Para sa Hopeless Romantic

â€Å"Para sa Hopeless Romantic† by Marcelo Santos III, published in February 14th 2013 by Lifebooks, is a novel composed of 5 love stories of people who embark on a romantic search of their own happy ending. There are Rebecca, Nikko, Ryan, Maria and Jackie. Each one has their own love story to tell. One character is afraid to love again; the other is hoping to find love. Another character is trying to forget while the other one is longing to reunite with a former flame. Santos’ characters seem real, and their experiences taken from real life.Becca is a 3rd year student in PUP as well as Nikko and other characters like Jackie and RJ, and Sir Matt who is Becca’s boss. He made Becca and Nikko like typical college students that have relationship and quarrels. Jackie was made a happy girl, who likes handsome guys like RJ, who likes beautiful ladies on the other hand, a chickboy. Santos made his characters simple and real. Heart-tugging, passionate, and romantic, anyo ne will fall in love with the stories â€Å"Bag at Folder†, â€Å"Upuan†, â€Å"Jeepney†, â€Å"Dota vs Girlfriend†, and â€Å"Katol.†The characters are so relatable particularly to teenagers nowadays. This book may not come in series, but there are rumors that there is another book in the works and maybe an upcoming movie version too. The author, Marcelo Santos III – a beginner in his career, used to be just a blogger but now he’s a short film director, a writer, and a would-be Bestselling author. He graduated at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in 2011. He got famous for his work, LSOV or Love Story on Video, which spread viral on Youtube that made his career go wider in the internet world.Santos’ goal in writing this novel is to bring inspiration to people experiencing the same problem as those to the characters in the book, to motivate people who are likely to give up to their problems. He also wants to be noti ced by the public, to be more famous, and to make more novels people can relate to nowadays. I’m sure that a lot of people will enjoy reading this book, a lot of teenagers can relate to the characters and to the problems of each character experience in the story, especially issues when it comes to the matter of the heart. Many readers may anticipate for the next book and the movie rumors.

Printing Press

†¢Intro things to discuss The ancient Greeks wrote texts intended for education only the privileged, wealthy few who could afford scribes. The modern textbook has its roots in the standardization made possible by the printing press. Early textbooks were used by tutors and teachers, who used the books as instructional aids The next revolution for books came with the 15th-century invention of printing with changeable type. The invention is attributed to German metal smith Johannes Gutenberg, who cast type in molds using a melted metal alloy and constructed a wooden-screw printing press to transfer the image onto paper.Gutenberg's invention made mass production of texts possible for the first time. †¢In general the invention of the printing press (Lower-class) Before Gutenberg's printing press, reading books were a privilege for the church and some of the nobility, literacy was practically non-existent in the lower class, books were extremely expensive, and scientists never sh ared their work with other scientist. After the printing press was invented, books became considerably cheaper to afford, thus, making it easier for lower class citizens, as well as, libraries to afford books and circulate them throughout Europe.With the increase in books and the availability of them, came the increase in literacy among the lower classes. †¢traditional lecture before the invention- who accessed books †¢how it impacted education Also, since it was easier to print work scientist started sharing their works with each other. This was an amazing improvement in science, because now scientist could critic each other's work, improve upon it, and eventually come up with correct conclusions. †¢how the printing press (changed the role of the Catholic Church) No more did people have to accept what the church told them – they could now read it for themselves.In an indirect way, it led to the Reformation of the church, one of the major events in European his tory. Without the printing press and the availability of Bibles, Martin Luther may not have been in the position to question the authority of the church and to encourage people to study the Bible for themselves to see how Faith was the means to salvation, rather than â€Å"good works†, as the Catholic Church had expounded for centuries. The church officials, before the printing press was invented, were the only ones to read the Bible and they, then taught their interpretations to the congregation. When the printing presses started printing

Starbucks Retail Stores Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Starbucks Retail Stores - Essay Example This essay stresses that social responsibility, and in particular consumer and community considerations play central role in the process of Starbucks brand positioning. It is acknowledged that Starbucks coffee shops are active members of local communities. Starbucks coffee shops are found on â€Å"the near-by corner†, being 200 in London alone. Through a consistent policy of community-directed events and wide-spread initiatives, Starbucks have continuously supported community growth and added to community satisfaction. The â€Å"Bookdrive† initiative is running for a third consecutive year where Starbucks customers donate books to local schools, nurseries or hospitals. â€Å"Timebank† is another community-targeted endeavour, involving individuals in various local activities. The â€Å"Workwise† program is targeted at employability of young people. Starbucks â€Å"ethical coffee† was initiated along with other retail shops promoting â€Å"Fairtradeà ¢â‚¬  principles. Acknowledging that Starbucks coffee shops are not merely coffee traders, but are active members of the local communities, has long-term benefits for the company in terms of brand positioning. This paper makes a conclusion that the strengths of the Starbucks brand include international know-how, advanced brand recognition, quality raw materials, premium speciality coffee products, good shop locations, personalized service, special attitude and community-oriented social policy. Still, markets and consumers are not static; therefore brand-supporting activities should be continued, and adjusted to changing market developments.

Searches and Seizures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Searches and Seizures - Essay Example A search usually occurs when an expectation of privacy that is considered by the society as reasonable is infringed by a government employee. A seizure is the interference of the possessory interest in property of a person. The Fourth Amendment protects a person against any search and seizure which that violates their reasonable expectation of privacy (LaFave, 2004). A reasonable expectation of privacy exists if one expects privacy and if the expectation is thought to be legitimate by the entire society. The Fourth Amendment Mary Ellis was awakened on Saturday morning and finds her neighbor Mr. Clyde Stevens lying unresponsive on the floor. She calls 911 and the police and EMS personnel arrived minutes later and Mr. Stevens is pronounced dead from a large butcher knife in his back. Crime scene investigators then started investigating William’s bedroom as the crime scene without any search warrant. The investigations started shortly after the arrival of the police officers. The investigators took charge of the investigation and conducted an exhaustive warrantless search on the Mary Ellis apartment which included development of blood fingerprint, photographing the print and recovery of a blood sample of William for a DNA analysis. The Fourth Amendment prohibits any government official from searching a home without any warrant which must include specific information like the name and address of the person. The Fourth Amendment requires all searches and seizures to be reasonable. If the search and seizure are declared unreasonable, then the police cannot use the evidence obtained from the search and seizure in criminal trials. Warrants are issues under a probable cause which should be supported by Oath or Affirmation which describes the place to be searched and the persons and things that need to be seized (Chamelin, 2003). A judge can only find a probable cause though the examination of the totality of all the circumstances presented. However, the police ca n enter a private residence without a warrant if an officer enters a building or a place of residence to assist in any form of emergency if the officer receives consent to search the residence without a warrant, if an officer has placed the person under arrest and if the search is administrative in nature which is done for the purposes of law reinforcement. The police can also enter a private residence without a warrant if they suspect that the house harbors a person carrying or in control of firearms illegally and are not in proper control of the arm and may injure or kill a person as a result of their mental condition (LaFave, 2004). They also enter a private residence without a warrant if they have a reasonable ground to suspect a firearm offence if the house contains illegal drugs and if someone in the house is at large after escaping from prison. The legal rights of the police to access the Ellis household The search done on Ellis household is not constitutionally permissibl

Outline President Kennedys foreign policy problems as they related to Essay

Outline President Kennedys foreign policy problems as they related to Cuba - Essay Example This was intended to spur a rebellion to overthrow the then communist leader Fidel Castro. However, the mission was a failure and led to great embarrassment to the president (Haney & Vanderbush 45). Kennedy’s foreign policy was heavily influenced by the cold war, the continuing conflict of the Soviet Union as well as conflicts in Cuba. From 1960 until after the 1962 Missile crisis, the American objective was to get rid of Cubans leader, President Castro. Subsequently, during the years of the cold war the U.S foreign policy objectives were to get Cuba to halt its aid to revolutionaries, reduce its military ties to the Soviet Union and to show greater respect for human rights (Haney & Vanderbush 185). The United States trade embargo and other sanctions against Cuba have been in place for some 36 years, and the U.S policy towards the island has changed a little in that time. In the absence of full access to the diplomatic records in this country and abroad, it is not possible to resolve this debate on Kennedy fully, but certain studies by analysts on the Cuban missile crisis, lend support to the more friendly view of Kennedy. The president certainly made mistakes in foreign policy, and he raised more hopes than he fulfilled. However, he demonstrated a relatively cosmopolitan and sophisticated view of the world, grew in office, and had a feel for diplomacy, which for some time had been lacking in American

Not sure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Not sure - Essay Example However, the differences lie in the practicing of the religions. Confucianism does not go beyond establishing an ethical system. It is all about having a good behavior and that is it. Islam, however, has set of rules that are to be followed besides being good. Islam is a monotheist religion and it is a compulsion to pray five times a day to an Almighty God, who is the creator and maintainer of the universe. In Islam there are certain dos and don’ts; for instance, Muslims are not allowed to drink alcohol or eat pork, they have to abstain from pre-marital sex, and so on and so forth. Such rules are not found in Confucianism. Besides the rules, Islam was brought on by Prophet Muhammad who was commanded by the one God to spread His message. A book, Holy Quran, was revealed upon him. No such happenings occurred in Confucianism, and it was founded by Confucius who preached his own teachings and advised people how to live their lives to the fullest and

The Oil Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Oil Industry - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the oil industry is not a modern development. It traces back its history to ancient ages. The only problem that has necessitated changes pertains to refinery and exploitation of oil. The modern oil industry emanated from an invention by Colonel Edwin Drake. It involved a steam-driven rig for drilling. This set up an expensive machine that most individuals could not be acquired. The only strategy was to harness resources for acquiring such machines. The machines became more expensive to acquire as time progressed since the demand for oil necessitated very quality product. The first companies progressed to attain revenues that offset their high costs. In this sense, they became monopolies. The main reason of monopoly pertained to the fact that it was becoming difficult to attain the minimum efficient scale.   The established companies were experiencing economies of scale. However, this trend stalled on the formation of unions such as o ligopoly.   The OPEC was composed of Middle East Asia countries and Venezuela. They emerged to form a substantial influence on the market. In spite of the fact, oil was a unique product, it could be refined to several products. These products helped create companies such as shell and BP who later influenced entry of other companies. In spite of the domineering presence of unions such as OPEC, prices usually shift in response to notable factors... There are notable factors that affect the demand of oil. To begin with, there is the concept of the cyclical demand of oil. This pertains to demand of oil that swings according to growth of economies. As economy grows, the demand of oil rises to the same. This is because oil is an essential input of many industries. It is vital to note that oil forms a core part of the production chain. The growth of economies is proportionate to growth of industries. In turn, the industries are triggered to increase production in order that the same meets the increasing demand out of surging income. A relevant example concerns with the case of China. Its demand of oil has substantially increased because of the growth in its economy. In addition, the price of substitutes is a core determination of oil’s demands. This pertains to produc5ts such as gas and coal. In the long-term strategies of many countries, they seek possible alternatives for oil. In this sense, the demand of oil would reduce. For instance, there was a demand of oil in 2004 to 2006 that led to substantial research into its possible alternatives. Additionally, change of climate serves to affect the demand of oil in the countries that experience the four seasons. This is eminent in European countries, USA and Russia. In this sense, there is high demand of oil during winter. This is because individuals require substantial energy in heating systems. For instance, there is increased demand of oil, for heating houses and work places, during fierce winters. In addition, speculative forces influences demand in distinct ways. Due to its imitable qualities, there are always speculations of rise in prices of oil. In one of the most recent instances, individuals rushed to attain

MGMT Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

MGMT - Term Paper Example It is their management which is primarily responsible for the formulation of strategies, assigning goals, implementation of strategies, tracking the success of these by matching them to their predetermined goals. This is done in my forms however their strategic thrusts rely heavily on feedback which they receive. The most effective feedback is by the numbers which are generated by each store. These are then forwarded to the headquarters by the use of the vast digital network. In 2007 Wal-Mart was labeled one of the most competitive and innovative companies in the world (Plambeck, 2007). Their ability to be innovative is critical for them being able to achieve sustainability through measures that positively impact and reduce strain on the environment. This they do by three ambitious goals: incorporating as much of renewable energy as they can as part of their operations, minimizing the creation of waste and continuously striving to sell products which lead to sustaining their resources as well as the environment. As far as innovation is concerned an analysis of the activities and measures taken by Wal-Mart focus on incorporating a culture which aids the organization through making efficient use of a learning culture. This can be seen in the extensive measures taken by Wal-Mart to facilitate learning of the employees and introducing frequent training sessions. From the instance an employee starts working at Wal-Mart they undergo a extensive customer service training, they also undertake on the job training and ongoing formal training as far as responsibilities of the work are concerned. Analysis suggests that initially it was customer service and the ten foot rule applied to the workforce which served as driving forces for Wal-Mart’s innovative culture. Suggestions, feedback and communication with the employees were valued and some of their suggestions were even adopted

Definition of Terms Essay Example for Free

Definition of Terms Essay AMR- Ambulatory Medical Record- An ambulatory medical record (AMR) is an electronically stored file of a patient’s outpatient medical records, which includes all surgeries and care that do not involve being admitted to a hospital. The importance of AMR’s is that they only apply to outpatient medical records. Outpatients procedures or services are performed so frequently that at times it can be tedious to keep track of them. These records allow a physician to review a patient’s COMPLETE medical history. CMR- Computerized Medical Record- Computerized medical records are the digital counterparts to patient medical records kept in paper files and folders in health care offices. The importance of CMR’s is they allow for less paper storage or use. A patient’s medical records can be an extensive file. The longer the file gets the harder it is to keep up with it. Keeping a computerized copy of what is on paper in a patient’s medical record is more than convenient, it is a more efficient method of documentation. CMS – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid- The Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS), previously known as the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer Medicaid, the State Childrens Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and health insurance portability standards. CMS is an important entity to US healthcare, without it, the medical coverage for  children whose parents do not have the luxury of commercial coverage and the elderly who have reached the age of retirement would not have health benefits. Medicare and Medicaid do not only supply benefits to children and the elderly but there are those citizens who are considered disable in some way, shape, fashion or form. CMS-1500 A universal claims billing form used by physicians and other healthcare practitioners to bill payers for professional services. The CMS 1500 form assists physicians especially in receiving reimbursement for the services provided. The development of a form for physicians eliminates confusion for insurance companies when processing claims. The companies need not worry about whether the charges were submitted by a physician or facility, which makes for easier and more efficient processing. CPT Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) is a code set that is used to report medical procedures and services to entities such as physicians, health insurance companies and accreditation organizations. CPT is used in conjunction with ICD-8-CM or ICD-10-CM numerical diagnostic coding during the electronic medical billing process. From a billing standpoint, a world without CPT codes is almost like a world without people. The genius idea to use a universal language of numbers to determine services an individual had performed alleviates chaos. CPT codes also give a shorter description of the services rendered. Some procedures are so extensive, all the information appearing on a claims form can cause confusion. By giving these procedures a 5 digit number which can be researched for a description creates efficiency. DRG Diagnosis Related Group any of the payment categories that are used to classify patients, especially Medicare patients, for the purpose of reimbursing hospitals for each case in a given category with a fixed fee regardless of the actual costs incurred DRG’s prohibit a facility from receiving an outrageous reimbursement for specific provided services. The categorization of patient cases into specific groups which allows for a set cost or billed amount places a cap on reimbursement to that facility for that case/patient. EPR Electronic Patient (Health) Record (EHR) -an evolving concept defined as a systematic collection of electronic health information about individual  patients or populations. Monitoring a patients’ health information in an electronic manner is a win/win for all involved. It allows the patient faster access to their records and the physician or hospital a faster method for reviewing or receiving those same records. The EPR has evolved into the EHR. The development of tracking patient health information in an electronic monitor has produced a more effective, accurate method for organizing something as lengthy as a person’s health history. HL7 Health Level Seven (HL7) a non-profit organization involved in the development of international healthcare informatics interoperability standards. HL7 and its members provide a framework (and related standards) for the exchange, integration, sharing, and retrieval of electronic health information. The 2.x versions of the standards, which support clinical practice and the management, delivery, and evaluation of health services, are the most commonly used in the world. The development of this organization is the foundation for the ability to transfer and track health information safely and without violation of a person’s personal information. Without HL7, the above mentioned term (EPR) would not exist. This organization’s importance is beyond measure in terms of convenience involved in the healthcare field. The standards set forth are a necessity in order for health information to be exchanged or shared, they provide peace of mind to the patients and physicians. ICD-9 International Classification of Disease, 9th edition A standardized classification of disease, injuries, and causes of death, by etiology and anatomic localization and codified into a 5-digit number, which allows clinicians, statisticians, politicians, health planners and others to speak a common language, both US and internationally. A 3 to 5-digit number code describing a diagnosis or medical procedure. The International Classification of Disease 9th edition is as important to billing as CPT codes. The universal language for identifying a patients diagnosis assists not only for purposes in billing but for physician and hospital communication with insurance companies. Physicians attend school to learn and become familiar with the formal name for specific diseases, injuries and other medical conditions. On the other hand, insurance companies may not be as familiar or educated as to  the formal names for these medical conditions, which is where ICD-9’s come into play. They allow for easier and more understanding within the communication aspect of physician to insurance or facility to insurance company. UB-92 Uniform/Universal Billing form 92 Managed care The official HCFA/CMS form used by hospitals and health care centers when submitting bills to Medicare and 3rd-party payors for reimbursement for health services provided to Pts covered. UB-92 billing forms have since been replaced with UB-04 billing forms. Needless to say, a universal billing form creates an efficient, more precise method of billing for hospitals. Once again it eliminates the time that would be consumed by insurance companies attempting to determine if a claim is for a facility or physician. Eliminating this step assists in jump starting the processing of reimbursement to a facility for rendered services.

The Roots and Origins of Islamic Terrorism Essay Example for Free

The Roots and Origins of Islamic Terrorism Essay Since the 1970s terrorism against the US has been growing and on September 11th it became apparent that terrorism will be a major problem the US will face in the years ahead. The question this essay seeks to explore is: what is terrorism and what are some the causes of this anti-US terrorism? In order to find the causes of anti-US terrorism, this essay will research various academic works in an effort to find some explanations of what causes anti-US terrorism. I will examine a couple different hypothesis that try to explain the causes of terrorism, but my research I plan to argue that anti-US terrorism is rooted in political and social movements by angry Islamic fundamentalists who believe using non-conventional tactics are the most rational way to fight the US and the western powers. Terrorist groups, such as Al-Qaeda, do not see diplomacy with the US as an option to voice their demands because they see the US as a superpower that is unwilling to listen to their demands and also because most of the Arab governments are friends with the US. Because diplomacy is not an available option and there is an inability to formally fight the west militarily, terrorists groups have chosen to use non-traditional tactics to fight the west. Research into this issue is very important for political research because terrorism has become a major security issue for the US and other countries around the world. Also, research into the causes of terrorism is important because it is a tactic that non-state actors can and will be using the years ahead as a form of leverage against the US and the West. In my conclusion I will present some possible solutions how terrorism can hopefully be stopped in the future. Defining terrorism as one definite thing is not an easy task, but generally terrorism is considered to be non-conventional form of warfare that individuals or groups can use to fight for their agenda, whether it is a political, social, religious and/or economic cause. Terrorists use many non-conventional ways of fighting such as car bombs, keeping people hostage, and in some cases hijacking air planes. As a ‘weapon of the weak’, terrorism is deployed by groups to gain media attention and visibility as the first step in gaining ‘name recognition’ within the international community. (Nacos 1994). Through the publicity generated by their violence, terrorists seek to obtain the leverage, influence and power they otherwise lack to create political change on either a local or an international scale. The traditional laws of war do not apply  to terrorism, partly because terrorist groups do not abide to treaties on war, and also because terrorist groups use fear as their form of leverage, which is why it is okay for them to kill innocent people. In cases of groups such as Al-Qaeda killing innocent people is not considered a bad thing because to them there is a religious justification. Power has always played a crucial role in the international system and based on this principle we can believe that the struggle for power has a major influence on the decision of terrorist groups to commit acts of terrorism. (Sobeck Braithwaite 2005) In a study by David Sobek and Alex Braithwaite the two researchers hypothesize that as political, military, and diplomatic capabilities become concent rated into American and allied hands, the amount of terrorism directed against Americas interests will increase as a way to counter balance this power. Because terrorists are non-state actors they do not have access to conventional forms of fighting or the diplomatic channels that states use to resolve their disputes, they must use non-conventional forms of fighting. The choice to employ terrorist activities arises rationally from the environmental context within which these groups find themselves in, in that terrorism is the most cost-effective way for the terrorists to accomplish their goals. (Ajami 2001) The United States’ predominant position in the world affects the decision of terrorist groups to launch terrorist attacks against US interests internationally. As the United States becomes increasingly dominant, the amount of terrorism directed against it is likely to increase. Terrorism is seen by the terrorists as a counter-balancing mechanism. (Sobeck Braithwaite 2005) Increasing American dominance limits the ability of groups with revisionist views of the international system, such as that of the Palestinians, to be h eard, let alone changed. (Sobeck Braithwaite 2005) The options available for these groups to act are diplomacy, perhaps through a NGO or their home state if they are willing to listen, or terrorism, which is intended to create an instant response (Most Starr, 1989) From these choices, terrorist groups choose strategies that they see as rational that will maximize their expected outcome. (Sobeck Braithwaite 2005) This means that the decision to engage in terrorism relates directly to the expected efficacy of an action and the likely payoffs received if it is successful. For example the terrorist activities of 9/11 cost Al-Qaeda roughly 400,000  dollars and nineteen lives were lost in the process, but the outcome of causing thousands of deaths, several billion dollars of damage, and most importantly creating fear in the minds of millions of people world-wide was a very ‘cost-effective’ decision by Al-Qaeda to put world spotlight on their anti-US position. (Sobeck Braithwaite 2005) The desire to counter-balance the US and west and remove from the Middle East a long with belief that it possible has caused the creation of many terrorist groups since the 1970s. This anti-western feeling had been around for a long time, but the creation of Israel and the growing amount of western influence in the region really sparked terrorist movements in this time period. Groups such as Hezbollah, a Lebanese group that has been around since the 1980s, have realized that using non-conventional warfare, such as blowing up the US Embassy in Beirut, can be a way to fight and neutralize the conventional military superiority of a superpower. (Cannistraro and Giraldi 2007) This action seemed to be a victory for Hezbollah as US and French forces withdrew from the country after the bombing. This act of removing western countries using terrorism inspired other terrorist groups to try to fight Western influence in their home countries and to fight western countries in their homeland as see n by the attacks of 9/11 and the bombings in Madrid. It is a common misperception that terrorists are insane and not rational actors because they use tactics such as suicide, but this is not necessarily the case. Marc Sageman, a former CIA officer, studied the rationality of terrorists and found that the popular depictions of brainwashed or poor and uneducated terrorists are generally not true. He profiled 382 terrorists and his work reveals that terrorists are more likely to be normal, well-educated types with families and good professional-level jobs. (Sageman 2002) Most are middle or upper class and not poor, young, single, and/or deluded. (Sageman 2002) Only a small percentage had any religious education, and many, more than 70 percent, had some university education. (Sageman 2002) Sageman concluded that Al Qaeda and its associated groups are generally composed of men who are very well educated, well off, and stable. According to Vincent Cannistraro and Philip Giraldi terrorists act as they  do not because they are crazy but beca use they believe what they do will bring about change to the global political status quo. Terrorists see terrorism as a way to create power where there is none or to consolidate power where there is very little. (Hoffman 1998) For the global Salafist terrorists, the objective is to put an end to corrupt Arab regimes, replacing them with theocracies, and to bring and end to western influence from Muslim lands. For the regionally based groups such as Hamas, the purpose of terrorism is national liberation from occupying powers e.g. Israel. (Cannistraro and Giraldi 2007) It can also be argued that even though acts of terrorism are universally condemned, they stimulate media coverage of an issue and provide an opening for moderate organizations to ask the public to consider the legitimacy of what the terrorists are fighting for as a separate issue from the tactics the groups use i.e. it can be argued that the terrorism in Israel has increased awareness of poor conditions of the Palestinian people. (Adamson) Along with being a political movement, terrorism has now also become a sociological phenomenon in parts of the Muslim world and in the west. In parts of the Middle East terrorists groups begin to form when members of the society feel upset with their home government for working with the US or other reasons that make them feel outcast i.e. economic reasons, feeling less dignified than people of the west, etc. It usually takes a charismatic leader to take the frustration of the many outcast people and channel it into a movement. In the words of Eric Hoffer, it is usually â€Å"an externalizing hatemongering leader† who â€Å"manipulates the slime of discontented souls.† (Hoffer 1989) Terrorist group leaders, such as Osama Bin Laden, are considered to be a therapist for the group and they blame an external cause for their difficulties of the group and righteously justify aggression against the believed source i.e. the US. (Robins Post, 1997). Once members are recruited in to these groups, there is a clear fusing of individual identity and group identity, particularly among the more radical elements of each organization. This is true both for the Islamist terrorists of Hamas as well as Al Qaeda and the global Salafi jihad. (Post 2005) For members of these terrorist groups ‘success’ within the community is defined as fighting for ‘the cause,’ which can be thought of as political, social,  and religious growth of the groups beliefs. As young men adopt this view of success, their own self image becomes more intimately intertwined with the success of the organization. (Post 2005) With no other means to achieve status and ‘success,’ the organization’s success becomes central to individual identity and provides a â€Å"reason for living† for group members. (Post 2005) As an individual’s identity succumbs to the organization, there is no room for individuality, meaning no individual ideas, identity, and decision-making. At the same time self-perceived success becomes more and more linked to the organization This creates a cycle where group members have a direct need to increase the power and prestige of the group through increasingly dramatic and violent operations because this will increase their own perceived ‘success’ (Post 2005) This fusion with the group seems to provide the necessary justification for their actions and loss of responsibility to the individual. Guilt or remorse by the individual is not tolerated because the organization does not express it. This is intensified among Islamist groups who feel they have a moral obligation to the cause and a religiously sanctioned justification for their actions e.g. Jihad (Post 2005). In Europe and in the US terrorist groups have formed from a different social phenomenon. When Marc Sageman did his detailed study on 382 terrorists, he found some interesting information about the origins of many Al-Qaeda terrorists. Sageman found that the average al Qaeda–type terrorist has traveled, frequently studied in the West, and that many terrorists developed their radicalism while they were studying or working in the West. (Sageman 2002) He discovered that most terrorists entered into the jihadi cause from the bottom up, meaning that they volunteered and were not actively recruited. Sageman explains that these terrorists frequently drifted into radical mosques as an act of cultural assertion, often because they felt homesick or alienated from the dominant Western culture. Once there, they joined cliques or friendship groups of the like-minded people also searching for a new identity. (Sageman 2002) According to Sageman, â€Å"The groups are characterized by a sense of anomie, their social and political alienation eventually being attributed to the decadence, corruption, and immorality of the West.† The next step for these outcast individuals is to  join an organization that is doing something to combat and roll back the western values. Sageman concluded from his study that it is the â€Å"alienation arising from the misguided multiculturalism that treats Muslims like a group needing to be protected that creates its own sense of victimization.† (Sageman 2002) Another explanation that some might give to explain terrorism is that it is a psychological disorder that is caused by a pneumopathological consciousness that involves the construction of an imaginative â€Å"second reality† where terrorism has intended and magical effects. (Cooper 2005) This belief that terrorism is caused by a second reality says when individuals, who out of necessity exist within commonsensical or â€Å"first† reality attempt to live within the imaginative or fantasy-based second reality and characteristic frictions between the two arise. With respect to modern terrorism, the chief conflicts are between religious or spiritual realities and their symbolization and the realities of unfavorable living conditions in the Middle East relative to countries of the West. The tension between the first and second reality is brought to life by the perverse logic of this second reality that interprets murder as self-sacrifice according to this theory. (Cooper 200 5) No matter how pragmatically destructive these acts of political violence may be in commonsense terms, for the people existing imaginatively within a second reality, they â€Å"are sanitized by virtue of the fact that they are religiously symbolic. They are stripped of their horror by being invested with religious meaning.† (Juergensmeyer 1996) Of the different academic works I have looked into, this theory that terrorism is caused by a psychological disorder seems to be the least plausible. The problem with the theory is that it is not possible to test the psychological dysfunctions of the terrorists partly because of an internal belief in this theory that the terrorists are able to live in the ‘first reality.’ Also since other researchers such as Marc Sageman have done case studies that show that terrorists are rational and normal people, there is strong evidence that contradicts this theory. This theory does not take into account the strong evidence put forth by the other works I have  researched that convincingly explain how terrorism is a rational way for the terrorists to fight the west of social and political reasons. While it is true that some terrorists groups are fighting in the name of religion, most terrorists groups have used religion as a justification and cover up for doing violent acts that are politically and socially motivated. Overall, this belief that terrorism is caused by a pneumopathological consciousness does little in supporting my hypothesis. Some of the articles I read gave me support for my hypothesis that terrorism is caused by political and social forces. â€Å"The Long War† by Vincent Cannistraro and Philip Giraldi was one of the articles that supported my hypothesis. The general theme of the article was that social alienation from the West, revenge for previous blood debt, a desire to put an end to corrupt Arab regimes and replace them with theocracies along with bringing about a retreat of the West, particularly the United States, from Muslim lands is what causes terrorism. Also â€Å"Victim of Success† by David Sobeck and Alex Braithwaite supported my hypothesis because it explained terrorism as political maneuver by groups like Al Qaeda to counter balance the military and political superiority of the US. An article that supported my notion that terrorism also has social motivations was the case study of terrorists my Marc Sageman, which explain how social alienation by Muslims living in the west cau ses these groups to feel hatred toward the west and act on their feelings. With a better understanding of the political and social causes of terrorism better efforts should be made by US foreign policy makers to tackle these root causes. It will be difficult to stop Muslim extremists from feeling outcast from their home governments, but better efforts need to be made by people living in the west to understand Islam and the problems Muslims in the Middle East face. Also people in the west need to do a better job of helping Muslims living in the west to assimilate into western society so they do not feel social alienation. A lot of this social tension between Muslims and the west can possibly be fixed with better education of Islam in schools and less negative depictions of Muslims and the Middle East in the media. The political causes of terrorism will be a little bit more difficult to fix. It is not likely that the US will lessen its power, but the US could try to do more to change its policy that affects the millions of Muslims living in the Middle East. First, the US should stop this double-standard of promoting peace in Isreal, while at the same time giving full support militarily and economically to the Israeli government, which doing very little to help the Palestinians. Next, the US should try to stop supporting Arab governments which are very oppressive towards their people. Although it is unlikely, the US and US companies should try to reduce their presence in the Middle East because we are clearly not welcome and many of the people living in the area think we are exploiting them while also corrupting their way of life with our more liberal social values. Also what the US should do to help stop terrorism is to increase the legitimacy of using diplomacy in the region because doing so would make terrorism not the most rational option for these angry groups. The implications of US foreign policy in the Middle East are very important if we want to see terrorism come to an end. It is unfortunate that the Islamic fundamentalists had to resort to using terrorism to fight for their political and social causes, but if the US does more to understand their needs and frustrations of these peoples and also act on this information, then hopefully we will see an the end of this era of terrorism. References: Adamson, Fiona B. (2005). Globalization, Transnational Political Mobilization, and Networks of Violence. Cambridge Review of International Affairs, retrieved November 5, 2007, From Academic Search Premier database Ajami, F. (2001). The Uneasy Imperium: Pax Americana in the Middle East. How did this happen? Terrorism and the new war. Public Affairs Reports, Retrieved November 11, 2007, from Academic Search Premier database Cannistraro,Vincent; Giraldi,Philip.(2007). The Long War Mediterranean Q., (Duke University Press) Retrieved November 5, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Cooper, Barry. (2005). Terrorism and Globalization. Perspectives on Global Development and Technology. Retrieved November 5, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Hoffer, E. (1989). The true believer: Thoughts on the nature of mass movements. Harper and Rowe Perennial Library. Retrieved November 5, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Juergensmeyer, Mark (1996) The Worldwide Rise of Religious Nationalism. Journal of International Affairs. Retrieved November 5, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Most, B. and Starr, H. (1989). Inquiry, logic, and international politics. University of South Carolina Press. Retrieved November 11, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Nacos, B. (1994). Terrorism and the Media: From the Iran Hostage Crisis to the Oklahoma City Bombing. Columbia University Press. Retrieved November 5, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Post,Jerrold M. (2005). When Hatred Is Bred in the Bone: Psycho-Cultural Foundations of Contemporary Terrorism. Polit.Psychol. Retrieved November 5, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Robins, R Post, J (1997). Political paranoia: The psychopolitics of hatred. New Haven: Yale University Press. Retrieved November 11, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Sageman, Marc. (2002). Understanding Terror Networks. University of Pennsylvania Press. Retrieved November 5, 2007 from Academic Search Premier database Sobek,David Braithwaite,Alex (2005). Victim of Success: American Dominance and Terrorism. Conflict Management and Peace Science. Department of Political Science, Louisiana State University Department of Political Science, Pennsylvania State University Retrieved November 11 2007, From Academic Search Premier database