Definition and Examples of the Interrobang

Definition and Examples of the Interrobang The interrobang (in-TER-eh-bang) is a  nonstandard mark of punctuation in the form of a question mark superimposed on an exclamation point (sometimes appearing as ?!), used to end a rhetorical question or a simultaneous question and exclamation. A blend  of the words  interrogation  and  bang, interrobang is an old printer’s term for the exclamation mark. Though editor Martin K. Speckter is generally credited with the marks invention in 1962 (its name was suggested by a reader of Speckters magazine,  Type Talks), a version of the interrobang had already been used for decades in the speech balloons of comic strips. Mac McGrew has characterized the interrobang as the first new punctuation mark to have been introduced in three hundred years and the only one invented by an American (American Metal Typefaces of the Twentieth Century, 1993). However, the mark is rarely used, and it hardly ever appears in formal writing. Examples and Observations James Harbeck Whats up with English punctuations?! Usually we have a glut, but for certain situations, we dont have a mark?! Say what?! –Where Is the Interrobang?!  Songs of Love and Grammar. Lulu, 2012 Martin K. Speckter To this day, we don’t know exactly what Columbus had in mind when he shouted ‘Land, ho.’ Most historians insist that he cried, ‘Land, ho!’ but there are others who claim it was really ‘Land ho?’ Chances are the intrepid Discoverer was both excited and doubtful, but neither at that time did we, nor even yet, do we, have a point which clearly combines and melds interrogation with exclamation. –Making a New Point, or How About That . . .. Type Talks, March-April, 1962 New York Times From 1956 to 1969, Mr. Speckter was president of Martin K. Speckter Associates Inc... In 1962, Mr. Speckter developed the interrobang, since recognized by several dictionaries and some type and typewriter companies. The mark is said to be the typographical equivalent of a grimace or a shrug of the shoulders. It applied solely to the rhetorical, Mr. Speckter said, when a writer wished to convey incredulity. For example, the interrobang would be used in an expression like this: You call that a hat?! – Martin Spekter obituary: Martin K. Speckter, 73, Creator of Interrobang. The New York Times, February 16, 1988 Keith Houston [F]everish interest in Martin Speckters invention followed the release of Remingtons interrobang key [on typewriters in the 1960s]... Unfortunately, the interrobangs status as a cause cà ©là ¨bre during the late 1960s and early 1970s proved ephemeral, and its popularity reached a plateau even as Remington Rands interrobang key let the average typist make use of it. A creation of the advertising world- and considered by some an unnecessary one at that- the interrobang faced resistance in literary and academic spheres and was beset by more prosaic technical difficulties at almost every turn... [A] combination of factorsthe six-year delay in getting the new character from composition to printing; the sheer inertia of punctuation practice; doubt as to the grammatical need for a new symbol- sent the interrobang to an early grave. By the early 1970s it had largely fallen out of use, and the chance for its widespread acceptance seemed to have been missed. Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols, and Other Typographical Marks. Norton, 2013 Liz Stinson In  many ways one could say that the interrobang has now been superseded by the emoticon, which makes similar use of glyph combinations in order to add emphasis and feeling to the sentence that precedes it. –The Secret History of the Hashtag, Slash, and Interrobang. Wired, October 21, 2015 William Zinnser According to its sponsors, the [interrobang] is getting support from typographers who recommend it for its ability to express the incredibility of modern life. Well, I certainly agree that modern life is incredible. Most of us, in fact, now go through our days in a state of Really?!- if not Are you kidding?! Still, I seriously doubt if we are going to solve the problem by creating new punctuation marks. That only clutters up a language more... Besides, let in one mans interrobang and you let in every nut who is trying to express the incredibility of modern life. –For Clear Expression: Try Words. Life, November 15, 1968

Missing Information in MLA Referencing

Missing Information in MLA Referencing Missing Information in MLA Referencing There are few things more frustrating when writing a college paper than finding a great source, but then being unable to find the publication details. Don’t worry, though! You can still cite a source with missing information. In this post, for example, we will look how to handle missing information in MLA citations and the list. Sources Without a Named Author When a source has no named author, you can use the source title in citations instead. For example, to cite an article with no named author, we might write: Many predicted that 2012 would be the end of the world, but this proved premature (â€Å"Apocalypses Through History† 12). Here, for example, the citation is for page 12 of an article called â€Å"Apocalypses Through History.† If the source title is too long, moreover, you can shorten it to fit in citations. The same rule applies in the list, so use the source title in the first position there if no author is named. However, make sure to check carefully for an author. Typically, there will at least be a corporate author to cite. This will be the organization responsible for producing the source you are citing. In-Text Citations Without Page Numbers Some sources have no page numbers to cite (e.g., websites and ebooks). When this happens, MLA recommends using paragraph or line numbers instead if these are available: Page numbers are a thing of the past (Smith par. 12). This citation, for instance, would point to paragraph 12 in a source. However, if the source does not include its own paragraph or line numbers, simply leave this information out of citations. Other Missing Information in the List Finally, we have the list. This is where you give full source information. If you cannot find certain details, however, you will need to adapt your reference accordingly. The MLA Handbook, Eighth Edition. The MLA Handbook does not have strict guidelines about how to handle missing information in the list other than using the title when there is no named author (see above). Generally, then, if you cannot find a piece of information within a source (e.g., place of publication or publication date), you can skip this and move on to the next detail. However, the MLA Handbook does say you can include source information from an external source such as a database or publisher’s website. To do this, simply place the information in question in square brackets. Your teacher or supervisor may also have preferences about how to approach missing information in MLA style references. For example, some suggest using â€Å"n.d.† to indicate a missing date of publication, so remember to check your style guide if you have one available. Summary: Missing Information in MLA Referencing If you cannot find information about a source you have cited, MLA recommends the following: When a source has no named author or suitable organizational author, use the title instead. This applies to both citations and the list. When a source has no page numbers, leave these out of citations. You can use paragraph or line numbers if these are included in the source itself. For other missing information in the list, if it is available from a third party, include it in square brackets. If not, skip the detail in question. And if you want help checking yours referencing, get in touch with Proofed.

Reflection Aging Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reflection Aging - Essay Example A person who does not go through these stages is considered to be experiencing abnormal aging (OConnor, 1994).  . According to Birren & Schaie (2001), normal aging does not involve necessarily becoming senile. Senile can be said to be weaknesses or a disease as one grows old. However, becoming senile is not normal aging. It depends on factors such as food, heredity, social support, mental abilities among others. Normal aging therefore brings about changes in eyesight, taste, smell, brain, heart, body fat, touch and smell among others. Nevertheless, it does not bring any diseases. The physiological change that concerns me the most is the diminished eyesight. The changes in eyesight lead to the loss of the ability to judge depth when objects are near or far. The peripheral vision also decreases leading to blurred vision and even blindness at very advanced ages. Moreover, decreased eyesight leads to decreased clarity of colours. Loss of the eyesight is more worrying than any other changes as it leads to not being able to see clearly or even walk without help. Albert, M. L., Connor, L. T., & Obler, L. K. (2000).  Neurobehavior of language and cognition: Studies of normal aging and brain damage: honoring Martin L. Albert. Boston, MA: Kluwer Academic

New malaria 'poses human threat' Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

New malaria 'poses human threat' - Assignment Example P. knowlesi resembles the less serious P. malariae under microscopic inspection, but if not properly diagnosed, it can be as deadly as dreaded malarial parasites like P. falciparum. Since P. knowlesi has the ability to reproduce every 24 hours in the blood, urgent medical treatment is needed in cases of infection, failing to which it can turn deadly. The research, headed by Professor Balbir Singh of University Malaysia Sarawak, involved testing over 150 patients with malaria infection admitted to hospital in Sarawak between July 2006 and January 2008. Their study revealed that more than two thirds of these infections were caused by P. knowlesi. Since the major symptom among patients infected with P. knowlesi was the low blood platelet count in them, doctors can take it as a lead to further diagnosis even in places where P. knowlesi is not yet detected to be the cause of malaria. Professor Balram suggests that while treating a patient who had visited a place where P. knowlesi is detec ted to be the cause of malarial infections among humans, clinicians should be â€Å"aware of the diagnosis, clinical manifestations, and rapid and potentially serious course of P. knowlesi malaria†. The study throws light on the future possibilities of having to deal with new kind of deadly

Roll of Thunder Essay Example for Free

Roll of Thunder Essay The novel, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor is about the struggle between the blacks and whites, about thirty years after slavery. Set in the 1930s, in the Mississippi, where slavery was very much supported, growing up is harsh for a young black girl. The story is about Cassie, aged nine, growing up learning about the harsh situation, fighting her own personal fights and discovering her feelings about T. J. . Cassie has to persevere by remembering her mothers words: every body born this earth is something, and nobody, no matter what colour, is better then anybody else. Cassie, the main character, tells the story from her own perspective; this helps the reader think like her. She is a mother figure and has a strong sense of her individuality, shown throughout the book. She is loyal, inquisitive, clever and forthright. T. J. , also a main character, is quite different to Cassie; he is disloyal, a cheat, lazy and he talks a lot. His disloyalty is shown especially when he lets others take the blame for his own wrong doing like the cheating incidents. He ,like Cassie, is very clever, but uses it in the wrong way. Both Cassie and T. J. speak in the southern dialect and accent. Cassie does not, and cannot accept the way things are between black folks and white folks. This is shown in chapter one when Cassie refuses to take the new school book, like her brother Little Man, because the front page classified them as nigre and that they got the book last: See Miz Crocker, see what it says. They give us these ole books when they didnt want em no more. It is also shown in chapter five when Cassie goes to Strawberry and Cassie cant accept the reason thems white folks wagons, and later on, Cassie fights back to Mr Barnett because she thought it was unfair he served white folks first, especially a child. She is persistent and her short-temper shows through. She takes revenge, is outspoken and says things like you got no right. I aint nobodys little nigger. and I already know what I am, but I betcha you dont know what you are, you ole . After this, while still in much distress, she bumps in to Lillian Jean, who demands an apology. Cassie doesnt want to as Lillian Jean is not much older than her but is forced to by Big Ma: her voice cracking as she spoke. go on child, apologise. and a painful tear slid down my cheek, Im sorry M-Miz Lillian Jean. This is because, in the Mississippi, things like this happening is very risky and I dont think Cassie understands this and so far, she has been lucky. Cassie is also very clever, in school and out. Cassie got top exam marks for her year but she is clever also for the readers benefit; she asks lots of questions for the reader, many of which she already knows the answer of: like in chapter four when she asks questions about their family history, for which she already knows the answers. Cassie also eavesdrops quite a bit and is curious; without this, the story would be quite different. This is also an example of her knowing what others want to know and what people are thinking e. g. in chapter three when Cassie realises Stacey, her older brother, blames himself for the night men coming she says: aint no call to go blaming yourself, we all done it . Cassie knows the difference between right and wrong, but doesnt always follow the right and covers up! Cassie still has a lot to learn about the bitter situation and her family are reluctant to show her. Cassie thinks through carefully her actions before doing them. This is shown in chapter seven when, at the beginning, she talks through to herself as she wonders about how she can deflate Lillian Jean for making her apologise. The actions are carried out in chapter eight when Cassie made out she understands why she should apologise and later she led Lillian Jean into the under growth and fought back and made her swear not to tell anyone about the incident. Cassie refers to it as just a game. This is because Cassie thinks what she did was only fair and doesnt fully understand the reason as she is still quite young. Cassie is also caring and protective. This is shown in chapter four when T. J. cheats in a history test and allows Stacey to get the blame. Stacey follows T. J. up to the Wallace store to take revenge, even though they were forbidden to go there. T. J. and Stacey fight and Cassie cheers on. It is also shown in chapter eight when they meet up with T. J. , just after Mama had been fired because of what T. J. said. Cassie and her brothers all went against T. J. and stood up for Mama. Cassie also gets jealous- of Miss Wellevers new dress.

Stir The Coffee Essay -- essays research papers

Through the steam of my coffee I could see a miniature set of shiny red shoes swinging back and forth underneath the counter at the diner. A little girl had been sitting atop the red stool since I had arrived, just sitting watching the cook flip pancakes all morning long with a mature sense of fascination. Up and down, and up and down, over and over again, the batter always formed into delicious solid creations, some with blueberries, some with chocolate, some just plain and simple. The cook sported a wonderful apron that looked like it had been around forever, cooked a million pancakes, and still lived to tell its tale of the oils and toppings and syrups it had seen in its day. The old man’s red shirt could be seen through the burn holes in the apron, as if they were war wounds. The cook didn’t seem to mind the heat of the stove, or stir at all when the burning oil from the pan spat at his flesh. He was caked in a film of grease, butter and batter, and only occasionally broke from his cooking rituals to wipe his forehead with the sopping wet rag that was slung over his left shoulder. Each pancake was a delicate creation that the old man prepared with great consideration and effort, making each one perfect, but none the same. Never would the man be compared to any machine- every one was original, every one special. The special of the day was peanut butter pancakes, although I didn’t see anybody order that one. The little girl with the shiny shoes, who had been there sinc...

Leadership and Supervision Issues in Nathaniel Philbrick’s In the Heart of the Sea Essay

Nathaniel Philbrick’s In the Heart of the Sea describes the tragic final voyage of the Nantucket-based whaler Essex in 1820. The Essex was a floating factory, a comparatively small but sturdy vessel designed to travel great distances to find, kill, and process whales, thus yielding the extremely valuable whale oil and other products. In the Heart of the Sea also describes a series of errors, mishaps and miscalculations—often with fatal results—in the management, leadership and supervision of the enterprise. These events, despite the distance in time, provide scenarios to compare and contrast present-day concepts of leadership and supervision. The story of the Essex illustrates numerous instances of (a) poor planning before and during the journey, (b) poor staffing decisions before and during the journey, (c) indecisive and/or poor leadership and (d) poor supervision which contributed to the difficult journey, the sinking of the Essex and the horrible aftermath. Typical of the practices of the era and locale, Essex was captained, but not owned and provisioned, by a sailor-officer who had risen through the ranks. This would be the first command voyage of Captain George Pollard, Jr. By all accounts he had successfully risen to First Mate of the Essex on previous voyages and was given captaincy when the former captain was given a newer and larger vessel. Unfortunately he inherited a worn ship soon to be out of commission. Accordingly the owners spent as little as possible on repairs of the vessel and even less on provisions for the multi-year cruise. There is no indication Pollard had any input in either decision. As this was his first command he was likely to remain in his employers’ good graces and refrain from insisting on better repairs and outfitting. To further compound these initial as well as future problems was the wage payment structure in which Pollard and the crew were essentially working on commission. Payment to officers and seamen alike would be a portion based on rank and seniority paid only if the valuable whale oil was safely in port. Other experienced captains had the ability and option to add to the original provisions. Pollard either decided to set sail despite the meager provisions or was unable to supplement them by his own means. This system strongly contrasts to management practices of the day as well as contemporary practices. Owner-operated businesses were not at all uncommon in the era with a strong â€Å"hands-on† style of leadership. Most striking would be the owner-operated vessels with a captain well-versed on ship maintenance and outfitting. Obviously today anyone would be considered naive at best and insane at worst to take on such a logistical task of any sort without having been given decision-making authority. Today even with companies having distant or publicly held ownership the leadership and decision-makers of the company are urged to â€Å"buy into† the company in the sense of making decisions and leading in a manner consistent with actual ownership. If Pollard can be excused to some extent for the poor decision-making at home port, the disastrous lack of planning during his maiden voyage is his burden alone. After almost loosing his ship virtually at the onset of the voyage he is either unable or incapable of tactical or strategic planning when the Essex is destroyed. With a previously damaged vessel prudence would dictate some sort of â€Å"disaster plan† short of a belief that lightening will not strike the same place twice. While the Essex was sinking it was the foresight of others who managed to salvage essential items. Some decisions defied common sense. Instead of cooking and preparing a substantial amount of available turtle meat he simply placed two live turtles with each surviving whaleboat. Perhaps Pollard did not think the unthinkable could happen again. Such planning and preparedness is not something novel, for his era or ours. It is simply the ability to survive the unexpected and the wisdom to learn from it. Contemporary leadership in management, government, and virtually any other field must be prepared for the unexpected. The unexpected and the disastrous will certainly occur, usually when least expected. It then also becomes a learning experience for leadership to plan and think for the â€Å"unplanned and unthinkable†. Consistent with the idea of poor or non-existent planning was the Nantucket concept of staffing vessels with the unskilled. Pollard’s ship was manned by a significant number of â€Å"sailors† who had never lived in Nantucket nor experienced life on a whaler. Other â€Å"sailors† included inexperienced Nantucket youngsters anxious for their first cruise as well as officers sailing in newly-promoted ranks. It was expected of Pollard and his officers to essentially conduct on-the-job training for the unskilled staff. However, once again, if Pollard can be excused for having to deal with something out of his control, the staffing decisions made during the disaster were his alone. Most glaring was the decision regarding the placement of the survivors in what would become their lifeboats. No consideration was given to skill, ability or health. Instead, it was a system based on whether a sailor was black or white, Nantucketer or not. Apprenticeships and on-the-job training are time-honored practices dating back centuries and still valid today. Both systems are based on both a lengthy or at least sufficient period of time and a non-critical or at least supervised situation. The apprentice or OJT worker will make mistakes and is given the opportunity to make them and learn from them in a controlled situation. Once skilled, the staffing pattern must be developed to maintain whatever production or quality standard is to be met. In an emergency situation such decisions must be made by leadership without being distracted by pointless issues of race, class, or place of birth. Again, Pollard can be shielded to some extent by the customs and practices of his day. Contemporary leaders have no such excuse. Decision-making is often made in the lonely vacuum of sole command, something that Pollard, at times, was unable or willing to do. â€Å"Leadership by consensus† was not something he learned, but he did indeed practice. Additionally, indecision is in fact a decision, and one that eats time. After the initial near-fatal keeling of his ship Pollard commits both errors: he abdicates sole leadership, procrastinates, reverses himself, and by trying to lead by consensus ultimately leads his ship to disaster. Again, forces work against Pollard. To turn back with a damaged empty ship would result in no wages and possibly a loss of command. By deciding to continue the voyage with a damaged ship, lost provisions, and lost whaleboats Pollard was not talking a calculated risk, he was essentially dooming his ship and crew to disaster. Modern management case studies abound with the disastrous stories of managers failing to decide and having that â€Å"activity† yield worse results than a bad decision. Most missions are time-critical and while many, if not most missions can have a built-in method of correcting erroneous decisions there is no method for reversing time lost in indecision. The texts are equally full of the horror stories of leaders who take the â€Å"ahead at all costs† attitude without a realistic appraisal of whether their â€Å"ship† can handle the journey. This inevitably results in the learned experience that â€Å"profitability at all costs† is very unprofitable. After the sinking of the Essex a variety of decisions were made, some based on common sense, or lack of same, and others based on the nautical knowledge of the time. Perhaps the most glaring was the decision to allow the surviving whaleboats to operate in an individual fashion, without tying together during the night. While a questionable seafaring decision, it casts some light on broader contemporary issues. During critical situations, whether a production run or a full-scale emergency it is common sense and a practical necessity to maintain communication and command. Failure to maintain either can jeopardize the personnel and the mission. In the Heart of the Sea is filled with numerous examples of poor supervision. From the very onset there is no indication Pollard really supervised the repair and provisioning of his vessel; it all likelihood he delegated a great deal of this responsibility to his First and Second Mate. There is no indication he did a thorough, hands-on investigation of his damaged vessel after the initial near-sinking. Once whaling he was out in a whaleboat, as was the custom, instead of being in a position on deck to supervise all of the events that would unfold. There is no indication he personally undertook a surveillance of Henderson Island to determine if it could sustain the crew, or in the alternative, if it could better provision the survivors on their continued voyage. During many of the catastrophic events Pollard seemed overwhelmed and incapacitated by the situation. He was unable to command and supervise what can only be described as life-threatening or life-saving activity unfolding in front of him. Once all was lost he decided to allow the boats to go their own way, and was unable to maintain the supervision of survivors when that was his most critical duty. Throughout the disastrous journey the questionable command of Pollard is and will be debated. What is certain is there was considerable doubt at the time that he exercised the decision-making responsibilities in a prudent manner. The captain of a ship and the leader of a corporation must be able to face a situation, whether mundane or critical, and make very quick and decisive actions. First and foremost is the decision of whether to take a â€Å"hands on† approach or delegate responsibility. There is no easy or set answer, and either method can be disastrous, if a leader usurps a subordinate’s better command of a situation or if responsibility is delegated to someone incapable of handling the situation. However, the command of a ship is unique and very similar to many organizational situations in that the leader at the very top is expected to be well-versed and capable of every function in the entire organization. If that is not the case, then the leader must have a clear understanding of his personal abilities and limitations as well as that of all of the subordinates in the chain of command. Throughout the narratives and accounts which the book is comprised of there is mention of, and no doubt that the captain knew his ship better than anyone. However, it became very obvious at the onset that his knowledge of his and his officers’ capabilities was suspect. At only one point was Pollard described as acting with the authority and decisiveness normally required of a ship’s captain. He quickly and ferociously responded to an early â€Å"protest† by the crew relating to what they considered poor rations. His outburst and threatened action quelled the protest and certainly left the crew with no doubt of his intent. However, what is missing is the not-unusual comments and attitude from crewmen indicating complete respect of their captain and their willingness to follow his commands, regardless of outcome, because of their knowledge of him and his ability. It is imperative upon leaders to not just know their workplace, but to know their staff. It is not enough to â€Å"go ballistic† once in a while to let the staff know what will happen if something is discovered amiss or in response to what behavior is not to be tolerated. Command through intimidation is foolhardy; what is necessary of leadership is to prove competency to staff and subordinates to the point where there is no doubt there is respect in the leader’s ability. At that point leadership becomes â€Å"natural† if and when the staff and subordinates believe the leadership will in fact lead, but do so in a manner that takes into account the well-being, if not survival, of all. In modern society â€Å"survival† is often economic survival, and depending on the organization or industry economic survival must be paramount in management’s priorities. Pollard lost on both counts; the voyage was a complete economic disaster and resulted in the deaths of the majority of his crew. The journey was a voyage of poor planning, staffing, decision-making and supervision. It is an epic of missed opportunities and unrealistic goals. It is a blueprint for any manager or leader in what not to do. Leadership cannot afford to be unprepared in any of the areas noted above. Each interact and influence the other, often in ways unanticipated and noted only too late. It is easy, but very necessary to look at situations with twenty-twenty hindsight if lessons are to be learned and errors prevented in the future. There is a host of what-if questions presented by In the Heart of the Sea which every leader should take to heart.

Changes in family life since the 1970s Essay

Outline some of the major changes that have taken place in family life since the 1970s and discuss the concerns arising from these changes. In the past many families were similar, as traditional nuclear families were the excepted norm of society. Since the 1970’s a number of major changes have taken place in family life. The traditional nuclear family is no longer seen as the norm as many other types of specialist families have developed to best suit the needs of the people within them. Family life is very complex and in recent years sociologists have sort to find new ways to understand it. However with these changes there have also been a number of concerns, which may suggest that not all changes have improved family life. One way in which the family unit has changed since the 1970’s is the change in marriage rates. While marriage in the UK is still the majority among families, there has been a decline in the number of marriages, the age in which people are choosing to marry and the duration of marriages. In 1971 1% of all marriages in the UK ended after two years. In 1996 this figure increased to 9%. (Mark Kirby, 2000, p. 58). This suggests that marriage less important than it once was. There are a number for reasons as to why there is a change in marriage. It is argued that because women now have more freedom of choice than they did in the past, they may be choosing simply not to marry. Others suggest that women are now choosing to put off marriage till a later date so that they can focus on their careers and education. Another reason for the change in marriage could be due to the undermining of the need to marry, now that it has become socially acceptable to cohabit or be single, many people choose not to marry. As well as this women are no longer dependant on men to be a ‘bread winner’ and provide for them. Lorraine Harding (1996) argues that the main decline in marriage occurred around the 1970’s due to greater levels of unemployment. Strain may have been put on the ‘breadwinner’ to support the family causing the breakdown of the marriage. ‘On this basis it could be argued that it is not the decline of the conventional family since 1970 that should need explaining, but rather its unusual popularity between 1945 and 1970’. (Mark Kirby, 2000, pp. 69-70) Another major change that has taken place in family life since the 1970’s is the increase in the number of divorces. In 1970 80,000 couples got divorced in the UK, that figure has risen to 125,000 in 2003. (Scott, 2007, p. 466) It is argued that this increase is due to the 1969 Divorce Reform Act which made getting a divorce much easier. Women had more opportunity to work and therefor they were less dependent on men. State benefits gave women greater chance of leaving a marriage. (Scott, 2007, pp. 467-469). However with divorce there are a number of concerns that can arise in family life. It is believed that divorce is the main contributor to lone parent families who are considered to be at higher risk of poverty. This is considered an unhealthy environment to bring up children as they may feel unsettled. Children may lose touch with the other parent and gain step parents. This in extension can effect socialisation, education and their family life in the future. Some sociologists also argue that children whose parents have had a divorce are more likely to get a divorce when they are older. Giddens found that two-fifths of all marriages in the UK now end in divorce. The number of marriages has fallen while the number of divorces has risen. (Giddens, 2009, pp. 350-351) Cohabitation has increased sharply in recent years. It is seen as a prelude to marriage or an alternative and in some cases it replace marriage altogether. ‘In 1986 11 per cent of non-married men under the age of 60 were in cohabiting relationships, but by 2004 this figure had risen to 24 per cent. The comparable figures for women were 13 per cent in 1986 and 25 per cent in 2004’ (Social Trends, 2006) This goes to show that cohabitation is one alternative to the traditional nuclear family that people are choosing to take. In the UK today 73 per cent of women say they live with a man before they are married. However with cohabitation there have been a number of concerns suggested by sociologists. Some sociologists argue that because there is less commitment within a cohabiting relationship then they are less stable and more likely to break down. This could lead to poverty for the women and children involved. As well as this a cohabiting couple are more likely to seek stat e benefits and put a strain on the economy. Antony Giddens argues the idea of a pure relationship. He believes that  couples in Modern society choose now not to marry for love and intimacy but to cohabit and have a relationship that best suits them. He believes that in the past couples were bound by the contract of love and it would often be difficult to get and divorce and end a relationship. Giddens argues that divorce is increasing due to people having much more choice in their lives. If a relationship no longer continues to suit the interests of the people within it then it is easy to simply leave. Giddens says: ‘What holds the pure relationship together is the acceptance on the part of each partner, â€Å"until further notice†, that each gains a significant benefit from the relationship to make its continuance worthwhile.’ (Holborn, 2004) The love within the relationship is governed by the amount of venerability the other is prepared to show. Giddens also saw that in the past families would have been headed by a single male breadwinner who provided for the whole family while the wife stayed at home. This has now changed and men and women have become more equal within contemporary society. This therefor suggests that men and women have also become equal within relationships. Pure relationships are quickly becoming more popular as our self-centred society develops. Within contemporary society we have more choice; this has now adapted the way we look at traditional ’till-death-us-do-part’ marriages and traditional nuclear families. (Elliott, 2008) ‘Living apart together’ is a term that is used for a family where one of the partners may live away for work or simply to maintain their independence. This follows on from the idea of a pure relationship as it is more causal for the people involved and it meets everyone needs. A problem that may arise from ‘LAT’ families is that it could be disruptive for children as they would not have a single home. It also shows a lack of commitment from the couple to move in together and get married. Although ‘LAT’ families are becoming increasingly common, they may still often be not seen as the best way to live as a family. Lone parent’s families are becoming increasing common within the UK today. There have been significant increases in lone parent families since the 1970’s. This could be due to higher rates of divorce and cohabitation break down. Lone parents also have a reduced likelihood for marriage in the future  with lone parent working class men having the lowest chance to marry. In 2004 73 per cent of lone mothers and 50 per cent lone fathers had dependent children. (Giddens, 2009, p. 355) This creates a concern with lone parents as it is believed that lone parents are more likely to be in poverty and dependant on state benefits. It is argued that the child from a lone parent household is less likely to do well in education and is more likely to become a lone parent in the future. With less time to get an education it is also common for a lone parent to have low or no qualifications and poor pay. Lone parents can get caught in a poverty trap as they do not have the time to earn good money and improve their education. Some lone parents may wait until their children have grown up, and go into higher education at a later date. With the increasing number of divorces and remarriages there has also be an increase in reconstituted families. Reconstituted families often bring two families together that have divorced parents. These types of family can generate some concerns as in many cases it is difficult for the children of the family to accept new relationships. In extension to this within reconstituted families there is a higher rate of child abuse. This could be due to the sometimes overwhelming environment of two families living together. They are also more likely to face economic hardship. Divorce rates in reconstituted families are higher than that of first marriages. Same sex partnerships have received a lot of media attention in recent years. This is due to the very idea of sexuality being a topic of interest within society. It is only since December 2005 that gay and lesbian couples could get a civil partnership. If they wish to have children then they have to choose from adoption, artificial insemination, fostering or if they had a child from a past heterosexual relationship. This can be good for the child as they may choose to counteract patriarchy. However on the other hand there are many aspects of a same sex partnership that could raise some concerns. For example the very nature of such a relationship challenges strongly held values and norms within society. This could therefor create conflict with other members of society. If there is a child involved this may not be the best environment to bring them up. In 2009 Elton John and his partner David  Furnish were looking to adopt a child from the Ukraine. They faced problems when EveryChild, an international children’s charity, said _†it was concerned by the singer’s announcement that he and partner David Furnish wanted to adopt a 14-month-old boy called Lev. The organization said that while it praised John’s help in raising awareness about children affected by HIV in Ukraine, it said the answer did not lie in international adoption, arguing that more children might be left in children’s homes as a result of another celebrity adoption†._ (Press Association, 2009) As well as this many people believe that it is inappropriate to bring a child up with same sex parents. It is believed that this will have an effect on their sexuality without giving them a fair choice. With society becoming more multicultural some people from other religions may condemn the idea of same sex couples. This could leave them marginalised on the edge of society. In some extreme cases there have been ‘Honour Killings’ from some families in order to protect their image. With an increase in same sex couples there has also been more of a demand for fertility and reproductive technology. These men and women are looking to artificial insemination to help them to have a child. On the other hand however heterosexual men and women, may also require such technology if they have a problem with conception. This has helped women whom have put off parenthood in order to focus on their careers and education. As women get older their fertility rate falls, 1 in 5 women will reach the end of their fertile life childless. This new technology can help families to have children whereas in the past they may not have been able. There has also been an increase in younger women becoming surrogate mothers for older women who can no longer have children. Another technology that has had a large effect on family life is contraception. In the past, families often had many more children than in contemporary society. This was so their children could go to work and provide for the family, but also because they didn’t have the technology. Contraception has become increasing important over recent years with youth  culture of today ‘Drugs, Sex, Rock and Roll’. In contrast to this idea, there has been an increase in teen parents over recent years, suggesting that more could be done to stop such families. Other generations within the family are increasingly having a greater influence. In the past due to poor healthcare many children would never have met their grandparents as they would have died at a younger age. In modern society grandparents and great grandparents are now increasingly part of the family. This can create tensions between caring for the older members of the family and the younger ones. It can also have a structural issue as the older generations of the family may become a burden if there is a break down in the relationship or a divorce. In conclusion there are a number of changes that have taken place in the family since the 1970’s. Not all of these changes have had positive effects. There have also been a number of negatives. With such a large change within society concerns will arise, it is how these concerns are dealt with that will determine the future of the family unit. There are some sociologists that believe that the family is still just as strong as it has always been even with the loss of traditional families. _†Family living also offers an opportunity for intimacy, a word with Latin roots meaning ‘sharing fears’. That is, as a result of sharing a wide range of activities over a long period of time, members of families forge emotional bonds. Of course, the fact that parents act as authority figures often inhabits their communication with young children. But as young people reach adulthood, kinship ties typically ‘open up’ as family members recognise that they share concern for one another’s welfare†_ (Plummer, 2002, p. 441) This suggests that it does not matter what shape or size a family is, but if it teaches the people within it to become good adults and care for others then it will have fulfilled its purpose. With the ever changing and diverse nature of the society in which we live families have simply become more specialised, and the people within them are no longer bound by what is  socially acceptable.

Cloned essays

Cloned essays Chicago scientist Richard Seed announced a plan to begin cloning human beings at his clinic in January of 1998. In November 1998, the National Bioethics Advisory Commission began conducting a thorough review of the issues associated with human stem cell research, in the United States. The stem cell is a unique and essential cell type found in all animals. In adult the organism stem cells are those that renew tissue, the most fundamental and extraordinary of the stem cells are found in the early stage of the embryo. Unlike the more differentiated adult stem cells or other cell types, embryonic stem (ES) cells, retain the special ability to develop into nearly any cell type. There are also embryonic germ (EG) cells, which originate from the primordial reproductive cells of a developing fetus and have properties similar to ES cells. Scientific reports of the successful isolation and culture of these specialized cells offer hope of new cures for debilitating and even fatal illness and a t the same time have renewed an important national debate about the ethics of research involving human embryos and fetal cadaver material. At the present moment, human stem cells can be derived only from human fetal tissue following elective abortion. Human pluripotent (having the ability to become any tissue) stem cells are able to be isolated and cultured with the unlimited capacity to divide and the ability to turn into most of the cells or tissues in the body. However, the technique used to create clone had initiated the debate on the controversial issue. Reported efforts by a small biotechnology company to clone embryos in order to derive stem cells had lead to House passage of a measure that would criminalize both therapeutic Nine bills on cloning have been introduced during the first session of the 107th Congress-seven in the House and two in the Senate. The bills contain similar definitions of cloning; they differ in ...

U.S. States Named After Kings and Queens

U.S. States Named After Kings and Queens Seven of the  U.S. states are named after sovereigns  - four are named for kings and three are named for queens. These include some of the oldest colonies and territories in what is now the United States and the royal names paid tribute to the rulers of either France and England. The list of states includes Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Can you guess which kings and queens inspired each name? The 'Carolinas' Have British Royalty Roots North and South Carolina have a long and complicated history. Two of the 13 original colonies, they began as a single colony  but were divided shortly after because it was too much land to govern. The name Carolina  is often attributed as an honor of King Charles I of England (1625-1649), yet that is not entirely true.   What is fact is that  Charles is Carolus in Latin and that inspired Carolina. However, the French explorer, Jean Ribault first called the region Carolina when he tried colonizing Florida in the 1560s. During that time, he established an outpost known as Charlesfort in what is now South Carolina. The French King at the time? Charles IX who was crowned in 1560. When the British colonists established their settlements in the Carolinas, it was shortly after the 1649  execution of  King Charles I of England and they retained the name in his honor. When his son took over the crown in 1661, the colonies were also an honor to his rule. In a way, the Carolinas pay tribute to all three King Charles. 'Georgia' Was Inspired by a British King Georgia was one of the original 13 colonies that became the United States. It was the last colony established and it became official in 1732, just five years after King George II was crowned King of England. The name  Georgia  was clearly inspired by the new king. The suffix -ia  was used often by the colonizing nations when naming new lands in honor of important people. King George II did not live long enough to see his namesake become a state. He died in 1760 and was succeeded by his grandson, King George III, who reigned during the American Revolutionary War. 'Louisiana' Has French Origins In 1671, French explorers claimed a large portion of central North America for France. They named the area in honor of King Louis XIV, who reigned from 1643 until his death in 1715. The name  Louisiana  begins with a clear reference to the king. The suffix  -iana  is often used to refer to a collection of objects in regards to the collector. Therefore, we can loosely associate  Louisiana  as a collection of lands owned by King Louis XIV. This territory became known as the Louisiana Territory and was purchased by Thomas Jefferson in 1803. In total, the Louisiana Purchase was for 828,000 square miles between the Mississippi River and the  Rocky Mountains. The state of Louisiana formed the southern border and became a state in 1812. 'Maryland' Was Named After a British Queen Maryland also has an association with King Charles I yet, in this case, it was named for his wife.   George Calvert was granted a charter in 1632 for a region east of the Potomac. The first settlement was St. Marys and the territory was named Maryland. All of this was in honor of Henrietta Maria, queen consort of Charles I of England and daughter of King Henry IV of France. The 'Virginias' Were Named for a Virgin Queen Virginia (and subsequently West Virginia) was settled by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1584. He named this new land after the English monarch of the time, Queen Elizabeth I. But how did he get Virginia  out of Elizabeth? Elizabeth I was crowned in 1559 and died in 1603. During her 44 years as queen, she  never married and she earned the nickname of the Virgin Queen. That is how the Virginias got their name, but whether the monarch was true in her virginity is a matter of much debate and speculation.

External Analysis for (Lifestyle lift Co.) Essay

External Analysis for (Lifestyle lift Co.) - Essay Example The lift procedure performed by this company involves incision making, usually on sides of the faces and eventually removing excess skin. The company promotes its services by infomercial advertising, usually on television. Nevertheless, it publishes websites such as Life lift.com that describes various face-lift procedures and that contains information regarding the locations of its affiliated offices around US. Various external factors affect performance and competitiveness of Life Lift Company since entering the Sacramento market. The company enjoying a large market share has faced malpractice claims and criticism from the public and its customers. Evidently, a woman died just an hour after undergoing the cosmetic facial surgery in one of its affiliated branches in Maitland, within the state of Florida (Kathy 01). Besides this, some of its competitors are using information from the patients who at some point show up demanding for another operation. Popovich of Folsom had a face-lift neck at the company’s San Mateo but went for another surgery because one of his faces appeared droopy. Public and its esteemed customers deemed it negative for the company to sue two of its competitor’s website. In essence, entry into the industry has associated legal, ethical and financial costs, which act as barriers for new