Mall Goers Essay Example for Free

Mall Goers Essay Just what goes into â€Å"having fun†? For many people, â€Å"fun† involves getting out of the house, seeing other people, having something interesting to look at, and enjoying a choice of activities, all at a reasonable price. Going out to dinner or to the movies may satisfy some of those desires, but often not all. But an attractive alternative does exist in the form of the free-admission public mall. Teenagers, couples on dates, and the modest family can all be observed having a good time at the mall. Teenagers are drawn to the mall to pass time with pals and to see and be seen by other teens. The guys linger wearing their Nike tennis shoes, graphic T-shirts, name brand jeans, complete with their hat cocked to the side. The girls sashay thru wearing their high-heels shoes, revealing tank tops, with their arms full of bracelets wrapped around shopping bags. Traveling in a gang that resembles a wolf pack, the young thunder cats make the mall their hunting ground. Mall administrators have obviously made a decision to attract all this teenage activity. The kids’ raised voices, loud slang, and occasional shouted obscenities can be heard from as far as half a mall away. They come to â€Å"pick up chic,† to â€Å"meet guys,† and just to â€Å"hang out.† Couples find fun of another sort at the mall. The young lovers are easy to spot because they walk hand in hand, stopping to sneak a quick kiss after every few steps. They first pause at a jewelry store window so that they can gaze at diamond engagement rings and gold wedding bands. Then, they wander into perfume departments in the large mall stores. Finally, they drift away, their arms wrapped around each other’s waist. Then there are the Smiths, who visit the mall on Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon for inexpensive recreation. Hearing the music of the trains and video games, the daughter begs to ride in the red cart. Shouting â€Å"I’m Starving!† Jr. drags the family towards the food court, where he detects the seductive odor of pizza. Mom walks to the women’s clothing store, trying on anything she thinks she can fix. Meanwhile, Dad has wandered into the electronics and is testing out all the new technology asking questions on how things work. The Mall provides something special for every member of the family. Sure, some people visit the mall in a brief, short way, just to pick up a specific purchase or two. But many more are shopping for inexpensive recreation. The teenagers, the dating couples, and the simple family all find cheap entertainment at the mall.

Power Relations in Melville’s The Paradise of Bachelors and the Tartarus of Maids :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Power Relations in Melville’s The Paradise of Bachelors and the Tartarus of Maids In the mid-nineteenth century, the United States heralded the coming of the â€Å"new industrial order.† With the advent of railroads, industrialization went into full swing. Factories and mills appeared and multiplied, and the push for economic progress became the grand narrative of the country. Still, there was a conscious effort to avoid the filth and poverty so prevalent in European factory towns. Specifically, the town of Lowell, Massachusetts, was held up as an exemplary model of industrial utopia. The mill town included beautiful landscaping and dormitories for the women workers. Indeed, it looked much like a university campus (Klein 231). Nevertheless, this idealized vision eventually gave way to the reality of human greed. The female factory workers worked long hours for little pay as their health deteriorated from the hazardous conditions (238). (Specifically, Carson’s Mill in Dalton, Massachusetts, served as the model for Melville’s short stor y [Melville 2437].) In this way, industrialization (and the subsequent desire for economic wealth) became incompatible with democratic principles. Originally, the prevailing consciousness was that industrialization would further democracy and the two would become a complimentary pair. However, the reality was that these societal changes brought economic divisions; the boundaries were drawn more clearly between the privileged class and the working class. Industrialization finally results in the separation of the classes and the subsequent dialectical tension of production and consumption. This dualistic separation is made possible through the machine, the integral element that cements the unequal distribution of power. In his moral diptych, Melville questions industrialization by exploring these class divisions and the power relations within them. Ultimately, he concludes that it results in an exploitative system that thrives on both connection and isolation. Although the two spheres are physically and emotionally separated, they depend on each other for their continuation. Melville’s â€Å"The Paradise of Bachelors and the Tartarus of Maids† expertly shows this interrelationship between the owners of the means of production (the bachelors) and the workers (the maids), and how it finally results in the oppression of the workers. The first part of the tale illustrates the paradoxical life of the industrial class; they are gluttonous consumers and yet live out an empty existence. This wealthy class is represented in the form of bachelor lawyers.

Multiple types of laws Essay

During last week’s session multiple types of laws were introduced and their differences were discussed. One of the types of laws that were discussed were civil laws. Civil laws were created to â€Å"compensate parties and businesses for losses as a result of another’s conduct† (Melvin, 2011). This means that these laws were created for certain types of conduct against another party to be handled civilly between them. For any type of offense that is handled civilly, the defendant will need to repay the plaintiff for any loss suffered. Another type of law is criminal law. Criminal laws â€Å"are a protection of society and the violation of criminal laws results in penalties to the violator such as fines or imprisonment† (Melvin, 2011). This means that these laws were created to protect all of society against criminals that disrupt the peace of others. Another type of law that we focused on was â€Å"Common Law†. Common law, also known as â€Å"Case Law†, is a basic system to ensure that cases with similar commonalities are treated fairly and consistently. For example, imagine that you are the victim of a reckless driver who side swipes your car, and the judge is now responsible for deciding whether the defendant is liable for the damages in question. The judge will listen to the statements in court and refer to common law in other cases to ensure that the party is fairly dismissed or prosecuted, depending on the verdict. The type of law that many people have heard of is statutory law, also known as written law. Unlike Common Law, Statutory law is made by legislature and written down (hence the â€Å"aka† written law). Statutory Law is a concept in order to underscore the distinction between laws that a governing body makes and case law. If looking for an example of Statutory Law, you do not have to travel too far, or fast I should say; posted speed limits. This means that the speed limit is â€Å"formally† (and literally in this case) written and enacted. Another law that was discussed last week was substantive law. â€Å"Substantive law is the statutory, or written law, that defines rights and duties, such as crimes and punishments, civil rights and responsibilities in civil law†Ã‚  (Melvin, 2011). This law defines and regulates individual’s rights. Some example substantive law is the law of contracts, torts as we talk about in the last lecture along with real property and the essential substance of rights under the law. Substantive law and procedural law are the two main categories with the law. Procedural law sets the rules and methods employed to obtain one’s rights and in particular how the courts are conducted. This law basically defines and creates rights limitations under which society us governed. References Melvin, S. P. (2011). The Legal Environment of Business. Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.

Preparing for a Tsunami - Tsunami Safety Guide

What are tsunamis? Tsunamis are large ocean waves generated by major earthquakes beneath the ocean floor or major landslides into the ocean. Tsunamis caused by nearby earthquakes may reach the coast within minutes. When the waves enter shallow water, they may rise to several feet or, in rare cases, tens of feet, striking the coast with devastating force. People on the beach or in low coastal areas need to be aware that a tsunami could arrive within minutes after a severe earthquake. The tsunami danger period can continue for many hours after a major earthquake. Tsunamis also may be generated by very large earthquakes far away in other areas of the ocean. Waves caused by these earthquakes travel at hundreds of miles per hour, reaching the coast several hours after the earthquake. The International Tsunami Warning System monitors ocean waves after any Pacific earthquake with a magnitude greater than 6.5. If waves are detected, warnings are issued to local authorities who can order the evacuation of low-lying areas if necessary. Why prepare for tsunamis? All tsunamis are potentially, if rarely, dangerous. Twenty-four tsunamis have caused damage in the United States and its territories in the past 200 years. Since 1946, six tsunamis have killed more than 350 people and caused significant property damage in Hawaii, Alaska, and along the West Coast. Tsunamis have also occurred in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. When a tsunami comes ashore, it can cause great loss of life and property damage. Tsunamis can travel upstream in coastal estuaries and rivers, with damaging waves extending farther inland than the immediate coast. A tsunami can occur during any season of the year and at any time, day or night. How can I protect myself from a tsunami? If you are in a coastal community and feel the shaking of a strong earthquake, you may have only minutes until a tsunami arrives. Do not wait for an official warning. Instead, let the strong shaking be your warning, and, after protecting yourself from falling objects, quickly move away from the water and to higher ground. If the surrounding area is flat, move inland. Once away from the water, listen to a local radio or television station or NOAA Weather Radio for information from the Tsunami Warning Centers about further action you should take. Even if you do not feel shaking, if you learn that an area has experienced a large earthquake that could send a tsunami in your direction, listen to a local radio or television station or NOAA Weather Radio for information from the Tsunami Warning Centers about action you should take. Depending on the location of the earthquake, you may have a number of hours in which to take appropriate action. What is the best source of information in a tsunami situation? As part of an international cooperative effort to save lives and protect property, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service operates two tsunami warning centers: the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WC/ATWC) in Palmer, Alaska, and the ​Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. The WC/ATWC serves as the regional Tsunami Warning Center for Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California. The PTWC serves as the regional Tsunami Warning Center for Hawaii and as a national/international warning center for tsunamis that pose a Pacific-wide threat. Some areas, such as Hawaii, have Civil Defense Sirens. Turn on your radio or television to any station when the siren is sounded and listen for emergency information and instructions. Maps of tsunami-inundation areas and evacuation routes can be found in the front of local telephone books in the Disaster Preparedness Info section. Tsunami warnings are broadcast on local radio and television stations and on NOAA Weather Radio. NOAA Weather Radio is the prime alerting and critical information delivery system of the National Weather Service (NWS). NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard information 24 hours a day on more than 650 stations in the 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Pacific territories. The NWS encourages people to buy a weather radio equipped with the Specific Area Message Encoder (SAME) feature. This feature automatically alerts you when important information is issued about tsunamis or weather-related hazards for your area. Information on NOAA Weather Radio is available from your local NWS office or online. Carry the radio with you when you go to the beach and keep fresh batteries in it. Tsunami Warning A Tsunami warning means a dangerous tsunami may have been generated and could be close to your area. Warnings are issued when an earthquake is detected that meets the location and magnitude criteria for the generation of a tsunami. The warning includes predicted tsunami arrival times at selected coastal communities within the geographic area defined by the maximum distance the tsunami could travel in a few hours. Tsunami Watch A Tsunami watch means a dangerous tsunami has not yet been verified but could exist and may be as little as an hour away. A watchÂâ€"issued along with a tsunami warningÂâ€"predicts additional tsunami arrival times for a geographic area defined by the distance the tsunami could travel in more than a few hours. The West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issue watches and warnings to the media and to local, state, national, and international officials. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts tsunami information directly to the public. Local officials are responsible for formulating, disseminating information about, and executing evacuation plans in case of a tsunami warning. What to Do When a Tsunami Watch Is Issued You should: Use a NOAA Weather Radio or stay tuned to a Coast Guard emergency frequency station, or a local radio or television station for updated emergency information. Most tsunami detection equipment is located at the coast. Seismic action may be the only advance warning before a tsunami approaches the coastline. Check your Disaster Supplies Kit. Some supplies may need to be replaced or restocked. Locate household members and review evacuation plans. Make sure everyone knows there are a potential threat and the best way to safer ground. If any members of your household have special evacuation needs (small children, elderly people, or people with disabilities) consider evacuating early. If time permits, secure unanchored objects around your home or business. Tsunami waves can sweep away loose objects. Securing these items or moving them inside will reduce potential loss or damage. Be ready to evacuate. Being prepared will help you to move more quickly if a tsunami warning is issued. Bring you r companion animals indoors and maintain direct control of them. Be sure that your pet disaster kit is ready to go in case you need to evacuate. Consider a precautionary evacuation of your animals, especially any large or numerous animals. Waiting until the last minute could be fatal for them and dangerous for you. Where possible, move livestock to higher ground. If you are using a horse or other trailer to evacuate your animals, move early rather than wait until it may be too late to maneuver a trailer through slow traffic. What to Do When a Tsunami Warning Is Issued You should: Use a NOAA Weather Radio or stay tuned to a Coast Guard emergency frequency station, or a local radio or television station for updated emergency information. Follow instructions issued by local authorities. Recommended evacuation routes may be different from the one you planned, or you may be advised to climb higher. Remember, authorities will issue a warning only if they believe there is a real threat from tsunami. If you hear an official tsunami warning or detect signs of a tsunami, evacuate at once. A tsunami warning is issued when authorities are certain that a tsunami threat exists, and there may be little time to get out. Take your Disaster Supplies Kit. Having supplies will make you more comfortable during the evacuation. Get to higher ground as far inland as possible. Officials cannot reliably predict either the height or local effects of tsunamis. Watching a tsunami from the beach or cliffs could put you in grave danger. If you can see the wave, you are too close to escape it. Return home only after local officials tell you it is safe. A tsunami is a series of waves that may continue for hours. Do not assume that after one wave the danger is over. The next wave may be larger than the first one. In several cases, people survived the first wave and returned to homes and businesses only to be trapped and killed by later, sometimes larger, waves in the series. If you evacuate, take your animals with you. If it is not safe for you, it is not safe for your animals. If you cannot escape a wave, climb onto a roof or up a tree, or grab a floating object and hang on until help arrives. Some people have survived tsunami waves by using these last-resort methods. What to Do if You Feel a Strong Coastal Earthquake If you feel an earthquake that lasts 20 seconds or longer when you are in a coastal area, you should: Drop, cover, and hold on. You should first protect yourself from the earthquake. When the shaking stops, gather members of your household and move quickly to higher ground away from the coast. A tsunami may be coming within minutes. Avoid downed power lines and stay away from buildings and bridges from which heavy objects might fall during an aftershock. Learn whether tsunamis have occurred in your area or could occur in your area by contacting your local emergency management office, state geological survey, National Weather Service (NWS) office, or American Red Cross chapter. Find out your areaÂ’s flooding elevation. If you are in an area at risk from tsunamis, you should: Find out if your home, school, workplace, or other frequently visited locations are in tsunami hazard areas. Know the height of your street above sea level and the distance of your street from the coast or other high-risk waters. Evacuation orders may be based on these numbers. Also find out the height above sea level and the distance from the coast of outbuildings that house animals, as well as pastures or corrals. Plan evacuation routes from your home, school, workplace, or any other place you could be where tsunamis present a risk. If possible, pick areas 100 feet (30 meters) above sea level or go as far as two miles (3 kilometers) inland, away from the coastline. If you cannot get this high or far, go as high or far as you can. Every foot inland or upward may make a difference. You should be able to reach your safe location on foot within 15 minutes. After a disaster, roads may become impassable or blocked. Be prepared to evacuate by foot if necessary. Footpaths normally lead uph ill and inland, while many roads parallel coastlines. Follow posted tsunami evacuation routes; these will lead to safety. Local emergency management officials can advise you on the best route to safety and likely shelter locations. If your childrenÂ’s school is in an identified inundation zone, find out what the school evacuation plan is. Find out if the plan requires you to pick your children up from school or from another location. Telephone lines during a tsunami watch or warning may be overloaded and routes to and from schools may be jammed. Practice your evacuation routes. Familiarity may save your life. Be able to follow your escape route at night and during inclement weather. Practicing your plan makes the appropriate response more of a reaction, requiring less thinking during an actual emergency situation. Use a NOAA Weather Radio or stay tuned to a local radio or television station to keep informed of local watches and warnings. Talk to your insurance agent. Homeowners p olicies do not cover flooding from a tsunami. Ask about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). NFIP covers tsunami damage, but your community must participate in the program. Discuss tsunamis with your family. Everyone should know what to do in a tsunami situation. Discussing tsunamis ahead of time will help reduce fear and save precious time in an emergency. Review flood safety and preparedness measures with your family. If you are visiting an area at risk from tsunamis, check with the hotel, motel, or campground operators for tsunami evacuation information and find out what the warning system is for tsunamis. It is important to know designated escape routes before a warning is issued. Fiction: Facts: Tsunamis normally have the appearance of a fast-rising and fast-receding flood. They can be similar to a tide cycle occurring over 10 to 60 minutes instead of 12 hours. Occasionally, tsunamis can form walls of water, known as tsunami bores, when the waves are high enough and the shoreline configuration is appropriate. Fiction: A tsunami is a single wave. Facts: A tsunami is a series of waves. Often the initial wave is not the largest. The largest wave may occur several hours after the initial activity starts at a coastal location. There may also be more than one series of tsunami waves if a very large earthquake triggers local landslides. In 1964, the town of Seward, Alaska, was devastated first by local tsunamis caused by submarine landslides resulting from the earthquake and then by the earthquakeÂ’s main tsunami. The local tsunamis began even as people were still experiencing the shaking. The main tsunami, triggered at the site of the earthquake, did not arrive for several hours. Fiction: Boats should move to the protection of a bay or harbor during a tsunami. Facts: Tsunamis are often most destructive in bays and harbors, not just because of the waves but because of the violent currents they generate in local waterways. Tsunamis are least destructive in deep, open ocean waters. Source: Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages. Produced by the National Disaster Education Coalition, Washington, D.C., 2004.