Online Sources for Nursery Tree Purchase and Delivery

Online Sources for Nursery Tree Purchase and Delivery High-quality seedlings can be found at reasonable prices on the Internet. You just have to know where to look. Try these sites the next time you need to purchase trees. They have been picked because of the  convenience of online ordering, ease of site navigation and reputation. Note that these businesses are well established and have been growing trees for decades. They know how to do it right. Nurserymen.com Based in Grand Haven, Michigan,  Nurserymen.com  is a third generation business with an extraordinary selection of seedling conifers and sold as bare root and in plug containers. Not as extensive but just as attractive are their hardwood seedlings. They sell out early so request your order at least six months in advance. I ordered 50 bare root Eastern redcedars in December to be planted in Alabama. There was a March delivery from Michigan and I planted the seedlings in early April with a nearly 100 % survival rate. Virginia Department of Forestry The only government supplier of trees on this list, VDOF has been in the seedling business for over 90 years. They offer hundreds of conifers, hardwoods, and specialty packs. Their  website is customer friendly very easy to use. VDOF provides an online catalog. Seedling costs are very reasonable and are mostly sold as bare-root planting stock. The best values are in quantities of 1000 and only sold during the dormant season. Arbor Day Tree Nursery The Arbor Day Foundation is a pioneer in tree promotion and care. I have been a member for years and get my annual bundle of seedlings that come  with the membership. Their nursery  includes a wide variety of fruit, nut, and flowering trees and you can get a significant member discount on bulk wildland trees for planting tracts with large acreage. Musser Forests Based in Indiana County, PA., Musser Forests has been growing quality plants for over 70 years. They offer hundreds of conifers and hardwoods plus their online store is well constructed, easy to use and has the largest selection of tree varieties found anywhere. Musser provides a free catalog and valuable information on tree care and planting. Seedling cost ranges widely according to species and size. Gurneys Seed and Nursery Company Based in Greendale, IN., Gurneys has been in the tree and plant business since 1866 and sells all types of nursery stock, including landscape trees, shrubs and fruit trees. Gurneys is one of the leading seed and nursery companies in the United States and very much present online. I particularly like their Official Blog and YouTube videos. They offer the top-rated flowering trees, shade trees,  and trees for windbreaks. The Nursery at TyTy The TyTy, Georgia-based TyTy Nursery has been in the tree nursery and flower bulb business since 1978. This family business promises to provide each and every customer with the best product, fastest delivery, lowest price, and overall best service for your money. They are also one of the largest tree seedling sources online with an outstanding YouTube collection of how to plant videos.

What US Census Takers Do

What US Census Takers Do Americans who, for whatever reason, do not complete and return a Census Bureau questionnaire can expect a personal visit from a census taker or enumerator.What do the enumerators census takers have to do? According to Census Bureau Director Kenneth W. Prewitts April 5, 2000 testimony to the House Subcommittee on the Census, Each enumerator is given a binder of addresses in that area that includes all those addresses for which we have not received a completed questionnaire. Because houses without numbers and street name addresses can be difficult to find, enumerators in rural areas also receive maps that have the housing unit locations spotted on them. The enumerator must go to each address in the assignment area to complete the appropriate questionnaire (either short form or long form) for the housing unit and its occupants. Census Taker Key Takeaways Census Takers, or â€Å"Enumerators,† are employees of the U.S. Census Bureau who visit the homes of individuals who do not complete and return a census questionnaire. The Census Taker will interview any available adult member of the household in order to complete the census questionnaire.The Census Taker will make at least six attempts to visit the home, contact a resident, and complete the questionnaire.Like all Census Bureau employees, Census Takers are strictly prohibited by law from divulging any information gathered and may be fined and imprisoned for doing so. For each address, the enumerator must: Interview a household member at least 15 years of age and completes the assigned questionnaire. If the unit was occupied by a different household on Census Day, the enumerator completes a questionnaire for the occupants who lived there on Census Day by interviewing a knowledgeable person, such as a neighbor.If the current occupants were not enumerated elsewhere, the enumerator will also complete a census questionnaire for them for their Census Day address.If the housing unit was vacant on Census Day, the enumerator completes appropriate housing questions on the questionnaire by interviewing a knowledgeable person, such as a neighbor or apartment house manager.If the housing unit was demolished or otherwise nonexistent under census definitions, the enumerator completes a questionnaire that provides the reason why the unit should be deleted from the census address list, by interviewing a knowledgeable respondent such as a neighbor or apartment house manager. What if nobody's home? Will the census taker just go away? Yes, but he or she will most certainly be back. The enumerator must make up to six attempts to contact the resident and complete a questionnaire.If no one is home at an occupied housing unit, the enumerator obtains as much information as possible about how to contact the occupants from a neighbor, building manager, or another source.The enumerator also leaves a notice at the address that they have visited and provides a telephone number so the occupant can call back.The enumerator then makes up to two additional personal visits (3 in all) and three telephone attempts at contacting the household before obtaining as much information as possible to complete the questionnaire from a knowledgeable source. Enumerators are instructed to make their callbacks on different days of the week and at different times of day.The enumerator must maintain a record of callbacks that lists each type of callback made (telephone or personal visit) and the exact date and time it occurred. Enumerators are expected to obtain complete interviews but must o btain at least the status (occupied or vacant) and the number of people living in the unit. If the enumerator submits a questionnaire that contains this minimal level of data, the crew leader must check the enumerators record of callbacks for the housing unit to determine that procedures were properly followed. The crew leader also holds these cases for possible further follow-up to obtain more complete data. Crew leaders meet daily with each enumerator to pick up and check completed work.Crew leaders are expected to make sure that the enumerators produce quality work at a rate of 1 to 1.5 completed questionnaires per hour depending on the type of area covered. Crew leaders check each completed questionnaire for completeness and accuracy.In order to prevent falsification of the data by enumerators, a percentage of each enumerators work is verified for accuracy by a re-interview staff. This staff verifies a sample of each enumerators work and may also verify additional questionnaires from enumerators whose work differs significantly from that of other enumerators working for the same crew leader. An enumerator who is discovered falsifying data is dismissed immediately and all the work must be redone by another enumerator. And so it goes until a completed census questionnaire has been completed and turned into the local census office for every housing unit address in America.Like all other employees of the Census Bureau, enumerators are subject by law to severe penalties including imprisonment for divulging information outside of the required scope of their job. And remember, answering all census  questionnaires is required by law.   Census Taker Jobs for the 2020 Census With the 2020 Census fast approaching, the U.S. Census Bureau is now recruiting, hiring, and training thousands of people nationwide for temporary jobs.To be eligible for all 2020 Census job, you must:Be at least 18 years old.Have a valid Social Security number.Be a U.S. citizen.Have a valid email address.Complete an application and answer assessment questions. (Some assessment questions are available in Spanish. However, an English proficiency test may also be required.)Be registered as required by law with the Selective Service System or have a qualifying exemption, if you are a male born after Dec. 31, 1959.Pass a Census-performed criminal background check and a review of criminal records, including fingerprinting.Commit to completing training.Be available to work flexible hours, which can include days, evenings, and/or weekends.For most jobs- especially Census Taker- applicants must:Have a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle, unless public transportation is read ily available; andHave access to a computer with internet and an email account (to complete training).Persons interested in part or full-time census jobs may apply online at the Census Bureau’s very secure Census Careers Site. The application process takes about 30 minutes. You will need to provide your Social Security number, home address, email address, phone number, and your date and place of birth.

Integrated Communication Marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Integrated Communication Marketing - Assignment Example hat can compel me to participate is that I will get a bonus point for sending an email to a prospective customer who in turn will also pass on the message. These bonus points can be redeemed for a product that is being marketed. I think viral marketing campaigns are effective with customers given that the recipients of messages are likely to respond if they realise that the information is coming from their peers. The consumers become anxious to read the message if they realise that it is coming from a close friend. When they find the message appealing, they are likely to pass on to their peers and friends. This means that viral marketing becomes inexpensive because the customers pass along the message to others. This is a very effective marketing strategy among a targeted market segment given that the consumers will get information about a product which compels them to respond. They can do this by trying the product and once satisfied, they can also convince their peers to purchase

Deception in the investigative, interrogation, and testimonial Essay

Deception in the investigative, interrogation, and testimonial processes - Essay Example The fact is that the law often supports police detection, although police action is limited without an arrest or search warrant. The police conduct detection within a contradictory moral order wherein certain fidelities fuse with certain betrayals (Skotnick). The detection process has three stages and deception can and does occur in any or all of these (Skotnick, 1985). These are investigation, interrogation and testimony. Within the policeman's broad moral cognition, the acceptability of deception depends on the level of criminal process: It is most acceptable to the police and the courts at the investigation stage, less during interrogation and least at the testimonial stage in the courtroom. Increasingly stringent normative constrains account for the differences among the levels and stages. Courtroom testimony is given under oath, whereby witnesses sweat to tell only the truth and nothing but the truth. It is the norm to accept that a witness is telling the truth in court. Courtroom lying violates the basic justice system, which all the parties are assumed to uphold. A policeman who lies in the courtroom can work his way out of his predicament by insisting that judicial interpretations of his limitations can get on the way of his abil ity of performing his job. This appears to be true within the context of the forces, which operate within the investigative stage of an adversary system, wherein the end justifies the means. The policeman seems to have the "privilege" of lying to get to the truth in achieving justice through due process (Skotnick). It may be quaint and a contradiction of values and norms but it is also factual that police freely admit to deceiving suspects and defendants to catch them, yet lying policemen and detectives do not admit to committing perjury (Skotnick, 1985). Perjury is as systematic as police work and police know among themselves that they perjure as a norm rather than as an individual error. A study, conducted by Columbia law students on the effect of Mapp v. Ohio on police practices in New York City, on certain search and seizure cases showed that uniformed police fabricated grounds for arrest in narcotics cases in meeting the requirements of Mapp. This does not justify but only explains how police who falsely witness justify the practice for the sake of greater persuasiveness. They resort to lying as routine of shaking themselves out of a predicament or helping one another out of it and because of a skeptical attitude towards a system, which is disinclined towards the truth that would be favor able to the criminal. The law allows a policeman to lie during the investigative stage but forbids it during the testimonial stage in the courtroom where and when he is certain of the guilt of the suspect, unlike during the investigative stage. The lying policeman puts more value on a short-term objective of suppressing evidence than on the long-term principle of due process in protecting the dignity of the accused. The policeman's pursuit is to legitimize the evidence he presents rather than weigh and analyze its sufficiency. He is merely after complying with the arrest laws, although this compliance often involves manipulation

Benjamin Marquez Essay Example for Free

Benjamin Marquez Essay Benjamin Marquez works to define identity as being beneficial but mostly keeps minorities in check socially, economically, and politically.   Mexican Americans created identities in response to this discrimination and economic deprivation by aligning with four organizations: The Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (SNEEJ), the Southwest Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), The Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC), and the Mexican American Women’s National Association (MANA).   The Mexican-American organizations in this study are each seeking to advance its own concept of racial politics. The minority group status depicts exclusion based on race or culture and lower socioeconomic status; however, these are not the only defining features.   Historically, they represent the most continual points of conflict between Mexican and Anglo Americans.   The Racial discrimination had put Anglo Americans higher on the social ladder, not to mention skin color and being a majority.   To build on the disadvantages faced by Mexican Americans they battle poverty, low wages, and unemployment.   These concerns have been the basis of demands made by Mexican American activists for equal treatment before the law, nondiscrimination in hiring, access to higher education, and so son. The Author’s Thesis Benjamin Marquez argues that the political organizations formed are in response to social discrimination and economic deprivation.   The four organizations broken down in his novel, he asserts, have completely different procedures and plan to battle a common cause of suppression of Mexican American people. Data/Evidence Offered The author, Benjamin Marquez, uses in-person and telephone interview to reveal how each of the four political organizations operated.   The four political organizations focused on are The Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (SNEEJ), the Southwest Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), The Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC), and the Mexican American Women’s National Association (MANA).   There are hundreds of Mexican American organizations but Marquez narrowed his selection down because all four mentioned are well known in southwestern political, have a long record of successful organizing, and are supported by a large membership base.   The four organizations chosen for this study are good examples of the regionally based organizations at work in Mexican-American communities.   Benjamin Marquez made trips to each of the network’s headquarters to examine each organization’s records and materials.   Unfort unately, a paper trail on each Mexican American organization was hard to come by because of a lack of record-keeping. Conclusion The argument Marquez gets across to his readers is that the reason for the hundreds of Mexican American organizations is to aid the uphill climb for Mexican Americans in the Anglo-dominated society; essentially, to counter racial discrimination that plagues the group from the beginning.   Marquez makes it certain that discrimination is still felt among Mexican Americans and continues to be a significant problem.   How these problems take shape in a political atmosphere is the focus of the book. The four political organizations the comprise the book are very different: The Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (SNEEJ), the Southwest Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), The Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC), and the Mexican American Women’s National Association (MANA). While, within the organizations, there is at times political dissent the mission statement the members do not waiver from the mission statement.   TAMACC’s long-standing demand for equal opportunity is a declaration that they are the Anglos equal and are determined to prove it.   Still, the members make a point that they place important on the individual.   Their intention is to acquire property and build large business enterprises.   However, it is important to note, TAMACC activists are critics of racial, not economic, hierarchies.   Simply, they believe that Mexican Americans will prosper if the business world is purged of racism. SNEEJ is the only group in Marquez’s study to issue a fully challenging identity on race, class, and culture.   SNEEJ activists believe they have been exploited on a race, economic, and cultural level.   They know that respect and recognition will come through land claims, political autonomy, and control over natural resources.   In contrast, the Southwest IAF activists feel that bridging gaps between group boundaries will ultimately eliminate racism.   IAF use commonalities between people of different groups such as religion as a gap-filler, where both parties can connect.   Even poor racial minorities, if they really wanted to, could change political thought where they can get more recognition for their group.   For IAF, cooperation, reconciliation, and compromise are articles of faith (117).   Both groups, SNEEJ and Southwest IAF, see Mexican Americans as poor and deprived, organize in Mexican American neighborhoods, and strive for a better economic share of p ower and resources.   Yet, as noted, they have radically different premises, values, and goals. They all agree Mexican-American people face profound socioeconomic problems but disagree on the appropriate remedy. Summary Criticism An Issue that sparked an interest and had relevance to my life was the perception of migrants in a foreign country and the perception of returning migrants to their countries of origin (17).   The perception of migrants from two differing points of view is one that could be seen as discriminatory no matter how one looks at it.   I noticed examples of this in two separate sections of the book.   On page 17, Pà ©rez states migrants who have settled in a foreign country will experience discrimination, so will their children.   People on the mainland still consider American-born Puerto Ricans foreign.   So not only do parents feel alienated but so does the whole family. What is even more interesting is that first generation Americans from Puerto Rican families are not to identify as Puerto Rican (29).   Gina Pà ©rez makes it clear through her personal experience with residents in San Sebastian as they questioned her about her identity.   â€Å"Do you consider yourself Puerto Rican?† When she was taken by surprise at the question she was told, â€Å"That’s right, you are not Puerto Rican but of Puerto Rican descent† (29).   The reasoning behind this, I assume, is because when one lives their life outside their cultural scene, they no longer can fully identify with the day-to-day life in the state of origin.   They experience cultural mixing and now practice a blend of cultures; a hybrid culture. I can completely understand where this ideology comes from because I too have experienced similar encounters.   Since I am first generation born in the U.S., I overcame the same barriers.   My parents are from India.   The popular term used when referring to all people from India is Desi.   When I take summer trips to India, I know my identity as an Indian is questioned because I am so immersed in the American culture and more often, that not, I am referred to as ABCD (American-Born Confused Desi).   This is a term that implies that I am confused as to who I am and where I come from. A word I hear thrown around a little too much is progress.   What does progress mean to the people of the United States and what does it mean to other countries?   Gina Pà ©rez starts the second chapter off with the idea of progress that the people of Puerto Rico hold.   When she drove into Pepino she was informed that there was so much change and Pepino was finally progressing in the twenty-first century.   A familiar phrase she had heard in her field work three years ago. The change Pà ©rez was expecting does not seem to be there; at least, one that does not do justice to the word progress.   I guess most of us who have chosen to live in such a changing and progress-driven country have a different way of evaluating progress.   We do not see the small changes that make a big impact on the lives of people in different countries because most of the luxuries they strive for, we already hold.   Coming across this dialogue exchange in the book makes we wonder if the rest of the world is playing catch-up with the United States; or whether they are pushing modernization when there is still a need to battle poverty and non-employment. Some of the aspects that come with progress are not even favorable to the people of small towns in Puerto Rico but they still move forward with this idea because it symbolizes the island’s modernity.   Progress is marked by strip malls with mega stores, fast food chains, bigger roads and parking lots.   I believe that building infrastructures does not address the bigger issues of poverty and discrimination.   On top of that, I do not see a point in having a more material-based economy if the people cannot afford the prices.

PIE CHART - Data Visualization for Businesses Essay examples -- essays

Pie Chart Data Visualization for Businesses A picture is worth a thousand words. The ability to graphically represent your business data gives you the power to make informed business decisions quickly. (Microsoft.com, 2002) This representation must be visually appealing and easy to understand. By keeping it simple, it allows the broadest number of users to interpret the data, gain insights as to its meaning and facilitate communication on the data ultimately to solve the company ¡Ã‚ ¦s problem. Data visualization is the use of interactive, sensory representations, typically visual, of abstract data to reinforce cognition. (Wikipedia.org, 2005) That in itself is a method or technique of decision-making. To further break it down, the most popular and widely used tool of data visualization is the Pie Chart. There are two types of pie charts. The first type is your standard Pie Chart and the second is the Exploded Pie Chart. The standard pie chart shows parts and their relationship to the whole. Pie charts are always based on a circle, since the circle provides a true visual concept of the whole hundred percent. The parts or  ¡Ã‚ §pies ¡Ã‚ ¨ of the chart represent percentages of the whole. The Exploded Pie Chart is nearly identical to the standard with the exception that one  ¡Ã‚ §pie ¡Ã‚ ¨ is visually separated from the rest for emphasis. Pie charts are created with the help of a compass, protractor, circle stencil, can or jar and a ruler for drawing in the segmented pies. A pie chart should alwa...

Effects of Social Networking Sites Essay

The implementation of social networking sites has changed how the average person communicates with others. Studies show that the average person spends at least nine hours a week surfing and posting on social network sites (http://socialnetworking.procon.org/). In fact, using social networking sites has not only improved our communication skills, but has had a negative impact as well. One of the many pros and cons to communicating on a networking site is the ability to â€Å"stay connected.† When a student graduates, a loved one moves, or a career changes, everyone wants to keep up with people they have grown to care for. Being on a social networking site, you can â€Å"friend request† people you know to keep up with their day to day actions. This ensures we don’t miss out on parts of someone’s life where we want to be included. Increasing the communication you have with someone, even online, strengthens your relationship. Unfortunately, being able to â€Å"stay connected† has kept thousands connected in a less than personal way. Networking sites entice people to stay online and spend less face-to-face time with others. So, you may be connecting to friends and family, but you are being distracted by the time wasting activities and applications the site supplies. Your mother doesn’t really care if you reached level ten in t he Adventures of Indiana Jones on Facebook. She wants to know how you are doing in your classes at school. Read more:  Essays on Social Networking Another way networking sites are affecting society is evident in the ability to find new people. Making new friends can be a wonderful thing. Consider the following scenario, you are interested in a certain musician and find their â€Å"page† on your networking site. On that same page are many others that have that common interest. Befriending these new people provides a new outlet for expression. A family member or friend may not like the same artist, but finding this new friend gives the ability to have someone to talk to about the subject. On the other hand, not all people surfing these sites that are looking for new friends are doing it for the right reasons. Artists and topics that attract a younger population give ample opportunity for predators to have access to the viewers. There is no way to know that the 15 year old girl you’ve become â€Å"besties† with is really a young girl, or if it’s really a pedophile looking for new prey. â€Å"In Feb. 2009, MySpace identified 90,000 registered sex offenders with profiles on the site, while Facebook declined to reveal how many were present on its site† (http://socialnetworking.procon.org/). Another example of how social networks affect society both positively and negatively is the ability to obtain information. Many networking sites created today are made for specific genres of people. Sites like LinkedIn.com and CafeMom.com have been created to help people with life issues such as finding new jobs or getting tips on breastfed babies. If a person is shy and has trouble meeting that â€Å"special someone,† they can go to a networking site such as MeetUp.com. Sadly, not everything that is posted on these sites can be verified. Most sites, like the match-making sites, have no way to verify that the person posting on their site is them. An older, obese person can post a picture of a younger, thinner person to try and get a match. The site itself does not know that the picture posted is actually the person posting it. So, when the â€Å"date† shows up expecting person A, they are angry or upset that they meet person B, the real person, and bullying, fighting, or worse occurs. Too much false information is passed along the internet, and a large percent of it is done via networking sites. Overall, social networking sites can’t wholly be praised or put down for being â€Å"bad.† Being able to stay connected, make new friends, and get information via these sites has its pros and cons. No matter what changes are made, there will always be those that say the sites are good for our society, and those that say the dangers outweigh the benefits. References: Are social networking sites good for our society? (2012). Retrieved from http://socialnetworking.procon.org/

If only God had made Adam & Steve, instead of Adam & Eve

In â€Å"Let Gays Marry,† Andrew Sullivan responds to conservative objections to same-sex marriages, by arguing that allowing such unions would actually promote traditional values, such as fidelity, monogamy, and love. It should logically appeal to straight conservatives, who deplore gay male promiscuity, that the declaration of Supreme Court: â€Å"A state cannot deem a class of persons a stranger to its laws,† now assigns equal rights to gays and lesbians. Andrew Sullivan is a senior editor at The New Republic, a magazine he edited from 1991 to 1996, and the U. S. columnist for the Sunday Times of London. He has a B. A. in modern history and modern languages from Oxford University and a Ph. D. in political science from Harvard University. He lives in Washington, D. C. The real problem is that there are really only three arguments against gay marriage: One is rooted in entirely God's preferences, the second cites inconclusive research on its negative effects on children, and third, the integrity of a marriage as a legal document. Sullivan effectively presents his case in a very logical fashion, calmly displaying his points, and using a statement declared by the United States Supreme Court, under which no gay men or lesbians will be considered strangers in America. They (Gays) are human beings just like you and I, â€Å"the sons and daughters of countless mothers and 2 fathers,† and should have the same opportunities to pursue happiness by marrying the one that they love. A natural process, where two people fall in love and decide to get married, is not any different for gay people. Therefore legalizing gay marriages does not provide gays with any special rights or place in America, but instead people will consider them to be an equal part of the society. The main idea is homosexuals should have the right to get married legally. Sullivan does not want churches to make any change in their practice, but to allow everyone to be who he/she is, a principle that the United States was created on. Plus, the concept of marriage has changed within the past one hundred years. The inter-caste and the inter-religion marriages which were once prohibited or forbidden between couples, has now become socially acceptable. Gay marriages do not change anyone else's rights or marriages in any way. Marriage is not just about raising children because the fact that many notable â€Å"childless heterosexual couples† exist in today's society, such as Bob Dole and his wife Elizabeth Dole, etc. Sullivan concludes by telling the general public to accept homosexual marriages and the fact that they will not be the turning point for the downfall of all society. Although I agree with Sullivan when he says, legalizing gay unions would not change anyone's right to marriage, I find Bennett's view more powerful, that it would weaken the institution of marriage, and contradict natural, moral, religious, and sexual realities. After reading Sullivan's article, I question his credibility, as he didn't provide enough evidence to get his point through. His approach toward his readers is with a lot of pathos, rather than logos. For example, when he states â€Å"And what we 3 seek is not a special place in America†¦ o give back to our society,† it is not clear as to what he means by giving back. When he argues about the definition of marriage, Sullivan fails to see the change, which was brought about for the welfare of the people (inter-caste marriages, inter-religion marriages, etc. ), consisted of a â€Å"man† and a â€Å"woman†, not two men, or two women. I would have agreed to the assertion, â€Å"the most simple, the most natural, and the most human instinct,† if it was used to prove the relationship between a male and a female. But using it to persuade about the same sex marriage doesn't cheer me up. To answer the question of whether gay and lesbian couples should have the right to marry, the question of why the institution of marriage is valued so dearly in society today must be answered. To do this, the meaning of the word marriage must be found, remembering that there are different levels in which marriage can be interpreted and/or evaluated. As with many other issues, when one tries to define the word marriage and its repercussions in society, several fundamental questions arise that must be answered in order to get a better understanding of the issue in question. Questions like: What is marriage defined as? In Webster's Dictionary, marriage is defined as â€Å"The institution whereby men and women are joined in special kind of social and legal dependence for the purpose of founding and maintaining a family. † This concept seems to have been perpetuated throughout history, one man and one woman joined â€Å"till death do them part. † Keeping the above points in view, same sex marriages defy the laws of Christianity, and it is immoral in the eyes of society. Homosexuality in almost all countries has been looked down upon, and sometimes condemned. This opposition stems from the Holy 4 Bible. The couple in the Garden of Eden was a man and a woman, not two men or two women. If God intended two men or two women to be together, he would have put them in the Garden of Eden, giving them both the ability to have children. But that didn't happen. God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve, for the procreation of life. God wanted man and woman to reproduce with one another in order for the human race to continue. Today, adoption has taken a turn for the worse; Gay and Lesbian couples who cannot have their own children are adopting kids. I see this as one of the concerned problems. What kind of message are these kids getting? That homosexuality is all right. Moreover, the impact of this move can be devastating on the children as they grow up. For example, they might have to face a lot of challenges, like people taunting them, name calling, making fun, etc. Homosexuality is rejected by all major religions around the globe, but Andrew Sullivan still believes that promiscuity in homosexual relationships can show heterosexual couples that adultery doesn't have to end their marriage. The Bible states, â€Å"Leviticus 20:13: If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. † Thus, a 4000 year old book had an answer to the question being asked today. i. e. = Same Sex Marriage– Ethical or Unethical?

All About Escape Literature

All About Escape Literature As the name suggests, so-called escape literature is written for entertainment, and to let the reader become totally immersed in a fantasy or alternate reality. Much of this kind of literature falls into the guilty pleasure category (think romance novels). But there is a wide variety of different literary genres that could be labeled as escapist: science fiction, westerns, magical realism, even historical fiction. Its worth noting that just because something can be categorized as escape literature doesnt necessarily mean it doesnt have higher literary value. Why Escape Literature Is Popular Its not difficult to understand why escape literature, in all its formats, is well-liked. Being able to immerse oneself in a fictional reality, where troubles and problems are easily recognized and solved, is a comfort provided by movies, books and other forms of entertainment. Truly good works of escape literature create a believable alternate universe, whose inhabitants struggle with dilemmas that the reader might encounter. Its a crafty way to explore moral and ethical themes within an entertaining framework. Examples of Escape Literature The most compelling escapist literature includes works that describe characters in an entirely new, fictional universe. J.R.R. Tolkiens  The Lord of the Rings trilogy is an example of a canonical literature series, complete with its own history and completely made-up languages, that follows elves, dwarves and humans through a mythical quest to save their world. In the series, Tolkien  explores the themes of right versus wrong and how small acts of bravery can be significant. He also pursued his fascination with linguistics by developing new languages such as Elvish for the majestic elves in the stories. Of course, there are plenty of examples of escape literature that are little more than pop culture entertainment. And thats fine too, just as long as students of the genre can differentiate between the two. When Escapism Is Just Entertainment The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer, which grew into a massive movie franchise with a cult following is a good example of lowbrow escapist literature. Its themes of love and romance between a vampire and a human (who happens to be friends with a werewolf) is a thinly-veiled religious allegory, but not exactly a canonical work. Still, the appeal of Twilight  is undeniable: the series was a top seller in both its book and movie forms.  is undeniable: the series was a top seller in both its book and movie forms. Another popular fantasy series often compared with the Twilight books, is theHarry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (although the quality of the latter is generally considered superior). While some may argue that Harry Potter is an example of interpretive literature, which compels a deeper exploration of the real world through literary themes, its themes of magical workings in a school for wizards offers an escape from reality. Difference Between Escapist and Interpretive Literature Escape literature is frequently discussed alongside interpretive literature, and at times the line between the two genres becomes a little blurry. Interpretive literature seeks to help readers understand deeper questions of life, death, hate, love, sorrow and other elements of human existence. While interpretive literature can be equally as entertaining as its cousin escape, in general, the goal is to bring readers closer to understanding reality. Escape literature wants to take us away from reality, immersing us in a whole new world (but often with the same old problems).

Get this new symbol and youll pay for it - Emphasis

Get this new symbol and youll pay for it Get this new symbol and youll pay for it If you have an aversion to emoticons and their ilk, you may want to look away now. Introducing an entirely new symbol to express heavy-handedly what your words apparently cant: ladies and gentlemen, the Sarcmark. As you might already have guessed, it can be handily popped at the end of a sentence to signify when youre being sarcastic. Actually, its probably meant to be an indicator of irony, but presumably the Iromark didnt have quite the same commercial appeal. Thats right: youll have to pay to use it. Its makers, Sarcasm Inc, will charge you a mere 1.20 for the privilege. So will we be downloading it? Of course. (Darn, now we need one. The irony!) Ok, sometimes the lack of tone in email can be a problem. But sarcasms a tricky one to pull off at the best of times, particularly in business dealings. Insert one of these and you run the risk of either offending your reader for using sarcasm at all, or by assuming theyre too dim-witted to recognise it if they see it.

Metaphysics Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Metaphysics - Article Example Metaphysics Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy whose primary focus is to respond to the enquiry ‘What is there?’ In a collection of his works, the most detailed treatise on the general topic of things ta phusika (from which English derives ‘physics’). Since the Greek for ‘after’ is meta, this treatise is titled ‘Metaphysics’. The metaphysics takes into account the material as well as immaterial objects like, property, subject, change, being essentially or accidentally. Three ancestors highly inspired Platos thoughts on metaphysics and epistemology, Heraclitus (c. 540 B.C.-480-70), Parmenides (c.515 B.C.-449-40), and Socrates (470 B.C.-399). Only few extracts of the writings of Parmenides and Heraclitus, including some contained in the dialogues of Plato. Socrates did not write anything. Platos work, influenced by that of his teacher is our primary source of evidence for his philosophy. Parmenides argued that there is and could be only one thing, Being. Furthermore, since change implies that something comes into existence from non-existence, nothing can change. This implies that the reality is static. Plato wrote at different times different dialogues. Usually, his writings is divided into three phases. In the early ‘Socratic’ phase, we find Apology, Crito, Euthyphro, Charmides, Ion, Lysis, Laches, Hippias Minor, Menexenus, Euthydemus and the Protagoras. The Hippias Major, Gorgias and perhaps the Meno belong to the end of this period, maybe with the Gorgias and more likely the Meno verging into the middle phase.