Alzheimers essays

Alzheimers essays Alzheimers disease (pronounced AHLZ-high-merz) is a complex disease that affects the brain. Approximately 4.5 million Americans have this disease. Although many things about Alzheimers remain a mystery, research continues to bring us a better understanding of the disease, more accurate diagnoses, and more effective treatments. Alzheimers disease is one of several disorders that cause the gradual loss of brain cells. The disease was first described in 1906 by German physician Dr. Alois Alzheimer. Although the disease was once considered rare, research has shown that it is the leading cause of dementia. Recent memory loss that affects skills. It is normal to occasionally forget appointments, recent events, names or telephone numbers. Those in the early stages of Alzheimers Disease may forget things more often and may struggle with or drop out of complex activities, which require a high level of brain power. Repetitiveness in conversation is another sign of short term memory loss. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. Busy people can be so distracted from time to time that they may leave the carrots on the stove and only remember to serve them at the end of the meal. People with Alzheimers Disease could prepare a meal, forget to serve it, and also forget they made it. Everyone has trouble finding the right word sometimes, but a person with Alzheimers Disease may forget simple words or substitute inappropriate words, making his or her sentences incomprehensible. Its normal to forget the day of the week or your destination for a moment, but people with Alzheimers Disease can become lost on their own street, not know where they are, how they got there, or how to get home. People can become so involved in an activity that they temporarily forget about the running water tap or such like. They may dress inappropriately, wearing several shirts or blouses or nightwear over day ...

Medieval Childbirth and Baptism

Medieval Childbirth and Baptism The concept of childhood in the middle ages and the importance of the child in medieval society is not to be overlooked in history. It is fairly clear from the laws designed specifically for the care of children that childhood was recognized as a distinct phase of development and that, contrary to modern folklore, children were not treated as nor expected to behave as adults. Laws regarding the rights of orphans are among the pieces of evidence we have that children had value in society, as well. It is difficult to imagine that in a society where so much value was placed on children, and so much hope was invested in a couples ability to produce children, children would regularly suffer from a lack of attention or affection. Yet this is the charge that has often been made against medieval families. While there have been- and continue to be- cases of child abuse and neglect in western society, to take individual incidents as indicative of an entire culture would be an irresponsible approach to history. Instead, let us look at how society in general regarded the treatment of children. As we take a closer look at childbirth and baptism, well see that, in most families, children were warmly and happily welcomed into the medieval world. Childbirth in the Middle Ages Because the foremost reason for marriage at any level of medieval society was to produce children, the birth of a baby was usually a cause for joy. Yet there was also an element of anxiety. While the childbirth mortality rate is probably not as high as folklore would have it,   there was still a possibility of complications, including birth defects or a breech birth, as well as the death of mother or child or both. And even under the best of circumstances, there was no effective anesthetic to eradicate the pain. The lying-in room was almost exclusively the province of women; a male physician would only be called in when surgery was necessary.  Under ordinary circumstances, the mother- be she peasant, town-dweller, or noblewoman- would be attended by midwives. A midwife would usually have more than a decade of experience, and she would be accompanied by assistants whom she was training. In addition, female relatives and friends of the mother would frequently be present in the birthing room, offering support and good will, while the father was left outside with little more to do but pray for a safe delivery. The presence of so many bodies could raise the temperature of a room already made warm by the presence of a fire, which was used to heat water for bathing both mother and child. In the homes of the nobility, gentry, and wealthy townspeople, the birthing room would usually be freshly-swept and provided with clean rushes; the best coverlets were put on the bed and the place was turned out for display. Sources indicate that some mothers may have given birth in a sitting or squatting position.  To ease the pain and to hasten the process of childbirth, the midwife might rub the mothers belly with ointment. Birth was usually expected within 20 contractions; if it took longer, everyone in the household might try to help it along by opening cupboards and drawers, unlocking chests, untying knots, or even shooting an arrow into the air. All of these acts were symbolic of opening the womb. If all went well, the midwife would tie off and cut the umbilical cord and help the baby take its first breath, clearing its mouth and throat of any mucus. She would then bathe the child in warm water or, in more affluent homes, in milk or wine;  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹she might also use salt, olive oil, or rose petals. Trotula of Salerno, a 12th-century female physician, recommended washing the tongue with hot water to assure the child would speak properly.  It was not uncommon to rub honey on the palate to give the baby an appetite. The infant would then be swaddled snugly in linen strips so that his limbs might grow straight and strong, and laid in a cradle in a dark corner, where his eyes would be protected from bright light. It would soon be time for the next phase in his very young life: Baptism. Medieval Baptism The primary purpose of  baptism  was to wash away original sin and drive all evil from the newborn child. So important was this  sacrament  to the Catholic Church that the usual opposition to women performing sacerdotal duties was overcome for fear an infant might die unbaptized. Midwives were authorized to perform the rite if the child was unlikely to survive and there was no man nearby to do it. If the mother died in childbirth, the midwife was supposed to cut her open and extract the baby so that she could baptize it. Baptism had another significance: it welcomed a new Christian soul into the community. The rite conferred a name on the infant that would identify him throughout his life, however short it might be. The official ceremony in the church would establish lifelong ties to his godparents, who were not supposed to be related to their godchild through any blood or marriage link. Thus, from the very beginning of his life, the medieval child had a relationship to the community beyond that defined by kinship. The role of godparents was mainly spiritual: they were to teach their godchild his prayers and instruct him in faith and morals. The relationship was considered as close as a blood link, and marriage to ones godchild was prohibited.  Because godparents were expected to bestow gifts on their godchild, there was some temptation to designate many godparents, so the number had been limited by the Church to three: a godmother and two godfathers for a son; a godfather and two godmothers for a daughter. Great care was taken when selecting prospective godparents; they might be chosen from among the parents employers, guild members, friends, neighbors, or lay clergy. No one from a family that the parents hoped or planned to marry the child into would be asked. Generally, at least one of the godparents would be of a higher social status than the parent. A child was usually baptized on the day he was born. The mother would stay at home, not only to recuperate, but because the Church generally followed the Jewish custom of keeping women from holy places for several weeks after giving birth. The father would assemble the godparents, and together with the midwife they would all bring the child to the church. This procession would frequently include friends and relatives, and could be quite festive. The priest would meet the baptismal party at the church door. Here he would ask if the child had been baptized yet and whether it was a boy or a girl. Next he would bless the baby, put salt in its mouth to represent the reception of wisdom, and exorcise any demons. Then he would test the godparents knowledge of the prayers they were expected to teach the child: the  Pater Noster,  Credo, and  Ave Maria. Now the party entered the church and proceeded to the  baptismal font. The priest would anoint the child, immerse him in the font, and name him. One of the godparents would raise the baby up from the water and wrap him in a christening gown. The gown, or crysom, was made of white linen and might be decorated with seed pearls; less wealthy families might use a borrowed one. The last part of the ceremony took place at the altar, where the godparents made the profession of faith for the child. The participants would then all return to the parents house for a feast. The entire procedure of baptism mustnt have been a pleasant one for the newborn. Removed from the comfort of its home (not to mention its mothers breast) and carried out into the cold, cruel world, having salt shoved into its mouth, immersed in water that could be dangerously cold in winter all this must have been a jarring experience. But for the family, the godparents, friends, and even the community at large, the ceremony heralded the arrival of a new member of society. From the trappings that went with it, it was an occasion that appears to have been a welcome one. Sources: Hanawalt, Barbara,  Growing Up in Medieval London  (Oxford University Press, 1993). Gies, Frances, and Gies, Joseph,  Marriage and the Family in the Middle Ages  (Harper Row, 1987). Hanawalt, Barbara, The Ties that Bound: Peasant Families in Medieval England (Oxford University Press, 1986).

Treasury profile of glaxo smithline pharmaceutical company Essay

Treasury profile of glaxo smithline pharmaceutical company - Essay Example rofile shown in the appendix at the end of this paper gives a bird’s eye-view of the company’s treasury management framework and is considered the best suited to the present day environment the company is operating under. The major five functions reviewed in the main text shows that the company is managed conservatively and that it is not engaged in speculative activities. Treasury function in an organisation is essential in order to maintain liquidity in funds flow. Liquidity will be affected due to various risks involved. The management must foresee unavoidable risks involved and provide for such risks by structuring the fixed capital and working capital suitably. (ACT) Company Glaxo Smith Kline PLC, UK‘s case is taken up for study of its treasury management. A brief outline of the company’s treasury profile is furnished in appendix at the end of this paper. Aim and objective of this study therefore is to ascertain the risks faced by this company and how it has designed its capital structure to manage its treasury functions in order maintain its liquidity and whether the current practice of treasury management is adequate or not. Treasury functions encompass capital markets and funding, cash and liquidity management, corporate financial management, Risk management and treasury operations and control. (ACT) The role of the treasury department is to maintain company’s liquidity. The treasurer has to monitor current and projected cash flows and make use of the information to suitably invest excess funds and also be in readiness for additional borrowings or equity in case of capital shortage that may be encountered any time. It should safeguard the existing assets by prudent investment of funds available and also guard against excessive losses arising out of interest rate and foreign exchange fluctuations. Cash forecasting, working capital management, cash management, investment management, treasury risk management, management advice, credit rating

Conspicuous Consumption in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Conspicuous Consumption in America - Essay Example As the report declares Marx’s theories of the fetishism of the commodity informs Veblen’s ideas of possessions having the capability of conferring an abstract noun upon its owner and by the middle of the twentieth century the advertising world had perfected the ability to translate this capability to consumers; at the same time the US economy began depending ever more heavily upon consumption of non-essential goods. Veblen’s â€Å"honor† eventually transformed into something else as the economic divide between rich and poor shrank alongside the growth of the American middle class. That something is called â€Å"status† and advertising works around the clock to convince consumers that status is something they can buy. Marx almost seems to be describing contemporary advertising tactics when he describes how a commodity can be fetishized. â€Å"The mystical character of commodities does not originate, therefore, in their use-value. Just as little does it proceed from the nature of the determining factors of value† This paper stresses that the major shift in the concept of conspicuous consumption from Veblen’s time to contemporary society is that when Veblen coined the term only the wealthy engaged in it; nowadays Americans situated at every point along the economic spectrum freely and willingly engage in consumption that is purely, and all too often only, conspicuous in nature. One needn’t be an economist to figure out that economic growth will be sluggish at best if the primary driving force is a low-profit endeavor.

Te Whariki and Concepts of Play Essay Example for Free

Te Whariki and Concepts of Play Essay How important is play to children’s life? Is it just for fun, or is it actually a passage for children to learn? According to a research conducted in French and Canadian schools, children who spent one-third of school time engaging in physical activity were â€Å"increased in fitness, improved attitudes, and slight improvements in test scores.† And the outcomes correspond with nearly 200 other studies suggesting that â€Å"physical activity supports learning.† (Olga S, 2003.) In this essay, I am going to discuss the influence of play on children’s development and learning, by referring to Vygotsky and Parten’s theories and Te Whariki. What is play? Play is a significant part of children’s development, and it is also a part of their nature. Children love to play, they are more motivated to learn during play, and they obtain all kinds of experiences and knowledge through play. Moreover, play provides opportunities for children to establish good relationships with teachers and peers. For example, in the first week of my last practicum, I helped a four-year-old girl to play number-matching puzzles. We had a very good time playing together, and this girl stayed very close to me for the rest of my practicum. I have also observed in my practicum that children who played together earlier in the day tended to stay together for the rest of the day. This emphasizes the important connection between play and social development of children. Moreover, according to Vygotsky’s theory, culture such as language, values and perspectives is transmitted through social interactions. (The Mozart of Psychology Lev Semenovich Vygotsky, 2005.) He also believed that, children’s cognitive development is socially and culturally mediated, and it depends on and is affected by social interactions. (Berk, 2007.) Children interact with each other through verbal and non-verbal language, and play is a starter to these interactions. Throughout play, they obtain knowledge, practical skills, share ideas and experiences, learn about sharing and turn taking, right and wrong and boundaries and limits. In 1932, Mildred Parten (as cited in R. Tomlin, n.d.) came up with the theory â€Å"Categories of Play†. It classifies children’s play into six categories that represent six types and degrees of children’s social behaviors and development. They are unoccupied play, onlooker play, solitary play, parallel play, associative play and co-operative play. The unoccupied play is a stage where the child does not engage himself in play, not with any other children or toys. The child is more like an ‘observer’ than ‘player’, he may watch other children play and take notice of the things that happen around him. He may stay in one location or move around randomly. During the onlooker play, the child is still more of a ‘watcher’ than ‘player’, he may engage himself with other children verbally during their play, such as asking questions, offer suggestions, but not engage in participating in the activity. Solitary play is a st age where the child plays by himself. There are no interactions with other children, and no interests of what other children are doing. However, when a child plays alone it does not necessarily mean he is socially isolated, it can be that the child just needs some time by himself. Parallel play is a stage that occurs in all age groups. It is when children play with similar toys or engage in similar activities at the same time and location, but play separately. They are more focused on what they are doing than on other children. Associative play mostly occurs between three and four years of age. It is a stage about socialization. Communication and interactions start to occur, children start to learn to share, to take turns. The main focus is not on the objects anymore but on their peers. The last stage is co-operative play. It is a stage that children start to have a concept of ‘team’ and ‘team work’. Everyone is working together toward the final goal by fulfilling the roles they assigned to. Play can be considered as an excellent tool to enhance children’s development. For example, in my last practicum, we often played a game called â€Å"The Rainbow†. It is to ask all the children and teachers to hold a large colorful fabric together, and the children are assigned to different numbers from one to three, then we start to sing a song, when the song finishes, we lift up the fabric, the teacher will call out the number, and the children who are assigned to this number will have to run under the fabric and switch positions. This game offers an opportunity for children to exercise their body by running, lifting up their arms, to practice their thinking skills by understanding the rules of the game, to practice their language skills by singing the song, and to recognize numbers. The children have a really great time playing the game, their emotional well-being has been nurtured, and by playing the game with all teachers together, they would feel safe and protected from harm. Moreover, a sense of belonging has been developed by playing the game together with the whole team. (Ministry of Education, 1996.) Other types of play, such as pretend play, symbolic play also help children to obtain a higher level of cognitive competence. For example, in pretend play, children have to have â€Å"the ability to transform objects and actions symbolically† (Bergen, 2002) Through these various types of play, children start to make sense of the world, to separate fantasy from reality, to learn self-regulation, to practice their thinking skills. It also provides children with opportunities to revisit joyful experiences, or to deal and cope with negative emotions. In terms of making sense of the world, a child who pretends to be a bus driver, and sits at the front of the ‘bus’. The idea of where the bus driver is on a bus comes from the child’s real life experiences, where he gets on the bus with his parents and sees the bus driver sitting in the front, then he starts to release that is the way it is. Also, when a child pretends to be a doctor, he has to understand its characteristic, such as costume, postures and vocabulary, in order to carry out the role. And an example of how children separate fantasy from reality is the ‘cooking’ game that I observed in my last practicum. The children used lots of containers, bottles, spoons and sand to ‘cook’. A four-year-old girl brought me a bottle filled with sand and said, â€Å"It’s milk, it’s for you.† And when I took over the bottle and start to ‘drink’, she said, â€Å"We are not really drinking it, we just pretend it’s milk, ok?† However, some other younger children would actually eat the sand, because they have not yet developed the concept of fantasy and reality. As previously said, pretend play and symbolic play help children to learn self-regulation, to practice thinking skills. They learn to control their emotions, to share toys and take turns, and underst and the reason to do that. They learn that daycare is different from home, and there are different sets of rules to follow. Children also love to re-act the joyful moments they had in previous experiences. For example, on a Monday morning, A came to my practicum centre telling us she had a great time on the beach during the weekend. Then later during the day, A and two other girls took bags, sun glasses and sunhats pretending they are on the beach. From these examples, we can see how children benefit from play. Play improves and enhances the holistic development of children, so for adults, it is important to encourage and enhance children to play, identify children’s learning and provide them with a safe environment, materials, various types of learning experiences and appropriate responds and assistance. Moreover, most importantly, â€Å"adults should make children aware of any hidden risks in physical challenges they set for themselves.† (Fernie, 1988) The four principles of Te Whariki (Ministry of Education, 1996.), empowerment, holistic development, relationship and family and community facilitate appropriate curriculum for children’s development through play. The principle of empowerment ensures that children’s physical and emotional well-being is nurtured. This may include, nutritious meals, appropriate food for children with allergies, sufficient amount of outdoor activity and rest, and knowledge of their body, body function and self-help skills, awareness of harm and skills, sense of safety, and understanding of rules about harming others and the environment. As for the emotional well-being, the principle of empowerment ensures that children take responsibilities of their own decision and actions, develop sense of self-recognition, ability of self-regulation and self-adjustment. The empowerment principle contributes significantly to the second principle, holistic development. It enables children to have a concept of the ECE settings, home and the world, and the links and differences between them, the knowledge of people, objects, communities and natural recourses, and interests in discovering them. Also, it helps children to build confidences through participating in activities and social interactions, initiatives awareness of daily routines and tolerance of changes, enhances their ability to accept new things, and to understand boundaries and limits. The third and forth principles, relationships and family and community work together to enable children to develop communication skills, build confidences in communication and establishing relationships with people from different gender, age group and cultural background. In my last practicum, one of the under two babies held a birthday party together with the over two children, the teachers and parents. The over twos also performed a song they had been practicing for the past two weeks to the parents. During the party, there were lots of interactions going on. The children were communicating with each other and adults verbally and non-verbally, they talks about the previous birthday parties, plans for their future birthday parties, they used facial expressions, gestures, postures and body movement to express themselves, some of the children showed their counting skills to the parent by counting the candles on the cake. The teachers and parents always respond to the children’s questions or needs, and encouraged them to bring their plate and water bottle to the kitchen branch by themselves and wash their hands after eating. Play is an important and significant part a child’s life, it provides opportunities for children to take initiatives in learning. As adults, we should provide children with helpful and suitable resources, materials and assistances to enable appropriate learning to occur. Moreover, it is our responsibility to arm ourselves with skills and knowledge in order to assist children to achieve their goals. We should start to be aware of the value and the significance of children’s play, guide and teach them during their play. Family, educators and caregivers should be working together, to help children to grow up into successful adults, and to make our world a better place. Reference List Bergen, D. (2002). The role of pretend play in childrens cognitive development. Retrieved March 23, 2010 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6893/is_1_4/ai_n28132540/?tag=content;col1 Berk, Laura E. (2007). (4th Edition). Development Through the Lifespan. USA: Pearson Allyn and Bacon. Fernie, D. (1988). The Nature of Childrens Play. Retrieved March 23, 2010 April 2, 2010 from http://www.silkysteps.com/family.cfm/auid/481/Hope-Hedgehog/Hopes-Articles/Childrens-Play Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whariki: He whariki matauranga mo nga mokopuna o aotearoa/ Early Childhood Curriculum. Wellington: Learning Media. Olga S, J. (2003). Recess in Elementary School: What Does the Research Say? ERIC Digest. Retrieved January 23, 2010 from http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-2/recess.html R. Tomlin, C. (n.d.). Play: A Historical Review. Retrieved March 20, 2010 from http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=618 The Mozart of Psychology Lev Semenovich Vygotsky. (2005). Retrieved March 13, 2010 from http://vygotsky.afraid.org/

Lions for Lambs :: Terrorism

In the movie Lions for Lambs, the Senator sits behind his desk, his face one of excitement and determination. He is talking about the new war on terrorism. As he is speaking , a reporter takes notes. Then he speaks of the terrorists’ view on the last 1300 years of human progress and how they consider it as heresy and that it is punishable by death. We, as Americans, cannot comprehend this idea, as we are always look to the future and progress as a blessing for us and our children. Our faith promotes tolerance and love for our fellow man, so we wonder how a religion can turn people into such unforgiving terrorists. The Islamic faith, which grew from a military basis, is unable to separate the religious aspects from the ruling body, leaving its religious tenants and civil laws open to individual interpretation and an intolerance for other religious beliefs. Because the history of the Islamic faith was built on the unification of the tribes of Arabia they became a powerful force. â€Å" Islam from its inception, is a political as well as a religious movement, and the themes of religion, politics and law are inseparable in the Qur’an and in Islam as a whole.† (Richard Connery, William Dudley) The Muslim military is the rock and foundation on which the Islamic and Muslim faith is built on.

Asian-Americans and their Progress towards Essay

During the many years of the continuous immigration of various nationalities in the United States, it could be noted that many immigrants have already absorbed the culture that Americans have. One of the many ethnicities which had migrated in the United States is the Asians. In the current society of the United States it is known that these groups of people are one of the many ethnic minorities that is housed by the United States. In fact, many of the families of the past migrants have now stayed in the United States had had lived their lives similar to full blooded Americans. However, although most of these immigrants have already acquired all the culture, the language and life style of the Americans it is still not enough for the society that they would be called Americans. On the other hand, the Asian-Americans like other ethnic minorities in the United States are somewhat confused to on the proper identity that they must maintain. One of the main examples of the uncertainty is the Asian-American popular culture which presents evidences regarding such group in the society. In the current popular culture, it is noticeable the many of Asian-Americans had been inclined with certain identity which could be very noticeable in the choices of their consuming behavior. In addition, personal choices such of the music, clothing style and etc. In the written work of Min Zhou and Jennifer Lee (2004), they have clearly stated that the Asian-American youth is directly seen by the American culture as not fitting to the popular images which are most associated with the current popular culture. Such popular cultures that are being discussed were being rap artists, skin heads, punks and the likes. For the longest time, Asian-Americans are seen as stereotypically geek who only focuses directly on their studies instead of being socially active. (Zhou & Lee, p. 1, 2004). Many of the Asian-Americans are obviously shying away from these concepts of being geeks and nerds. Instead, they follow the popular culture and act similarly to the demands of the American society. First and foremost, we could see that many of the Asian-American youth are more inclined to look like a gangster rather than a typical Asian-American. In many television shows and advertisements, there are numerous Asians who steps away from the light that they are individuals who are very serious in being successful that they study very well. Due to the very advanced technological innovations that we have such that of YouTube people could truly see that Asian-Americans are truly absorbing and creating new a type of culture when it comes to music. One of the best examples is David Choi who is known to be a Korean-American. Choi is singer, songwriter and guitarist on his own channel in YouTube. As noticed, Choi is very far from the typical stereotype of Asian who shies away from the crowd. After attaining success and massive support from different individuals he was able to have his own album. Instead of being the stereotypical Asian-American, he proclaims and continuously re-invents his music to suit his fans and the current trend in the society. In the film industry there had been few individuals who are known to be popular in the United States due to the certain film which they have done. One of the most famous Asian-American is Lucy Lui who played one of the Charlie’s Angels. In the movies, it is not often that an Asian-American plays a â€Å"kick-ass† role and presents her self as a strong assertive woman. In the stereotypical eyes of most Americans, Asian-Americans are simple and mostly quiet and demure because this is how they are culturally trained. However, due to such character played by Lui, the concept of how and what a woman should be (through an Asian context) is changed. With such, the Americanization of the Asian woman is clearly seen through the portrayal made by Lui. (â€Å"Is Lucy Liu a Heroine or a Curse? †) In terms of music, an article was written regarding the sudden boom of the Asian-American artists in the music industry. In the article, the author stated that various American-Asian artists are suddenly emerging into the music scene within in various localities in the United States. Most of the tunes that these musicians and artists play are mostly western music when do hip-hop and R&B, as well as a DJ in various clubs. Such artists were Yellow Peril, Seoul Brothers, Mountain Brothers, and a lot more. These artists are said to have gained significant success and a symbolic presence of the developments of the Asian-Americans (Wang, 1998). Therefore, Asian-Americans were already able to join the band wagon of having the same musical preference as the Americans. In addition, they are not only listening to type of music Americans hear but also imitating or innovating towards a new genre of music. In the most current popular culture many Asians are excelling in the freestyle dancing, break dancing and etc. (Tseng, 1998) From the lessons that we have taken, it is known that through consumption and consumerism that the factors of living is defined. From my own personal point of view, I do believe that consumption is a cultural issue that must be deeply studied due to the various concepts attached such as social class, cultural norms and etc. Cultural consumption is also affected by advertising as well as the culture of being brand conscious rather than quality conscious. I have stated this due to my personal experiences as a consumer. As I have observed in the super markets most of the time people spend so much time in thinking on what type of brand they would buy. Just last week I needed to do my grocery when I saw a Filipino woman and her son in the cereals and oats lane. She meticulously surfs for the proper brand of cereals while her son stated that â€Å"Mom, why are we staying too long in this section? We don’t really eat cereals for breakfast. I want rice. † Then the mother replied, â€Å"No darling, rice is too heavy for you, studies say that it could cause diabetes. And your playmates eat cereals every morning so you should also eat cereal. † Being in a class that studies such concept of culture, I was amazed on how real the concept of Americanization is. I do know that most Filipinos prefer rice for breakfast because it is a custom meal for them everyday. But through my first hand experience, I did see that people who are not Americans are in need to attain cultural citizenship in order for them to be accepted. Although I do believe that Asians are accepted in the American society, the acceptance is not as whole in comparison to being a white American. In a sense, the mother who was with her child in the grocery would want her son to be culturally American that she is shifting the norms which her son know in order for him to be suitable in the American society. Just like the story presented in â€Å"Consumption Fantasies of Upward Mobility,† Richard wanted to move away from the typical concepts of Asians. Therefore, Richard wanted to be a professional who is likely to be the choice of a typical American who works inside the office. In addition, there is a concept of attaining the â€Å"American Dream in which most important thing for Asian-Americans. Moreover, due to the desire to attain such, they also want to be treated like Americans. As a result, they act and absorb the American culture and norms which they believe will grant them cultural citizenship (Hee Park, p. 112, 2005). In conclusion, the current Asian-American culture is still in the process of attaining acceptance in the American society. In addition, they want to change the stereotypical concept that most of them are geeks and losers thus, the Asian-American community is shifting towards a much western culture. The community is not only doing such in order to be within the trend of the popular culture but also to be accepted and not discriminated by others. In terms of consumption, it is real that it is one of the factors which could justify the Americanization of an individual not only Asian-Americans. Through decision making and choosing what type of product must be used is obviously dictated by the society around them. In addition, professional choice is also an aspect the shows that Asians are Americanized or desires cultural citizenship. Like one of the most famous saying stated: â€Å"If you can’t beat them, join them. † Reference Is Lucy Liu a Heroine or a Curse?. GoldSea . Retrieved 9 December 2008 from http://www. goldsea. com/Air/Issues/Liu/liu. html. Lee, J. and Zhou, M. (2004). Asian American Youth.United States of America: Routledge Publishing. Sun-Hee Park, L. (2005). Consuming Citizenship. United States of America: Stanford University Press. Tseng, J. (1998). Asian American Rap: Expression Through Alternate Forms. Model Minority. Retrieved 9 December 2008 from http://www. modelminority. com/article128. html. Wang, O. (1998). Asian Americans and hip-hop. Asian Week. Retrieved 9 December 2008 from http://asianweek. com/111298/coverstory. html. David Choi : http://www. youtube. com/user/davidchoimusic? ob=4