Credit Protection Identity Theft Essay Example for Free

Credit Protection Identity Theft Essay1. If you find errors on your address report, what steps would you take to correct them?In my personal experience, I had an error on my credit report when I was applying for a loan with my bank. I did not get approved for my loan even though one month prior I was approved and I had a low engagement rate due to my high score. A few days later I received a letter in the mail explaining why on with my current credit report which dropped almost 100 points. I emailed one of the bureaus, explaining that there was an error with my report. I had to mail in a copy of 2 forms of ID, my letter stating my current credit report and the letter I received a month prior. Within a short time, they corrected my credit score.2. at that place ar many organizations that claim they will repair your credit for a fee. From your readings, should someone use a credit repair service? Why or why not? What are some actions these organizations can take that should b e a red flag?Based on my readings and personal experience, people should not use credit repair services because the ratio of scams out there online are very high. In the technology age we are in, it is very patrician to fall victim to identity element theft, even from a simply online purchase. With that same concept, free credit reports and repair services are not excluded just because it claims to help. precisely one bladesite is authorized under law to disclose such personal information to you via internet that is certified annualcreditreport.com. Any other type of website that offers free reports are not part of the legally mandated free annual credit report program. If yu receive any emails, asking you to disclose personal information, it is a scam and should be reported.3. Have you, a family member, or a friend been a victim of identity theft? How did it happen? Describe the resolution process- ex. how much time did it take, what credit damage was corrected?My Master Sergea nt I worked for while in the Marine Corps was a victim of identity theft while temporarily overseas. He used his government credit card in Europe to pay for his hotel room. 2 weeks later, when he was back in the states, the bank called him to confirm that he had been in Asia and the Middle East within 24 hours. He put a freeze on all his accounts and had to file a report of the incident. later on the claim was routed, he was reimbursed and had to reopen a new account for his government credit card.4. Using the FTC site, what can you do to minimize the chance of your identity get stolen?To minimize the chance of my identity getting stolen, per off the FTC site, I should have a safety lockbox to store all my personal information in. I should minimize what I carry with me while Im not home to the essentials so I may reduce the risk at having an identity theft. I should also shred receipts, bank statements, credit applications, checks, and any other forms of sensitive information when Im through with the document and I no longer need it. I should be aware of the lock icon in the URL when giving out personal information on the web to ensure the transmission is secure. Finally, I should not over share on social media websites.

Black Elk Speaks Essay Example for Free

ignominious elk Speaks EssayBlack elk Speaks is about a Native American boy that has visions and these visions help him with the religious aspects of live. He has these visions that tell him what to do and shows him the path to righteousness. These visions can also be seen as myths, which ar stories that try to explain well-nighthing. E real finishing has their own collection of myths. Black Elk Speaks is also a very symbolic book, be draw it has the use of umpteen objects or people that represent separate things. In the American culture, as intimately as other cultures around the world, be also very symbolic.The American culture is very diverse in that there atomic number 18 many divers(prenominal) cultures that have mixed and created the American culture. The American culture is not something that is easily explained, because it is so mixed with many other cultures from around the world. At first there were American Indians and they brought along their tribes and myths and rituals. Then came the British and over time the Chinese because of the California gold rush. In time America was in habited with many different nationalities and ideas. These ideas were slowly but surely blended together.As for example, when the British shared their meal with the Indians they were also sharing their culture and food. The exchange of food and other ideas brought the two distant worlds closer. The more important ideas are what does all this exchanging of food and ideas symbolize? A symbol is something such(prenominal) as an object, picture, written word, sound, or fact mark that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention(Wikipedia, 1).The object used in Black Elk Speaks is a pipe, given to them by a young and very beautiful woman, which symbolizes trust and companionship. Now, my friend, let us smoke together so that there may be only good between us (Black Elk Speaks, 5). Black Elk and Neihardt have a smoke together to share thei r friendship and trust between the two. The pipe can also symbolize heartsease amongst people and/or tribes. Another act, such as the killing of a bison, might be seen as bravery, integrity, courage, pride. The American culture changed drastically when more cultures were included, such as the Chinese and African Americans.Slaves brought in from Africa, which meant that they brought along their culture and tendencies to America. Even though slavery was not the right thing to do, it brought a new culture into America and made it more diverse and developed. For example, superstitions are something that has shaped the culture as well. Spilled salt, walking under a ladder, a broken mirror, etc. are all superstitions that are said to lead to risky luck. When someone does one of these things they believe that bad luck is upon them. This causes them to act in a different way.Something bad in the future happens they may turn and blame it on the bad luck. Maybe some of the things that happe n are just coincidences but culture has taught us to believe that it was the bad luck caused by the spilled salt, broken mirror, or walking under a ladder. Another big symbol in Black Elk Speaks is the four ribbons tied to the pipe that Black Elk and Neihardt smoke. It represents the powers of the four quarters of the universe. There are four ribbons tired to the pipe and each ribbon is a different color, which symbolizes a different power.Black is for the west, the source of the rain red is for the east, the place of the morning star that gives wisdom white is for the north, source of cleansing lead-in and yellow is for the south, the places of summer and growth. Myths are another big thing that shapes a culture. Black Elks visions are like the myths in this story. In his vision, a bay sawbuck greets Black Elk. He then tells Black Elk that he will tell him a story of the life history of himself. The horse walks in a circular motion Behold me he said, My life-history you shall se e. Behold themTheir history you shall know (Black Elk Speaks, 19). Each side that the horse goes to there are twelve horses that are each in a group of different colors. The horses to the north are white, those to the east are sorrel, those to the south are buckskin, and the ones to the west are black. The horses will take Black Elk to his Grandfathers. The sky fills with dancing horses that change into diverse creators and lead a formation of the horses from the four directions. They arrive at a cloud those changes into a tepee with a rainbow door, which inside the six Grandfathers are waiting.A myth is like a traditional story which usually contains some sort of hero or event. In this myth, the vision that Black Elk is having, is an event that is occurring. A bay horse appears in front of him and shows him the way to tack the six Grandfathers. Sometimes myths may sound like a fairy tale. For example, in ancient China, there was once this monkey that was very troublesome and caus e destruction to the heavens. He was punished and put under a mountain. After about several hundred to a thousand years a monk comes along to save the monkey and there starts a journey of adventures and evil to obtain immortality.This is a myth because it is a legend of a hero that is punished for his crimes and therefore pays his debt by serving under his master. There are many aspects of a culture. The American culture is very diverse and tough to explain in one short answer. There is no true American culture because it is just a mixture of different cultures from around the world. Black Elk Speaks shows the forms of myths and symbols and how they founder to American culture. Black Elks myths and symbols are very similar to those of the American culture.

Analysis of International Relations Theory

Analysis of supranational Relations TheoryINTERNATIONAL traffic THEORYWhy do offers behave the way they do in the foreignistic system? Some people argue that this is a question of international relations theory while others say it is a question of foreign policy theory1. For our designs, we shall consider them as the same issue. The demeanour of the subjects is the central question which the theories of International Relations or theories of foreign policy are trying to answer. Various authors develop theory to explain the behaviour of all differentiates and not just i suppose which leads to the problem. No single theory is able to encompass all states. Finding a universal pattern has evaded us so far and the motley theories stated are only an attempt to get one theory which defines the behaviour of most of the states. Few of these theories are briefly touched upon in the sideline paragraphs.Realism. Realists believe that the international system is defined by anarchy. S tates are sovereign and thus autonomous of each other and no inherent structure or society slew emerge or even exist to order relations between them. In International Relations, political realism is a customs of analysis that stresses the imperatives states face to pursue a power politics of the national interest2. Realist emphasises the constraints on politics imposed by human selfishness (egoism) and the absence of international reign overment (anarchy), which require the primacy in all political life of power and security3.Classical realism. This is a state level theory that argues that all states look to for power and this is the first and last principle of state behaviour. States waitk to increase their power they seek to decrease the power of their enemies and everything they do is in the name of amassing power. States see other powerful states as rivals because power, when it is not in your hands, is threatening4. There can be peace. However, a durable peace is based upo n a unwavering residue of power. If a state is not confident of winning a war, it generally will not start one.Neo-realism. This theory suggests a system that is an offshoot of Graeco-Roman realism. It agrees to all of what classical realism does. However, it sees the cause of all the power struggles and rivalries not as a business of the nature of states, but as a function of the nature of the international system5. States are considered as being alone in the arena of the world. There is no world government or a locate up looking out for other states. There are no rules that cant be broken. The world is in a set of tumult and states do what they can get away with in order to gain power. States do what they must to protect themselves. This theory dominates scholarly thinking today and is sometimes referred to in respect of the international relations prevalent in South Asia6.Neo-Classical realism. This theory is in a way restoration of classical realism. It accepts all about(p redicate) power rivalries, but it suggests that state characteristics (state level variables) play a major role in the behaviour of states. States dont just search for power. They do not simply fear other powerful states but there are reasons that states seek power and there are reasons that states fear other states. Its a sort of combination of classical realism and neo-realism that factors in both system level and state level variables.Liberalism. The Liberalism theory adds values into the equation. It is often called idealism. It is a state level theory which argues that there is a lot of cooperation in the world, not just rivalry. States dont just compete or refer about power. States try to build a more just world order. For liberals, peace is the normal state of affairs. In Kants words, peace can be perpetual7.Neo-liberalism. This is an offshoot of liberalism. It is a system level translation of liberalism and focuses on the way in which institutions can influence the behaviou r of states by spreading values or creating rule-based behaviour8. Neo-liberals might focus on the role of the United Nations or World Trade Organization in shaping the foreign policy behaviour of states.Rationalism. This theory, analogous realism begins with anarchy but unlike realism, it acknowledges that the sense of belonging to the community of humankind has left its civilising mark upon the state and international relation9.Constructivism is a theory that examines state behaviour in the context of states characteristics. All states are distinctive and have a set of defining economic, political, social, religious or pagan characteristics that influence its foreign policy. States have identities and those identities characterise their behaviour in the international system. A late-twentieth-century addition to international relations, Constructivism has returned international relations scholars to the foundation questions including the nature of state and the concepts of sovere ignty, identity and citizenship. In addition, it has opened new substantive areas to enquire such as role of gender and ethnicity which has been largely absent from other theories10.Marxism, Critical Theory, bear Modernism, Feminism, Green Politics, English School and Critical Theory are few other popular theories in regards to International theories. Each author is developing a theory in order to explain the behaviour of all states and not just few of them. Finding a common pattern of activity, common rules that can be used to explain why all state behave in a manner has not been possible so far. Hence, trying to break apart the relations between two countries on the datum of these existing theory will not be doing justice. Scholars see several levels of analysis through which state behaviour can be examined and these form the basis of IR theories itself. These levels shall be discussed in the following paragraphs.Levels of AnalysisSystem level. This level of analysis examines st ate behaviour by looking at the international system. In this level of analysis, the international system acts as the cause which leads to the effect of state behaviour. Any change in the international system causes change in state behaviour.State level. This level of analysis examines the foreign policy behaviour of states in terms of states characteristics. The states characteristics foreign policy may be simply manifestation of its cultural characteristic or may be defined by the religious or social traditions, historical legacy of the state, the economic nature and geographic nature of the state.Organisational level. This level of analysis examines the way in which organisations within state influence foreign policy behaviour. If this level is dominant, the States does not make decisions. Organisations negotiate with each other to create a foreign policy that is a gag rule between competing organisations.Individual level. This level of analysis focuses on people. Since people a re the ones who make decisions within nation states, therefore, it can be said that it is these people who govern foreign policy. This level of analysis explains foreign policy by looking at the way leaders understand /perceive the world.Although all scholars acknowledge the utility program of paying attention to levels of the analysis, they differ on how many levels are useful in explaining events. Most political scientists apply between three and six levels11. For the purpose of this paper, above four levels will be considered for the analysis of Indo-Sri Lankan relations.1 newlymann,Bill. A Brief Introduction to Theories on International Relations and Foreign constitution. Retrieved on 02 descent 14. http//www.people.vcu.edu/wnewmann/468theory.htm2 Burchill,Scott, et al. Theories of International relations. Third Edition. 2005. New York. Palgrave Macmilan.P 293 Ibid. P 304 Newmann,Bill. A Brief Introduction to Theories on International Relations and Foreign Policy. Retrieved on 02 Dec 14. http//www.people.vcu.edu/wnewmann/468theory.htm5 Ibid.6 Newmann,Bill. A Brief Introduction to Theories on International Relations and Foreign Policy. Retrieved on 02 Dec 14. http//www.people.vcu.edu/wnewmann/468theory.htm7 Burchill,Scott , Linklater,Andrew, et al. Theories of International Relations. premiere edition. 1996. New York and London. Macmillam. .P 318 Newmann,Bill. A Brief Introduction to Theories on International Relations and Foreign Policy. Retrieved on 02 Dec 14. http//www.people.vcu.edu/wnewmann/468theory.htm9 Burchill,Scott , Linklater,Andrew, et al. Theories of International Relations. First edition. 1996. New York and London. Macmillam. .P 9410 Mingst, Karen and Arreguin-Toft, Ivan M. Essentials of International Relations. Fifth Edition.2011. New York and London. WW Norton Company. P8411 Mingst, Karen and Arreguin-Toft, Ivan M. Essentials of International Relations. Fifth Edition.2011. New York and London. WW Norton Company. P69

People Living With Hiv Health And Social Care Essay

People Living With Hiv Health And Social Care Essayhuman immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome is one of the most ch all(prenominal)enges to military man race life and dignity. It affects all levels of the society and has a massive impact on global economic and social development, (Rowden, 2009). Studies have been conducted on its impact on human life and how it could be controlled. This review was conducted by visiting a number of websites of incompatible publishers and organisations for published articles on human immunodeficiency virus/ back up and stigma. Literature covering a period of 8 years from 2002-2010 was extracted from Assia, PubMed, Sage, British Medical Journal, Cochrane and Absco-host. However due to the topic in question, literature from most recent articles would have been preferred. The term human immunodeficiency virus/ back up stigma was used to capture a wide range of articles covering all areas of the globe. Abstracts from twenty studies were reviewed for the study, objectives, methodology and key findings. Twelve studies covering different locations of the world were chosen. Relevant documents and reports from other organisations such as UNAIDS, WHO and the World Bank were also reviewed. Both qualitative and quantitative data was used to present the information.imputable to the challenges presented by human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS to global public wellness, Baum. (2008241) calls for collective participation of all sectors in the fight against this deadly disease. Baum emphasises on the collective participation amongst the direct spate and the health structures as key to success. This is further supported by Farmer, (1999), who does not condone the dominance of the biomedical perspective in health and ameliorate. He believes that lay peck have a significant role in the process of health improvements and emphasises on the importance of listening to, and understanding the lay slews experiences of ill-healt h and how it is impact by their daily lives.Goffman, (1963), and Parker and Aggleton, (2003),s theories of stigma help us to understand how stigma is constructed and its influence in peoples lives. They view stigma and discrimination as utilitarian systems which maintain boundaries between those in power and those without. Through such power, social inequalities are developed leading to creation of social norms. These formulate stigma by governing interactions between people and reinforce power structures that serve to isolate those that are regarded as outsiders, ( ). Both theories have been widely used in human immunodeficiency virus related stigma to cotton up how the prejudice, negative attitudes, abuse and maltreatment directed towards people living with HIV/AIDS have hindered the progress of bar and treatment.Findings from the studies highlight the meaning of lay people for prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS to be effective. In Tanzania, the study unveiled some discrimi natory and stigmatised practices such as gossiping about patients HIVs status, neglect, verbal abuse, testing and disclosing HIVs status without consent, (Tanzanias Stigma Indicators Field Test Group, 2005). Similarly in India, health workers were disclosing patients HIV status to their families without the patients consent, (Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS, 2007). Harassment, avoiding and isolation of HIV-positive patients and testing without counselling are common features of stigmatisation in most studies. Findings showed that stigma and discrimination in health care settings contribute a great deal in keeping people away from accessing HIV/AIDS treatment and care, therefore compromising their health and wellbeing. Patients felt greatly affected by the health workers feeling uncomfortable with them and treating them in an inferior manner. Some health workers wore protective clothing even if there was no physical come to during interactions. This affected peoples willingnes s to access the run contempt it being vital to their health. The fear of being identified as infected with HIV was one of the reasons why some people prolonged testing for HIV even though they had the symptoms and save accessed services when their illness was at an advanced stage, (Bond, Aggleton, 2002, Human Resources of Health, 2007, Kinsler et al, 2007, Varga, Sherman, Jones, 2006, Kalichman, Simbayi, 2003). In Zambia, HIV-positive health workers were concealing their HIV status from their colleagues in fear of being stigmatised, (Dieleman et al, 2007). Experienced and perceived stigma and discrimination revealed by the studies have severe influence on people living with HIV/AIDS access to health services.While most of the literature on HIV/AIDS and stigma and access to health services is negative, research also highlights increasing evidence of the value of supportive and de-stigmatising HIV services in some parts of the globe. Brazil has been viewed favourably by people liv ing with HIV/AIDS. The lay people reported supportive inclusive structural systems that create healthy environments for all. The success story of Brazils effective HIV/AIDS and stigma prevention and control is attributed to active participation of different groups in the society and the Brazilian government, (Caltado, 2008). Another success of collective efforts of the lay people and the health structures has been noted in South Africa where most people believe in traditional healing. Aids Activism in South has made a positive significance in HIV/AIDS preventing and treatment by translating and mediating the biomedical approach within local ideological frameworks which are easily understood and acted on by the locals, (Colvin, Robins, 2010).From the research findings it is clear that collaboration between the lay people and the biomedical approach to healing is essential for successful control of HIV/AIDS and stigma. at that place is no cure for AIDS but Anti-retrovirals (ARVs) can prolong life by keeping the level of HIV in the body at humbled levels therefore delaying the process between HIV and AIDS, (Robin, 2009). While ARVs are now readily available in most countries, concerns are mostly centred on the hike numbers of newly infected people. According to the World Bank, 60 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. Access to treatment has change magnitude dramatically but for every 100 people on treatment, 250 become newly infected, (www.worldbank.org/EOL81VLA20 ). For this reason, pressure in now rising on the effectiveness of notwithstanding relying on the biomedical approach as a concept of health and healing HIV/AIDS. Diseases such as HIV/AIDS need to be tackled using both the biomedical approach and the lay perspective for prevention and treatment to be effective.The shortfall of the biomedical approach to treatment lies on its way that is restricted to the physical illness of an individuals body and the scientific understanding of disea se therefore qualification the approach heavily based on pharmacology. While pharmacology is beneficial in the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS, it benefits the pharmaceutical industry which has also been critiqued as hindering the progress on controlling HIV/AIDS. materia medica further promotes the privilege of the biomedical model which may be inappropriate to the communities and create feelings of helplessness and vulnerability. This may contribute to the undermining of alternative approaches to treatment and prevention, (Global Health Watch, 2008, Rowden, 2009, Farmer, 1999). such interventions are not successful in nations who believe in indigenous forms of healing, for example the dependency on traditional healing in Africa.The lay approaches to healing are effective because they are embedded within local social and cultural structures, but as with HIV/AIDS care, this cannot be confirmed as true. Unlike in the biomedical approach, indigenous approaches seek to heal th e whole person by linking the illness with the persons social and economic background. In South Africa, despite people heavily relying on traditional healing approaches, the HIV prevalence continued to rise. Significance towards effective control of the epidemic has been noted with the increase in accessibility of ARVs, (Colvin, 2009). In the UNAIDS report on global AIDS epidemic 2010, in 7 countries, five of them in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, HIV incidences increased by more than 25% between 2001 and 2009. Sub Saharan Africa, although still remaining the most highly affected by the epidemic, figures either beef up or showed signs of decline owing to positive behaviour due to increased services that are embedded in local culture. The report affirms that stigma and discrimination, lack of access to services and bad laws can make the epidemic worse, (www.unaids.org/globalreport/Global_report.htm). The attribute to increased incidences in Europe and Central Asia could be on the countries reliability only on the biomedical model of healing.Baum, (2008) asserts that community level mobilisation where there is partnership between the lay people and structures is the effective way of combating HIV/AIDS and stigma. Active participation of lay people will not only promote individual level responses to dealing with the stigma, access to care and preventing of HIV/AIDS but could also go a long way in improving global public health, (Parker and Aggleton, 2003). Improving health care services and making them accessible to people living with HIV/AIDS without fear of being stigmatised, educating health care professionals about the impact of stigma on patients and policies that encourage comprehension of people living with HIV/AIDS in decisions that affect their lives are some of the key factors of effectively tackling the epidemic, (Farmer, 199090).Advocacy is another way lay people engaged to improve the relationship between health structures and people living HIV/ AIDS. The Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS, (GIPA), formally take as a principle at an AIDS Summit in 1994 emphasises the need for involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS at all levels in the fight against the disease. According to UNAIDS, people living with HIV/AIDS understand their situation better therefore their voices could be heard well if their of necessity were presented by people in the same situation, (www.unaids.org). In the Zambia study, with supportive structures, the professionals living with HIV/AIDS are in a better position to counsel for people accessing services. Baum, (2008550) claims that advocacy involving public health practitioners is an effective way of influencing structural barriers in public health.Both the biomedical and lay perspective approaches to health, healing and prevention of HIV/AIDS and stigma have both benefits and limitations. There is therefore the need for holistic approaches that collaborates both models for HIV/AIDS and stigma interventions to be effective. HIV/AIDS has claimed a lot of lives and continues to claim more through collective action of the societies and the national structures the epidemic could be controlled.

Movie Analysis Of Monsters

Movie Analysis Of MonstersMonsters (2010) is a modern-day fictional monster film which, as with many films in the horror/monster genre, acts as a social commentary, touching upon contemporary geopolitical issues and public anxieties (Carroll, 1981). Bordwell and Thompson (2003) describes a horror film as being recognizable by its intended emotional effect on the audience, and this film successfully does this, although more subtly than other films in the genre. The diegesis of the film, based in Mexico, is a world in which the monsters of the title be huge squid-like unknowns which, for the past 6 years, have inhabited a large atomic number 18a of Mexico which has now been set-apart as an infected zone, with a huge debate being constructed on the Mexico-USA border to keep the aliens out. The film follows a photographer (Kaulder) and his bosses daughter (surface-to-air missile) as he reluctantly attempts to escort her safely back to her father in the USA after a rogue alien attack left her injured and the squash that blossoms between the two throughout their ordeal.I will show how this film uses these aliens with dramatic, symbolic effect to besides act as an allegorical narrative for legitimate societal issues offering a semiotic analysis of these underlying themes and signifiers within the film. The direct analysis will be of the aliens themselves, yet the interaction and reaction of human race with the aliens also carries other meanings, and will be considered.Prior to the opening credits of the film a brief textual narrative explains that alien life was introduced to landed estate as a result of a failed NASA mission, resulting in the area being quarantined as an infected zone, with the multitude still struggling to contain these creatures. The give-and-take of these creatures is allegorical to that of illegal immigrants and refugees which are effectively quarantined by western governments, showing how these aliens can be considered a signifying sy mbol of a societal line about immigration. This bears resemblance to allegories utilise in the 2009 film District 9, another example of a film where aliens are quarantined, however in this instance, the representative preaching is that of apartheid in South Africa.In the opening sequence of the film (post-credits) a series of following shots introduces Kaulder, the cynical male protagonist of the film. The scene is set as he examines a collapsed expression in a warzone and attempts to gather information from the rescue workers at the scene. Do you know where they take the injured? asks Kaulder, but has impediment explaining his situation due to the language obstacle. This examine of the warzone is elaborated throughout the film, with the mis-en-scene including tanks, weapons and general destruction. This representation is a metonymic sign, an iconic resemblance alluding to areas of veridical present civilian conflict zones such as those in Afghanistan and Iraq, portraying th e destruction of the full of lifes of the people who live there and the difficulties faced by those who have loved ones entangled in conflict, either as a armament or civilian presence. Although we are aware that this destruction was in fact caused by conflict between array and the aliens, the way the scene has been composed and edited shows clear visual similarities to images portrayed in the media of destruction in contemporary warzones (these can be seen in figures 1 and 2, particularly note similarities of colour and content) pattern 1 An over the shoulder shot of a rescue worker with the rubble from a destroyed building and a military tank in the background taken from the opening sequence of the film Monsters (2010) which helps build the mis-en-scene. (Monsters, 2010)Fig 2 A similar image of a destroyed building, to that in Fig 1. Photograph taken from a real life conflict zone in Helmand province, Afghanistan (2009) shows a US maritime patrolling this site of destruction. (Getty images, 2009)Later on in the film we are shown a series of close-up shots of Sam and Kaulder in the back of a taxi, juxtaposed with point of envision shots showing their charms of further destruction and military occupation in what seems to be a primarily civilian area. Whilst Kaulder is keen to document this by taking photos, Sam seems disturbed by what she sees, asking the taxi driver Do you feel safe living here? his response being Where would we go? My work, my family is all here. This symbolises the real life hardship that civilians in conflict zones have to face they have no resources to migrate from the area, and even if they could, they abandon their homes, families and livelihoods.Fig 3. A cut in shot used to emphasise the graffiti in the background which, translated into English, reads STOP THE ATTACKS, a cry from the civilian population to the US dominated military that are destroying their cities and killing their children in attempts to destroy the aliens. (Mo nsters, 2010)In a later sequence, a series of cutaway shots depict thousands of candles lit in memorial to the numerous bloodless in a city near the quarantined infected zone which experiences huge losses due to the conflict. Cut in shots are then used to focus on graffiti on the walls of surrounding buildings. One of these (fig 3) reads Detener los ataques 500 dead which translates to stop the attacks another proclaims Que son los monstruos no bombing which asks who are the monsters?This is a key, symbolic scene in the movie as it implies that in fact the civilian population feel the root of the problem is not the aliens but the gravid handed US military opposition dropping bombs and gas in an attempt to eliminate the aliens which are not particularly aggressive until provoked. Signified meanings of the graffiti messages are referents of the way in which western militaries act when entering civilian zones, such as the recent US occupation in Afghanistan and Iraq. Here, the US m ilitary conduct routine violence in the name of the war on terror, yet they bomb and destroy the lives of innocent people in these civilian areas in the process. This idea is emphasized in the final shot of this sequence where a passing US military helicopter blows out candles at the candlelit vigil, alluding to the civilian lives short-winded out by the same military.Kaulder and Sam continue their journey through the infected zone towards the safety of the US eventually reaching the huge wall constructed on the border between the USA and Mexico to keep the aliens out (Fig 4).Fig 5 A photo of a section of the existing USA-Mexico border breastwork which is under construction by the US government in response to illegal immigration from the south. It construction has been met with much criticism from both sides of the border (Ignelzi, 2007)Fig 4 A shot from the film Monsters (2010) of the huge wall which has been constructed by the US government on the border between the USA and Mexic o to prevent alien invasion from the south. Although on a far larger scale, this bears some resemblance to the barrier which currently exists, constructed to combat illegal immigration (Fig 5). Its different tone at America from the outside Kaulder. (Monsters, 2010)Although the wall bears resemblance to the existing barrier constructed on the USA-Mexico border, a deeper interpretation is that the wall is a more abstract metaphor for the barrier that governments construct via the media to hide the truths about their militaries involvement in armed conflicts. The public are constantly shown images of heroism by US troops, and death and destruction caused by the opposition, yet images depicting the death and destruction inflicted on the civilian populations by US military action are rarely publicised. In the film, American citizens are physically divided from the carnage occurring on the other side of the wall, unaware of the destruction being caused by their own military presence an d the opposition those who live in the conflict zone have to the US military presence. Kaulder supports this idea when he says, whilst looking at the wall when you get home its so slatternly to forget all this, I mean tomorrow well be back to our separate lives, in our, like, perfect suburban homes, describing how protected and separated those in the USA are to what is happening in the conflict zone. This narrative symbolises the current ignorance of unnecessary civilian deaths in Afghanistan caused by US military actions.This discussion contradicts the view presented by conventional war films which will typically glorify US interventions and present the production and reproduction of discourses of American national identity (Carter, McCormack. 2006) as it is a monster film so has a totally different agenda.Eventually, Sam and Kaulder make it through the border back to the USA in a townspeople which has now been unexplainably evacuated, but are picked up by a US military convoy.Her e I have examined geopolitical issues, using semiotic analysis, uttered as symbols and features in the film Monsters, and how these have been visually constructed and represented. In this film, the monsters could be metaphors for the fear of immigration, and the way these people are treated by those in the authentic world and terrorism, looking at the lives of civilians living in conflict zones whose day to life is disrupted by warfare and military occupation caused by terrorism. It also questions, who are the terrorists? These anxieties are two key referents, visualised by the aliens. Throughout I have considered the conventional use of the aliens as symbols of these fears, a typical discourse used in films of the monster genre. I have looked at visual similarities between examples used in the film and reality, presenting images from the film and secondary sources where useful, particularly looking at how those people living in and around the infected area resemble those living i n areas currently occupied by a military presence.Word count 1641

WNBA Salary Claim :: Technical Writing

ATTENTION MR Salary ManTO WNBA Salary BoardFROM Mamma ThomasProfessional Sports imitation AgentSUBJECT Rookie Salary NegotiationsDear Sir, I am writing to discuss the details of Latoyas Thomas contract in which my node disagrees upon. For entry into the 2001/2002 Womens National Basketball Association, referred to from here as the WNBA, croaker draft. Latoya is a 61 all around player and is very diverse my client is now playing for the WNBA and has considered coming to America to play for your league the WNBA In looking over the minimum requirements I noticed that a some things rose to my attention. In particular endorsements allowed, contract length, sponsorships, work out dates, travel conditions, and salary increments. I will attempt to address all of my reservations and offer suggestions to ameliorate these requirements and leave room for negotiation between your negotiation team and myself. If you can not meet these requirements then my client will not be allowed to inc lose your WNBA draft 2001/2002.Firstly, let me quickly outline Latoyas extensive playing history and this will demonstrate the level of play that Latoya can offer to your league. start out at 11 years old in the seventh grade Latoya contend for Dent Middle School. In the eigth grade she also played for Richland Northeast High School on the Junior Varsity and Varsity teams. In continuing her career she made the Varsity team her Freshmen year and contiuned to play all four years. As a freshmen she averaged 15 points per game and was named Freshmen of the year. As a Sophmore she averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds. As a Junior, Latoya averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assist. She also lead the team and the nation in scoring. She lead the team to a Conference championship and a State Championship. As a sr. she was 1 player in the nation, averaged a triple double with 31 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assist. For the second consecutive year in history she lead team to a state champions hip and lead the nation in scoring. All four years in High school she was selected to be on the all-state team, all- region team, and all-conference team. During the summers of her High School years she would continue practicing and playing for an AAU team. To play for an AAU team you must be selected by the regional committee of which you belong to as a player.

The Homeless in America :: essays papers

The Homeless in America I never imagined that I would be homeless. Although I suck read this statement made over and over again, the facts behind it remain astonishing. The facts atomic number 18 that there are millions of homeless in America today. some of these people had no choice but to become homeless. sparing problems such as being laid off work, or the rise in the cost of housing had lead people to live on the streets. Many of the homeless are women that have become divorced or have left home because of physical abuse. These women have no education because they have not been given the chance to go and get the education that it takes nowadays to get the job, so they are forced to live on the streets. They have no family to dish out them and they are left with no other choice. People with mental illnesses also become homeless quite often. These people are incapable of handling the test of living on their own. These people get kicked out of their homes and are to a shamed to go to their families because of their illness, so we see them on the streets struggling to stay warm. Teenage mothers are also forced to live on the streets because their families will not help them. The fathers are not there and that forces them to live on the streets. So they must relapse to prostitution to pay for the food that their young ones need to stay alive. There are some other people that become homeless for many incompatible reasons. Some of these people can not help becoming homeless. Some of these people are the illegal immigrants that come here from other places to get a better life but end up not having plenteous money to make it in this hard world that we live in. Teenage runaways have different reasons for leaving home but all have the same reason for becoming homeless. They simply just do not have enough money. Others are drug and alcohol abusers and disabled people. With this list of people there must be some way that we can help these peopl e.There has been many programs that have been available to help these homeless, but only have only succeeded in the short run and have failed in the long run.