Controlled Environment Essays - , Term Papers

Controlled Environment What controlled environment did you spend time in? How long? When I graduated from High School I entered into the Merchant Marine Academy at Fort Schuyler in New York. From then until I was in my mid thirties I was involved with ocean liners, tankers and ships. For periods of one year at a time I would be on a ship traveling the world, making shipments and patrolling the seas. The controlled environment was both on the ship and in the academy. Once on the ship I had to obey the rules and morals taught to us in the academy. Was there an effort to separate you from your former identity? No not really. Contrary to the NAVY, ARMY or Marines our boot camp was less severe and did not include such physical conditioning. Our personalities were not changed because we were not in combat and did not have to learn to be a killing machine. What were the most important rules you had to follow? Besides not falling in the water, we had to obey almost everything our captain told us. Our captain was like our parents his wishes were our commands. The captain set the standards and the rules for us to follow. What were the least and less important rules you had to follow? There was a uniform but it was not very important that we followed it. As an officer we had to look respectable but usually the uniform requirements were not met. We also had a curfew but that was rarely followed and it was rare for a person to get into any trouble for breaking curfew. What were some of the make-dos the inmates made up for their deprivations with? Since there was no T.V. almost every night after dinner we held chess and checkers tournament. The games were fast paced and mostly just for fun, no money was ever wagered. We also drank a lot of beer when we were at sea for extended amounts of time. Which were accepted by the authorities and which were not? Well the chess tournaments everyone enjoyed and were accepted by all, officers, Plebes and Captains. However drinking and other drug use was prohibited. Being caught with illegal drugs meant immediate dismissal from the corps. Being caught with alcohol meant some kind of military punishment(I never got caught). How did the inmates respond to their situation? Almost everyone on the ship enjoyed their work and being away from home. However after long periods, occasionally fights would arise and officers would end up with a black eye or broken nose. But on a whole it was usually pretty peaceful and an enjoyable environment. Do you consider your experience in the controlled environment beneficial? Absolutely, it taught me discipline and how to treat others. My experience also taught me to value what I have at home and didnt have when at sea. Do you miss the environment? When my kids are bothering me I miss the solitude of the open ocean. However, at the same time I have also had my fill of that lifestyle. Would you do it again? In a heartbeat. The person whom I interviewed is a very close family friend who entered in to the Merchant Marine Academy at the age of 18. I also interviewed another friend who was in the army and fought in Vietnam. Many of his answers coincided with those of Owen(from the merchant marines). Mikes experiences in the ARMY were a little more structured than Owens. But Mikes experience was not as enjoyable or beneficial. The benefits received from the ARMY were discipline and respect. As a sailor Owen also benefitted by seeing the world and experiencing many cultures while being in a controlled environment. Mike portrayed the ARMY to be a very structured environment, where everything that a soldier did was monitored and taken into account. The rules he had to follow were very distinct and if broken meant physical punishments (push-ups etc.). The ARMYs rules based around the constitution and defending our Nation. The Merchant Marine rules based around the safety of their officers and the good being tra nsported. Finally, contrary to Owens experiences Mikes, made an effort to separate him from his identity. Mike was reshaped from an average man to a killing machine. Through

Marine Herbivores

Marine Herbivores An herbivore is an organism that feeds on plants. These organisms are referred to as herbivorous. An example of a marine herbivore is the manatee. The opposite of an herbivore is a carnivore or meat-eater. Origin of the Term Herbivore The word herbivorous comes from the Latin word herba (a plant) and vorare (devour, swallow), meaning plant-eating. Size Matters Many marine herbivores are small because only a few organisms are adapted well enough to eat phytoplankton, which provides the bulk of the plants in the ocean. Terrestrial herbivores tend to be larger since most of the terrestrial plants are large and can sustain a large herbivore. Two exceptions are manatees and dugongs, large marine mammals who survive primarily on aquatic plants. However, they live in relatively shallow areas, where light is not limited and plants can grow larger.   Advantages and Disadvantages of Being An Herbivore Plants such as phytoplankton are relatively abundant in ocean areas with access to sunlight, such as shallow waters, at the surface of the open ocean, and along the coast. So an advantage of being an herbivore is that food is pretty easy to find. Once it is found, it cant escape like a live animal could. On the disadvantage side, plants are more difficult to digest and more may be needed to provide adequate energy for the herbivore.    Examples of Marine Herbivores Many marine animals are omnivores or carnivores. But there are some marine herbivores that are wells of marine herbivores in various animal groups are listed below. Herbivorous Marine Reptiles: Green sea turtle (who are named for their green fat, which is green because of their plant-based diet)Marine iguanas Herbivorous Marine Mammals: Manatees, as already mentioned above.Dugongs Herbivorous Fish Many tropical reef fish are herbivores. Examples include:   ParrotfishAngelfishTangsBlennies These coral reef herbivores are important to maintaining a healthy balance in a reef ecosystem. Algae can dominate and smother a reef if herbivorous fish arent present to help balance things out by grazing on the algae.  Fish can break down the algae using a gizzard-like stomach, chemicals in their stomach and intestinal microbes. Herbivorous Invertebrates Some gastropods, such as limpets, periwinkles  (e.g., the common periwinkle), and queen conchs. Herbivorous Plankton Some zooplankton species Herbivores and Trophic Levels Trophic levels are the levels at which animals feed. Within these levels, there are producers (autotrophs) and consumers (heterotrophs).   Autotrophs make their own food, while heterotrophs eat autotrophs or other heterotrophs. In a food chain or food pyramid, the first trophic level belongs to the autotrophs. Examples of autotrophs in the marine environment are marine algae and seagrasses. These organisms make their own food during photosynthesis, which uses energy from the sunlight. Herbivores are found at the second level. These are heterotrophs because they eat the producers. After herbivores, carnivores and omnivores are at the next trophic level, since carnivores eat herbivores, and omnivores eat both herbivores and producers. References and Further Information Cornell University. Herbivory in Fish. Accessed October 31, 2015.Harper, D. Herbivorous.  Online Etymology Dictionary. Accessed October 1, 2015.National Geographic.  Autotroph.  Accessed September 29, 2015.Map of Life. Gut fermentation in herbivorous animals. Accessed October 31, 2015.Morrissey, J.F. and J.L. Sumich. 2012. Introduction to the Biology of Marine Life. Jones Bartlett Learning. 466pp.

The Globalization of the Food System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Globalization of the Food System - Essay Example The majority of the countries around the globe appear to be headed in a similar direction in terms of globalization of food (Inglis and Gimlin 110). There are different circumstances that affect the food security of different nations and in different ratios. Their impacts on the populations health also differ greatly. Many new countries are currently joining the process as a result of the fiscal and political reforms in their countries. These include nations such as South Africa, India, Columbia and many more around the globe (Ronald, 75). For example, the Colombian government eliminated tariffs on imports, which led to an increase in the nation’s imports. These imports have in turn impacted the livestock sector positively since their livestock always have enough food to eat. Since the year 1990, the supply along with the demand of food has been changing gradually. This has brought about the sprout and expansion of supermarkets across the globe, so as to supply the demands of consumers. The demand for food is increasing due to the increase in cases of urbanization around the globe along with the ease of accessibility of refrigeration facilities. The supply of food across the globe has greatly been advanced as a result of more freedoms in the market, investments from foreign nations and improvements made in technology (Behnassi, Draggan and Sanni 67). Urbanization has caused changes in the eating habits of the people along with changes in their health. By the year 2001, about 48% of the world’s population was living in urban areas, which included 76% of the people in first world countries. It is also estimated that 40% of the populations living in third world countries live in urban centers. Research from different scholars suggests that people excessively flock to urban centers due to poverty and the need to feed their families. This leads the urban centers becoming centers of scarcity since food and other resources are limited. Other researchers suggest that excessive poverty in the rural areas causes people to migrate to urban areas to have better living standards. The food situation in developing nations has worsened, and this is due to the fact that there is inequality in the trading opportunities countries get. The food situation in many developing nations is also adversely being affected by various issues. These issues include the dumping of exports in these countries by developed nations, the lack of subsidies by their governments on agricultural activities and the use of tariffs, which are unfair. Most agriculturally productive areas in the rural areas have also been destroyed thus endangering the peoples food security. This in turn reduces the people’s returns from agricultural activities (Behnassi, Draggan and Sanni123). Changes in the dietary habits of the people living in urban areas leads to poor health and nutrition among them. Previous studies carried out suggest that countries with most people living i n urban areas have greater GDP’s than those with fewer people. These issues also affect the mortality rate among the infants in a nation. Countries having greater GDP’s tend to experience greater communal and fiscal inequalities (Vaidya 157). Globalization of the food system has brought changes to the people’s diet. This has been influenced by the changes in the people’s incomes and the prices charged for the products. The prices and incomes of the people influence the availability and delivery

Advertisement on coffee at Starbucks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Advertisement on coffee at Starbucks - Essay Example The advertisement is very plain in terms of creating attention and the words used appear as a command rather than a request or soft words to attract the target. The main aims of any advertiser are to create a good impression to a potential customer, make them their customer and retain them. To achieve these goals, they interact with the social world and are often faced by many social issues that create challenges as well as hindrances. The most pressing social issue is stereotyping by customers. Different customers have varying perceptions over advertisements, and this affects their effectiveness. Advertisers, therefore, face the challenge of designing an advertisement that will receive less criticism and achieve its aim. The picture in the advertisement of a young baby inside the tire is eye catching and hence anybody who sees it will want to know what it is all about (Moriarty, Nancy, and William 248). A person who sees the advertisement will immediately have an impression of safety while using the tires and is less likely to forget about it since the pictures used are very memorable.

Colonialism and Latin America Essay Example for Free

Colonialism and Latin America Essay Eduardo Galeano is a passionate journalist and writer, a man that has put this passion into writing about the lost or often overlooked histories of Latin and South Americas. In one of his acclaimed books, Las venas abiertas de America Latina/Open Veins of Latin America, he looks at the history of exploitation in this place from early European explorers to current United States and European endeavors. In this paper using three examples from Open Veins of Latin America by Eduardo Galeano, will show how Latin America has developed a dependency on foreign entities. Latin America was mostly untouched by the European world until 1492, when the Spanish where looking for a cheaper way to obtain the goods from the Exotic East. Galeano even goes on to speculate that even earlier explorers could have visited thus creating the religions and gods that the native tribes worshipped (pg. 17). These Spanish explorers came looking for new goods and spices, and when they saw that these natives had bits of metal upon them and inquired after them discovered that gold and silver were in abundance here. Thus began the Spanish Conquistadors reign begin in Latin America, though out numbered 10 to 1, the Spanish steadily moved out. The technology gaps between these two worlds was astounding, as Columbus earlier noted, â€Å"They knew nothing of swords, and when these were shown to them they grasped the sharp edges and cut themselves. † Along with gunpowder, full metal armor, and most importantly horses the Spanish were able to decimate and terrorize most opposing forces that they encountered. â€Å"The conquests shattered the foundations of these civilizations† (pg.43), afterwards almost every major native city and been sacked and looted along with the natives being indentured or killed. The mines that were established created the greatest displacement of the native people; it forced them into grueling labor and destroyed the agricultural communities. These early conquests helped lay the groundwork for the future exploitation of this region. Gold and silver were the main motivating forces for the Conquest, but many other goods have developed within this region. Foremost of these goods was sugar, in fact it was such suitable terrain that it proved to be a â€Å"white gold. † The early sugar plantations were pure profit for the Spanish lords, with legions of African and Native slaves and soil ideal for sugar cane. This new agriculture and overseers helped contribute to the already old agriculture downfall. Forests were felled and other crops were dismissed as unnecessary, sugar became the only crop that mattered. These plantations developed into what we know today in Latin America as the latifundio, which has been meticulously honed into a system that allows for the highest profits to the owners but hardly adequate conditions for its workers. â€Å"The latifundio as we know it has been sufficiently mechanized to multiply the labor surplus, and thus enjoys an ample reserve of cheap hands. It no longer depends on the importations of African slaves or on the encomienda of Indians; it merely needs to pay ridiculously low or in-kind wages, or to obtain labor for nothing in return for the laborer’s under of a minute piece of land. † (pg. 60) This system created was so effective at siphoning the natural resources of the region that its growth into areas can be documented by the destroyed land and displaced populace that it leaves behind. Galeano states, â€Å"And this has not been the role of sugar alone: the story has been the same with cacao, cotton, rubber, coffee and fruits† (pg. 61). With the creation of this system within Latin America, it became ripe for foreign business interests to produce their product in this place. With the abundance of common resources available for cheap and with huge potential for a business owner to create huge profits, Latin America was directly and indirectly was given host to many business ventures from Dutch, French, English and U. S. industry. Businesses that invested into these ventures loved the model, land was acquired with earnest and more plantations were created with their overseers working for the new companies. Now all these companies could obtain a bulk product for little to no cost to them, and should you happen to own the transportation for bringing the product to its destination only created more. Investors grew rich and enjoyed their success at making double profits, though workers were not so happy. Unrest has become a staple of the Latin America countries, and unfortunately it is usually painted by our governments as the opposite of what is occurring. To begin most Latin American countries are under a Dictatorship, where the military has absolute power and the only thing with more influence is the businesses that want to keep their labor cheap. Foreign entities train these dictators then give them the money and goods they require to help maintain the goals that the businesses request of them. Most unrest that is documented is the people of these regions rising up against these Dictators to install someone for the people, but it usually doesn’t last long as foreign interest is already setting up the next player for their scheme. Latin America once boasted an ancient civilization with brilliant people; astronomers, builders, leaders, but now is governed by what product is most in demand. These people have had foreign parties that have been molding the way they live and function for over 500 years. Even know as we campaign to help them we can’t begin to grasp that these people need more than foreign interests to stop exploiting them, they need it to change their whole way of life. It’s a double edged sword, for there shall always be a party that enters the system that is only focused on its own needs rather than the needs of the people. The world has so deeply ingrained itself in the history and creation of the crutch that Latin America lives off of and if we should take that crutch away, they still won’t be able to walk, but if we show them how to do it on their own and let them govern themselves and teach them. Maybe they’ll be able to walk for themselves someday. Work Cited Galeano, E. H. (1997). Open veins of Latin America: five centuries of the pillage of a continent (25th anniversary ed. ). New York: Monthly Review Press.

The Renaissance and Why Its Important Essays -- essays research papers

Q: What was the Renaissance and why was it important? The Renaissance was a radical and comprehensive change of thinking and lifestyle that took place in European culture during the 15th and 16th centuries. The Renaissance was the reformation of many old ideas and the formation of many new, this brought many changes to Europe such as the birth of vital subjects, such as mathematics, geometry, and algebra. As well as sciences such as chemistry and astronomy which led to technological advancements. In my essay I will explain how the flourishing culture helped to inspire new developments in art, clashing views in the Church and religion and the concept of multiculturalism which helped to inspire teaching and learning?s of a broader range subjects. Renaissance artists sought to create art and sculptures that expressed themselves on a deep and emotional level, they created art forms consistent with the appearance of the natural world and with their experience of human personality and behaviour. Renaissance artists considered perspective, or the differences in the way things look when they are close to something or far away. The artists painted in a way that showed these differences. As a result, their paintings seem to have depth and meaning. During the 15th and 16th century artists concentrated mainly on the theme of life after death. This was the result of artists who became increasingly liberated from their guilds to pursue individual carers. Renaissance artists were usually of high prominence in the modern day society. Many were hired by rich patrons to paint in their household of either family or religious themes along their walls. The idea that you hired famous artists to paint for you meant that you and your family were. .. ...h and learn off each other spread all over Europe. Thus, making Toledo a significant element in the innovation of Universities and learning during the period of the Renaissance and the modern day world. In conclusion the Renaissance is an important and significant part of life today as many concepts of learning and teaching, art and religion all contribute to modern day society. The Renaissance saw a dramatic change in people?s thinking and expressions. People felt free to think for themselves for once, rather then how they were meant to think. For example, Artists felt unconstrained to draw and paint the honesty and realism in religion. The public thought for themselves and freed themselves from the church in order to express humanism in society. Cultures and backgrounds came together to teach and learn of each other, oblivious to their race or religion.

A Martian Sends a Postcard Home

â€Å"A Martian Sends A Postcard Home† The main theme for this poem, â€Å"A Martian Sends A Postcard Home† is showing that how different people have different perspectives and different way of perceiving things. This poem shows how a Martian would describe some of our everyday thing a lot differently than we would. The Martian has a unique way of describing everyday objects, emotions, and time. The Martian sees mist as an object that has human like properties such as becoming tired. Mist is when the sky is tired of flight and rests its soft machine on ground. † (Page 867) The Martian describes mist in a completely different way from the ordinary way we think it to be. We know that it has no human properties and understand it to be something just caused by nature. The Martian, while on Earth, sees adults while they are suffering. The Martian sees them hiding their pain in a room alone, yet children openly expose their hurt. â€Å"Only the young are allowed to suf fer openly.Adults go to a punishment room with water but nothing to eat. † (Page 864) The Martian gets to see something that most adults try to mask. The Martian is able to make a distinction between the way that children and adults express themselves. The Martian seems to describe in an odd way about how humans keep their time trapped in a box and how we have it tied to our wrists. â€Å"But time is tied to the wrists or kept in a box, ticking with impatience. (Page 864) In this statement, it shows how he finds it hard to understand why we keep track of time in that way and because we keep it in that way, time begins to tick impatiently. In conclusion, the theme of this poem shows how everyday items can be described or viewed in such a different way from another perspective. Such things as objects, feelings, and time can be held in such a different viewpoint from two different people. This poem shows how point of view is used to contrast things viewed from a human vs. outsid er viewpoint.