Analysis of the ending of Death of a Salesman by Arthur...

The play Death of a Salesman shows the final demise of Willy Loman, a sixty-year-old salesman in the America of the 1940s, who has deluded himself all his life about being a big success in the business world. It also portrays his wife Linda, who plays along nicely with his lies and tells him what he wants to hear, out of compassion. The book describes the last day of his life, but there are frequent flashbacks in which Willy relives key events of the past, often confusing them with what is happening in the present. His two sons, Biff and Happy, who are in their 30s, have become failures like himself. Both of them have gone from idolizing their father in their youth to despising him in the present. On the last few pages of†¦show more content†¦Afer he has left, Willy is deeply moved, because he realizes that Biff actually liked him. But even this realisation does not make him understand Biff, and he proclaims again that Biff will be magnificent! (p.106). And his mental voice, in the form of Ben, adds that this will certainly be the case, especially with twenty thousand behind him. He is freshly motivated to proceed with his old plan by his gross misinterpretation of Biffs startling behaviour. He is simply unable to realize, that money is not what Biff wants or needs. Although he does realize, that Biff, despite everything, loves him, and perhaps this is to him another incentive to give him the money. At the funeral, Happy is unchanged, his old self. He says that [they] wouldve helped him (p.110), even though he himself had been extremely cruel to Willy by abandoning him at a restaurant just before the big quarrel, and certainly this wasnt the only incident where he had shown no regard at all for Willy. Happy has obviously not learned a thing from the entire tragedy, which is why Biff gives him a hopeless glance near the end of the Requiem. Biff speaks of the nice days that they had had together, which all involve handymans work Willy had done on the day. Charley adds to this that he was a happy man with a batch of cement (p.110). This adds a new dimension to the tragedy, because it all indicates that Willy was,Show MoreRelatedThe Theme Of Death In Arthur Millers Death Of A Salesman1064 Words   |  5 PagesDeath is often seen as a scary and dreadful reality that everybody must face. Suicide is perceived as selfish and cold-hearted by many. What about somebody who commits suicide for the greater good? This harsh actuality is depicted in the play â€Å"Death of a Salesman† by Arthur Miller. Miller overcame loss and devastation and created a heartfelt collection of literature that became iconic. â€Å"Death of a Salesman† unveils the unfortunate reality that many households experience of chaos disrupting harmonyRead MoreTheme Of Death In Death Of A Salesman1102 Words   |  5 PagesDeath is often seen as a frightening and dreadful reality that everybody must face. Many people believe that suicide is a selfish and cold-hearted action. What about somebody who commits suicide for the benefit of others? Arthur Miller depicts this harsh actuality in the play â€Å"Death of a S alesman†. Miller experienced and overcame loss and devastation throughout his life. By experiencing these hardships, he created a heartfelt collection of literature that became iconic over time. â€Å"Death of a Salesman†Read MoreDeath Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller1127 Words   |  5 PagesArthur Miller: â€Å"Death of a Salesman† Analysis Willy Loman had been a salesman for all of his life. Although he was a hard worker and kept up with an exhausting schedule, his family always practically lived in poverty and Willy was inferior in his company. He always told his family that they would get the big break he deserved. He had raised two sons, Happy and Biff, to think that life has somehow cheated them and insists that they will get their payback someday. Willy s wife, Linda, lives in denialRead More Modern Tragic Hero Essay1304 Words   |  6 Pages Death of a Salesman, considered as Author Millers most accomplished and successful plays, features the life of Willy Loman, a delusional salesman with a grandiose plan to live the American dream. As a result to the tragic events of Willy Loman’s life starting with his father’s abandonment, and ending with his suicide, Willy Loman never lives the life he has always dreamed. Although, arguably discredited as a tragic hero, Willy Loman attains the qualities essent ial to credit him as a tragic heroRead MoreHow Dialogue And The Stage Affects An Audience s Perception1269 Words   |  6 Pagescome to have a greater appreciation of the form, having now experienced the process myself. Plays often have multiple subplots and sub-themes that can be difficult for an undiscerning eye to pick out, but I feel that I have honed my dramaturgical analysis. I really enjoyed this semester, and I have definitely improved as a playwright. I broadened my abilities as both a reader and a writer. My dialogue has developed further, becoming more varied and rich. I have also learned how to harness my creativityRead MoreDeath of a Salesman1332 Words   |  5 Pages As the play’s titular character in Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman is viewed by many as the definitive modern tragic hero of modern literature. He is a man struggling to gain upward mobility in a society designed to keep him in the trenches. The classic idea of a tragic hero is an important perso n who falls from a lofty seat in life. Willy, however, is just a common man trying to get to a place he can fall from. According to Arthur Miller, a tragic hero need not be a king or anyone of high rankRead MoreCompare/Contrast Willy Loman (Death of a Salesman) and Walter Lee Younger (a Raisin in the Sun)2823 Words   |  12 PagesYounger and Willy Loman are prime examples of this, both pinning their hopes on unattainable dreams to hide the feelings of failure. The theme of illusion versus reality is present in both Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman through the portrayal of main characters Walter and Willy in their struggles for happiness and prosperity. Although the two characters have similar dreams, Walter, a dynamic character, breaks through the fantasy while Willy, a staticRead MoreFeminist Approach to Witchcraft; Case Study: Millers the Crucible6554 Words   |  27 PagesTitle: Re(dis)covering the Witches in Arthu r Millers The Crucible: A Feminist Reading Author(s): Wendy Schissel Publication Details: Modern Drama 37.3 (Fall 1994): p461-473. Source: Drama Criticism. Vol. 31. Detroit: Gale. From Literature Resource Center. Document Type: Critical essay Bookmark: Bookmark this Document Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning Title Re(dis)covering the Witches in Arthur Millers The Crucible: A Feminist Reading [(essay date fall 1994) In the followingRead MoreStrategic Marketing Management337596 Words   |  1351 PagesStrategic and marketing analysis 2 Marketing auditing and the analysis of capability 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Learning objectives Introduction Reviewing marketing effectiveness The role of SWOT analysis Competitive advantage and the value chain Conducting effective audits Summary 3 Segmental, productivity and ratio analysis 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 Learning objectives Introduction The clarification of cost categories Marketing cost analysis: aims and methods An illustrationRead MoreMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 PagesMANAGER ASSISTANT MARKETING MANAGER MARKETING ASSISTANT DESIGN DIRECTOR SENIOR DESIGNER SENIOR MEDIA EDITOR George Hoffman Lise Johnson Carissa Doshi Dorothy Sinclair Matt Winslow Amy Scholz Carly DeCandia Alana Filipovich Jeof Vita Arthur Medina Allison Morris This book was set in 10/12 New Caledonia by Aptara ®, Inc. and printed and bound by Courier/Westford. The cover was printed by Courier/Westford. This book is printed on acid-free paper. Copyright  © 2009, 2006, 2004, 2001

Robert E. Lee An Effective General Of The Confederate Army

To What Extent Was Robert E. Lee an Effective General of the Confederate Army? Esta Bichler Period 4 Word Count: 2,191 Section 1: The focus of this investigation will be, â€Å"To what extent was Robert E. Lee an effective leader of the Confederate Army?† The investigation will analyze Lee’s strengths and weaknesses that contributed to his effectiveness and the overall loss of the Confederacy in the Civil War. The overall character of Lee throughout his lifetime is too broad, therefore, this investigation will focus solely on the testimony of his military background, and the personality traits that led to Lee’s decisions during the Civil War. As a result, Lee the American by Gamaliel Bradford Jr. and Robert E. Lee: The Soldier by Sir F. Maurice are important sources to this investigation, due to the background they give on Lee’s military training, personality, and victories in the battles leading up to Gettysburg. Source 1: Robert E. Lee The Soldier by Sir F Maurice. This source could be of value to historians due to its focus on Lee as a general and not necessarily about Lee in the civil war. The purpose of this book is not to debate the civil war, but to appreciate Lee’s role as the general. Therefore, the source is biased based on the authors clear appreciation of Lee. The source both gives facts about Lee’s life as well as information about Lee part in the civil war. The value of this source is the historians participation in the military andShow MoreRelatedRobert E. Lee s Life During The Civil War1265 Words   |  6 Pagesespecially for Confederate army leaders. The constant pressure from needing to defend and protect Southern independence contributed to the rise of anxiety and stress related medical disorders. Robert E. Lee, a brilliant Confederate general and skilled tactician, was such a case. General Lee s health during his pre-Civil War years was without blemish. However, with the beginning of the Civil War, Lee s health experienced noticeable decline. Later in his life, doctors diagnosed Lee with pericarditisRead MoreThe Battle of Gettysburg Essay1398 Words   |  6 PagesWar. The confederate army was led by General Robert E. Lee, an experienced, educated, and extremely successful career military officer. He was second in his class at WestPoint, as well as a valuable asset during the Mexican War. When Virginia seceded from the Union, A braham Lincoln initially asked General Lee to lead the Union Army. General Lee declined the position offered by Lincoln due to his loyalty to him home state1. General Lee was appointed as the General of the Confederate Army by JeffersonRead MoreThe Civil War : America s Bloodiest War Since The Creation Of The Country871 Words   |  4 Pagesconflicts between The Confederate and The Union States. Was there a turning point? A battle which changed the tide completely? Among the major battles we can find The Battle of Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Stones River, and Fredericksburg. These battles were the changing points in history. The Country as we know it could’ve changed within a matter of minutes had the events occurred differently. In order to understand how this war played out we must look it on all angles. The generals, leading reasons, battleRead MoreThe Battle Of The War Essay1510 Words   |  7 Pagesthe South were engulfed by aggressive battles almost resulting in a Union defeat under determined Confederate forces. Focusing on the major turning point battle of the war, the Battle at Gettysburg, the confederate Army was led by General Robert E. Lee, and the Union Army was led by General George G. Meade. This battle lasted for three days - July 1st through the 3rd, 1863, and ended when the Confederates had failed to break up the main Union line. On July 2 of the battle, more than â€Å"15,000 soldiersRead MoreMy Interpretation Of The Battle Of Gettysburg1572 Words   |  7 Pagesactually be like to be a soldier during the Civil War. Sharra provides many detailed maps of both army s positions, which gave me a better idea of where the men were posted, where they were headed, and which rout of attack the generals had their men on. Throughout the book I was shown the pain that these men went through, how loyal these men were to their duty, and how important each decision that each general made on the battle field truly was. The battle that these men fought makes more sense to meRead MoreSouthern Culture And The Circumstances Of The War1196 Words   |  5 Pagescoincided with the ideal southern man, were set up to become the mythologized figures that would eventually become central to southern history. Jackson and Lee, through their own skill sets and actions during the war, solidified their respective legacies as a martyr and a leader. In 1861, Jackson was promoted as brigadier general in the Army of Northern Virginia, where he began to distinguish himself in the following battles. He gained Lee’s trust and as a result, held a fair amount of control overRead MoreMilitary Strategy and Tactics of the Civil War Essay1373 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican Civil War was one of the deadliest wars in American history, resulting in 620,000 casualties of soldiers and undetermined number of civilian casualties. Southern slave states declared their withdrawal from United States and formed the Confederate States of America; also know as â€Å"The Confederacy.† Northern twenty states free of slavery and five slave states in north came to knows as the Union. Many strategy and tactics were used during the American Civil War. In order to understand the militaryRead MoreThe Battle Of The Confederate Forces1233 Words   |  5 Pagesbegan on July 1st, 1863 when Brigadier General John Buford met the Confederate forces ju st northwest of the town to slow their advances. General Buford and his troops successfully stalled the enemy until their reinforcements arrived. The Confederate reinforcements, led by Generals Hill and Ewell. The Confederacy forced the Union Army to retreat back through Gettysburg to the south of the town. There they joined the main Union forces led by Major General George Gordon Meade, who had been at theRead MoreLee vs Jackson902 Words   |  4 PagesIn the eastern front of U.S. Civil War there were two men who stood above the rest. Robert E. Lee was the commanding general of the Army of Northern Virginia. Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson commanded the Army of the Shenandoah. The military genius of these two men was far beyond that of any Union or Confederate officer in the east. History tells us that Robert E. Lee was one of the greatest commanding officers in history. History only tells us that Jackson was brave and stood like a stonewallRead MoreBattle of Gettysburg1186 Wor ds   |  5 Pageslargest number of soldiers, totaling 172,000 young men (â€Å"American Civil War†). During the Civil War, our nation was divided by the North (Union Army) and the South (Confederate Army) for opposing viewpoints on slavery and states’ rights. The Battle of Gettysburg was fought over three long, arduous days. The soldiers struggled under their respected generals in a 25 mile battle zone (â€Å"American Civil War†). This battle was a triumphant victory and a heart-wrenching loss for the troops of the Yankee North

Sleep deprivation Essay Example For Students

Sleep deprivation Essay Plan: The federal government will provide local school districts with incentives to change the starting time of the secondary schools to a time that fits with adolescents biological need to sleep. Harms: Sleep experts feel really strongly that high school timings are out of sync with the natural circadian rhythms of adolescents, commented Michele Kipke, head of the National Academy of Sciences Board on Children, Youth and Families (Kaufman). One way to correct this inconsistency would be to start the school day later. Because of their unique sleep needs, teenagers brains are not ready to be alert until long after the typical high school day has begun, said Richard Gelula, Nation Sleep Foundation Executive (National Sleep Foundation, Adapt). Most high schools in the United States begin school between 7:15 and 7:45 (Kaufman). This is a problem because teenagers require around nine hours of sleep per night, but often times cannot fall asleep until eleven at night (Kaufman). Gelula added that even teens who get the correct amount of sleep, because of their internal clock, tend to be sleepy in the mid-morning and alert later in the mid-afternoon (National Sleep Foundation, Adapt). Responding to recent research on teenage sleep, many school districts have changed their starting times to later in the morning, most notably in Minneapolis, where high schools now begin class at eight thirty A.M. (National Parent Information Network) By making sure teenagers maintain regular sleep habits, educating teens on the importance of getting enough sleep, and beginning school later in the morning, the problem of teenage sleep deprivation can easily be corrected. Most teens are ignorant of the effects of sleep deprivation, and even those who are aware choose not to follow the recommendations. In both cases, they are only hurting themselves. Though getting the proper amount of sleep can be inconvenient, it is indispensable for reaching ones full .

Youth viloence Essay Example For Students

Youth viloence Essay Youth ViolenceEver since the terrible tragedy at Columbine High School, there has been a numerous list of recent school shootings in America. Youth violence is a major issue in todays society. Many people dread what causes adolescents to be so violent, committing horrible crimes. There are many wonders that go around about why young adolescents commit such violent crimes. These questions vary from why kids take guns to school, or how do we know if they are putting others in danger, what signs are there, what should be looked at, and what can be done to stop these acts of violence. I remember watching the MTV special Warning Signs; it explained the violence in our society today. In the video they talked with young adolescents and asked them questions dealing with crimes they have been institutionalized for. The video also explained warning signs of someone who may be planning to commit an act of violence. We will write a custom essay on Youth viloence specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Reasearch has shown that aggression plays a significant role in ones behavior problem. Aggression is any form of behavior intended to harm or injure another living being. There are many reasons why someone acts in an aggressive way. First, many people have an instinct of being aggressive towards certain individuals, second genes are another factor that can develop from a complex interaction of biology, social experience, and each individuals behavior, third the brain and the nervous system has a direct effect on aggression as well, forth substance abuse as well as alcohol is a form of aggression, fifth between males and females hormones, they each differ in the amount of aggression each sex has, sixth frustration which leads to anger then leads to aggression, and lastly different cultures and the way you interact in your society can affect how aggressive you are. (Chapter 16 factors of agression)Lifestyles also play an important part in youth violence. Growing up in a divorced family as well as the way your parents raised you are major aspects that effect youth today. When children go through a divorce they experience tremendous pain and go through a lot of changes in their life.(chapter 9 impact of divorce) They experience behavioral problems, and less academic achievements. Adolescents in this stage can also experience aggression toward their parents as well as their friends and other family members due to the divorce. Every parent had there own parenting styles of raising their kids, however, some ways can lead to corrupt behavior. There are the authoritative parents whose children tend to be moody, aggressive, and have poor communication skills. Then there are the permissive and authoritative parents who are generally caring and sensitive towards their children.(chapter 9 parenting styles) Studies have shown that if you grow up in a family that shows aggression towards one another, then it is more likely that you as a young adult will be aggressive as well. However in recent studies, it is said that in adulthood individuals are outgrowing aggression. There are still many questions that go around as to why the youth of today turn to violence. Many people feel that there is too much violence in TV, as well as in movies, children have easy access to guns as well as other harmful weapons. Many parents leave children unsupervised. Even though there are no accurate answers to why these children commit such violence, I feel that the parents have a major impact on their actions. Violence affects our society greatly and we need to put an end to this unnecessary violence. Words/ Pages : 604 / 24

Tech essays

Tech essays The PowerPC G4 is one of the elite performing products produced by Apple, Motorola, and IBM. It is actually the first microprocessor that can deliver a sustained performance of over one giga-flop, which is a lot. The PowerPC G4 Velocity Engine can process information in 128-bit chunks, compared to the 32 or 64-bit chunks in traditional processors. In addition, the G4 can perform four 32-bit floating-point calculations in a single cycle, which is two to four times faster than traditional processors. But with all this speed arises the need to store it. The Macintosh G4 has a 60GB ultra hard drive, but sometimes that is not enough in order to gain the max benefit in a profession. RAID, Redundant Arrays of Independent Disk, is one option of extra data storage that has revolutionized the way large files has been stored in computers. RAID technology offers significant improved reliability, availability, and serviceability. It is a method of combining multiple hard drives so that they behave as a single hard drive. RAID arrays can be created for two main reasons: increased performance and increased data security. There are several ways to achieve both goal, and each method is referred to as a RAID level. Level 0, the first type of RAID, employs multiple hard drives for increased read/write access times. Because each drive has to work less, storing or retrieving a file to a RAID 0 array can be much faster than storing a file to a single hard drive. RAID level 1, is the second type used exclusively for data security and does not increase performance at all. RAID 1 uses two hard drives of equal size and provides two perfect copies of the data stored on the main drive. This means that if one of the two hard drives should fail there is a complete and current copy waiting to be used. The final type RAID levels 3,4,5 all employ multiple hard drives for speed, but they also employ special techniques for data security. ...

9 top jobs to pursue if youre bilingual

9 top jobs to pursue if youre bilingual Having another language under your belt can be a huge career asset in today’s crowded market. People on two sides of a language divide will rely on you  to effectively and fluently convey information back and forth. If you’re bilingual (or looking to add another language to your skillset), read on to learn about the best jobs for people with this valuable skill. 1. Translator/InterpreterThis is sort of a no brainer, but it’s a much-needed and thriving career. Whether your skills are best written or verbal, a wide variety of institutions and organizations need people who speak different languages available- think hospitals, conference centers, educational institutions, courts, immigration facilities†¦ the list goes on and on.2. Emergency ServicesWhen people call for an emergency, they need to be heard and understood without delay. If someone calls with limited English skills and you are able to help them in their native tongue, you’ll save the say fo r everyone involved. Consider joining fire or police departments or becoming an EMT.3. Human ResourcesMost companies are looking to improve workplace diversity, so bringing foreign workers onto the payroll is key. An HR department that can communicate with new hires? A no brainer.  Human resources specialists recruit, interview, and place workers.4. Customer ServiceWhy deal with irate calls in only one language? Or better yet: why not help companies grow their customer base by helping to field queries and complaints in not one, but two languages! Multilingual call centers are already a norm, so they’re always on the lookout for multi- or bilingual applicants with cultural sensitivity and stellar people skills.5. Social/Community WorkHelp people in their own communities and in their own languages. Americans come from so many diverse backgrounds that it’s often a huge plus to be able to help someone in their native tongue- whether you’re a social worker or a dis aster relief worker, etc.6. Bank TellerBanks can be intimidating and confusing places on a good day. Now imagine no one speaking your language. Be a hero and help people through transactions in their first language.7. Immigration SpecialistChances are, if you’re working to help people acquire legal status in the United States for the first time, they might not be totally fluent in English right off the bat. Help them through the trying process in their own language.8. Flight AttendantSet yourself apart from the other candidates by boasting that you can communicate with customers on board in more than one language. Having another language in your pocket (or multiple languages!) increases the safety and understanding of everyone on the plane, and can make a flight more comfortable for someone whose English isn’t great.9. TeacherAs this list has shown, knowing another language other than English makes you hirable in a variety of fields. Why not help the next generation of workers be able to communicate fluently in another language? You’ll get to pass on your passion to a group of kids and ensure that they will be armed with a valuable skill that will enhance their personal and professional lives.

Scholarly Paper Caring for Individuals, families and groups Research

Scholarly Caring for Individuals, families and groups - Research Paper Example (A Nation Free...p.2) The factors such as geographic location, mental health, age, gender, socioeconomic status, religion are found to be main determinants in health care discrimination. Lack of insurance is the biggest barrier, more than any other economic or demographic barrier that affects the quality of health care received by these groups. They constitute about one-third of the U.S. population, but make up more than half of the 50 million people who are uninsured. Of the total 50 million people who are uninsured, almost half belongs to the racial and ethnic group; while they constitute only one-third of the U.S. population. Reforms under the Affordable Care Act have to be seen in above light and it is likely to be a boon for many and may be a bane for someone. Some of the significant milestones of the act can be described as per the following. Benefits to Children and Senior Citizens The reforms have brought new rights and benefits for children and to those under the age of 26 t o stay on their parent's health insurance. It has also ended annual limits on care. The new act provides 50% discounts on brand-name drugs to seniors in Medicare and it also provides tax credit to small businesses for extending insurance to employees. Providing Access to Insurance for Uninsured Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions Uninsured Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions A Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) is made for individuals who are uninsured for at least six months for that reason. States are also free to run the new programs. The Department of Health and Human Services will run the plan, if the state does not have a plan. This program will serve as a bridge until 2014, when any discrimination against pre-existing conditions will not be allowed. The act will have influences on health and caring across wide section of ethnic minorities in varied ways. Though, the Affordable Care Act is formulated to provide the health for all but it essentially addresses th e needs of those who had no access to adequate coverage due to their underprivileged status. Well-Being, Health, and Safety of the American People The broad range of health indicators pertaining to racial and ethnic minorities is far worse than their non-Hispanic White counterparts hence well-being of these people needs special attention. Hence need is to create an environment that can control chronic diseases and associated risk factors. The effective community-based programs and policies can reduce and tackle the disparities in health standards. (A Nation free†¦p4) Racial and Ethnic Minority It is true that all American citizens do not have equal access to health care. Various racial and ethnic minorities, low-income groups and most of the underprivileged populations have higher rates of illness and less treatment options. Mostly, they do not have any insurance coverage for treatment. They’re less likely to get chance of preventive care and will have no access to the t reatment and screenings to stay healthy. Preventing diabetes and heart disease is a tough task for them. Perhaps, this is the group who is going to get the biggest benefits from this new healthcare program. Economical Ways The Affordable Care Act is geared to reduce these disparities regarding health care by improving access to health care for all citizens. This is aimed at bringing down the

Recycling Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Recycling - Research Paper Example s a man makes impact on his personal and family lives at present, and threatens future life of his next generations, who will not be able to live the same life as this man does. To prevent such results, the concept of sustainable development emerged. This concept became popular in the 80-es of 20th century. The main idea of it is that a man should live in such a way, so that he will not prevent his future generations to live at least in the same way, as he does (Bartlett 2012). Some of the principles of sustainable development state, that a man should be careful with using resources, and should not just spend them irretrievably. It became important to find new methods to compensate and displace the used resources to preserve ecological system. The idea to process the waste products and use them as secondary materials became very popular among the supporters of the sustainable development concept. Thus, recycling became one of the instruments for communities how to get to the sustaina ble development path. Recycling is a process of reusing waste products and garbage or retrieving them back into operation. This process is considered to be one of the methods to restore all the waste generated (Tam 2006) The importance of recycling today is significant and is of global value. Recycling helps to solve ecological and resource-saving problems. First of all, the resources on the Earth are limited and cannot be compensated as fast as they are being used (some of them require the time of life of several generations). Then, when waste is thrown into environment, it usually becomes its pollutant. It takes several centuries for some materials to decay in natural environment. Besides, product waste and other products, the useful life of which is over, are usually (but not always) a cheaper source of materials than natural sources. Using secondary material resources can save the costs for waste utilization, new resource purchase, transport and labour costs etc. New jobs for

The Economic Impact of the Horse Industry Essay Example for Free

The Economic Impact of the Horse Industry Essay People often view the equine industry as nothing more than simply an expensive hobby. However, in actuality it is far more than just that. The horse industry has an enormous impact on the United States economy and covers a vast horizon of different areas. From top-notch Thoroughbred racing to the simplicity of a backyard companion horse, the industry provides about 460,000 full-time equivalent jobs and has a direct economic effect on the United States of about 39 billion dollars annually. After taking into account the money multiplier effect of spending by suppliers and employees in the industry, this number grows even larger to create about 1. 4 million full-time equivalent jobs nationally with a 102 billion dollar annual impact on the United States economy (â€Å"National Economic Impact†). Studies show that the equine industry has a direct effect on gross domestic product (GDP) in the United States. Between the different areas of the horse business, including but not limited to racing, showing, and leisurely riding, about 38.8 billion dollars of goods and services are produced, leaving an impact of 101.5 billion dollars on US GDP. Taxes paid by the equine industry also affect the economy in the United States, with approximately 1.9 billion dollars total in taxes coming from this industry. Federal taxes amount to 588 million dollars, state taxes are 1,017 million dollars, and last but not least, local taxes are equal to 275 million dollars (â€Å"National Economic Impact†). Many studies have been done in different states to determine the economic impact of the horse industry, including a study from the Rutgers Equine Science Center (â€Å"New Jersey Equine†), a study from Alabama AM and Auburn Universities (McCall, Molnar, Pendergrass, and Broadway), and a study conducted by the University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service (â€Å"Virginia Horse Industry†). The state of Arizona even went as far as to hold an event regarding the equine economic impact. The event, titled â€Å"the Economic Impact of the Equine Industry in Arizona†, was held in February of 2012 and government officials from all over the country attended. The Arizona horse industry amounts to a 1.8 billion dollar industry and provides the opportunity to bring in many new equine-related companies into the state. There were many different topics covered at the event, including the WestWorld Equidome expansion project and ways to carry more rodeo locations into the state. There was also discussion of an equine property tax bill that was recently passed by the state. The bill relieves equine businesses from extreme property taxes by categorizing them under agricultural businesses. The great impact of the Quarter Horse, Arabian, and Thoroughbred associations was also discussed at the event, determining that their effects on the US economy are approximately 4.5 million dollars, 52 million dollars, and 134 million dollars respectively (â€Å"Arizona State Officials†). Other states have also taken measures and actions to determine the effect of the equine industry on each state. Rutgers University conducted a study in 2007 determining the economic effect of horses in the state of New Jersey. They determined that the industry had a total economic impact of 1.1 billion dollars each year, taking into account racing-related operations not including racetracks, non-racing operations, equine owners without operations, and New Jersey racetracks. The industry creates 13,000 jobs in the US, between jobs generated by racetracks and jobs not generated by racetracks. About 160 million dollars is paid annual in taxes by the New Jersey equine industry (â€Å"New Jersey Equine† 1). It is definitely evident that New Jersey racing operations have the most economic impact on the state, accounting for a total economic impact of 278.2 million dollars out of the 647 million dollar total economic impact from all equine operations and owners. Non-racing operations come in a close second with an impact of 262.4 million dollars and horse owners falls in last with an impact of 117.8 million dollars. Annually, New Jersey race tracks impact the economy of the state by 502.3 million dollars (â€Å"New Jersey Equine† 2). The expenses of horses are numerous, including but not limited to equipment purchase and depreciation, capital improvements, health, training fees, boarding fees, feed, taxes, farrier, etc. These expenses total around 376.8 million dollars a year in the state of New Jersey (â€Å"New Jersey Equine† 3). Rutgers University was not the only university to complete a study on the impact of the equine industry in a specific state. Alabama AM and Auburn Universities also partook in their own study in 1993 with the intention of pointing out the importance of the equine industry in Alabama. There are quite a few different horse-based activities in Alabama, categorized by locality (horse clubs and groups not based on breed), sport (groups generally open to any breed formed by riders with a common interest in a specific horse sport), and breed (groups open to one specific breed for many different horse sports) (McCall, Molnar, Pendergrass, and Broadway 1). To determine the economic impact of the horse industry in Alabama, the study uses the direct impact, which is the actual dollars spent, and the aggregate impact, which is the direct impact multiplied by an income multiplier (which for this study, was 2.9). In laymen’s terms, for every one dollar of direct impact, there would be 2.90 dollars of aggregate impact. An employment multiplier was also used, concluding that for every job created in the equine industry, 1.74 jobs are created through the economy. Expenses for horses are one way that the industry affects the economy. Expenses for showing horses totaled 11,005 dollars per horse, for racing horses totaled 15,390 dollars per horse, and for recreational horses totaled 3,140 dollars per horse. The expenses calculated are the chief ways that equines impact the economy (McCall, Molnar, Pendergrass, and Broadway 2). The horse industry also generates a great deal of tourism in Alabama. Owners of show horses spend approximately 1,500 dollars for every horse when travelling to shows. The direct impact of equine tourism equals 9.7 million dollars. Spectators at equine events, such as rodeos, shows, and horse races also generate money and impact the economy by about 4.2 million dollars. The race tracks in Alabama generate about 42.6 million dollars, with about one quarter of the money won from races going to horse owners and trainers in the state (McCall, Molnar, Pendergrass, and Broadway 3). According to the study, four percent of the â€Å"pari-mutuel handle† is paid in taxes (McCall, Molnar, Penderg rass, and Broadway 4). In addition to the tourism brought into Alabama, the horse industry also impacts Alabama employment, creating a great number of jobs. Racing stables, showing stables, breeding stables, and recreational horse owners all contribute available employment positions to the state. Around 2,000 to 2,800 full-time job equivalent positions are created on account of the horse industry and the aggregate employment is equal to around 3,480 to 4,872 jobs in the state. In total, the aggregate impact of the horse industry on Alabama’s economy is estimated to be 1.6 billion dollars. It is evident, as stated in this study, that the horse industry is extremely important to the economy and that it should not be disregarded when determining key parts of the economy (McCall, Molnar, Pendergrass, and Broadway 4). The University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service is yet another university that conducted a study on the economic impact of the horse industry. It was determined that the yearly economic impact of the horse industry in the state of Virginia was equal to 1.2 billion dollars. Economist Dr. Terance Rephann gave his opinion on the economic importance of the horse industry, stating that the industry creates â€Å"a very positive effect on jobs, recreation, tourism, retail sales and state and local taxation†. Just as in New Jersey and Alabama, the Virginia horse industry creates a great deal of employment within the state and brings in about 65.3 million dollars in state and local taxes. In 2010, over 16,000 jobs were created in Virginia due to the equine industry. Horse shows are a large part of the industry, bringing in about 25 million dollars in revenue in 2010 (â€Å"Virginia Horse Industry†). The substantial amount of revenue, tax money, employment opportunities, and the total aggregate impact of equines in the three different states mentioned above clearly show that the horse industry is quite an important par t of our country’s economy. The industry greatly affects the United States economy in so many different ways. From the 13,000 jobs created by the industry in New Jersey (â€Å"New Jersey Equine† 1), to the 9.7 million dollars generated from tourism created by the industry in Alabama (McCall, Molnar, Pendergrass, and Broadway), to the 1.2 billion dollar economic impact that the industry has on Virginia’s economy annually, it is obvious to see that though many people view equestrian sports as nothing but a hobby, it is far more than just that. In the wise words of Matthew J. Lohr, The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ commissioner: â€Å"Horses add so much to our lives on a personal level, but when I look at the big picture, I see just how much they contribute to our state’s economic well-being, as well† (â€Å"Virginia Horse Industry†). Breeding is a large part of the equine industry and the rules and regulations of the breeding process vary with the price elasticity of demand for foals. Artificial insemination, which is the act of artificially placing semen into a mare to impregnate her, is a popular breeding technology that has suffered through great debate of whether or not it should be accepted in certain breeds or horses. Regulation for the use of artificial insemination technologies is an example of a breeding process that varies with the price elasticity demand for foals. In breeds with a price inelastic demand for foals, it is probable that the practice of artificial insemination will be regulated. Oftentimes, with certain circumstances, cartel agreements may arise between industry members for an intervention of government regulation in the breeding industry. The act of this government regulation raises prices and incomes in the industry (Ray 1). Breed registries are an example of cartels that limit the supply of horses. Horse owners of horses of a specific breed may choose to register their animals with that breed’s registry. These breed registries gi ve owners an economic advantage over other owners whose horses are not registered with any breed. Part of the money made from memberships is spent on promoting a specific breed and advertising the breed registry (Ray 3). Oftentimes stallion owners partake in price and non-price competition. Breeding farms are extremely big on advertising and price for studs range from hundreds to millions of dollars. Because of this, the equine breeding industry can be categorized under the monopolistically competitive industries (Ray 3). In the past, most breed associations have shunned the idea of artificial insemination. Breed registries can tend to be extremely strict on their regulation of breeding techniques, and many times registries will have rules against artificial insemination. Horses that have been artificially inseminated are often banned from competition in certain breed events, which prevents them from ever having any improvement economically. Though many breed registries do not allow the use of artificial insemination, there are a few that are far more tolerant to it (Ray 2). Generally, the breed registries that forbid the use of artificial insemination feel that the practice of it could be a thread to the quality and pureness of the breed. However, there are many economic costs and benefits that contribute to each breed registry’s decision on the regulation of artificial insemination (Ray 4). There are quite a few economic advantages to the use of artificial insemination technology for breeding. While live cover breeding methods can only impregnate one mare for every one ejaculation from a stallion, the use of artificial insemination makes it possible to impregnate fifteen to eighteen mares for every one ejaculation. This means that one stallion can be used to impregnate more mares through the use of this technology, which reduces the risk of overworking a stallion throughout the breeding season. Using artificial insemination also allows a breeder to more efficiently use semen to inseminate a mare during her ovulation period. This reduces the amount of veterinary and breeder labor required to impregnate a mare. In addition to this, naturally breeding can be a very dangerous process for the horses. Artificial insemination provides a much safer way of breeding. Finally, it is far simpler, less expensive, and much less dangerous to ship out frozen semen rather than to transport the mares to the stallions (Ray 4). In short, this all means that the use of artificial insemination technologies reduces the costs of production and transportation of breeding. From an economic standpoint, the cost of breeding decreases due to the use of artificial insemination, and so the supply of foals increases. This causes market prices to decrease and the number of horses produced and sold to increase. As a result of this, total revenue will increase, decrease, or remain the same, depending on the price elasticity of demand for new foals. If the demand for a specific breed is inelastic, artificial insemination will cause breeders’ total revenue to decrease. However, if the demand for a specific breed is elastic, artificial insemination will cause breeders’ total revenue to increase. Elasticity of a breed can be determined by the task the breed is used for. The more specific the task, the less substitutability there is for the breed, causing the breed to have a more price inelastic demand. An example of this is the Thoroughbred registry. Artificial insemination is banned by this registry because the demand for Thoroughbreds is very price inelastic, since this breed is the only one to run in races such as the Kentucky Derby (Ray 5). The decision of a breed registry to regulate or not regulate the use of artificial insemination is dependent on the costs and benefits of the use of the technology. When the costs of artificial insemination exceed the benefits, the registry will regulate the use of the technology. Regulation can be determined by the theory of cartels. This theory helps to determine supply and demand curves and indicates that the regulation of artificial insemination is dependent upon multiple different aspects of a monopolistically competitive market, including but not limited to price elasticity of demand and the number of people that will possibly benefit from regulation. Generally speaking, the size of the breed registry determines the amount of the benefits of regulation of artificial insemination. If the breed industry is large, there will be less benefits of regulating artificial insemination, which causes regulation to decrease. In summation, the regulation of artificial insemination breeding technologies is primarily determined by the price elasticity of demand for foals of the specific breed and by the costs and benefits of regulating the technology. (Ray 6). Horse race gambling greatly contributes to the United States economy. In 1997, purse awards in California totaled 136 million dollars and the total pari-mutuel handle was equal to around three billion dollars. California race tracks receive large sums of money each year as breeding incentives. This money comes from the pari-mutuel handle (Smith 1756). It is believed that both the quantity and quality of race horses affects the demand for gambling on race horses (Smith 1755). Breeding incentives given to race tracks have a huge effect on the product that comes out of the race track. Attendance at the race track and the pari-mutuel handle are the two factors that determine demand. The quality and quantity of the horses racing affect both of these factors, and so affect the demand for horse race gambling (Smith 1758). Not only does horse racing affect gambling, gambling also affects horse racing. Many race tracks are going out of business as a result of local casinos (Zengerle 20). The argument at hand now is whether or not to introduce slot machines to race tracks, creating â€Å"racinos†. It is argued that adding slot machines to the track will bring in more business because it will give customers at the track a variety. The Kentucky horse racing industry has been fighting hard for the introduction of slot machines in race tracks. The industry has lobbied legislators and spent one million dollars in support of slot machines. The lobbying and money spent has paid off. The public is now in support of slot machines being added to race tracks and, on the legislative side, a slots bill was passed for the first time (Zengerle 21). One of the main reasons that Kentucky is fighting so hard for slot machines in their race tracks is because of their 500 million dollar budget deficit. Slot machines would create 300 million dollars in tax revenue each year, which would greatly help the budget deficit being faced by the state. Introducing slot machines to the tracks would bring about many fiscal benefits; however, they may not be great for the horse industry. According to Arthur Hancock, slots will make lots of money for people in the short term, â€Å"but in the long term†¦they’ll be bad for the horse business† (Zengerle 21). However, the introduction of alternate gambling games has been proven to save race tracks. In example, Mountaineer race track was on the brink of going out of business, but the introduction of video gaming at racetracks has caused the company to rank seventh on Forbes list of the best small businesses in America (Zengerle 23). Though introducing slot machines to Kentucky’s race tracks could be bad for the horse industry in the long run, it could greatly help to rid the state of its large budget deficit. Though for many people, horse racing is simply nothing but a fun sport to watch, for Kenny A. Troutt, co-owner of WinStar Farm and Thoroughbred breeder, it is an economic investment that has helped to escalate him to a billionaire (Lee 1). Many people involved in the race horse industry do not believe that you can make much money off it and are just in it for fun and for the thrill of a day at the races. However, Troutt is a completely different case. His primary goal with WinStar Farm is to make money. He has created business plans and budget projects and holds mont hly meetings to discuss the costs of breeding and to determine any ways to lower costs and become more efficient. By using a database, Troutt determines the price returns of each and every horse by taking into account all money and time spent on the horse (Lee 2). Troutt has spent over 70 million dollars on his farm. He has set aside a select number of mares whose foals are automatically sold. One of these foals was Funny Cide, out of a stallion named Distorted Humor, who is owned by WinStar Farm. Funny Cide was a contender for the Triple Crown, and though he did not win, simply the fact that he came close was enough to double Distorted Humor’s stud fee, which was already 20,000 dollars. Though most Thoroughbred farms generate about a five to ten percent return each year after ten years, Troutt believes that he will make profits in only five years. In the past, horse racing was never about making a profit. However, in the words of Kenny A. Troutt: â€Å"I am convinced you can make a lot of money doing this†. Taking into account some simple ideas of economics and business, he may pr ove this to be true as he claims that his farm has become â€Å"cash flow positive† after only being open for two years (Lee 3). Not only does the horse industry have a great impact on the United States economy, but the economy also has a great impact on the horse industry. There has recently been a large increase in the number of unwanted horses in the United States, and one of the reasons for this problem is the current economic recession. Horses are extremely expensive to keep, averaging around 1500 to 2000 dollars a year per horse and with the economy in the poor state that it is currently in, many horse owners can no longer afford to care for their horses (Lewis). Prices of hay and fuel are extremely high and with the current recession, many horses are being succumbed to starvation and neglect. Many abandoned horses are eventually euthanized because horse rescues cannot afford to continue to feed them and medically care for them. Sick horses at the rescue are the first to be euthanized, because it comes down to a choice between feeding a healthy horse and feeding a sick horse (â€Å"More Horses Starve†). Horses are extremely expensive to keep, between the costs of feed, veterinary care, farrier and dental services. In this bad economy, it is hard to keep up with the costs of horse ownerships, and this causes the sale of horses to also be difficult (â€Å"Economy, Weather, and Law†). The Texas horse industry is such a large business that it is close to equal to the Texas cotton industry. Unfortunately, the Texas horse industry is in a severe catastrophe due to the state of the economy. Owners are finding it difficult to feed and water their horses, for â€Å"forage and even water are in short supply†, according to Dr. Dennis Sigler. Large round bales of hay are selling for over 145 dollars and in this struggling economy, horse owners are having a very hard time coming up with the money to supply food to their horses. State assistance could potentially help this problem, however state budgets have been frozen and there is a large burden for states to cut back on spending. The current economic recession has a huge effect on the horse industry and is accountable for the growing number of starving and unwanted horses in the United States (Hawkes). The equine industry in the United States clearly has a great impact on the economy, and likewise the economy on the equine industry. Breeding businesses, breeding technologies, race tracks, gambling, and unwanted horse issues all affect the economy and are affected by the economy. The industry provides so much revenue and a large number of jobs in the United States. The national horse industry has a 7 billion dollar impact on the California economy, a 5.1 billion dollar impact on the Florida economy, a 3.5 billion dollar impact on the Kentucky economy, and a 5.2 billion dollar impact on the Texas economy. The California horse industry creates 54,200 full time equivalent jobs. The Florida horse industry creates 38,300 full time equivalent jobs. The Kentucky horse industry creates 51,900 full time equivalent jobs. The Texas horse industry creates 32,200 full time equivalent jobs (â€Å"State Breakout Studies†). All in all, the horse industry has a 39 billion dollar yearly economic effect on the United States and creates 460,000 full time equivalent jobs (â€Å"National Economic Impact†). This industry is far more than just a hobby and is extremely important to the United States economy. Works Cited Arizona State Officials Join Arizona Horse Council (AzHC) at Equine Economic Impact Event PR.com. PR.com: Directory of Businesses Jobs Press Releases Products Services Articles Find Companies. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. http://www.pr.com/press-release/390430. â€Å"Economy, Weather the Law Contribute to Starving Horse Cases.† KSEE 24 News. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. http://www.ksee24.com/news/local/HorsesJWI-139755153.html. Hawkes, Logan. Texas Horse Industry Crisis Looms. Southwest Farm Press 38.23 (2011): 18. Academic Search Premier. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. Lee, Josephine. â€Å"Arriviste†. Forbes. 172.7 (2003): 120-122. Business Source Premier. Web. 26. Mar. 2012. Lewis, James M. Survey Says Economy Top Reason For Unwanted-Horse Problem. DVM: The Newsmagazine Of Veterinary Medicine 40.8 (2009): 1-29. Academic Search Premier. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. McCall, Cynthia A., Joseph J. Molnar, Robert A. Pendergrass, and Regina Broadway. Economic Impacts of the Alabama Horse Industry. Rep. Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0848/ANR-0848.pdf. More horses starve as economy struggles. WISHTV.com | Indianapolis, Indiana News Weather Traffic. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/indiana/more-horses-starve-as-economy-struggles. National Economic Impact of the U.S. Horse Industry | American Horse Council. Welcome to The American Horse Council | American Horse Council. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. http://www.horsecouncil.org/national-economic-impact-us-horse-industry. Ray, Margaret A., and Paul W. Grimes. â€Å"The Determinants of Breeding Regulation In The Horse Industry: An Empi rical Analysis.† Journal of Socio-Economics 20.2 (1991): 169. Academic Search Premier. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. Smith, Maritn D. Breeding Incentive Programmes And Demand For California Thoroughbred Racing: Is There A Quality/Quantity Tradeoff?. Applied Economics 33.14 (2001): 1755-1762. Business Source Premier. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. State breakout studies for the following states: | American Horse Council. Welcome to The American Horse Council | American Horse Council. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. http://www.horsecouncil.org/state-breakout-studies-following-states. â€Å"The New Jersey Equine Industry 2007.† Rep. Rutgers Equine Science Center. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. http://esc.rutgers.edu/news_more/PDF_Files/2007_Equine_Economic_Impact_Study_Report.pdf. Virginia Horse Industry Has $1.2 Billion Annual Economic Impact. Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. N.p.,

American History X :: essays research papers

In many ways, the media must be involved in ethnic and racial issues. The media is to provide the public with information useful to them. The media is on the public’s side. Racial stereotyping is a problem that is out in the public. Drugs, teen pregnancy, child abuse and rape are also problems that affect the people of the world everyday. The media has a job to make these issues aware to the people and possibly put together a form of solutions. Some ways of addressing issues are blunt and harsh but so are the problems. I don’t think the media can address the issue of racism without stepping into a stereotype somewhere but I also believe the media is obligated to address the obvious false stereotypes and offer ways to terminate them as well. American History X is a movie that directly addresses the issue of race and deals with some very serious issues in a small town. There are a group of white kids that have been influenced by Adolf Hitler’s beliefs and they are very hateful toward blacks, Jews, and any other race that is different than theirs. They all have Nazi signs tattooed on their bodies and their heads are completely shaved. There are very negative viewpoints in the first half of the movie toward blacks and Jews. The â€Å"N† word is used very freely and many of the actions of each group is quite accurate. Although this movie is very harsh and straight forward, their is a great amount of truth in all of the actions of each cultural group. One of the young white men witness a black man breaking into his truck and the black man ends up murdered in a very cruel manner. The movie is a lesson. A lesson about reality but also about how wrong reality can be. After spending years in prison, the attitude of this man is different toward black people and he has a hard time relaying this new attitude to his little brother back home and to the friends he had before going to prison.

Creative Arts Essay

This lecture enhances the creativity of the students by cultivating their interest in music. Various activities using different mediums like listening to CDs or watching musical shows help in having a better understanding of the lecture. Though the lecture may seem filled with fun activities, the lecture also focuses on teaching about the technical terms commonly used in studying music. Analysis In this lecture, I have learned that it is important to have interaction with the students in order to determine their learning progress. Also, having an activity that would sum all the lectures would be beneficial in measuring the student’s learning curve. Week 1 Visual Arts Description The teaching strategy used to teach the visual arts is methodical wherein the basic ideas are introduced about visual arts followed by an activity to put into practice what the students learned in class. More so, to teach kids about visual arts, use examples that theu can easily relate like cartoons or anything that is related to the interest of children. Meanwhile, for an older audience, use images or samples that apply to their generation so that they can quickly understand the lesson. Analysis Going through the lesson plan, I have noticed that beyond the explanation of basic visual art terminologies and the description of numerous artworks, art appreciation was also included. Art can be very subjective so the interpretation of a piece of art can be derived from one’s opinion. Because of this art appreciation can be very limited but by teaching the objective and academic way of assessing artworks, ordinary people can obtain a better understanding and respect for the world of visual arts. Week 4 Dance Description This lecture shows how and why students should learn the art of dancing. I personally like the part that encourages students to craft their own moves to express their knowledge and judgment about dancing. Through this, one can really value the importance of this art form in a particular culture. Analysis I have learned that dancing can enhance or stimulate several types of intelligence including visual-spatial, interpersonal and others. Also, I have realized that dancing is not just movement but it also help in boosting self-esteem and enhancing social skills. Week 6 Drama Description Teaching drama requires focus and self-discovery. Students can use words or images to invoke emotions. To do this, one still needs to conduct research in order to realistically play a specific role. Also, it would be better to perform in front of other people so that you will be given criticisms on how to improve your acting skills. This will also be an opportunity to interact with other actors. Analysis Prior to reading this lecture, I have always associated drama with just acting out roles like what I see in the movies and television programs. Drama is more than what it seems. It involves a lot of concentration, dedication and understanding about different things in life. More so, every part of the body is used in this art form to convey a message or a story. Week 10 Arts and Literacy Description This lecture provides provide children with holistic and meaningful learning experiences. It uses integration to make the change from learning facts to understanding and applying concepts to developing generic skills for living and working. Analysis I think syntegration is a great way to teach arts and literacy. This is a process wherein subjects are working together synergistically to explore a theme, concept or focus question, while achieving their own outcomes as well as generic outcomes. Through this, students are able to value and fully appreciate what they learn in class. Week 11 Thematic Integration Learning Description A simple element like the colors of the rainbow can be used to learn about the different forms of art. Through definition and application, students can determine how to relate one form of art to another. Analysis I like the idea of having different stages in learning. First by exploring, then followed by developing the skills involved and lastly would be reflecting on the end results. Through this, students can have the freedom to discover things at their own space and they can interpret their findings based on their own opinions. This teaching strategy is simple and direct but it is a very effective learning tool.

Anne: Reaction Paper on Basketball Diaries Movie Essay

On this story, upon reading the title, I thought it will focus on basketball game and competitions but I think I am wrong because it was really about a young man who had bad experiences and struggled to survive. Early in the film, it shows a good friendship of Jim and his friends and where they studied in a Catholic School and a scholar through playing basketball together. It also shows how intelligent Jim is on writing which is great. Unfortunately, young Jim fell into the cruel world of life on the street and heavy drug abuse, smoking, and even stealing others things and money which many students and youth do the same thing in present as we see on televisions and in our society that many young people engage their selves to drugs. I have also witness on how they talk was really disrespectful and awful to hear for a reason that they are using some bad or negative words like motherfucker, fuck you etc. Furthermore, the movie also shows some immoral or wrong doings like the coach who is a gay that like to have sex with his student and also Jim who uses his body to be able to get money to buy drugs. The young characters in the film do lack moral compasses resulting from their poor decision-making. He even leave home because they are already addicted to drugs and doesn’t hear his mother’s advise which is not good to a young students like us. On this film, I have remember the verse in the bible that, ‘’you should honour your mother and father and you will have a long life’’ because of the wrong behaviour of Jim towards his mother that he doesn’t listen to. On the last part of the story, it shows the effects of the drugs like hallucinating and even out of control of their selves. But because of Reggie and his mother, Jim was saved. Overall, it was a mature movie and every young individuals should watch it because it shows how bad drugs, smoking that all of us should not try or let go. Lastly, I think the filmmaker wants us to recognize that this is not all Jim’s fault but it focuses on the various effects of the drugs because in the first place it was really fine, his life and even his career.

Art, the Key to Individualism Essays

Art, the Key to Individualism Essays Art, the Key to Individualism Essay Art, the Key to Individualism Essay destroyed, we can feel that this was probably created through a profound upset in the life of its creator. Maybe a love triangle, or worse yet; only jealousy. Whatever the case, I felt it was true art with actual definition. 5) Untitled, but illustrated; is a genderless, yet fine; silhouette of a person. By: Tania Bruguera (Cuban, 2003) * What I see / My take: Although the outline lacks a firm gender, the very forthright performer turned artiste, is nothing but precise and direct in demonstrating the significance. The only colors notable is the brown used to darken the prolific amount of nails in the mouth of our main attraction, and the red painted in horrific amounts, ejecting from any open space that the lips could endure. * This painting in particular, I could not completely ingest, and with only scant knowledge of her country (other than the stolen and self-proclaimed Presidency, by once attorney turned Prime Minister; Fidel Castro), I did not wish to assume. However, upon researching Bruguera further, I confirmed her rebellion, and alas; was able to enjoy her diverse techniques, yet insufficiently represented; fight for her country. 6) The example for my 6th piece of art, I would instead, like to use one that I would personally have to top the list with; a portrait of my son, my baby boy; Robert Emiliano Lara, so named after my exceptionally unique Uncle Robert and also after Emiliano Zapata, by his father. Zapata is, in fact, the owner of one of our favorite quotes: I would rather die standing, than to live on my knees. * Canvas generously donated by: Jose N. Lara, outstanding husband and exceptional father, a cut exceeding the rest! * Last of all, but of the utmost significance; my association of the aforementioned art, to Oscar Wlde, the mischievous, yet well-to-do, witted writer. * Again, going beyond what I have in print before me and unable to control my curiosity, I research more of Wildeâ„ ¢s quotes, of which I will share: * All that I desire to point out is the general principle that life imitates art far more than art imitates life. * Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter. * Illusion is the first of all pleasures. * Morality, like art, means drawing a line someplace. * Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known. * What I see / My take: Considering that he had a torturous life, hidden from his true self for the liking of others, ultimately dying when finally free, I believe he may have agreed that; life is never completely understood, reminiscent of my confusion in my interpretation and understanding of what the art was truly representing. Were they emulating their lives, or were their lives emulating their art Just as Wilde expressed, the portrait is for the artist and not the sitter. Also, in stating that illusion is the first of all pleasures, was he then stating that he portrayed himself as something contradictory to the truth I despondently, would have to agree this to be true. In his time, the late 1800â„ ¢s, he was shamed by society, accused of living immorally, and finally imprisoned simply for being himself, one who enjoyed relations with other men. His quote concerning morality, I am sure was written in an unsettled frame of mind, but it is his quote relating individualism to art, that I believe unveils his true character; I think that it was only through his art that he could, in the end; be himself; an individual without a label.

Exciting Chiang Mai Attractions Top 20 Things to See and Do

Exciting Chiang Mai Attractions Top 20 Things to See and Do SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Chiang Mai, the ancient city in northern Thailand, is lovingly referred to asthe Rose of the North. Founded in 1296, Chiang Mai has over 300 Buddhist temples shining within and around its city walls. The modern city grew up besidethese golden shrines and crumbling monasteries, creating the beautiful, laid-back city that’s a favorite among travelers and expats today. I was fortunate enough to spend a month in Chiang Mai, and I’ve never felt such a sense of cultural fascination, well-being, or quality of life for the cost of living. When friends ask me for recommendations about Thailand, I have one that trumps all the rest. Go to Chiang Mai, I tell them. You’ll love it. Top Things to Do In Chiang Mai: Table of Contents I’ve picked out the top 20 things to do when you visit Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand. Since it’s a long list, here’s a table of contents to help you jump to any particular Chiang Mai attractions that stand out. Gaze at Golden Temples Shop, Sample, and Stroll Through the Markets Make Friends With Elephants Get a Thai Massage Take a Thai Cooking Class Watch Muay Thai (Thai Boxing), or Go to Muay Thai Training Camp Experience the Unforgettable Yi Peng Festival Explore the Trendy Neighborhood of Nimmanhaemin Take a Yoga Class Chatwith a BuddhistMonk Visit the Hill Tribes of Northern Thailand Go Rock Climbing Go Whitewater Rafting Zip Line Over the Jungle Go Jungle Trekking Attend a Traditional Khantoke Dinner and Show See a Cabaret Show Rent a Motorbike Check Out Chiang Mai University Get a Bamboo Tattoo One thing that often gives me pause about traveling to a new place is exactly how to get around. Before delving into this list of what to do in Chiang Mai, read this quick note ongeography and transportation. A Note on How to Get Around Chiang Mai One important thing that you should know about Chiang Mai geography is that there’s an old town and a new town. The Old City is a square area located inside stone walls. These walls were built inthe 13th century to defend Chiang Mai from Burma and the Mongol Empire. There are lots of hotels, hostels, restaurants, and tour agencies geared toward tourists in the Old City. The newer part of the city is everything outside the walls. Most people who live in Chiang Mai live outside the city walls. You can find plenty of restaurants, cafes, markets, and shops outside the walls, too. The square section on this Chiang Mai map is the Old City. It's surrounded by the remains of a stone wall from the 13th century. My suggestions for Chiang Mai attractions are scattered within and outside thecity walls, and some take you further afield into the surrounding hills and jungle. Since the city is so friendly to travelers (in fact, it’s trying to become a UNESCO-recognized â€Å"Creative City,† and its tourism sector is part of that initiative) you’ll find that transportation is easy and cheap. You can take tuk tuks, a songthaew (a pick-up truck that may make several stops), or arrange for transportation as part of a tour activity. Songthaews are less expensive than tuk tuks - usually less than a dollar for trips inside the city - and tuk tuks shouldn’t be more than $3.00. Most prices, even for organized Chiang Mai tours, are negotiable! Now let’s delve into the top 20 things to do during yourChiang Mai trip. In case you were wondering, yes, there will be lots of recommendations for delicious Thai food to eat. 1. Gaze at Golden Temples Chiang Mai is a center of Buddhism, and you’ll see lots of temples and monks in orange robes as you walk along its streets. Since its foundation over 700 years ago, Chiang Mai has had a lot of time to build shrines to Buddha. In fact, there are hundreds of intricately carved temples throughout the city, as well as crumbling ruins dating back to the 13th century. The temples are beautiful, with elaboratecarvings, detailed murals, bright colors, large Buddhas, and statues of elephants and other animals. I always felt a pervasive sense of calm stepping inside the colorful temples, surrounded by flowers and incense wafting through the air. Walking around the streets and stepping into temples is agreat way to spend a morning before the afternoon heat sets in. Below are a few special temples that you should visit, but I bet you'll find your own favorites, too. Chiang Mai Temples You Should Visit Wat Doi Suthep: This is the most famous temple in Chiang Mai and is recognizable as a symbol ofthe city. It was built in 1383 and perches atop a mountain about 15 km outside Chiang Mai. Wat Doi Suthep is a brilliant gold temple surrounded by chedi, Buddhist mound-like structures also known as stupas. To get to this temple, you can climb 304 steps flanked by mosaic serpents or take a tram. At the top, you’ll see sweeping views over Chiang Mai and airplanes landing in the distance. Wat Chedi Luang: At 82-meters, this 14th century temple is one of the largest in Chiang Mai. You can find the colorful Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai’s historic center. Wat Phra Singh: Come to Wat Phra Sing to see the impressive and large golden Phra Buddha Singh statue. This temple was built in 1345 and restored in the 1920s. Wat Buppharam: Step just outside the city walls to see this 1497 temple. It has beautifully intricate mosaics and the largest teak Buddha image in Thailand. Wat Suan Dok: This temple is unique for its Sri Lanka-style architecture. It’s surrounded by white stupas and was founded in 1370. Wat Chiang Man: Built in 1297, this temple is special for its quartz crystal Buddha statue and detailed elephant statues. Temple Etiquette: What You Need to Know Both men and women should dress modestly to enter temples. You should cover your knees and shoulders, so no tank tops or shorts allowed inside. Some of the larger temples, like Wat Doi Suthep, will have shawls, pants, or wraps for you to rent, but smaller temples won’t, so you should go prepared. Similarly, don’t wear hats or sunglasses inside, and you should always take your shoes off before entering a temple. Beyond clothing, you should also be careful about gestures. It’s considered rude to point at others or the Buddha with your hands or your feet. It’s also expected that people back away from Buddha, rather than turn their back to him, when leaving the temple. Even though Chiang Mai can get hot, it’s generally a good idea to bring some sort of covering when meandering through the old city. I regret the times I saw a beautiful temple andcouldn’t go in because of my bare shoulders! 2. Shop, Sample, and Stroll Through the Markets There are so many bustling street markets throughout Chiang Mai, it’s almost hard to understand how they all fit! Some are daytime markets selling fresh fruits and vegetables, others are night markets for dinner, drinks, and shopping, and others fill the streets once a week for vendors to sell their crafts. Discovering new foods and crafts at the markets was one of my favorite things to do in Chiang Mai. Note that the food tends to have fixed prices, but everything else is usually fair game for haggling. Below are my recommendations for must-see markets in Chiang Mai, followed by some tips for what to eat and buy! Chiang Mai Markets You ShouldVisit Night Bazaar: This market’s open every single night from 6pm until midnight. It’s mainly a shopping market with a huge number of clothes, souvenirs, shoes, watches, and other goods. Some indoor shops sell real designer brands, but most goods out on the street are knock-offs. You won’t find as many high quality crafts here as you will at other markets (but you will find lotsof pirated DVDs). There are restaurants all around the market, as well as a big outdoor food court and Muay Thai ring behind it. The Night Bazaar sprawls along Chang Klan Road. Morning Market at Chiang Mai Gate: This morning market opens at 4:30 am and goes until noon at Chiang Mai Gate. Locals come here to buy fruits, vegetables, spices, and other foods. You can especially get a taste of local life if you show up early. Stalls with cooked food open up in this same spot around 5 pm for dinner. Wua Lai Street Saturday Market: This Saturday night market stretches the length of Wu Lai Road from 4:30 PM until around 10 PM. In addition to delicious food, you can find beautiful handicrafts made of wood, paper, and silk. The area is also known for its silver-making studios. Ratchadamonoen Road Sunday Market: The Sunday night market is similar to the Saturday night one. It stretches over a kilometer down Ratchadamnoen and Pra Singh Roads and is ever-growing! You’ll find amazing food stalls, traditional handicrafts, artwork, and clothes. Come here, rather than the Night Bazaar, for authentic Thai crafts. Keep in mind that it can get packed by 6 or 7. You might end up doing a slow shuffle through big crowds. Warorot Market: This large market in the center of Chiang Mai is open all day, every day. Some stalls close down around 6 pm, while others stay open well after dark. The main attraction is the countless food stallsselling all manner of Thai snacks, cooked foods, meats, and fresh fruits and vegetables. You’ll also find handicrafts and textiles from northern hill tribes on the side streets. Warorot Market is located at the end of Chiang Moi Road, near the Ping River Muang Mai Market: Touted as a â€Å"raw fooder’s paradise,† Muang Mai Market is great for wholesale fruit at unbeatable prices. It’s smaller than some of Chiang Mai’s other markets. You can also buy vegetables, meat, and seafood here. Muang Mai Market is open from dawn until dusk and is located on the northeastern side of the old city on Muang Samut Road. What to Eat Now let’s get toa subject of utmost importance - food! Chiang Mai street food is incredible and oh so cheap. You’ll probably end up spending somewhere between $1 and $3 for some of the best dinners of your life. Make sure to try khao soi, the speciality dish of Chiang Mai. It has egg noodles in a coconut curry broth and is usually served with lime, roasted chili, mustard greens, shallots, and crispy egg noodles on top. If you’re looking for stir fry, some great options are pak boon fai deang (morning glory), pat kha pao (a stir-fry with chili and basil), and pat prik gaeng (a red curry stir fry). Kaen khanun, or jackfruit curry, is also a delicious, unique kind of curry. Khao soi is the specialty of Chiang Mai. So. delicious. For meat, you might try the khao kha moo (stewed pork shank or knuckle often served with boiled egg, raw garlic, pickled mustard greens and chilly vinegar), kai yang (barbecued chicken), or sai oua (a grilled herb sausage). You might also try larb, usually ground pork or chicken cooked with spices and sometimes the blood of the animal. Some ubiquitous dishes you might be familiar with are pad thai, pad see ew, and tom yum soup, a spicy soup with lemongrass, kaffir lime leavs, galangal (Thai ginger), lime juice, fish sauce, and chili peppers. Two of my favorite snacks I discovered in the markets of Chiang Mai were steamed quail eggs, often sweetened with coconut, and miang kham, bite sized snacks wrapped inside cha plu leaves. They usually contain peanuts, ginger, chillies, shallots, green mango, and onions and are a taste explosion of sweet and spicy. You’ll also be able to find crickets and other insects to snack on, but for some reason I never found myself in the mood... Finally, you’ll see fresh juices and smoothies everywhere with all kinds of familiar and exotic fruits. One fruit that you should try for the experience - though maybe not the taste - is durian fruit. Hailed asthe King of Fruits, this controversial fruit is loved by some and despised by others. I’m glad I tried it, but to be brutally honest, the texture and taste reminded me of warm garbage. Durian, king of the (gross) fruits. What to Buy at the Markets One of my favorite things to buy at the markets was clothing. You can find colorful patterned pants, dresses, jumpers, shirts, and scarves at super reasonable prices, though the quality can vary. You’ll also find leather sandals and handcrafted jewelry. You’ll find traditional crafts made of wood, silk, ceramics, and paper, as well as prettylacquerware, typically bowls, boxes, and bracelets. You can also find lots of soaps and lotions with natural ingredients - coconut oil is a big ingredient. You may also be interested in the singing bowls, which are used for meditation and relaxation. The typically hand-hammered brass bowls come with a handle that you move around the outside at a steady pace to produce a steady ringing sound. Again, the Saturday and Sunday night markets are the best places to find traditional handicrafts, while the Night Bazaar has a lot of clothes and knock-off goods. 3. Make Friends with Elephants One of my most memorable experiences from Chiang Mai was visiting elephants. Three things I learned: elephants have very thick, wiry skin, their eyes show a great deal of intelligence and understanding, and they will eat a huge cluster of bananas in one gulp if you leave itunattended on the ground. You might have heard the sad statistics about elephant endangerment in Asia as a result of poaching and habitat destruction, as well as the huge problem of mistreatment of elephants in the tourism industry. Elephants are not actually supposed to carry weight on their back for longer than a few hours a day, and many tour agencies force them to carry people and wooden structures for eight hours or more. They also suffer abuse at the hands of their owners who want them to be docile for visiting tourists. Fortunately, there are three great elephant sanctuaries outside of Chiang Mai that rescue abused elephants and provide them with a caring, safe environment to live. These sanctuaries invite visitors to meet the elephants and learn about ethical and sustainable eco-tourism. In general, it’s best to look for a place committed to humane practices that will let you meet, feed, and bathe elephants, but not ride them. Below are three suggestions for elephant sanctuaries outside of Chiang Mai where you can meet and make friends with these magnificent animals. Elephant Sanctuaries Outside Chiang Mai Elephant Nature Park: This center for elephant rescue and rehabilitation is probably the most established and well known among travelers. Also a rescue for dogs, cats, and buffalo, Elephant Nature Park lets you visit for a half day, full day, or overnight stay. It also has options for week-long volunteering. These are the prices for the day and overnight visits. You can find all the details on the Elephant Nature Park website. Short visit: 9 - 3:30, 2,500 baht, about $72 Full day visit: 7:40 - 5:30, 2,500 baht, about $72 Overnight visit: 7:40 am to 5:30 pm next day, 5,800 baht, about $166 Elephant Jungle Sanctuary: I stayed overnight in Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, the newest center that opened in mid-2014. You can visit for a half day in the morning or afternoon, a full day, or a full day with an overnight. These are the visiting options: Half day morning, half day afternoon: 1700 baht, about $49 Full day: 2,400 baht, about $69 Full day with overnight: 4,900 baht, about $140 I had an amazing experience staying overnight. I met fellow travelers from all over the world, learned from the sanctuary’s owners, and got a tour of their village (which, surprisingly, was a Christian village with a church). We made dinner, drank locally made rice wine, and went on a morning hike with one of the sanctuary’s elephants. The full day before also involved feeding and spending time with elephants and bathing them in the river and â€Å"mud spa.† Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary: Like the others, this sanctuary cares for rescued and retired elephants. This 500-acre center was named after its first rescued elephant who broke his back legs and received the first elephant wheelchair. People typicallystay at Boon Lott for at least one night. The price to stay in their guesthouse is 5,000 baht per night, or around $140. 4. Get a Thai Massage Tara Angkor Hotel/Flickr There’s a huge spa industry in Chiang Mai, and you’ll see massages advertised everywhere throughout the old city. There are casual places where you can just walk in to higher end dayspas that offer multi-hour combined packages. While people may have an association of cheap massage places with sex work, I didn’t find that to be an issue here, at least not at places in the Old City. For the most part, I’d say use your best judgment that the place is casual, but not seedy. Thai massages range from only about $5 to $15 for an hour. Most places offer a variety of massage types, but you should definitely try the traditional Thai massage when you’re in Chiang Mai. It’s an ancient healing practice that targets pressure points. You’ll be given loose clothes to put on. In addition to rubbing, the massage therapist will compress and stretch parts of your body and put you into passive yoga positions, like supine twists. I was a little nervous trying it for the first time, but I absolutely loved it. I did have a couple Thai massages where the pressure was way too intense, but I just asked the massage therapist to use a lighter touch. Massage parlors also offer foot massages, head, neck, and back massages, coconut oil massages, and skin treatments. It’s customary to tip for good service, perhaps 50 to 100 baht (between $1.50 and $3.50). Also note that you should always take your shoes off before entering; the first part of the massage will be washing your feet. Here are a few recommendations for spas in Chiang Mai. Where toGo for a Thai Massage Kiriya Spa Vana: This higher end spa has beautiful ambiance and amazing massages. Thai massages are 500 baht (about $14) for one hour. It also has lots of other options for massages and skin treatments, like citrus massage oil massage, cappuccino body scrub, and a chocolate, cinnamon, and ginger body mask. It’s a good idea to make an appointment, but they may be able to take walks in at quieter time of days. Address:47/14 Samlan Road Nimman House: This spa also has a nice ambiance and great massages, and the prices are a bit lower. A Thai massage is only 250 baht (about $7), and some of its other offerings include hot oil massages, milk cream massages, body scrubs, facials, and steam rooms. The mattresses are on the floor, rather than raised up. You usually don’t need to make an appointment. Address: 59/8 Nimmanhaemin Road Le Lux Thai Spa: This more casual massage place gives high-quality massages in a communal room. Hour-long Thai massages are only 200 baht (about $5-$6). Address: /6 Moonmuang Road Green Bamboo Massage: This spot uses organic, homemade cosmetic products. Thai massages are 250 baht (about $7). Some other massages on the menu include coconut oil, aloe vera, warmed bamboo stalk, and Tok Sen, a deeper technique that involves a â€Å"wooden stick and hammer.† Address:1 Moon Muang Road Cheeva Spa: Cheeva is one of the top-rated spas in Chiang Mai. It also has the most expensive Thai massage at 1,200 baht (about $34). It also has all kinds of spa packages that are two to four and a half hours long. Address: 4/2 Hussadhisewee Road Beyond these recommendations, you can also walk around the Old City and find numerous Thai massage places with hour-long massages between 200 and 250 baht. I went to a few random spots, and the only negative experience I had was that the pressure was too intense. The massage therapists lightened up when I asked. 5. Take a Thai Cooking Class If you’re a fan of Thai food, then you might be interested in learning how to make it! Several Thai cooking schools around Chiang Mai offer half day and full day classes, where you’ll learn to make a variety of dishes. Most classes first take you to a market, where you buy and learn about fruits, vegetables, and spices. I made tom yum soup, green curry with chicken and vegetables, pad thai in an omelette, and sticky rice with mango. It was delicious; my only regret was not being able to eat it all. The prices are typically only about $30 per person. Thai Cooking Schools in Chiang Mai Here are a few of the top cooking schools in Chiang Mai. In choosing, you should think about whether you want to do a full-day or half-day course and whether you want to drive out to a farm or go to a school in the city. All of the classes include transportation, and most share similar options on the menu - usually a type of curry, stir fry, appetizer, noodle dish, and dessert. As far as I know, all of them can be vegan or vegetarian. Thai Farming School: This class takes you out to the owner’s organic farm for cooking. First, you’ll get picked up from your hotel around 8:30 AM and head to a market to pick out ingredients. You’ll be back at your hotel around 4:30 or 5:00. The price, which is all inclusive, is 1,300 baht (about $37). Before your cooking class, you’ll get a guided tour of a market and pick out fruits, vegetables, and spices. Basil Cookery School: You can take a morning (9-3) or afternoon (4-8:30) class at this school in the city. You’ll learn seven dishes, and the classes are limited to one to seven people. The price 1,000 per person, or about $29. Thai Orchid Cookery School: This school in the Old City also keeps its classes small at between two and ten people. The full day course from 9:30 to 3 costs 1,200 baht (about $34) and the half day course from 10 to 1:30 costs 1,200 baht (about $26). 6. Watch Muay Thai (or Go to a Muay Thai Camp) Muay Thai is a combat sport similar to boxing, but fighters also use their elbows, knees, and feet. When they practice this â€Å"Art of Eight Limbs,† Muay Thai fighters use parts of their body to mimic weapons. Their hands are the sword and daggers, shins and forearms are armor, elbows are hammers, and legs and knees are the axe and staff. You can find Muay Thai matches on a nightly basis throughout Chiang Mai, though the more authentic fights that locals attend happenonce a week. If you’re interested in learning Muay Thai, you could also take classes or attend a longertraining camp. Muay Thai Matches in Chiang Mai Thapae Boxing Stadium: This stadium hosts 6 to 8 Muay Thai matches every night from Monday to Saturday. Tickets are 400 baht ($) for regular admission and 600 baht ($17) for ringside â€Å"VIP† seats. You can just show up. The entrance is on Moon Muang road, opposite Thaphae gate. Kawila Boxing Stadium: This less touristy stadium hosts fighters who are competing to become nationally known. It holds ten fights every Friday at 8. The prices are also 400 baht for regular admission and 600 for VIP seats. Kawila is one block south of Thapae Road. Loi Kroh: Fights are held here three to four nights a week on Loi Kroh Road behind the Night Bazaar. You’ll see both Thai and foreign Muay Thai fighters. The prices are the same as the other stadiums. You probably don’t need VIP seats - all the chairs are plastic and you can pretty much sit wherever you want. Several gyms offer Muay Thai camps and accommodations so you can learn this ancient form of combat. Muay Thai Training Centers in Chiang Mai All these gyms offer classes for both experienced Muay Thai fighters and complete beginners. Lanna Muay Thai Boxing Camp: Here, you can sign up for a single class or stay for a month or more on site. It’s 300 baht ($8 to $9) for a class and 8000 baht (about $230) for a full month of training. Lanna Muay Thai Boxing Camp:This spot also has single classes or accommodations for a month+ of training. A week costs 2,500 to 3,000 baht ($70 to $85) and a month costs 8,000 to 9,000 baht. High season is November to March and low season is April to October. Lanna Muay Thai Boxing Camp:Santai Gym is another good spot for classes or long-term training. A single day of training is 600 baht ($16 to $18) and one month is 10,000 baht (about $286). Other reputable Muay Thai gyms in Chiang Mai are Gym Bangarang Muay Thai MMA Training Camp and Hongtong Muay Thai Gym. 7. Explore the Trendy Neighborhood of Nimmanhaemin Jill Chen/Flickr Nimmanhaemin is a trendy area northwest of the Old City. While the Old City is more hotels and hostels, Nimmanhaemin is an area where people live. You can find lots of cafes, restaurants, shops, live music, art galleries, spas, salons, clothing stores, and boutiques. There are some really goodcoffee spots with fast, free wifi, thanks for the student population from the nearby Chiang Mai university and Chiang Mai’s group of â€Å"digital nomads,† people who work remotely. Some great Chiang Mai cafes in Nimmanhaemin are Librarista, Marble Arch, Wawee Coffee, Ristr8to, and Coffee Bar. You should also seek out the Nimman Promenade for boutiques and specialty shops, as well as the Ji-Qoo Art Gallery to see works by local artists. If you’re in the mood for a haircut, check out New York New York Hair Studio. It caters to locals and westerners, and I got one of the best and least expensive haircuts of my life there. 8. Experience the Unforgettable Yi Peng Festival Flip Nomad/Flickr Chiang Mai has one of the largest celebrations of the Yi Peng festival of lights every November during the full moon. This celebration of spiritual cleansing and renewal and good luck coincides with Loi Krathong, where people arrange flowers and candles on baskets and float them down the river (these floats are called krathongs). Chiang Mai holds the most elaborate celebrations with three days of parades, fairs, float and lantern contests, fireworks, beautiful decorations on the temples, and beauty contests called Nopphamat Queen contests. You can see and participate in everything for free - just head toward the Ping River - or you can buy tickets for the event at MaeJo University. Tickets for the MaeJo event are about $100. 8. Take a Yoga Class Health and wellness area big focus in Chiang Mai, which you can see with the ubiquitous spas, vegetarian restaurants, and yoga studios. There are great studios throughout the seat with classes suitable for people of all levels. Many classes are geared toward tourists and English-speaking expats, so all of the suggestions below offer classes in English. They typically cost just about $5 to $6 for an hour to an hour and half. Some also offer yoga teaching training, multi-day yoga retreats, and massage therapy classes. Yoga Studios in Chiang Mai Wild Rose Yoga:This studio has classes everyday at 10 am and 6 pm. You can find it on Soi 4/1, a very narrow road (too narrow for cars) off of Phrapokklao Soi 4. Blue Garden Yoga: This studio has daily yoga classes, plus yoga teacher and massage therapist training.Classes are usually at 9 AM and 7 PM. It has a beautiful semi-open space with plants and flowers. Word to the wise: wear bug spray! The Yoga Tree: offers classes in yoga, pilates, dance, and meditation, as well as training courses. It has several classes throughout the day. Other yoga schools in Chiang Mai are Mahasiddha Tantra Yoga School, Om Ganesha Yoga, Wise Living Yoga Academy, Freedom Yoga. 9. Chat With a BuddhistMonk Would you like to learn more about Buddhism, Chiang Mai, northern Thai culture, Thai language, or where to find the best pad thai? You can talk about anything you wantduring these exchanges with Thai monks offered at various temples throughout the week. These â€Å"monk chats† are a really cool opportunity to exchange language, culture, and conversation and gain insight into Thai culture. A lot of young monks participate to practice their English. They’re casual conversations, and you can talk for as long or as short a time as you like. If you’re looking to learn more about Chiang Mai and chat with locals, then you should take advantage of one of these unique opportunities. Times and Locations of Monk Chats in Chiang Mai Here are some of the temples that offer monk chats, along with the times. Wat Chedi Luang: daily from 9 AM to 6 PM. Up to 50 young monks sit outside at large tables to chat with visitors. Wat Suan Dok: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 5 to 7PM Wat Umong: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 5:30 to 7:30 PM MCU Buddhist University, Chiang Mai Campus: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 5 pm to 730 pm Doi Suthep Temple: daily from 1 to 3 pm. 10. Visit the Hill Tribe Villages in Northern Thailand \ Donna Cymek/Flickr The main hill tribe peoples that live outside Chiang Mai are the Akha, the Palong, the Lahu, the Lisu, and the Karen, also referred to as the Long Necks because of the brass rings that women traditionally wear around their necks. Several groups give you the opportunity to visit and learn about the villages in northern Thailand. Ideally, the group you journey with should employ local villagers as guides andliaisonsbetween visitors and the communities. A couple reputable touring groups are Thailand Hilltribe Holidays and All Thailand Experiences. You’ll have the opportunity to go to markets, try new foods, lend a hand on farms, and possibly stay overnight in a village. You can also check out the Baan Tong Luang Village, an exhibition village featuring five hill tribe cultures. You can take a taxi to this exhibition village; no need for a guided tour. . Go Rock Climbing There’s some epic rock climbing outside of Chiang Mai according to a friend of mine. As a non-rock climber myself, I’ll have to take his word for it. The epicness is due to the limestone cliffs surrounding Chiang Mai. One especially famous crag is called Crazy Horse Buttress. You can climb with a group or private guide and rent equipment or bring your own. The best group is Chiang Mai Rock Climbing Adventures. It’s about $57 for a full day of climbing with a private guide, transportation, lunch, and climbing gear. If you have your own gear and don't need a guide, they'll drive you to the crag and back for just $10 or so. They also have multi-day climbing courses and an indoor climbing wall in their gym. 12.Brave the Rapids on the Mae Teng River People of all ages and experiences levels can go out whitewater rafting on the nearby Mae Teng River. Some good rafting tour groups are Siam River Adventures, Chiang Mai Adventure, Active Thailand, and All Chiang Mai Tours. All inclusive day tours are about $52. Some tours combine whitewater rafting with other activities, like jungle trekking or visiting elephants. When you’re not keeping your eye on the rapids, you may see animals,maybe even elephants, in the jungle along the river’s shore. 13. Zipline Over the Jungle Keeping in the theme of outdoor adventure, ziplining is another fun activity in the jungle outside Chiang Mai! You can fly over the jungle and maybe even see gibbons up there with you in the trees. Ziplining is one of the more expensive of the Chiang Mai attractions at about $100 per person. The best groups to take you out for the day are Chiang Mai Zipline (Flight of the Gibbon), Zipline Chiang Mai, Eagle Track Chiang Mai, Jungle Flight, and Flying Squirrels. 14. Trek Through theJungle If you want to get outside but perhaps stay at a normal height and away from any white water rapids, then consider singing upfor a jungle trekking tour. There are literally hundreds of options and tour groups. When trying to decide, look to see if a group is certified the Tourism Authority of Thailand, as that means itmaintainscertain safety standards. Some highly rated trekking groups are Pooh Eco Trek, All Chiang Mai Tours, Trekking Collective Co, and Next Step Thailand. You can go out for a day or stay overnight for one or more days. The cost isaround 1000 baht, or $29, for a full day. Prices tend to go downif you sign up with a larger group of people. 15. Attend a Khantoke Dinner and Show Khantoke dinners are a centuries-old Lanna tradition. You sit on the floor around a bamboo tray laden with a variety of northern Thai dishes. Some of these foods include fried pumpkin, tomato and minced pork dip, red chili, fried chicken, pork curry, and sticky rice. As you eat, you watch traditional Thai dances and cultural performances. Two famous ones are the candle dance and sword dance. You may also step outside to see more costumed dances and (spoiler) surprise fireworks at the end. The dinner is a rather touristy outing, but the dances are really lovely. The dinner, show, and transportation cost about $25; only drinks aren’t included in the price. Two major Khantoke dinner restaurants are Old Chiangmai Cultural Center and Khum Khantoke. 16. See a Cabaret Show John Shedrick/Flickr Cabaret shows, usually with transgender dancers or performers in drag, are popular in Chiang Mai and throughout Thailand. Commonly known as ladyboy shows, they involve choreographed dances and extravagant costumes. The shows can be interactive, so don’t be surprised by some touchy-feely exchanges if you’re in the front row. To see a cabaret show, check out the nightly performance in Chinag Mai in Ansuan Market. It’s every night at 9:30, but you should probably buy your ticket 8 or 9. The ticket includes a drink and a snack. 18.Rent a Motorbike Are you eager to try out your motorbiking skills? There are lots of rental places throughout the city where you can rent a motorbike for a day or more. Rentals can be as cheap as $5 a day, while more powerful bikes for off-roading may cost between $20 and $30 a day. You can drive around the city, or go off the beaten track to explore northern Thailand. One popular motorbike trip takes you to the golden temple on the mountain, Wat Doi Suthep, and on to dirt roads that pass reservoirs. If you're feeling confident with your driving skills, you could also make the mountainous drive to the small town of Pai, which sits north of Chiang Mai. I say you have to be confident because the road to Pai is famous for its 762 curves, as well as its "sick stations" along the way for travelers who chose to take the bus. As someone prone to motion sickness, I didn't make the trip. If I did have the choice, though, I would take a motorbike rather than brave the topsy-turvy bus! If you are renting a motorbike, remember one key piece of information: Thai people drive on the left side of the road! 19. Check Out Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai University sits on over 700 acres west of the Old City. If you’re looking to get into greener spaces, you’ll enjoy walking or biking along its beautiful grounds. Beside the gardens, there are several great cafes, vegetarian and vegan restaurants, a small art gallery, and a geology museum. Due to a recent problem of Chinese tourists sneaking into classes, the university started charging an entry fee of $1 to $2 for visitors. It’s a great place to walk, have a picnic, see how local and visiting students live and study, and step away from the city. 20. Get a Bamboo Tattoo Amanda Roberts/Flickr Want to make sure your trip to Thailand is an experience you’ll never forget? You might commemorate your travels with a traditional Thai bamboo tattoo. Tattooing with bamboo is a technique that’s over 3,000 years old. It involves one or more needles attached to a bamboo stick. One advantage of this technique is that the tattoo has a faster healing time. Buddhist monks would get tattoos for protection and to show faith. Thai soldiers got them as well. According to legend, Thailand has never been occupied because of the power of the soldiers' bambootattoos. There are some traditional sacred tattoo designs called Sak Yant tattoos that are usually performed by monks. Not all monks will tattoo women, as custom prohibits touching between the sexes. While it’s still possible to get a Sak Yant tattoo at various temples, you should be careful about the standards of hygiene. A few highly rated bamboo tattoo parlors in Chiang Mai are Naga Tattoo, Deja Vu Tattoo, and Sam Tattoo. Visiting Chiang Mai: FinalThoughts Chiang Mai is a city that lingers with you. I can still clearly recall the incense-filled halls and clanging bells of beautiful ancient temples, as well as the bustle of night markets filled with unbelievably delicious street food. Not only is Chiang Mai very affordable, but it’s also very easy to navigate. Because tourism is a large part of the local economy, you’ll have no trouble arranging tours and transportation or finding things to do. In fact, you may find that you have too much on your agenda, between your own plans and the people whoapproach with flyers for Muay Thai fights and cabaret shows. Beyond the temples, streetfood, markets, and surrounding natural beauty, I also lovedChiang Mai'sfocus on health and wellness. Traveling can wear you down, but in Chiang Mai you can easily take care of your physical and spiritual health with yoga, Thai massages, steam rooms, fresh vegetables, and an endless array of smoothies. While Chiang Mai has a nightlife scene, it’s not a huge party city like some of the southern Thai islands. You’ll find that fellow Chiang Mai backpackers, travelers, and expats are more interested in culture, outdoor activities, conservation, and amazing food, all of which northern Thailand has in abundance. If you’re traveling to Thailand, then Chiang Mai, the lovely Rose of the North, should definitely be in your plans. After a few days in this happy, laid back city, you might find, like I did, that you don’t want to leave!