Fairtale Essay

One of the most well known, well loved and influential genre of literature is the fairy tale. A fairy tale is defined by the Oxford dictionary as â€Å"A children’s story of magical and imaginary beings and lands†. Overtime the concept of fairy tales has changed. Fairy tales are being re-written and re-illustrated constantly, which makes fairy tales appealing to every generation. Fairy tales broaden the imagination of children. They allow us gain an insight into a world of magic and adventure- a world we will never experience but fantasize about. â€Å"Fairy tales are nothing if not realistic: and it is their cynicism that keeps them lively. (Opie, 1980, p. 19) â€Å"A characteristic of the fairy tale, as told today, is that it is unbelievable. Although a fairy tale is seldom a tale about fairy-folk and does not necessarily even feature a fairy, it does contain an enchantment or other supernatural element that is clearly imaginary. † (Opie, 1980 p. 18). The orig in of fairy tales is commonly unknown and more often than not never discovered by the reader. French writers Catherine Bernard, Marie-Jeanne Lheitier, Marie-Catherine d’Aulnoy are believed to be â€Å"chiefly responsible for the establishment of the fairytale as a literacy genre in Europe. (Zipes, 2006,p. 13) of the 1960s. However, it was Italian writers Giovan Francesco Straparola and Giambattista Basile who played a major role in the rise of literacy in Europe. â€Å"This is one of the best kept secrets that is well worth unlocking because it reveals just how closely tied the literacy fairy tale as genre is to spread of the civilizing process throughout Europe. †(Zipes, 2006, p. 13) However, it was the influence of Boccaccio’s Decamerone that led to the production of various collections of ‘novelle’ that had an impact on the literacy fairy tale as a short narrative.Straparola was the first to publish his collection â€Å"Le piacevoli notti (1550 and 1553) from the example Boccaccio had set. Straparola was different from previous writers. He was the first European writer â€Å"to adapt many tales from oral tradition, creating approximately fourteen literacy fairy tales in his collection of seventy four novella. † (Zipes, 2006, p. 14) Straparola’s work caused some controversy and at one time one of his collections was banned by the pope in 1791. This was due to themes which Straparola had included in his work.He introduced â€Å"plain earthy language† and â€Å"critical view of power struggles in Italian society†. Basile shared similar views on power and civility. (Zipes, 2006). Even form this early stage, fairy tales have always been connected to power, social class and gender stereotyping. Both Straparola and Basile recognised that Italian principalities were being damaged through family conflicts, the change in commerce and trade and war. They used fairy tale's as a written means of broaching t heir concern over the unexpected change of norms on human behaviour. Although time passes and things change, fairytales have not dated.The classic fairy tales that Basile and Straparola once told are still being told to children today all over the world. Thanks to the origination of the fairytale by Straparola and Basil â€Å"we still rely on its narrative strategy to see how dangerous it is to think that we live in more civilized and better world than the realms of the past. †(Zipes, 2006) For centuries young children have been enthralled by fairy tales. Tales of witches, wizards, princes and princesses, fairy godmothers and villains alike have been influencing how children view the world around them.This appears particularly true in the case of young girls, with whom these stories seem to resonate. However living in a contemporary 22nd century society the question needs to be posed; are these stories, written centuries ago, still providing a relevant and realistic portrayal of female role models to the youth of today? Or are these folktales of ‘prince charming’ and ‘happily ever afters’ corrupting ideals from infancy and setting these young girls up for disappointment? Women today have come along away from their 18th century counterparts.Women have fought for years to be able to vote, work, raise children as a lone parent and run a household. Women have gained their right to respect and independence in a world that is no longer dominated my males. These rights are marked as historic events that women are extremely proud of. However still today, when educating children we use â€Å"fairy tales† as means of communicating, although sometimes indirectly, the role women should play in life. For example, in fairy tales, the concept of beauty is outlined very clearly. Beauty is expressed as a physical necessity.The leading lady in the typical fairy tale is usually described and illustrated as a woman possessing features consi dered physically attractive to males, a thin figure, glowing skin, red lips, symmetrical facial features and well attired. In the classical tale of Sleeping Beauty Aurora has â€Å"red lips as red as the red red rose† fair skin, blue eyes long blonde hair and an impossibly thin figure. This seems to be the universal concept of what beauty is among all the fairy tales that Walt Disney have produced. This image of beauty is in stark contrast to the reality in which we live into today.This depiction of the need for beauty is not the only negative stereotype conveyed in fairy tales. Instead of being able to defend and stick up for themselves, women are forever relying on males to rescue them. Whether it be the ‘handsome prince charming’ or the father figure, a male, nevertheless is always there to save the day and resolve whatever predicament has arisen in order for all involved except the villain to live â€Å"happily ever after†. The act of stereotyping serv es as a short-cut to the way that the majority of the population views our culture.Therefore, though we might not completely agree with the way in which gender roles are represented in these fairy tales, it still serves us well in a sense that we might gain a basic understanding of what it means to be a male and what it means to be a female. Whether personally accepted or rejected, the notion of males being dominant and females being subordinate has been deeply embedded into our culture’s view of the gender roles. The villain is also an interesting stereotype which is evident in all fairy tales.Villains are portrayed as ugly, malicious, jealous characters. They are almost always characterised by being an evil step-mother, wicked queen, a witch or an evil mother in law. The job of the villain in a fairytale is to make life difficult for the leading protagonist. The queen in Basile’s version of Snow White is described as â€Å"a murderous and unnatural, unsexed anomaly who tricks Talia†¦ †(Warner ,1995,p. 220). However, evil they are, they always play a powerful female role in all the fairy tales I have chosen to discuss.To consider whether the portrayals of women in classic fairy tales are genuine role models for young girls, I will be examining and referring to the following books: Cinderella , Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the seven dwarfs, Mulan and Shrek. Certainly by examining classic fairy tales it is obvious that the central female character is continuously presented as being ‘beautiful’. In the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast, the story begins with â€Å"Once upon a time there lived a rich merchant with three pretty daughters.The youngest was the prettiest of the there and she was called beauty. † From the very beginning of the story, emphasis is put on how beautiful Belle is in the fairytale. The fact that the lead character is appreciated for her beauty alon e speaks multitudes about the message the story gives out to its reader and indeed to young girls. â€Å"There is the threatened union of an almost supernaturally beautiful girl with a hideous monster. † (Iona,Peter, 1980,p. 180) The fairytale puts emphasis on how beautiful Belle is and how ugly the beast is.Similarly Sleeping Beauty â€Å"had a beautiful face and she thought beautiful thoughts†, Snow White â€Å"grew into a beautiful woman†, when Cinderella arrived at the ball everyone wondered â€Å"Who is that beautiful girl? † and The Little Mermaid was â€Å"the youngest, and most beautiful, daughter of Mer King. † The initial portrayal of these women is innocent and positive. Any young girl would aspire to possess such favourable qualities and attractiveness. Being beautiful and falling in love with prince charming, then living happily-ever-after, seems to be the most important outcome of these fairy tales.But the question we have to ask ours elves is -are these ‘harmless’ tales instilling false ideas of what life is like for children? One may not think that reading such biased material to a child could possibly have a lasting effect on their perceptions of how one should conform in society, however according to Bettelheim â€Å"A child trusts what the fairy tale tells, because its world view accords with his own† (Bettelheim, 1991, p. 45) The fairytale is so convincing to the child, as the tale matches the child’s thinking, approach and understanding of the world.Bettelheim states â€Å"these fairytales direct the child’s own thinking about his own development, permitting the child to draw his own conclusion†, yet since some classic fairy tales are known to display gender stereotyping, we must ask ourselves, what implication this has on children’s perspectives of specific gender roles in society if the child is drawing his/her own conclusion after reading the fairy tale. F airy tales portray a black and white view of society. Males are frequently portrayed as the head of the family, who are physically and emotionally strong, and whose sphere exists outside of the home.Females are frequently portrayed as dependent, physically and emotionally weak, and belong inside the home. This depiction of the male and female roles sends a very false and blinding message to its audience. On the other hand it can be argued that stereotypes are a part of life/society. The act of stereotyping serves as a short-cut to the way that the majority of the population views our culture. Therefore, though we might not completely agree with the way in which gender roles are represented in these fairy tales, it still gives a basic understanding of what it means to be a male and what it means to be a female.A similar theme seems to run through all the fairy tales I have chosen. All of the female protagonists are punished in some way as a result of their physical fortune. In Snow W hite, the evil queen wants the â€Å"fairest of them all† so a search is sent for Snow White to be killed. Snow White ends up cleaning, tidying and cooking for seven dwarfs in the forest as payment for letting her stay. Similarly in Cinderella, the beautiful Cinderella is made servant to her step mother and step sisters. Cinderella is isolated in the house and ignored by her step sisters and step mother.Sleeping Beauty is cursed from the moment she was born as a result of her beauty. A wicked witch was furious that she wasn’t invited to the baby’s banquet so she put a spell on her to remain asleep for a hundred years. Belle in Beauty and the Beast finds herself in a similar situation; she is one of three sisters and the only one who cleans and cooks as a result of her misfortune. The women all have a variety of traits in common. All of the female characters I have mentioned display admirable qualities.All of the women are kind and gentle but these female charact ers are viewed as being passive and submissive. These women depend on the male characters in the tales to be either saved or to be happy. This sends out an extremely negative stereotype to young readers, presenting that women’s job in life is cook, clean and wait for â€Å"Prince Charming† to come in order to be happy. According to Bettelheim it is child’s life experiences that teach the child the right manner, he goes on to say â€Å"when children are young, it is literature that carries such information best. † (Tartar, 1999, p. 69) If this is the case then children reading heavily stereotyped tales from an early age will impact their manner and possibly the way they view the gender roles. Bettelheim also states that a child’s â€Å"mind is animistic† and children especially young girls are vulnerable to believing that being beautiful and meeting prince charming are key goals and will result in a â€Å"happily ever after. † West (20 04) argues that â€Å"books are such a major influence in the formation of children’s values and attitudes that adults need to monitor nearly every word that children read. (Hunt, 1999, p. 5) If this is the case, should we be reading child fairy tales? It was the feminist movement that brought a closer examination of gender roles in fairytales. In Lissa Paul’s article she argues that â€Å"While children’s literature is predicated on the notion that children are essentially blank or naive and are in need of protection and instruction, then issues of suitability or unsuitability are important. † (Hunt, 1999, p121) This idea seems to be evident in feminist’s attitudes with regards the lead female character in fairy tales.Feminists feel that these women over rely on their beauty and each wait, in some way or another, for their Prince Charming to come rescue them. According to Lissa Paul’s article, while discussing Cinderella, she states that à ¢â‚¬Å"Most of us- women, children and feminist critics, I imagine – don’t want to be seen valuing riches. Or princes for that matter† (Hunt, 1999, p. 112). However many of the fairy tales chosen for the essay have the common theme of a male hero rescuing or saving the female heroine in the story.They solely depend on the prince to come save them in the end. In Cinderella her family feels she is inferior to them and so she serves as a slave in her own home. â€Å"They were very unkind to her and ordered her about from morning until night. † She is too weak to stand up to them and so waits for a prince to come rescue her. Similarly in Sleeping Beauty she sleeps for one hundred years before a prince comes and rescues her, in Beauty and the Beast, Belle finally ends up with a handsome prince â€Å"the beast disappeared and in his place stood a handsome prince†.In Snow White after she ate the poison apple, she lay peacefully in her coffin until a prince fell in love with her and rescued her â€Å"she opened her eyes and on seeing the handsome prince she fell in love with him†. There is evidently a strong portrayal of physical beauty in these fairy tales and these images of the female protagonist gives a very weak and negative display of women’s abilities and aspirations. On the contrary, however, a very interesting aspect is in Beauty and the Beast. Belle demonstrates having a mind of her own compared to her female counterparts whose main focus was to find their handsome prince using their good looks.Belle looks beyond physical appearance and recognises the good man in the Beast â€Å"she has not mistaken a human lover for a monster, like Psyche, or failed to see a good man beneath the surface.. †(Warner, 1995,p. 307) This follows her gradual arousal of both attraction and sexuality for the Beast throughout the course of the fairytale until he unsurprisingly too turns into a handsome prince at the end. â€Å"B eauty’s wooer has the appearance of a monster, and only after Belle has overcome her aversion for his vile shape can the monster be seen to be a handsome prince. (Opie, 1980, p. 180) The notion of being socially stable is put forward to us. Once these women are saved by their ‘Prince Charming’ and fall in love with him, they are rewarded with a luxurious life as a princess and will ultimately ‘live happily ever after’. The Little Mermaid was written by Hans Christen Andersen in 1836 and was released by Walt Disney in 1989. This fairytale was hoped to go against the grain and portray a leading women who wasn’t submissive or passive but strong and independent and good role model of young children.The tale is about a young teenage mermaid, called Ariel, who doesn’t like her life under the sea and is much more fascinated by the human world. Regardless of her father’s warnings she exchanges her voice for legs with the evil witch to sp end three days on land. She must make Prince Eric fall in love with her and kiss her or else she becomes the sea witch’s forever. The witch reassures her â€Å"the graceful form, the modest gait and speaking eyes. With such as these, it will easy to infatuate a vain human male† (Anderson, 1993,p. 8). It is clear from that short summary that the tale still managed to stereotype women. The message being sent out is that if Ariel relies on her beauty alone she will get the Prince to fall in love with her. Trites 1990 said, â€Å"Undoubtedly, feminists’ have criticized Ariel because she seems to have little ambition beyond getting her prince. † (http://charlottesmedia. blogspot. com/) The story of Mulan helped change the perception of women in Fairy tales but still managed to imply a message that women are inferior to men.Mulan is no one’s trophy and to me is the first groundbreaking Disney film to show a woman to be capable of taking the same roles of men. The story is based on a Chinese myth about a woman who saves china from the Huns. She goes to fight in the war instead of her father and displays traits that are stereotyped as only being male. She is a strong and a courageous woman and breaks social boundaries and expectations. However, Mulan is similar to Belle in Beauty and the Beast, as she too isn’t seen as acceptable in society and this idea of gender obligations is evident.Women ‘should’ be a homemaker and a wife, not cleaver and strong. Finally the film Shrek, created in the 22th century and displays beauty in a different way. Beauty is displayed on the inside in this new image of the princess, which I found to be really refreshing. The two leading characters are ogres. The film goes against the classical fairy tale characteristics. Princess Fiona is different from other princesses and does not wait for prince charming to rescue her. She is a dependent woman who is able to stand on her own two feet. She chooses Shrek as a husband and decides to live her own life as an ogre.This is a unique fairytale as Fiona overlooks physical beauty and is not saved by a male, which results in her having a better life. However she still does live her life as a princess. Unfortunately, many women today hold a â€Å"princess attitude†, and aspire to have a princess type of life. This attitude can be seen among some girls and young women. They often believe that marrying well, especially financially, is desirable, so they can easily live the life of a princess. This may very well be an effect caused by the women that are presented to us in these fairy tales since early childhood.Certainly a clear progression can be seen with regards the representation of women between the 17th-18th century fairy tales (Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty) and the 19th -22nd century fairy tales (Mulan, Shrek). I do appreciate that the morals and values are changing in regard to fairytales in recent years. As a who le, however, In my opinion I think that the fairy tales discussed portray a negative stereotype to young children and are not good role models. According to Zipes â€Å"We can continue to enjoy this harmless pastime of telling classical fairytales to our children, not realising the possible harm or harmlessness. Zipes, 2006,p. 57) Bibliography Andersen, H. C. Fairy Tales: The Little Mermaid, Bristol, Parragon Book Service Ltd, 1993. Bettelheim, B. The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning And Importance Of Fairy Tales, England, Penguin, 1991. Charlotte’s media blog. available at http://charlottesmedia. blogspot. com/ accessed on 14/4/2012 Hunt, peter. Children’s Literature, An illustrated History, Oxford, University Press,1995. Hunt, Peter. Understanding Children’s Literature, London, Routledge, 1999. Ladybird, Snow White And The 7 Dwarfs, Ladybird Ltd, 2005. Marsoli, L. A.Mulan, NY, Mouse Works, 1998. Opie, Iona ; Peter, The Classic Fairy Tales, USA, Oxford Univers ity Press, 1980. Soanes, Catherine, and  Angus Stevenson. Concise Oxford English dictionary. New York:  Oxford University Press,2012. Southgate, V. Beauty and the Beast, UK, Ladybird Books Ltd, 1988. Southgate, V. Cinderella, UK, Ladybird Books Ltd, 1982. Southgate, V. Sleeping Beauty, UK, Ladybird Books Ltd, 1984. Warner, M. Beast to the Blonde ,London, Vintage. 1995. Zipes, Jack. Fairy Tales and the Art of Subversion, New York, Routledge, 2006. Film: Shrek, Disney, 2001.

Human Multi-Tasking

Human multitasking is the best performance by an individual of appearing to handle more than one task at the same time. The term is derived from computer multitasking. An example of multitasking is taking phone calls while typing an email. Some believe that multitasking can result in time wasted due to human context switching and apparently causing more errors due to insufficient attention. Etymology The term â€Å"multitasking† originated in the computer engineering industry. [1] It refers to the ability of a microprocessor to apparently process several tasks simultaneously. 2] Computer multitasking in single core microprocessors actually involves time-sharing the processor; only one task can actually be active at a time, but tasks are rotated through many times a second. With multi-core computers, each core can perform a separate task simultaneously. The first published use of the word â€Å"multitask† appeared in an IBM paper describing the capabilities of the IBM Sy stem/360 in 1965. [3] [edit]Research on human multitasking Since the 1990s, experimental psychologists have started experiments on the nature and limits of human multitasking. It has been shown multitasking is not as workable as concentrated times.In general, these studies have disclosed that people show severe interference when even very simple tasks are performed at the same time, if both tasks require selecting and producing action (e. g. , (Gladstones, Regan & Lee 1989) (Pashler 1994)). Many researchers believe that action planning represents a â€Å"bottleneck†, which the human brain can only perform one task at a time. [4] Psychiatrist Edward M. Hallowell[5] has gone so far as to describe multitasking as a â€Å"mythical activity in which people believe they can perform two or more tasks simultaneously as effectively as one. Others have researched multitasking in specific domains, such as learning. Mayer and Moreno[6] have studied the phenomenon of cognitive load in mu ltimedia learning extensively and have concluded that it is difficult, and possibly impossible to learn new information while engaging in multitasking. Junco and Cotten examined how multitasking affects academic success and found that students who engaged in more multitasking reported more problems with their academic work. 7] A more recent study on the effects of multitasking on academic performance found that using Facebook and text messaging while studying were negatively related to student grades, while online searching and emailing were not [8]. [edit]The brain's role in multitasking Because the brain cannot fully focus when multitasking, people take longer to complete tasks and are predisposed to error. When people attempt to complete many tasks at one time, â€Å"or [alternate] rapidly between them, errors go way up and it takes far longer—often double the time or more—to get the jobs done than if they were done sequentially,† states Meyer. 9] This is lar gely because â€Å"the brain is compelled to restart and refocus†. [10] A study by Meyer and David Kieras found that in the interim between each exchange, the brain makes no progress whatsoever. Therefore, multitasking people not only perform each task less suitably, but lose time in the process. When presented with much information, the brain is forced to pause and refocus continuously as one switches between tasks. [10] Realistically, this is â€Å"a rapid toggling among tasks rather than simultaneous processing. According to a study done by Jordan Grafman, chief of the cognitive neuroscience section at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, â€Å"the most anterior part [of the brain] allows [a person] to leave something when it’s incomplete and return to the same place and continue from there,† while Broadman’s Area 10, a part of the brain’s frontal lobes, is important for establishing and attaining long term goals. [9] Fo cusing on multiple dissimilar tasks at once forces the brain to process all activity in its anterior. Though the brain is complex and can perform a myriad of tasks, it cannot multitask well.Another study by Rene Marois, a psychologist of Vanderbilt University, discovered that the brain exhibits a â€Å"response selection bottleneck† when asked to perform several tasks at once. The brain must then decide which activity is most important, thereby taking more time. Psychologist David Meyer of the University of Michigan claims that, instead of a â€Å"bottleneck,† the brain experiences â€Å"adaptive executive control† which places priorities on each activity. These viewpoints differ in that, while bottlenecking attempts to force many thoughts through the brain at once, adaptive executive control prioritizes tasks to maintain resemblance of rder. The brain better understands this order and, as psychologists such as Dr. Meyer believe, can therefore be trained to mult itask. [11] Because the brain is an expanse of yet uncharted territory, psychologists do not understand how the brain truly processes input and reacts to overstimulation. Some research suggests that the human brain can be trained to multitask. A study published in Child Development by Monica Luciana, associate professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota, discovered that the brain’s capability of categorizing competing information continues to develop until ages sixteen and seventeen.Perhaps if people are trained to multitask at an early age, they will become efficient at multitasking. A study by Vanderbilt University found that multitasking is largely limited by â€Å"the speed with which our prefrontal cortex processes information. † Paul E. Dux, co-author of the study, believes that this process can become faster through proper training. The research team found that with training, the brain can think and perform certain tasks more quickly, effectively allo wing time for another task. The study trained seven people to perform two simple tasks, either separately or together, and conducted brain scans of the participants.The individuals multitasked poorly at first but, with training, were able to adeptly perform the tasks simultaneously. Brain scans of the participants indicate that the prefrontal cortex quickened its ability to process the information, enabling the individuals to multitask more efficiently. However, the study also suggests that the brain is incapable of performing multiple tasks at one time, even after extensive training. [12] This study further indicates that, while the brain can become adept at processing and responding to certain information, it cannot truly multitask.People have a limited ability to retain information, which worsens when the amount of information increases. For this reason people alter information to make it more memorable, such as separating a ten-digit phone number into three smaller groups or div iding the alphabet into sets of three to five letters. George Miller, former psychologist at Harvard University, believes the limits to the human brain’s capacity centers around â€Å"the number seven, plus or minus two. † An illustrative example of this is a test in which a person must repeat numbers read aloud.While two or three numbers are easily repeated, shown in the beginning straight line, fifteen numbers becomes more difficult, as the line curves. The person would, on average, repeat seven correctly. [13] Brains are only capable of storing a limited amount of information in their short term memories. This ineffectiveness of the human brain for multitasking has been demonstrated in different studies. [14][15][16] Laboratory based studies of multi-tasking indicate that one motivation for switching between tasks is to increase the time spent on the task that produces the most reward (Payne, Duggan & Neth, 2007).This reward could be progress towards an overall task goal or it could simply be the opportunity to pursue a more interesting or fun activity. Payne, Duggan and Neth (2007) found that decisions to switch task reflected either the reward provided by the current task or the availability of a suitable opportunity to switch (i. e. the completion of a subgoal). A French fMRI study published in 2010 indicated preliminary support for the hypothesis that the brain can pursue at most two goals simultaneously, one for each frontal lobe (which has a goal-oriented area). [17] [edit]Continuous partial attentionMain article: Continuous partial attention Author Steven Berlin Johnson describes one kind of multitasking: â€Å"It usually involves skimming the surface of the incoming data, picking out the relevant details, and moving on to the next stream. You’re paying attention, but only partially. That lets you cast a wider net, but it also runs the risk of keeping you from really studying the fish. â€Å"[18] Multimedia pioneer Linda Stone coined the phrase â€Å"continuous partial attention† for this kind of processing. [19] Continuous partial attention is multitasking where things do not get studied in depth.Rapidly increasing technology fosters multitasking because it promotes multiple sources of input at a given time. Instead of exchanging old equipment like TV, print, and music, for new equipment such as computers, the Internet, and video games children and teens combine forms of media and continually increase sources of input. [20] According to studies by the Kaiser Family Foundation, in 1999 only 16 percent of time spent using media such as internet, television, video games, telephones, text-messaging, or e-mail was combined.In 2005, 26 percent of the time this media was used together. [11] This increase in media usage decreases the amount of attention paid to each device. Today 82 percent of youth use the Internet by the seventh grade, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project. A 2005 surv ey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that, while their usage of media continued at a constant 6. 5 hours per day, Americans ages 8 to 18 were crowding roughly 8. 5 hours’ worth of media into their days due to multitasking.The survey showed that one quarter to one third of the participants have more than one input â€Å"most of the time† while watching television, listening to music, or reading. [9] The 2007 Harvard Business Review featured Linda Stone’s idea of â€Å"continuous partial attention,† or, â€Å"constantly scanning for opportunities and staying on top of contacts, events, and activities in an effort to miss nothing†. [11] As technology provides more distractions, attention is spread among tasks more thinly. A prevalent example of this inattention to detail due to multitasking is apparent when people talk on cell phones while driving.Talking and driving are mutually exclusive because focusing on both the conversation and the road use s the same part of the brain. [citation needed] As a result, people generally become more concerned with their phone conversations and do not concentrate on their immediate surroundings. A 2006 study published in the Human Factors journal showed that drivers talking on cell phones were more involved in rear-end collisions and sped up slower than drivers intoxicated over the . 08% legal limit. [citation needed] When talking, people must withdraw their attention from the road in order to formulate responses.Because the brain cannot focus on two sources of input at one time, driving and listening or talking, constantly changing input provided by cell phones distracts the brain and increases the likelihood of accidents. [citation needed] [edit]Popular commentary on practical multitasking Multitasking has been criticized as a hindrance to completing tasks or feeling happiness. Barry Schwartz has noted that, given the media-rich landscape of the Internet era, it is tempting to get into a habit of dwelling in a constant sea of information with too many choices, which has been noted to have a negative effect on human happiness. 21] The idea that women are better multitaskers than men has been popular in the media. Recently, a study by British psychologist Professor Keith Laws at the University of Hertfordshire was widely reported in the press to have provided the first evidence of female multitasking superiority. [22] A formal research paper has yet to be published. In another study,[23] females were found to perform better at coordinating a primary test with a secondary test (p=0. 007), supporting this notion that females are better at multi-tasking.However, the authors concluded their tests may not reflect real life multi-tasking and that further research was required. Observers of youth in modern society often comment upon the apparently advanced multitasking capabilities of the youngest generations of humans (Generation Y and Generation Z). While it is true that c ontemporary researchers find that youths in today's world exhibit high levels of multitasking, most experts believe that members of the Net Generation are not any better at multitasking than members of older generations. 24] However, recent studies by Bardhi, Rohm, and Sultan argue that Generation Y is becoming better at media multitasking. This is evidenced by the fact that they are gaining control over deciding which messages they pay attention to or not. [25] Furthermore, while there is a great deal of evidence showing the negative effects of multitasking on cognitive tasks [26] [27] [28] [29] [30], there is no evidence showing that multitasking has a positive or neutral effect on these tasks. **Source: WIKIPEDIA (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Human_multitasking)

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and...

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 On December 8, 2003, President Bush signed into law the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-173). This landmark legislation provides seniors and individuals with disabilities with a prescription drug benefit, more choices, and better benefits under Medicare. It produced the largest overhaul of Medicare in the public health programs 38-year history. The MMA was signed by President George W. Bush on December 8, 2003, after passing in Congress by a close margin. One month later, the ten-year cost estimate was boosted to $534 billion, up more than $100 billion over the figure presented by the Bush administration†¦show more content†¦Istook Jr., changed his vote to present after being told that C.W. bill Young, who was absent due to a death in the family, would have voted yes if he had been present. Then, Republicans Butch Otter and Jo Ann Emerson switched their vote to yes under pressure from the party leadership. The bill passed by one vote, 216-215. On June 26, the Senate passed its version of the bill, 76-21. The bills were unified in conference, and on November 21, the bill came back to the House for approval. The bill came to a vote on November 22. After a short period, the bill was losing, 219-215, with David Wu not voting. Speaker Dennis Hastert and Majority Leader Tom DeLay tried to convince some of dissenting Republicans to switch their votes, as they had in June. Istook, who had always been a wavering vote, consented quickly, making a 218-216 tally. In a highly unusual move, the House leadership held the vote open for hours as they tried to get two more votes. Then Representative Nick Smith claimed he was offered campaign funds for his son, who was running to replace him, in return for a change in his vote from a no to a yes. After all this Smith clarified no campaign funds was made, but was offered campaign support. Then they convinced Otter and Trent Franks to switch their votes. With all the voting changes, Wu voted yea as well, and Democrats Calvin M. Dooley, Jim Marshall and David Scott changed their votes to the affirmative. But Brad Miller , and then, Republican JohnShow MoreRelatedMedicare Modernization Essay1141 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction On December 8, 2003, President Bush signed into existence the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (CMS, 2003). This Act over the years is intended to provide prescription drug benefits to seniors. It will also provide subsidies to insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, and would allow private plans to compete with Medicare (CMS, 2003). Why were changes to Medicare deemed necessary? The changes to Medicare where deemed necessary, becauseRead MoreAdvocacy And Public Policy Making1469 Words   |  6 Pagesessay is to discuss Medicare Part D, as well as the influence of the various interest groups and governmental entities during this process. This essay will discuss both the policy process and the policy environment (the key players involved and other circumstances that shaped this policy-making effort), how stakeholder groups influenced the final outcome of Medicare Part D legislation, the specific strategies and tools that were used most effectively, and if the fact that Medicare Part D passed correspondsRead MoreHA545 Kaplan Essay1479 Words   |  6 Pagesessay is to discuss Medicare Part D, as well as the influence of the various interest groups and governmental entities during this process. This essay will discuss both the policy process and the policy environment (the key players involved and other circumstances that shaped this policy-making effort), how stakeholder groups influenced the final outcome of Medicare Part D legislation, the specific strategies and tools that were used most effectively, and if the fact that Medicare Part D passed correspondsRead MoreE-Prescribing is an Incentive by the Centre for Medicare Medicaid Services677 Words   |  3 Pagesincentive by the Centre for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS). It allows the electronic transmission of prescriptions between qualified medical practitioners and physicians. The aim of the program is to improve the drug prescription system by avoiding errors resulting from handwritten prescriptions. The E-prescribing program runs on various standards. These standards are spelt out and added in Part D of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act 2003 (CMS, 2013). The standardsRead MoreU.s. History And English975 Words   |  4 PagesMay 22, 2015 Medicare Imagine your grandmother, alone in her apartment sick and no food to eat. Well, there are programs our government provides to our elderly to help them buy food, find a place to live and most importantly, help insure them. Medicare is a program that was initially created by Harry S. Truman in 1948, but Congress failed to enact it (â€Å"Curing the Health Care System†). Later it was refined by LBJ in 1965 as part of â€Å"Great Society† to help the â€Å"war on poverty†. Medicare benefits millionsRead MoreInsurance Coverage : A Health Care Program Funded By The Federal Government861 Words   |  4 PagesInsurance Coverage Medicare is a health care program funded by the Federal government and available to everyone sixty-five and older or who have a disability that keeps them from working. When an individual reaches the age of sixty-five, there are four types of Medicare that are available. These types of Medicare are: Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D. Medicare Part A is the part that covers hospital stays, nursing facilities, home health care and hospice care. This portion of Medicare is free to everyoneRead MoreMedicare and Medicaid Essay1307 Words   |  6 PagesMedicare and Medicaid are programs that have been developed to assist Americans in attainment of quality health care. Both programs were established in 1965 and are federally supported to provide health care coverage to vulnerable populations such as the elderly, the disabled, and people with low incomes. Both Medicare and Medicaid are federally mandated and determine coverage under each program; both are run by the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services, a federal agency (What is Medicare?Read MoreSocial Security and Medicare2560 Words   |  11 PagesSocial Security and Medicare History Present Configuration Future Projection GERO100 March 31, 2012 Hopefully we will all be physically able to work until the age of 65, collect retirement and Social Security and live an enriching life until we leave this world. Not all companies financially support their employees with fully funded retirement plans so it is left up to the individual to actively participate in saving for their future. When someone reaches retirement age, if the financesRead MoreHealthcare Economics and Timeline695 Words   |  3 Pagesfirst to introduce the idea of health insurance and called or all Americans to have universal healthcare. During the Great Depression the Social Security Act was signed which provided states with the funds to build health departments and it established benefits the elderly. During the 1940 President Truman signs the Hospital Survey and Construction Act which allowed the states to access Federal grants to help pay for the maintenance and construction of public health centers. The agreement was that allRead MoreA Brief Note On The P arts Of Medicare1387 Words   |  6 PagesFour Parts of Medicare Medicare is one of the largest government-sponsored health insurance program in the United States. Medicare was established in 1965 under the Title XVIII of the Social Security. Its main goal was to provide medical coverage to millions of individuals over the age of 65 that was being denied by private insurance. Private insurance denied them either because of their age or preexisting conditions. On the other hand people could not afford private insurance. In order to be eligible

The Minimum Wage Should Be Increased Essay - 1758 Words

In early March 2016 Governor Jerry Brown passed a new bill to increase the minimum wage in California from ten to fifteen dollars by the year 2022. The minimum wage will be increased by one dollar each year until 2022. This will give businesses enough time to meet state requirements to raise wages for employees. The bill was created to help people who are making less than minimum wage but it will disable California’s economy system and cause negative effects for people who are living on the current minimum wage system. The rise of the minimum wage will cause people to lose their jobs, get hours reduced, lose health benefits, and companies to go bankrupt. The increase of wage will cause inflation of prices on goods and services that companies provide. California’s state taxes will increase, causing people to pay more taxes and lose more money from their paychecks. It will also cause people to stay away from higher education because it will be easier to find a higher payi ng job without a degree. The raise of the minimum wage will cause negative implications, both immediate and in the future, and will also affect higher education. The increase of the minimum wage in California could help some people living in poverty but, it will not help people in the middle-class economy. The increase of the minimum wage could help a lot people working in hard labor jobs; this will give them an increase of their paycheck and this will help their families. Many people who receive an increaseShow MoreRelatedMinimum Wage Should Be Increased1057 Words   |  5 PagesRebecca Nevins Meredith Sides English 101 16 November 2015 Minimum Wage Should Be Increased Congress enacted the federal minimum wage in 1938, during the Great Depression. Congress had two goals; keeping workers away from poverty and boosting consumer spending for economic recovery. Today, there is a debate, whether we should increase the minimum wage again. Increasing the minimum wage is useful for several reasons. First, the current minimum wage has failed to keep up with inflation. Second, a higherRead MoreMinimum Wage Should Be Increased?1472 Words   |  6 Pagesdifficult if you are living on minimum wage. Of course it’s more difficult for some people than others depending on their situation and their living conditions. Americans and working class people who do come to America for a â€Å" better opportunity† and for the famous American dream struggle. Minimum wage should be increased because of the overqualified, educated, and experienced Americans who are relying on minimum wage jobs as a result of the struggling economy. Raising minimum wage will hel p employees sustainRead MoreShould Minimum Wage Be Increased?1691 Words   |  7 PagesShould Minimum Wage be Increased? Introduction The term, â€Å"minimum wage† refers to a lowest payment that an employer is bound to pay to its workers. Today minimum wage is made compulsory in more than ninety percent of nations including Canada where workers are demanding to increase minimum wages for a long time. Minimum wages are revised by governments in order to met growing needs of workers. There is a difference of opinion on the issue of increasing minimum wages among people of Canada. EmployersRead MoreThe Minimum Wage Should Be Increased1289 Words   |  6 PagesThe National Minimum Wage Should be increased to a Living Wage. Back in 1998 Labour s’ Tony Blair introduced the national minimum wage (NMW). It was created in aid of employers not valuing their workforce, often giving them very little wages. When it was first introduced the rate was set at  £3.60 and has slowly risen to  £6.70. However this is not enough to live on. It has been estimated that you need no less than  £7.85 an hour, rising to  £9.15 in London, to survive on. There is a clear differenceRead MoreThe Minimum Wage Should Be Increased976 Words   |  4 Pagesthe federal minimum wage. The post may have a picture of a soldier, a disheveled EMT in the back of an ambulance, or a waving American flag with overlying text stating something to the effect of ‘â€Å"Burger flippers† think they should be paid as much as these minimum wages workers? No way!’ If my experience on social media is any indicator, the most popular posts always contain â€Å"burger flipper† or â€Å"baconator.† Posts like the ones described above make moral judgements about the minimum wage with littleRead MoreMinimum Wage Should Not Be Increased1669 Words   |  7 PagesFederal minimum wage is a huge controversy around the world and especially in the United States today. It is the lowest wage that employers can legally pay their employees. The world’s first minimum wage law was passed in the year eighteen ninety-four in New Zealand. New Zealand’s minimum wage experiment caught the attention of other countries. It made them start considering the law for their own countries. The United States passed their federal minimum wage law in nineteen thirty-eight. The federalRead MoreShould The Minimum Wage Be Increased?1169 Words   |  5 Pageslarge scale over the State of Michigan’s plans to increase the minimum wage from seven dollars and fifty cents to ten dollars. Although increasing the minimum wage may seem beneficial to some, possibly stimulating the economy or increasing t he standard of living for those who live below the poverty line, when looking at the economic issue through a larger lens and placing it into its context, one finds that by increasing the minimum wage, not only is the State of Michigan not addressing the most criticalRead MoreEssay on The Minimum Wage Should Be Increased1048 Words   |  5 Pagesfederal minimum wage in 1938, during the Great Depression. Congress had two goals; keeping workers away from poverty and boosting consumer spending for economic recovery. Today, there is a debate, whether we should increase the minimum wage again. Increasing the minimum wage is useful for several reasons. First, the current minimum wage has failed to keep up with inflation. Second, a higher income level reduces employee turnover and increases efficiency and ultimately, raising the minimum wage doesRead MoreFederal Minimum Wage Should Be Increased911 Words   |  4 PagesThe question that ponders many people’s minds is whether the federal minimum wage should be increased or not. The current U.S. minimum wage is $7.50 and this wage has not increased since 2009. Families with minimum income wages are suffering due to the fact that they cannot provide everyday needs for their families. This is the reason why many people are rioting. They are frustrated with the government’s nonchalant attitude towards the hard situations in which they are living in. A final decisionRead MoreFederal Minimum Wage Should Be Increased1180 Words   |  5 Pagesto come to conclusions that the federal minimum wage is excessively low. The government can stand to help people gain more money, resulting in a less poverty-stricken country. The cost of living or gaining has increased significantly over the past twenty years, and the minimum wage, for most isn t enough for them to support themselves. There have been efforts to increase the federal minimum wage, but none has succeeded in getting approved. Minimum wages are too low for a human, to provide for

Diabetes Mellitus A Chronic Disease - 1334 Words

Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease meaning it persists for a long time and generally can t be prevented by vaccines or cured by medicines. Diabetes occurs when the body doesn t produce enough insulin or when the insulin doesn t work properly. Type 2 Diabetes allows insulin to be released into the blood but it is unable to work properly and makes the body unable to maintain healthy glucose levels in the blood. It can affect the entire body and anyone can develop the disease. It represents 85-90 percent of of all cases of diabetes and is also the leading cause of many body dysfunctions. In the years 2011-2012, approximately 19% of people between the ages 65 and 84 were diagnosed with Diabetes (see Figure 2). This†¦show more content†¦Glucose levels rise after eating, which is when receptors in the pancreas detect the increase. The pancreas releases a hormone called insulin . The liver and muscles use the insulin to extract glucose from the blood to form a larger molecule called glycogen , which is then stored in the liver. The maintained release of the two hormones glucagon and insulin keep the glucose levels in the blood fairly constant. People with Type 2 Diabetes are unable to keep glucose levels constant because the hormone insulin is ineffective. Although the cause of Diabetes Type 2 is unclear there are many factors of lifestyle and genetics that contribute to the cause. Insufficient physical activity can lead to obesity and being overweight or obese is a main factor. People who are obese or overweight are at a much higher risk of developing Diabetes Type 2. Having visceral fat, belly fat or abdominal obesity can put you at a higher risk because being overweight can cause the body to release chemicals that can destabilise the body s cardiovascular and metabolic systems. Being obese makes it harder for the body s glucose to be released into the blood because the fat increase blocks the blood vessels. As people get older they become more and more less active, therefore they have a high chance of becoming overweight which

A Step to Success free essay sample

Art. Art speaks where words are unable to explain. There are multiple forms of art. People do it to express their feelings. Some can look at the same painting but have different feelings about it. I stare at this painting that is right in front of my eyes. The painting is named â€Å"Mystical Forest† and is done by Gleb Goloubetski. In this painting, I can see the beauty of the forest and all the trees surrounding a random path leading into a unknown area. Tall brown crooked trees with a variety of green colored leaves shadow the steps with touches of blue and orange . To the left and right of the stairsa line of bushes along the path blocks people from entering. Towards the end of the stairs the sky is more of a white and grey color giving it a look of fog. The sun is trying to peek through the tall trees as the branches are sticking out restricting light to protrude through onto the path. We will write a custom essay sample on A Step to Success or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The tree branches hang low as if it has rained. The light reflects off the water droplets like a mirror. smallcracks on each stepping stone show their age. The steps lead into an unknown part of the forest. As I look into this painting more, it makes me feel relaxed. I picture myself walking up the stairs onto a new day.Leaves and branches crunch as I step onto the next step and the outdoor freshness is in the air. This painting means to follow the right path and dont get lost in all the other things that surround you. You never know what is to come and that there is an end to each path. Someone could look at it that the light shining through is a sign of hope and of good things to come. It may look scary to a person too because you dont know where the path leads and the end is not visible. Other people may just look at it and think its only a path in the woods and they will not see the true meaning. This painting reminds me that I need to keep moving forward. Each step represents small goals I do every day. It shows me getting through each day despite the challenges and to keep climbing.At the end of the path there is a new set of steps for the next day. As each day goes on I have to face more steps. The first step would be me getting up each day and starting the morning off. This is an important step to be prepared for the day with a good breakfast. The next two steps represent my day in school which is broken up between classes. The fourth step I find myself in the gym with my teammates trying to refocus my energy after a long day of classes. Its a good feeling to know that although I take the steps alone I have people there to help me push me closer to the top. Sometimes you need that extra boost of confidence and help by others. I finish the steps by coming back home and almost starting over. This is a time that I set aside for myself to reflect on my accomplishments of the day and prepare for the next set of steps to come. I settle down by brushing my teeth,putting my pajamas on and laying in my bed to fall asleep at a decent time. The next day comes and there is a new set of stairs for me to climb. I realize thatsome days will be a lot harder than others but its whether I have to strength to push myself and not give. There may be days where I have to take a couple steps back to move forward but thats okay. Each day I learn something new and it makes me a better person. The 2016 volleyball season is halfway through the season. My coach had pulled me aside and told me that I would no longer be the libero of the team. I had been replaced, I had so much sadness inside me thinking I wasnt good enough. I didnt want to go to practice anymore but I got through each one every day and kept pushing myself. I knew that I was replaced but I kept trying my best and working hard even though it felt impossible to. I continued to give my all in practice even though at times I didnt want to be there. I took each step little by littleto getting my position back. This year I was given the libero position again. All my hard work paid off from climbing each step and getting better each day in the gym.It took awhile but I finally got what I wanted and where I wanted to be. The picture represents a small amount of the big journey but the thing about a journey is all the little steps add up to big changes. Life is a journey.

Sensorial Rationale free essay sample

Children learn and develop by using their five senses and experiencing the world around them. They are constantly using their five senses and refining them as they grow and learn. The early years of the child are spent using all of his powers of observation and . Felt that this was the ideal period in the childs life to introduce him to equipment that would sharpen his senses and facilitate his comprehension of the many impressions he receives through them. Lessons live to a child enable him to learn by using his hands and his mind.Benjamin Franklin once said tell me and I forget. Teach me and remember. Involve me and learn. . Believed in the same ideal and with her development of teaching brought a new concept to the teaching world throughout her materials. The materials in the classroom enable the child to become aware of details by revealing to him strongly contrasting sensations like black and white and progressing to various gradations of this sensation such as he many different shades of red. We will write a custom essay sample on Sensorial Rationale or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The materials, color tablets in the example, facilitate his knowledge of colors and eventually his understanding of the abstraction of a certain color and finally the abstraction of color itself. Adult perceptions of these exercises may mistakenly perceive them to very simple, as Indeed they are when first presented to a child. The teacher gradually Introduces new concepts and gives the child opportunities to sharpen his Intellect and control in preparation for the more advanced exercises.