Arabic Coffee Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Arabic Coffee - Essay Example This paper explores the history of Arabic coffee, its uniqueness, preparation and drinking, advantages and disadvantages among other interesting facts about Arabica coffee. Arabic coffee can be traced back to Ethiopian highlands over a thousand years back, where it grew as coffee forest (Schmitt 113). The Arabs are known as the very first people to grow coffee as well as commence its trade. As early as the 15th century, the Arabs of Yemeni district, Arabia were already growing coffee. By the 16th century, coffee cultivation had spread to other Arab nations such as Egypt, Persia, Syria as well as Turkey. Besides drinking in homes, coffee was also served in public coffee houses commonly known as qahveh khaneh. The public drinking houses grew in popularity and people engaged in every type of social activities in the houses. In the early years, an open fire was used to roast coffee beans. The roasted beans were then prepared in dallah, a coffee pot over an open fire too. Today, coffee preparation is done over stovetop and other heat supplies rather than the traditional open fire. Of the world’s total coffee production, coffee Arabica constitutes about 70 to 80 percent. It takes approximately seven years to mature. It grows best at altitudes of about 1,300 to 1500 meters with evenly distributed rainfall the whole year. Coffee Arabica can withstand low temperatures performing best at 15 and 24  Ã‚ °C. Commercial plantations are usually left to grow to about 5 meters. However, trimming is done to about 2 meters to enable easy harvesting. The trees are susceptible to frosty conditions. Cultivation of Arabica coffee has spread from the Arab world into other parts of the globe. Arabic coffee is currently one of the most precious beverages, not only in the Middle East, but in the entire world. Anyone who has had time to visit the Middle East and gotten the opportunity to sip Arabic coffee must be having a whole lot difference to tell about how the coffee compares

Art 21 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Art 21 - Essay Example Cai Guo-Qiang is an artist from Fujian Province of China. Guo-Qiang currently lives and does his artistic masterpieces in New York, United States. Guo-Qiang uses several media to show his inner feelings. His art works are infused with political themes. Uniquely, Guo-Qiang uses gunpower as an art form ingredient. He is successful in this unique art genre. Guo-Qiang learned gunpowder art while staying in Japan. As expected, Guo-Qiang’ art is characterized by explosions (PBS, 2014) The left image shows the artist using animals as models of his art work. The image will surely attract children. Children prefer images that resemble life. The left image will remind the children that our world includes the survival of animals. It is a good art image because the children can easily understand the image. The right image shows the author’s use explosions (fireworks) to attract the attention of the audience. The audience who will actually see the live explosions will either be entertained or may fear for their life. The audience will discern whether the fireworks explosion will cause danger to the lives of the audience. When the audience senses fire explosion debris going towards the audience, the audience will run to safety. Jeff Koons is from Pennsylvania. He school included studying in the popular Art Institute of Chicago. The artist uses images from different cultures as inspiration for his masterpieces. The artist injects both taste and pleasure themes into his art pieces. Koons uses the benefits of computer technology to create his currently popular art form. Koons uses the computer technology’s accurate detail advantages to reduce the time needed to complete his artwork tasks. Further, Jeff Koons’ masterpieces had been displayed in several art galleries. One of the galleries is Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Koons displayed his art works in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Jeff Koons accomplished the above two art pieces. The left

Classrom observation Report for cultural issues in ESL class Case Study

Classrom observation Report for cultural issues in ESL class - Case Study Example Teaching an ESL class should comprise of an understanding the different cultures represented in the class, the objective of the course and that of the students in finding out the kind literacy and knowledge valued and continuously finding new ways of making the classroom more interesting to improve the learning capability of the students especially when both the teacher and the students come from different cultures â€Å" Even more of a gap in expectations ,beliefs and classrooms practices may arise where students come from a culture that is relatively distinct or distant from that of the teacher† (Byram & Michael, 1998 p.101) I. Description of the classroom context The classroom observed was at The International Language Institute in Washington, DC. It has provided language training to thousands of students from around the world, the fact that students come from different parts of the world implies that the classroom is endowed with a variety of cultures that should all be pu t into consideration when planning for ESL classes. The influence of culture is more that the background effect â€Å"It has a deep effect on classroom processes because it is significant factor in how teachers and students perceive language learning and how they evaluate each other role and classroom performance† (Jin & Cortazzi, p.98)". ... years of experience in the field of ESL, both in the United States and in Europe, he has worked in every facet of the industry and this has widened his experience in handling student from diverse backgrounds. He has also devised ESL programs for some of the world's leading corporations, including Alstom, Business Objects, McKinsey, Raytheon and authored over a dozen manuals for learners of English for Specific Purposes. The Institute offers a comprehensive, eight week certificate course. The course provided focus on practice in teaching the four fundamental language skills of reading, speaking, listening and writing, and the sub skills of pronunciation vocabulary and grammar. Components of the course include planning of lessons, teaching practice in individual and group settings, observing peers and practicing teachers, keeping teaching records, critical self-observation and compiling of a portfolio of materials for teaching, and career planning and management (International Language Institute, 2010). The main goal of the course is to teach and perfect the students reading, speaking, writing and listening skills in the language being undertaken. Most of the students have the goal of becoming efficient users of the foreign language so that they can apply it in their professional capacity and at individual levels. II. Description and analysis of the cultural elements observed There were a number of cultural aspects, both explicit and implicit which were observed in the class, as discussed below; Cross Cultural Understanding was the most outstanding explicit cultural element that was observed. The fundamentals of cross cultural understanding are that people have the basic ability to recognize, interpret and correctly react to people within business. Another explicit

‘A View from a Bridge’ by Author Miller Essay Example for Free

‘A View from a Bridge’ by Author Miller Essay The play, ‘A View from a Bridge’, by Author Miller has the theme of a Modern Greek tragedy. A Greek tragedy is a play where fate runs it’s ‘bloody course’, which will lead to the tragic hero’s downfall. A tragic hero is usually a character of noble stature. Just like all people, tragic heroes aren’t perfect but what separates them from the others is that they have a hamartia, a tragic flaw. This flaw will be the cause of the downfall for the tragic hero. Eddie Carbone is somewhat a tragic hero. He doesn’t fit as a tragic hero because in the play, he is a normal longshoreman, which is fairly ordinary in Red Hook. Just like all men, †he worked on the piers when there was work, he brought home his pay, and he lived.† He doesnt have a high status position. On the other hand, he can still be categorized as a tragic hero because he has a tragic flaw and an inevitable downfall. In the start of the play, he is also respected, just like a tragic hero. Eddie’s tragic flaw is how much he loves Catherine. His fate is unavoidable due to the tragic flaw in his personality. His unnatural love for Catherine made him jealous of Rodolpho. This again is a device used in Greek tragedy, and can be described as a weakness of the tragic hero. This is a feature that all tragic heroes have; hence they are called â€Å"tragic† heroes. At the start, the tragic hero will be a good person. In the play’s case, Miller portrayed Eddie in the beginning of the play as a loving and caring man. He loves Catherine a lot. He said, â€Å"I want you to be in a nice office.† This shows that he cares a lot for Catherine and her future. At this stage, the audience should see Eddie as a respectable man. Miller also uses the technique of foreshadowing to imply to the audience that betrayal is going to happen. Miller used the ‘Vinny Bolzano’ example. Vinny â€Å"snitches† on his own uncle. In the play, Eddie said â€Å"†¦. hidin’ in the house and he snitched to the Immigration.† Catherine’s response was fairly surprised. She said â€Å"What, was he crazy?†. Vinny Bolzano was publicly humiliated by his own family and shunned from the community. He was not seen in the area since. . Miller added this to foreshadow the fact that Eddie is going to do something similar in the play. This is also an example of how the community functions. They believed that ‘snitching’ is always bad therefore he got punished for it, although the actual law will find it as a righteous act. Eddie tells Catherine that â€Å"you can quicker get back a million dollars that was stole than a word that you gave away†, and with this advice, Eddie gains the audience’s respect. It is also ironic because later on in the play, Eddie â€Å"snitches† on Marco and Roldopho. This loses all sympathy and respect towards Eddie. In the play, Alfieri’s role in the Greek Tragedy is a chorus. Alfieri refers to fate’s â€Å"bloody course†, which immediately brings us to the thought of destiny or fate. This is an ominous statement as it gives the sense that unavoidable tragedy will happen, and he is won’t be able to change the outcome. Alfieri said â€Å"heard the same complaint and sat there, as powerless as I†. This proves that he is merely a bystander looking at something way out of control. He also said â€Å"I could see every step coming, step after step, like a dark figure walking down a hall to a certain door†, which reinforces Eddie’s fate that awaits him. Eddie’s tragic flaw is soon exposed, as he will not accept the love between Catherine and Rodolpho. As Eddie realizes that their relationship is becoming more serious, he degrades Rodolpho by questioning his sexuality. While Eddie was talking to Beatrice, he says that Rodolpho is â€Å"like a chorus girl or sump’m†. Eddie infers that Rodolpho is less of a man. Since it didn’t work, Eddie took matters up to Alfieri. Eddie told Alfieri that Rodolpho â€Å"ain’t right†. He is trying to get the law on his side. Once Eddie is frustrated, he says, he’s stealing from me!†. This shows that deep down, Eddie believes that Catherine belongs to him. Eddie starts to show his jealous side by telling Catherine that Rodolpho wants Catherine only in order to become an American citizen. He told Catherine that Rodolpho is â€Å"only bowin’ to his passport†. Eddie still wants Catherine therefore he challenges Rodolpho directly by teaching him how to box. Miller demonstrates the tension between them through the stage directions. For example, Eddie hits Rodolpho, which â€Å"mildly staggers him†. It seems that Eddie needs to prove himself to be manlier than Rodolpho. This is also the beginning of his downfall. Marco then challenged Eddie by picking up the chair. This grows the tension between them, foreshadowing that something bad will happen. In the final scene, in which Eddie died in, it is also very similar to Greek tragedy. The tragic hero will die reconciled with others and will end regretfully to his actions. Miller conveys Eddie’s remorse and had him reconcile with Beatrice as he cries â€Å"My B.! My B.†, and dies in her arms. Eddie also dies in his own hands. He brings the knife into the duel, therefore it would seem, like most tragic heroes, Eddie is the cause of his own destruction. This gives the play a more complete ending. All problems have been solved. Then again, it can be argued that Eddie is different from a tragic hero because at times he appears to have more control over his actions than a tragic hero does. For example, Eddie was driven to call the Immigration Bureau because of his love for Catherine. Alfieri presents him with another option, to â€Å"let her go. And bless her.† It seems like Eddie has selected his route, which lead to his downfall, whereas traditional tragic heroes usually dont have an alternative option. This is unsympathetic because he had another option, but it was his choice not to take it. Not only did he betray Rodolpho and Marco, he also betrayed his community. He lost all his respect and reputation. In conclusion, Eddie is very similar to a traditional tragic hero from Greek tragedy. His tragic flaw drives him to desperate actions, and in this case he cannot let Catherine go. Fate â€Å"runs its bloody course† as the inevitable death of Eddie is shown. Eddie is stubborn and refuses to â€Å"settle for half†, constantly wanting something he can’t have. His tragic flaw leads the fateful path to his death.

Coastal management

Coastal management Introduction This report studies the concepts surrounding coastal management. It includes the history of the British coastline in particular the East Anglian coast, the current theories of coastal protection and the challenges that will be faced in the future as a result of possible climate change. The report also describes the different responsibilities and roles that Government funded organisations such as The Environment Agency take in coastal protection management. The report focuses on coastal erosion and protection schemes in the East Anglian region. The History Of The East Anglian Coastline Throughout history Britains coastline has been under attack from the forces of the sea. This has lead to some significant changes in the coast over the last two thousand years or so. However these changes have not been constant. Fluctuations in temperature over hundreds of years have altered climates causing sea levels to alter, changes in levels of precipitation and varying probabilities of the occurrence of storm surges. As described by Cracknell (2005) East Anglias coast has changed significantly in the last two thousand years. This is shown in figure 1. taken from Cracknells (2005) Outrageous Waves. The map shows how the city of Dunwich, a settlement on Suffolks coast, has been eroded over the last seven hundred years. The map clearly shows how the sea gradually eroded the city of Dunwich taking with it many important buildings such as the Chapel of Francis. The past destruction of some of East Anglias coastline can be put down to storm surges, which can cause a large amount of erosion in a very shout amount of time. The scale of destruction cannot be seen over a long timescale, such as in figure 1 as averages are taken of the distance of land eroded. The East Anglian coastline has not only been destroyed by coastal processes but also new land has been created as a result of them. For example the now named Scolt Head Island off the coast at Brancaster has formed. This natural forming sand bar is now a natural sea defence protecting the local villages from possible erosion. Others villages on the other hand have not been that lucky with many of them falling victim to coastal erosion in the last hundred years or so. These include such settlements as Sidestrand, Slaughden and Eidesthorp. As stated by Cracknell (2005) â€Å"East Anglia is unlike many other parts of the British coastline as it is still being eroded to this day, at a significant rate.† This is mainly due to its geology of mainly clay and soft rocks. It is also believed to be due the isostatic readjustment of the United Kingdom caused by the melting of the ice caps after the last ice age. The resultant outcome from this process is that East Anglia is sinking below sea level. This is shown at Potter Heigham where a bridge built in 1385 has been disappearing under the water level. Coastal Processes Coastal Processes Introduction Coastal processes are made of inputs, outputs, transfers and stores. These ideas are used when designing new coastal management schemes, as it is vital for engineers not to design a scheme which will have a negative impact on the coastline. Coastal Erosion There are four main processes involved in the erosion of the coastline. The first is hydraulic action; this involves water compressing air inside small cracks in the cliff and causing the rock to fracture. The process also involves the actual force of the waves on the cliff face. The second process involved in coastal erosion is abrasion also known as corrosion. This type of erosion involves eroded material hitting the coastline. The material is carried by the forces involved in wave action. The third process is corrosion, which is a process whereby a chemical reaction takes place causing the coastline to erode. This process is not normally associated with East Anglias coastline as it predominantly involves the chemical reaction between sea water and limestone. Attrition is the final process and is when already eroded material is worn down further by contact with other material. Long Shore Drift Long shore drift is the process when eroded material is transferred down the coast by the sea. It principally acts in only one direction along the coastline and is a main factor when designing coastal defences. By altering this process eroded material can be prevented from being deposited further down the coast, thereby exposing the coastline to more coastal degradation. Natural Sea Defences Beaches Natural sea defences are normally a result of the transfer a deposition of eroded material. The most common natural sea defence is the beach. These form when eroded material is either deposited straight below the place of erosion or whereby eroded material is transported along the coastline by the process of long shore drift. Offshore land forms Offshore land forms are created when the forces involved in carrying eroded material by long shore drift become too small and material is deposited on the sea floor. These land forms create natural barriers against wave action and significantly reduce the amount of energy the waves have when they reach the coastline. Coastal Management To Date Coastal Management Introduction The English coastline is nearly 3000 kilometres long. Nearly two thirds of this coastline is protected by man-made sea defences put in place to protect against both coastal erosion and sea flooding. The East Anglian is however heavily protected as it is much more prone to coastal processes compared to other stretches of the English coastline. Bodies involved in Coastal Management Four main bodies are involved in the coastal management of East Anglias coastline. The first is The Environment Agency, which has no accountability to protect the coastline from erosion. However it is responsible to protect the land against flooding from the sea. This role comprises of designing and creating coastal flood defences, but also includes producing flood-warning systems. The second group involved in coastal protection is the local authorities, which have the power to protect the land from coastal erosion. Local authorities and The Environment Agency are both funded by DEFRA (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs). DEFRA is a government body which funds coastal schemes. Before these schemes are funded they have to go through rigorous assessment. This is done to prioritise the schemes for funding. Private landowners are the final group responsible for coastal protection. This group includes business which can afford to fund there own coastal management schemes. These do however have to be authorized by the local authority to make sure they comply with planning regulations. Government Policies The Government has four main policies concerning the protection of East Anglias coastline. These are shown in the table below. These policies are assigned to different stretches of the coast. The coast is split up into units and depending on the assessment made of the value of the land they will be put under the four different policies. Policy Name Action to be taken Do nothing No action to be taken to prevent the natural erosion of the coast Hold the line Create a defence to keep the coastline as it is Advance the line Produce a defence seaward of the current coastline defence Managed retreat Allow the sea to erode the coastline and create defences further inland Current Schemes East Anglias coast is split into four separate units. Each section has its own specific SMP (Shoreline Management Plan), which has been put together by the local authority and The Environment Agency. These are shown on the adjacent map taken from http://www.essex-estuaries.co.uk/EastAng lianStrategies/Coastal.htm Each unit is made up of many sub units, which have been assessed and assigned a coastal defence policy (eg. Hold the line). Map of East Anglias 4 different SMP units. http://www.essex-estuaries.co.uk/EastAnglia nStrategies/Coastal.htm Types of Defence There are two categories of sea defence which are used on the East Anglian coastline. These are hard defences and soft defences, each work in different ways to slow coastal degradation. Hard defences are constructed to create a static line of coastal protection. Whereas soft defences are designed so they are responsive to sea processes. Both categories of defence need to be designed with information on how local sea processes may react with their construction. Much research is carried out to find how the local tides, wave action and other factors will be affected by the introduction of new defences. This research may include scaled down models of the coastline and use of computer models. Hard Defences Sea Walls Sea walls have been used for many years now, in the protection of the East Anglian coast. The sea wall is mainly used as part of the hold the line coastal management policy. The walls are designed to deflect the wave energy away from the coastline. Early sea walls were vertical, but these designs were easily damaged and had to be repaired frequently. For example at Sheringham, where the sea wall had to be replaced after only five years. The reason these sea walls are no longer used is that they absorb most of the waves energy rather than deflect it like new sea walls. New sea walls are constructed with a curve to channel the waves energy back on itself. This however can have a negative effect on the beach, as it can cause more erosion to take place. The erosion can expose the foundations and eventually lead to the collapse of the sea wall. typical sea wall design taken from http://www.northnorfolk.org/coastal /microsite/documents/Coastal_Environment_002.pdf. Sea walls need foundations to provide stability to the structure. In this design piles have been used as they can penetrate deep into the ground to reach a suitable subsoil. A wave step constructed out of concrete has been incorporated into the design to break up the energy of the waves. A rubble drain is situated behind the step so that water does not build up and undermine the sea wall. Sea walls are very expensive compared to other sea defences. The main reason for the costs ranging from  £2000- £5000 per metre is that they can be quite complicated to construct. The need for pilling and large amounts of concrete makes the design very costly. However sea walls can last up to 30 years making them more cost effective. Groynes are used to slow down the process of long shore drift along the coastline. The groynes are built perpendicular to the coast so they catch sediment which is being carried by the sea. The construction of the groynes helps to increase the size of the beach and therefore creates a better natural defence against coastal erosion. Groynes are designed according to the strength and direction of long shore drift on the coastline. If badly designed groynes can stop the supply of sediment further along the coast. This has lead to the design of a new semi permeable groyne, which allows some sediment to travel through the groyne and travel along the coast. Figure 5 shows the more common impermeable groyne design. Most groynes are constructed from tropical hardwoods as they are resistant to erosion processes and marine animals which might try to burrow into the groynes. The groynes are supported by timber and steel piles to make sure they can withstand the forces of the sea. Diagram of impermeable groyne design. Taken from http://www.northnorfolk.org /coastal/microsite/documents/Coastal_Environment_002.pdf Revetments Revetments are used in the place of sea walls. They are normally used at the bottom of cliffs which are at the risk of collapse. The revetments act as sloping barrier to the sea, reflecting and absorbing the energy. Timber revetments are much cheaper than sea walls and have become a real alternative as they cost only  £1200 per metre. However they are prone to rapid degradation as seen at Weybourne cliffs. They are constructed using piles or a concrete apron to give the structure enough support to withstand forces during high tide events. Revetments are built so they are permeable structures, thus allowing sediment to build up behind it. This creates an additional protection at the foot of the cliff. However this can have its disadvantages, it can cause the foundations of the revetments to become exposed and ultimately undermine its structural integrity. They can be built from timber and pebbles, but recently there has been a tendency to design them using different sized rocks. This sort of design named rip rap has become more popular recently as it is seen as more aesthetically pleasing. Offshore Breakwaters Offshore reefs or breakwaters are used as a way to significantly reduce the amount of wave energy reaching the coast. By altering where the waves break on the coastline the size of beaches can be changed. Offshore breakwaters at Sea Palling have been very successful. The Environment Agency installed 9 reefs to protect the coastline. The diagram below shows how the breakwaters can significantly increase the size of the beach. However this success comes at a cost of several million for each reef. Soft Defences Beach Nourishment Beach nourishment is used where a beach is too small to act as a sufficient barrier against the coastal processes. It may involve the dredging of sediment from offshore stores which is then added to the beach. Another option is to collect and transport sediment from somewhere along the coastline which is in rich supply. Dredging is favoured as it does not involve the mixing of two sediment types which is believed to be less pleasing to the eye. Dredging can involve high pressure hoses which are used to spray sediment onto the beach. Managed Retreat Managed retreat is policy whereby a stretch of coastline is allowed to erode to a point where another line of coastal protection has been constructed. This enables a natural beach or other type of coastal landform to form creating a second line of defence. This sort of policy is becoming more popular with the realisation that not all of East Anglias coastline can be saved. Future Climate Change Past Climate Change Over the last thousand years or so Britains climate has changed many times. It has seen a small ice age and many fluctuations in temperature. With these changes there have been transformations in sea levels as well. It is described in Cracknells (2005) Outrageous Waves a period known as the medieval warm period which saw a large number storm surges. These storms are connected in Cracknells book to the warm period the United Kingdom experienced from 1300 to 1600. In which a number of coastal settlements were destroyed due to coastal erosion. This period was then followed by a period named the little ice age by Cracknell (2005) where the temperature decreased to the lowest in the last millennium in the 17th century. Then was followed by an increase to the temperature we have today. Predictions of Future Climate Change It is predicted by Cracknell (2005) that sea levels will rise significantly in the next century. Figure 7 shows a map of Britain with forecast sea levels in 2100 taken from Outrageous Waves, Cracknell (2005). This map shows the sea levels Cracknell believes to be most probable in 2100. The map shows how in East Anglia the sea level is predicted to rise as much as 69.6 cm by 2100. This sudden rise is said to be down to two factors by Cracknell (2005). Firstly due to the isotstatic readjustment of Great Britain. This is caused by ice melting and reducing the weight on earths crust causing some areas to rise and others sink. Secondly to the increased volume amount of water in the worlds oceans due to ice melt. Map of Britain with forecast sea levels in 2100 taken from Outrageous Waves, Cracknell (2005) It is suggested by Cracknell (2005) that the effects on the climate caused by global warming may only become apparent after a lag time. Cracknell states that this lag time maybe due to an acceleration of climatic changes as time progresses. He implies there will be more significant changes towards the end of the 21st century. Future Management Of The East Anglian Coastline It is stated in Making space for water a consultation exercise from DEFRA that a new coastal management strategy is needed to tackle the forecast climate changes. It also identifies that a significant proportion of Englands GDP is dependent on industry on the coast. This and other contributing factors have lead to DEFRA putting together a new and improved set of possible guidelines to prevent the degradation of Englands coastline. In Making space for water the possibility of changing roles of different bodies involved in coastal protection are argued. It is suggested that a new national authority could take control of all coastal protection. However this seems unlikely to happen, as it would reduce the amount of European funding coastal schemes could claim. It identifies in the DEFRA consultation exercise the need for sustainable development on the coast. It suggests that new developments in coastal regions need to be regulated better to ensure that they can be sustainable. This includes better planning guidelines to whether new developments built on flood plains and on eroding coasts should be protected with defences paid by the government or whether they should be built at all. It appears the idea of cost-benefit analysis is bound to continue to take an important role in the future of coastal management. This will be essential in deciding which areas of coastline need protecting in the future. However with the increasing realisation that the coastline is a natural landform, it is becoming more and more apparent that a policy of managed retreat will become more common. This policy is destined to become more popular as the cost of more complicated sea defences exceeds the value of the land they are meant to be protecting. I think it is clear from researching the current coastal policies in East Anglia and the possible consequences of predicted climate change that there will be significant changes in the coastline of Great Britain in 100-200 years. Moreover I feel that East Anglias coastline could change the most compared to others of coasts, mainly due to the fact it seems to be experiencing nearly all of the problems associated with coastal erosion. If not tackled effectively in the near future I envision East Anglia will face irreversible economic, environmental and social problems. References CRACKNELL, B., 2005.Outrageous Waves. Chichester: Phillimore CO. LTD SAMPSON, A., 1998. Processes affecting North Norfolks cliffs and coastal defences. Sheringham: Sheringham Museum Trust DEFRA (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs)., 2004. Making space for water, A consultation exercise. London: Defra Publications ENVIRONMENT AGENCY. Essex Estuarine Strategies. Available at http://www.essex-estuaries.co.uk/EastAnglia nStrategies/Coastal.htm on (5/01/2007) ALUN WITHERS, 2001. Document 2-Coastal Protection in North Norfolk. Available at http://www.northnorfolk.org/coastal/microsite/documents/Coastal_Environment_002.pdf. on (5/01/2007) DEFRA (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs), 2002.Soft Cliffs Manual for Managers. London: Defra Flood Management Division. Available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/cliffsrepfinal2.pdf DAVID RAYNER BEAGLE GRAPHICS (GeoResources), 2001. Coastal Management. Available at http://www.georesources.co.uk/coastman.htm#L1 on (6/01/07) DOVER DISTRICT COUNCIL. Coast protection. Available at http://www.dover.gov.uk/coast/constructing-coast-defences.asp on (5/01/07)

Past and Present Views on Gossip Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research

Past and Present Views on Gossip Culture is constantly changing: the prevailing beliefs and trends of one period can vary substantially from those of another. A significant consequence of this cultural flux is gradual evolution in the meanings of some words. Since language is naturally tied to culture, it is not surprising that these changes occur. Words have meaning only in the context of the current social climate; therefore their definitions change synchronously with cultural progression. The meaning of the word gossip, for example, changed several times over, from its original definition of kindred relation to its present definition of empty talk. How did this progression take shape? As society adopted new trends and beliefs, the meaning of the word gossip changed from having religious connotations to having more social connotations. The original meaning of the word gossip had strong religious undertones, implying that society and culture then were very religious-minded. Stemming from the Middle English roots "god" and "sib", the word gossip referred to a person who sponsored a baptism and shared a spiritual rapport with another. During this time period, Christianity was a newly emerging religion, and one of its most sacred rituals was baptism. It was also becoming an increasingly important part of society and culture. Undermining baptism, therefore, would have been an insult to the religion, but associating it with spirituality would have been an avowal of Christianity, a recognition of this new force in people's lives. Sponsorship of a baptism and spiritual affinity were connected primarily because religion was such a predominant force at the time. However, the word gossip progressively lost its religious connot... ... "talking about other people, even in a negative way, is not just socially useful but indispensable" (Cohen B7). Cohen's point emphasizes that the driving force behind this etymological evolution is often change in the social environment, particularly in the attitudes of the people using a certain word. Gossip in its original sense was probably used in ecclesiastical circles. As ordinary people started using the term more frequently, the word gossip started to lose its religious undercurrents and slowly gained social connotations. Used by women, the term's definition evolved to reflect an activity shared by many of them. Today, the word's derogatory sense may reflect increased cynicism among people. As Cohen points out, though, the meaning of the word gossip is likely to change, and this change hints at possible trends - and kinds of people - society will face next.

Everybody wants to be thin Essay examples -- essays research papers

Unfortunately, Americans today are obsessed with losing weight. Everybody wants to be thin! Everywhere I go, there’s someone counting calories, cutting "carbs", and running themselves to death on a treadmill. Dieting can be beneficial, when done properly and with discussion with a doctor. Sadly, some people fall into these bad habits when the desperation to lose weight has become tremendous. Everyone wants to lose way quickly and more importantly very easily. Therefore, any fad diet will become the new obsession of the fad dieter. This person will eat grapefruit for a week, and when her stomach can’t take it anymore; she’ll try a brand new, state-of-the-art, magic pill that will enable her body to shed ten pounds overnight. Even though the magic pill does not produce the desired weight loss, he or she never gives up hope. Once again, this dieter is lured by advertisements of instant spot reduction-liposuction. She crosses over the safety line into a danger zone of unknown procedures, performed by unqualified physicians. Some dieters lose their lives in the search for a beautiful body. The stomach staple is another dieting tool that dieters try. The staple yields a large weight loss, but the dieter endangers her health because of excess loss of body fluids. The "fad dieter" is always listening for the newest cure on the dieting market. A wedding or a prom is a common reason for a someone to decide...