Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder- the Things They Carried

Taylor Lineberger Mrs. Eddins English 3 CP December 5, 2012 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder. PTSD usually occurs after someone has seen or experienced a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury and death. It is commonly associated with the soldiers who have fought in wars or conflicts. All of the symptoms of PTSD are classified and categorized into three distinct groups: â€Å"reliving†, avoidance, and arousal. Some of these symptoms include flashbacks, repeated nightmares, detachment, hyper-vigilance, and being easily angered, along with many others. (PubMed Health, PTSD) (*1). According to a survey conducted by the Veteran’s Administration, some 500,000 of 3 million troops suffered from PTSD after the Vietnam War. The survey also states that rates of divorce, suicide, and alcoholism and drug addiction were higher among Vietnam veterans. † (History, Vietnam War) (*2). We may never fully know how much this disorder has truly affected our troops. Most veterans are not open about their condition, however some have accepted it and open up about it. So, how much does PTSD really affect someone? The trauma that causes PTSD is just as unique as the suffering individual themselves. Any fearful trauma can produce symptoms of PTSD. Being in the Vietnam War did not help any of this. These soldiers were torn away from the only things and the home they had ever known and dropped into a foreign place where the situation was â€Å"kill or be killed. † They had no other choice but to be exposed to the unimaginable horrors that awaited them. Cases of people with PTSD are famous for their abuse of drugs or alcohol; however, ex-soldiers have an additional addiction that often lands them in trouble, or jail: an addiction to adrenaline. The one thing that caused them to have this condition may very well be the one thing that decides their fate. Inside every person with PTSD is a time bomb. It is merely a matter of time before symptoms begin to show up. One may exhibit all manner of symptoms in nearly everything they do, and still live what appears to be a normal life. However, it doesn’t take much to bring out full-blown symptoms of a case of PTSD. Retirement and additional stress can be a catalyst to cause the occurrence of symptoms to appear sooner than they normally would. Wellness Directory MN, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) (*3). â€Å"The war was over and there was no place in particular to go† (O’Brien, 131). Thoughts of sorrow and loss overwhelm the Vietnam veterans upon their return back home. Crushed from the horror of war, they have to come back to even bigger disappointments and sadness. Instead of the calm lives they lead before they left their country and the presence of warm and caring everyday life, most of them encounter empty beds, a cold family and overall loss. Already physically and emotionally defeated, they find betrayal instead of recuperating trust. There is nothing to nourish them; they do not find anything to rely on. Even in instances of supportive partners, the inevitable horrors of the war haunt them in sleep or come back to them in daydreaming. They all came back with multitude of disorders, mostly with a post-traumatic stress disorder with the common symptoms of recurring nightmares, hypersensitivity, avoidance behavior, and intrusive thoughts, feelings and memories-commonly found in war vets. â€Å"The Things They Carried† is a documentary novel written by Tim O’Brien, a Vietnam War veteran. There are many stories within the novel that show various examples of post-traumatic stress disorder. According to O'Brien, upon their arrival home the veterans imagine, or even hallucinate, what things would have been like if they had not suffered through the war. Examples of such occurrences exist in the stories â€Å"Speaking of Courage† and â€Å"The Man I Killed. † Norman Bowker in â€Å"Speaking of Courage† dreams and fancies of talking to his ex-girlfriend, now married to another guy, and of his dead childhood friend, Max Arnold. He lives his unfulfilled dream of having his Sally beside him and having manly conversations with Max. He cannot stop day dreaming and dwelling in the past. Unemployed and overwhelmed by inferiority and disappointment, Bowker lacks a motivating force for life. Emotionally stricken, he only finds satisfaction in driving slowly and repeatedly in circles around his old neighborhood in his father's big Chevy, â€Å"feeling safe,† and remembering how things used to be when â€Å"there has not been a war† (O’Brien, 158). These recurring events also spring memories f the beautiful lake where Norman used to spend a lot of time with his now married ex-girlfriend Sally Kramer and his high school friends. The lake invokes nostalgic and sentimental memories both of his girlfriend and his long gone – drowned – best friend, Max Arnold. Nothing fulfills Norman Bowker anymore. Instead, a terrible confusion has taken over his mind in the form of blur and chaos. He d esperately needs someone to talk to. The guys go crazy in their unsuccessful attempts to maintain healthy balance of their minds and spirits. However, even though they might not realize it, or not at least at the time, most of the veterans end up losing sanity. They act upon and laugh at the most bizarre things. In â€Å"How to Tell a True War Story,† Rat Kiley thinks of â€Å"a gore of about twenty zillion dead gook fish† as the â€Å"the funniest thing in world history† (O’Brien, 65). The result of the post traumatic experience of seeing his nineteen-year-old best friend, Curt Lemon’s, body being blown up into pieces by a grenade, is that Rat Kiley takes his anger out on a baby buffalo by shooting him pieces by pieces multiple times. He shoots the animal, until â€Å"nothing moved except the eyes, which were enormous, the pupils shiny black and dumb† at which Dave Jensen, one of the two who collected Lemon's body pieces off of the tree, gets childishly amused† (O’Brien, 76-79). Not realizing his new condition of mental imbalance, Dave Jensen goes on to make jokes and sing about the â€Å"Lemon Tree. † This is a parallel to Dave Jensen's insanity, O'Brian, even after twenty years, still gets woken up by the memories of this event: â€Å"Twenty years later I can see the sunlight on Lemon's face† (O’Brien, 80). As a consequence of PTSD, O'Brien both despises and values the war. Even though Tim O'Brien might not sound very convincing with the credibility of his own memories as a narrative, the post-traumatic stress disorder remains a scientific certainty. The results of the trauma soldiers suffered in the war, along with the emotional baggage, (grief, terror, love, and longing) show of all of the veterans' post-war turmoil and heartache.Sources:*1: Vorvick, Linda J. and Timothy Rogge. â€Å"Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). † PubMed Health. N. p. , 13 Feb. 2012. Web. 5 Dec. 2012. . *2: â€Å"Vietnam War. † History. N. p. , 2003. Web. 5 Dec. 2012. . *3: â€Å"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. † Wellness Directory MN. N. p. , 2006. Web. 5 Dec. 2012. .

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

March Bloch essays

March Bloch essays Marc Blochs Strange Defeat: A Statement of Evidence Written in 1940, was the result of his experiences during the Nazi invasion of France during World War Two. As the title describes, this Memoir was written in 1940 but was not published until after the war in 1946. This work was written while Bloch was in hiding from the Nazis in Guret France during the months following the Nazi occupation of France. Bloch, who joined the war effort against the Nazis in 1939 at the age of fifty-four, was of jewish heritage and realized he was a prime target for their hate. Despite his age and the French policy excusing him from duty, Bloch was dedicated to protecting his home. Bloch vanished into the French resistance and by 1943 he was a leader of the resitance group Francs-Tireur. Bloch was finally captured by the Nazis in 1944 and was killed by them along with a number of other members of the resistance. Although the original language of the document was French, it has been translated into Engli sh. Bloch was born in Lyon France on July 6, 1886 to an upper middle class Jewish family. Much like his father, Bloch became a professor of history after he fought in the first World War. Bloch served in the infantry and was awarded a number of commendments including the Legion of Honor. His first teaching position was at Strasbourg University as a professor of Medieval history. He remained at Strasbourg until 1936 when he took over the chair of economic history at the Sorbonne. Strange Defeat seems to be directed at the French people as well as the French government. The document outlines the flaws of the French policies during the nazi invasion and analyzes what could have been done differently to avoid occupation. Because of the nature of the work, people all over the world can read Strange Defeat and learn a great deal about a nations foreign and domestic policies and how they correspond with the execution of them. ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Free Essays on Jay Leno

Jay Leno, known by many as the king of late night television. But little do they know of the ridiculous steps and missteps that took him to the top. In Jay Leno’s autobiography, Leading With My Chin, Jay analyzes his journey to fame and fortune. He begins with his childhood and the situations that sparked his love for comedy. After reading his book I found myself a bit disappointed. The book was very funny, but it did not contain that â€Å"cut and dry† sense of humor he is known for. It consists mainly of short, humorous episodes about how he works his way up through the ranks as a stand-up comedian. He spends a lot of time conversing about childhood and college mishaps. This bothered me, seeing that mostly adults were reading his book, I don’t think the readers would be interested in his childhood problems or college pranks. Furthermore, he does not convey many personal feelings, does not gossip or put anyone down like Howard Stern. Also, he does not elaborate on his sexual exploits (a few of which he mentions). These are just some of the things I would like to know more about. But he has paid his dues, and deserves to be where he is today. It was a twenty-year struggle to the top, a struggle most people would have given up. Although Jay Leno is probably hands-down one of the funniest comedians in showbiz, I did not think as highly about his book. Yes, there were some parts worth reading about, but there is so much more he could have told us. There is so much more that people wanted to know about. Such as the controversial falling-out with his agent/producer, or his feelings concerning Johnny Carson. If you ask me, this book was not worth the thirteen dollars I paid for it. But the odd thing is that after reading his book, I do not feel any different about him, or his work, and I will continue to watch his show. I guess the visual portion of entertainment had a stronger influence than the text did.... Free Essays on Jay Leno Free Essays on Jay Leno Jay Leno, known by many as the king of late night television. But little do they know of the ridiculous steps and missteps that took him to the top. In Jay Leno’s autobiography, Leading With My Chin, Jay analyzes his journey to fame and fortune. He begins with his childhood and the situations that sparked his love for comedy. After reading his book I found myself a bit disappointed. The book was very funny, but it did not contain that â€Å"cut and dry† sense of humor he is known for. It consists mainly of short, humorous episodes about how he works his way up through the ranks as a stand-up comedian. He spends a lot of time conversing about childhood and college mishaps. This bothered me, seeing that mostly adults were reading his book, I don’t think the readers would be interested in his childhood problems or college pranks. Furthermore, he does not convey many personal feelings, does not gossip or put anyone down like Howard Stern. Also, he does not elaborate on his sexual exploits (a few of which he mentions). These are just some of the things I would like to know more about. But he has paid his dues, and deserves to be where he is today. It was a twenty-year struggle to the top, a struggle most people would have given up. Although Jay Leno is probably hands-down one of the funniest comedians in showbiz, I did not think as highly about his book. Yes, there were some parts worth reading about, but there is so much more he could have told us. There is so much more that people wanted to know about. Such as the controversial falling-out with his agent/producer, or his feelings concerning Johnny Carson. If you ask me, this book was not worth the thirteen dollars I paid for it. But the odd thing is that after reading his book, I do not feel any different about him, or his work, and I will continue to watch his show. I guess the visual portion of entertainment had a stronger influence than the text did....

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Definition and Examples of Heat Energy

Definition and Examples of Heat Energy Most people use the word heat to describe something that feels warm, however in science, thermodynamic equations, in particular, heat is defined as the flow of energy between two systems by means of kinetic energy. This can take the form of transferring energy from a warm object to a cooler object. More simply put, heat energy, also called thermal energy or simply heat, is transferred from one location to another by particles bouncing into each other. All matter contains heat energy, and the more heat energy that is present, the hotter an item or area will be. Heat vs. Temperature The distinction between heat and  temperature  is  subtle  but very important. Heat refers to the transfer of energy between systems (or bodies), whereas temperature is determined by the energy contained within a singular system (or body). In other words, heat is energy, while temperature is a measure of energy. Adding heat will increase a bodys temperature while removing heat will lower the temperature, thus changes in temperature are the result of the presence of heat, or conversely, the lack of heat. You can measure the temperature of a room by placing a thermometer in the room and measuring the ambient air temperature. You can add heat to a room by turning on a space  heater. As the heat is added to the room, the temperature rises. Particles have more energy at higher temperatures, and as this energy is transferred from one system to another, the fast-moving particles will collide with slower moving particles. As they collide, the faster particle will transfer some of its energy to the slower particle, and the process will continue until all the particles are operating at the same rate. This is called thermal  equilibrium. Units of Heat The SI unit for heat is a form of energy called the joule (J). Heat is frequently also measured in the calorie (cal), which is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of water from 14.5 degrees Celsius to 15.5 degrees Celsius. Heat is also sometimes measured in British thermal units or Btu. Sign Conventions for Heat Energy Transfer In physical equations, the amount of heat transferred is usually denoted by the symbol Q. Heat transfer may be indicated by either a positive or negative number. Heat that is released into the surroundings is written as a negative quantity (Q 0). When heat is absorbed from the surroundings, it is written as a positive value (Q 0). Ways of Transferring Heat There are three basic ways to transfer heat: convection, conduction, and radiation. Many homes are heated through the convection process, which  transfers heat energy through gases or liquids. In the home, as the air is heated, the particles gain heat energy allowing them to move faster, warming the cooler particles. Since hot  air is  less dense than cold air, it will rise.  As the cooler air falls, it can be drawn into our heating systems which will again allow the faster particles to heat up the air. This is considered a circular flow of air and is called a  convection current.  These currents  circle  and heat  our homes. The conduction process is the transfer of heat energy from one solid to another, basically, two things that are touching. We can see an example of this can be seen when we cook on the stove. When we place the cool pan down on the hot burner, heat energy is transferred from the burner to the pan, which in turn heats up. Radiation is a process in which heat moves through places where there are no molecules, and is actually a form of electromagnetic energy. Any item whose heat can be felt without direct connection is radiating energy. You can see this in the heat of the sun, the feeling of heat coming off a bonfire thats several feet away, and even in the fact that rooms full of people will naturally being warmer than empty rooms because each persons body is radiating heat.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Issues in crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Issues in crime - Essay Example They are directly not involved in the unscrupulous activity. (1) At this point, it also needs to be specifically highlighted that even employees are immensely benefited by corporate crimes, for their jobs are safeguarded along with getting promotions. To put the matter in a nutshell, the very livelihood of the employees becomes dependent on them being active participants in acts of corporate crime. (1) The motives for carrying out these acts (of corporate crime) vary from one case to the other. Yet, it has been seen that the following three are the primary objectives propelling all corporate crimes: A) To bring about both a rise in profits and also a drop in costs. B) To enable a rise in demand as well as a decline in competition. C) To exercise strong control over workers, markets and supplies. (1) Factors abetting corporate crimes It can conveniently be maintained that corporate crimes started to exist from the same time when commercial organizations first began their operations. I n the contemporary era, there has been a surge in instances of corporate crime, and there indeed are highly valid reasons behind that. The various features of a typical corporate organization have now become more complex than ever, and the conventional systems of internal control are now obsolete. Additionally, the rapid growth in information technology has ensured that the power now wielded by the corporate is without a precedent. This is so much so that the modern-day corporate organizations are making sure that they are in total control of their governance. (2) The biggest factor to which the growth in corporate crimes is attributable is inadequate corporate governance. Corporate governance encompasses various policies, procedures and laws, etc, which endeavor to make sure that persons employed in an organization are made accountable. As mentioned in the preceding paragraph, they (corporate organizations) are now fully empowered to govern themselves, with the related laws being n ot so stringent. This is more so when the corresponding scenario of the past is taken into consideration. As has been stated earlier, the existing systems are being rendered powerless in ensuring accountability of corporate organizations. In addition, since the recent past, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of commercial transactions of corporate organizations. This has made things even more difficult for the prevalent laws in preventing the crimes (corporate). Last but in no way the least, the lengthy formal procedures pertaining to the governance have just further compounded the issue. This is in the sense that, they (procedures) have transformed the scenario as being more conducive for carrying out corporate crimes. (2) Various surveys that have been carried out in the recent past point out to a highly disturbing fact. A substantial chunk of corporate crimes of the present-day era are those that have been perpetrated by the managements of huge business houses. At this juncture, it also has to be noted that the losses resulting from such acts are very huge, and thus exerting an adverse impact on the economy. (2) Seriousness of corporate crimes Corporate crime is more serious an issue that what it is actually considered to be, by many people. In this context, it needs to be

Friday, October 18, 2019

Russia In Central Asia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Russia In Central Asia - Essay Example e themselves under the tag of â€Å"Central Asia† and rejected their traditional Soviet designation â€Å"Srednieia Aziia I Kazakhstan† (i.e., â€Å"Middle Asia and Kazakhstan†) (Rosset and Svarin 245). The declaration was the first step of these states towards establishing own identity and reduce the Soviet influence. However, economics and politics have been strongly interwoven in the rich historical relationship between Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan) and Russia, which couldn’t separated so easily (Rosset and Svarin 245-247). The current active political involvement of Russia in Central Asia is based on various political and economical interests. The purpose of this paper is to analyze Current Russia’s role in Central Asian region, historical background, political structure, issues, and Russian policies towards Central Asia. Russia’s political interests in Central Asia over the last 20 years can be distinguished into three basic periods. During the initial period, i.e. from the collapse of Soviet Union in 1991 to the mid-1990s, Russia had neither any interest in Central Asian region nor any foreign policy to deal with the Central Asian states. The negligence towards Central Asia was economical, political, cultural, and even ideological (Oliphant 3). The second period, from the mid-1990s to the late 1990s, witnessed a change in Russia’s approach and was highly influenced by the Primakov’s principle to reestablish Russia’s influence in the former Soviet states (Oliphant 3). This policy was partially successful. The third period can be categorized from the beginning of Putin administration in 2000 till the present, focusing on the Russia’s active engagement in Central Asia (Oliphant 3). Russia’s growing involvement in the region has political, security, and economi c dimensions. Massive numbers of Russian armed forces were presented in the Central Asia during the early 1990s. All newly created Central