James Lewis

Everyday one is exposed to the media in every front. Whether it is through television, magazine, billboards, radio or newspaper, the media’s presence is widespread making it the most efficient means of changing opinion, creating controversy, exposing scandal and setting standards. Media can dictate what products are good by portraying them positively and they can also expose products in a negative light leading to their unpopularity. It is no secret that the advertising and marketing companies are billion dollar industries and large corporations such as computer companies and fashion moguls pay millions of dollars yearly to hire the best advertising agencies to represent their brand, knowing that exposure is the key to setting trends and making their product coveted. Even seemingly neutral or objective media mediums such as news broadcasting agencies can influence public opinion though exposing certain sides of controversies over others or giving more air time to certain stories. In every aspect of one’s life, the influence of the media can not be underestimated and whether desired or not, one’s opinions are formed and changed by the dictates of the media.
This prevalence of the media in forming opinion has in latest years become especially detrimental in the issue of self-image, especially that of women and how they perceive themselves. The images continually shown in the media of the “ideal” woman is always that of an overly thin woman, a super model who is supposed to represent the average woman and set the standard of beauty for women everywhere. However these models used in the media represent the top 2% of women in their build and the standard of beauty that they set is unattainable for the majority of women. This had led to an increase in the number of women who develop eating disorders in an attempt to cope with living in “a society that demands women so thin”(Davies, 2000), most women will fall short their whole lives regardless of how little they eat and how strictly they exercise. Although eating disorders have in the past been limited to the models themselves, these days average women in all walks of life develop eating disorders. In this day and age the media is a main cause of eating disorders in women who are made to feel unwanted and worthless by continuously falling short of the images media uses to portray the “average woman.”
The media perpetuates the image of women and sets the standards for how women should look. Whether it is fashion spreads directly showcasing a beautiful woman, advertisements for products non-related to beauty or even simply news broadcasts, the media perpetuates a specific ideal for women.

dissertation abstract

A two week cruise through the Caribbean or a weekend skiing in the Rocky Mountains, everyone loves to get away whether for a weekend, a few weeks or months at a time. Taking holidays is something all people do to get away from the daily grind. Some go to experience a new culture, some for the adventures that await them and others go simply to get away and relax. The possibilities are endless when it comes to deciding where to take a vacation and many variables need to be considered in order to plan correctly. Things that need to be taken into consideration are variables such as budget restrictions, time frames and what one wishes to accomplish through the vacation.
The available finances for the vacation is one of the most important factors in determining the type of vacation one takes and for how long. Limited finances may mean a splurge on a weekend getaway or a frugal two week trip. Activities with minimal costs need to be considered if sufficient funds are not available and many activities such as camping, hiking and backpacking do not rely on extensive funds and can be done for a longer period of time without costing substantially more. If limited funds are not of concern then vacation is limited only to the time available to take time off and one’s imagination. Luxurious cruises or private safaris are all options when money offers no constraints.
The amount of time vacant also plays a large role in deciding the kind of vacation one takes. A few days may mean going somewhere close whereas months free may open the possibility of going to exotic and rural places and being able to spend time leisurely and without hurry. Getting away to a nearby city is something that can be fun for a weekend getaway and be enough to rejuvenate one for the week ahead. Pampering at a local spa or having a culinary weekend are good ways to structure a short weekend. In contrast a long vacation may mean having no itinerary and going with one’s instincts and whims to explore a new country in one’s own pace. The important thing is to not allow time restraints to hinder one’s vacation by planning a holiday that fits within the available time slot and allowing for plenty of time to relax and enjoy the surprises that may come unexpectedly.
Lastly one needs to consider what their vacation attempts to fulfill. If relaxation is the goal of taking a holiday then a weekend kayaking through Tierra del Fuego might be the wrong choice. Similarly if adventure is what one is seeking than a twelve day yoga retreat might be the wrong choice. Spending some time contemplating what one wishes to accomplish on their vacation will make the holiday more meaningful and with a higher level of satisfaction. Plan a holiday that suits one’s needs and expectations, planning activities that pique one’s interest while leaving plenty of time to relax

term paper

A Treasure Found
The apartment I had moved into was cheap, mostly because the previous tenant had never moved his belongings out. The landlord told me that as long as I cleaned the place out, I could move in and the first month’s rent would be free and being a poor college student, I agreed. The place was filled with clutter and old furniture. I arrived with large garbage bags with the mission of simply dumping everything in a few bags and taking them out but as I rummaged through the leftover junk left behind, I found something that caught my eye.
It was an old issue of the Los Angeles Times, worn and yellowed, and the front page displayed a full-page photo of the Twin Towers destruction in New York. The date was September 12, 2001—the day after they fell. I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news but holding an actual newspaper in my hand gave me chills as the memory came back and the stark image of two parallel towers with black clouds billowing out from them was staring back at me from the paper in my hands.
It had been several years since the event and since then most of the news has been on The War on Terror, sending more and more soldiers to Iraq, and whatever else Bush had thought necessary. Everyone had become so angry at Bush and this war but as I looked at the article, I realized again what exactly we were fighting for and why we had gone in the first place. I was holding a real piece of American history and evidence of the largest deaths on American soil in my lifetime. Although I was shaken by the event, holding this paper in my hands felt sacred. The person who had left it had obviously wanted it—they had held on to it for so many years, only to forget it when they carelessly moved out of an old apartment. I wondered what it meant to them and if they had held on to it to be reminded or just as a fluke. I decided I would hold on to it—I wanted this relic for myself because this was a piece of my history too.

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Every car owner has the burden of having to pay taxes for all the cars they own. This is very heavy especially for the lower class people or those who had been laid off from their jobs. Most people think of car taxes as nothing but trouble for them, but they can’t do anything about this. However, as a car owner, you should just look at the brighter side of things.

Car tax rates differ according to the amount of carbon dioxide emission your car has. This means that the lower CO2 emission, the lower taxes and vice versa. This is beneficial to the environment since people would rather buy fuel-efficient cars to enjoy this privilege. But how do the taxes apply for the different cars?

All the cars are divided into various categories or bands, depending on the amount of CO2 emitted. They will use CO2 as the demarcation criterion. The first type of car band is “type A,” with type B and type C following and so forth. The first and lowest band includes cars which emit CO2 at 100g/km or lower. Type B emits CO2 at 101–120g/km while type C falls in the range of 121–150g/km. The list goes on. These data are true in the UK

Old cars won’t really be affected by this new law, which was only applied last March 13, 2008. Only the cars registered after March 2001 has to carry this burden. Before that time frame, car owners don’t have to pay the high taxes even if their cars pollute the environment worse than the newer kinds. This leads to some protests for new car owners, because they think it’s very unfair. As of now, they can’t do anything about it and they’ll just have to live with greener cars.

The downside of the car tax rates is the trouble it’ll cause to average or lower income people. Not only do they have to maintain their car at a quality level, they also have to pay these taxes. Hopefully, all of us will just learn to see the benefits the car tax rates have.

Browse throguh http://www.cartaxprices.co.uk for more information on car tax rates, car tax prices, cheaper cars and other related topics.

Mike Kelley has written a variety of car articles, including cheap car insurance, Car Tax Benefit, cheap cars for sale, second hand cars, and economical cars, and future of car tax – before you buy a car, check out UK car tax rates, and how to pay car tax online at http://www.cartaxprices.co.uk