Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind essays

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind essays Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind As an entertainment medium the feature film has advanced exponentially over the last 150 years .The advent of sound and later color have made the feature film an ever more immersing experience. Now the dawning of the era of digitalisation and seemingly endless possibilities in the realm of computer special effects complicate the auteurs struggle to produce a successful film. They must break through mediocrity to achieve critical and public acclaim. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a successful film both critically praised and well received by the public although largely unnoticed in comparison to the mammoth of a Hollywood blockbuster. From what basis then shall one measure a film to be successful? Its merits as a piece of artistic expression or its popularity? Eternal Sunshine doesnt rely heavily on modern computer effects and rather opts to minimize computer usage in place of clever camera wizardry. Italian director Michel Gandrys vision involved the use of longer takes and an eccentric narrative straying from generic conventions. Joel and Clementines relationship is romantic film territory and the themes of memory and technology stock sci-fi staples. The appeal of most modern blockbusters lies in the overblown budget and photo-perfect special effects. A true example of style over substance, spectacle often distracts or takes prevalence to the quality of narrative. However with Eternal Sunshine Gondry holds the reigns of balance, managing to deliver a surrealistic cinematic delight while keeping his direction true to the requirements of the plot. Joel and Clementines relationship is still the focus of his movie and the dreamy world created by Joels memories doesnt diverge from but rather consolidates their fractured relationship through Joels interactions with Clem in his mind. His m...

The History and Domestication of Cassava

The History and Domestication of Cassava Cassava (Manihot esculenta), also known as manioc, tapioca, yuca, and mandioca, is a domesticated species of tuber, a root crop originally domesticated perhaps as long ago as 8,000–10,000 years ago, in southern Brazil and eastern Bolivia along the southwestern border of the Amazon basin. Cassava is today a primary calorie source in tropical regions around the world, and the sixth most important crop plant worldwide. Fast Facts: Cassava Domestication Cassava, commonly called manioc or tapioca, is a domesticated species of tuber, and the sixth most important food crop in the world.  It was domesticated in the southwestern Amazon of Brazil and Bolivia some 8,000-10,000 years ago.  Domesticate improvements include traits which must have been added by means of clonal propagation.  Burned tubers of manioc were discovered at the classic Maya site of Ceren, dated to 600 CE.   Cassava Progenitors The progenitor of cassava (M. esculenta ssp. flabellifolia) exists today and is adapted to forest and savanna ecotones. The process of domestication improved the size and production level of its tubers, and increased the photosynthesis rate and seed functionality, by using repeated cycles of clonal propagation- wild manioc cannot be reproduced by stem cuttings. Archaeological macro-botanical evidence of cassava in the little-investigated Amazon basin has not been identified, partly because root crops do not preserve well. Identification of the Amazon as the point of origin was based on genetic studies of cultivated cassava and all various possible progenitors, and the Amazonian M. esculenta ssp. flabellifolia was determined to be the wild form of todays cassava plant. Amazon Evidence: The Teotonio Site The oldest archaeological evidence for manioc domestication is from starches and pollen grains from sites outside the Amazon.  In 2018, archaeologist Jennifer Watling and colleagues reported the presence of manioc phytoliths attached to stone tools at the southwestern Amazon Teotonio site in Brazil very near the Bolivian border. The phytoliths were found in a level of dark earth (terra preta) dated to 6,000 calendar years ago (cal BP), 3,500 years older than any terra preta anywhere else in the Amazon to date. The manioc at Teotonio was found alongside domesticated squash (Cucurbita sp), beans (Phaseolus), and guava (Psidium), indicating that the inhabitants were early horticulturalists in what is becoming recognized as an Amazonian center of domestication. Cassava Species Around the World Cassava (Manihot esculenta), root and ground for dinner.   Rodrigo Ruiz Ciancia / Moment / Getty Images Cassava starches have been identified in north-central Colombia by approximately 7,500 years ago, and in Panama at Aguadulce Shelter, about 6,900 years ago. Pollen grains from cultivated cassava have been found in archaeological sites in Belize and Mexicos Gulf coast by 5,800–4,500 bp, and in Puerto Rico between 3,300 and 2,900 years ago. Thus, scholars can safely say that the domestication in the Amazon had to happen before 7,500 years ago. There are numerous cassava and manioc species in the world today, and researchers still struggle with their differentiation, but recent research supports the notion that they are all descended from a single domestication event in the Amazon basin. Domestic manioc has larger and more roots and increased tannin content in the leaves. Traditionally, manioc is grown in the field-and-fallow cycles of slash and burn agriculture, where its flowers are pollinated by insects and its seeds dispersed by ants. Manioc and the Maya The Pompeii of North America, Joya de Ceren, was buried in a volcanic eruption in August 595 CE. Ed Nellis Members of the Maya civilization cultivated the root crop and it may have been a staple in some parts of the Maya world. Manioc pollen has been discovered in the Maya region by the late Archaic period, and most of the Maya groups studied in the 20th century were found to cultivate manioc in their fields. The excavations at Ceren, a classic period Maya village that was destroyed (and preserved) by a volcanic eruption, identified manioc plants within the kitchen gardens. Manioc planting beds were discovered some 550 feet (170 meters) away from the village. The manioc beds at Ceren date to approximately 600 CE. They consist of ridged fields, with the tubers planted on the top of the ridges and water allowed to drain and flow through the wales between the ridges (called calles). Archaeologists discovered five manioc tubers in the field which had been missed during harvesting. Stalks of manioc bushes had been cut into 3–5 foot (1–1.5 meter) lengths and buried horizontally in the beds shortly before the eruption: these represent preparation for the next crop. The eruption occurred in August of 595 CE, burying the field in nearly 10 ft (3 m) of volcanic ash. Sources Brown, Cecil H., et al. The Paleobiolinguistics of Domesticated Manioc (Manihot esculenta). Ethnobiology Letters 4 (2013): 61–70. Print.Clement, Charles R., et al. The Domestication of Amazonia before European Conquest. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 282.1812 (2015): 20150813. Print.De Matos Viegas, Susana. Pleasures That Differentiate: Transformational Bodies among the Tupinamb of Olivenà §a (Atlantic Coast, Brazil). Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 18.3 (2012): 536–53. Print.Fraser, James, et al. Crop Diversity on Anthropogenic Dark Earths in Central Amazonia. Human Ecology 39.4 (2011): 395–406. Print.Isendahl, Christian. The Domestication and Early Spread of Manioc ( Manihot Esculenta Crantz): A Brief Synthesis. Latin American Antiquity 22.4 (2011): 452–68. Print.Kawa, Nicholas C., Christopher McCarty, and Charles R. Clement. Manioc Varietal Diversity, Social Networks, and Distribution Constraints in Rural Amazoni a. Current Anthropology 54.6 (2013): 764–70. Print. Sheets, Payson, et al. Manioc Cultivation at Ceren, El Salvador: Occasional Kitchen Garden Plant or Staple Crop? Ancient Mesoamerica 22.01 (2011): 1–11. Print.Watling, Jennifer, et al. Direct Archaeological Evidence for Southwestern Amazonia as an Early Plant Domestication and Food Production Centre. PLOS ONE 13.7 (2018): e0199868. Print.

Part A-Contract law Part B- Case study (letter)

Part A-Contract law Part B- (letter) - Case Study Example As a result, they did not expect the consumer to take them seriously. A misrepresentation, on the other hand, refers to a false statement of fact that a party makes to another party to influence them into entering a contract, even though the statement is not part of the contract. In effect, this makes the contract voidable and the innocent party could repudiate the contract, as well as claim damages (James, 2014: p22). Where a person making the statement knew the real facts and it can be proved, they could not have held their views reasonably as a result, their opinions are taken as statement of fact. In order for a contract to be valid, both parties must make it freely and there should be mutual assent. However, it is possible that pressure to enter into the contract or coercion could affect mutual assent. Undue influence and duress are situations that impact on mutual assent, rendering contracts voidable or void. Duress refers to the exertion of wrongful pressure on a party to coerce them into making a contract that they would not ordinarily enter. It involves threatening to use force or using force intentionally to induce the party to assent to the contract (Carter, 2013: p32). Whether the coercion is mental or physical, it must be to an extent to which the other party does not have freedom of choice or free will, leaving them no reasonable alternative than to assent to the contract. On the other hand, undue influence refers to taking advantage of the other party during the formation of contracts. In this case, the two parties have a relationship, for example, one is superior to the other. Unlike duress that involves the use of direct threats; undue influence involves the use of excessive pressure by a dominant party for the subordinate to assent to the contract, although persuasion alone does not constitute undue influence (Carter, 2013: p33). As a result, the

Drug Debate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Drug Debate - Essay Example The divide came into sharpest focus in 1997 when Australian Federal Government decided to withdraw government support to methadone treatment in Australia as an antidote to heroin addiction (Bush and Neutze 2000). Prevailing moral attitudes towards drug use Moral positions vary widely from individual to individual. Those who have had no direct interactions with drug users and have no clear idea about the menace have developed some sort fear and abhorrence about it and hence consider drug abuse as something which is grossly immoral. As a corollary of this attitude, all drug addicts in their eyes are people devoid of either ethics or morality and all those who help these drug addicts in having their daily dose are equally immoral and corrupt. But those who have been in close contact with drug addicts have a much more sympathetic attitude about the issue of heroin maintenance (Dingelstad, et al. 1996). There are basically four different moral viewpoints about this issue: The first group believes that it should be permitted as long it does not inflict any harm on others. The second group believes that this is the only possible means to keep drug addicts alive and gradually improve their health and would in some distant future also help them to get rid of this habit completely. o The third group believes that this method would not help the drug addicts at all and therefore disapprove heroin maintenance claiming that there definitely should be some other option for improving the health of drug addicts and helping to get rid of the habit. o The fourth group believes that this is nothing but an excuse to continue with drug addiction and is therefore strongly opposed to it (Alcorn and Brady 1999). Thus, it seems the possibility of a rapprochement between these widely differing positions is rather remote. But all hope need not be lost as groups holding different attitudes can be questioned regarding the basis of their stands and we can reach a broad area of compromise. The first group, we may term them libertarians, might be questioned that though each individual should have freedom of choice but prolonged use of amphetamine might lead to sudden acts of intense aggression which could surely harm others. Thus, there should not be any blanket freedom in use of drugs. The fourth group consists of those that are strictly against use of any drugs. They are probably confused between use and abuse, since all drugs are used by medical practitioners in restricted doses to cure one ailment or the other. This brings us to the question how much use can be construed as abuse and this genuinely opens up the entire issue. The second and the third groups occupy a middle position as both these groups accept administration of drugs at permissible levels can be allowed provided it helps the drug users to finally overcome the habit and if that is the only way out. It is extremely necessary to bring the two extreme opinions closer to each other as public policy towards drug use must have the support of the majority for it to be a success. The middle ground should ideally be that drug use par se cannot be construed as immoral but if such use harms an individual or adversely affects community welfare, then such is to be restricted, if necessary by terming it as a criminal act (Martin 1999 ). This debate is further marked by what may be termed as

Protection Improvements Option for HMMWVs Assignment - 1

Protection Improvements Option for HMMWVs - Assignment Example According to the U.S. Army representative remarks at the recent Association of the U.S. Army’s â€Å"AUSA Winter† symposium held in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Feb. 24-26, 2010, â€Å"The HMMWV Recap requirement exists to address needed repair and rework of existing HMMWVs used in tactical operations while at the same time modernizing through upgrade existing HMMWVs to improve their operational capability† (Scott para 2-3). Under the new approach of revamping the HMMWVs, one option is to develop a single integrated system to be kept on the chassis of HMMWV after taking down its body to fit the new capsule structure on it to be integrated with the current subsystems of the HMMWV. This approach would facilitate not discarding most of the parts of the HMMWV (Scott para 9). The capsule approach can provide the protection improvement needed in up-armored HMMWV because of reduction in weight helping in its load carrying capacity and mobility. Designing of the capsule adds to the protection level in the internal and external body structure of the HMMWV (Scott para 10). As per the US Army TWV Strategy Report, adding armor kits to the vehicles was an afterthought; the vehicles were not designed to carry 3000+ pounds in weight, which is affecting the performance of the vehicles. Considering the future demands on the fleet, the proposed solution stated above would offer the perfect balance in the 3-Ps (Payload, protection, and performance) besides offering a sophisticated fleet, robust enough to host varied modern electronics, essential during any war operations. The proposed capsule approach option is cost-efficient to fulfill the sustainability and affordability issues arising in the future particularly on the right mixing of quality and quantity parameters (7-9). A good thing about the proposed protection improvement option is the cost-effectiveness of the Small Combat Tactical Vehicle Capsule (SCTVC)  approach, developed by Chris Berman, a former Navy SEAL, and the founder and president of Granite Tactical Vehicles – the designer of the SCTVC approach (Scott 6-7).

Italian Financial crisis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Italian Financial crisis - Research Paper Example This paper aims to discuss the financial crisis in Italy. The collapse in 2008 of Lehman Brothers represents Italy’s economic emergency starting point. During the financial crises, initial stages, Italian investors and banks had suffered minimally. America’s housing market issues had as of yet to hit Italy. Financial institutions in Italy were not in possession of sub-prime bonds in large quantities. The collapse of Lehman Brothers started what was the most dramatic of phases via contracting interbank loan markets. Due to a shortage of liquidity and doubts on the borrower’s financial soundness, banks stopped lending each other money. Governments induced by the liquidity crisis lent loan support to national banks while the ECB lowered the rate of discount. Banks, however, reduced access of credit for clients in order to regain liquidity. At this point, the Italian economy became entangled in the crisis. Large banks are not many in Italy, with most operating on the regional scale (Silvia & Hana 50)1. The crisis affected these larger banks, Lehman Brother’s collapse resulting in them losing funds and from the devaluation of their assets due to the collapse of the stock market. The biggest problem, which Italian banks faced was due to its links with Eastern and Central European countries (Organization for Economic Cooperation 15)2. Since the early 90s, banks extended their branch networks to countries, which had been candidates for EU membership and Ukraine. The risk of imminent collapse in this region caused the banks to lose value on their shares due to doubts about its solidity financially. Government support helped avoid a crisis. Medium and small size banks, however, reacted via reduction of credit to consumers and clients and increasing collateral for new loans. This, in turn, caused a reduction house and machinery

Major Issues in the United States Food Supply Essay

Major Issues in the United States Food Supply - Essay Example Despite these measures, outbreaks do occur, requiring swift intervention by the regulating agencies to control the damage and take action against those responsible. This includes product recalls, issuing health warnings, and taking legal action against the persons guilty of negligence or intentional breach of safety. The following paragraphs highlight some of the main issues in ensuring food safety in the United States. The United States food supply has seen a number of high-profile outbreaks in the recent past. Such outbreaks result in disease, hospitalization and even deaths in some extreme cases. Ever since the threat of terrorism against American citizens, the government has become increasingly sensitive to issues of food safety and outbreaks, and such incidents are responded to swiftly. Certain examples can serve to illustrate the nature of food supply issues in the United States. In April 2012, there was an outbreak of Escherichia coli in 11 states. Around 29 people were infect ed and seven were hospitalized as a result of consuming infected clover sprouts (Deloitte, 3). At times, such outbreaks also lead to large-scale product recalls announced by government authorities. In November of 2012, peanut butter manufactured in a Minnesota factory was infected by a Salmonella strain. As a result, 42 people were infected and the FDA recalled the product from 20 states across the United States. The Regulation of Imported Food Products An important issue in the food supply safety of the United States is the role of national as well as international produce. The United States is a big importer of food products including meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, and so on. While there are food safety standards in force in the United States, other countries may be following standards and regulations that are less stringent. Therefore, the challenge for the United States is to strike a balance between meeting the demand for food products in the country while ensuring food safety in the supply chain. A case in point is the meat recall of 2012 where 2.5 million pounds of beef imported from Alberta in Canada had been infected by E. coli. Canada is still the largest food exporter to the United States, making up 19.8% of its total food imports in 2012 (Deloitte, 4). The European Union, China, Mexico and Brazil are other large food importers to the country. Smuggling of food into the United States is another major issue in food safety. Smuggled food enters undetected into the food supply, which prevents it from being inspected for pathogens and other contamination by the relevant agencies. Smuggled food is thus likely to be of a poorer quality and a great threat to the health of people in low income groups. An anti-smuggling strategy has been developed by the FDA and other agencies. The role of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is essential in the prevention of food being smuggled across the border (FDA, 2013). Food is usually smuggled across the Mexico bo rder because it allows the smugglers to avoid paying import taxes and sidestep inspection. However, this could result in undetected pathogens making their way into the United States food supply and posing a threat to the health and well-being of consumers.