David Cole Interviews Dr. Franciscek Piper Term Paper

David Cole Interviews Dr. Franciscek Piper - Term Paper Example According to Cole’s interview with Alicia, the tour guide, the gas chamber was in its original state. However, Dr. Piper contradicts this claim by stating that there were reconstructions made in the original gas chamber, which was later converted to air raid shelters. Another confusing information presented by Cole was about the use of Zyklon B. According to Dr. Piper, the traces of Zyklon B differed from those in the gas chamber and the disinfection chamber due to the difference in the number of hours both chambers were being used. At the end of the interview, Cole still did not come up with a conclusive view of the reality of the gas chamber in Auschwitz. The interview just leaves his audience with more questions. One was not enlightened on what is real and what is not. The history that we know is also based mostly on eyewitness accounts without much written documentation. One thinks that Cole failed in giving the documentation needed to debunk the Holocaust. A visit at the Auschwitz camp and interview with is Director was simply not enough to persuade the audience about Cole’s belief that everything was a

Macroeconomic Convergence, Development And Growth Essay

Macroeconomic Convergence, Development And Growth - Essay Example The convergence process is dependent on a large number of factors such as the population growth, speed of capital formation and the presence of efficient economic policies as well as appropriate financial institutions. Along with this the accumulation of human and physical capital are important as it significantly influences the savings and rate of investment (Halmai & Vasary, 2009, p.3). Technological spread, change in growth rate and total productivity of the factors are the major players in enhancing the rate of convergence (Halmai & Vasary, 2009, p.3). As per professor Jeffrey Sachs, countries following closed economic polies have not been successful in converging. The countries following closed economic policies had a growth rate of 2% whereas the countries following open economic policies have a growth rate of 4.5 %. As sited by many economists, endogenous rather than the exogenous factors triggers the growth of an economy (Alfaro et al, 2005). The Asian tigers such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea have been successful in converging with the developed countries. An economy is said to have achieved economic growth, if it is able to produce more goods and services than what it used to produce initially. Economic growth is often related with technological progress. If an economy has achieved growth than the standard of living of its citizens also improves. In US, the economic growth occurred with the introduction of high technology in the country. Financial development also follows from the economic growth. This is due to the fact that if an economy is financially sound then its economy is also developed. Association between Economic Growth and Macroeconomic Convergence Economic growth takes place in a country whenever the resources are utilised more efficiently (Romer, 2007). As per the neoclassical growth theories, a country converges to its steady state rate, if there exists diminishing returns from investing in the physical capitals. Poore r economies have a greater tendency to converge owning to its high marginal productivity. This process of convergence which eventually leads in the equalisation of the per capita incomes amongst the countries is called absolute convergence. If for a country the convergence takes place both in terms of growth rate as well as income levels than the process becomes beta convergence. According to the idea of club convergence, if countries have similar initial conditions then they have a tendency to converge. This concept is regarded as sigma convergence. It is also emphasised that if the countries vary in their initial conditions then they will not converge, this could however be overcome if the economic policies could eliminate the variations. Solow growth model emphasise that such variations in a country’s economic policy cannot lead to long run economic growth (Romer, P, 2007). As the scatter plot alongside shows, the association between average annual growth rate and real GDP per capita need not be associated similarly for all nations, even though they are featured by similar initial characteristics. A country’s economic growth is measured by its level of technological progress. According to the endogenous growth theory, creation of enlarged market in an economy leads to a better utilisation of economies of scale. This on the other hand has a positive impact on a

Friday Night Lights: Movie vs Book

Friday Night Lights: Movie vs Book High School Football. Those lights become an addiction if you live in a place like Odessa, the Friday Night fix. (Bissinger,14) Racism, controversy, and pride. Permian High School in the west Texas oil town of Odessa, Texas. Small town, deep South, USA. Author H. G. Buzz Bissingers brilliant study of the 1988 football team set in this beautiful Texas town grew into a socially motivated novel entitled Friday Night Lights. While researching small town Texas football for his novel Friday Night Lights, H. G. Bissinger took a leave from the Philadelphia Inquirer and moved his family to Odessa. His motivation was to experience firsthand the Permian Panthers and become a part of their environment. He is at heart a journalist and comes to Odessa to report on a town and a team and their failures and successes. In the end, unlike a novelist, he must report the truth as he sees it unfold before him. What he reports is not pretty- The American version of the Berlin Wall (Bissinger, 89) but at the same time, it is moving when he shows us what the future holds for many of these players after their high school football careers are over. His viewpoint shown in the novel gave the world an Eastern perspective on a deep Southern tradition -Life really wouldnt be worth livin if you didnt have a high school football team to support. (Bissinger, 20), and though this did not settle well with many of the readers from the So uth, his novel grew to become the focus of a movie some label as the best sports movie ever made. Bissinger serves as the narrator who expresses his first-hand experiences with the Permian Panthers during the 1988 football season. As an outsider new to the town and legacy of Permian football, Bissingers goal is mainly to understand the events and the emotions brought about by a painful season. Bissingers careful attention to even the organizational structure of the book shows his attention to detail and his dedication to his mission. The author begins with a preface explaining his motivation for moving to Odessa, Texas and follows with a Prologue placing the reader at the conclusion of a complicated season that ended with a devastating loss to Permians arch rival, Midland Lee. The story then uses flashback, a literary technique which takes the reader back in time and shows material that happened prior to the present event, providing the reader with insight into a characters motivation. Bissinger divided his story into four sections: Pre-Season, The Season, Push for the Playoffs, and Post Season. This highlights the fact that the young men of Odessa and their lives are shaped by football. The reader can even see a metaphorical comparison between the division of the book and the divisions of the lives of the characters in the book. The Pre-Season section, relatively small, seems to assume that life outside of football gets very little respect and perhaps plays only a small role in the development of the player. The majority of the chapters are in the section The Season, which compares to the teenage years of the football players and the shaping of their lives by their performance in the season. Bissinger ends the story predictably with the devastating loss to Carter High School; a team that the Permian players believe does not deserve to win. The chapter titles used by Bissinger exemplify the focus on racial tension, and further give the reader a true sense of the ongoing conflict. The Table of Contents is covered with conflicting statements such as, Black and White, East Versus West, Civil War and Heads or Tails. Bissinger uses the chapter titles to underline the difficulties and the hardships brought about by the ever-present hatred of racism. Bissinger names two of the chapters after student-athletes, and ironically, both are black. Both Boobie Miles and Ivory Christian are as well respected as their white counterparts on the football field. Attitudes change, however, when the players walk off the field. Boobie Miles is one of the main characters, and gets the most attention throughout the book. Football is all Boobie has in his life. He lacks the academic skills he needs to get a college education without the sport- While other students casually worked to complete the worksheet, Boobie ate some candy and left blank the entire second page (Bissenger, 136). His whole life totally changes when he twists his knee playing football. One small move signals the end of his dream and ultimately, his future. This event can be a metaphor for life. It shows the reader that individuals are not in control of their destiny. In contrast, Ivory is ruled by his nonchalant attitude toward football. Ivory loves the sport, but hates the pressure that comes along with it. Deeply religious, he considers being a preacher until he is contacted by a recruiter. After graduation, Ivory is the only player awarded a football scholarship. This character seems to reinforce the idea that, no matter how hard they try, the blacks of this community are unable to escape their designated role as football star- nothing more. Only by moving from the community and maturing is Ivory able to separate himself from the expectations of others and move forward to make the life he desires. It took almost fourteen years for the printed version to make it to Hollywood. Written and directed by Peter Berg, the screenplay was finally made into a movie. The movie tackles many of most controversial subjects- racism, failure, and hypocrisy. It seems that at every ugly truth, however, the movie backs away, and shifts the focus to an event that is easier to watch. Many strategies were used to make the books switch to a movie realistic. The first and most apparent attempt at truth was the costuming. The uniforms worn by the football team are setting appropriate, and clearly not as hi-tech as the uniforms of today. Some of the film was actually filmed in Odessa, which adds to the authenticity of the movie. The close-up action shots of players hitting one another during the game capture the determination of the players as described in the novel. In the intensity, in the pressure, in the way these kids are, it really captures the great phenomenon of Friday Night Lights. The very special, wonderful phenomenon of American football. (Bissinger) As can be expected, there are differences between the movie and novel. The language is filtered. Key words- such as racial slurs- disappear in an attempt to tone down the offensive racial tension. Key events are changed around quite a bit. In the book and based on actual events, Boobies injury in the scrimmage game led to him quitting the team, much to the disdain of the coaches. In the movie, Boobie on crutches meets the team bus to ride with his teammates to the state finals- a state-finals that really never occurred because of the big loss in the semi-finals. By portraying the characters and their actions differently, and making a hero of an undeserving player, the movie implies a unity that truly didnt exist simply for dramatic effect It is true that facts can be changed as long as the filmmakers carefully preserve those that are critical to the story. Invented moments are created in order to attract viewers. It is the distortion of attitude that becomes an issue. The book was very socially-oriented, and focused primarily on racial issues and displaced educational priorities. While the film touches on these issues, it is not the focal point of the movie. Perhaps the greatest request for the film maker is to make the movie what it pretends to be-authentic, genuine and true. His stretch from the truth loses the heart of the book. While the reader can accept modification and even dilution in some areas, the focal point cannot be minimized. In the book, Bissinger was after the truth. In the movie, Berg was focused on entertainment. Great talent and dedication to truth are required to combine authenticity with entertainment. Friday Night Lights is a feel-good movie- completely enjoyable and fun to watch- but its not re al. What are solar cells in physics? What are solar cells in physics? What are Solar Cells? Solar cells are devices that work on the principle of Photovoltaic Effect. These tiny compact devices convert solar light energy directly into electricity. In Greek, Photo-means light whereas voltaic means electrical current or electricity (light-electricity). Since, a solar cell gives out direct current (DC) electricity; it could be used for various purposes such as to power DC motors and to light bulbs. They also can be used to charge rechargeable batteries which could store electricity and could be used later in the absence of sun. Once the batteries are completely charged they could be used anywhere at any time especially in places where electricity isnt reachable or in case of emergency backup. How does it Work? Solar cells or Photovoltaic cells are made up of special materials called semi-conductors such as silicon, which are most commonly used. When light falls on the cell, a certain amount of the light is absorbed within the semi-conductor material. The energy absorbed from the light is transferred to the semiconductor which helps knocks electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely. PV cells have one or more electric field that force electrons freed by light absorption to flow in a certain direction and this flow of electrons is called current. Metal contacts are placed on the top and bottom of the PV cell, which draw current off for external use, for example to power a watch or a calculator. This current, along with the cells voltage gives power (wattage) that the solar cell can produce. As we see from the diagram there are three important layers for energy conversion in the solar cell.The first one is the top junction layer (made of N-type semi-conductors).The second layer is the core of the device which is the absorber layer (P-N junction).The last of the conversion layers is a black junction layer (made of P-type semi-conductor). As we can also see from the diagram, that there are two additional layer in the solar cell. These are the electrical contact layers. These two layers allow electric current to flow out of and into the cell. On the top of the cell, from where light enters the electrical contact layer is present in a grid pattern is usually made of a very good conductor such as a metal. The grid pattern are mostly widely spaced so as to allow light to enter the solar cell, but just enough so that the electrical contact layer wont have difficult collecting current produced by the cell. To sum up a typical solar cell which is multi-layered would consist: Cover Glass- provides outer protection ( made from clear glass layer) Anti-reflective Coating- prevents the entered light from escaping and bouncing off so that max. energy is absorbed. Front Contact- transmits electric current. N-Type Semiconductor Layer- thin layer of silicon which has been doped with phosphorous. P-Type Semiconductor Layer- thin layer of silicon which has been doped with boron. Back Contact- transmits electric current. Characteristics of a Solar Cell Usable voltage from solar cells depends on the type of semi-conductor material like in Silicon it approximates only up to 0.5 V. The terminal voltage is somewhat dependent on light, while current intensity increases with higher luminosity. For example, a 100 cm ² Silicon cell can reach up to a max. current intensity of 2 A approx. radiated by 1000 W/m ². The output of a solar cell depends on the temperature. Higher the cell temperature, lower the output which implies to lower efficiency. The level of efficiency tells us how much amount of radiated light is converted into useable electrical energy. Types of Solar Cells Monocrystalline Silicon- made up of single layer of silicon for the semi-conductor. Extremely pure and most expensive type of solar cell to produce. Polycrystalline Silicon- made by pouring liquid silicon into blocks which are later on sawed into plates. This sometimes degrades the silicon crystals making them less efficient. But, this type approach is easier and cheap to manufacture. Amorphous Thin Film Silicon- made up of layers of semi-conductors that are only a few micrometers thick.This makes it lower the material cost but also makes it less efficient than other types of silicon. Since, its so thin it is used in wide variety of flexible material like solar shingles or roof tiles All of them follow the same principle, but some are more efficient than the other while some are cheaper. Uses Application Scientific research Aerospace Industry: Civilian aircraft, satellites experimental rovers telescopes Home Appliances- Water heaters air conditioners, water distillers Solar cells are also being used for electricity storage and emergency backup, especially in far off remote places or rural areas in some parts of the world and also where its difficult for electricity to reach like in space.

Bless Me Ultima: The Growing Up Of A Young Boy Essay -- Bless Ultima E

Bless me Ultima: The Growing up of a Young Boy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the book Bless me Ultima, Tony, the young main character in the story, lost his innocence when exposed to the harsh world since he learned what life is really like. Ultima is a good witch who tries to guide Tony by teaching him morals and lessons. Narsico is percieved as the town drunk, but is a good person. Tenorio is the demon in this story, as he wants to destroy Ultima. This book is about Tony's experience in adjusting to the rough world at a relatively young age.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Narsico's death with Tenorio's desire to kill Tony made him realize his limitations and acknowledge the reality. Before these incidents, Tony imagined he could control incidents that happened in real life. He thought he could effect events in life in a posotive way. After these events and experiences with people, Tony realizes that good people get bad things. When Tony was playing a game with his peers in which he was the priest, he forgave his freind, Florence, for his sins, even though he stood up to all his peers to do so. When Tony ran 10 miles home to warn Ultima, a kind whitch about Tenorio, whose desire is to destroy her spirit, he realized he or Ultima could both be exterminated. During the run, Tony thought of the future, which he hardly thought of before this event. Almost every child Tony's age was preoccupied with activities, such as playing and horsing around, and certainly not thinking what the future could...

Essay Written Com

Cigarette Smoking and Its Health Risks. Why do I need to know about the health risks of cigarette smoking? Cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of illness and death. Cigarettes are filled with nicotine, which acts like a poison in your body. What are the health risks of cigarette smoking? You may have breathing problems that make it difficult for you to do daily activities or play sports. You have a higher risk of bone fractures because smoking can cause osteoporosis (brittle bones). If you fall asleep with a lit cigarette, you can start a fire.Cigarette smoking can also cause the following health problems: Cancer: Smoking increases your risk of many kinds of cancer. The most common cancers are lung, lip, mouth, or throat cancer. Heart and blood vessel disease: The nicotine in tobacco causes an increase in your heart rate and blood pressure. Nicotine also causes your blood vessels to narrow. This can lead to blood clots in your heart or brain and caused a heart attack or s troke. Cigarette smoke has carbon monoxide in it. This can decrease the amount of oxygen flowing to your heart and other organs.Lung disease: The chemicals in cigarette smoke can damage your lungs. This causes a buildup of dirt and waste products in your lungs. Many people who smoke have a long-term cough as a result. Cigarette smoking may also cause long-term lung infections or diseases, such as asthma, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis. You are also at higher risk for respiratory illnesses, such as colds or pneumonia. Gastrointestinal disease: Cigarette smoking increases the amount of acid in your stomach. This can cause an ulcer or gastric reflux.Women and smoking: You have a higher risk of heart and blood vessel disease if you smoke and take birth control pills. The risk is more serious is you are 35 years or older. You may have a harder time getting pregnant if you smoke. If you are pregnant and smoke, you have a higher risk of miscarriage or having a stillborn baby. Babies born to mothers who smoke often weigh less and are at higher risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Why should I quit smoking? Your health will improve and your risks for many diseases will decrease. Your breath, clothes, and hair will no longer smell like smoke.Tobacco will no longer stain your teeth. Tobacco smoke is dangerous to others. If you quit, you will decrease the risks to those around you, such as your children or family members. Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking Health Effects Fact Sheets Overview Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body. Smoking causes many diseases and reduces the health of smokers in general. Smoking and Death Smoking causes death. †¢ The adverse health effects from cigarette smoking account for an estimated 443,000 deaths, or nearly one of every five deaths, each year in the United States. ,3 †¢ More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined. 2,4 †¢ Smoking causes an estimated 90% of all lung cancer deaths in men and 80% of all lung cancer deaths in women. 1 †¢ An estimated 90% of all deaths from chronic obstructive lung disease are caused by smoking. 1 Smoking and Increased Health Risks Compared with nonsmokers, smoking is estimated to increase the risk of †¢ coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times, †¢ stroke by 2 to 4 times, men developing lung cancer by 23 times, †¢ Women developing lung cancer by 13 times, and dying from chronic obstructive lung diseases (such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema) by 12 to 13 times. Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease †¢ Smoking causes coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. 1 †¢ Cigarette smoking causes reduced circulation by narrowing the blood vessels (arteries) and puts smokers at risk of developing peripheral vascular disease (i. e. , obstruction of the large arteries in the arms and legs that can cause a range of problems from pain to tissue loss or gangrene). Smoking causes abdominal aortic aneurysm (i. e. , a swelling or weakening of the main artery of the body—the aorta—where it runs through the abdomen). 1 Smoking and Respiratory Disease †¢ Smoking causes lung cancer. †¢ Smoking causes lung diseases (e. g. , emphysema, bronchitis, chronic airway obstruction) by damaging the airways and alveoli (i. e. , small air sacs) of the lungs. Smoking and Cancer Smoking causes the following cancers: †¢ Acute myeloid leukemia †¢ Bladder cancer †¢ Cancer of the cervix †¢ Cancer of the esophagus †¢ Kidney cancer †¢ Cancer of the larynx (voice box) †¢ Lung cancer Cancer of the oral cavity (mouth) †¢ Pancreatic cancer †¢ Cancer of the pharynx (throat) †¢ Stomach cancer Smoking and Other Health Effects Smoking has many adverse reproductive and early childhood effects, including increased risk for— †¢ infertility, †¢ preterm delivery, †¢ stillbirth, †¢ low birth weight, and †¢ Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). †¢ Smoking is associated with the following adverse health effects: †¢ Postmenopausal women who smoke have lower bone density than women who never smoked. †¢ Women who smoke have an increased risk for hip fracture than women who never smoked.Smoking and Others (Passive Smoking)If you smoke, one good reason to give up smoking is to benefit those who live and work with you. If you cannot give up, you should make every effort to keep cigarette smoke away from other people. On this page †¢ How does smoking affect other people? †¢ Some statistics †¢ How can I stop smoking? †¢ Further help and information †¢ References How does smoking affect other people? †¢ Children and babies who live in a home where there is a smoker: o Are more prone to asthma, and ear, nose and chest infe ctions. o Have an increased risk of dying from cot death (sudden infant death syndrome). Are more likely than average to become smokers themselves when older. o On average, do less well at reading and reasoning skills compared to children in smoke-free homes, even at low levels of smoke exposure. o Are at increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer as adults. †¢ Passive smoking of adults. You have an increased risk of lung cancer and heart disease if you are exposed to other people smoking for long periods of time. For example, the risk of developing lung cancer is increased by about 20-30% in people who are regularly exposed to other people's cigarette smoke.Cigarette smoke is also an irritant, and can make asthma and other conditions worse. †¢ Unborn babies. Smoking when you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. See separate leaflet called Pregnancy and Smoking for details. Some statistics the overall health impact of passive smoking i s large. Although the health risks from passive smoking are small for the individual in comparison with the health risks from active smoking, the public health consequences of passive smoking are high due to the large numbers of people exposed.For example, passive smoking by people living with smokers in the UK increases the risk of death from coronary heart disease by 50-60%. It is estimated to cause around 2,700 deaths per year in people aged 20-64, and a further 8,000 deaths per year among people aged 65 or older. It is estimated that children breathing in other people's cigarette smoke resulted in 300,000 GP visits and 9,500 hospital admissions in 2011 in the UK. Up to five million children are thought to be regularly exposed to secondhand smoke in the home. The results of a survey on children’s views on smoking ere published on the Department of Health's website. The survey revealed that children want smoke-free lives. The survey found that: †¢ 98% of children wish their parents would stop smoking. †¢ 82% of children wish their parents wouldn't smoke in front of them at home. †¢ 78% of children wished their parents wouldn't smoke in front of them in the car. †¢ 41% of children said cigarette smoke made them feel ill. †¢ 42% of children said cigarette smoke made them cough. How can I stop smoking? Compare About 2 in 3 smokers want to stop smoking. Some people can give up easily.Willpower and determination are the most important aspects when giving up smoking. However, nicotine is a drug of addiction and many people find giving up a struggle. Help is available. GPs, practice nurses, or pharmacists can provide information, encouragement, and tips on stopping smoking. Also, throughout the country there are specialist NHS Stop Smoking Clinics which have a good success record in helping people to stop smoking. Your doctor may refer you to one if you are keen to stop smoking. Various medicines can increase your chance of quitting. These include nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) which comes as gums, sprays, patches, tablets, lozenges, and inhalers. You can buy NRT without a prescription. Also, medicines called bupropion (trade name Zyban ®) and varenicline (trade name Champix ®) can help. These are available on prescription. See separate leaflets called Nicotine Replacement Therapy, Bupropion (Zyban ®) and Varenicline (Champix ®). Costa Rica's Anti-Smoking Law As Strange As Aliens. The newly passed anti-smoking law is as strange as aliens, because everyone knows about them but nobody takes the subject as an absolute truth.Neither is too surprising, for many the law is nothing more than a continuing joke the government plays on its people. For without a doubt, even with the law in place, in Costa Rica â€Å"the smoker continues to be king†, for even the law cannot respond to the call, as the government has been unable to properly inform the public and the institutions responsible to ensure compl iance. All the information out there right now is mostly by word of mouth, passed on from one person to another and not necessarily the correctRoberto Castro, of the Direccion de Vigilancia del Ministerio deSalud (Surveillance Directorate of the Ministry of Health) recently said that the Fuerza Publica (polilce) is empowered to issue fines of ? 36. 060 colones to anyone disrespecting the law. But, where is the fine paid? For his part, the director of the Fuerza Publica (chief of the nation's police force) said that they will wait until the regulations to comply with the law. The regulations are expected within the next 90 days, but many doubt that they will be ready, as legislators pass a law and the government is not ready for its enactment. Again.Just as with the introduction of the tax on corporations that went into effect on January 1, but not payable until April, again, because because the government was caught with its pants down. some place, like medical centres and schools h ave already banned smoking and have set out their regulations for its enforcement. In some places like elevators, trains, ATM's, restaurants, cafes, bars and shopping centres, among others smoking is banned. Again, a private initiative which is reinforced with the passing of the anti-smoking law, but without the teeth to bite the smoker who persists.With the law in effect anyone can now demand that law be respected. Customers can complain to the manager of a restaurant, shoppers can call on the mall management and employee on the boss, for example, to have the smoker butt out. But, in reality, how is the complaint handled and who has the authority to ask the smoker to quit? In an effort to simplify the process, ideally the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud) should provide a phone number to either take the complaint or at least to provide information on how to deal with the situation. However, Costa Rica is a country where all that is simple is made difficult.Knowing Costa Rica ns there is sure to follow many complaints and without a doubt one or more challenges to the Constitutional Court, smokers allege to be a â€Å"target†. In an ideal Costa Rica, smokers should just quit smoking in public spaces. And if they really care for their health, quit smoking altogether. Thrombosis, hypertension, cancer of the esophagus and pancreas, tachycardia, emphysema, lung cancer and bronchitis are just some of the many ills caused by tobacco smoking. Hopefully the ? 20 colones tax on each and ever cigarette sold will hurt the smoker where it hurts the most, their pocketbook.Or at the very least fund programs to help patients with cancer and prevention campaigns. This is a time for the current administration to really show that it can tie up its pants and act in the best interest of the public by applying the law and get rid of an epidemic in which only a few get rich and benefit from the death of others. The government has a great opportunity here to show that it can act and quickly by introducing the regulations way ahead of the three months set out in the legislation, introduce concise guidelines and make the public aware of the law and its cost for not respecting it.Costa rica? s law The number of countries  with anti-smoking laws is growing, and Costa Rica might soon join the ranks. Lawmakers are debating a bill that would ban smoking in some public places and raise the tax on cigarettes. Costa Rica has been trying to pass the ban since 2008, but the bill has couldn't get through the legislature. If it finally passes, Costa Rica won't be alone among Latin American countries with anti-smoking laws. Of course, just because laws are on the books, doesn't mean everyone is snuffing out their smokes.Some 14. 2 percent of Costa Ricans smoke, most between ages 20 and 39, according to the Costa Rican Social Security System. Casual smokers proliferate in the country’s nightlife. But that could change soon. Lawmakers last week passed a bi ll that will ban smoking in all public spaces, including bus and taxi stops, public buildings, restaurants and bars. The legislation goes further: It prohibits the sale of individual cigarettes; adds a 4-cent tax per cigarette, bumping up the price of most 20-cigarette packs from around $2 to $2. 0; bans cigarette advertising; and mandates that most of the box must carry graphic or textual health warnings. The bill will be reviewed by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court before it can get the president’s signature and go into law. Costa Rica is considered a progressive country on health and environment policies, but it’s been slow to reform its lax smoking rules. If the court gives the green light, Costa Rica will become the 10th Latin American country to enact a law following guidelines set by the World Health Organization for 100 percent smoke-free public spaces.The legislation is expected to take effect in mid-summer, giving businesses and government some time to adjust. Residents too will have time to cope. â€Å"Every person who comes to a bar here, they smoke and they drink, wherever they go,† Sanchez, 22, said. â€Å"I think it’s a law that’s very stupid. †Aleman, 20, said she’s pleased that inconsiderate smokers will be stopped from carelessly blowing smoke into someone’s face. Still, she sees the law as too strict, since bars cannot maintain a smoking section. But if there’s no area or smokers, she always could walk outside to smoke? Or: â€Å"I’ll smoke less,† Aleman said. â€Å"Go outside to smoke — why bother? It could be raining and freezing outside. That would be the worst. †Her statement typifies why 100 percent smoke-free policies have been successful in other countries. Research shows businesses don’t fold or lose huge profits over a loss of cigarette-smoking clientele. The places simply get cleaner. The most desperate effort to rid Cos ta Rica of ineffective smoking laws started almost four years ago.Lawmakers helped teach doctors in the National Anti-Tobacco Network how to be politicians. The doctors, in turn, negotiated behind the scenes with lawmakers presenting the grimmest of facts and telling them â€Å"this is how the tobacco industry manipulates the truth. † The Social Security System (Caja) conducted a poll showing 93 percent of Costa Ricans supported laws for a smoke-free public. The momentum did little to dull the influence of the tobacco industry lobby that had dictated smoking policies in the country since the 1980s.Only on Monday, long after lawmakers who spearheaded the movement reached their term limits and exited office, did a toughened anti-smoking bill pass the Legislative Assembly. Advocates garnered enough support in the assembly to pass – in a 46-2 vote – a comprehensive anti-tobacco bill on Monday, winning at last an uphill struggle. â€Å"We have demonstrated to the to bacco companies that we are not too small and so weak like they believed we were,† said Teresita Arrieta, of the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Institute (IAFA). The bill bans smoking in places such as bars, restaurants, public buildings, bus stops and taxi stands.Individual cigarettes will be taxed an extra ? 20 (4 cents). The bill requires cigarette packs to display text and photo warnings on at least 50 percent of the box. The legislation strengthens some of the weakest tobacco-use laws in Latin America. One question in particular lingers in the minds of skeptics. Can the law be enforced? The bill still awaits the signature of President Laura Chinchilla, and then must be published in the official government newspaper La Gaceta before the rules become official. From there, a 90-day adjustment period begins before fines go into effect.Many expect the law’s publication will come around March 15, meaning the day cigarettes must be extinguished from public spaces would be in m id-June. In that time, lawmakers and health officials will determine the reglamentos, or regulations, that define how the law will be implemented. Health Vice Minister Sisy Castillo, who was a major force in pushing the bill through, displayed confidence that the country can create rules that establishments and people   will not have trouble following. â€Å"We are already working on the [reglamentos],† Castillo said. We are far along with these regulations in regards to law enforcement. †Ã‚  She said the Health Ministry has met with members of the National Police and Chief Prosecutor’s Office to discuss how to handle those caught violating the law, and the best way to supervise bars and other localities where smoking will be banned. Castillo emphasized to The Tico Times that the reglamentos will address foreigners, including tourists, who disobey the smoking law. Large percentages of the cigarette taxes will be earmarked toward treating tobacco-related illness es and funding programs that assist people in quitting smoking.In 2010, the Caja spent nearly $146 million on health expenses tied to smoking and tobacco-related illnesses. Tobacco plays a large role in cardiovascular illnesses, one of the country’s leading causes of death. Almost 15 percent of the country smokes, according to a Caja survey. Those caught smoking in a prohibited area can face a fine of ? 36,060 ($70). Producers, sellers and advertisers not following the regulations can be hit with a fine of ? 3. 6 million ($7,022). The penalty for selling single cigarettes, packs with fewer than 20 cigarettes or tobacco products to minors would be ? 80,000 ($351). The government will have the power to close businesses with outstanding fines. As the law moves closer to enactment, advocates expect to parry lawsuits taken up on behalf of the tobacco industry and the Costa Rican Chamber of Restaurants and Affiliates – a longtime mouthpiece of tobacco companies that oversees bars and nightclubs. Carmen Granados, a Citizen Action Party lawmaker, believes the country has taken the necessary steps to prevent legal action by tobacco companies from succeeding.She worked on a committee headed by Rita Chaves of the Access Without Exclusion Party to construct the current version of the bill. When the original bill was written, draftees invited experts to vet every aspect of   it, even bringing in legal advisers from the U. S. ’s George Washington University, in Washington, D. C. , to observe the proposal. Moreover, the bill follows standards set by the World Health Organization, and has been adopted in nine other Latin American countries, including Brazil, which became the largest country in the world to put into practice such measures, in December. We should not fear lawsuits, because if we did a good job, then this law will be unaffected,† Granados said. â€Å"Yes, tobacco companies are going to try to go after the law †¦ but it’s shielded so nobody will touch it. †Lawmakers opposed to the bill attempted to halt its passage Monday. The passage came in spite of a challenge by 10 lawmakers to send the bill to the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) to review the constitutionality of the reforms. The Legislative Assembly did not receive a notification from the Sala IV in time to prevent the vote.Granados said tobacco manufacturers still can challenge specific articles in court, and the Sala IV can decide whether to review the suits. Tabacalera Costarricense, an affiliate of Philip Morris International, has stated the law could result in an increase in contraband cigarettes in Costa Rica due to the cigarette tax increase. A lawsuit is expected about that issue. Anti-tobacco advocates in Costa Rica dismiss the argument about a flourishing cigarette black market, saying research shows that it is simply untrue. Studies also show that in countries with similar reforms, business rarely, if eve r, suffers as a result of the ban.IAFA’s Smoke-Free Spaces Program created plenty of tobacco-free settings in sports arenas, restaurants and malls before the law’s adoption. Arrieta, who heads the program, believes the difficulty of transitioning from a country where smoking is accepted to one that prohibits it has been exaggerated. This law is designed to protect public health and does not infringe on individual rights, since a person does not have the privilege to endanger the health of another, Arrieta said. She already has seen it work in Costa Rica’s notoriously hazy bars.She visited a place called Blue Moon in Cartago, east of San Jose. Smokers took cigarette breaks outside. The inside was packed with clients. Blue Moon manager Michael Mattey said the bar opened in July and remains successful, an image of how other bars might thrive in a Costa Rica free of smoking. â€Å"It seems all the people who come like it for the same reason, because they donâ€℠¢t smoke,† Mattey said. â€Å"But people who smoke come too, and they also seem to like it. Who knew? : The adverse health effects from cigarette smoking account for an estimated 443,000 deaths each year in the United States

Prenuptial Agreement

What to do/say to make her willing for signing the prenup The easiest way to convince your girlfriend to sign is by making it clear that it's to protect both of you, not just you. And make sure to explain that you in no way expect to get a divorce in the future. Don't lead her to believe that you're planning your exit strategy. Explain that this is simply a â€Å"just in case† plan. It's a good idea to bring up the prenup issue early on in the relationship, and definitely before getting engaged, in order to gauge her feelings about the issue. Ask her what she knows about prenups. Make her understand that it's not you against her; you both have input when it comes to the contract. Make her understand that it's not about her getting nothing if you part ways. Don't leave her with doubts. Ask her to be logical about the situation. Although this will likely be difficult for her (it is for most women), if she really cares for you, she'll put forth the effort. You can include a clause about cheating, if she begins to question your fidelity. Keep in mind that if you agree to do this, then she should have no problem attesting that she'll remain faithful as well. Ask her to get legal advice she will eventually see the benefits of a prenup on her own. Tell her you love her, and that this is just for insurance. Read more: http://www.askmen.com/money/how_to_150/190_how_to.html#ixzz2XN57hR2j