Before An Earthquake Essays - Earthquake, Seismology, Survival Kit

Before An Earthquake Essays - Earthquake, Seismology, Survival Kit Before an Earthquake Check for dangers in the home: ? store breakable objects such as glass and china in low, and closed cabinets. ? repair any cracks in ceilings or foundations ? check electrical wiring and gas connections ? keep pesticides, weed killers, and other flammable in closed cabinets on the bottom shelves Know where the safe spots are in every room: ? should be away from windows, mirrors, pictures, anywhere where glass could shatter, heavy bookcases, and heavy furniture Make sure family members know what to do after the quake: ? know how and when to turn off the gas, electricity, and water ? teach kids how to phone 911, or fire department, and which radio station to tune to Prepare and emergency kit with: ? flashlight and extra batteries ? portable radio and extra batteries ? first aid kit ? emergency food and water ? can opener ? medicines ? shoes Emergency communication plan for: ? reuniting after the earthquake if family members are separated from one another ? ask a relative or friend as the "contact person" after the disaster. Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address, and the phone number of the contact person During an earthquake: If inside: ? take cover under a desk or against the wall and stay there ? don?t leave the building during the earthquake If outside: ? Stay away from buildings, street lights, and overpasses ? stay there until the shaking stops If driving: ? stop quickly and pull to the side of the road ? stay in the vehicle ? avoid bridges or ramps that are damaged by the quake once the shaking has stopped If in a public area: ? do not panic ? move away from shelves After an earthquake: ? be prepare for aftershocks ? don?t move seriously injured persons unless they need are in immediate danger ? listen to radio or television for the latest information ? stay our of damaged buildings Checking for damage in your home: Gas leaks: ? if you smell gas or hear a hissing or exploding noise, open a window and leave the building quickly ? call gas company to turn off the gas ? NEVER turn off the gas yourself unless you are a professional Electrical system damage: ? if you see sparks, broken wires, smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the fuse box or circuit breaker Sewage and water lines: ? don?t use the toilet if the sewage line is damaged ? call the water company if the water pipes are damaged

The 13 Forms of Insect Antennae

The 13 Forms of Insect Antennae Antennae are movable sensory organs located on the head of most arthropods. All insects have a pair of antennae, but spiders have none. Insect antennae are segmented, and usually located above or between the eyes. How Do Insects Use Antennae? Antennae serve different sensory functions for different insects. In general, the antennae might be used to detect odors and tastes, wind speed and direction, heat and moisture, and even touch. A few insects have auditory insects on their antennae, so theyre involved in hearing.  In some insects, the antennae may even serve a non-sensory function, such as grasping prey. 13 Different Shapes Because antennae serve different functions, their forms vary greatly within the insect world. In all, there are about 13 different antennae shapes, and the form of an insects antennae may be an important key to its identification. Learn to differentiate the forms of insect antennae, and it will help you improve your insect identification skills. Aristate Are Pouch-Like Aristate antennae are pouch-like, with a lateral bristle. Aristate antennae are most notably found in the Diptera (true flies). Capitate Have a Prominent Club or Knob at Their Ends Capitate antennae have a prominent club or knob at their ends. The term capitate derives from the Latin caput, meaning head. Butterflies (Lepidoptera)  often have capitate form antennae. Clavate Have a Gradual Club or Knob The term clavate comes from the Latin  clava, meaning club. Clavate antennae terminate in a gradual club or knob (unlike the capitate antennae, which end with an abrupt, pronounced knob). This antennae form is found most often in beetles, such as in carrion beetles. Filiform Are Slender and Thread-Like The term filiform comes from the Latin filum, meaning thread. Filiform antennae are slender and thread-like in form. Because the segments are of uniform widths, there is no taper to filiform antennae. Examples of insects with filiform antennae include: rock crawlers (order Grylloblattodea)gladiators (order Mantophasmatodea)angel insects (order Zoraptera)cockroaches (order Blattodea) Flabellate Look Like a Folding Paper Fan Flabellate  comes from the Latin flabellum, meaning fan. In flabellate antennae, the terminal segments extend laterally, with long, parallel lobes that lie flat against one another. This feature looks like a folding paper fan. Flabellate (or flabelliform) antennae are found in several insect groups within the Coleoptera, the Hymenoptera, and the Lepidoptera. Geniculate Are Bent or Hinged Sharply Geniculate antennae are bent or hinged sharply, almost like a knee or elbow joint. The term geniculate derives from the Latin genu, meaning knee. Geniculate antennae are found mainly in ants or bees. Lamellate Are Flattened and Nested The term lamellate comes from the Latin lamella, meaning a thin plate or scale. In lamellate antennae, the segments at the tip are flattened and nested, so they look like a folding fan. To see an example of lamellate antennae, look at a scarab beetle. Monofiliform Look Like Strings of Beads Monofiliform comes from the Latin monile, meaning necklace. Moniliform antennae look like strings of beads. The segments are usually spherical, and uniform in size. The termites (order Isoptera) are a good example of insects with moniliform antennae. Pectinate Have a Comb-Like Shape The segments of pectinate antennae are longer on one side, giving each antennae a comb-like shape. Bipectinate antennae look like two-sided combs. The term pectinate derives from the Latin pectin, meaning comb. Pectinate antennae are found mainly in some beetles and sawflies. Plumose Have  a Feathery Appearance The segments of plumose antennae have fine branches, giving them a feathery appearance. The term plumose derives from the Latin pluma, meaning feather. Insects with plumose antennae include some of the true flies, such as mosquitoes, and moths. Serrate Look Like a Saw Blade The segments of serrate antennae are notched or angled on one side, making the antennae look like a saw blade. The term serrate derives from the Latin serra, meaning saw. Serrate antennae are found in some beetles. Setaceous Are Bristle-Shaped The term setaceous comes from the Latin seta, meaning bristle. Setaceous antennae are bristles of insects with setaceous antennae include mayflies (order Ephemeroptera) and dragonflies and damselflies (order Odonata). Stylate Terminate in a Long, Slender Point Stylate  comes from the Latin  stylus, meaning pointed instrument. In stylate antennae, the final segment terminates in a long, slender point, called a style. The style may be hairlike but will extend from the end and never from the side. Stylate antennae are found most notably in certain true flies of the suborder Brachycera (such as robber flies, snipe flies, and bee flies). Source: Triplehorn, Charles A. and Johnson, Norman F. Borror and DeLongs Introduction to the Study of Insects. 7th Edition

Control & Six SIgma Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Control & Six SIgma - Research Paper Example The process flow diagram of check in process of the hotel looks ok but despite of the normal process the average time is more than the standard time. One of the reasons that can be understood from the shown process is that the room cleaning service should be on more proactive basis. The customer without the previous reservation need to wait for the room to be ready, which is one of the most important factors that increases the average time for check in process. Another important factor is that the customer service is poor because of the data retrieving method looks slow regarding the room availability for the new customers without prior reservations. Now the question arises how the check in process should be improved? One of the most emerging strategies for the hotel management process is the use of the self service for check-in hotels. Patrick Avery (2008) worked on the report under the head of Kiosk Marketplace to publish the report on self service for check in hotels. The process is based on online method like ATMs. The Hotels should incorporate the Hotel Reservations in ATMs to reduce the service time .The strategy should follow in a way that even the walk in customers should use the ATMs to check for the availability of the rooms and if it is available, reserve the room get the direction from the GPS system and move straight to the room. The hotel management should also incorporate the efficient cleaning methodology to reduce the time frame for the availability of the room. The bellman if needed by the customer should be allocated through the ATM system, during the reservation process. Additionally the availability of Bellmen should also be incorporated in the reservation process along with the time frame for the service. Now moving towards the check out process, the process is also very much inefficient because the average time that the hotel takes is more than 3 minutes, whereas the standard process should not take more than 2 minutes. The check out proc ess should also be done through self service ATM channel. Insert the ATM card in the Hotel ATM, check the bill and make the payment through the machine and reserve the bellman for the luggage. In both of the check in and checkout process through the self service method customer’s ID verification can automatically be done through the machine. Therefore, the whole process will save considerable time. 2. Pick one hotel offering and write a new process map for it. Along with charts, give a detailed explanation of the new process and where such improvement will benefit the hotel and increase customer satisfaction. Be sure to include all costs, resources, and management functions.   Incorporation of self service facility can be the new process for the check in and checkout service by the Hotel. The hotel Escargo is currently facing a major problem in the overall time management for its services. The Availability of ATM service with the self service facility in the ATM software fo r Hotel reservations can be the most beneficial strategy for the Hotel to improve customer satisfaction. The detailed explanation of the new process for the ATM service particularly for Check In process Is as follows along with its chart is given below. For Reservation & Check In Service The Current check in service of Hotel Escargo is time taking and reduces the customer satisfaction level. Therefore, the new strategy of self service check in facility can reduce the time f

Functions of Planning and Organizing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Functions of Planning and Organizing - Essay Example As such, planning entails the design of a firm’s activities to respond accordingly to its goals and objectives. However, organizing involves selecting the suitable structure that promotes the implementation of the designed scheme (Hiles, 2011). Therefore, this piece incorporates the concepts of planning and organizing in developing a plan for promoting Macdonald’s. The paper starts by exploring the vision, goals and objectives of developing such a strategy for Macdonald. The paper first examines the state of the company by performing a SWOT analysis. Subsequently, there is a critical assessment of the appropriate strategies, which aim at highlighting the company’s strengths while addressing its weakness. An informed conclusion of the strategies that can promote company’s activities follows. Vision, Goals and Objectives of the Plan This plan’s sole vision is making MacDonald Inc a force in the world’s fast food trade in future. The goals of th e plan include boosting the company’s profits, establishing competitive attributes and addressing the company’s threat and weaknesses effectively. The main objective of plan is developing a comprehensive scheme, which centers on the company’s strengths while countering its weaknesses hence providing an approach that will enable the company to adjust to the dynamic market. The auxiliary objectives include conducting a Swot analysis in the company to propagate knowledge about its market status. Swot Analysis The Company Background Macdonald is a multinational company that significantly controls the world’s fast food supply. Since the date of establishment, the company has recorded incredible growth. Presently, it runs outlets in more than 118 countries. However, the organization is currently facing stiff competitions that are straining it growth. Strengths Strong command powers The company has a reputable market for its products as evident in the extensive supply networks. This is witnessed in most parts of the world; thus, generating massive sales. Fiscal stability The Company has a large business capital and is currently experiencing a period of financial harmony. Indeed, company’s sales are comparatively performing well in the market and returns are appealing. Adaptability to market fluctuations The company can adjust rapidly to the market changes since its large capital can allow a adoption of products diversification models (Kleindl, 2007). Weaknesses The company trades in dynamic products since the food industry provides assorted tastes and preferences that keep changing depending on the availability. Additionally, the company engages in expensive promotion campaigns, which are unproductive; hence, wasting funds. Opportunities Macdonald has the opportunity to venture into emerging food markets especially the provision of organic foods. As such, the company ought to shift its focus from fast foods, which are increasingly s hunned. Threats The emergence of new companies poses threats to Macdonald’s especially when they are small. This is because they require less capital hence their number continues to grow. Notably, the culture of distributing packaged foods though retail chains like supermarket is becoming popular in the market. Strategies Product Restructuring Marketing strategies are plans aimed at capturing the market to increase awareness and purchase of the company’s products. McDonalds can engage in innovative marketing

The Pulfrich phenomenon

The Pulfrich phenomenon Introduction What is the Pulfrich Phenomenon? The Pulfrich Phenomenon is a three dimensional illusion where a moving object is seen to move in an anomalous pathway when viewed binocularly with a light attenuating filter placed in front of one eye. This creates the illusion that an object oscillating on a frontal plane appears to follow an elliptical pathway. The most widely accepted theory for this illusion is that reducing the brightness of a stimulus to the retina of one eye causes relatively slower excitation of the photoreceptors (www.suic.edu) and therefore a delayed processing of the image relative to the other eye. (1) This creates a latency difference between the two eyes and as a result, information for two different scenes from each retina arrives at the visual cortex at the same time. Information from one eye will arrive at the cortex milliseconds later than the other. A geometric disparity is registered cortically from the input of the two eyes (7) and this leads to the incorrect perception of the movement and relati ve positions of objects observed by the individual. Many ocular or neurological disorders that affect the visual pathway can produce a delay in signal transmission to the brain, creating a geometric disparity. The illusions created by this geometric disparity produce troublesome symptoms for individuals with a condition and is why many patients experience problems in everyday life as a result of the phenomenon.(5) Who first discovered the Phenomenon? Carl Pulfrich, a physicist with the Zeiss Company, described the phenomenon in 1922. He was not able to observe the effect himself however due to a childhood injury, which left him blind in one eye by 1905. The phenomenon was first noted earlier however by astronomers using stereo-comparators to search for planets.(3) Demonstrating the phenomenon The Pulfrich phenomenon can be observed in a normal individual by binocularly viewing a swinging pendulum bob whilst holding a neutral density filter in front of one eye. The pendulum bob or target used to elicit the phenomenon may take the form of a mechanical or computerized target. The neutral density filter lowers the retinal illumination of the eye it covers, and this creates the difference in signal transmission time between the two eyes. This delay created by a reduction in retinal illumination is supported by several psychophysical and electro-physical investigations.(1)((8,9)) The geometric disparity created by the visual latency difference between the eyes is interpreted by the brain as depth by the binocular disparity detectors.(2) This is why the pendulum bob is perceived to oscillate in an elliptical motion instead of moving along a frontal plane. The perceived direction of the pendulums swing is dependent on which eye the filter is covering; the pendulum appears to rota te clockwise when the filter is placed in front of the left eye and anti-clockwise when it is in front of the right eye. Provoked and Spontaneous Pulfrich Phenomenons When the Pulfrich phenomenon is induced in a normal individual i.e. using neutral density filters, the phenomenon is sometimes called the provoked Pulfrich effect. Since a delay can occur in individuals with ocular or neurological disorders that affect the visual pathway, the Pulfrich effect can occur spontaneously. Such diseases which may result in a spontaneous Pulfrich effect include optic neuritis, an inflammation of the optic nerve which can cause swelling and destruction of the myelin sheath covering the optic nerve. Since this myelin sheath helps conduct nerve impulses along its axons faster than non-myelinated axons, its destruction will lead to a slower transmission to the occipital cortex, where the information is processed. Optic neuropathies with bilaterally asymmetrical demyelination are thought to be the most common causes of the Pulfrich Phenomenon and the visual symptoms it is associated with. (website) Systemic conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, a demyelinating d isease were the fatty myelin sheaths around axons are damaged (Miller DH, Leary SM (October 2007). Primary-progressive multiple sclerosis), can lead to many individuals experiencing the Pulfrich Phenomenon. The Pulfrich Phenomenon has also been reported in many other diseases such as unilateral cataract or asymmetrical bilateral cataract. A cataract may reduce retinal illumination or produce retinal blur thus leading to a visual latency in the visual pathway of the affected eye causing the phenomenon in the individual. Anisometropic amblyopia, strabismus, corneal opacity, anisocoria, unilateral mydriasis, Central serous retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration have all been accountable to produce the Pulfrich effect to some extent in an individual. Retinal blur has also been thought to be cause of the effect, most noticeable in smaller targets. Sokol and Moskowitz (cat(13)) showed that a 12 ms increase in the visual latency resulted from a 3 dioptre refractive error.() A spontaneous Pulfrich phenomenon is not uncommon and has been found quite frequently in studies with patients with ocular and neurological disorders. It was found in 24 out of 93 patients with recovered optic neuritis, 16 out of 29 patients with uncomplicated unilateral cataract and three out of 70 patients with various strabismus problems.(3) Factors affecting the magnitude of the Phenomenon seen The magnitude of the Pulfrich Phenomenon seen depends on a number of factors with retinal illumination being one of the most significant. The magnitude of Pulfrich effect seen i.e. the depth of the elliptical trajectory, is larger for increasing disparity of retinal illumination between the two eyes. This may occur in a patient with a spontaneous Pulfrich phenomenon, for example when one eye has a much denser cataract than the fellow eye. It may also occur in cases of uniocular mydriasis when anisocoria could be induced. (2) The eye with the larger pupil receives increased retinal illumination than the other eye with a smaller pupil and therefore the phenomenon may be induced. This may also occur when the Pulfrich phenomenon is provoked, i.e. when a neutral density filter covering the eye is increased in depth. Lit ((2)12) has shown that the magnitude of the Pulfrich effect seen, that is the size of the ellipse, is proportional to the density of the filter used. The distance from which a pendulum or similar target is viewed, also has an effect on the magnitude of the Pulfrich phenomenon seen. An increase in the magnitude of the phenomenon can be observed as the distance between the observer and target increases. Target velocity also contributes to the magnitude of the Pulfrich phenomenon. As the target velocity increases, so does the magnitude of the Pulfrich effect seen by the observer, leading to much more noticeable illusions and increased visual symptoms. Symptoms experienced due to the Phenomenon The symptoms expressed by a patient with the Pulfrich phenomenon to a general practitioner or optometrist can be quite strange. Objects appear to move in incorrect pathways when either the observer or the target is in motion.(3) Objects moving up and down however will not demonstrate this effect or lead to symptoms as a result of misjudged distances. These symptoms experienced lead to difficulties in everyday tasks. Tasks such as driving and various ball game activities like football, which require good perception of moving objects, have been found to be more difficult for patients who have the Pulfrich phenomenon. Even the simplest of tasks such as navigating through doorways or pouring a drink have been found to produce an increased level of difficulty for such patients. Several studies have revealed that visual impairment leads to increased car accidents and difficulty driving. Visual perception has a key role in the safe operation of a vehicle, helping prevent driving errors and therefore prevent accidents and fatalities. In order to drive safely, a driver must be able to act and react to the changing environment around him/her. This requires the ability to correctly estimate the relative positions of moving and non-moving objects. Some Patients with a spontaneous Pulfrich phenomenon have complained of oncoming cars apparently swerving across the road towards them. This visual perception could lead to a serious accident and therefore must be treated to help prevent any casualties. Individuals who were later diagnosed with pathologies thought to be the cause of a spontaneous Pulfrich Phenomenon have reported the illusion that whilst driving, oncoming cars appear to swerve across the road towards them. Perception of this would lead to the driver maki ng a sharp turn away to escape what he/she thinks is a certain accident. Forty years ago, a traffic accident was reported which occurred as a result of an induced Pulfrich phenomenon due to unilateral pupillary dilation. (reference) Since then, many investigations have been carried out to learn more about the effect a spontaneous Pulfrich phenomenon has on driving. It was found that many individuals had problems with judging distances when driving, especially when performing manoeuvres such as reverse parking into a garage.(references) Why is it useful for optometrists to be able to diagnose and treat the Pulfrich phenomenon? Due to troublesome visual symptoms experienced by patients known to have the phenomenon, it is in the interest of both the patient and Optometrist that the Pulfrich effect is diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Various studies have shown that unilateral mydriasis was found to always produce the phenomenon on subjects.(reference) Because of this, it would be important for the Optometrist to warn the patient in advance of dilation, the visual symptoms and difficulty judging distance that can be expected, and also to warn, if possible, the patient should not drive home. It has also been suggested that, because patients with conditions such as cataract and optic neuropathy often demonstrate the Pulfrich phenomenon, an effective test for the Pulfrich phenomenon might be a useful addition to the tests available to Optometrists in primary care practice. The detection of this phenomenon may aid prompt diagnosis of any underlying pathology therefore the correct management and treatment could be initiated without delay. Recognition of this phenomenon could be particularly helpful in the early diagnosis of Retrobulbar neuritis, the most common form of optic neuritis in adults and frequently associated with multiple sclerosis (Jack J Kanski). In retrobulbar neuritis, the optic disc appearance is normal, at least initially, because the optic nerve head is not involved and so early detection is difficult using direct or indirect Ophthalmoscopy. Testing for the Pulfrich phenomenon is the only way to clinically determine if motion stereopsis is normal or not. Visual Evoked Potentials are not useful in analysing how motion stereopsis is affected, as their signals are travel via different visual pathways. VEPs are also not available to primary care optometrists. Standard stereo-tests such as the Frisby stereotest commonly used in Optometric Practice also fail to detect any abnormalities in motion stereopsis. (1) Knowledge and understanding of the Pulfrich would help the O ptometrist appreciate many of the strange symptoms experienced by an individual with the Pulfrich phenomenon and the many kinds of problems faced in daily life by i.e. sports games and traffic situations. The symptoms experienced by a patient with the phenomenon can be quite easily ignored or dismissed if the clinician is unaware of the phenomenon. If optometrists had the appropriate equipment and knowledge to diagnose the Pulfrich phenomenon in everyday practice, they would also be able to treat the phenomenon and its sometimes-disabling effects using simple filtered lenses. This would help reduce or eliminate any of the problems experienced as a result. Patients, that find even the simplest of tasks such as pouring a drink or navigating through doorways, may be enabled to carry out these tasks with ease after treatment. Management and treatment of the phenomenon may also allow patients who retired from driving a vehicle due to the visual difficulties faced with the Pulfrich effect to feel confident in driving again. The unusual symptoms experienced when driving due to the Pulfrich phenomenon, especially the location of moving objects encountered in traffic, could be eliminated with the simple treatment available. How is the Pulfrich phenomenon treated? The symptoms experienced by patients with a spontaneous Pulfrich phenomenon can be reduced or eliminated by placing an appropriate neutral density filter or optic tint in front of the unaffected eye. (3) The lens has the effect of reducing retinal illumination of the unaffected eye and therefore creates a delay in signal transmission to the visual cortex, which equals the delay in the affected eye. To choosing a correct filter, the patient is shown a range of filters of varying densities and asked to decide which lens alleviates their symptoms and removes phenomenon. Once the suitable lens filter has been chosen, it may then be worn as spectacles or as a contact lens. Optic tints are preferred to neutral density filters as they are more readily available and cost effective for the patient.(3)The filters used to treat the phenomenon should remain the same without needing to be updated, so long as the underlying pathology remains stationary.() Other Diagnostic methods Doctors and other Healthcare professionals have found many different ways of testing for the phenomenon. The most often suggested method is to swing a pendulum in 5 different pathways in front of a patient. A pendulum is swung in each of the pathways, from A-E. If the right eye is affected, the pathways C and B produce the most marked effect for the patient. The pendulum appears to veer towards the patient as it gets closer on these pathways. Picture from Charles J. M Diaper, 1997 Surv Ophthalmol Another technique used by some medical professionals in detecting the Pulfrich Phenomenon is when the examiner instructs the patient to quickly walk past the examiner whilst trying to brush his/her shoulder on either side. If the effect is present the patients left eye for example as shown in the diagram below, usually the affected eyes side will result in a large gap between the patient and the examiner. Errors in spatial localization result in the misjudgement of the distance between the patient and examiner. The patient can be seen to make a course correction, which can be seen as a rapid lurch away from the examiner. (6) The incorrect distance judgement by the patient is a result of an illusion caused by the Pulfrich phenomenon leading the patient to believe the examiner is closer than what he/she actually is.(3) Note that this gap would only occur on the same side of the affected eye. For example if the patients right eye were affected on the picture left, a large gap would not be observed. What my project is about? In this project we are interested in investigating which tests prove most effective to an Optometrist in detecting the Pulfrich Phenomenon and also what the optimal parameters are for eliciting the Pulfrich effect in visually normal observers. With the ready availability of computerised stimuli for eliciting the Pulfrich effect, this may now be possible in practice. We would like to investigate which of the currently available online versions of the Pulfrich phenomenon stimuli are most successful and sensitive at eliciting the Pulfrich effect. I will also test a range of neutral density filters of varying depths to see which induces the phenomenon best in a group of visually normal adults aged 18-30. I will also be recording the distances at which the subjects were placed in relation to the screen throughout the test to see what effect this may have on detecting the phenomenon on how sensitive the different stimuli were at detecting the Pulfrich phenomenon in the subjects.

Fight Club’s Cult: Manipulation and Thought Reform

Andrew Epstein Professor Powell English 1A: 3:15 TR 18 February 2010 Fight Club’s Cult: Manipulation & Thought Reform Dr. Margaret Thaler Singer asks the question, â€Å"How many more Jonestowns and Wacos will have to occur before we realize how vulnerable all humans are to influence? †(3) With this, Singer– a clinical therapist who specialized in brainwashing and coercive persuasion, considered a giant in the field of cult behavior– brings the normallytaboo topic of cults in our society to the forefront of discussion. People must be informed and understand what a cult is, and how cults use thought-reform as a means to manipulate and control the masses. If people are left uneducated, senseless acts of self and social destruction will continue to be carried out by followers of proclaimed prophets. Shoko Asahara’s cult_ _â€Å"Aum Shinrikyo,† which translates to â€Å"teaching of the supreme truth† (Wessinger 121), an organized and violent group, has correlating similarities to Tyler Durden’s following. Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club_ _is a book about a man that creates a following in the form of a modern day cult, in which he uses its members to carry out acts of social terrorism, violence, and self-destruction by means of manipulation and thought reform. In order to understand cult behavior in Fight Club, one needs to understand the characteristics of a cult and how they are defined. â€Å"Cults are not a unique species of human group; they are the endpoints on a continuum† (Andres 1-7). A common misconception of cults is all cults are religious. Although many are, religious beliefs alone do not dictate the qualification of what a cult is. Singer describes that â€Å"cultic relationships† better define the parameters of what qualifies a cult, and that a cult can usually be identified by three factors despite its belief system (7). Of those factors, â€Å"Origin of the group and roles of the leader,† insists that most of the time there is one person in charge and in control of the decision making process for the cult and its members (Singer 8). Although cults range from a wide variety of categories and beliefs, cult leaders usually have uniform characteristics: â€Å"Cult leaders are self-appointed, persuasive persons who claim to have a special mission in life or to have special knowledge. Cult leaders tend to be determined and domineering and are often described as charismatic. Cult leaders center veneration on themselves† (Singer 8). Tyler was a party of one who had the charisma and ideology that appealed to the impressionable minds of people looking for something more. The followers of Fight Club looked at Tyler and saw everything they wanted but could not be themselves. â€Å"I love everything about Tyler Durden, his courage and his smarts. His nerve. Tyler is funny and charming and forceful and independent, and men look up to him and expect him to change their world. Tyler is capable and free, and I am not† (174). Tyler Durden is a leader, he has the ability to shape the minds of his followers through his power of persuasion. Whether it be the Fight Club, Project Mayhem, or one of Project Mayhem’s subdivisions, Tyler’s members abided by core beliefs and rules given by himself, and were eager to progress in Tyler’s self destructive behavior. Tyler believed that in order to gain enlightenment, to know who we really are, â€Å"First you must hit bottom† (76). Tyler’s followers want to be him, to think, and act as he acts. There was no questioning Tyler’s logic, his follower’s followed. â€Å"The structure or relationship between leader and followers,† states that; â€Å"Cults are authoritarian in structure. Cults appear to be innovative and exclusive. Cults tend to have a double set of ethics† (Singer 9). Even though a leader may appoint people to act in higher positions of authority to guide other members, the leader’s authority supersedes all. The cult leader offers its members something unique, something that can only be found through membership, and that in becoming one of the following makes that person â€Å"special† (Singer 9). It is normal that there are a strict set of rules, or a code of conduct between members that is not held to non-members. Whereas deceiving an outsider is completely acceptable, doing the same to a fellow member would not (Singer 9). The defining relationship of Tyler Durden in Fight Club is, without a doubt,leader to his followers. Tyler doesn’t refer to himself as a prophet or god; however, he does interpret with accuracy how his followers perceive him. â€Å"Tonight, I go to the Armory Bar and the crowds part zipper style when I walk in. To everybody there, I am Tyler Durden the Great and Powerful. God and father† (199). In order to further the development of Fight Clubs and Project Mayhem, Tyler appointed chapter leaders to instill the rules and beliefs he created. The chapter leaders obediently did as they were taught to do because in Fight Club, â€Å"You don’t ask questions,† and â€Å"you have to trust Tyler† (122,125). Interfere with Tyler’s goals, and Tyler will kill or castrate the opposition. â€Å"The coordinated program of persuasion,† is the â€Å"crucial factor in the definition of cults† (Singer 10). Cults tend to be totalistic, or all-encompassing, in controlling their members’ behavior and also ideologically totalistic, exhibiting zealotry and extremism in the worldview. Cults tend to require members to undergo a major disruption or change in life-style† (Singer 10). Cults may start similar to what could be compared to a part time job, in wh ich a member or in our example, an employee takes part in an activity or event for some sort of end result, whether it be self satisfaction or in the case of an employee, money. At some point the goal of the cult is to have its members completely invested, or a full time employee. This includes a life that can be compared to military lifestyle, in which members are often dehumanized, told when to eat, drink, sleep, and what to wear. This often results in abandoning their non-cult life completely in order to further â€Å"become immersed in the group’s major purpose† (Singer 10). Fight Club’s members transition from part time to full time, consisted of belonging to Project Mayhem or one of its several subdivisions. Tyler’s mission was to free the people from whom he thought were slaves to society. Tyler wanted to change the world, destroy the old and create a new world of a more basic need. â€Å"It's Project Mayhem that's going to save the world. A cultural ice age. A prematurely induced dark age. Project Mayhem will force humanity to go dormant or into remission long enough for the Earth to recover. † â€Å"This was the goal of Project Mayhem,† Tyler said, â€Å"the complete and right away destruction of civilization† (125). Project Mayhem’s group dubbed â€Å"space monkeys† (12) was stripped of all possessions except that which was required by Tyler. Dehumanized and stripped of their previous life identities the space monkey’s goal was to serve Tyler and membership required giving total control to the cause. â€Å"Only in death will we have our own names since only in death are we no longer part of the effort. In death we become heroes† (178). Fight Club’s members were manipulated to the point of partaking in acts of violence for recognition, and finding death for the cause to be heroic. Tyler’s control of his members is absolute and unquestioned. To begin understanding the complete and total control cults tend to have over its members, one must understand the thought-reform process. Brainwashing is the technique used by cults to strip its members of their freewill and carry out the cult leader’s ideals that define his or her cult. This includes, but are not limited to, organized acts of violence including; social terrorism, murder, and self destruction (Singer 82). The word â€Å"brainwashing,† or thought reform, was birthed in the 1950s during the Korean War when captive United States troops returned home appearing to be â€Å"converted Communists† (Taylor 3). Even when free from captivity and having no contact with any Communist interaction, theses soldiers denounced loyalty to their own country, and praised of the Communist way of life. Edward Hunter, CIA operative who investigated the reasoning behind the apparent odd behaviors for returning troops, was the first to â€Å"publicly christened† the term brainwashing said, â€Å"The intent is to change a mind radically so that its owner becomes a living puppet—a human robot—without the atrocity being visible from the outside. The aim is to create a mechanism in flesh and blood, with new beliefs and new thought processes inserted into a captive body. What that amounts to is the search for a slave race that, unlike the slaves of olden times, can be trusted never to revolt, always be amenable to orders, like an insect to its instinct† (Taylor 3). While technological advances and modernization of growing societies have changed the way thought reform is implemented, the core foundation and overall goal still has the same purpose of control. Harmful effects on cult members thought processes tend to come from the techniques of control implemented from within the cult. Utilization of these techniques is used to socialize members into the cultural environment of the cult can produce â€Å"feelings of guilt, dependency, low self-esteem, worthlessness, anxiety and hopelessness in vulnerable individuals† (Walsh). Robert Lifton was one of the early psychologists to study brainwashing and mind control. He called the method used thought reform_ _(Walsh). He identified eight processes used to alter the minds of subjects. While all of the processes have some direct content relating to Fight Club, there are three that fit best. Lifton describes â€Å" milieu control,† as â€Å" control of human communication†(Walsh). This is how the individual communicates with the outside world and how the outside world communicates to the individual, meaning like Tyler’s space monkey’s, who practices and recited Tyler’s rhetoric, these individual’s are cut off from worldly means of communication, entertainment, and normal social interaction because they are seen as corrupt. These individuals receive and transmit information through a filter of cult ideology. Lifton suggests, â€Å"Mystical manipulation is the use of an extensive personal manipulation to provoke specific patterns of behavior in a seemingly spontaneous way,† and that, â€Å"they suggest that there is an induction of dependency by manipulative and exploitive techniques of persuasion and control† (Walsh). This is best depicted in Fight Club by the way Tyler uses his charismatic personalities to influence his members that Fight Club is what they need in order be awakened from their boring lives of slavery in the corrupt consumerist world. Lifton’s Doctrine over person states, â€Å"A situation in which the doctrine of the group shapes the reality of which the member must exist† (Walsh). This makes their pre-cult lifestyle unappealing, and progresses their â€Å"new identity based on the new ideology† (Walsh). Tyler uses this idea in Fight Club to convince members that life outside of Fight Club is nothing more than a role being played to mask their true identity, eventually resulting in full recruitment in to one of Fight Clubs subdivision’s, and abandonment of their previous lifestyle completely. These methods of thought reform are commonly found in cult’s who practice radical religious beliefs and/or acts of violence in the name of its cause. Aum Shinrikyo, or â€Å"The Aum† was a cult which began operations in Japan, tried to bring world change through â€Å"techniques of guerrilla warfare† (Walsh 119-128). The Aum became a â€Å"legally registered religion in 1989† starting with approximately 4,000 members (Wessinger 130). By the mid-90s its membership had more than doubled at an estimated 10,000 members in Japan, and having expanded its reach including about 30,000 members in Russia (Wessinger 131). Aum Shinrikyo is an aggressive, highly organized, educated, extremely violent, and has the wealth to make serious impacts on society. Like Tyler’s Fight Club, â€Å"Aum Shinrikyo offered an alternative to lifetime employment in unfulfilling work† (Wessinger 131). Many of Aum Shinrikyo’s members hold positions of power, are highly educated, and have specialized skills. They include; scientists, military personnel, police officers, and political officials that contribute to the organization (Wessinger 135). Tyler’s Fight Club is similar in construction to Aum Shinrikyo, in that its members are well distributed throughout the societies in which it is established, giving the organization the power to infiltrate and execute acts of social terrorism. Shoko Asahara said, â€Å"Aum is a mighty obstacle to the evil that rules this world† (Wessinger 120). Similar to Tyler Durden, Shoko Asahara conducted the business of his following with violent measured attacks on society and anyone who was a threat to his organization or its ideals. Aum Shinrikyo’s violence began internally, beatings of members in order to become closer to â€Å"clairvoyance† expanded to attacks on enemies and society (Wessinger 123). Although different in beliefs, Aum’s pattern of progression follows a very similar structure to that of Fight Club. Similar to Fight Club’s subdivisions such as Project Mayhem, Aum Shinrikyo uses specialized member’s devoted to carrying out acts of violence towards enemies. Threats to hinder or expose any criminal aspects, or cult activities of both organizations were counteracted with acts of violence and brutality. Aum Shinrikyo assassinated defecting members, journalist, prosecutors, judges, and anyone else who opposed their endeavors (Wessinger 133). Extreme acts of violence in able to progress forward in cult behavior and goals is what directly link Aum Shirikyo and Fight Club together. In understanding the inner workings of cult behavior, it is evident to what Tyler’s following_ _is, what it does, and how it gains control of members. One can see how Fight Club’s cult behavior show uniform similarities to the characteristics that define a cult. In addition, understanding how a cult controls its members by means of manipulation and thought reform, in order to implement core beliefs, participate in acts of violence, and recruit members; one can grasp how powerful the control cults can have over their members. In looking at Aum Shinrikyo, a violent and socially destructive organization, we are able to see the consistency between Shoko Asahara’s and Tyler Durden’s following. Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club depicts the story of a man who build’s himself a clearly definable cult, in which he uses its members to carry out acts of social terrorism, violence, and self-destruction by means of manipulation and thought-reform. Works Cited Andres, Rachel, and James R. Lane. Cults & Consequences: The Definitive Handbook. Los Angeles: Jewish Federation Council, 1988. Print Palahniuk, Chuck. Fight Club. New York: Norton, 1996. Print. Singer, Margaret Thaler. Cults in Our Midst: The Hidden Menace in Our Everyday Lives. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1996. Print Taylor, Kathleen. Brainwashing: The Science of Thought Control. Oxford: Oxford University, Print. Walsh, Yvonne. â€Å"Deconstructing ‘Brainwashing’ Within Cults as an Aid to Counselling Psychologists† Counselling Psychology Quarterly_ _June 2001: 119-128. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 March 2010 Wessinger, Catherine. How the Millennium Comes Violently: From Jonestown to Heaven’s Gate. New York: Steven Bridges, 2000. Print. _ _

Symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay - 526 Words

To Kill a Mockingbird is a book with several examples of symbolism. Although the story is seen through a child’s perspective, it includes multiple instances of symbolism, some more obvious than others. Mockingbirds, Mayella’s geraniums, and the Radley household are all big symbols in To Kill a Mockingbird. An example of symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird is mockingbirds themselves. When Atticus says â€Å"’I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird’† (90), he means that mockingbirds don’t do a single bad thing. They sing and bring joy and happiness into the world, and nothing that does that deserves to be†¦show more content†¦However, these attempts are in vain. Arthur has no intention of coming out of his house unless there was a situation that needed attention. A situ ation that required him was when Mrs. Maudie’s house burnt down. While Jem and Scout stood by the edge of their property and watched, Boo snuck out and placed a blanket around Scout without being noticed. Scout or Jem do not realize that they have a blanket until they return back home after the fire is put out, and Atticus questions it. When it occurs to them who gave them the blanket, they get excited and scared about the idea, but don’t think too hard about it. However, later in the book, another situation requires Boo’s assistance. When Bob Ewell is attempting to kill Jem and Scout as they walk home, they are near the Radley property. When Arthur heard what was happening, he came out from his house, got Bob, and saved the children. After he took Jem home and Scout followed, he stayed in the house. He wanted to make sure that Jem was going to be okay before retiring back to his house, and that is exactly what he did. Heck Tate was very generous to keep Boo Rad ley out of the news. He’s always hid in the shadows, and not many people would allow a person to stay in the shadows after such a heroic act. However, Heck knows how Boo is and allows it. This is a very kind gesture of him. There are many examples of symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird, including BooShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Symbolism In To Kill A Mockingbird791 Words   |  4 PagesTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a multi-faceted novel which explores the principles and morals of people in the South during the 1930s. Mockingbirds are symbolic of the people that society abuse. Lee narrates the events of the novel using Scout’s voice and uses this technique to add emotional context and develop themes. Themes of racial and classist prejudice are developed by Lee to challenge the reader. These techniques are all powerful ways to alter the views of the reader. MockingbirdsRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Symbolism Essay744 Words   |  3 PagesIn Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the fire in chapter 8 symbolizes a form of prejudice as it burns down the snowman. A lot of the symbolism in this book stems from the prejudice taking place against the black population in Indiana. Some of this is issued when it snows for the first time since 1885. The children make a snowman out of leftover snow and some dirt. This represents the teamwork between the Finch family and the black community. The snow brings out the innocence of children.Read MoreSymbolism In To Kill A Mockingbird1084 Words   |  5 Pagesit’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.† [p.119] In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, this issue is mentioned various times. There are three mockingbirds, Mayella Ewell, Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. In order to categorize them as mockingbirds, the reader has to know what a mockingbird is. So what does it mean to be a mockingbird? A mockingbird symbolizes innocence, thus the character has to have the personality characteristic of purity. As Miss Maudie says, â€Å" Mockingbirds don’t do oneRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Symbolism Essay787 Words   |  4 PagesTo Symbolize a Mockingbird Throughout the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, we are introduced to two characters who represent her main theme. Understanding the roles the two play in this well-known classic, helps the reader understand the true meaning, and uncover various uses of clever symbolism in the book. Tom Robinson, a humble Negro, and Boo Radley, the mysterious Maycomb recluse, are both innocent in their grave situations†¦Tom, being dragged through an unfair trial with a racistRead MoreSymbolism of Prejudice in to Kill a Mockingbird1972 Words   |  8 PagesAnalyse how symbolism was used to convey an interesting idea in an extended written text Prejudice, in the 1930s, was an extremely relevant issue regarding the racism that was present throughout society – particularly in the south of the United States, which is where the novel To Kill A Mockingbird is set. Through the course of the novel, Harper Lee conveys the idea of prejudice to the reader in a variety of forms – mostly by use of symbolism. The most powerful examples of this symbolism are the useRead MoreSymbolism In To Kill A Mockingbird1267 Words   |  6 PagesIn the nineteenth century, mockingbirds were kept in cages so they could sing their beautiful music. Because of this, mockingbirds were nearly almost wiped out of parts of the East Coast. All Mockingbirds do is bring beauty to the world. Mockingbirds symbolize innocence and do not deserve to be wounded by the cruelness of the world. In the story To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Dill, Mayella Ewell, Mr. Dolphus Raymond, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are all mockingbirds. They are innocent peop leRead MoreEssay on Symbolism of Mockingbirds in To Kill a Mockingbird1034 Words   |  5 Pagesstrength. Parrots are a symbol of intelligence. What about mockingbirds? How do they treat and contribute to the human mankind? Mockingbirds symbolize those who are innocent, helpful, and caring but are punished and treated badly. It is a skin to kill a mockingbird because they do not harm us in any way but sings wonderful songs to us. Some of the characters like Boo Arthur Radley, Tom Robinson, and Mayella Ewell symbolizes the mockingbirds in Maycomb. Boo Arthur Radley who is innocent is segregatedRead MoreSymbolism Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee2255 Words   |  10 PagesSymbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird Whether it is in literature or even shown in pictures, people use things to represent something with a deeper meaning and that’s called symbolism. In the book â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird† by author Harper Lee, various different themes or symbols are active throughout the book either directly, or more often, obscurely being tied to the ultimate theme of the book, which is not being able to understand someone until you experience life from their point of view. TheRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Symbolism Essay1251 Words   |  6 PagesPeople always wondered what a mockingbird represents. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the narrator Jean Louise Finch lives in Maycomb, Alabama, with her brother Jeremy Finch, her dad Atticus Finch, and her mother-figure Calpurnia. She learns many lessons in her life including â€Å"You never truly understand a person until you put yourself in their shoes † and â€Å"It is a sin to kill mockingbirds.† This ties in that a mockingbird symbolizes innocence, which proves that one should not judge someoneRead More Symbolism and Allegory in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay3753 Words   |  16 PagesSymbolism and Allegory in To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee uses symbolism extensively throughout To Kill a Mockingbird,, and much of it refers to the problems of racism in the South during the early twentieth century. Harper Lees effective use of racial symbolism and allegory can be seen by studying various examples from the book, namely the actions of the children, of the racist whites, and of Atticus Finch. One of the more effective allegories in the novel is the building of a snowman