Wonder Woman

Wonder woman is one of the greatest superheroes of all time. She was conceived as a symbol of loving femininity that would dominate the male instincts towards war and destruction; she does this through empowerment. Wonder Woman acts as a very condensed version of Charles Moulton, the creator of Wonder Woman, theories on gender and the urges of men and woman. Although misrepresenting his own theory of the humanity for men and women, Wonder Woman is the perfect allegory to Moulton’s idea that men can only be forceful and aggressive, while women are capable of both force and love. Women represent love; men represent force. Man’s use of force without love brings evil and unhappiness. Wonder Woman proves that women are superior to men because they have love as an additional force† (Steinem 345). In the Wonder Woman comic book, as a reminder of what they were put through and why they were made, all Amazons must wear bracelets that resemble the shackles they were once th reatened with. Most young boys do not possess the empathy needed to put themself in the mind of an Amazon princess.For the ones who do, are often ridiculed for having an egalitarian worldview about men and women. â€Å"No wonder I was inspired and confused by the isolationism of Paradise Island: Did woman have to live separately in order to be happy and courageous? No wonder even boys who could accept equality might have felt less than good about themselves in some of these stories: Were there any men who could escape the cultural instruction to be violent? , Steinem stated showing her empathy for young boys. This just goes to show that no matter how against the grain one may be for their time, some parts of the culture, especially in regards to gender roles, gets drilled into your head. Ignoring all of the controversy on the situation, males should be able to form their own conclusions about equality in American society today without conviction and travesty from others.

Research Essay: Obesity & Nutrition Essay

Eating is one of my hobbies. I used to discovered lots of places with special food anytime I was free. I remembered my favorite food is fried chicken and cheese sticks. Eating these food day by day made me overweight, and the doctor said I had a heart problem. He said I was lucky because some other people were diagnosed obesity. It took a lot of effort for the obesity people to get back to the normal weight. America, where fast food is everywhere with a very affordable price, was one of the most country having a highest rate of the obesity. Although there are some main reasons that lead to serious consequences, obesity is not a very bad thing and can be prevent by ourselves. The first topic will focus on the physical reasons that lead people to obesity. Environment is one of the most important reason that affects, encourages obesity. For example, the tight work schedules leave people no free time to exercise; the lack of neighborhood side walks or safe places to exercise; the lack of access to healthy foods makes people gain unnecessary fat. Beside, junk food is a major reason, also. The characteristic of junk food is lots of fat contain, and difficult to digest, which resulted in gaining weight to whom eating it. The last main physical reason is the lack of energy balance. According to the â€Å"What causes overweight and obesity?† article, to maintain a healthy weight, your energy in and out have to balance exactly overtime. Overweight and obesity happened over time when you took in more calories than you used. The second topic shows how some mental issues can lead to obesity as well. Some people tend to eat more when they have depression or stress. There are some certain hormones, that the body released, can increase the tendency to store fat, gain weight when you’re in stress. Alcoholism is not only an addiction but also a reason that leads to obesity. Any kind of alcohol beverage adds fat more to the body. People who drink on a regular basic will have potbelly, and have a high potential to obesity and heart diseases. The last but no least reason is genes and health problems. In fact, the amount  of fat stored, and where the fat carried in the body are affected by genes. According to â€Å"What causes overweight and obesity?† article, your chances of being overweight were greater if one or both of your parents were overweight or obese. Children adopt the habits of their parents. In addition, there are some diseases from hormone problems that cause obesity, for example, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Hypothyroidism happens when the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone. Therefore, it will slow down the metabolism and makes the body gain weight quicker. A study in the â€Å"Hypothyroidism and obesity. Cause or effect?† article had shown that overall thyroid dysfunction was found more in obese individuals with varying degree of significance. About five to ten percent of women of childbearing age were affected by PCOS to gain a high level of androgens hormones, which make people obese. Obesity can lead to a major consequence in people’s health. Obesity can make a stress on our heart, lungs, and bones. Furthermore, the article â€Å"Health effects of obesity† had pointed out a lot more health diseases that caused by obesity such as high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, joint problems, sleep apnea, cancer, psychosocial effects, and so on. Michael Fumento said in an interview of the â€Å"Obesity† article that few fat people really knew how much harm they were inflicting upon themselves, pointing to the mountain of scientific evidence linking obesity with various diseases and conditions such as infertility. The risk of death rises with increasing weight. A study showed that each year, obesity related conditions caused an estimated 300,000 premature deaths in the US. People had diabetes are obese at a rate of over 80 percent. The second consequence is that obesity creates the weight discrimination and economic downturn. Society considers that fat people have to take the responsibility for their condition, their body. Therefore, many obese people were treated rudely, courtesy than thinner people. Some are making fun with the body of obese people by calling them â€Å"fatty†, or â€Å"a rolling bread.† The â€Å"Obesity† article had quoted a sentence from Sally Smith, who said fat people were taught to feel guilty and blamed themselves for the failures of weight loss programs, and to expect and accept rejection, mistreatment and discrimination regarding their weight. Obesity takes part in the economic downturn, especially on the U.S health care system. In 2008, the costs of medical care for the obesity in America were about 147 billion. Medical costs are associated with obesity directly and indirectly. The costs come from preventive, diagnosis, treatment services, and also the morbidity and mortality cost. As a comparison, the lifetime costs of obesity provided by the government are greater than the lifetime costs assessed by the smokers. Obesity can be reduced and prevent by ourselves through better diet. The best way to lose weight is to reduce the caloric intake. By counting calories, eating good meals, exercising more often, you can control your weight. Vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and fruit are not only contain less calories but also improve one’s health condition. Fiber was studied that it could prevent hunger pangs and keep you full longer. There is a collection of choice such as, brown rice, wheat bread, broccoli, spinach, etc. Dividing your food into five small meals during a day can keep you up with your metabolism and reduce the amount of sugar in your blood. Drinking water is not less important. Ten glasses of water can help you flush out the toxins. Drinking a glass of waer before eating can reduce the hunger. In addition, there are many activities held to courage the obese to have to better life style as well as some policies from government with the same goal. There are many weight loss camps achieved for adults and childrens. They can not only learn how to lose weight but also have fun, learn new skill, and gain confidence. These camps empower people to fight against the weight discrimination, support them to stand up and live their own way without feeling depression. Soda taxes is a topic which was disscussing these day. If the law was passed, placing a high tax on soda would discourage Americans from consuming unhealthy beverages, which is a crucial first step toward making the U.S. healthier as a whole, quoted from â€Å"Soda taxes† article. Beside, limiting advertises by news or revised rules during television programs may help reducing the childhood obesity epidemic. In conclusion, obesity is not a problem that can be solved in a short time.  The reasons that cause obesity come from many perspectives, genes, health problem, environment, daily diet, and so on. The effect of the obesity is now increasing more than the past that gains many problems for people’s health as well as the country’s economic. People bring themselves to obesity; and only them can get themselves out of it. With the help from many resources, they can acknowledge themselves to prepare a better meal. The community and government also help the obese people by organizing a lot of weight loss camping, and establish new law to prevent the incresing of obesity. There’s nothing that can stop you being a better person. All you need is resolve, commitment that you want to get rid of fat, and you can do it. WORKS CITED: â€Å"Health Effects Of Obesity.† Stanford: Hospital & Clinics. Stanford hospital & clinics, 2013. Web. 08 Dec 2013. Med, Saudi J. â€Å"Hypothyroidism And Obesity. Cause Or Effect?† NCBI. National center of biotechnology information, 29 Aug 2008. Web. 08 Dec 2013. â€Å"Obesity.† Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 9 May 2003. Web. 8 Dec. 2013. â€Å"Soda Taxes.† Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 18 Dec. 2009. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. â€Å"What Causes Overweight And Obesity.† NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. NHIBL, 12 July 2012. Web. 08 Dec 2013.

Financial Markets and Institutions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Financial Markets and Institutions - Essay Example (Govori, 2005) The financial market is divided between investors and financial institutions. Financial institutions are organizations, which act as agents, brokers, and intermediaries in financial transactions - usually a bank that keeps custody of an investment or assets. Agents and brokers contract on behalf of others while intermediaries sell for their own account. For example, a stockbroker buys and sells stocks for us as our agent, but a savings and loan borrows our money (savings account) and lends it to others (mortgage loan). The stockbroker is classified as an agent and broker, and savings and loan is called a financial intermediary. Brokers and savings and loans, like all financial institutions, buy and sell securities, but they are classified separately, because the primary activity of brokers is buying and selling rather than buying and holding an investment portfolio. Financial institutions are classified according to their primary activity, although they frequently engage in overlapp ing activities. The types of instruments exchanged in financial markets include promissory notes, commercial bills or bank-accepted bills. Other types of securities include treasury notes issued by a government, commercial papers and certificates of deposits. Why do we need financial markets and institutions One of the indicative signs of a robust economy is a dynamic exchange or circulation of money by business and government activities. This is where the financial markets play a significant role. Financial markets facilitate the movement of funds from those who save money (meaning idle money) to those who invest money in capital assets. Financial markets mobilize funds and reallocate them to uses that generate better returns than can be achieved by the holders of the funds through securities traded in the financial markets. Simplistically, they provide a convenient place where savers can safely invest excess money and consumers can easily borrow funds and be used for various purposes to further fuel the economy of a nation. What role do they play in a nation's economy The financial markets and institutions play a number of important roles in the financial system. The financial markets price funds so that businesses and governments can make rational economic allocations of capital. Business and/or government may decide upon a time pattern for expenditures that does not necessarily coincide with their current or expected income flows. Financial markets allow time adjustments in the payments for goods. Without them, there would be no opportunity to earn interest on savings, and expenditures would be limited to current receipts and cash. Savings allows many consumers to postpone consumption and to receive returns from investments. Another important function of financial markets is that it distributes economic risks. On a larger scale, the financial markets transfer the massive risks from people actually performing the work to savers who accept the risk of an uncertain return. The chance of failure for a $500 million computer chips manufacturer may be divided among thousands of investors living and working all over the world. If the computer chips business fails, each investor loses only part of his or her

Legal memo see assignment criteria (uk civil law course) Essay

Legal memo see assignment criteria (uk civil law course) - Essay Example Brief Answer Yes, Mr. Kenobi is entitled to a fair royalty from Jedi and he also could seek a court injunction requiring his pictures to be removed from Jedi’s website until the royalty is received. Since i) Mr. Kenobi can prove that the pictures are his and ii) Jedi did digitally copy the pictures intentionally by deliberately uploading them onto Emperor’s server, this constitutes primary infringement. No, Mr. Kenobi is not entitled to any damages or royalties from Emperor. Since Empire is only providing a hosting service for Jedi’s website, Emperor did not directly nor intentionally copy the pictures, it simply received a copy of the pictures from Jedi through the rendering of a hosting service. This only constitutes secondary infringement and there was no intent to copy. Probably, Empire is liable to Jedi for the fair market value of the secret formula, unless specific damages had been outlined in the contract between them. Since Empire did not copy the inform ation directly, it does not constitute primary infringement. ... of their unregistered design right and could also seek a court injunction to not only prevent the further illegal use of their secret formula, but also have all products where their secret formula was illegally used recalled until the royalty is received. Statement of Facts This office is considering possible liability between Jedi, Emperor and Mr. Kenobi. Jedi has posted on its website (hosted by Empire) pictures reputed to belong to Mr. Kenobi. Despite Mr. Kenobi having threatened to sue both Jedi and Empire unless the pictures are removed, the pictures have remained on the website. This office is also considering possible liability between Emperor and Jedi. Although Jedi’s CEO had specified to Empire’s CEO that their data was sensitive, Mr. Maul and his team have incorrectly configured security permissions, resulting in 27 other Empire customers gaining access to data in Jedi’s account, including Jedi’s secret formula for their Light Saber Ultra-Pro sho es. This formula has been published shortly after on over 5,000 websites, and Jedi’s competitors have already begun manufacturing shoes using Jedi’s secret formula. Discussion It is unlikely that Mr. Kenobi will be awarded any damages, royalties or other compensation from Empire. Indeed, in order for such an award to be made, it must be established that i) Mr. Kenobi is the rightful owner of the rights to the pictures and that ii) the pictures have been copied by Empire without Mr. Kenobi’s permission or consent. While it is claimed that Mr. Kenobi can prove that the pictures are his, since Empire has also been involved in an involuntary breach of confidentiality regarding sensitive data belonging to Jedi (who uploaded the pictures), this raises the question of the legitimacy of Mr. Kenobi’s claim: are

Popular American Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Popular American Culture - Essay Example American sport has become more than competitions with rules played on rinks, fields or diamonds. The current outset of sport is more than that struggle to reach the finish line, or a ball moving among athletes. What American sport has produced is more than the hero worship of winners and other usual trappings of sports that affect other societal aspects. Modern American sport has produced incredible dialogue about sports. The interest of American sport cuts across dividing lines of gender, ethnicity, income, age and geography. The world of American sport gives everyone a sense of belonging and shared language. As a result, this gives people extraordinary insights into American culture. Spectator sports attract large audiences since on the onset of the 1920s. Sports provide America with the people’s yearning for an increasingly impersonal practical society. The likes of Jack Dempsey became national idols for being winners. The focus was on those individuals whose talents flourished and made them appear larger than life. American football, which is considered the most popular sport in the United States, attracts more television viewers that any other spectator sport (Berman 45).The most professional American football league that is popular is the National Football League. It consists of 32 members, and its season lasts from September to December. The playoffs end in January and February with playoffs and the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl, which is the championship game, is the highest rated television show with over 100 million viewers per year. Baseball also draws large crowds. It is the oldest of the main American sports. Although it is no longer a popular sport, most people still refer to it as the national sport. Major baseball teams play almost every day unlike the professional levels of other popular sports. Soccer is rated the third sport that is most widely played in America (Berman 54). This has been a recent addition to American pastime, and it has gained popularity in the better half of the 2 0th century. Among other sports are ice hockey, tennis, boxing, golf and horse racing that bring so many people into their domain. American sport captivates many and increases duties and anxieties that go deeper than other industries. American sport is a way in which great relationships are constructed for generations who grow up following in similar footsteps. It is a haven from other societal struggles and an oasis of verifiable truth in the desert of modern life. All these perceptions give people a clue on the uniqueness of American culture. The modernity of American cultur

Health Care Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Health Care - Assignment Example This has been attributed by the increase in the number of generic drugs that cost far much less than the original drugs. Besides, the diagnostic costs through insurance schemes have proven to be more expensive in contrary to paying directly from the pocket (Hicks &Jacobs, 2014). Despite the presence of an oversight physicians as one of the healthcare regulatory authority in the United States healthcare management, it has been noted with great concern that not much is being done in trying to regulate or control the influx and dispensation of drugs to the citizens. The state government should implement regulations to eliminate license on physicians perceived to be indulged in the production of generic drugs. Besides, there are no prescribed policies governing the conduct of pharmaceutical malpractices and this has given room for best sales of generic drugs than branded drugs. Moreover, there are no enforceable contracts that give clarifications on the best possible measure necessary in curbing medical practices reforms (Hicks &Jacobs, 2014). ... From the research, possible sources are also pointing a shaft decrease in supply of FDA drugs through a consistent variation as from the year 1996 to 2010. Another observation made indicates that in every five drugs, only one would be found to be branded. This is because generic drugs are known to sell at cheaper price whereas the possible content is almost of the same quality or it may have very little difference. There is projection that, if this trend continues for the next few years then there would be a very deep decline from branded medicine to the stakeholders’ payers’ model (Prelovs?ek & Hajna, 2011). Due to the presence and the pricing cost of generic drugs, pharmaceutical industries would be far much affected in terms of future revenues leading to a decline in job markets and sales. Moreover, some pharmaceutical companies that are engaged in sale of branded medicines would find it very difficult to generate enough returns while sale representative would shift opportunities to dealing in generic drugs that would otherwise generate quick returns (Prelovs?ek & Hajna, 2011). Comparing the pricing of drugs in United States and Canada According to the U.S health care reforms report of 2012, it has been realized that the United State of charges very high prices on prescription drugs as compared to any other developed state in the world. Even though the manufacturing cost of medicines seems to be low in The United States, the escalating cost in pricing are attributed during the development process. Most of the pharmaceutical companies see this rising cost in pricing to have been characterized by a lot of money being spent in

Sports Marketing and Merchandising Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sports Marketing and Merchandising - Essay Example With its acknowledgment of the differences between male and female market, WPCG also designs special services and sources for female. Amidst its popularity and prominence in the UK market, WPCG has its own set of marketing challenges and weaknesses. It is however, expected that the use of STP (segmentation, targeting, and positioning) technique will enable it to understand its customers, create a more efficient marketing strategy, and further boost its performance in the industry. STP is considered as the essence of strategic marketing. This tool enables a business organization to identify the value that it wants to provide, deliver the value, and communicate the value. Segmentation refers to the process of dividing the market based on certain variables like geographic, demographic, psychographic, and behavioral factors. The rationale of market segmentation is the identification of a specific market which a business organization can best serve. This way, it is better positioned to create a product or service which more suitable and appropriate for a specific market as well as complement it with other components of marketing mix such as price, promotion activities, and distribution channels.

Enlightenment Virtue in Robespierre's Writings and Speeches (RESEARCH Essay

Enlightenment Virtue in Robespierre's Writings and Speeches (RESEARCH PROVIDED) - Essay Example In one of his speeches, Robespierre claimed that â€Å"the Constitution establishes that sovereignty resides in the people, in all the individuals of the people. Each individual has the right to participate in making the law which governs him and in the administration of the public good which is his own†.1 To a large extent, virtue for Robespierre was a matter of politics and had to work for the benefit of the masses. Robespierre did not simply assert that every individual was a citizen, but granted citizens a broad range of individual and social rights, irrespective of the amount of fortune they possessed.2 Robespierre was confident that the amount and scope of the individual rights did not have to depend on the amount of money an individual was able to invest in his country.3 Otherwise, such a position would deny the relevance and meaning of virtue, equality, and justice in the human society. The humanistic nature of Robespierre’s beliefs was difficult to ignore, and it produced a multitude of positive effects on the development of the political and ethical consciousness in France. As part of his political and individual evolution, Robespierre slowly transformed and expanded his beliefs about virtue. By 1791, he no longer perceived virtue as a combination of sovereignty, equality, and justice in the masses. For Robespierre, virtue came to exemplify a sophisticated framework of attitudes and decisions that continuously affected the lives of the thousands in France. Robespierre slowly came to associate virtue with patriotism. The latter, at times, bordered on nationalism. He was willing to reach a compromise with the à ©migrà ©s and promote eternal fraternity, peace, and amnesty in France.4 For Robespierre, peace, fraternity, and amnesty were the principal preconditions for avoiding military conflicts with the perceived enemies.5 Robespierre moved even further, by denouncing the King’s political and military power:

The Marketing Plan of Crocs Shoes Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Marketing Plan of Crocs Shoes - Assignment Example The company is also planning to penetrate in the existing markets to increase its sales. Â  The company has been growing at a rapid pace since 2002. The company has expanded its operations to 125 countries (Cross b). With the increasing sales of the company, the company has been successful in increasing the market share. The sales and profitability of the company are presented in the figure below: Â  Recession influenced the sales of the company as the company had shown a significant increase in the revenues and profits from 2006 to 2007. However, from 2007 to 2009, the sales of the company declined. From 2009 and onwards, the sales and profitability of the company have been increasing. Â  The company offers casual footwear for people of all ages including women, men, and children. By now, the company has sold more than 200 million pairs of footwear (Cross a). Some of the major competitors of Crocs are; Deckers Outdoor Corp. and Steven Madden (Sharma). The following image presents the revenues of the three companies; Â  The company has been expanding its operations globally. To capitalize on the opportunities in the global market, the company has been using different strategies including joint venture and acquisition. For instance, the company acquired Jibbitz, Ocean Minded, Tidal Trade, Fury, and others to expand its operations. Â  It is important for Crocs to improve the brand awareness. It has been identified that the company is relatively new in the market and many potential customers do not recognize the offerings and quality of the products of the company. Â  Promotion would be crucial to the success of the company in the next few years. The company needs to increase the brand awareness and portray a better brand image in the eyes of the consumers. Therefore the role of promotion will be significant. Â  

Southern Rock Music Comparison Essay Example for Free

Southern Rock Music Comparison Essay For this essay I have selected two different pieces of music from the same time period, the 1970’s. The first is Sweet Home Alabama, by Lynyrd Skynyrd and the second is Margaritaville, by Jimmy Buffet. Both are popular singles of their own accords. Margaritaville was released in 1977 on the album Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Altitudes. It was an instant hit in the United States and reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart as well as peaking the Easy Listening chart at number one. It is by far Buffet’s highest charting solo single. Sweet Home Alabama was released in 1974 on the album Second Heaping. It was the popular southern rock band’s second hit single as well as a whole half-minute shorter than the recorded version of Margaritaville. Margaritaville is sung as a peaceful account of the tourist scene that came upon Key West many decades ago and is meant to recount good times and an easy-going mood. It reflects the hazy lifestyle of a vacation beach community and relates heavily to drinking alcohol. The tone is upbeat and the genre is a blend of gulf and country rock. The song is primarily upheld by guitar and lyrical power but also involves a bit of piano in the chorus. Many sources speak of a lost verse that works in rhyming relation to the rest of the song but was removed by the radio stations for song shortening purposes. Sweet Home Alabama is a song that invokes many controversial themes including racism and slavery. It was written in response to Neil Young’s â€Å"Southern Man† and â€Å"Alabama†. There are a few different towns referenced in the music including Birmingham, Alabama, which is significant because the city was home to much civil rights activism, as well as Muscle Shoals, Alabama, which was a popular location for recording music during this time period. Sweet Home Alabama also is primarily guitar and lyrically presented. Some sources say the song is foremost a tribute to the studio musicians at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios. While both Margaritaville and Sweet Home Alabama are popular upbeat singles from the 1970’s, many differences define them. Margaritaville speaks mainly of the simple lifestyle of vacationing tourists during this time period whereas Sweet Home Alabama touches on the deeper issues going on at this time in the south first brought to light by Neil Young. Both are similar genres and involve mainly guitar and vocal presentation but both also invoke the piano to a point. Margaritaville is much longer as far as lyrics are concerned especially because there are verses that never made it into the radio recording. Both songs are excellent tributes to the power of southern rock during the 1970’s.

Comparative Analysis Of Hobbes Locke And Rousseau Philosophy Essay

Comparative Analysis Of Hobbes Locke And Rousseau Philosophy Essay Hobbess, Lockes and Rousseaus imagination of the Social Contract. Social Contract Theory, is one of the oldest philosophical theories on the origin of state .The original inspiration for this notion is said to have derived from the bible, covenant between God and Abraham and later by the Socrates in Greece  [1]  , but it is mostly brought up by the writings of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The social contract is moral and/or political obligation dependent upon a contract or agreement between the people to form society. The social contract theory has three main stages of progression, namely- state of nature, contract or covenant and civil society. These three stages provide the basic differences between the theories of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. THOMAS HOBBES THEORY OF THE SOCIAL CONTRACT Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) was an English philosopher and political thinker. The English civil war became the back drop for all his writings. In the context of a number of overlapping conflicts Hobbes wrote various versions of his political theory, begning with The elements of Law (1630s),De Cive(1642),and Leviathan (1651).  [2]   According to Hobbes, the state of nature represented the interactions of human beings with each other in the absence of any kind of relations of political authority. In other words the state of nature represented a state of war. Hobbes believed that the human beings in the state of nature were concerned only with their desires  [3]  . The human nature here was selfish. No person was superior over the other. Hobbes further said that the desire to acquire power never ended and thus it aggravated the state of war where everyone was trying to ensure that no one will stop them from fulfilling their desires of glory. Thus creating a situation favorable for long-term projects, like farming, industry, etc. became impossible. It was a situation of continuous fear and violence.Such a state called for some laws to be enforced. Hence, the need arose to have an authority that would enforce the laws of nature and help man to fulfill his desires in a more efficient way. This led to the signing of the Social Contract between men leading to the formation of a state as well as a sovereign. In such a state or commonwealth, as stated by Hobbes, men authorized a particular individual or a group of individuals to perform all actions. Moreover men also gave up certain rights on a condition that such rights were also given up by the entire multitude. Hobbes sovereign had absolute authority. His judgments and actions could not be questioned as this sovereign was not a part of the social contract. Opposing this sovereign meant opposing oneself as this sovereign represented the people itself. The only right that men had against this sovereign was the right to life or self-preservation. JOHN LOCKES THEORY OF THE SOCIAL CONTRACT Initially, although John Locke (1632-1704) believed in the absolute power of the monarchy and religious uniformity, his stance changed drastically later. His changed stance is best put forward in the work Two Treatises of Government. Unlike, Hobbes for whom the state of nature is a state of war, Lockes state of the nature is the state of peace, Good Will, Mutual Assistance, and Preservation.  [4]  His theory brings out that man is a wise, sociable being who can judge the ill effects of going to war . It can be noted that Lockes has positive view of the state of nature and of human beings. Locke brings in the concept of private property which in all probability leads to inequalities of wealth. In order to ensure the security of the natural laws, and the inequality of wealth, man to enter into a community governed by a set of laws and the government. Locke disbelieves in censorship by the state, and says that state must exist and function separately from the people. The main goal of state is to ensure personal safety and protection of personal property rights. If it fails so he empowered people to revolt against the state, and, to go for a revolution if it abuses its authority. Hence Lockes view of government, which is not absolute, and is against that of Hobbes. The governments powers are limited to an extent where it starts encroaching on public good. JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAUS THEORY OF THE SOCIAL CONTRACT Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) remains one of the first thinkers to offer us a strong critique of modern social and political institutions in the name of the modern values of equality, liberty and democracy.  [5]   Rousseaus theory on the state of nature shows in progressive stages how men, from behaving like animals, transform themselves into a society. This society, according to Rousseau, is not civil at all as it gives rise to more corruption and negative feelings in Mans mind. Thus Rousseaus view point differs from Hobbes or Locke who believe in the transformation of men from the state of nature to a more civil society. Rousseau in his theory favours men in the state of nature in which they only have natural differences rather than having political, social or economic differences. But however we have no moral liberty in the state of nature, because we have not yet developed a moral sense. This moral sense can only be born in society, and we need to establish a society in which, not only do we preserve the liberty of the state of nature, but also provide the conditions for us to achieve moral freedom.  [6]  So in order to solve this problem men enter into a social contract. The new polit ical entity which is formed as a result of this contract reflects and works for the general will. This general will leads to the protection of individual liberty which as a corollary leads to the removal of economic, social and political inequality. Thus; Rousseau says; that it is only because of this general will that the sovereign is indivisible, inalienable and infallible.  [7]  Because of this people are ready to lay down even their right to self-preservation. This concept, as clearly seen, is a stark contrast to Hobbes and Lockes theory. In this way one sees that all three Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau differ in their theories of the Social Contract. All three of them start off by describing the state of nature and mans progression into civil society. Each philosopher agrees that before men came to govern themselves, they all existed in a state of nature. But, however, the reasons which force man into such a society differ from one author to the other. This, in turn, leads them to have a contrasting view point on the powers and duties of the sovereign as well the state. Despite the differences in their viewpoints, their theories have one common thread running through them which reflects that The Social Contract is the best way to maintain peace and order. Though this end propagated by them is the same, the means and prerequisite conditions differ. Despite their differences these three are regarded as the most influential political theorists in the world created a revolutionary idea of the state of nature

Huckleberry Finn Learns He Must Grow Up Fast If He Wants To Survive Li :: essays research papers

Huckleberry Finn Learns He Must Grow Up Fast If He Wants to Survive Life   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Huckleberry Finn, the main character, learns he must grow up fast if he wants to survive life. Huck Finn has a drunkard as a father, a hogshead as a home, and a mother (dead ) of which he never knew. He is a congenital liar, a thief, and someone who has no respect for the rules of society. He will use every technicality to get off with doing something completely wrong, but is ok by him. Huck is not all evil as one would think by this introduction. He in fact believes in personal freedom, something which he never really has had.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jim, a supporting character, also has to deal with many problems of society. The greatest one in fact is, the fact that he is a slave. Jim is a very modest person, he will sacrifice anything to help his fellow man. Huck sees this and begins to think of Jim as a human being also, and will â€Å"go to hell † for Jim. Although Jim is a slave, he does not think of people based on their skin color, but in fact believes that everyone is equal regardless of skin, and even age. One may ever say that Jim is Huck's true father.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Both Jim and Huck have experienced life at a tedious level. They have their highs and lows, but mainly life is not all it is cracked up to be. For Huck, he must experience having a horrendous father who beats Huck to a pulp any time he is sober. And for Jim, the fact that his family is not considered human by society but rather chattel that can be bought, sold or even traded at the slightest whim. Together Huck and Jim must work together to escape the society which has allowed them to live the vile life they had, and move to a place where society will let them start a brand new life. When Pap , was not around, Huck felt better about himself. He enjoyed life a little more, did not have to worry about coming home on time, only to get beat up by his own pap. He kept me with him all the time, and I never got a chance to run off. We lived in that old cabin, and he always locked the door and put the key under his head nights. He had a gun which he had stole, I reckon, and we fished and hunter, and that was what we lived on

Media Combativness :: essays research papers

The human race has become more combative in the last 30 years (maybe people have forgotten how wars, and feuds start). The stuff we see on the television, in the papers, and magazines has chanced vastly since the Vietnam War. Prior to that conflict you did not see the underhanded side of human nature. I feel that as time has went on we have come to expect the tactics that are used during election years. I see it more and more at a young age we are learning to be arugmentive, for example a toddler will argue that he/she doesn’t want to go to bed and parents argue with them to get them to do what they want them to do, or will give in to their demands. Maybe this has accelerated the combativeness in our nature. We learn at a young age that we need to argue to get our way or to have that feeling of self importance. Now I am not saying that we should all become submissive, if we feel strongly about an issue that is great we can communicate this in a way that is not combative. On the other hand we need to learn to see the others persons thought for what they are, not that we are right and they are wrong. Ok a prime example of the media using their product to encourage this trend is the infamous presidential blow job. Now the way I see it that should have been a matter handle between the man and his wife, not on the nightly news. I still feel that Mr. Clintons actions, while not the best course of action for his marriage on his part, but it was not a matter that affected the way he ran the country or performed his duty to the people he represented. Did the media make that much of a stink over J.F.K’S roll in the hay with Miss Monroe? No, why because it was a matter to be handle between the man and his wife, and the times were different then. Things went down hill when the government allowed the media to cover the Vietnam war without the same rules and guide lines that were in place during the previous wars. Since then we have had Watergate, which yes was an illegal act, but was it a matter to be handle in the press?

Adult Learning In Groups :: Learn Education Adults Essays

Adult Learning In Groups Groups [can] exert powerful influence both to advance and to obstruct learning. A group can be an environment in which people invent and explore symbolic structures for understanding the world, learning from each other and trying out for themselves the discourse of the domain of knowledge they seek to acquire. Alternatively, groups can encourage conformity, squander time and energy on ritual combat, revel in failure, and generally engage in all sorts of fantasy tasks that have little or nothing to do with learning. (Knights 1993, p. 185) The use of groups has deep historical roots in adult education, and, if asked, most adult educators would say that learning in groups is a fundamental principle of the field. Adult educators use groups frequently in structuring learning experiences, and groups also form the basis for much informal adult learning both within and outside institutional boundaries. Although group theory once played a major role in shaping the field, the topic of learning in groups has been relatively unexamined in the recent literature. This Practice Application Brief provides information that can be used in developing adult learning groups in formal educational settings. First, the nature of learning in groups is considered, followed by discussions of the role of the facilitator and forming groups. Guidelines for structuring group learning experiences for adults conclude the Brief. The Nature of Group Learning Little research exists on how learning occurs in groups (Cranton 1996; Dechant, Marsick, and Kasl 1993). Futhermore, when forming groups, adult educators tend to focus on helping learners work effectively together rather than on helping them understand the learning processes that may be occurring in the group (Dechant, Marsick, and Kasl 1993). By drawing on Habermas' domains of knowledge and interests, Cranton (1996) has developed a helpful way of thinking about how groups can accomplish or facilitate different types of learning. Cranton suggests that there are three types of group learning, each affiliated with the following kinds of knowledge proposed by Habermas-- instrumental (scientific, cause-and-effect information) communicative (mutual understanding and social knowledge) emancipatory (increased self-awareness and transformation of experience) As outlined by Cranton, the type of learning that occurs in groups varies according to the learning tasks and goals. Group learning that has as its goal the acquisition of instrumental knowledge is called cooperative. In cooperative learning groups, "the focus is on the subject matter rather than on the inter- personal process .

Contributions of Bill Gates Essay

Bill Gates was born on Oct. 28, 1955. He grew up in Seattle with his two sisters. Their father, William H. Gates II, is a Seattle attorney. Their late mother, Mary Gates, was a schoolteacher, University of Washington regent, and chairwoman of United Way International. Gates attended public elementary school and the private Lakeside School. There, he discovered his interest in software and began programming computers at age 13. In 1973, Gates entered Harvard University as a freshman, where he lived down the hall from Steve Ballmer, now Microsoft’s chief executive officer. Gates dropped out of school for one year to work for TRW in computing, earning $30,000 (Microsoft, 2010). In 1974, Bill was attending Harvard University when Allen spotted an advertisement for a $350 assemble-at-home computer called the Altair 8800, manufactured by MITS, a company headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Bill and Allen worked nonstop for six weeks to devise a simple version of BASIC, a programming language, for the Altair. They demonstrated their finished product to the company’s engineers with great success, and the following year, Bill and Allen founded Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft had entered the personal computer (PC) industry at an opportune time. In 1980 Microsoft won a contract with IBM to operate personal computers using Microsoft’s system, commonly known as MS-DOS. By 1983 the IBM PC had become the industry standard and MS-DOS was its operating system. In 1995, Microsoft introduced Windows 95 which again revolutionized the PC market, and became an industry standard (Master of Business, 2010). Bill Gates has accomplished so much beginning at age 13, starting with the creation of Traf-o-Data, then starting Microsoft, on to writing books, and finally becoming one of the richest and most giving philanthropist in the world. In 1970, Bill Gates and Paul Allen had been involved in some impressive software projects by then, most recently at TRW working on software to control the Northwest power grid. Traf-O-Data was a little different. Traf-O-Data was a computerized machine for processing paper tapes from traffic counters, those black hoses most of us have driven over on roads throughout the United States. It was an early example of a microprocessor-controlled â€Å"embedded system,† not really a computer as we  know it, but computerized. It began with the idea of automating the processing of traffic tapes for the local road department, which a group of students at Gates’s and Allen’s Lakeside School was doing by hand at the time and it would also require special hardware. Neither of the two had much hardware experience, so they enlisted the help of a friend, Paul Gilbert, to construct the machine while they wrote the software. The plan was to manufacture the Traf-O-Data and sell it to state and local governments, but their one demo was a failure. The tape reader malfunctioned and the sale was lost. They repaired and debugged the machine, but it never became a product—which was fortunate. Success would have distracted Gates and Allen at a crucial moment. As it was, by the time the lone Traf-O-Data began processing traffic tapes in 1975, the two had turned the operation over to Gilbert and moved on to form Microsoft (Startup – Albuquerque and the Personal Computer Revolution, 2006). Gates eventually sold this system to the city for $20,000 when he was only fifteen years old (Master of Business, 2010). Microsoft is founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. With annual revenues of more than $32 billion, Microsoft Corporation is more than the largest software company in the world. The company’s core business is based on developing, manufacturing, and licensing software products, including operating systems, server applications, business and consumer applications, and software development tools, as well as Internet software, technologies, and services. Led by Bill Gates, Microsoft has succeeded in placing at least one of its products on virtually every personal computer in the world, setting industry standards and defining markets in the process. Microsoft’s big break came in 1980 as IBM began developing its Personal Computer, or PC. While IBM contracted Microsoft to develop languages for the PC, IBM’s first choice to provide an operating system was the leader in the field, Digital Research. However, IBM and Digital Research were unable to agree on terms, so the contract for the operating system was awarded to Microsoft. As Microsoft was under a tight deadline and did not have an operating system of its own, the company purchased the rights to one from Seattle Computer Products for $75,000. The year 1980 also saw the arrival of Steve Ballmer, a close friend of Gates from Harvard, who was hired to organize the  non-technical side of the business. Ballmer later recalled the company’s stormy beginnings under Gates’s leadership: â€Å"Our first major row came when I insisted it was time to hire 17 people. He claimed I was trying to bankrupt him.† Conservative in his spending, Gates dictated th at the company must always have enough money in the bank to operate for a year with no revenues. Nearly 20 years later that policy still stood–in 1999 Microsoft had cash reserves of more than $13 billion and no long-term debt–while Ballmer, who had by then become Microsoft president, remained Gates’s closest friend and adviser. In March 1986 Microsoft held an initial public offering (IPO) of 2.5 million shares which raised $61 million. Within a year the stock had risen from $25 to $85, making Bill Gates a billionaire at the age of 31. Before 1990 Microsoft was primarily a supplier to hardware manufacturers, but after 1990 the bulk of the company’s revenues came from sales to consumers. That year Microsoft became the first software company to reach $1 billion in revenues, closing the year with 5,600 employees. Before 1990 Microsoft was primarily a supplier to hardware manufacturers, but after 1990 the bulk of the company’s revenues came from sales to consumers. That year Microsoft became the first software company to reach $1 billion in revenues , closing the year with 5,600 employees. In 1998, the U.S. Department of Justice and a group of 20 state attorneys general filed two antitrust cases against Microsoft alleging violations of the Sherman Act. While the antitrust suit against Microsoft showed threats of a forced breakup of Microsoft, innovations in the company continued. In 2000, Microsoft invested $135 million in the software publisher Corel. Apparently, Corel negotiated the investment, offering to drop â€Å"certain legal actions† it had against the company, even as it had no legal claims filed against Microsoft. The Department of Justice ruled that they would not enforce a breakup of Microsoft. By the end of 2002, the U.S. District Court approved the settlement Microsoft reached with the Justice Department. The settlement included preventing Microsoft from benefiting from exclusive deals that could hinder competition; uniform contract terms for computer manufacturers; the required ability of customers to remove icons from certain Microsoft features; and a requirement that Microsoft release specific innovational technical information to its rivals, in order to enforce competition. By 2004, with more than 56,000 employees and anticipated year-end revenues of  up to $38 billion, Microsoft continued to hold a strong lead in the computer software industry. (Funding Universe, 2004). Microsoft’s revenues this year will be around $36 billion, or $100 million a day (Overview of Microsoft Today, 2010). While at Microsoft, Gates started to write a series of books. His first book was published in 1995, The Road Ahead. The book was at the top of the â€Å"New York Times† bestseller list for seven weeks. In the edition of The Road Ahead, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill Gates laid out his vision of an interconnected world built around the Internet. Based on the premise that life will be transformed by the convergence of inexpensive computing and inexpensive communications, Gates drew from his experience at the center of the personal computer revolution to give insights on the growth, evolution and impact of technology. (Microsoft, 2010). In 1999, Gates wrote â€Å"Business @ the Speed of Thought†, a book that shows how computer technology can solve business problems in fundamentally new ways. The book was published in 25 languages and is available in more than 60 countries. â€Å"Business @ the Speed of Thought† has received wide critical acclaim, and was listed on the best-seller lists of the â€Å"New York Times†, â€Å"USA Today†, â€Å"The Wall Street Journal† and on Amazon.com. Gates has donated the proceeds of both books to non-profit organizations that support the use of technology in education and skills development (Microsoft, 2010). Gates has written so many other great books that have been translated into Spanish, German and other languages. Bill Gates has accumulated a huge personal fortune over the years. In 2005, Gates committed himself to donating $750 million to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation charity. The Gates foundation, which (at the time) is worth $30 billion, is now the largest charity to have been created by a single benefactor or private company, following a previous $3 billion gift from its founder last July. Mr Gates has stated that he intends to give away 90 per cent of his fortune, which is currently valued at about $50 billion (Bill Gates, Saviour of the World?, 2005). As of December 31, 2009, the total grant commitments since inception has came up to, $22.61 billion. The Gates foundation has given to several charities and organizations around the world (Foundation Fact Sheet, 2010). Works Cited (2010, January 26). Retrieved 2010, from Microsoft: www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/billg/?tab=biography (2010). Retrieved 2010, from Microsoft: www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/billg/writing/default.mspx Bill Gates, Saviour of the World? (2005, March 17). Retrieved 2010, from Marxist: www.marxist.com/bill-gates-capitalism-170305.htm Foundation Fact Sheet. (2010). Retrieved 2010, from Gates Foundation: www.gatesfoundation.org/about/pages/foundation-fact-sheet.aspx Funding Universe. (2004). Retrieved 2010, from Funding Universe: http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/microsoft-corporation-company-history.html Master of Business. (2010). Retrieved 2010, from Bill Gates Microsoft: www.billgatesmicrosoft.com/history.htm Overview of Microsoft Today. (2010). Retrieved 2010, from Acedemic Earth: http://acedemicearth.org/lectures/overview-of-microsoft-today Startup – Albuquerque and the Personal Computer Revolution. (2006). Retrieved 2010, from Startup Gallery: http://www.s tartupgallery.org/gallery/story.php?il=45

Complaint and Present Canteen Management

To  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   :   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mr. Hasnan bin Jalal, The Principal,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Permata From  Ã‚   :            Ã‚   Malik bin Abdul Date  Ã‚  Ã‚   :  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   24 March 2011 Report about the School Canteen I am writing this report is to draw your attention regarding the school canteen. Many of the students of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Permata are unhappy about the conditions at the school canteen. There were lots of complaints regarding this issue. In the first place, there are insufficient tables and benches.Our school has a student population of over 1 000. There is only one period of recess time for all forms. More than 80 per cent of the students go to the canteen during recess to buy food and drinks. Unfortunately, there are only about twenty-five tables and fifty benches which can accommodate less than half the number of students. As a result, many students have to stand while eating. The food sold at the canteen not only expensive but lacks of variety. The menu is the same every day.For the past five years, ever since the present canteen management took over, students go back to the same food. The hygiene and preparation of food leave a lot to be desired. The food and drinks are not covered. They way canteen attendants dress speak volume about hygiene. With their lackadaisical attitude, the food they sell would one way or the other become contaminated. My fourth complaint about the canteen pertains to the etiquette of the canteen workers. They are rude and arrogant. They often shout at students.The students are always on the receiving end of their bad moods. We hope that conditions at the canteen will improve. The canteen should provide better amenities. There should also be a different menu everyday so that students will not have to taste the same food day in and day out. Cleanliness should be given top priority. We hope that you will look into our complaints and take steps to remedy the situation. The students are prepared to boycott the canteen if their complaints go unheeded. Reported by: Malik Malik bin. Mohd Jalil 314 words

History of dance Essay

Extra credits assignment: Dance2Live Crew VS. Crew on Feb. 15th, 2014 It was the first time to watch a live dance battle in the United States. Each crew’s performance impressed me and even shocked me a lot because of their insistence toward dancing and contribution to the crew. Before watching this dance competition, I have watched similar dance battles in movies, which solely give me a sense of aggressiveness or radicalism. However, this dance competition totally alters my previous impression. Every crewmember showcases their love to hip-hop dance. They really enjoy what they are doing. One thing surprised me is that many participants are kids, who are just four or five years old. Although they are very young, they treat the competition seriously and practice over and over again in order to perform optimally. Numerous floor moves look really hard and are easy to get hurt, but those young participants are not afraid of and worried about doing those difficult floor moves. Instead, they try their best to dance precisely even though they are not as fast and expert as some older participants. One four-year-old crewmember called Jim is one of the youngest participants in this competition. Before the competition began, I noticed that he stayed at the corner of the room and practiced his dance movements without having a rest. Though afterward he did not obtain a chance to dance during the battle, he still kept dancing and doing floor moves himself during each intermission. At that moment, I felt that Jim was truly keen on hip-hop dance. He just dances for himself instead of merely showing off the difficult floor moves. On the other hand, I can feel that all crews are not only for the final prize. Rather, they are enjoyable to hip-hop dance. During each dance battle, every crewmember has few minutes to do some freestyle dance moves under DJ’s remixed music. As one of the audience, I did not feel how fierce of each battle. Every dancer always interacted with the audience and treated it as a performance rather than a competition. Some participant dancers missed the rhythm or made mistakes, but they were not flustered or gave up, especially the teen participants. They all performed confidently and proudly. No matter whether they were good at doing difficult floor moves, they enjoyed the stage and danced as best as they can. From my personal perspective, it was an awesome performance. I can feel each dancer’s enthusiasm and love about hip-hop. Personally, people love hip-hop dance because it gives everyone freedom to express themselves no matter where they are from or how old they are, just like Buddha Stretch and Rennie Harris. These two excellent hip-hop dancers’ freestyle dance and persistent promotion of hip-hop culture help young people and teenagers, who probably are suffered from the poverty and discrimination, build up self-confidence and self-esteem. During the process of dancing hip-hop and learning hip-hop, people can demonstrate their personality and even attitude to life. Just like I have watched during this dance competition, hip-hop dance connects people of different ages and different races together. Sometimes they danced similar moves, but they showed in their unique style. Some participants were better at floor moves than others, but they were all highly engaged in the performance and in expressing themselves, which were more important than winning the competition. Basically, this dance competition makes me more passionate about hip-hop dance than before. Not only the dance movements are cool and fun to learn, but also the culture and spirit of hip-hop are needed to understand and acquire.

Prosthetic Devices

Prosthetic Devices A prosthetic is an artificial body part that replaces a missing or non-functioning body part such as an arm, heart or breast. Humans have been making prosthetic limbs since the Ancient Egyptians to replace limbs lost during battle, work or just by mistake. Evidence has been found of Egyptians trying to replicate toes with copper ones. Although these were very impractical as they were solid and so were mostly for aesthetic purposes. In the 1400s, prosthetics arms made out of iron were available to wealthy Knights and lords.These arms had a relatively useful function as they were made to hold shields, allow them to open their purse and/or sign their name. As well as for function, prosthetic limbs are also developed for aesthetic purposes as people want to look normal and not attract stares or whispers. Prosthetic Arms Modern prosthetic devices have advanced a great deal since ancient times. Now, some very complicated robotic limbs are available that can detect the el ectrical impulse that would normally move your arm and replicate this movement robotically.Robotics in prosthetic devices is seen mostly in robotic arms because of the nature of the movement of fingers and the thumb. Advancements in the processors used in myoelectric (robotic) arms has allowed for artificial limbs to make fine-tuned movements with the prosthetic. This is extremely significant as previously robotic arms had only one or two movements such as closing the thumb to the hand to hold things. Modern fine-tuned arms can have up to 7 movements and it is likely that they will advance to have even more movements than a human hand.A future advancement that is being researched and developed is the addition of a sense of touch that would be able to detect, and then relay to the brain the amount of pressure being applied. It is currently being experimented to add small pods filled with a highly compressible liquid at the end of each finger. Inside each of these pods would be a pres sure sensor that would compress as force is added with the robotic finger. The pressure sensor would then sense the amount of force being applied and relay this to the central processor which would translate this to an impulse to send to the brain.An alternative to relaying it to the brain is to have a small display or other indicator that shows the amount of force being applied by each finger. Although this is easier to develop, most people wouldn’t like the indicator over each finger or on the wrist as it wouldn’t look at all natural. Although there have been many advancements in robotic arms, they are still very much a crude replacement to a real arm. They have to be replaced every 3-4 years, there function is still much slower than real arms and fingers, and the intricacy and delicacy possible by real fingers is currently far superior than the robotic replica.Bionic Eye The Bionic Eye was developed to restore the vision of people that lived in total blindness, or v ery low vision. The first prototypes are now developed but they are researching ways to improve them as although they are functional and can convey an image to the brain of blind patients they only send an extremely low quality image in greyscale to the brain that is only useful to avoid walking into large objects such as buildings, cars and tables. The reason for this low quality image is because there are 98 electrodes in the chip that connects to the optic nerve.This is a very small amount when you compare it to over 120 million photo-receptor cells. The chip developed has about 1 000 000 wires connecting it and is one of the most complicated neuro-stimulation chips ever designed. Although it seems as though good vision will not be possible with the bionic eye for a long time to come you can have far less receptors than that to have adequate vision to love independently. Researchers are hoping to include about 1000 electrodes in the next generation of the bionic eye and believe t hat this is enough to allow people to recognise faces and read large print.

Firefighter injuries and deaths Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Firefighter injuries and deaths - Research Paper Example Peterson adds that firefighters opt to protect property and save people under serious and risky circumstances. In the United States, about 100 firefighters die annually in the line of duty while about 95,000 are injured, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health report of 2006 (2). In the United States, twenty-one firefighters died in 2005, during the execution of non-emergency-related on-duty doings. Moreover, there was one fatal stroke case as well as five sudden cardiac deaths among the firefighters while undertaking the usual station or administrative activities. While engaging in activities like a funeral detail, attendance at a convention, a parade, and fire apparatus maintenance four firefighters died due to sudden cardiac death or stroke. On the other hand, three firefighters lost their lives when their helicopter crashed while they were lighting fires at a set burn. In addition, crashes claimed other five lives -- one each while en route to get a vehicle inspection sticker, after a boat parade, during a conservation project, while en route to pump out a residence, and while driving to a meeting (Fahy & LeBlanc, 3). Causes and Mitigation Strategies of Firefighter injures and deaths There are various health impairments and disorders influenced by the job attributes. These comprise traumas, injuries, cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer respiratory diseases, and cancers of other sites like large intestine, bladder or kidney. Mental disorders referred to as the post-traumatic stress disorder are of much significance among health effects because of a traumatic experience in health-hazardous or a life-threatening circumstance. Long after original trauma, there could be manifestation of serious health problems (Szubert & Sobala, 49). There are reports on an upward trend in the incidence of heat stress injuries during wild land firefighting operations. There can be dehydration by the firefighter when he or she is working under both high ambient air temperatures and high radiant heat flux conditions. This can also occur if positive preventative procedures are not implemented as a normal way of doing business on a daily basis heat stress can be experienced (Mangan, 38). It is in the operational area at the scene of a fire that about one-third of on-duty firefighter fatalities occur. The deaths occur because of asphyxiation, sudden cardiac death, electrocution, stroke, crushing injuries, internal trauma, and burns while restraining or putting out fires. In addition, another one-third of on-duty deaths happen on the way to or from an event in motor vehicle and other accidents. On the other hand, ten percent of firefighter casualties occur during training, for example physical fitness activities, apparatus and equipment drills, classes or seminars, underwater/dive training, and live fire training. It is also possible for the firefighters to die while carrying out nonemergency on-duty activities and at non-fire eme rgencies. Traumatic injuries account for more than one-half of all on-duty firefight

Explain the origins of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war Essay

Explain the origins of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war - Essay Example The Crusades soon followed. After the Crusades, again the area came under the Egyptians and Ottomans. This was followed by the emigration of the Arabs and Jews. There were some Jews still living there back then, but they were mostly treated as second class citizens. The Turkish Empire did bring some reorganization. There was immigration of both Arabs and Jews and by 1880; about 24000 Jews were living there. However, various Muslims from other parts of the world especially Ottoman Empire began to come into Palestine. In a way, during the 19th century, the area was mostly occupied by Muslims with Jews as the areas biggest minority. (Mideastweb.org) However, during these times of misadministration, there were some antagonist feelings that were developing. Originally, the term Zionism is the biblical word â€Å"Zion†, and it is synonymous to Jerusalem and Israel. However the ideology is the yearning for the Home Land for the Jews according to Neuberger (1999). Even when the Jews had been forced into exile, these Jews kept returning to the Holy Land. Various sources state that Palestine remained the center of Jewish worship and a part of the Jewish culture. However, the truth about Zionism is that it is not a religious movement, but more of a nationalist movement. The actual Zionist movement did start in the 19th century. The French revolution had led to the emancipation of European Jews. The more abstract idea of divine providence to the recapture of the Holy Land was refuted by Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer who said human endeavor was required to colonize the Holy Land for the Jews as stated by Brenner (2002). Kalischer als o recounted the events of the Europeans which had led to their freedom, and he urged the Jews to follow that example. In a way, the brutal treatment of the Jews by almost every European nation led to the feelings of Zion. Zionist socialism was organized by Moses Hess

The European Union is often referred to as an international Essay

The European Union is often referred to as an international organisation sui generis (of its own kind). What makes the European - Essay Example Therefore the EU is primarily regarded as a supranational organization since it requires the transfer of some measure of sovereignty to the organs of the EU. Moreover, many decisions made by the EU are enforceable irrespective of member state cooperation and coordination.4 For example, in Cassis de Dijon the European Court of Justice ruled that a member state could not impose qualitative restrictions on goods from another member state.5 Moreover, in Kramer, it was held that where the EC had competence in a policy area, the member state could not act on its own accord.6 Thus the ECJ has ruled against the exercise of state sovereignty in giving force to the idea of a supranational EU. It has also been argued however, that the EU is nothing more than an example of regional integration since much of the political and economic integration networks within the EU, like all other regional organizations, depend on Member States’ voluntary compliance.7 In this paper it is argued, that a lthough the EU may share some similarities with regional and international organizations, it is substantively different and can best be described as a supranational organization and is the only one of its kind. The most important differences between the EU and other international organizations is the concept of shared sovereignty. From its inception, with the implementation of the Treaty of Rome 1957, the founding of the European Economic Community which only constituted 6 states, was an agreement in which each of the states â€Å"agreed to limit, but not totally transfer national sovereignty† in terms of â€Å"economic policy to a set of common institutions†.8 By virtue of the Treaty of Rome 1957, Member States agreed to common economic policies and the removal of trade barriers.9 While this alone would have made the founding arm of the EU similar to the World Trade Organization, the Treaty of Rome went farther requiring the establishment of a European Bank, policies for increasing employment and an amalgamation of transport and agricultural policies.10 In addition, sovereignty was transferred from among the Member States in terms of keeping with the common market principles to a Council of Europe, a Commission and a Court of Justice.11 With more states joining the Community, the Treaty of the European Union 1993 was signed in 1992 and is also known as the Maastricht Treaty which â€Å"absorbed the former† Community.12 The new Treaty (which has been amended to further clarify the functioning of the EU, by the Treaty of Lisbon 2007) went beyond economic union and added a pillar of political and legal union among the Member States.13 The Maastricht Treaty established a European Parliament and a Court of Auditors which expanded on the institutions developed by the Treaty of Rome 1957.14 In addition, the Maastricht Treaty established citizenship of all citizens of Member States.15 This aspect of citizenship not only cedes some measure of sove reignty to the EU, but also sets the EU apart from any other

Charles Darwin's Work according to Popper, Kuhn and Van Fraassen Essay

Charles Darwin's Work according to Popper, Kuhn and Van Fraassen - Essay Example However, philosophers demonstrated interest in finding the truth in various components of life. Some philosophers have observed that Darwin arguments failed to provide concrete reasons while other believes that interpretation of the arguments should take their immediate context (Auletta, et.al.2011). Many philosophers have debated the views of Darwin pointing of the weaknesses as well as possibilities. The evolutionary biology has been subject to scientific tests and principles as well as theological thinking. This paper will explore the views of Popper, Kuhn, and Van in relation to Charles Darwin work on evolution. Karl Popper on Darwin Karl Popper viewed Science as a means of distinguishing theories from myths or traditional believes. The questions raised by people about aspects of life should be subject to scientific analysis. Darwin’s theory clashed with Biblical view of creation, subjecting it to Scientific proves. Popper observed that Darwin’s theory of evolution does not have components, which are subject to scientific measurement (Auletta, et.al.2011). For instance, the survival of species based on how fit they are, in relation to conformation to changes in environment does not contain any bit of science because no species can survive if it is weak. In Popper’s view, Darwin theory does not qualify as a science. Popper’s perspective of science in relation to Darwin theory appears in four steps; first problem selection, second creation of hypothesis in relation to problem solution, third is to test the theory presented, and lastly develop an argument about the result. The knowledge built through the scientific argument would eliminate errors created through criticism. This argument contends that knowledge does not occur through a single suggestion, but must command some universality on the theory introduced. In Popper’s view, the learning that the society acquires is through mistakes that people make. Thus, the separatio n of truth from myths in the scientific way must consist approving and disapproving the exiting view. Darwin’s theory argued that the emergence of creatures in the present world took place after other creatures suffered wastages of unimagined proportion. The theory does not explain the source of suffering thus subjecting it more questions based on scientific credibility. Popper argues that the purpose served by the creatures that led to their extinction must be provable. Popper believes that Darwin must have created a theological problem or unearthed an old problem that was not in focus (Radick, 2003). The outcome of suffering does not lead a viable species to overtake the present challenges, but the cause of the suffering must be evident. Thus, this argument proposed by Popper disapproves the work of Darwin on the following accounts: first, the argument does not contain any scientific element. That is a scientific element can be subject to test through comparison of the exis ting facts and the anticipated outcomes. Second, the argument put forward by Darwin refuted the ontological boundaries between the animal kingdom and humanity. Popper argued that the theory puts animals to appear more human while humans appeared more animal (Radick, 2003). The explanation of evolution as put by Darwin traces the beginning of life from scratches, which are not provable scientifically. The evolution of apes into human beings reduces science to myths. Critics have argued that Popper promoted non-revolutionary interests; however, his argument tends to demonstrate his feelings about the concept of evolution (Radick, 2003). Popper believes that a real world existed, independent of Darwin or human views. He

Economists Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Economists - Essay Example Fisher was born in 1876 and received his Business Administration degree and Ph. D in Yale University. As the professor of economics and mathematics at Yale University, Irving Fisher developed extensive concepts concerning money supply and price fluctuations using mathematical evidence (Allen, 1977). Fisher was among the most accurate and leading economists of the 20th century. He used his acquired knowledge and skills from Yale to observe and analyze dramatic and complex macroeconomic events during his era. Fisher also proposed appropriate solutions to the Great Depression that crippled the U.S economy and other aspects of life. The crash of the stock market in the U.S in 1929 and consequential falling of stocks and goods’ prices prompted Fisher to revise his economic theories on price fluctuations, debt and the depression caused by these factors (Mendoza, 2009). Fisher formulated a debt-deflation theory and named the financial crisis, the Great Depression, which is currently used to relate to the economic recession in the U.S.The debt-deflation theory indicates that consumers borrow money for investment on speculation and imagine profits, which leads to losses, debt, deflation and pessimism. Thesis Statement: Irving Fisher has a significance impact on the prevailing U.S economy through his debt-deflation theory, which examines the causes of debt, the deflation and the solutions of the subsequent financial crisis in relation to the current U.S economic instability. Significance of Irving Fisher’s Debt-deflation Theory Irving Fisher’s debt-deflation theory was essential in the Great Depression era and in current U.S economic crisis because it clearly explains the factors that cause the debt and the resultant ripple effect on the economy. The U.S economy is essential in the global market because it is the largest trading partner in the world, which means its financial crisis affects all other foreign economies. The following are causes of deb t, stages of the financial crisis and proposed solutions as described and examined by Irving Fisher. a. Factors Led to the Great Depression i. Immediate Causes of Debt During the Great Depression, the two chief causes of debt for U.S citizens were over-investment, over-speculation and over-confidence (Fisher, 1933). Citizens, private sectors and the government borrowed money from banks, the federal government and other private financial lending institutions to conduct investments that they believed would result to higher returns and revenues. Many organizations and citizens wanted to invest borrowed money on new business ideas and receive abundant profits within a short time as compared to the ordinary investments that have moderate profits and interests. New inventions included building industries, railway lines, develop new resources, open real estates and new markets (Fisher, 1933). Financial lenders provided easy money, which led to over-borrowing. Most investors believe through speculation and over-confidence that they can borrow money at 6% and make profits of over 100% (Fisher, 1933). New industrial inventions and technology innovations prompted over-borrowing with the confidence of making a huge profit within a short period. Lucrative investment opportunities allowed people and organizations to have big debts. Major wars that the U.S initiated and

Evaluate the extent to which the methods of justification employed by Essay

Evaluate the extent to which the methods of justification employed by Kant in his Groundwork of Metaphysics of Morals provide models for other theories of justi - Essay Example ) can be achieved only with if based on the observation of the actions from an objective point of view and not a critical one because in this case there is the possibility that certain behaviours could be characterized as hostile to the general social framework, an action which should be avoided – at least at the primary stage of the behavioural analysis. Current paper deals with the identification of any possible element of Kant’s work – particularly the Metaphysics of Morals – which can be used as a substantial theoretical source for the support of other theories of justification. In order to achieve the above task the paper has been divided in three parts. Part One presents the methods of justification used by Kant in Metaphysics of Moral. A general overview is also made regarding the value of Kant’s work for the researchers in the area of moral philosophy. Part Two refers to the theories of justification used by other philosophers, like Rawls and Hare. The idea of utilitarianism is also presented in this part in order to explain the stages of development of moral theory in the history. Finally, Part Three summarizes the views presented in the above two parts in an effort to identify the possible relation between the methods of justification used by Kant and those applied by other theorists in the area of moral philosophy. It is also examined to which level the first ones could be used as models for the second ones. In order to understand the Kant’s perceptions regarding the justification applied in all aspects of human behaviour we should primarily refer to the two fundamental ‘formulae’, which are in fact the theoretical framework on which Metaphysics are based. More specifically, in accordance with Kant the following two formulae can support the interpretations of human behaviour as presented throughout his work: a) the Formula of Universal Law : â€Å"Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a

Company Law negligence Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Company Law negligence - Case Study Example Section 171 CA 2006 provides that directors have a duty to act within their powers. A director of a company must: (a) act in accordance with the company constitution; and (b) only exercise powers for the purposes for which they are conferred. In the case of Re Smith & Fawcett Ltd [1942] Ch 304 it was held that: "directors must act bona fide in what they consider - not what a court may consider - is in the interest of the co., and not for any collateral purpose".5 Alex, Brad and Carl who are the directors of Zed Ltd owe duties to Zed Ltd and not the employees of the company or anyone else. Since Brad worked as a chemical engineer in the company before becoming a director and the other directors complain that he should have known about this new technology, it must be addressed to what extent Brad's actions were reasonable and whether he had any specialized knowledge to which he should have exercised. As a director, he is obligated under s.172 CA 2006 to promote the success of the company in a way that he considers to be good faith. He must take into consideration the likely consequences of any decisions in the long term; the interests of the company's employees; the need to foster the company's business relationships with suppliers, customers and others; the impact of the company's operations on the community and the environment; the desirability of the company maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct, and; the need to act fairly as between members of the company.6 This duty is subjective as per Lord Wilberforce in Howard Smith Ltd v Ampol [1974] AC 821 : "There is no appeal on merits from mangement decisions to courts of law: nor will the courts of law assume to act as a kind of supervisory board over decisions within the powers of maangmeent honestly arrived at".7 In general, the short term view would be that of maximization of profits for shareholders.; the long term view considers ultimate benefit of continued existence of company for all members present and future.8 Each director of Zed Ltd must be seen as taking both into consideration in determining if they were acting bona fide. Moreover, directors not entitled to take into account employee interests as per the case of Parke v Daily News Ltd [1962] 2 All ER 929.9 However, new provision introduced that "directors were to have regard to the interests of the company's employees in general as well as the interests of its members" (s.309 CA 1985).10 However, this section has been widely criticized. The fact that the other directors were accountants would not excuse them in any way if they claim to have been solely relying on Brad's expertise as s.173 CA 2006 imposes that each director has a duty to exercise

The Presence of Horror and Fear in ‘the Monkey’s Paw’ Story Essay Example for Free

The Presence of Horror and Fear in ‘the Monkey’s Paw’ Story Essay This essay is an analysis of ‘The Monkey’s Paw’, a horror short story by William Wymark Jacobs. This story is about a talisman that shapes like monkey’s paw which has magical powers. It grants three wishes to its owner. It’s given to one family, husband, wife, and their son. They wish for some money, and that wish also become true, they get the money, the exact amount they wished for. But actually that money was the compensation for the death of their son that caused by the accident. Torturing by the sadness of the dead of her only son, the wife wishes for her son back to life again. When knocking is heard at the door, the husband feels scared about what will happened. And before the wife can opened the door, the husband used the last wish. The knocking stop and when the wife opened the door, no one is there. The essay will be focused on how the speaker brings the horror and fear in this story. There are many ways how the horror and fear is delivered in this story, but this essay will only take and explain three of them. The first thing that brings horror and fear is the background of the Sergeant-Major Morris as the previous owner of the talisman, how he could get that talisman. The reader can feels that the talisman has a mysterious background from how the Sergeant-Major feels uncomfortable when telling about the talisman. â€Å"The soldier regarded him the way that middle age is wont to regard presumptious youth. †I have,† he said quietly, and his blotchy face whitened. † It can be seen that the Major seems too quiet and too afraid for the man that wants to tell the story about the talisman that can granted wishes. Second, the horror and fear come up to the climax through the action or response the husband and wife after the death of their son. The fight between the husband and the wife about the wish to revive their only son also bring the reader feels the horror and fear. â€Å"The old man turned and regarded her, and his voice shook. â€Å"He has been dead ten days, and besides he – I would not tell you else, but – I could only recognize him by his clothing. If he was terrible for you to see then, how now? †Ã¢â‚¬  it brings the readers get the imagination how scary in looks if the son come back to life. The last thing that is, how the narration also supports to create a horror and fear atmosphere in the story. The best example can be seen from the last event. But her husband was on his hand s and knees groping wildly on the floor in search of the paw. If only he could find it before the thing outside got in. A perfect fusillade of knocks reverberated through the house, and he heard the scraping of a chair as his wife put it down in the passage against the door. He heard the creaking of the bolt as it came slowly back, and at the same moment he found the monkey’s paw, and frantically breathed his third and last wish. † The narrations which explain about the setting, the situation and condition also take an important role to raise the tension of fear in this short story. In sum, there are many ways of how the speaker is delivered the horror and fear of this short story. Three of them are: The background of the Sergeant-Major Morris as the previous owner of the talisman, The action or response from the husband and wife about the wish to revive their son, How the narration explain the setting, situation, and condition in this story with a ‘spooky’ ways. There are still many others ways how the speaker brings the horror and fear in this story that make this story become a good horror story.

Ethical judgements Essay Example for Free

Ethical judgements Essay Our entire life is a continuous process of gaining and retaining information, expanding our knowledge as individuals. Most people spend quite a bit of time in their childhood years in school learning, taking in knowledge that has been produced. As a species humans have produced a wealth of knowledge in a variety of ways. However there comes a time where you have to wonder what extent people would go to, to produce knowledge. Where is the line? When are we doing something ethically wrong? All of these questions bring up another question, do ethics get in the way of producing knowledge? The arts and natural sciences are two areas of knowledge that deal a lot with ethics. The arts are a very free area of knowledge in with people are allowed to express themselves, the natural sciences require a lot of experimentation. In my opinion, knowledge is very valuable, and the production of it should be a priority if the sacrifice is reasonable. The arts are a valuable source of knowledge, producers of art tend to try to convey a message through their artwork. Art comes in many different forms, ranging from visual arts to music and even literary arts. Throughout all forms most of art there are lessons embedded in the art piece, or at least messages conveyed through the art. Similarly, most art contains some form of censorship, artists are not allowed to touch on certain topics. Even if artists decide to make art that touches on controversial or different topics, their art is typically not accepted in society and does not receive any publicity. Again, this is the case with almost all art, however for the purpose of this essay I am going to focus on literary art. An example that is very prevalent in my mind is the ban of _The Book of Negroes_ by Lawrence Hill. A dutchman named Roy Groenberg wrote a letter to Lawrence Hill. In the letter he wrote that a group of people in the Netherlands were going to burn Hills book because in contained the word negro in the title (Hopper). _The Book of Negroes_ is an award winning book that is about the life of an 11 year-old girl who is kidnapped in a village near Segu in Africa, and sent to North Carolina to be a slave. The book continues to tell the reader about her life as a slave (Hill). _The Book of Negroes_ is widely considered as very moving and a book that conveys important messages (Hopper). Unfortunately, because of the title it was misconceived as a book that was critical of African-Americans. Groenberg was the only person to act on his feelings, however that does not mean he was the only person to see this book as negatively directed at African-Americans. _The Book of Negroes_ was likely misconceived by many more people just because of the inclusion of the word negro in the title. Unfortunately, society has made many ethical judgements about the word negro which are usually justified but in this case prevent people expanding their knowledge (Hopper). This one of many examples, in which an ethical judgement limited methods available in the production of knowledge. This brings up the question in my mind, why do people shy away from certain words? An attempt to find the answer lead me to the Theory of Knowledge diagram, more specifically the ways of knowing. One way of knowing that intrigues me is language, this seems to answer my question. Language is a very powerful way of knowing, as words can be very powerful. There are handful of words in the english language that are not spoken because of how powerful they are. It seems to me that because of this some words are not tolerated even if the context is appropriate. Which sort of explains why The Book of Negroes received some criticism. It almost makes the criticism understandable, and I can begin to justify Groenbergs actions. Like I said before, almost all art forms have artwork that is not socially  accepted, and up to this point Ive only discussed literary art. However in my personal life I have learned about art not being accepted, when it comes to hip-hop music. I regularly listen to hip-hop music and it is a very important part of my life. In the eighth grade for a social studies class I had the opportunity to play a song in class as part of a project. This for me was especially difficult because a lot of hip-hop music is not completely suitable for a eighth grade class setting. Even though I had found a couple of songs that were perfect for what I needed, but had a little too much profanity. I completely understand that there are some inappropriate elements to hip-hop music that are not the best thing for a class room environment. However, I believe by the eighth grade students have developed a level of maturity, and should be able to listen to hip-hop music. All that needed to happen was for my classmates to disregard any profanity and see the song for what it truly is. Similarly, people should have looked past the title The Book of Negroes and read the book to see it for its value. Ethical judgments are as prevalent in the arts as they are in the natural sciences. From stem cell research to animal testing, there are a plethora of examples for natural sciences. The arts are as much about entertainment as they are gaining knowledge, or maybe even more. On the other hand the natural sciences is almost entirely about gaining new knowledge and improving what is already known. In this age, developments in natural sciences are nearly only about human advancement. Whether is medically or discovering new things. I am going to mainly focus on how various countries, such as Argentina, the United States, Russia, Iran and France, tested their space equipment. From the mid 1940s all the way to 2013, the mentioned countries have sent monkeys into space (Gray). Before leaders were confident enough to send humans into space, they sent monkeys into space to see how their equipment fared. As expected, most of these monkeys died horrible deaths in flight with no way of knowing what is happening or any way to help themselves (Gray). The most notable instances were the first few monkeys in space. In 1948 NASA sent a  rhesus monkey named Albert 39 miles into the air in a rocket. Albert died of suffocation mid flight, however NASA sent another monkey in the air named Albert II. Albert II survived the flight but died due to a parachute malfunction (Gray). When I discussed the Book of Negroes I reached a conclusion that gaining knowledge is more important than ethical issues. However, when discussing NASA monkeys it is much harder to decide. This is because lives are at stake, although they are not human lives it is still hard to think about something dying for space research. Majority of people agree that sending monkeys into space is wrong. How is it that NASA can design equipment to go into space, but can not create a machine that can detect air pressure and oxygen levels. Again, understanding this point of view is much easier but the theory of knowledge diagram came to my mind again. In the ways of knowing there is emotion, and that is likely the main way of knowing affecting people when they imagine monkeys dying for space research. It is easy to create an emotional bond with an animal as cute as a monkey, and most people can agree monkeys are cute. When reacting on emotions people reach rash conclusions. Which I think can be applied here, I am curious what the reaction would be if NASA tested with uglier or at least less cute animals. What if NASA sent warthogs into space? This is a situation when I personally hate to play devils advocate, however if I was an astronaut in the 1940s I would certainly not go into a space rocket. I have absolutely nothing against monkeys, but if I were forced to make a decision between a monkey dying and a human dying I would choose the monkey, without hesitation. In conclusion, knowledge is very valuable and has been something humans have cherished through the ages. The production of knowledge has been vital to the advancement of the human race. Under most circumstances in the arts and natural sciences, the production of knowledge does not require a major sacrifice, just a small loss or temporary discomfort. There are times in which it is not worth the sacrifice to learn something. However the vast majority of circumstances provide a reasonable loss for the production of  knowledge. Overall, I believe knowledge and the production of knowledge is extremely valuable and should be a priority when it comes to he arts and natural sciences. Works Cited Gray, Tara. A Brief History of Animals In Space. NASA. NASA HQ, 02 Aug 2004. Web. 16 Sep 2013. Hill, Lawrence. The Book of Negroes. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: HarperCollins, 2007. Print. Hopper, Tristin. Dutchman threatens to burn The Book of Negroes. National Post. National Post, 10 Jun 2011. Web. 16 Sep 2013. .

Importance of Measuring Returns in Marketing

Importance of Measuring Returns in Marketing Marketing Metrics Background Organizations have rapidly moved into an era of focused marketing spending. Cost cutting is no longer considered the best possible revenue generation vehicle because of its limitations. Tougher economy has put screws to marketing and sales department budgets. It has made marketing to prove it’s spend or at least justify the value of its investment. Ahuja et al., (2001) highlight that cost cutting alone is not enough in increasing a firm’s revenue, nor does it dramatically improve the bottom line over the long term. However, finding the â€Å"lost† money that isn’t being wisely invested and reallocating it to more strategic marketing programs helps to increase a firm’s revenue and profits year after year after year (Kokkinaki Stefano, 2004). This has given rise to the marketing metrics, marketing mathematics, measurement marketing. Marketing spending is continually been questioned as marketing budgets get slimmer. There is an increasing accountability of marketing spending in the current market climate (Barwise Farley, 2003). The marketing industry has reached an era where the firms are increasingly been forced to spend on profitable activities. The allowance to spend on things that don’t directly support the firm’s strategic plan, vision, and mission is reducing by each passing day. Leaders and higher managers are trying to continuously trying to motivate their firms to identify spending that isn’t tied to investment in the firm’s future (Clark, 1999). This is done to free up the money to reallocate it more strategically to more profitable propositions. The time of overspending with little or no control is drawing to a close. The rise of internet marketing has also increased the relevance and importance of measuring as results can easily be measured online. Online marketers measure things such as ‘Click-through rate’ (measures the relevancy of e-mail offerings by tracking the  number of unique click-through). One of the other online measures used by organizations like Amazon is the ‘Goal conversion rate’ (integrates web analytics with e-mail marketing tool to track the metric that matters) . The rise of performance measurement Performance measurement has been touted as an improvement for organizations for decades. Marketing managers and policymakers now have measurement tools to help carry out their responsibilities to deliver and improve services. Performance measurement can provide the link between whats (objectives, targets and performance standards) and hows (behaviors, competencies and processes) of personnel performance (Deery et al., 2002; pg 471). The measurement process involves setting of corporate, department, team and individual objectives. Researchers have recommended that a performance measurement framework should start with an organizational analysis. A decision to implement the performance measurement system should be made according to the organizational principles and model of the organization following the identification of the existing structure and functioning of the organization and the evaluation of the structural problems (Ambler, 2001). The most innovative companies and organization s, do not simply execute one good program, rather, they integrate advanced management techniques into a comprehensive approach to productivity improvement. They use performance measurement and evaluation to help establish goals and measure results, estimate and justify resource requirements, reallocate resources, develop organization improvement strategies and motivate personnel to improve performance (Schaufeli Buunk, 2003; pg 383). While some organizations do not believe in assembling data for measuring, others find marketing metrics hard to assemble. Lack of IT systems can be partly blamed as many organizations find different metrics scattered across the organization for different time periods, different customer and stakeholder segments, and a multitude of purposes. Aims Objectives Aim To identify and demonstrate the importance of measuring returns in marketing The Purpose of this research is to gain fresh insights into the concept of marketing measurement, analyze the significance and relevance of measurement in the current marketing climate. All relevant measurement variables used by organizations to measure marketing effectiveness will be demonstrated. Their affect on strategic decision making will also be looked into. Objectives To analyze the importance of measuring marketing activities The research demonstrates the importance of measuring and the problems that might arise when marketing activities are not measured. Increased competition and lack of capital is making the marketing budget shrink which has meant more intelligent use of marketing money. This has greatly increased the importance of measurement within the marketing community as they want to know areas of higher return and focus their spend on these areas. To assess the benefits of measurement activities The study not only highlights the benefits of measurement but also demonstrates the loss by not measuring marketing activities. In the process, it also considers the extra cost which the organization may incur while measuring these activities (cost in the form of technology, people and other fixed and variables cost) To illustrate and depict the relationship between marketing measurements and strategic decision making. The research does not study the marketing measurement activities in isolation. It relates the impact of these measurements on strategic decision making. It takes the case of various medium and large organizations to justify the importance of measuring. It discusses the use of marketing measures by other organizations and the impact they have on strategic and tactical decisions. To examine the difficulties faced by organizations looking to measure marketing activities. Marketing activities are not easy to measure and organizations can face technical and process difficulties in trying to measure its marketing returns. Smaller and medium sized organizations may have to make investments in technology and human expertise in order to measure their activities. It can also change the way data is stored in the data bases and other technical issues. The research will analyze these factors and make conclusions after doing a cost benefit analysis of marketing measurements. To make appropriate recommendations regarding marketing measurements. The research will recommend specific metrics and the way they should be measured to give accurate and timely information to the organizations. It will discuss the use of these metrics under different marketing situations and budget constraints. Scope The scope of the research is limited to secondary research. There is limited field research done for the purpose of this research. Also, there are a huge number of different metrics used by organizations across the globe, the study looks at the most common and appropriate measures. There might be other marketing measures which are equally suitable. Also, the research is generic in nature which means that a particular measure discussed might not be suitable for a particular organization at a particular time. The measures and metrics suggested does not relate to the nature, structure and culture of the organization. The study does mention the relevance of discussed measures under varying circumstances. Rationale The interesting perceptions with contradictory thinking with regards to marketing measurements is what aroused sufficient interest in the author to go in for a research into the concept which has become a part of the marketing decision making and corporate strategy. Although, conventional wisdom dictates that measuring marketing activities will give an organization a good indication of their effectiveness, in reality, marketing measurement is still not practiced by most organizations. It has also been inefficient for others because of the use of irrelevant measures. This makes the topic even more interesting because it is not just the use of measures that leads to effectiveness but its the use of relevant and appropriate measure. This tricky concept of marketing measurements was what made the author go in for a research as no existing literature gave a clear-cut judgment on the subject. Get help with your essay from our expert essay writers Layout and structure of the dissertation The dissertation is laid out in five chapters, sub-divided logically on the basis of their relative importance to the study. Each chapter looks at the research problem in a different perspective though there is noticeable degree of inter-relationship amongst them. The actual study begins from chapter two with Review of Literature analyzing different marketing measures used across the industry and assessing its relevance to organizational decision making. The contents in the research report can be elaborated briefly as shown under the following headings. Chapter One Introduction As the name suggests, this chapter introduces the study of the primary focus of the area of research. It clearly marks out the purpose, aim and objectives of the research giving a reader a guideline as to what to expect. It also gives out the scope of the research and spells out the rationale behind the study. Chapter Two Literature Review This chapter primarily prepares the study for empirical work by looking at evaluations and conclusions drawn on certain theories and concepts to check for similarities and difference made by past writers on similar or related studies. It’s on this basis, that later stages in the research are developed. It is therefore, purely a representation of secondary data with various notions. In particular, academic journals, websites and textbooks that articulate models and related theories are used as a reference. Chapter Three Analysis of Research Findings This chapter is devoted to the presentation and analysis of the information collected and the theories studied as a part of this dissertation. Marketing measures are examined in detail. Illustrations are also given to highlight the relevance of these measures under different marketing climate and organizational structure. The learning from the review of literature are linked to metrics used by different organizations. The chapter also discusses various cases and illustrates the importance of using the ‘right’ metrics and measures. Chapter Four Conclusions After careful examination, evaluation, assessment and analysis of data, in this chapter, the study points out how the aims and objectives of the research are met. It points out how the respective objectives are realized and tries to give an answer to the research question. It also discusses the problems faced by organizations in implementing marketing measures and the associated systems. Chapter Five – Recommendations The last and final chapter of the study gives generic recommendations based on the study undertaken. From the various cases studied, it was felt that some metrics are absolutely vital to the business and gives a good indication of marketing performance. These measures along with other suitable metrics are recommended. The chapter also discusses the limitations of the study and areas where further research may be carried out. Summary This chapter provided us with a basic guideline of the things to come. It gave a detailed description of the aim, purpose and objectives of the study and what the study seeks to achieve. It clearly mentioned the scope of the research and areas where the study will not throw much light on. The study now moves forward to discuss the existing theories and concepts, to explore the concepts of marketing metrics and how metric s are measured. It will also examine the different metrics used by organizations and the relevance of those metrics and measurements to the organization.