American Television Comedies Essay

It has been a long day. You are exhausted and arrive home after spending several hours at work or school. You decide to watch television and you try to find a funny show, anything that can make you laugh and make your day better. Choosing between several types of comedy shows is hard because there are innumerable reasons to watch one type or another. A television comedy can sometimes be your friend, your psychologist, your teacher, your passion and/or your hobby. There can be very innocent comedies while there are also more explicit ones. There can also be silly, simple comedies while there are also more elaborate and intelligent comedies. Your decision of selecting one television comedy should always be based in the current mood that you are in. There is clearly a vast buffet of comedy shows in America and the networks will continue to cook more shows in order to make us always completely satisfied. No matter where you are, as long as you have a television that works properly, you have the opportunity of watching any type of comedy show. You can decide between sitcoms, comedy-dramas, sketch comedies, stand-up comedies and animated cartoons. Your girlfriend or boyfriend can dump you, you can fail a class, you can have a fight with your friends or family but those television comedies are, and, will always be there for you to make you laugh, or cry, or both. Sitcoms These will make you have a good laugh most of the times. These have also been the most common, successful and culturally significant type of television comedy. They were originated in England but now predominate in America. They can be either really silly like The Office but at the same time comedic genius or they can be more intelligent and more complex like Community. These have two main types of filming, single camera setup and multi camera setup. One of the best normal single camera comedies of all time is Arrested Development which had the advantage of being a sitcom and having the opportunity to air a new season seven years after its last episode. The magic of sitcoms is that even after several years you can still relate to them and enjoy them completely. Another type of single camera comedy is the mockumentary with shows like The Office, Parks and Recreation and Modern Family. They are fake documentaries that follow a specific number of characters. Mockumentaries are usually really hard to get picked up by a network so when a mockumentary survives past the pilot, most of the times it is incredibly humorous and comedic genius. NBC tends to have more successful sitcoms and usually lines them up on Thursdays. So unless you are a party animal who starts partying on Thursday nights, you shouldn’t miss that lineup. Sitcoms are really easy to follow and you will most likely have to watch a whole season to understand the plot. Sitcoms are usually your best chance of laughing out loud. Comedy-drama These, sometimes also known as a dramedies, are programs that combine humor with more serious dramatic elements, providing you with laughs and tears. They aim for a considerably more realistic tone than conventional sitcoms. Dramedies can make you laugh and enjoy the comedy at the same time like Entourage. They won’t necessarily always make you laugh but their content itself is hilarious. They have you on the edge of your seat biting your nails while also pleasing you with some comic relief. One of the most critically acclaimed modern comedy-drama series is Girls which airs on HBO so you need to pay extra to watch it, or just wait until your creepy uncle who thinks he’s still a teenager lends you all the seasons on DVD. The continuity of character development and storylines are more relevant in comedy-dramas than in traditional sitcoms. Characters’ backstories tend to have a greater overall effect on storyline. One example of these is one of the most watched television shows of all time M*A*S*H. People identify themselves a lot with these types of comedies; they tend to be realistic and somehow manage to be extremely funny. M*A*S*H was such a big hit that became the most watched television episode in U. S. television history at the time, with a record-breaking 125 million viewers. If you like to cry and laugh at the same time then watch a dramedy. If you like romantic comedy films these are the comedy series that will most likely fit your personality. Even though sitcoms are the most famous type of television comedies, comedy-dramas are the most watched comedy shows, and if you like one episode of one of them, you will probably get attached to them to the point that you will have to cancel your plans of going to the club with your friends. Sketch Comedy â€Å"Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night! † Most people recognize that phrase. It was created in 1975 during the first episode of the cult television series Saturday Night Live. Sketch comedies are easy to follow and most of the times guarantee a good laugh. Perhaps SNL is the most common type of this style of comedy which consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called â€Å"sketches†, commonly between one and ten minutes long. Often sketches are first improvised by the actors and written down based on the outcome of these improv sessions; however, improvisation is not necessarily involved in all sketch comedy. If the actors are really good and professional then you will definitely laugh hysterically. Sometimes the mistakes the actors make are usually the funniest parts because most of the sketch comedies are filmed live, so if an actor loses it and starts laughing he has to continue either way. It is always amazing to see a professional actor and comedian lose it and try to get his or her composure back. Stand-up Comedy Stand-up comedies guarantee a good laugh, especially if you are up to date with current events. In these comedies, a comedian usually recites a fast-paced succession of humorous stories, short jokes called â€Å"bits†, and one-liners, which constitute what is typically called a monologue, routine or act. Some stand-up comedians use props, music or magic tricks to enhance their acts. The most common examples of this are the talk shows like Ellen, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live! , Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Late Late show with Craig Ferguson. These shows are usually really funny and can have some cultural or political content that can update you with current events or lets you see some issues in the eyes of another person. These stand-up comedians tend to be really smart people, like Conan O’Brien, and can turn the simplest thing into something with and immensely amount of comic material. It is also funny to see how comedians fight with each other like Jay Leno with Conan O’Brien did in 2010 over The Tonight Show. This didn’t help either of them because Jimmy Fallon is going to take over as host of The Tonight Show after the 2014 Winter Olympics. That show promises a lot and will definitely be one of the highest rated and most critically acclaimed since Fallon is an extremely talented omedian and musician. These stand-up shows are usually the best way of ending a horrible day. Unlike sitcoms, you can watch most of the shows that there are in every network but you will most definitely have a favorite, and you will stick with it, forever. Unlike the sitcoms, stand-up comedies can be seen at any time because there is no chronological order that will affect its content. Animated Cartoons These are typically hand crafted for children. Animated cartoons won’t necessarily make you laugh but most certainly make you at least giggle. Early children’s programming often recycled theatrical cartoons; later, low-budget animation produced especially for television dominated Saturday-morning network programming in the US. Some of the most known animated cartoons are The Jetsons, The Flintstones, The Simpsons, South Park, Beavis and Butthead, Futurama and Family Guy. Though most of them are designed for children, there are a few of them that are specifically made for adults like South Park and Family Guy. Animated Cartoons have been the only reason for waking you up, during your childhood, early on a Saturday morning and make you happy. Most of the modern animated cartoons that are intended for mature audiences only tend to be very explicit, controversial, racist and profane; yet, they are still incredibly funny and, unless you are a prude that takes every joke from everywhere personal, you should be able to laugh and enjoy them. You have reached a point in your life where thinking of waking up early on a Saturday morning is an impossible scenario, so leave the animated cartoons for your kids. If you want a new hobby and want to follow something for almost a whole year then watch some sitcoms that will surely make you laugh. If you are a drama queen that appreciates comedy then surely comedy-dramas are for you. If you get home late at night and your wife or husband wants to get kinky with you but you’re really tired then watch a stand-up comedy. They will make you laugh while your partner cries. If you feel like you want to see some people doing impersonations of famous people then watch some sketch comedies. No matter how old you are, what ethnicity you are, or if you are a male or a female, there will always a comedy series for you, ready to make you laugh, cry, or both.

World of Jugs

In North Korea citizens protested against the country authoritarian regime because over the weekend the regime seized most of the country citizens' money via a new currency issue. This caused much violence In North Korea. The Wall Street Journal reported that that the regimes money grab could be the single most Important event In defining North Korea. This event Is more defining and more Important than North Koreans whole grabbing nuclear weapons program thatNorth Korea uses for International Influence. This Issue not only raised protests In multiple Korean cities but also caused reason for the North Korean government to raise patrols on Its border with China. An Investment analyst name Mr.. Cochran said, â€Å"The biggest risk for the North's government is if, after taking people's money, it can't deliver goods and services the way the unofficial market could. † The regime would be most damaged if its people learned it could not control the real price of goods.This whole new currency issue struck many acts of violence including the death of two North Korean men by the hands of police officers. The two men attempted to get the government's limits by dividing their money among a large group of people and urging them to exchange the money for them. Another incident occurred when multiple women working in the goods and produce markets of some towns openly cursed the government knowing they would be arrested for such actions. This issue is viewed as a defining moment for North Korea.

Love. Ralston Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Love. Ralston - Case Study Example cause the case highlights that people in general do not know about the organization and often learn about the work which volunteers do through word of mouth. In such a scenario, when people are not even aware that they are required for work how can they be expected to apply for it. In order to create awareness regarding the issue, it is but essential that Rick includes in his marketing objectives the task of providing ample information to the customers that imparts to them enough information to make them want to apply whether it is for giving back to the community or the adventure appeal. It would also be a good idea for Rick to include in his promotion objectives to attract as much young talent as possible for the simple reason that the youth might just be in better physical shape to cope with the rigorous demands of fire fighting and thus be better able to adjust its time schedule to attend the monthly drills and in general give in more time to the volunteer work as compared to a c orporate employee who might otherwise be tied up in his job. In order to go about achieving his objective Rick can start by targeting high school students and conduct a campus drive if permitted by the budget. The plan should be to visit campuses with current volunteers who could interact with the students and tell them how rewarding the work is and how content one feels after doing something without it being backed by any monetary compensation. One important reason why high school students might also be interested in becoming a part of RVVFD is that those students who are interested in pursuing higher education would know that extra credit is given for doing voluntary work. Consequently, if students might not be thrilled by the idea of giving back to the society they would still take it as an opportunity to glorify their resumes with. In order to create brand awareness getting posters and standees made would be a cheap alternative to going for an all out mass marketing campaign on

The Equity of Water Distribution Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Equity of Water Distribution - Assignment Example In 1998, Houston’s water customers consume 1.35 million cubic meters of water per day. The former maximum daily pumpage, recorded in July of 1986, was 1.79 million cubic meters per day. More recently, however, Houston had pumped an all-time record high of 1.96 million cubic meters per day, during the heat wave in 1998. Houston uses water for retail consumption, irrigation, and industrial purposes. Presently, long dry spells have necessitated conservation efforts to extend available water supply. For the Sugar Land area, to reduce peak demand and total water consumption, Sugar Land residents are asked to water lawns according to the following schedule: Surat is located at the mouth of the river in floodplains and during the monsoon season, it is the site of the concentration of water flow. Water is used for agriculture, drinking, water supply industries and energy generation. Its water supply is provided by the Ukai dam, which, save for the annual lean season, is not short of supply due to the annual monsoon that brings heavy rainfall and flooding (Bhat, 2011). Recently the Maranoa Regional Council introduced a new water pricing system for residential and business customers. The new consumption based system calls for the payment of a fixed service fee for ongoing connection, to which is added a charge for every kilolitre of water used. However, the Council has excluded Surat from the new pricing system; instead, the residents and business will be allocated an annual volume for use, with the excess charge to apply only for the use of additional kilolitres over the allocation. The system is designed to cover the higher fixed costs of operating Surat’s dual reticulation system and river water treatment process. The higher cost of treatment is due to the fact that Surat’s water is drawn from the Balonne river instead of a bore, requiring a more expensive method of treatment.

Models and Frameworks for Adult Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Models and Frameworks for Adult Care - Essay Example Furthermore care plan is constructed adopting holistic approach for each problem. Moreover, it is also explained how various interventions work together for the achievement of final goals. Mr. A, who is 37 years old adult, was facing acute back pain because of his daily activities. He was a businessman who used to sit for several hours. This was the basic reason why Mr. A was facing acute low back pain. John Popp has defined low back pain in his book named A Guide to the Primary Care of Neurological Disorder as an acute problem affecting the population all around the world. This problem is considered the most common cause of disability in the individuals at the age of 40 years and plus. The reasons behind acute low back pain may differ from one individual to another. It may occur spontaneously or because of trauma event. In an online publication put forward by Baylor College of Medicine, acute low back problems are defined as the situation when activities and daily lifestyle routine limits due to lower back problem or the symptoms less than of 4 weeks. Mr. A was also facing difficulties in carrying out daily activities in a normal way. However, it is a fact that acute low back pain is diagnosable. About 90% of patients of acute low back problems recover within 1 month. Furthermore, Low back pain can be divided into different categories. For example, none radiating, radiating, loss of motor functions, spinal fractures and infections. Mr. A was losing motor functions and developed internal infections because of acute low back pain issue. Peter A. Rives, MD., Alan B. Douglass, MD. 2004 divided low back pain into acute and chronic conditions. Mr. A was passing through acute low back pain issue. The website of European Guidelines for the Management of Acute Nonspecific Low Back Pain in Primary Care defines acute low back pain as duration of pain less than 6 weeks. While low back pain is defined as a pain or discomfort below the costal portion, with or

In which ways has globalization affected China Essay

In which ways has globalization affected China - Essay Example Scholars believe that it is necessary for these changes to be absorbed but with so much caution. Of late, globalization has become a global issue that involves the transformation of the society in several dimensions. China has undergone massive transformation politically, economically and technically. Political globalization involves the use of common political systems and same political principles in governing1. These factors affect the whole globe and have affected migration, flow of capital, foreign investments, and spread of technological advances. From the understanding that globalization has its roots in China, this paper gives a detailed analysis on the positive impact it has had to the country. Effects of globalization Globalization is a necessary factor in every economy. Technological globalization in china has led to expanded market for its national products. The creation of markets all over the globe earns the country foreign exchange and this helps in developing a country ’s welfare. Technological globalization has effected easy, fast and reliable means of communication to individuals allover the globe. Information can reach many individuals in less time and can cover large geographical areas2. It is due to technological globalization that china has been able to invest in manufacturing industry. This has acted as a major factor in contributing growth in the Japan economy. Exportation of manufactured goods like machineries and vehicles generates much capital to an economy compared to exportation of primary good such as food materials and fabrics. Cultural globalization in china has enhanced the spread of different cultures allover the world, and this has bought solidarity despite different skin colour, races, and languages. The togetherness helps reduce on cases of wars and therefore, people can be able to join efforts for development of the whole globe. Globalization has dissolved national geographical boundaries and enhanced communication ser vices for people despite the distance barriers. China has offered jobs to many people allover the world, and this has ensured that there is peaceful co-existence and decline in dependency level. Poverty can contribute to conflicts, and jobs in china give people the ability to cater for their primary needs. It has therefore helped China deal with its greatest challenge on unemployment that has significantly spurred growth of the economy. Globalization has led to improvement in the output of other sectors within the economy. It has improved agricultural production through adaptation of new farming methods. These new methods are more effective and reliable as compared to the traditional methods. China has also improved the quality of their products by use of hybrid varieties that can withstand many environmental challenges like drought. This has made it possible to deal with hunger calamities and therefore, curbing the number of deaths due to hunger3. A healthy nation is also able to p roduce more and labour becomes easy to acquire. For any society to develop, the citizens collaborate with the government for back up in financing and security issues. Increase in agricultural output has led to exportation of the excess quantities to other states in the globe hence giving china a share in the world trade. National income is likely to rise after exporting its products due to the use of new farming methods that come along with globalization. The new seeds and the new farming techniques spread globally to ensure that the food crisis can be dealt with. This reduces the world’s mortality4. Development of new towns in china is as an effect of globalization. These towns develop to serve as a base for new industries, increased commercial activities and to

The Libor Scandal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Libor Scandal - Essay Example The agent then gets rid of the lowest and highest 25 percent of those submissions and the rest are averaged to determine how much the Libor will be. Libor can be said to be very critical as a global benchmark for the short-term interest rates as it is calculated for different maturities and different currencies (Hall 2013). Libor has an effect on global borrowing since here are so many banks worldwide that use it as a base rate to set interest rates towards their customers and the corporate loans. There are hundreds of dollars in trillions in form of loans and securities that have a link to labor. The securities and loans are inclusive of home loans and auto loans. If labor rises then the rates and payments made on loans also increase and when labor falls, they fall. In addition, labor is used for a range of retail products like mortgages and loans given in collages. Labor is also used as the means of settling interest rates contracts in the major world exchanges (Varriale 2012). There is a potentiality that traders manipulated Libor. Financial institutions including Barclays have been under investigations for being suspected of manipulating labor rate. The financial institutions being suspected are inclusive of those in the UK, United States, Japan, and Canada. The first time that Barclays was suspected for manipulating Libor was in 2005. The aim of manipulation of labor was to ensure that the traders of the bank make high profits that are boosted by the base rate, which is the labor rate. During that time, the traders were able to ask the Barclays employees to give figures that in turn would benefit traders and not the rates that bank would pay in order to borrow money. However, there were traders who were able to coordinate with other banks to change the rate too. In this period, Libor maneuvered downward and upward based on the position

Diversification Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Diversification Strategy - Essay Example This research tells that in order to survive in today’s market and especially when SMEs experience high competition from the rival companies or a decline in their profit levels, a diversification strategy will be of great importance to the continuity of the SMEs. Emerging economy firms tend to expand culturally, geographically and economically. As such, diversification may enable these firms to gain various benefits. Diversification entails three dimensions: the product, the market, and the technology of the firm. Another definition by Chandler is that diversification refers to the simultaneous departure from the present product line and the present market structure. Also, Ansoff defined diversification as entailing product, market, and change in the role of the management of the firm. During this process, a firm has to acquire new competencies, skills, and techniques both for the new market and the also for the new product. He further emphasizes that the firm has to engage in changing the role of management of the firm. Further, Grandstand defined technology diversification as a move in which the firm improves the performances or the number of functionalities of existing products through the use of new technology. Therefore, diversification can also be defined as the process by which a firm enters into a new market, without essentially leaving its obtainable products, such that it produces a new product or products. This strategy needs a change in the organization; it should also develop new technologies within the firm. In addition, Rumelt implied that there is global diversification which is defined as a strategy of locating production activities in foreign jurisdiction that are relatively diverse in terms of legal structures, national cultures, ways of doing business, planning and implementation of international manufacturing, which is a process that deals with issues that arise when SMEs firms in emerging economy locate production facilities in a pa rticular site.

Financial and Managerial Accounting Personal Statement

Financial and Managerial Accounting - Personal Statement Example I have been working with an audit firm for the last three years and through this experience I did gain good amount of knowledge in the fields of financial accounting, auditing and taxation. But lately I have realized the importance of management and decision making in comparison to analyzing the outcomes of decision already made. Moreover, my educational qualification and work experience has given me a strong foundation in public accounting, but now I find the necessity to broaden my horizon so that when required, I would be able to view a situation from various angles rather than having just an auditor's view. Also, in order to improve my career, I would have to be in a position wherein I would have the responsibility as well as the capability to make crucial decisions. As I went through the IMA website, I realized that the curriculum in the CMA program could prepare me well for this challenge. I have always been a person who likes to work on one's own terms. Though I am part of a finance team of a medium scale company right now, I intend to establish my own business in the near future. As of now, I am working on improving my skill and knowledge and looking for ways to increase the resources available in order to achieve my goals.

Judaism, Christianity, Islam Essay Example for Free

Judaism, Christianity, Islam Essay The three oldest religions are Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Judaism is a one of the oldest religions known to people. Judaism is a monotheistic religion, which means that Jewish people pray to only one g-d. There weren’t too many religions like this when it originated which made Judaism very unique at the time. Moses was one of the most famous Jewish prophets. He led the Jewish people out of slavery, led them to Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments, a set of rules that people even today still follow. The Jews have many customs and traditions. Among them are circumcision, bar or bat mitzvah, special rituals and prayers to be said during a wedding and during death and mourning. Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin of the penis. The rite of circumcision is one of the most ancient practices of Judaism. Circumcision is done because of a Commandment by God to Abraham as it is written in the Torah and as a sign of commitment of Jewish people. The Torah is Judaism’s most important text. It contains the Five Books of Moses and is the source of the Ten Commandments. Bar or Bat mitzvah’ is when a child reaches the age of maturity, 13 for boys, and 12 for girls, and is ready to become an adult their community. At that age, a child becomes responsible for his actions and is obligated to observe the commandments. This ceremony is incorporated into an ordinary Sabbath service. During a Jewish wedding, the bride and groom get married under a special cloth called a â€Å"chuppah† or special canopy. Another tradition that is followed during a Jewish wedding is the breaking of a small glass at the end of the ceremony. This is to symbolize that even though this is a happy event, people should still remember the hardships that were faced before the Jewish people got to that place in time. During death and mourning, a Jewish family will sit â€Å"shiva† which is sitting in mourning for seven days after the death of a loved one. Some other customs are wearing a kippah on the head in a synagogue or wearing a tallit, a prayer shawl, while praying. Christianity is one of the world’s major monotheistic religions. Christianity takes the beliefs and practices very seriously. The central figure in Christianity is Jesus Christ. As the Son of God, he came to earth to teach about love and fellowship. He represents the person that all Christians must strive to be. Christians believe that he is the only one that ever lived on earth that can be called perfect from all worldly sins. The important thing to understand was that Jesus was God. He was here on earth to teach of God’s plan for all of humanity and to save the people of the world from their transgressions. In Christianity, God is almighty and rules over all of heaven and earth. He is the one that created the earth and one day will cast judgment over the entire earth. Christians understand that through Jesus Christ, people can be saved from this judgment. By believing that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, the Spirit of God is exists in all believers, and that God is almighty in power. A person can be saved from this judgment. Christians believe in heaven and hell. Heaven is the place where believers would enjoy the presence of God and other believers and freedom from suffering and sin. Hell is where unbelievers and sinners are punished for their sins committed during the course of their lives. Baptism is one of the most important sacraments in Christianity. It involves application of or immersion in water, a blessing, and the pronouncement, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Most Christian churches baptize both infants and adults, but some believe that baptism is only rightly performed on adults. Views of baptism vary, but common views of the rituals include: it grants or symbolizes salvation, commemorates Christs death and resurrection, fulfills the command of Jesus to baptize, cleanses away sins, confers grace, and publicly expresses ones faith. Christianity also teaches about the importance of attending Holy Mass. It’s important for Christians to keep their Sabbath according to the commandments. It is observed on the seventh day which usually falls on a Sunday or Saturday and is considered a weekly day of rest from work. The day is spent fasting and praying and attending Holy Mass. At Mass, followers are taught about the teachings in the bible through scripture readings. The celebration of Mass would conclude with the sharing of communion. Communion represents the Passover that Jesus celebrated with his twelve disciples on the eve of His death. It is an integral part of Christian worship. It causes Christians to remember the Lord’s death and resurrection and to look for His glorious return in the future. Holidays, feasts and fasts are a significant part of Christian religious practice. The feast days celebrate joyous and sorrowful historical events such as the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, while the fast days provide a special opportunity to focus on self-reflection, self-discipline and repentance. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and it runs for forty days. During the forty days Christians fast and pray which represents the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and praying. Lent is followed by Easter which represents the return of Jesus from the wilderness. Easter starts from Palm Sunday. His death and resurrection is observed during Easter. Special Services are kept in the church during this week and ends with Easter Sunday, the day that Jesus rose from the dead. Islam is a simple and practical religion. It has established, clear, and easily understandable beliefs and laws that any follower or student of the religion can easily understand. Islam affirms belief in a decent, civilized society. Islam also does not demand impossible goodness of its followers, but it recognizes that all human beings make mistakes and sin. No one is exempt. Islam preaches peace, mercy, justice, tolerance, equality, love, truth, forgiveness, patience, morality, sincerity and righteousness. Islam is the religion that preaches the Oneness of God, the Oneness of mankind and the Oneness of the Message. Muslims believe that there is only one supreme God, Allah. In Islam to believe in Allah is not only to believe in Allahs existence but also to believe in all Allahs attributions, to worship Allah alone, and to obey all Allahs commands. Islam teaches about the five pillars: Shahada, Salah, Seyam, Zakat and Hajj. Shahada is the verbal commitment and pledge that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. It is the duty of every Muslim, male and female, after reaching the age of puberty, to perform five Salats or prayers at specific times during the day and night. These five specific times are: Dawn, Noon, Afternoon, Sunset, and Night. A ritual called Wudu, which is the cleaning several parts of the body with water, is a prerequisite to Salat. Fasting during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar, is from sun up to sun down only and is an obligation on every healthy adult Muslim, male or female. Fasting is total abstinence from eating, drinking, smoking, gum chewing, intimate relations, and taking anything into the body. If a person is ill and needs to take medication, he/she cannot fast. Fasting is also a time to discipline ones self from bad behaviors, such as; arguing and saying mean things. Those who are ill or unable to fast for health or reasons of age are exempt from fasting. However, they should feel the poor one meal for every day they miss of fasting. Women who are pregnant, menstruating, or nursing, or any who are traveling, are also exempt from fasting. However, when their situation changes, they make up the days of fasting or feed the poor one meal for each day of fasting they missed. Zakat is an annual obligatory charity on every Muslim, male or female, who possesses over the last year money or property that exceeds their minimum needs. The requirement is 2. 5% of ones excess wealth. The performance of the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim, if financially able, as well as physically able. Hajj begins every year during the month of Dul Hejja. Dul Hejja is the 12th month of the Islamic calendar year. The Hajj is a spiritual journey where a Muslim forgets all worldly things and devotes his/her attention and time to Allah alone. Islam looks at the woman as an equal, mature and capable partner of a man, without whom a family cannot exist and teaches that men and women are all the creation of Allah, existing on a level of equal worth and value. In some societies women are treated according to ancestral customs and tribal tradition, but in Islam they are treated with full respect and honor. Islam preserves womens honor and dignity, and requires that she must be treated with respect and honor. Her femininity should not be exploited in any way, rather she is to be regarded and treated as human individual whose sexuality does not enter into her relationship with any person other than her husband. In Islam marriage cannot take place unless the female freely agrees to it and a dowry is given to her. Islam puts priorities for the husbands and wives. The responsibility for providing for the family is on the husband, while the responsibility to care for the house and raising the children is on the wife. These are the main priorities, but cooperation between the husband and the wife is required and highly recommended.

Geographical Scales in Human Geography

Geographical Scales in Human Geography Identifying and analyzing varying geographical scales is paramount to the study of human geography. At the heart of the matter lies the assumption that human processes do not occur in isolation from one another but in fact directly impact on the whole. Therefore, issues and events that occur on one scale, for example at the rural level, impact and are impacted upon by events taking place at the urban, national and even global levels. It is essential therefore that the entire process be viewed as one unified developmental progression and not as single phenomena with independent repercussions. Such is the ultimate concern of this work. What follows below is analyses how of different scales of geographical study impact upon one another and therefore shape the manner in which we conceptualize human processes as a whole. The scales in question will be confined to four areas of geographical analysis: rural; social; political and consumption. It is by using such defined criteria that we abl e to better comprehend how human society functions. This above all is the primary benefit in employing such analytical techniques because in doing so we are able to encapsulate the whole; as apposed to merely assessing individual factors without understanding their wider context and implications. Let us begin by looking at rural aspects in Britain. In terms of numbers, the rural population accounts for far less than their urban counterparts. The general movement of people from the countryside to the towns that was indicative of the period following the industrial revolution continued well into the latter twentieth century, and although in recent years there have been suggestions that it is reversing; urban dwellers still make up the vast bulk of the national population. Given this, it would be natural to assume that rural Britain would be of lesser interest to the study of human geography. Indeed, there was a time when urban studies enjoyed a relative preponderance in this regard, however in recent years the countryside has again returned as an exiting point of analysis. This is mainly due to the fact that rural areas have become the focus of broader geographical study and cultural developments. Cloke offers us three reasons to explain this progression. Firstly, the study of countryside landscapes provides us with a demonstration of power relations in addition to being â€Å"subjects of desire† and conservation.[1] Secondly, the countryside is perfect for the study of how nature and space interact. Also, the manner in which human and non human forces exist and co exist can be examined in rural settings. Finally, the countryside can conceal the presence of â€Å"hidden others†. As Cloke explains; â€Å"issues of gender, sexuality, poverty and alternative lifestyles are important in this context†.[2] Furthermore, rural matters and concerns impact upon other geographical scales. A pertinent example of this was seen during the Countryside Alliance Liberty and Livelihood March in London when 400,000 protesters descended on the capital to voice their frustration at the â€Å"encroachment of urban bureaucracy† into their lives.[3] The march was primarily concerned with government plans to ban fox hunting, however its wider connotations show the extent to which scales of analysis directly impact upon one another and as such, broaden our understanding. The arena of politics, due to its very nature never acts in isolation. Political processes affect every form of human organization and therefore they are vital to our present discussion. There is little need to spend time assessing the impact of traditional politics; as this is largely obvious. Therefore, I will look at the issue of nationalism as a reference point for assessing one political impact in detail. Nationalism is essentially the feeling of association and identification that a particular group of people feel to a particular nation. However, what is a nation? If we look at it one way we can say that a nation or country is nothing more than a geographical portion of land that a collection of people have taken a liking to. Now it is at this point that the issue of nationalism becomes pertinent to the human geographer. As Pyrs Gruffudd has asserted, it is territorial ideology that drives nationalism and therefore, this â€Å"leads on to a whole raft of cultural relationships through which a people make a land their land.[4] Nation building is a process that usually takes centuries to complete however it is nonetheless always formed on a geographical identify. Nationalists of course conclude that they have a whole plethora of things in common that make them distinct from other nationalities. However, it is their geography that sets them apart more than anything else. Furthermore, h istorical undertones are invariably used to bolster nationalist sentiment; Adolf Hitler and Winston Churchill are classic examples. However, it is geographical underpinnings that form the foundation of this historical conception. A nation’s history is inextricably linked to its geographical space, which remains constant throughout the ages and therefore forms the basis upon which everything else ultimately rests.[5] Social geographers play a vital role in our process of conceptualizing human behavior. Above all, human behavior and the societal forces that dictate it form a large part of our identity and therefore go a long way to explaining human outcomes and events. It has been the case for many years now that the study of social geography has overlapped with; some argue even supplanted traditional sociology. Little time will be invested on such discussions here, but many social aspects of geographical study are strikingly similar to the issues pertinent to the sociologist. Social geography focuses its attention primarily on â€Å"social relations, groups and inequalities†.[6] The link with traditional geography is made by assessing social events and developments with reference to geographical phenomena. For example, one may examine how the social forces of a particular area have impacted upon its geographical nature. Also, the social geographer is concerned with examining how social constructs operate through geographical contours. Social geography does not offer the kind of in-depth societal analysis that we would find emanating from the sociologist or the anthropologist. However, this branch of geographical discipline is pivotal because instead offering detailed explanations of current social forces it suggests how these forces initially came about. As a paradoxical consequence of this it is then possible to trace social development and evolution, and account for modern phenomena and characteristics. As with all geographical disciplines, socia l geography is reliant on space for its analysis, however, it is also the study of place that determines much of the understanding here. The environment in which we live often dictates the outlook we will adopt and also has huge ramifications on our life options and choices. Furthermore, in addition to the impact on the individual there are also consequences for social formation and progression in general. Geography can have an enormous impact on local communities, particularly with the manner in which they develop cohesion and communal outlook. Who we are is therefore determined in many ways by where we are. Thus, the connotations that social geography has for other geographical areas and wider academic disciplines is considerable. In fact, as social foundations form the basis on which human existence essentially rests, we can conclude that the study of social geography, with its emphasis on the social implications of geographical factors is of paramount importance. The final area to which I will offer explanation is geographical consumption. At first sight consumption may appear a boring and relatively unimportant topic of discussion. However, this is most certainly not the case as issues pertaining to consumption have many times impacted on a massive scale. For example, it is not uncommon to find references to consumption and desire in analyses focused on the Cold War. In fact, some commentators have suggested that increased desire to consume on the part of many in the Eastern block played a considerable role in communisms demise. Consumption is therefore one of the ways that human geography crosses the boundaries of academia by infiltrating not only (in the above example) politics; but also economics. Nonetheless, the concentration on consumption is a relatively new addition to geographical study as previously; it was left to other academic areas to assess the impact of this most pertinent of issues. However, it is largely due to the importance of consumption in our every day lives that the subject has become a valid object of analysis for the human geographer. Furthermore, the extent to which consumption has impacted upon geography is also considerable and again has increased in recent years. A useful example that can amplify this development is to be found in the countryside. Traditionally, rural areas were considered to be bastions of production and not consumption. In the years before industrialization and large scale shipping altered food production and dispersal beyond all recognition, the countryside was a vital part of every nation’s survival. However, with the onset of global markets and multiple exports, the British countryside no longer acts as the nation’ s primary larder. As such, it is consumption that has filled the economic gap. The same of course can be said of Britain’s urban areas; once the home of the world most powerful productive machine. Since the onset of manufacturing demise in the mid to late twentieth century the factory and the mill have been replaced with the shopping centre and retail park. In addition, consumption contains a social facet. The cloths we wear and the car we drive all play a part in fostering our identity and as such, our social being. Therefore, the study of consumption provides the geographer with valued insight into human processes and also links together with other aspects of human study. In conclusion, it is clear how the above issues not only direct the study of human processes and events; but also impact upon one another. In doing so they form a whole that when conceptualized as such; can offer us a detailed and wide ranging assessment of how human beings order and organize their lives. Bibliography Cloke, Paul et al (Ed). Introducing Human Geographies. London: Arnold, 1999, Daniels, Peter. Human Geograhpy: Issues in the Twentieth Century. London: Pearson, 2001. Duncun, John and Agnew, John. The Power of Place: Bringing together geograhical and sociological imaginations. London: Unwin Hyman, 1989. Footnotes [1] P. Cloke, The country, in Cloke et al (Ed), Introducing Human Geographies, London: Arnold, 1999, 257. [2] Ibid. [3] Ibid, 256. [4] P. Gruffudd, Nationalism, in Cloke et al (Ed), Introducing Human Geographies, London: Arnold, 1999, 201. [5] Ibid. [6] P. Cloke et al, Introducing Human Geographies, London: Arnold, 1999, 207.