Star Trek Essays - Star Trek, Star Trek Fandom, Bajoran,

Star Trek INTRODUCTION: Television programs provide one of the most popular forms of entertainment today. From The Simpsons to The X-Files, television shows amuse, shock, sadden, and excite us by turns. Television does more, however, than simply entertain. Television shows are cultural products, and as such, they reflect, reinforce, and challenge cultural ideas. It acts as a mirror and a model for society. In examining and understanding those cultural messages and popular appeal of certain television shows, we should understand something about the society that has created and sustained them. Arguably, Star Trek is one of the most popular television shows ever produced. Today Star Trek includes four television series and nine motion pictures . Like some of the other television shows, Star Trek has been subject to the vagaries of producers and writers so it is difficult to generalize about the intent of the authors of Star Trek or the viewpoint of the readers. Yet, it is also clear that Star Trek has at various times been reflective, informative, and critical about the culture -American culture- that produced it. Star Trek has addressed a wide variety of issues, including war, capitalism, individualism, technology, race, gender, prejudice, religion, etc. The list can be extended to many other issues but here I will focus on race, gender, prejudice and religion only. As portrayed on television such issues are representations of socio-cultural perspectives on broad human concerns. For taking a closer look to those issues, in the continuing parts I will give some examples fro m a number of Star Trek episodes that had written in different times. RELIGION: The portrayal and treatment of religion in the Star Trek television series and films provides an important cultural commentary on the place of religion in society. Although no single coherent approach to religion appears in Star Trek, the series is nevertheless variously reflective of, informed by, and critical of societal attitudes toward religion. The portrayal and treatment of religion in much of the Star Trek franchise is negative: religion is often presented as superstitious, outdated, and irrational. An underlying and consistent theme of the Star Trek series is the presentation of rational scientific humanism as an alternative to religious faith. A newer theme, notably found in episodes from the Deep Space Nine and the Voyager series, explores the potentially positive value of religion. Since the viability and popularity of Star Trek have spanned such a long period of time, it is inevitable that the series would begin to diverge from original assumptions in response to changing cultural attitudes. The recent potentially positive portrayal of religion within Star Trek both reflects and reinforces a particular cultural change. Gene Roddenberry was Star Trek's creator and executive producer. While he was alive and continued to have a direct hand in the production of the show, religion as a theme was rarely treated. When it was -I believe- the portrayal of religion reflected Roddenberry's own distrust of an antipathy toward organized religion. In Star Trek, organized religion tends to be portrayed as the product of a pre-rational age, antithetical to science and reason, and God is depicted as a category mistake -an advanced alien form- from mistaken for a god. However after his death, and particularly evident in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, religion as a theme far more often tends to be treated in a more sophisticated and sympathetic manner2. The setting of Deep Space Nine is a Federation space station situated next to the planet Bajor. The people of Bajor are united by their common religious faith guided by a religious oligarchy. Invisible spiritual guides called ?the Prophets? directed them. The two hour premiere episode of Deep Space Nine: Emissary featured than -Commander Sisko's encounter with the Prophets, one that led both to his emotional healing and to his identification as a Bajoran's long-awaited spiritual Emissary. This introductory episode so explicitly involving a spiritual motif set a compelling tone for the exploration of religious themes in this series. On Deep Space Nine religious faith is treated as more than simply the product of superstition and the suspension of rationality depicted in the earlier series. On the other hand, certain episodes, like Shakaar, deal with the Bajoran

THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE CIVIL WAR ITS CONSEQUENCES Book Report

THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE CIVIL WAR ITS CONSEQUENCES Book Report/Review THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE CIVIL WAR & ITS CONSEQUENCES – Book Report/Review Example The Economics of the Civil War September 14, Economics of the civil war, Ch. 13 The civil war that took place in America in mid 19thcentury is well analyzed granting me the opportunity to understand in details the occurrences during that time. Several aspects of the war are tackled in consideration of the thesis and ideas developed by several researchers regarding the war and measures undertaken by the authorities to control the situation. The cold-blooded war that led to the loss of life was attributed to the difference in economies between the southern America and North America. Crucial information by Claudia gives me a chance to understand the property rights that existed in the southern region while regarding the slaves, slave trade and slave valuation. Claudia gives an estimate that the value of slaves during the year 1860 was $2.7billion which was a lot of money during that time (Economics of the civil war 356). Furthermore, the article gives vital details on the level of harm the war caused to the people and economy of America.One major question is well-analyzed in the article. It is a question about what caused the war. Several explanations are given with the general idea of emancipation of slaves leading to the issue. Southerners main economic activity was agriculture producing cotton for export in the European market. The article helps me understand better the concept by giving numerical data by Goldin and Lewis in 1860 on the actual cost of war on American people and economy. Reading through the article gives me a better understanding of how war causes the resource allocation to the military that is costly to the people of the nation under consideration. The other answered question in the article is about the strategies used by the government in the quest to free the slaves and abolish the slave trade.One of the topics or rather the concept in the article related to economics is currency devaluation. It is a step taken by the American government afte r the war that made investors have doubts on investing or loaning money to the American people. This affected trade with other countries and the step had to be taken by the authorities.

Chinese Namesâ€Choosing a Good Mandarin Name

Chinese Names- Choosing a Good Mandarin Name Students of Mandarin usually adopt a Chinese name. There are a few reasons for this: It provides a glimpse into Chinese cultureIt makes introductions easier when visiting Chinese-speaking countriesIt provides good tonal and pronunciation practice Western names can be transcribed into Chinese, and this is often done for celebrities and politicians. Elizabeth Taylor is known in Chinese-speaking countries as yÄ « là ¬ shÄ  bi ti là ¨ (ä ¼Å Ã¨Å½â€°Ã¨Å½Å½Ã§â„¢ ½Ã¦ ³ °Ã¥â€¹â€™). Choose a Real Name Such a name, however, is not a Chinese name, which usually consists of three characters. Many people from Mainland China use two-character names. There is an art to choosing good names, and many parents consult a fortune-teller to name their newborn child. A good name is expected to pave the way to a successful and prosperous life. Students of Mandarin don’t need to consult a fortune teller. You can ask a Chinese-speaking friend to give you a name, or you can consult a name book or use online and offline tools. Tools for Choosing Mandarin Names Whichever name you choose, it should be fairly easy to write and easy to pronounce. It’s no good if you can’t say your own name! Many of the online resources for picking Chinese names are next to useless. They usually translate a given name and don’t include a surname. But the Mandarin Tools website has a highly recommended tool for choosing a Chinese name. An offline version of this tool is available as part of DimSum Chinese Tools.

Golden Fleece Hotel , case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Golden Fleece Hotel , case study - Essay Example This report contains multitude of examples, through scholarly and pragmatic articles, researches and surveys that prove the point that information systems and internet applications in today’s world are all the tools you need to succeed in a business if you have proven yourself in the skill you excel at, or the business you work in. This business report can serve as a persuasive read for the owners of the Golden Fleece Hotel, who will benefit greatly with the installation of information systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness of their strategy. Having the state of the art information system can help them gain on the competitive front as well. Business operations in the hotel management business can make or break the business. Branding and maintaining quality is the way to move forward (Ralph, 2008). This consultancy is being provided by the IM consultants who are an Information Systems Consultancy firm. They provide information systems solutions to business all over the world. Methodology: This report incorporates a lot of secondary information. Secondary information is the data collection from the researches that have already been conducted and articles that have already been written. ... All references have been cited towards the end of the report. Academic sources and journals have been used where necessary to validate the theoretical framework of hotel management. Real life examples have also been employed that further validate the recommendations made towards the end of the report. Golden Fleece Hotel: The Golden Fleece boasts of a rich history; it is relatively new in the hospitality industry and has made its mark through the exceptional service they provide their customers. Since its inception in 1999, it has been moving upwards and seeing success; however, times changed as the hotel entered its 8th year of operation. A number of factors can be attributed to this change. According to research it has been proved that organizations can plan all they want; if they are unable to act according to the changes that take place in the external environment, their strategy will not work. The strategic plan should keep in mind the forecast of changes that may take place in consumer preferences, economical conditions, political environment etc. Therefore, environmental analysis serves as the key to making the right decisions. The management of Golden Fleece was not able to predict that changing nature of business and technology and has suffered duly because of it (Ralph, 2008). According to Silver, information systems are implemented to increase efficiency and effectiveness of the work processes in an organization. There are many types of systems that can be utilized, according to the decision making and information needs of the organization. When it comes to hospitality management the biggest need for the hour is to assimilate

Examining Government Regulations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Examining Government Regulations - Essay Example The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey and the states chapter of the National Organization for Women both questioned whether the mandated tests violate a womans right to privacy and the right to make her own medical decisions (Richburg, 2007, Pg. 1)†. Additionally, it is reported that 98 percent of women want to get their children tested for AIDS at birth and this makes the law unnecessary as well. On the other hand, lawmakers believe that the risk of exposing children to a mother who is a carrier of the virus is simply too great to allow for testing to be conducted at will therefore mandatory testing should be made a requirement in New Jersey. The government is certainly worried about the AIDS issue and has made advisory councils to give recommendations towards preventing an AIDS epidemic in New Jersey (McGreevey, 2003). In fact, there are several other groups which support the idea for screening unborn children and amongst them, the CDC (Center for Disease Control) believes that HIV screening should be made a part of the regular prenatal tests that are conducted in America. Thus HIV Tests would be made a part of the basic testing for unborn children for which no written authorization is required (Richburg, 2007). The scientific evidence at hand certainly supports this idea since early detection and treatment with retroviral drugs reduced the chance of transmitting the disease from mother to child to less than 2 percent. The present rate of infection from mothers to children in New Jersey is minimal since in 2005, only seven such transmissions were recorded with more than 100,000 births. In 2006, only two such cases were reported in New Jersey and this situation makes some people think that the law is a case of too little too late (Richburg, 2007). On the other hand, New Jersey’s syringe exchange program was the last one to be started in the Northeast since New Jersey was

Free Admissions Essay - From Farming to Medicine :: Medicine College Admissions Essays

Admissions Essay - From Farming to Medicine    I heard the familiar sound of the back door closing gently. My father was returning from driving his dirty, green John Deere tractor in one of our fields. Although he begins his day at 5:00 a.m. every morning, he usually returns at around 7:00 p.m. I never really questioned his schedule when I was a child, but as I entered high school I wondered how my dad could work so hard every day of the week and still enjoy what he does. He works long hours, becomes filthy from dirt, oil, and mud, and worst of all, can watch all his hard work go to waste if one day of bad weather wipes out our crop. There have been many years when our raisins were rained on, our cherries were hailed on and our apples were literally baked by the sun. The uncertainties of farming are so great and so challenging. It never ceases to amaze me when my father wakes up every morning to start work, that he does so with gusto. The life of a farmer can be laborious and stressful, yet my father continues to do his work with passionate enthusiasm. His dedication and pride mystified me throughout high school. Only after I entered Big U, did I start to understand how he can persevere and face the challenges of farming.    I entered Big U like a small child wandering through a park. Never in my life had I been exposed to anything so grandiose and dominating. Born and raised in a rural town of 3000 people, I wasn't ready for the fast-paced life and crowds of Chicago. I eventually grew into its lifestyle and learned to adapt to my new environment. I found my bio-ethics class, in which we discussed major issues in health care, especially interesting. The physician's dilemma particularly intrigued me: Doing everything to provide the best health care possible, but constrained by limited resources when the funds just are not available.    These frustrating situations place a huge strain on physicians, and yet they persevere and continue to work long hours in hospitals, clinics and HMOs providing the best care they can.* While thoroughly aware of the long hours a physician must work and the challenges he or she faces, I am choosing medicine because of the unique satisfaction it provides - the rewards of helping a sick human being.

Culture and Cuisine Essay

Food is one of many factors that distinguishes one culture from another. It has been used for ceremonial purposes, sacrificial rituals, and some food even holds symbolic meaning based on religion. Why do people of the Jewish and Islamic faith choose not to eat pork? Why is wine and alcohol often associated with parties and celebrations? The origin of many of today’s cuisine and dining traditions can be traced back thousands of years, and often have a religious significance. Religion has influenced people’s food choices and traditions since ancient times, and much of its impact is still prominent in today’s world. In everyday life, it is easy for anyone to take note of religion’s presence in food and different types of cuisine. In grocery stores and supermarkets, foods are often labeled as â€Å"Kosher† or â€Å"Halal†; and with holidays such as Lent and Ramadan, it is clear that many traditions that began thousands of years ago are still important to people in today’s society. The ban of pork products within the Jewish and Islamic faith, for example, dates back to ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians were known for having a strong dislike– perhaps even fear– of the pig. For this reason, pigs were never depicted in hieroglyphics, even though they were present. Believing that the animals carried parasites and leprosy, it was only Egyptians of the lowest social class who were swine herders, and they were banned from entering any temples or places of worship. Maguelonne Toussaint-Samat suggests that is why the pig has become a forbidden food source: That attitude could be at the root of the Jewish and Muslim prohibition of pig meat. Moses†¦ declared the animal unclean†¦ this taboo slowed down Islamic expansion into China, for the Chinese love pork as much as carp and ducks†¦ Today a certain amount of pig meant eaten in Europe, particularly ham, comes from China. (370) This shows how religion has influenced not only what a certain culture chooses to eat, but also how it has affected trade and migration patterns throughout the world’s development. It is clear that food can hold so much religious significance, that it can even prevent two cultures from integrating with each other, as shown by the lack of Islamic presence in China. With various religious beliefs, comes various opinions about certain foods. â€Å"†¦Patterns of behavior vary among followers of different religions, resulting from different norms† (Heiman, Just, McWilliams, and Zilberman). An example of clashing viewpoints is the difference between Greek, Muslim, and Chinese opinions about wine. The ancient Greeks are some of history’s greatest lovers of wine. They used wine for celebrations and believed it to be a drink of the gods as it was made by Dionysus, the god of wine. Alternatively, some Muslims forbade wine. This is most likely because of their fear of its effects, and drunkenness was looked down upon. There was, however, a Muslim mystic by the name of Nabulsi who declared that wine was the drink of divine love. Like Nabulsi, some chose to believe the Chinese proverb that states it is not wine that intoxicates– man is the one who becomes intoxicated, because he is weak (Toussaint-Samat 234). These different views of wine, or alcohol in general, is still evident today as some Muslims choose to drink it while some choose not to. In Christianity, wine is symbolic of the blood of Jesus, and holds significance particularly in the Catholic church for occasions such as communion. Symbolism, perhaps, is the most obvious connection between food and religion– it is not the food itself that is sacred or significant, but what it stands for. Michel Desjardins explores how food can be a symbol in different religions and cultures: At times, food also function symbolically– for example, when prayer before eating express thanks for divine concern, when the Passover meal commemorates mythic stories, or when the Arabic Muslim and Christian coffee ritual calls on the divine. Other times food is offered directly to deities†¦(153) Not only does religion affect what some people eat and do not eat, but also the types of meals that are made, the preparation, and the rituals that are paired with the food. Christian traditions involve praying before partaking in a meal, and Jewish customs call for elaborate feasts that are prepared by traditional methods. Another common use for food is sacrificing or offering certain foods to deities. Buddhists often present rice and or fruits to statues of Buddha– a long-standing religious tradition. Religion has greatly impacted the culinary world in the past, as well as today. The combination of religion and cuisine has proven to be deeply rooted in the history of mankind and the development of different cultures, as people all over the globe still maintain these traditions. Whether one is partaking in wine during communion, preparing Shabbat dinner, setting food before Buddha, or makes a lifelong decision not to eat pork, religion has an obvious presence in today’s society. Works Cited Desjardins, Michel. â€Å"Teaching about Religion with Food. † Teaching Theology and Religion. 3rd ed. Vol. 7. Oxford: Blackwell Ltd. , 2004. 153-58. Heiman, Amir, David Just, Bruce McWilliams, and David Zilberman. â€Å"Religion, Religiosity, Lifestyles and Food Consumption. † Ebscohost. Web. . Toussaint-Samat, Maguelonne. A History of Food. Paris: Wiley-Blackwell, 1992.