drug.† (2006). Covenant Health. 30 January 2008. The nutrients from digested food are absorbed from the intestines into the blood and carried to the liver. The liver prepares nutrients either for immediate use or for storage and future use. Alcohol inhibits the breakdown of nutrients into usable molecules by decreasing secretion of digestive enzymes from the pancreas (2). Alcohol impairs nutrient absorption by damaging the cells lining the stomach and intestines and disabling transport of some nutrients into the blood (3).In addition, nutritional deficiencies themselves may lead to further absorption problems. For example, folate deficiency alters the cells lining the small intestine, which in turn impairs absorption of water and nutrients including glucose, sodium, and additional folate (3). Even if nutrients are digested and absorbed, alcohol can prevent them from being fully utilized by altering their transport, storage, and excretion†¦ Even wh en food intake is adequate, alcohol can impair the mechanisms by which the body controls blood glucose levels, resulting in either increased or decreased blood glucose (glucose is the body's principal sugar)†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Alcohol and the Nutrition. † October 1993. Alcohol Alert. 22. 29 January 2008. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. â€Å"Disturbances of sleep lead to fatigue and sleepiness during the day. The more one drinks, the faster the person will fall asleep, but the likelihood of sleep disturbances increases. Alcohol consumed up to 6 hours before bedtime can affect sleep patterns, increasingthe longevity of disturbances alcohol causes in the body’s sleep cycles. † â€Å"Alcohol and Sleep. † (2006). Loyola Marymount University. â€Å"Studies of male-dominated occupations have described heavy drinking cultures in which workers use drinking to build solidarity and show conformity to the group (4,5). Some male-dominated occupations therefore tend to have high rates of heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems. † â€Å"Alcohol and the Workplace. † July 1999. Alcohol Alert. 44. 29 January 2008. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Myth: â€Å"The worst thing that can happen is that I’ll pass out and have a hangover tomorrow. â€Å"The fact is that death can and does occur from drinking too much alcohol. This is known as alcohol poisoning or acute alcohol intoxication and occurs when the level of alcohol in the body acts as a poison, causing death from the drug overdose. Another way that alcohol can cause death is due to alcohol related accidents, such as drunk driving, falls, and suicide. Myth: â€Å"People pass out from drinking all the time. It’s nothing to worry about. â€Å"†¦ Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that works to slow down the heart rate, lower your blood pressure, and slow your breathing rate.Once your brain has been depressed eno ugh by the alcohol, you pass out. â€Å"Alcohol Myths. † (2006). Loyola Marymount University. 30 January 2008. â€Å"Based on published studies, Roizen (3) summarized the percentages of violent offenders who were drinking at the time of the offense as follows: up to 86 percent of homicide offenders, 37 percent of assault offenders, 60 percent of sexual offenders, up to 57 percent of men and 27 percent of women involved in marital violence, and 13 percent of child abusers†¦. Direct Effects of Alcohol.Alcohol may encourage aggression or violence by disrupting normal brain function. According to the disinhibition hypothesis, for example, alcohol weakens brain mechanisms that normally restrain impulsive behaviors, including inappropriate aggression (5). By impairing information processing, alcohol can also lead a person to misjudge social cues, thereby overreacting to a perceived threat (6). Simultaneously, a narrowing of attention may lead to an inaccurate assessment of t he future risks of acting on an immediate violent impulse (7)† â€Å"Alcohol, Violence, and Aggression. † October 1997. Alcohol Alert. 38. 29 January 2008.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The Dangers of Alcohol Alcohol is the third leading cause of mortality in the United States, and is responsible for approximately 100,000 preventable deaths per year†¦. alcohol abuse can cause long term problems in virtually every organ system in your body including: 4. Cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, and esophagus 5. Stomach ulcers and bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract 6. Pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and liver cancer 7. Hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure8. Sexual dysfunction, including loss of libido and impotence 9. Peripheral nerve problems 10. Increased susceptibility to infections Berman, James. January 2003. â€Å"Alcohol and drug addiction†. University of Pennsylvania Health System. 29 January 2008 Alcohol (wine, beer, or liquor) is the leading known preventable cause of mental and physical birth defects in the United States. When a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy, she risks giving birth to a child who will pay the price — in mental and physical deficiencies — for his or her entire life.Yet many pregnant women do drink alcohol. It's estimated that each year in the United States, 1 in every 750 infants is born with a pattern of physical, developmental, and functional problems referred to as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), while another 40,000 are born with fetal alcohol effects (FAE). â€Å"Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. † 2008. Nemours Foundation. 30 January 2008. In the 1890 the Temperance movement swept across the United States preaching that alcohol was immoral and destroyed family life. This movement radically altered peoples views†¦In 1920 America saw prohibition in an effort to prevent the social problems caused by alcohol abuse. This cause d a surge in gangster brawls as gangs fought to take control of distributing alcohol on the black market†¦. However, this trend slowly started to alter as physicians started to link alcohol to a number of diseases and social problems. By the early 1900 Dr Rush documented the addictive behaviour of alcohol and in 1935 Alcoholic Anonymous was set up. â€Å"History of Alcohol. † (n. d). 30 January 2008 Alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in teenagers. People who drink alcohol are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behavior, have poor grades or job performance, use tobacco products, and experiment with illegal drugs. Long-term heavy drinking damages the liver, nervous system, heart, and brain. It also can lead to high blood pressure, stomach problems, medicine interactions, sexual problems, osteoporosis, and cancer. Nissl, Ian. 23 February 2007. â€Å"Alcohol and Drug Problems. † Peace Health. 29 January 2008. â€Å"Alcohol triggers the release of dopamine – a chemical which produces feelings of satisfaction. It also increases the production of the brain's natural painkiller – endorphin – which scientists think could be the means by which the brain becomes trained to crave. † Ryan, Caroline. Why alcohol is addictive. 15 March 2004. BBC News. 30 January 2008. http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/health/3537387. stm 73% reported feelings of anxiety, fear, and depression†¦ Heavy drinking at the workplace may potentially lower productivity.Sickness absences associated with harmful use of alcohol and alcohol dependence entails a substantial cost to employees and social security systems. There is ample evidence that people with alcohol dependence and problem drinkers have higher rates of sickness absence than other employees†¦. lower performance, lack of self-direction and problems in personal relations were found to be related to heavy drinking, particularly when collateral re ports were used. †¦ alcoholism has had adverse impacts on productivity in the workplace and increased absenteeism†¦.It is estimated that drinking and alcoholism have reduced labor productivity by some 10%†¦ Drinking can impair performance as a parent, as spouse or partner, and as a contributor to household functioning†¦. In many societies, drinking may be carried out primarily outside the family and the home†¦. Drinking also costs money and can impact upon resources particularly of a poor family, leaving other family members destitute. Scientific Facts on Alcohol. † (2008). Green Facts. 29 January 2008. Americans during the time of the American Revolution, for the most part showed little concern over drunkenness, and spiritous liquors had become the greatest factors in colonial commerce†¦. To expand the sale of beer, brewers expanded the number of saloons. Saloons proliferated. It was not uncommon to find one saloon for every 150 or 200 Americans, including those who did not drink. Hard-pressed to earn profits, saloonkeepers sometimes introduced vices such as gambling and prostitution into their establishments in an attempt to earn profits. Many Americans considered saloons offensive, noxious institutions†¦Prohibition in the United States was a measure designed to reduce drinking by eliminating the businesses that manufactured, distributed, and sold alcoholic beverages. The Eighteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution took away license to do business from the brewers, distillers, vintners, and the wholesale and retail sellers of alcoholic beverages†¦. The bootleggers (named after the practice adopted by travelers in the Midwest in the 1880's, who concealed liquor in their boots when trading with Indians) began by importing booze over the Mexican and Canadian borders, and from the Caribbean†¦When Prohibition was repealed in 1933, an elaborate syndicate of organized crime, built on the multi-million dollar boo tlegging industry, had survived. The American Mafia branched out into narcotics, gambling, prostitution, loan sharking and extortion, concerns they still control today. â€Å"The History of Alcohol. † (2005). Drug-Rehabs. org 30 January 2008. â€Å"National prohibition of alcohol (1920-33)–the â€Å"noble experiment†Ã¢â‚¬â€œwas undertaken to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poorhouses, and improve health and hygiene in America.The results of that experiment clearly indicate that it was a miserable failure on all counts. † Thornton, M. (1991). â€Å"Alcohol prohibition was a failure. † CATO institute. 30 January 2008. â€Å"In the 1600 and 1700's, there were very few things available to drink. One did not want to take a lot of chances with the water and the unpasteurized milk of the time. Also, coffee and tea were expensive items, which left people of the time with one alternative, a lcohol†¦.By the 1820's the average American was drinking 7 gallons of pure alcohol†¦. Criminal groups organize around the steady source of income provided by laws against victimless crimes such as consuming alcohol or drugs, gambling and prostitution. In the process of providing goods and services those criminal organizations resort to real crimes in defense of sales terrorities, brand names, and labor contracts† â€Å"What in American's history could lead to prohibition? † (n. d). 30 January 2008. â€Å"It is impossible to treat depression whilst someone is drinking as the alcohol has the opposite action to the drugs prescribed for depression and of course alcohol itself being a depressant may actually be causing the symptoms rather than treating them†¦. If people find they are frequently using alcohol to cope with stressful and worrying situations in their lives then they may need to consider finding another way of dealing with stress or to face the p roblem and deal with it rather than avoiding it.Alcohol cannot solve these problems and will always cause more problems of its own in terms of health and money etc. In situations such as bereavement or relationship break ups, it actually delays the healing process because the people aren’t giving themselves a chance to heal†¦. † Why Do People Drink Alcohol? (n. d) 30 January 2008. Suicide 3. One study showed that 40% of alcoholic women attempted to commit suicide, compared to 8. 8% of non-alcoholic women. 10 4.Younger women who are alcoholics are nearly twice as likely to attempt to commit suicide (50. 5%) than older women who are alcoholics (25. 5%). 10 Victimization13 2. 57% of female victims of intimate violence (i. e. , current or former spouses, boyfriends, etc. ) reported that the offender had been drinking at the time of the offense. 3. 62% of female victims of alcohol-related violence reported experiencing some form of injury. Women and Alcohol. (2006). Lo yola Marymount University. 30 January 2008.

Self and Mental Abilities

M3) Discuss the effects on self-esteem and self confidence of physical changes associated with ageing Having self-esteem and self-confidence is meaning that you have pride in yourself and having the freedom to believe in yourself and abilities. Not having self-esteem and self-confidence can have devastating effects on individuals well-being . If an older adult was to have a serious fall and harm themselves in a serious way which could affect their mobility in walking around, this could potentially make the individual isolated in their home as they could be too afraid to go outside as it may have knocked their confidence and self-esteem. The effects of the individual having no mobility and the lowering of self-esteem and confidence could make the individual a recluse and could also mean their mental abilities and health might become poorer as they are not being active in the community which would help them with being more social and interacting with others as well as keeping them mentally active. This could also mean that individual might become disengaged in society meaning that their ill health would get worse. Also if they were too loose their self-esteem they may not be able to get it back which would mean they still might be scared to go outside, this would mean that they may become completely isolated from society. Another physical change that could cause lower self and self confidence is if an older adult became incontinent and couldn’t control when they went to the toilet, this would cause embarrassment for the individual as they may never have experienced this problem and it may cause them to feel ashamed and bad about themselves getting older and having these physical changes happening to them which would lower their self esteem and confidence. Emotionally they also might not feel themselves and that they are losing control of their life and may feel they can’t do what they would like to do such as being a active part in the community, seeing friends and family as they may feel to self conscious to go outside as it may happen. It can also be distressing for the individual as personal hygiene is a very personal issue for someone as it may make them feel not in control as they have been which could result in them becoming isolated from everyone causing problems to get worse .

The Service Company Can Differentiate Its Service Delivery

Principles of Logistics and Marketing Essay â€Å"The service company can differentiate its service delivery in three ways: through people, physical environment and process† (Kotler P, 2005). Introduction: In today’s competitive marketplace companies are competing strategically through service quality for better differentiation. In certain time of period the successful companies were using marketing mix model of four elements: Product, price, promotion and place. However later on, Booms and Bitner suggested the extension of the 4-Ps framework to include three additional factors: People, Physical evidence and process as marketing.The additional 3-Ps has been adopted in the service marketing literature, and also 7-Ps marketing mix model is more useful for services industries like Transport and Logistics. People for most services are the most important and irreplaceable element of the marketing mix. â€Å"Successful companies focus on the services-dominant paradigm with i nvestment in people, technology, human resource policies and compensation linked to service performance of employees. It’s very important because contact employees’ attitudes and behaviours significantly influence the quality of service. (Johnston R, & Clark G, 2005). In other words they represent the â€Å"face and voice† of their organizations to customers. Personnel, who come into contact with customer, have to make positive first impression to achieve customer satisfaction. They are responsible for representation of the image of the service company for which they operate. It is important that employees’ attitudes and behaviours are suitable to the delivery of service quality. For example in Travel industries, service personnel must have knowledge of advertising.The advertising should have positive effects on contact personnel. It should provide tangible clues to the customers and make service offering well understood. It is also necessary for service companies to make sure that employees are giving the best quality performance. The ways to do that can be very simple, for example providing personnel with a necessary tools and equipment, such as mobile phones, computers, or creating better working environment by offering employees: child care service; health care service; family support service; family sick days; flexible return.However to have an affective marketing strategy, service companies have to make eye-catching image of the company for customers satisfaction. To achieve this, service companies are using another marketing mix element: Physical Evidence. â€Å"Physical Evidence in the Booms and Bitner framework refers to the environment in which the service is delivered and any tangible good that facilitate the performance and communication of the service. Physical evidence is important because customers use tangible clues to assess the quality of service provided. (Rafiq, M. & Pervaiz, K. A. 1995) The physical evidence of service is composed of all the physical representations of service. I. e. in transport and logistics service these tangible representations are: buildings, exclusive colour-painted vehicles, letterhead, carry-bags, uniforms of the personnel, package materials with coloured logotypes. Colours also have a meaning for physical evidence. For example red and yellow colours symbolize speed, energy and power.These colours are widely used in transport and logistics services, for example delivery services company DHL, used both colours in their company logo, also the flag carrier airlines of Spain – Iberia, are using these colours in their company logo and on the aircraft they own. By noticing these tangible cues, customers understand what company wants to say about its quality and performance. Also transport and logistics services create its appearance by using the newest model vehicles.From the companies which are using the latest model vehicles, customers automatically expect good service quality and fast transportation. On aircraft when customer is flying in the first class, he expects enough room to lay down, comfortable seats, cabin crew which wears clean and tidy uniforms. Generally speaking, physical evidence is capable to visually reflect what the company stands for, and simplifies the activities of employees. And the main purpose of physical evidence element is that it should be helping potential customers to see what kind of service they are buying.However to achieve customers expectation and satisfaction of the delivery service, an attractive environment is not enough, companies should show visualization of the service processes to the customer. â€Å"Processes are the lifeblood of the service operation. Rather like DNA provides the patter for living organism, a good process ensures that service is delivered consistently, time after time. â€Å"(Johnston R, & Clark G, 2005). It is said that logistics is a process of resource management providing: The right product, in the right place, at the right time. Therefore logistics companies should make this process visible for their customers.I. e. the world largest courier companies such as DHL, UPS, FedEx and TNT are using shipment tracking systems, customers can track their packages on companies’ web sites . On these web sites customers can find out where there shipment is. In other words, courier companies can offer customer real-time details of their shipment’s progress as it speeds through the companies’ network on the way to its destination. By seeing this process customer can evaluate the courier company and if these service processes satisfy him, he probably will be using the company’s service in the future.Therefore the power of IT should be integrated in this segment because it can speed up the availability of the information. Also, service firms use â€Å"service blueprinting† to better manage the service encounter and to allow clearer visualization of the service processes. â€Å"In typical service blueprint, the customer occupies the top zone, management occupies the bottom zone and service operations are inserted between them. † (Shostack, L. G. 1984). Although it should be remembered that, â€Å"Badly designed processes are likely to annoy customers because of slow, bureaucratic, and ineffective service delivery.Similarly, poor processes make it difficult for front-line staff to do their jobs well, result in low productivity, and increase the likelihood of service failures. †(Lovelock, C. H. , Wright, L. 2002). Conclusion: The additional elements of people, physical environment and process, have vital meaning for marketing services. Customers’ satisfaction of service delivery depends on how well these elements: people, physical environment and process, function together. These segments composed of the people who operate the service in the delivery service, the physical environment in hich the services are performed and the service processes which maintains these performances. Besides these three elements of service marketing mix have main influence on clients decision to purchase the service or not. In transport, the core product is service (movement) but there still are number of physical goods needed i. e. vehicles, roads, offices, for the business to operate. Whiles today’s marketplace is on competitiveness peak and the competition between service delivery companies is at the highest level it is important for delivery service companies to provide best quality of service to acquire and retain their customers.Bibliography: Johnston, R. & Clark, G. (2005) Service Operations Management Improving Service Delivery 2nd ed. Essex: Pearson Education Limited. Lovelock, C. H. , Wright, L. (2002). Principles of service marketing and management . 2nd ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. p14. Rafiq, M & Pervaiz K. A. (1995). Using the 7Ps as a generic marketing mix. Marketing Intelligence & Planning. 13 (9), pp4-15. Shostack, L. G. (1984). Design Services that Deliver. Harvard Business Review pp133-139.

Case study WRATD (Werribee Residents Against Toxic Dumps) Essay

Case study WRATD (Werribee Residents Against Toxic Dumps) - Essay Example It was further argued that the development planning of the facility had met all the guidelines and regulations of EPA. Thus, CSR believed that the development was legal and met all the stipulated regulations. However, the local residents were of the opinion that the project would be detrimental to the area’s economy. The region had also been previously compelled to accommodate unwanted developments such as Melbourne’s major sewerage treatment works. The residents formed Werribee Residents Against Toxic Dump (WRATD) in order to fight the proposal by CSR. The group was a grassroots organization with representation from various disparate parts of the community. One of the key issues that hindered the implementation of development of the waste facility was due to ineffective involvement of the local community. There was inadequate publicity about the proposal and the local residents were not properly appraised concerning the project. The process was highly secretive. In a nutshell, there was minimal community involvement in regards the proposal by CSR. The reservations of the local community, whether real or perceived, need to be addressed in order for a project to be accepted. This paper analyzes the role of community engagement to the society and its social impacts. The paper also discusses the pertinent issue of ethics in relation to the society and the role that community engagement can play in order to tackle the ethical problems associated with communications from organizations. The case study of Werribee Residents Against Toxic Dump (WRATD) is critically analyzed in order to assess the proper methodology of public involvement in proj ects and the approaches that should be used in handling publicity for contentious projects. According to Freeman and Harrison (2001), stakeholders comprise of the entire ecosystem that support an organization. From a business perspective

MGM Inovation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

MGM Inovation - Essay Example The Linus Pauling quote â€Å"the best way to have good ideas is to have lots of ideas – and then throw away the bad ones† magnetized the attention of the group members. In addition, the group was mesmerized by another quote. The quote shows that everyone should never doubt that any group of truly committed members can instill significant and meaningful changes in our complex world. The group focused the wonders of the internet’s role in the complex world. The historical discussion of the internet showed that the borders among the different nations of the world were removed. The group accepted the fact that the mediocre person cannot live without accessing the internet. Initially seen as a ridiculous idea, the internet tinkering blossomed into its current metamorphosed necessity status, one of the greatest events of global history. Bettina Stamm (Stamm 1) insists that management innovation fuels success and profits, specifically product and process innovation. Creativity and implementation are the two necessary components of management innovation. Further, the group members focused on the topic How to wisely use my time? Consequently, t he 11 step process was crafted. The process started with the first step, organize you. The process included other procedures like planning activities, avoiding distractions, being prepared for unexpected situations, and letting others help you. The other procedures included setting timers, learning from your mistakes and trying to follow a daily routine. In terms of results, the researcher visited a local sushi place. The sushi place only had a handful of clients. Literally the researcher saw only one customer in the place. The customer was taking his time enjoying his sushi meal. The customer only conversed when he ordered a drink and when he paid the check. The researcher opines that the customer regularly patronizes the sushi place. Next, the