Children Obesity Essay

The problem of childhood obesity in the United States has grown considerably in recent years. Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese.From Environmental Health Perspectives website, the recent data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey estimate 17% of youths ages 2-19 years old to be overweight compare to just 5% a few decades ago(â€Å"Child obesity†). This data shows we should act urgently to rescue children because the percentage of child obesity is increasing rapidly.According to Answer.com website, using the BMI (Body Mass Index) calculation, overweight is between 25-30, obese is 30-40 and extremely obese is 40 and up. This calculation is a height and weight comparison (BMI = weight in pounds X 705 / height in inches squared). By usingbody fat analysis, for a woman’s obesity starts about 33% body fat, for a man, it is about 24%(â€Å"How do you know†).Weight and shape of children are affected by hereditary factors from their parents. However, most of unhealthy weight gain is due to poor diet. Children who have obesity have bad habits; for example, they prefer to eat fast food such as hamburgers with french fries and coke than healthy food such as vegetable and multi-grains. Fast food is very tempting to children and theirparents because of its cheap price, taste, and convenience. The reason children like hamburgers is high levels of salt and sugar content found in most fast food items. So far, unhealthy food leads children to become obese which causes various health problems. Overweight children, when compared to healthy weight children, are more likely to develop many health problems such as depression, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, which are associated with heart disease in adults. Thepurpose of this paper is to reviewhow children obesity effects on physical and mental health. First, children obesity and overweight have been found to be at an increased risk of depression. Obese children get stress from change of their body shape, perspectives from other people’s awareness that leads to poor self-esteem or social phobia which are related to the cause of depression. [ì ¶Å"ì ²Ëœ][ë ¹â€žÃ« §Å'ìš °Ã¬Å¡ ¸Ã¬ ¦ ] ë ¹â€žÃ« §Å'ê ³ ¼Ã¬Å¡ °Ã¬Å¡ ¸Ã¬ ¦ , ë ¹â€žÃ« §Å'ê ³ ¼Ã¬Å¡ °Ã¬Å¡ ¸Ã¬ ¦ Ã¬ ËœÃª ´â‚¬Ãª ³â€ž – ìž  Ã¬â€¹ ¤Ã¬Å  ¤Ã­  ¬Ã¬ ¸  Ã¬ ¢â€¦Ã­â€¢ ©Ã¬Æ' Ãª °â‚¬Ã¬Å  ¤Ã­  ¼|ìž‘ì„ ±Ã¬Å¾ spom4237236The following article, â€Å"Childhood Obesity and Depression: Connection Between These Growing Problems in Growing Children,† shows how depression is diagnosed in youths. Youthbecome depress if they gain weight more than they expected. Also, obesity and overweight are connected to sleep problem which is associated with increased risk of depression. In study of 400 adolescents with a primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder, change in sleep was most common symptom remaining depression in youths. Relationship between sleep and obesity is intervened at least in part by insulin resistance. In a study of obese children, insulin was connected with shorter sleep duration according to thepolysomnography (Reeves M. G., Postolache T. T., Snitker S.).In addition, that child obesity cause depression is obesity makes children a target for bullying. According to Medscape Medical News, â€Å"Obese children are more likely to be bullied than their non-obese peers regardless of sex, race, socioeconomic status, social skills, or academic achievement† (Harrison).Because childhood and adolescent are a sensitive period, and they focus on other’s appearance, obese children can be targeted of bullying that makes them get hurt and depress. To prevent the depression, children need to eat health food and exercise. In addition to obesity causes depression, the second health problem is obesity causes diabetes. The dietary habits of obese children are eating a lot of sugar and salt which are excessive caloric intake. Being obese means you have more fatty tissue, having more fatty tissue causes the body to become insulin resistant and becoming insulin resistant causes the body to put on more weight. Becoming more insulin resistant and at a certain level of resistance, it becomes known as diabetes. Obese children also are twice as likely to have diabetes than children who are of normal weight, according to a new study from the University of Michigan Health System. The study, published in the February issue of Diabetes Care, is the most recent national study to estimate the prevalence of children with diabetes. It found that more than 229,000 children, approximately 3.2 cases for every 1,000 American children under the age of 18, currently have diabetes. And one-third of those children are obese(â€Å"Obese Children Twice†). Obesity causes the build-up of fats around cell walls. The liver loses the ability for the metabolism of glucose. Glucose is supplied with the help of the insulin hormone. In essence, obesity reduces the body’s ability to use insulin properly. A glucose build up is deposited in the urine.In addition, diabetes is explained from Washington University in St. Louis website. Diabetes mellitus is a group of disorders that have in common high blood sugar and the risk of damage to tissues and organs. There are two major types: Type1, juvenile diabetes and Type 2, adult-onset diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, the cells of the pancreas that make insulin are destroyed. Often, the body’s immune system destroys these cells, sort of like friendly fire. Without insulin, blood sugar rises and complications occur. Lifelong insulin treatment is required. In Type 2 diabetes, organs and tissues are resistant to insulin; that is, more insulin is needed to have the same effect. When the insulin-making cells can no longer keep up with the extra insulin needed, blood sugar becomes high and diabetes occurs (â€Å"Obesity, Type 2 diabetes†). Overall, children should avoid eatingso muchunhealthy food that contain of high sugar, salt and fat that causes diabetesto continue into adulthood. In addition to obesity causes diabetes, the third health problem is obese puts children at risk for high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure that cause heart disease. Children’s diets have changed dramaticallybecause it is influenced by television commercials and the convenience of fast foods that have too much sugar and salt that leads high cholesterol level. In â€Å"Cholesterol in Childhood† by Vincent Iannelli, M.D., the author reported â€Å"The effects of cardiovascular disease is something that will especially be a problem once an overweight child grows up, when he will be at risk for a heart attack or stroke.†Also, the article exposes children who have heart disease with high cholesterol was 2.3 times as likely to have died early. These factsgive a warning to how obesity is related to serious health problem to children. The connection between high cholesterol and high blood pressure was explained on Livestrong.com website, â€Å"Cholesterol is a soft waxy material in the blood that mixes with lipids. It shapes membranes and some hormones but does not dissolve in the blood. Since it does not dissolve, lipoproteins carry it to and from cells. Blood pressure is the force that pushes blood through blood vessels, then to all body organs. When these two functions of the body are not working correctly, it can be devastating to overall health.†(â€Å"Connections Between†).According to Webmd.com website, when there is too much cholesterol in blood, it builds up in the walls of arteries, causing a process called atherosclerosis, a form of heart disease. The arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart muscle is slowed down or blocked. The blood carries oxygen to the heart, and if enough blood and oxygen cannot reach the heart, it may cause chest pain (â€Å"Heart disease†).Because ofhigh cholesterol, high blood pressure that are related to the heart disease, obese children need dietary changes and weight loss to help lower their cholesterol. In conclusion, children obesity is an increasingly prevalent health disorder and is of particularly concern because children who are obese are more likely to continue to become obese through adolescence and into adulthood with various health problems. Eating unhealthy food and lack of exercise lead to most of child obesity and overweight. Obesity can cause mental and physical problemsinchildren. According to â€Å"Child obesity ‘time bomb’ a threat to life expectancy†, Food Standards Agency chairman, John Krebs, told: â€Å"We already know that many children’s diets contain more fat, sugar and salt than is recommended. We know that the level of obesity in children is rising and, in the words of the chief medical officer, is a health time bomb that could explode.† (Carey). Also, children obesity can be targeted of bullying and give rise to diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart diseases. Also, child obesity has high probability to become an obese adult. Therefore, we need to accept the children obesity as a serious problem in current society in the United States and seek the solutionsto make children free from obesity and being overweight. Works Cited Brown, Joni.â€Å"Connections Between High Blood Pressure & Cholesterol†. livestrong.com, 17 Dec. 2010 Web. 22 May 2012 Carey, Dorothy. â€Å"Child Obesity ‘Time Bomb’ A Threat To Life Expectancy.† Nutridate 15.1 (2004): 8. Web. 22 May 2012. Harrison, Pam. â€Å"Obesity Makes Children a Target for Bullying.† Medscape Medical News. 4 May 2010. Web. 22May 2012. â€Å"Heart Disease and Lowering cholesterol†.Webmd.com,Web. 22 May 2012 Iannelli,Vincent. â€Å"Cholesterol in Childhood†.About.com, 13November 2011 Web. 22 May 2012 â€Å"Obese Children Twice as likely to have Diabetes†. University of Michigan, 2 Feb. 2006. Web. 22 May 2012 â€Å"Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes Growing rapidly among Children†. Washington University in St. Louis., 11 March 2005. Web. 22 May 2012 Reeves, Gloria M., Teodor T.Postolache., and Soren Snitker. â€Å"Childhood Obesity and Depression: Connection between these Growing Problems in Growing Children.† NIH Public Access. Aug. 2008. Web. 22 May 2012

Free Essays on The Road Not Taken

Life, Decisions and Consequences The writer Robert Frost in the poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken† emphasizes how the life has its own surprises and uncertainties and its own up and downs. Frost can be the speaker in this poem. He has to take a life decision, â€Å" Two road diverged in a yellow wood† the road represents the journey of our lives. No one knows where the road will lead us or what the future will bring us. There are many decision that might we have to take, we try to predict and wonder what is the wisest decision to be made. But there are pros and cows in any specific choice that we have to make. Sometimes we succeed and we make the right decision and some other times we fail to successful in the decision that we make. Is the dilemma that makes our life interesting and worth living. Because if one knows what everyday would bring than life could have no meaning. If we do not succeed, we pay for the consequences but we also learn from those experiences and in this way we can challenge and be stronger to face other difficulties of life. Frost tries to show this by describing the road that â€Å"it was grassy and wanted wear† where the grassy means the road that most of the people had not walk and â€Å"wanted wear† was one of his desire to discover the unknown. It was the one that he will chose and start exploring on something new. The speaker’s eyes try to see â€Å"the undergrowth† wondering if he can see which route to take but he cannot because his eyes can not see so far. He tries but is difficult to understand which route he should take. He thinks if he should take the common route or the other one that not to many people took. He is in dilemma because all his life depends on his decision. The man thinks on negative way for the two routs but at the same time he seems undecided and scared if he is not going to take the right decision and if will be the right one. â€Å"Two roads in the wood† represent th... Free Essays on The Road Not Taken Free Essays on The Road Not Taken â€Å"The Road Not Taken† By: Robert Frost In the â€Å"Road Not Taken† by Robert Frost, up until the last stanza the poem appeared to be concerning only on the choice between two roads in a woods. The final stanza, however, gave a significance to the apparent choice that was incompatible with just the choice between two roads in a woods because this seemingly insignificant choice ended up â€Å"making all the difference.† Many times in life people are faced with choices to make that, at the time, seem insignificant, although, in the long run prove to have made a great impact on their life’s course. I, myself, have experienced this very situation more than once- one of which being whether to attend college or to go to work. At the time this seemed to be just a choice, only now, four years later, am I seeing the significance of making the choice I did. When I was graduating from High School I was faced with the decision of whether to attend college and make a career choice or to just join the work force and become independent. Only a couple of people in my family had gone to college, and only one actually got a degree- the rest went to work. It seemed to me that going to college would be much harder, however, would yield higher results. At which time, I decided to pursue a college degree. In High School I had concentrated on medical studies, which I decided to follow up with in college. I soon saw that this was something I was interested in, however, not what I wanted to spend my career doing. I took some time off from school to work and to see just what the difference would be had I decided not to continue with pursuing a degree. In applying for positions, I immediately saw the benefit of continuing my education. Not only does having a degree give you a competitive edge when you do venture out into the working world, i.e., better jobs are available for you, it is easier to climb the ladder to higher positions, the pay... Free Essays on The Road Not Taken In Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken there are many things that can be interpreted several ways. This is my interpretation. Frost begins the poem by describing two roads diverging in a yellow wood. The two roads represent a decision. Do you travel one journey or the other? The yellow wood to me means that it is getting towards the autumn of the day. Meaning that the decision can’t be put off much longer. He then describes being sorry he could not travel both. We often have decision that we would like to do both things or travel both roads. But in the next line Frost says being one traveler long I stood. One person can not be in two places or follow two paths. It is usually not clear which path we should follow or which decision is the correct one. Since the decision is not easy the traveler stands for a long time. We often think about our decisions for a long time, making sure it is the correct one. Because as the traveler knows we can not turn back. Once the path is taken, we are on it until the end. He looks down one as far as he can see until he is unable to see the path for its turns and ben ds. In life we can look ahead to the immediate results of our decisions but usually can not see very far. We do not know what lies ahead around that next curve or bend. The traveler studies the second path as well, studying all possible decisions closely. The second path appears to be slightly less used. The path is grown up with grass and has not had as much wear as the other. Both paths appear appealing to him even though one is in better condition. He gives a little foreshadowing of his ultimate decisions by telling us that the second, grassier, path has the better claim. The second path upon his seeing it immediately has his eye. When he studies it more he says that really they are pretty much worn the same. When we make hard decisions we often jump back and forth between the choices at hand. We find good things and bad in all choi... Free Essays on The Road Not Taken â€Å"The Road Not Taken† In Robert Frost’s â€Å"The Road Not Taken,† the speaker stands in the woods, considering a split in the road. Both ways are similarly worn, and equally overlaid with un-trodden leaves. The speaker chooses one, telling himself that he will take the other another day. Yet he knows it is unlikely that he will have the chance to do so. And he admits that someday in the future he will recreate the scene with a slight twist: he will claim that he took the less-traveled road. The whole poem is an extended metaphor, where Frost describes a path in the woods that is directly comparable to a major decision in life. In this case, the narrator is â€Å"lost† in the poem, both on the trail, and in his life. "The Road Not Taken" consists of four stanzas of five lines each having an identical rhyme scheme of ABAAB. The first, third, and fourth lines in every stanza rhyme, along with the second and fifth lines. Thus, allowing the poem to flow at a smoother and steadier pace. There are four stressed syllables per line, forming an iambic tetrameter base. The majority of the lines contain nine syllables. This structure is maintained through out the poem. The stanzas are arranged like that of a thought. One continues to undermine the other, much like decision making. Our first thoughts are always second-guessed by our second and so forth until we make our final decision, which cancels out all that was thought before. This is what Frost manages to do in the arrangement of his stanzas. Imagery is the primary concept of this work thus being the means used by Frost to transmit the poems message. The two roads are each described in such a way that the reader can easy picture the dilemma faced by the traveler. Image is so precise that we can picture the first road bending to the right while the other bends in the opposite direction. In the first stanza, (line 1) Frost introduces the elements of his primary metaphor: the diver... Free Essays on The Road Not Taken The Road Not Taken I decided to do â€Å"The Road Not Taken† by Robert Frost. When people read the poem without any other interpretation or knowledge of it the most popular interpretation is that Frost is talking about his own life in this poem. I was convinced that was the case until I decided to do this paper. I will be focusing on what appears to be very obvious in the poem but after looking a little deeper is untrue. That portion I am talking about is the sigh in the fourth stanza of the poem. A simple sigh out of someone’s mouth could be interpreted many ways. It could be tension, a thought, or just exhaling from a deep breath. In the poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, by Robert Frost, many argue as to what the ‘sigh’ towards the end of the poem actually means. Some think it is a shift of tone in the poem, others say that it signifies that he is unhappy about the road that he has taken in his life. Little do they know, they are all very wrong. In fact, the poem is not written about Frost at all. This shows the simple ways that a poem can easily be misinterpreted. The history of why a poem was written can dramatically change the meaning of a poem and the way that it is read. Robert Frost’s â€Å"The Road Not Taken† is a great example. The literal meaning of this poem by Robert Frost is pretty obvious. A traveler comes to a fork in the road and needs to decide which way to go to continue his journey. After much thought, the traveler picks the road "less traveled by." The poem describes the tough choices people make when traveling the road of life. The traveler regrets leaving the road he has already passed by and realizes that he probably won’t travel that same way again. I’m sure many of us could compare similar instances in their own lives to the one Frost describes in the poem. Robert Frost began writing â€Å"The Road Not Taken† in England in 1914, and completed it in Franconia before his first publ... Free Essays on The Road Not Taken Life, Decisions and Consequences The writer Robert Frost in the poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken† emphasizes how the life has its own surprises and uncertainties and its own up and downs. Frost can be the speaker in this poem. He has to take a life decision, â€Å" Two road diverged in a yellow wood† the road represents the journey of our lives. No one knows where the road will lead us or what the future will bring us. There are many decision that might we have to take, we try to predict and wonder what is the wisest decision to be made. But there are pros and cows in any specific choice that we have to make. Sometimes we succeed and we make the right decision and some other times we fail to successful in the decision that we make. Is the dilemma that makes our life interesting and worth living. Because if one knows what everyday would bring than life could have no meaning. If we do not succeed, we pay for the consequences but we also learn from those experiences and in this way we can challenge and be stronger to face other difficulties of life. Frost tries to show this by describing the road that â€Å"it was grassy and wanted wear† where the grassy means the road that most of the people had not walk and â€Å"wanted wear† was one of his desire to discover the unknown. It was the one that he will chose and start exploring on something new. The speaker’s eyes try to see â€Å"the undergrowth† wondering if he can see which route to take but he cannot because his eyes can not see so far. He tries but is difficult to understand which route he should take. He thinks if he should take the common route or the other one that not to many people took. He is in dilemma because all his life depends on his decision. The man thinks on negative way for the two routs but at the same time he seems undecided and scared if he is not going to take the right decision and if will be the right one. â€Å"Two roads in the wood† represent th...

How to Homeschool If You Work Outside the Home

How to Homeschool If You Work Outside the Home If you and your spouse both work full- or part-time outside the home, you may think homeschooling is out of the question. Although having both parents working outside the home does make homeschooling trickier, with efficient planning and creative scheduling, it can be done. Here are some practical tips for successfully homeschooling while working outside the home. Alternate Shifts With Your Spouse Perhaps the most difficult aspect of homeschooling when both parents work is figuring out the logistics. This can be especially tricky  when young children are involved. One of the easiest ways to ensure that there is always a parent at home with the children is to alternate work shifts with your spouse. Alternating shifts also helps with school. One parent can work with the student on a few subjects while he or she is home, leaving the remaining subjects for  the other parent. Maybe Dad is the math and science guy while Mom excels at history and English. Splitting up the schoolwork allows each parent to contribute and to work to his or her strengths. Enlist the Help of Relatives or Hire Reliable Childcare If you  are a single parent of young children, or you and your spouse are unable or unwilling to alternate shifts (because that can  put a strain  on both the marriage and family), consider your childcare options. You may want to enlist the help of relatives or consider hiring reliable childcare. Parents of teens may decide that their kids can stay home alone during the parents’ working hours. Maturity level and security concerns should  be taken into serious consideration, but it is often a viable option for a mature, self-motivated teen. Extended family may be able to provide childcare and oversee schoolwork that your child can do with minimal help and supervision. You might also consider hiring an older homeschooled teen or college student to provide childcare if there are only a few overlapping hours in the working parents’ schedules. You may even consider exchanging child care for rent if you have extra space available. Use Curriculum That Your Students Can Do Independently If you and your spouse are both working  full-time, you’ll probably want to consider homeschool curriculum that your children on their own, such as textbooks, computer-based curriculum, or online classes. You might also consider mixing independent work that your children can do during your work shifts with more activity-based lessons you can do in the evenings or on weekends. Consider a Co-Op or Homeschool Classes In addition to the curriculum that your kids can complete on their own, you might also consider homeschool classes and co-ops. Many co-ops do require that the parents of the kids enrolled to take an active role, but others do not. In addition to regular co-ops, many areas offer group classes for homeschoolers. Most classes meet two or three days per week. Students enroll in and pay for the classes that meet their needs. Either of these options can meet the scheduling needs of working parents and provide in-person teachers for core classes and/or desired electives. Create a Flexible Homeschool Schedule Whatever you decide to do as far as curriculum and classes go, take advantage of the flexibility that homeschooling offers. For example,  homeschooling doesnt have to take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can do school in the mornings before going to work, in the evenings after work, and on the weekends. Use historical fiction, literature, and engaging biographies as your family’s bedtime stories. Science experiments can make exciting family activities in the evenings or on the weekend. Weekends are also the perfect time for a family field trip. Get Creative Working homeschool families encourage thinking creatively about activities with educational value. If your kids are on sports teams or take a class such as gymnastics, karate, or archery, count that as their P.E. time. Use dinner prep and household chores to teach them home economics skills. If they teach themselves a skill such as sewing, playing an instrument, or drawing during their free time, give them credit for the time invested. Be aware  of the educational opportunities in the everyday aspects of your lives. Split up or Hire Help for Household Chores If both parents are working outside the home, it is vital  that everyone either pitch in to help or that you seek outside help for maintaining your home. Mom (or Dad) can’t be expected to do it all. Invest time to teach your children the life skills necessary to help with the laundry, housekeeping, and meals. (Remember, it’s home ec class, too!) If theres still too much for everyone, consider what you may be able to hire out. Perhaps just having someone clean your bathrooms once a week would lighten the load or maybe you need to hire someone to maintain the lawn. Homeschooling while working outside the home can be challenging, but with planning, flexibility, and teamwork, it can be done, and the rewards will be worth the effort.

Salaries and Benefits of US Congress Members

Salaries and Benefits of US Congress Members The salary and benefits paid to the Senators and Representatives of the U.S. Congress is a constant source of public fascination, debate- and most of all- fake news.   For example, one massively-sent email states, â€Å"Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term.† Well, maybe many citizens do not have that idea, because it is just flat wrong. Another infamous email demanding passage of a mythical â€Å"Congressional Reform Act† claims members of Congress do not pay Social Security taxes. That, too, is wrong Salaries and benefits of members of the U.S. Congress have been the source of taxpayer unhappiness and myths over the years. Here are some facts for your consideration. As of 2019, the base salary for all rank-and-file members of the U.S. House and Senate was $174,000 per year, plus benefits. Salaries have not been increased since 2009. Compared to private-sector salaries, the salaries of members of Congress is lower than many mid-level executives and managers. Rank-and-File Members: The current salary (2019) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year. Members are free to turn down pay increase and some choose to do so.In a complex system of calculations, administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, congressional pay rates also affect the salaries of federal judges and other senior government executives. Congress: Leadership Members Salary  (2019) Leaders of the House and Senate are paid a higher salary than rank-and-file members. Senate Leadership Majority Party Leader - $193,400Minority Party Leader - $193,400 House Leadership Speaker of the House - $223,500Majority Leader - $193,400Minority Leader - $193,400 Pay Increases   Members of Congress are eligible to receive the same annual cost-of-living increase given to other federal employees if any. The raise takes effect automatically on January 1 of each year unless Congress, through the passage of a joint resolution, votes to decline it, as Congress has done since 2009. Benefits Paid to Members of Congress You may have read that Members of Congress do not pay into Social Security. Well, thats also a myth. Social Security Prior to 1984, neither Members of Congress nor any other federal civil service employee paid Social Security taxes. Of course, they were also not eligible to receive Social Security benefits. Members of Congress and other federal employees were instead covered by a separate pension plan called the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act required federal employees first hired after 1983 to participate in Social Security. These amendments also required all Members of Congress to participate in Social Security as of January 1, 1984, regardless of when they first entered Congress. Because the CSRS was not designed to coordinate with Social Security, Congress directed the development of a new retirement plan for federal workers. The result was the Federal Employees Retirement System Act of 1986. Members of Congress receive retirement and health benefits under the same plans available to other federal employees. They become vested after five years of full participation. Health Insurance Since all provisions of the Affordable Care Act or â€Å"Obamacare† took effect in 2014, members of Congress have been required to purchase health insurance plans offered through one of the Affordable Care Act-approved exchanges in order to receive a government contribution toward their health coverage. Prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act, insurance for members of Congress was provided through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB); the government’s employer-subsidized private insurance system. However, not even under the FEHB plan was the insurance â€Å"free.† On average, the government pays from 72% to 75% of the premiums for its workers. Like all other federal retirees, former members of Congress paid the same share of premiums as other federal employees. Retirement   Members elected since 1984 are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Those elected prior to 1984 were covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). In 1984 all members were given the option of remaining with CSRS or switching to FERS. As it is for all other federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and the participants contributions. Members of Congress under FERS contribute 1.3 percent of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 6.2 percent of their salary in Social Security taxes. Members of Congress become eligible to receive a pension at the age of 62 if they have completed a total of 5 years of service. Members who have completed a total of 20 years of service are eligible for a pension at age 50, are at any age after completing a total of 25 years of service. No matter their age when they retire, the amount of the members’ pension is based on their total years of service and the average of their highest three years of salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member’s retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary. Can They Really Retire After Only One Term? Those mass emails also claim that members of Congress can get a pension equal to their full salaries after serving only one term. That one is partly true but mostly false. Under the current law, which requires at least 5 years of service, members of the House of Representatives would not be eligible to collect pensions of any amount after serving only one term, since they come up for reelection every two years. On the other hand, U.S, Senators - who serve six-year terms - would be eligible to collect pensions after completing only one full term. In neither case, however, would the pensions be equal to the member’s full salary. While it is highly unlikely and has never happened, it is possible for a longtime member of Congress whose pension began at or near 80% of his or her final salary could - after many years of accepted annual cost-of-living adjustments - see his or her pension rise to equal his or her final salary. Average Annual Pensions According to the Congressional Research Service, there were 611 retired members of Congress receiving federal pensions based fully or in part on their congressional service as of October 1, 2016. Of this number, 335 had retired under CSRS and were receiving an average annual pension of $74,028. A total of 276 Members had retired with service under FERS and were receiving an average annual pension of $41,076 in 2016. Allowances Members of Congress are also provided with an annual allowance intended to defray expenses related carrying out their congressional duties, including official office expenses, including staff, mail, travel between a Members district or state and Washington, DC, and other goods and services. Outside Income Many members of Congress retain their private careers and other business interests while they serve. Members are allowed to retain an amount of permissible outside earned income limited to no more than 15% of the annual rate of basic pay for level II of the Executive Schedule for federal employees, or $28,400.00 a year in 2018. However, there is currently no limit on the amount of non-salary income members can retain from their investments, corporate dividends or profits. House and Senate rules define what sources of outside earned income are permissible. For example, House Rule XXV (112th Congress) limits permissible outside income to salaries, fees, and other amounts received or to be received as compensation for personal services actually rendered. Members are not allowed to retain compensation arising from fiduciary relationships, except for medical practices. Members are also barred from accepting honoraria - payments for professional services typically provided without charge. Perhaps most importantly to voters and taxpayers, member of Congress are strictly prohibited from earning or accepting income that may appear to be intended to influence the way they vote on legislation. Tax Deductions Members are allowed to deduct up to $3,000 a year from their federal income tax for living expenses while they are away from their home states or congressional districts. Early History of Congress Pay How and how much members of Congress should be paid has always been a debated issue. America’s Founding Fathers believed that since congressmen would typically be well-off anyway, they should serve for free, out of a sense of duty. Under the Articles of Confederation, if U.S. congressmen were paid at all, they were paid by the states they represented. The state legislatures adjusted their congressmen’s pay and could even suspend it completely if they became dissatisfied with them. By the time the first U.S. Congress under the Constitution convened in 1789, members of both the House and Senate were paid $6 for each day there were actually in session, which was then rarely more than five months a year. The $6 per-day rate remained the same until the Compensation Act of 1816 raised it to a flat $1,500 a year. However, faced with public outrage, Congress repealed the law in 1817. Not until 1855 did members of Congress return to being paid an annual salary, then $3,000 per year with no benefits. Sources and Further Reference Brudnick, Ida A. â€Å"Congressional Salaries and Allowances: In Brief.† Congressional Research Service (April 11, 2018).Feran, Tom. â€Å"Can members of Congress retire with full pay after just one term?† Politifact Ohio (January 11, 2013)

Analyze a science news article on microbes Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Analyze a science news on microbes - Article Example It is also used in the evaluation process of different brands of food. The program is primarily based on excel sheet which makes it easier for the user to manage and maintain. It also helps an individual in the process of quick cost analysis and has tools in it to help evaluate the existing formulas of the items used in the food product. The program can communicate with other software and helps in creating the perfect formula for the food item. Major food companies are using the computer software TechWizard for the process of food analysis and making cost effective decisions. The labeling of food ingredients is easy and helps in identifying the quality of the product. The software has made the job of food labeling easier and helps maintain standard quality product. It is manageable and easy to use, making it one of the best food processing software in the market (Owl Software

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International Fashion Textiles Marketing - Essay Example The essay "International Fashion Textiles Marketing" explores the Textile Market and International Fashion. The paper also discovers the Textile and apparel industry in India. The Indian market consists of all the menswear, children swear, and women swear. The menswear consists of the casual, essentials, outerwear, and formalwear-occasions. The women swear consist of active wear, essentials, formalwear, and casual wear. The children’s wear consists of both the girls and boys wear such as essentials, formal wear, and active wear for girls. The political instability will ensure that the manufacturing facilities of the company are safe. The Indian economy is among the few economies that were not affected by the 2008/09 great recession. Coupled with the increasing GDP, the consumer power for fashion and textile products is increasing as more disposable income also increases. The Indian population is increasing steadily and this will increase the market base for textile products. I n addition, the Indian people are undergoing a cultural change as they embrace the western culture, and this may include embracing products manufactured by Levi Strauss. the Indian market has moved from manual manufacture of clothing to use of high tech machines in designing and manufacturing clothing products. The developed Indian technology will improve Levi Strauss’ efficiency and improve its productivity. The Indian government has strong environmental protection regulations that require companies to produce the minimum dioxide.

Islamic art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Islamic art - Essay Example Islamic art often adopts worldly elements and elements that are frowned upon, if not prohibited, by some Islamic theologians. The initial stages of Islamic art: The period of swift development of the Islamic epoch forms a convincingly accurate beginning for the label of Islamic art. Diverse Art conceptions have found in the history such as: Umayyad art Abbasid art Spain and the Maghreb Egypt and Syria Iran and Central Asia. Fatimid period (969-1175): The Fatimids manifestly had a taste for carefully made-up gold work and complicatedly engraved vessels of rock crystal, a type of translucent, monochrome quartz whose exterior can be luminously polished. The glass working was also a highly urbanized art form. The lavishness of the Fatimid court fueled resurgence in the ornamental arts, which made Cairo the most significant cultural core in the Islamic world. Nearby, Old Cairo, known as al-Fustat, became a chief center for the manufacturing of pottery, glass, and metalwork, and rock-cryst al, ivory, and wood carving, textile factories run by management officials created tiraz fabrics in the name of the caliph somewhere else in the Egyptian district, particularly the Nile Delta. The artwork from this era exemplifies the inventiveness and resourcefulness of Fatimid craftsmen. The procedure of lusterware on ceramic, developed in the beginning in Iraq, was invigorated in Egypt and Syria. Some lusterware pieces from this age are signed by their makers, a sign of the admiration in which the craftsmen were kept. Wood statuette and jewelry were executed with equivalent dexterity and creativity. Fatimid artists created new enhancing motifs and made better use of figural forms, both human and animal. Figures were stylized but vigorous, while customary vegetal and geometric ornaments maintained their conceptual excellence. Artists of this time revitalized or sustained previous techniques but gave them their own distinguishing stamp. The Abbasid period (8th-13th): in the Abbasid rule, which succeeded the Umayyads (661–750), the central spot of Islamic political and artistic living shifted eastward from Syria to Iraq, where, in 762, Baghdad, the circular City of Peace (madinat al-salam), was founded as the new center. The former two centuries of Abbasid rule saw the appearance and spreading of a new Islamic approach of art where the introduction of purely Islamic forms and techniques took place. Textiles: Of the numerous varied arts that prospered in the Abbasid period, textiles played a particularly momentous character in civilization, one that sustained in succeeding periods. Textiles were omnipresent in Islamic lands, allocated as clothes, domestic furnishings, and convenient architecture (tents). The production of and buying and selling in textiles were exceedingly classy and lucrative industries that built upon Byzantine and Sasanian background. Often made with expensive supplies such as silk and gold and silver wrapped yarn and adorned with com posite designs, textiles were lavish goods suggestive of wealth and social standing. Islamic textiles were also broadly exported to the West, where their eminence is underscored by their effect on European languages. Did you know that the English words "cotton" and "taffeta" are obtained, respectively, from Arabic and Persian? Pottery: The skill of pottery was profoundly developed in the ninth