Impact of the Media on Society

American Attitudes about September 11th essays

American Attitudes about September 11th essays Osama Bin Ladin had more than just a plan to harm United States Citizens when he had the world trade centers bombed. He had a grudge with the whole way of life that Americans led. He was disgruntled about our economic strength, our cultural acceptances, and the "materialistic" way of life we led. He thought that by bringing down the world trade centers, our symbol of everything good about America, that he would destroy our lives. However, the opposite effect was produced. The country came together in a wave of patriotism and heroism. Granted, some racism took place against Arab Americans, but for the most part, the whole country came together in a moment that would change lives not only in America, but all over the world. Racism, as defined by Schaefer, is a doctrine that one race is superior. (Schaefer, pg. 506) When the world trade center came down, and the entire country came to a halt and gasped, we realized that the world suddenly changed. We saw scenes of people suffering, dying, and crying out for loved ones, and the heart of America sobbed for them. Everyone in America today, was affected by what happened 09/11/02. Many lost precious loved ones, more lost jobs, and even more lost the feeling that they were safe in the most powerful nation on Earth. We were attacked from more than one angle on that day. The economic consequences of September 11 were that many people lost their source of income across the land. Father's that had to make child support payments were left with no means in which to take care of their children. People who were getting ready for retirement were forced to look at working for another five years to guarantee their pensions. Consumers were afraid to spend money in fear that they would lose their jobs, and not be able to make rent. The economy seemed to come to a halt. However, Bin Laden was wrong. Not only was he wrong about our sprit as a nation, but also about the ...

Evocative Object - IPod (3rd Gen) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Evocative Object - IPod (3rd Gen) - Essay Example It has been significant in improving the way of doing things, enhancing quick and efficient communication, promoting quick exchange of data, increasing human interactions, and generally improving human life. However, most common in the recent technological advancements is the information and communication technologies (ICT). Information and communication technologies cover a wide range of applications subject to the many gadgets that fall under technological advancements. Some of these applications are in computers, cell phones, software, and other innovative gadgets. Nevertheless, applications of given technological gadgets depend on specific properties in such tools. More so, these properties manifest clearly in the telephony world where different phones have variant features. Personally, I have had experiences with various cell phones both in school and at home. This paper will therefore detail my experience with the 3rd generation iPod. The introduction of the iPod in the market followed the iPhone, which is a smart phone. Indeed, the iPod is a development of an iPhone and is a product of apple just like iPhone and iPad. Nevertheless, the iPod has an improved processor and has more improved features than earlier software. Actually, the iPod touch (3rd generation) is a technological improvement of the iPod touch (2nd generation). As such, the iPod touch (3rd generation) was technologically better and at the time it was the best sleek phone in the market. Hence, when my father gave me the 3rd generation iPod upon my success in my exams, a sensual feeling coupled with a beautiful experience came to my life. The iPod touch (3rd generation) had a faster processor, sleek in shape and green in color (Apple Web). My father brought the iPod at night during the summer after the release of my exam results. Upon opening the box carrying the iPod, I could not contain the excitement from the beautiful gadget that met my eyes. The green color is my favorite color and alth ough the iPod comes in various colors, my father made the best choice. The gadget was small and sleek thus flexible and convenient to carry. I comfortably rested in my pocket and the feeling of having such a classy gadget in my pocket was awesome. In addition, there were Apple earphones with remote and microphone, USB 2.0 cable, and a dock adapter in the box carrying the iPod (Apple Web). Since, the iPod touch was already charged; I had to try the Apple earphones by playing the default music in the iPod. Upon a closer look, I realized that the ear bud headphones had an allowance for adjusting the volume, video playback, and control music. In addition, the sound and pitch coming through the Apple earphones was exciting. At the same time, I tried the USB 2.0 cable via my laptop and it worked marvelously. I realized that the cable was significant in connecting the iPod with a computer. The dock adapter was equally synonymous in charging the iPod. These applications made me value the ga dget so much. As such, the next day I checked to school with it and could not resist showing my friends who were so excited to see it. I came to learn that the iPod had a very fast processor. As such, I can download files from the internet and access information with record speed. Indeed, in between lessons, I research

Reading Log and Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reading Log and Case Study - Essay Example The most important resource available to organisations is human resource and their conducive functioning is ensured by a suitable organisational culture and climate. 2. Key insights (200 words) The state of the economy mandates that various organisations have to merge with each other in order to forge their survival. On the other hand, certain other organisations are trying to go for a change in their business operations through business process innovation. In order to support both kinds of activities, it is essential that organisations enhance their operating organisational culture and climate by innovating within its framework. The transition from one organisational cultural state to another cultural state is not only cumbersome but requires dedicated effort on multiple fronts. In order to make organisational culture and climate change a success it has to be adapted well to the existing organisational culture and organisational climate. This ensures that the transition between cult ural states is smooth and does not affect business operations negatively. In order to make the transition as smooth as possible, it is advisable to study the various involved sub-cultures within organisations in detail to identify possible transition problems. The resistance to change in organisational cultures is a present reality and needs to be dealt with on realistic footing. How can you key insights be applied in practice (200 words) In order to deal with organisation change on a stronger footing, it is necessary to implement organisational cultural change with greater understanding of the underlying sub cultures that would provide resistance to change. It is necessary to provide employees with means of feedback to gauge their assessment of the organisation’s culture and climate in order to develop new changes. Employee feedback could be received using questionnaires, surveys, one on one meeting by senior management and other similar methods. Once employee perception of existing organisational culture and climate is established, this baseline can then be used to plot a new direction for movement. During any major or minor organisational culture or climate change resistance will be encountered. The senior management of the business has to find avenues that will invite resistance from employees and then deal with these problems accordingly. For example, senior employees may show reluctance to upgrade their IT skills so the management would need to provide them with more intuitive and easy to use IT systems. These gaps and deficits must be assessed as realistically as possible and the use of external experts should not be ruled out. Case Study 1. How would you characterise current staff behaviour at the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Bank? The current staff behaviour at Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Bank is characterised by a twofold description – the older staff is sticking to its old working values while the new staff is trying to innovate and incre ase competitiveness. Overall staff behaviour characterises the struggle between the old guard and the new innovators. 2. Do you feel that their behaviour is attributable to the changes that have taken place, and why? The behaviour of the staff is purely an outcome of the structural change at the bank given the merger. Instead of the staff being at loggerheads because of differentiated cultures from two organisations, the staff is in a struggle because change is being imposed and resisted. Older members

Food Policy Reform in Schools Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Food Policy Reform in Schools - Essay Example The program also aims to provide opportunities for various stakeholders including parents, agriculturists, retailers, etc. However, in recent times it is found that the program are unable to achieve their objectives as the nutritional status of populations have changed over the last 50 years and populations are affected with a different set of disorders compared to what was present more than 50 years ago. Hence, recommendations need to be laid down which would more effectively ensure the success of the school food programs and ensured hat the taxpayers money is put to better use. Food Policy Reform in Schools Introduction The aim of this study would to review the food reform policies that are implemented for schools across various states of the US. The aim of the food policy is to implement a population-based approach so that the diet of children is improved, their nutritional status is benefitted and various nutritional disorders such as obesity and deficiency are prevented. An impo rtant aspect of the topic is the fact that children’s diet in schools would play an important role in developing future food behavior, establish an appropriate BMI. Children spend a significant portion of their time at schools and these fruitful hours in education also need to take into consideration other activities such as exercises, food eating habits and psychosocial development. Most Americans spend life at schools for the first 16 years of their lives and hence is exposed to the food available at schools at least at some point (Adamick 2010). Over the past few years, the food problem in schools have escalated very seriously as unhealthy eating habits were being developed and promoted. Vending machines, fast food cultures, cafeterias and junk food stalls been sources of unhealthy food (Public Health Law Center 2010). Kate Adamick (co-founder, Cook for America), considers that having a school food reform program may not only be effective as the economy is sick and the cos ts of such programs would be prohibitively high. Also considering the fact that the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) have certain set standards available for nutritional content and that junk food which is also easily available at schools does not need to meet any nutrient content. Schools may sell these junk food items through cafeteria, fundraising events, school stores, vending machines or snack bars (Adamick 2010). In analysis, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) have been provided by the federal government to students of school and children care facilities across the US, regardless of the income status or the social status of the families. These programs have been authorized under the statues Child Nutrition Act 1966 and the National School Lunch Act 1946. The Statutes involves creating a policy for providing food to children from schools at a subsidized rate (or free for qualified students) whilst ensuing that the various stakeholders in this scheme are benefited. The various stakeholders including the children, parents, teachers, school management, Federal government, state government, US Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, etc. The program was further modified for including snacks provided to children up to the age of 18 years. More than 31 million children across the US are benefited

Origin And Importance Of Rattan Weaving Cultural Studies Essay

Origin And Importance Of Rattan Weaving Cultural Studies Essay A traditional mode of occupation to some of our local people. Mostly the weavers are blind people which had been trained by Ministry of Welfare to give this people a chance to earn and make living with this job. It is also one of Terengganu famous craft that can be bought as a souvenir or can be use in a daily work. Its is one way of diversifying the handicraft products and develop this family business into a more systematic industry producing long term, high standard quality products, that are able to penetrate the tourist and commercial markets. Mengkuang (screw pine leaves) or pandanus weaving is one of the traditional arts still very much alive and its products are still in demand. The Mengkuang and pandan leaves are found abundance in the local jungles. The leaves are first cut in long strips and dried in the sun. Once dried, it is boiled and dyed with vegetable colours. Still using the traditional weaving techniques, the mengkuang or pandan leaves are coiled, plaited, twined and woven to create beautifully products such as mats, conical food covers, grocery bags, hand fans, baskets, tissue decorative boxes, hats, handbags, slippers, purses and pencil cases. The potential of Mengkuang/pandan has been tapped into and creating increasing demands by tourists and locals. The Mengkuang/pandan finished products are widely available at the Central Market and souvenir shops. Wau Making Wau (pronounce as wow) can appear in all shapes and size but the most popular and famous kite is the moon kite (Wau Bulan) and cat kite (Wau Kucing) in the east coast. Kite making requires patience and tremendous skill. Bamboo will be cut and make into the frame or skeleton of the kite. The best time to cut the bamboo is in November or December and this will be kept for 10 months before it is split and soaked in water followed by heated to straighten and toughen. On the other hand, designs are traced on a tinted and shiny glazed paper and then carefully cut out and pasted on paper which is glued to the bamboo skeleton. The designs are normally flowers with vines which signifies women (flower) and man (vine), eg. if the flowers are in bud form, it symbolizes a young woman etc. In some older designs, flowers were drawn from the side and back to represent the shy and reserved personality of female in those days whereas for the vines, the more meandering the vines, the more twists and turns in a mans life. There are also waus that are made using the batik technique or painted by batik artists and the designs are always more creative and less formalized by tradition. It is never an easy job to fly a Wau kite into the sky. A traditional Wau can be as big as 3.5m in height and 2.5 m wing span and usually needs the help of a group of person to bring it to the sky. To choose a good kite, you should look at the harmonious colours matched and the flowers as well as the vines drawn which represent the inner state of the kite maker. In a windy day, a Wau can fly up to 450m into the sky. Batik Hand drawn batik is an exquisite and delicate art which requires skill, patience, meticulousness, flair and creativity. Batik is intrinsic to the fashion world, be it in cotton or silk or in the making of sarongs, scarf, pareos, shirts, shorts, handbags, purses and even shoes.  Terengganu batik shows originality and is not commercialised thus, retaining its price for the quality of the material and the elegance of the designs. A special wax is mixed with amber and boiled over a slow fire to maintain the optimum temperature. On white cotton or silk fabrics, a special copper chanting pen dipped with the wax.  The designs reflect nature-based motifs such as floral prints and marine life to produce a freestyle handrawn motifs. Each drawings are different. Another method is by using either tin, copper or brass block print stamped with flowers or abstract designs. They are first dipped into the wax and then used to print the designs on the white fabrics. Colours will be added after the wax had dried. Different colours can be added without spreading onto other parts as the wax creates sections within the designs. The fabrics will then dipped in boiling water to wash off the wax and to strengthen the colours before the batik can be made into different products. The elegant prints stand out on mens shirts and womens dresses. Batik souvenirs include pareos, scarfs, wall panels, neckties, handbags, purses and shoes. Contemporary batik designs are also being introduced as designer wear, to alleviate batik to exclusive international standards. Batiks are available at various shops especially at the central market. Watch out though for low quality batik sold at exorbitant price. The colours are easily come off, usually on the first wash. Buying at an established batik shops therefore guarantees the quality of the products. Songket The origins of the many different colourful and traditional textile are lost in antiquity. The art of songket weaving consist of using traditional heirloom to make intricate songket brocade through painstaking weaving with gold or silver threads. Songket is a rich fabric that is worn only on auspicious occasions and used to be the textiles of royalty. It is now the headgear of Sultans, Chief Ministers and the States Cabinet members. The weaving process usually takes a few days for normal and simple designs songket cloth but for more intricate designs, usually takes more than two weeks and can costs thousands of Malaysian Ringgit. Several shops in Kuala Terengganu sell this regal fabric that comes in an array of both vibrant and pastel shades. The elegant and exquisite songket is slowly being introduced into the international fashion scene by adapting it to a more contemporary style. Wood Carving Wood carving was originally found in houses of sulatans or Malay nobility as part of their interior decoration and the craftsmen were commissioned for their services. Because human depiction is prohibited in Islam, Malay wood carving gets its inspiration from flora, animal motif and Islamic art but this has never influence its finest artistically designs. Terengganu wood carving not only found in the beams, doorways, window shutters of a house, but also in the traditional boat making industry and some furniture items such as sofa, bed frame and mirror frame and as small as a jewelry box. Brassware The people in Terengganu are well known for their creativeness. A simple item will turn into a most exquisite and delicate article by their hands. Brassware is generally a cottage activity. It is very usual that the son will learn the skill and trading strategy from his father whom had also learned from his father and later brings forth to the next generations. Regardless whether it is from silver, wood or pewter, brassware like vases, ashtrays, jugs, candle stands, napkin holders, filigree jewellery, incense burners etc are turned into a piece of fine and presentable art and at the same time with practical usage. This is why brassware is always one of the ideal surveniors that one can bring home. It is believed that the skills were taught to the local folk by Chinese settlers from Funan. The lost-wax method is usually employed, though sandcasting is also used. At the Central Market, or Pasar Payang, located by the Terengganu river, brassware is sold amongst many other enticements. Keris Making This double edged wavy blade dagger is the synonymous with the Malay culture and way of life. In the ancient time, a man walks without a keris was akin to walking around in naked. In those days, keris was always believed to be endowed with mystical powers and guardian spirit, this makes it serves the function as weapon to defend oneself in a combat and to use for medicinal purposes. There are handful of Malay legendaries about keris. The famous among these will be the keris of Hang Tuah who is the Malay hero during the Sultanate of Melaka. Hang Tuahs keris, Taming Sari was presented by the King of Majapahit to Sultan of Melaka after Hang Tuah won in a challenge. This keris was believed to have endowed with powerful spirit. Whoever possesses this keris would attain invulnerability. There was a story saying that Hang Tuah killed his childhood friend, Hang Jebat because of being disloyal to the Sultan with this Taming Sari. He was very ashamed to have killed his own childhood friend in the name of loyalty, therefore he then returned the keris to the Sultan. There is always romance and adventure and nobility in a keris. Because of being so precious, keris is always highly valued and treated with special care. Keris has two kind of shapes: keris lurus (straight keris) and keris luk (meandering keris). Empu, the keris maker will make the dagger accordance with the wish of consumer. Whether straight or luk, this will only be done during which the nickel inserted iron rod is repeatedly being forged and smoldered. The fluid design of the blade makes the keris stand out as a unique dagger-like weapon. Its ornate carved handle also provides for a strong grip. It is no wonder that the keris is one of the oldest of personal weapons. Made from the combination of eight to ten different metals, the spiritual qualities of the keris are known to include the spirits of warriors. Some myths even warn that certain lethal daggers should never be simply removed from their sheaths for their blades must taste blood before being inserted again. Keris making is considered as a dying art in Malaysia, however visit to the keris making centre in Kampung Pasir Panjang and Kampung Ladang Titian in Kuala Terengganu is still worth. Here you can see how a piece of raw iron is to turn into this significance and meaning rich weapon. You can also purchase you own piece of keris collection with relatively cheap price. Beaded necklaces The Rungus, the natives of the Kudat area, have long been known to produce beautiful beaded necklaces; they wear long, broad multi-stranded pinakol crossed over their shoulders over their traditional black costumes interwoven with gold thread. Patterns on the strands tell of ancient fables, and human figures are picked out in bright hues in the beadwork. Ever-enterprising, the Rungus today produce bangles, earrings and even brooches to go with the necklaces. Parang The parang is still crafted in traditional ways by the Bajau from Kota Belud. The ones made by them these days are usually from scrap iron, which goes though a process of melting, pounding, shaping and finally polishing. The blades are straight and tapered, from a sharp tip widening up towards the hilt. Some may have patterns etched into the metal along the topside. The hilt and sheath are carved from of wood, and occasionally one can come across an antique parang with a wonderfully carved hilt of horn. In days gone by, the parang was used as a weapon as well as a work tool, but these days it is mainly a decorative item for display.    Tudung Duang Tudung Duang is the local name for a food cover: in the tropics, like in Sabah, food on the table has to be protected from insects and dust. One is instantly attracted to them because of their bright colours, especially when they are laid out on pandan (screw pine leaf) mats in high piles, like at the Kota Belud Tamu grounds on the weekly Sunday Market (tamu). Native hat By the shape of a native hat, and its patterns, one can immediately identify the wearer to which ethnic entity he or she belongs. Most hats here are steeply conical and have nature-derived designs on them. Murut hats woven from the strips of sombituon bamboo are hexagonal in shape with a three-bands patterned weaving. Hats from Penampang and Tuaran have wider, circular bases with geometrical designs. All these hats are crafted from bamboo and rattan strips, and the red and black colours used to be natural dyes red from the mengkudu root, or dragons blood which is obtained from the fruit of a climbing rattan, and black from the leaves and stalks of the indigo plant. The Murut from the Nabawan area are now reproducing their hats in scaled-down sizes, showing their skill and craftsmanship in the extremely delicate weaving. Lipa-lipa Bajau sailboats, the lipa-lipa, carved from wood, and blowpipes used by Murut on hunting trips are available in many handicraft shops. The tambu-tambu wood is the main wood used in making the lipa-lipa, apart from mata-mata and gangil. A traditional lipa-lipa is elaborately carved. The designs are based on the motifs of plants, namely the kembang tuli or dahan and kellong. The blowpipe, or sumpitan, can be made of bamboo or hardwood. In the latter case the central duct has been drilled through in a long, manual process. Pottery Pottery has a long tradition in Sabah, and ancient Chinese jars, or tajau, were once even used to bury the dead. The Murut especially cherish and value their heirloom jars, in which they still ferment tapai their traditional rice wine. If you visit some of the antique shops in KKs major shopping malls you might come across nice Ming Dynasty vases; better still, you admire antique jars that are kept in the houses of the locals (like in the picture left). On the way to Tuaran, there are several potteries manufacturing nice vases and plates, as well as other household items made from clay. Kain dastar Rinago There are over 32 different ethnic entities in Sabah, and all of them have their own, sometimes specialised handicraft. Many more traditional items appeal to visitors to Sabah, such as the richly woven kain dastar, a piece of fabric used as headgear by the men of certain ethnic communities such as the Kadazan and Dusun; and the rinago trays and boxes made of rattan and lingkong, a type of fern that produces long, very tough strands ideal for weaving. The latter is made by the Rungus people. Silverware The Malay Kelantanese are well known for their Silverware making skills. These skills have been around for centuries, influenced by the Hindu and Islamic Civilization famous for well crafted items from gold and copper. Copperwork This is a skilled handiwork still flourishing in Terengganu. Traditional techniques are still being used in most processes though machines have been introduced to replace some processes. Copperware products include tepak sireh, candle holders, wedding gift trays, ember holder, pahar and others. Ceramic Ceramic art is a craftwork using high quality clay that is kneaded, decorated with a variety of motif, and fire-dried in kilns to produce fine ceramic products. Bead The indigenous people of Sarawak have since long ago been associated with beadwork for adornment as well as for ceremonial purposes. Here, beads tradition goes back to the very remote past. The variety of beads, the materials from which they are made , their colours and the values attributed, all make up an interesting conversation and discussion. Beads, today, are used in many different ways and one can see government officials using them as gifts and garlands for different functions and events as well. Pua Kumbu Pua Kumbu is a traditional patterned multicolored ceremonial cotton cloth used by the Iban, made and used in Sarawak, Malaysia. Pua kumbu are woven by Dayak women and are considered to be sacred objects. They are used for lifecycle rituals and special events including the birth of a child, coming of age celebrations, receipt of an important item to a longhouse, and to screen a corpse that is being laid out in a longhouse prior to burial. Labu sayong Labu Sayong is a black-coloured gourd-shaped clay jar typically used to store and cool water. The state of Perak is renowned for this type of pottery. Belanga Found in many rural Malaysian homes, The belanga  is often  characterised by a round base and wide rim. It is often used to cook curries, as it is believed that its round base allows heat to be distributed more evenly. Terenang This angular-shaped jar is popularly used for storing water in the states of Pahang and Terengganu. It has a concave neck and a convex body. Tekat The art of embroidering golden thread onto a base material, generally velvet, was traditionally used to decorate traditional Malay weddings regalia. Kerongsang A three-piece brooch set traditionally used to pin the lapels of the baju kebaya together. Kerongsang usually comes in sets of three. The typical three-piece set comprises of a kerongsang ibu (mother piece) which is larger and heavier. The other two are called the kerongsang anak (child pieces) and are worn below the kerongsang ibu. Cucuk Sanggul A traditional hairpin used to secure hair in a bun at the back of womens heads. Typically made of gold or silver, these hairpins are normally worn in graduated sets of three, five or seven by brides and traditional dancers. Pending A large, intricately ornamented belt buckle worn around the sampin, a skirt-like cloth worn by men, to complement their baju melayu, the traditional attire for men. Traditionally, the pending is a sign of wealth and status for men.

Communication in The Global Village Essay -- Technology Globalization

The world that we understand is rapidly becoming a much smaller entity. Technology is rapidly bringing us to places we have never been before. Thanks to widespread globalization, and the explosive growth and use of the internet, people are uniting and communicating in ways never dreamed two decades past. While more developed countries are taking advantage of this new global village, less developed countries helplessly stay in their idle life rafts as the sharks of these new virtual communities circle round. In the dawn of time communication started with mediums such as facial expressions, groaning, and sometimes just whacking a member of your community in the head. Communications simplest form is essentially dying with the construction and use of this web of interweaving technology known as the internet. Unlike forms of communication of days long past , not everyone can get involved in this World Wide Web. The internet is a community that uses a simple non intentional form of segregation that limits the use of the internet to people who live in countries that have the ability to set up these online villages. The makings of this new virtual revolution is essentially separating people. In the article Social Policy for Cyberspace, Dale Spender argues how people are being rapidly separated into two groups: the Master Minds and those that are being kept in the dark. She also explains how the People in the real world are being divided up into the information-rich and the poor. (Spender, Composing Cyberspace, p 266.) Basically the people with access to a global village are moving forward and the people in underdeveloped countries are lying stagnant. Like myself, Spender believes strongly in the well being of Third World countri... ...ciety demands a world that must rapidly change and make life easier we will strive to achieve that level no matter what the task. Eventually everyone on this earth will be able to connect to create the ultimate utopian global village, but until then we must look to countries less fortunate than us and continue to try and industrialize them to bring them up to our cyber caliber before they are forgotten. Priority needs to be given to research and policies that actually examine and deal with the impact that the new technologies are having on human beings, globally, nationally and locally. (Spender, Composing Cyberspace, p 269.) Works Cited Holten, Richard. Composing Cyberspace: Identity, community, and knowledge, in the electronic age. United States: Mcgraw-hill companies inc. 1998. Spender, Dale. Composing Cyberspace; Social Policy for cyberspace. P. 266