Tet in Vietnam

New Year is the most important and popular holiday and festival in Vietnam. It is the Vietnamese New Year base on the Luna calender. Vietnamese New Year commonly known by formal name Tet Nguyen Dan. The name Tet Nguyen Dan is Sino-Vietnamese for the Feast of the First Morning, derived from the Han nom characters. Many Vietnamese prepare for Tet by cooking special holiday foods and cleaning the house. There are a lot of customs practiced during Tet, like ancestral worshipping, wishing New Year’s greetings, giving lucky money to children and elderly people,etc. Tet in the three Vietnamese regions can be divided into three period, known as Before New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Eve and the New Year, representing the preparation before Tet, the eve Tet, and the days of and following Tet, respectively. All of these customs are to celebrate Tet in Vietnam. Vietnamese people avoid doing bad things and try to do good things during T?t holiday. * DOS – One should sprinkle lime powder around the house to expel evil. – One should return all things borrowed, and pay debts before Tet. * DON’TS One should not say or do bad things during Tet. – One should not hurt or kill animals or plants but should set them free. The reason for this originates from Buddhism’s causality. – One should not sweep the house or empty out the rubbish to avoid luck and benefits going with it, especially on the first day of the new year. – One should not have duck meat because it brings unluckiness. – One should not have shrimp in case on would move backwards like shrimp, in other words, one would not succeed. – One should not refuse anything other give or wish you during Tet. New Year, my favorite holiday, is one of the most celebrated days in the world. The day is shaped by different customs and traditions. Each culture celebrates this holiday in its own unique way. We live in a rapidly changing world both culturally and linguistically, so culture is very important thing. People who know about other cultures are more able and adept at working in today’s world. They can communicate effectively, solve problems creatively, and keep an open mind when others shut down. Happy New Year!

Managerial Accounting Essay

Accountants and auditors help to ensure that firms are run efficiently, public records kept accurately, and taxes paid properly and on time. They analyze and communicate financial information for various entities such as companies, individual clients, and Federal, State, and local governments. Beyond carrying out the fundamental tasks of the occupation— providing information to clients by preparing, analyzing, and verifying financial documents—many accountants also offer budget analysis, financial and investment planning, information technology consulting, and limited legal services. Managerial Accounting: Managerial accounting is concerned with providing information to managers – that is, people inside an organization who direct and control its operation. Managerial accounting provides the essential data with which the organizations are actually run. Managerial accounting is also termed as management accounting or cost accounting. Standard costing is an important subtopic of cost accounting. Standard costs are usually associated with a manufacturing company’s costs of direct material, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead. Rather than assigning the actual costs of direct material, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead to a product, many manufacturers assign the expected or standard cost. This means that a manufacturer’s inventories and cost of goods sold will begin with amounts reflecting the standard costs, not the actual costs, of a product. Manufacturers, of course, still have to pay the actual costs. As a result there are almost always differences between the actual costs and the standard costs, and those differences are known as variances. Standard costing and the related variances is a valuable management tool. If a variance arises, management becomes aware that manufacturing costs have differed from the standard (planned, expected) costs. * If actual costs are greater than standard costs the variance is unfavorable. An unfavorable variance tells management that if everything else stays constant the company’s actual profit will be less than planned. * If actual costs are less than standard costs the variance is favorable. A favorable variance tells management that if everything else stays constant the actual profit will likely exceed the planned profit. Use in Business: Managers rely on cost accounting to provide an idea of the actual expenses of processes, departments, operations or product which is the foundation of their budget, allowing them to analyze fluctuation and the way funds are used socially for profit. It is used in management accounting, where managers justify the ability to cut expenses for a company in order to increase that company? s profit. As a tool for internal use, versus a tool for external users like financial accounting, cost accounting does not need to follow the GAAP standards (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) because its use is more pragmatic. It is a very important part of the management accounting process. In order for managers to determine the best methods to increase a company’s profitability, as well as saving a company money in the future, cost accounting is a necessary system in the management of a company’s budget, providing important data to analyze fluctuation in company production expense.

A Commentary on William Wordsworth’s Poems

There are many strategies in which a writer can convey his message to his readers. One is allusion, a literary device that lets the readers have a mental image of what the writer is trying to express in his article. The dictionary defines it as an â€Å"indirect reference or citation† to a person, place or something that is presumed to be known already by the reader. Others classify it as an indirect mention of something that the writer may intentionally or unintentionally do so. It is up to the reader to see and grasp the necessary connection.Wordsworth’s breathtaking ranges in poetry encompasses the entire arc of his career from writing pieces of poetry and lingering passionate meditations on demands set forth by the contemporary society for purposes which indulges the art of love, heroism, nature and a whole sense of unpredictable somber and angry poems which stages the flames of war and a whole lot more of uprising circumstances. His so-called nature pieces gave not only a slight impact on readers, but it made people internalize each and every line of his poems such as in Tintern Abbey in the specific lines.â€Å"Do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs, that on a wild secluded scene impress, thoughts of more deep seclusion; and connect, the landscape with the quiet of the sky† (Wordsworth, Owen and Wordsworth). It was believed that the purpose of his works is to send subliminal messages to the British society of his time. He is a man armed with romanticism which is considered moribund in modern literature. His skill of captivating hearts of readers with his ability to revive legends by placing it into lyrics gave him a towering height of success and respect which is up to date appreciated by literature fanatics.Unlike E. S. Yeats who received mostly admiration on his works, William Wordsworth on the other hand had a lot of criticisms regarding his works especially on The Prelude. Some said his works were â€Å"not being poetry at allà ¢â‚¬  and that they were just replica of other authors’ creations. Nevertheless, these were not barriers for Wordsworth to be recognized as one of the most influential British poets in the 18th Century (Colville).Among his greatest works were published after his death in 1850 which gave him a breakthrough in the limelight and a tank of deliberate criticisms at that. Given the fact that his works were often questioned, he remained steadfast upon his works and continued writing epics, tragedies, culture and religion. His enthusiasm on nature which triggered the rationality of the reading public were ironically given ample respect. He was described as a writer dancing shallow waters, and enables one to judge his works either positively or negatively. It was between: love him, or hate him.William Wordsworth in his works in Lyrical Ballads which includes the â€Å"Tables Turned† and Tintern Abbey† also says that it will make everything about him right again, put his life back into perspective especially those about his friend, Samuel Taylor Coleridge as reflected on the lines of the poem, The Tables Turned which reads, â€Å"May teach you more of man, of moral evil and of good, than all the sages can† (Wordsworth, Owen and Wordsworth). Again, he talked about the Coleridge and mentioned the woman he loves and how she is the object of his desires, and also, pain.But then, in addition to feeling let down, Wordsworth also implies that he is not sure about how his friend does things in the poem as reflected by the lines, â€Å"Sweet is the lore which Nature brings; our meddling intellect, mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:–we murder to dissect†. The essence of the British romantic period is its ability on making readers read and at the same time comprehends what they are reading. This literary device which is used in prose and poetry help in visualizing a mental picture by playing with words alluded.The fragile fact in th e usage of such is the level of expectation evoked by the allusion. The style is like â€Å"counting chickens with eggs†. In general, the utilization of allusions by a novelist shows an anticipation that the bookworm is proverbial with the allusion made, otherwise the effect is nowhere to be found in the tentacles of the purpose. Colville, Derek. The Teaching of Wordsworth. American University Studies. Series Iv, English Language and Literature, Vol. 7. New York: P. Lang, 1984. Wordsworth, William, W. J. B. Owen, and William Wordsworth. The Fourteen-Book Prelude. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1985.

Modern Management Techniques Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Modern Management Techniques - Essay Example Site managers oversee either a whole sight or part of the many sights for larger schemes or they might be responsible for part of the project. Before the commencement of the project, the site management personnel are required to organize all the necessary facilities, prepare the sight, plan the work to be done and install the temporary work bases for workers (Johansen and Wilson, 2006). Most of the site managers are involved in the running of the project before the site development activities commence. Prior to the commencement of the project, the site managers are responsible for bridging communications between all the parties involved in the running of the project. They are required to enhance proper time management and ensure that all activities adhere to the set timescale once the project commences. They are required to be sufficiently flexible and able to manage any problems or delays that may be faced in the course of the project construction. Ranns and Ranns, (2005) assert tha t construction managers should also possess efficient skills to enable them to set the right priorities for the job and employ the necessary measures required for planning for safe construction. They are also required to preside over the communication roles with the external stakeholders. Role of Site Management Johansen and Wilson (2006) assert that despite the recent Government initiatives and the increasing expectations of the society, the theoretical roles of a site manager remain the same. They suggest that satisfying the high expectations of the society requires the managers to enforce the required strategies necessary for converting the theoretical measures into practice (Johansen and Wilson, 2006: 1309). Some of the responsibilities include ordering of new construction materials, ensuring that the site has the adequate workforce to complete the assigned task in time and preparation of reports and status updates for other senior managers. The site manager is also tasked with maintaining the safety of the workforce through ensuring that all the safety measures are adhered to and all the accidents or incidents endangering personnel life are reported to the necessary authorities for action. The manager should apply his or her competencies and expertise in the built environment to understand when changes to the original plans are required or the necessity of the projected completion dates. According to Hartley (2006), all these responsibilities cannot be ardently achieved if the manager is not present on the site; implying that site manager should personally scrutinize and delegate all the daily operations of a site. However, Griffiths (2004) posits that the recent technology has changed the management process whereby the manager can scrutinize the daily operation of a construction site online.  

EC Employment Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

EC Employment Law - Essay Example Under the preamble of the World Health organization to which all Member States belong, â€Å"health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being that does not consist only in the absence of illness or infirmity.† Although the intent of the law is good, there have been many debates regarding the effectiveness of its implementation. Most of these arguments and debates hinges on the fact that there is no rules or uniform application and interpretations of the law and that each State is given the right to set their own standards as to the number of hours work. Note that under Working Time Directive, there are only two provisions, which are mandated to be adopted uniformly throughout the union. These provisions are the Article 4 which provides for a rest break period after six consecutive hours’ of work, and 11 hours daily with a maximum 14 days reference period and Article 7 which provides for a minimum of four weeks paid annual leave with no option of foregoing thereof, nor carrying over of pay in exchange for the leave. Even so, Article 7 is often a subject of controversies in some States as there are sectors or class of employees, which are not covered by this provision. The question no w lies on whether or not the Working Time Directive is capable of fulfilling the Community’s social policy objective and whether or not there is a need for a more intensive harmonization of the implementation thereof.

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 12

Marketing - Essay Example Marketing is a particularly fundamental function for strategy formulation in a business. It informs a strategy, counsels it, reviews it and provides insights into strategy formulation in an organization. An outstanding marketing department is involved in a continuous cycle of measure-analyze-plan-measure. This cycle is as well a key ingredient of strategic business management function. Therefore, in essence, marketing is a key element of strategic management function. Great marketing can help the company in identifying and addressing improvement strategies to customers in either product differentiation or distribution channels (Kotler et al 2009). For example, forecasting is part of strategic planning, sales and marketing forecasts as always the main tools used in budgeting for the marketing function. In marketing research, the Research and Development personnel are essential for effective results analyses and interpretation. Kotler et al (2009), the chief aim of strategic planning i s promoting the discernment of the company in the minds of the customers and consequently to increase customer relation and profitability of the business. Business strategic planning has to be undertaken to ensure the evaluation of all the options in a given situation. In such considerations, only the marketing function and research and development function are involved in result oriented research for improvement of service to the customer. Marketing Function versus Other Organizational Functions The marketing function of a business is the process that combines the product with pricing, promotion and distribution to reach the respective customers or end users. Marketing is one of the most significant functions of a business since it has a direct impact on sales and profitability of the business as well as customer relation. Because of this importance, the marketing function has a greater interrelation with other business functions like finance, accounting, production, research and d evelopment, technology, procurement and human resource among others. Building a profitable customer relationship in the marketing function requires interaction with the other business functions (Kotler et al 2009). I. Finance and marketing Every marketing plan always includes a primary financial dimension. Key aspects of a marketing planning and control are budgeting and profitability analysis. These issues require high resolution on significant financial issues like the definition of profits (e.g. Returns to equity or returns to investment) and determination on the appropriate controls for such profits (e.g. Taxes or inventory evaluation). All marketing decisions are investment decisions aiming at profitable customer relation hence adequate financial information is significant. Nevertheless, marketing is essential for the finance department since the information generated from marketing is used in financial analysis and forecasting (Kotler et al 2009). For example, the marketing te am in organization utilizes the annual company financial reports and other financial documents to help them with budgeting. This helps to reduce duplication of work in the marketing team for employing financial personnel since the financial personnel are already available in the company. The marketing team is, therefore, able to apply financial performance indicators to their relevant respective market segments to ensure that they always remain relevant to customers. II.

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 70

Assignment - Essay Example t of view which is used to express a characters feelings or attitude in a detailed manner, second person point of view, which is used mainly to attract the reader’s attention from the beginning and third person point of view which may be used to introduce a dual point of view from the author and characters of the piece. The author of shame, Dick Gregory, employs the use of the first person point of view. This perspective is effective in creating an intimate relationship with the reader since all emotions and attitudes expressed in the narrative are from the author’s point of view. This technique is quite flexible and subjective because it allows the author to portray a stream of consciousness while conducting an interior monologue. However, this point of view is impaired because the opinions in the narrative are from a particular individual. The author of Propaganda Techniques in Today’s Advertising, employs the use of a third person point of view. She gives the readers insight into what she believes are propaganda fed to citizens by advertising mediums. This technique, allows the author to express her opinion while also expressing the opinion of other individuals on the same topic. This is a convenient and trustworthy way of passing information through an unbiased point of view. It also provides the author with great flexibility when writing the article. The author employs the use of an omniscient narrator, who is well aware of all the information required in describing the article. This perspective is employed when a certain degree of objectivity is required. It is also quite efficient in directing the reader’s attention to the idea being

Price Analysis for Navigation System Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Price Analysis for Navigation System - Assignment Example Thus, the forecast of the price mainly depends on the price comparison of the competition taking into consideration that this company offers a similar service of the mine. Navigation system fundamental information entails grouping presentation industry chain configuration, which mainly encompasses international analysis, local market breakdown, macroeconomic situation and corresponding economic condition analysis (Murphy, 2009). Moreover, navigation policy and plan in regard to the underlying navigation system product depends on the specification, manufacturing process and underlying cost structure. The fundamental manufacturer of the navigation system volume manufacture cost price, income manufacture worth gross information and corresponding navigation system volume manufacture marketplace share mainly dictates the underlying market share supply demand import export consumption. Navigation system volume manufacture value cost mainly revolves around the value gross margin information. The concepts allowability, allocability and reasonableness in regard to the cost of the navigation system of the Navo tech mainly addresses directly the prevailing legitimacy of the cost charged against the corresponding cost charged on a particular research cost award (Murphy, 2009). Thus, the process of determination of the allowability, allocability and corresponding reasonableness of the prevailing expense is majorly based on particular guidelines of the federal cost principles. Moreover, it is will be dictated by the office of the management and budget of the Navo tech. Reasonable costs are the prevailing price that is normally consistent with the cost a reasonable individual would pay in the similar conditions for the navigation system to the same company producing similar product. Allowable costs are the ones that are utilized in the connection of the navigation system. It is the cost incurred under the budgeted agreement and mainly benefits the

Thesis that dicusses immigrant life in the United States in the time Essay

Thesis that dicusses immigrant life in the United States in the time period spanning US History between the end of the Civil War - Essay Example Other misfortunes befall the family – including sexual abuse by a predatory employer, prostitution, imprisonment, embezzlement, exposure to criminal elements until Jurgis becomes a criminal himself, alcoholism, political opportunism. Jurgis finds himself from being a loving husband and father, to a grief-ravaged and embittered man, to an exploited worker, to an unfairly imprisoned convict, to a hardened criminal, to an alcoholic, to a union member, to a vagabond, and finally to a socialist who believes that if people heed the call of social...ism, â€Å"Chicago will be ours†. The most famous misfortune and the one oft-discussed is his experiences in the meatpacking plant, which was fraught with dangers and labor rights violations. The description of the meatpacking plant and its sorry conditions were very graphic and shed light on the plight of the workers whose rights were routinely and wantonly violated. There are two themes running within the text: the American dream and how it has failed scores of immigrants who come to the United States, and second, the evils of Capitalism. The failure or the hollowness of the American dream is apparent from the very start of the text, with the festive but overly-expensive wedding celebration being used as a metaphor to describe a dream that is ornate in appearance but is, upon closer look, empty and will only bring more problems in the future, such as debt. The Lithuanian family initially entered America brimming with hope and promise, believing that America will be their salvation from poverty. The series of unfortunate events and tragedies that befell them have proved this belief to be wrong. The other theme is the indictment of capitalism and it is apparent in the way that the author Sinclair describes how the workers are being abused and how their rights are

It is the Introductory Memo assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

It is the Introductory Memo - Assignment Example Attaining the position of the Finance Advisor for a company is my ultimate long-term goal. I aim to express exceptional performance in my writing course for this semester. I will strive to internalize every information taught in class. Moreover, I will put into practice the skills learnt in the entire course into a real life situation. I hope to do part-time secretarial job during the vacation, where I will adequately apply the attained business and technical writing skills. I intend to perfect my writing skills by the end of this course. I have vast experience with computers. I usually use my Samsung laptop when at home. My Samsung laptop has the following specifications, Core i7 with a processing speed of 4.00 GHz, and windows 8 installed. I recently worked in Dell Inc. and my key responsibility was to write the incorporation’s newsletters as well as updating the company’s website. These duties greatly improved my writing skills. My earlier workplace was in Coca-Cola Company, where compiled financial report for the company. Some of my achievements include participating in swimming competition, in which I emerged the best. I enrolled in a driving school and attained a license after completing the course successfully. I have also attained a driving license after completing the driving course. I will also list this course among my achievement after completing it successfully. My desire is to excel in both technical and business writing course. I developed an interest to enrol in this course because of what I experienced at my previous workplace. I expect to develop good communication skills by the end of the course. Few business and technical writers exist, and I view this course as an opportunity from which I can earn a living after successfully completing it. In addition, I would want to assist students that struggle to improve their business and technical writing

Port strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Port strategy - Essay Example In the year 2005, UNESCAP and TTD (The Transport and Tourism Division) comprised of almost 600 ports, globally. In the year 2002, GTO operated approximately 55% of total global port terminals (Rossignol, 2007). Source: (Rossignol, 2007). Since 2002, the larger port operator companies comprise of the larger market share and are increasing at reasonable rate. In the year 2005, the GTO’s share in port had increased to 58%. The capacity of goods in ports had risen by 11.3% which was calculated as 399 million TEU from 2004–2005. The high market share of GTO indicates the importance of port services globally. In 2006, it was found that GTO terminals possessed 81% of the largest cranes with more than 22 rows (Rossignol, 2007). Source: (Rossignol, 2007). The above table shows the major port operator companies throughout the world in the year 2005. Strategies of Major Port Operators The port operators had experienced tough dynamic business environment. This increased the need of merger and acquisition of small terminal and establishment of new terminal system. As a consequence, many port operators had implemented horizontal and vertical assimilation strategies. The motive for merger and acquisition strategies is to expand the business, market share, and economies–of–scale and attain the leading position. In the year 2009, HPH (Hutchison Port Holdings) was the market leader for port shipment and PSA (Port of Singapore Authority) was in the second position with regard to total hectare. This highlights the aggressive growth related strategy for obtaining terminal. The acquisition takes place in the lower market that possesses strong growth... In past, many port operators had restructured their port and begun to relocate operations and proprietorship to the private sector. The critical part in restructuring is that the government must make sure that the ports are managed effectively. It has been seen that private corporations have stronger encouragement to control resources competently than public organisations. The reason is that private companies are greatly exposed in the competition and there is less vulnerability of political intrusion. The restructuring had helped PSA and HHLA to gain insight about how to achieve more competitive and efficient ports. It directly benefits the employees and the neighbouring countries. Port restructuring provides convincing means to increase both political and monetary autonomies. There are three motives behind restructuring of ABP ports. The first motive is the limited competition and higher cost of port services. The second motive is to remain competitive with other European ports tha t had swiftly adjusted according to market condition and adopted advanced technology such as containerisation. The final motive is that under the control of government the port’s access was restricted i.e. it was unable to diversify into other profitable businesses. The restructuring helped to remove these limitations of ABP.

Balanced Scorecard Essay Example for Free

Balanced Scorecard Essay A balanced scorecard is very helpful to any organization and should be viewed as a very important document throughout the company. Wal-Mart has developed a scorecard so that their customers can see what goals that the company wants to achieve and also how to achieve those goals. If you look at the scorecard on a regular basis, then you will know exactly how your company is running and what areas you need to work on. Wal-Mart wants everyone to know where to look at their scorecard and how to achieve the goals that they feel will make them even more successful. Wal-Mart also expects that every employee should follow this scorecard to guarantee they are doing the right things to make the company grow even faster and stronger than they already are (Balanced Scorecard Basics, 2014). The financial part is a very important part to Wal-Mart. With this part being successful you will be able to pay all the employees the right amount and also pay all the bills so that the company can make more money and keep thriving in the world today. Also with the financials down, the shareholders will see an increase in the amount of what the shares are selling for and that lets them know what they are making for owning those shares in the company. A competitive position is a major key within a huge retail chain like Wal-Mart. They are number one compared to other store chains similar to them. They continue building stores all over the world while a lot of the competitors keep shutting their stores down. Staying atop of this list is what makes Wal-Mart the leader in general merchandising stores (Wal-Mart Stores, 2013). Another major area of a balanced scorecard is how the customers see what Wal-Mart is doing. This is the most important part other than the  financials but work hand in hand with the financials. If the customers see Wal-Mart as a bad company then they will not buy the items that Wal-Mart is selling and then Wal-Mart will not be able to afford their bills and payroll and eventually have to close down. If they see Wal-Mart as a great place to shop then they will tell everyone that they know to shop there and that will make the revenue rise and make more profit for the company so that they can become even more successful in the future. The customers perspective always pays a big role in any company, if you keep them happy, then the will spend more money and time and energy with your company instead of your competitors (Balanced Scorecard Basics, 2014). Innovation is what you need to do to improve the company and learn how to grow and become a stronger economy. Wal-Mart is trying to be innovative in how they get their ads out to the general public. They are starting to email adds out to individuals emails letting their customers know of great deals and opportunities that are coming up in the local stores (Balanced Scorecard Basics, 2014). They are also developing an app for the smart phones of today with the deals and specials going on within the company. They are trying to get their products and service out in the community. Last but not least are the internal methods. They look at areas they think they will excel in and also the areas that will not excel so much at. The areas that Wal-Mart plans to excel at are usually the electronics. They look at other ideas to help them excel even more than usually and develop a plan to implement how to excel further in these areas. The Ares that are weak, they look for reasons that they are weak and how can they implement a plan to make those areas excel in also. When they can get all the areas in the store to excel greatly then they will become very successful and continue to grow beyond measure. This paper has demonstrated how a strategic plan of a balanced scorecard can help any company grow to a different standard. With these scorecard in effect and followed out completely then any company will succeed in everything that they want to do and become very successful. References Wal-Mart Stores. (2013, November 6). Retrieved March 31, 2014, from Forbes. Balanced Scorecard Basics. (2014). Retrieved March 31, 2014, from Balanced Scorecard INstitute: https://balancedscorecard.org/Resources/AbouttheBalancedScorecard/tabid/55/Default.aspx

The Kantian Theory Of Ethics And Morality Essay

The Kantian Theory Of Ethics And Morality Essay Kants theory of morality seems to function as the most feasible in determining ones duty in a moral situation. The basis for his theory is perhaps the most noble of any acting morally because doing so is morally right. His ideas, no matter how occasionally vague or overly rigid, work easily and efficiently in most situations. Some exceptions do exist, but the strength of those exceptions may be somewhat diminished by looking at the way the actual situations are presented and the way in which they are handled. But despite these exceptions, the process Kant describes of converting maxims to universal laws to test their moral permissibility serves, in general, as a useful guide to and system of ethics and morality. The Kantian Theory of Ethics hinges upon the concept of the Categorical Imperative, or the process of universalization. Kant describes taking a possible action, a maxim, and testing whether it is morally permissible for a person to act in that manner by seeing if it would be morally permissible for all people in all times to act in that same manner. Thus, Kant says that an action is morally permissible in one instance if the action is universally permissible in all instances. As human beings, we are forced to accept the inevitability of being unwillingly confronted with situations that test the strength of our morality and character. In the midst of deep moral conflict we become immensely introspective and we follow our intuition with the hopes of it guiding us towards the morally correct decision. However, how can we be sure that we have acted morally in a situation that is so morbid and perverse that our intuition is completely torn? This is the dilemma that is faced by Kant believed that the only thing of intrinsic moral worth is a good will. Kant says in his work Morality and Rationality The good will is not good because of what it affects or accomplishes or because of its adequacy to achieve someproposed end; it is good only because of its willing, i.e., it is good of itself. A maxim is the generalized rule that characterizes the motives for a persons actions. For Kant, a will that is good is one that is acting by the maxim of doing the right thing because it is right thing to do. The moral worth of an action is determined by whether or not it was acted upon out of respect for the moral law, or the Categorical Imperative. Imperatives in general imply something we ought to do however there is a distinction between categorical imperatives and hypothetical imperatives. Hypothetical imperatives are obligatory so long as we desire X. If we desire X we ought to do Y. However, categorical imperatives are not subject to conditions. The Categorical Impera tive is universally binding to all rational creatures because they are rational. Kant proposes three formulations the Categorical Imperative in his Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Moral, the Universal Law form *** Kantian ethics is a method of interpreting what one ought to do, which was devised by Immanuel Kant it is a duty-based theory and therefore, duty has a huge part to play within it. Kantian Ethics is an absolutist theory therefore suppresses any chance of exception through circumstances or outcome, but believes solely that the maxim of duty is the most important factor, if not the only factor in making a moral decision. For Kant, a moral action is not based upon feelings, inclination, or on the possibility of reward or positive outcome. Instead, a moral action is one based on a sense of this is what I ought to do. To use an example, helping an old woman across the street because you pity her is NOT a moral act, neither is it moral if you do it purely because you want to impress someone, the only way that it is a moral thing to do is if you do it out of a sense of duty because you can say to yourself I ought to help the elderly. According to Kant this is the only thing that matters when deciding whether or not to do something, because motive is the most important factor in Kantian ethics, it is possible for an action to have negative consequences while still being a moral act: mmanuelle Kant more focused on concept of moral duty and responsibility as main key characteristics of moral conscious that served as the foundation for deontological approach. He emphasized that there not separation between duty and consequences, but nevertheless there exist gap between duty and purely deontological theory. Morality is supposed to guide our actions, which it can only do if it motivates us, and that practical reasoning starts with what is good, and that the right response to what is good is to choose in accordance with it. To intend to do something bad, such as lie or kill, (even in order to bring about some good consequence) is not to order ones will in accordance with what is good. Is morality something we discover? Perhaps, if, one chooses to accept the integrity with ones personal experiences we all would share the same views. Thus, I believe that Kant argues morality and decision making must be a priori. Yet, I am still trying to wrap my head around what I am arguing. If one chooses moral actions via experience, it, neglects, the concept of consequences. I know that it was not mentioned via Kantian ethics; however, I argue that consequences should be included. Why? Because, one, I argue, looks into the consequences of their actions beforehand. That is not to say that it will stop them, yet it still crosses their minds. Again, I think that Kantian ethics brings a modern approach to the way we hold ethical principles today. However, it still seems that there are flaws and that one will still look into the consequences when thinking morally and ethically. Kants categorical imperatives are too rigid in my opinion. His view assumes that morality rests upon absolute directives, but the world is not so black and white. Many times situations do not have a well defined right and wrong and to say they do is over simplified. I do not agree with the principle of Kants categorical imperatives. The guideline states that performing a bad action to bring about a good effect is never morally acceptable but that performing a good action may be considered acceptable even if it causes a bad effect. What is considered good or bad is open to interpretation. An example on page 60 of the text says euthanasia is immoral because it essentially equates it with murder. I do not consider this murder if it is upon request of the ill patient and has the intention of relieving unbearable pain. Kants ethical theory at face value seems as though it could be effective. However it seems irresponsible to make a moral decision without factoring the outcome of your choice. It also seems bold of Kant to expect all decisions to be moral or immoral universally. The world is simply not that black and white. There are always exceptions. If the world did function as good vs. evil than Kants ideological theory in essence would work. Unfortunately the world has many more facets than that. The Kantian ethics differs from the utilitarianism theory in that it focuses more on the actions and the morality of those actions as opposed to the consequences. Kant is basically saying that the consequences dont matter as long as we act in a moral way. I dont agree with his statement that right actions depend on the least of consequences because actions, whether right or wrong usually depend on consequences because most of the times, consequences are what we associate with morals. Personally speaking, before going forward with any actions, I usually think about the consequences before anything else. I dont think about whether or not my actions are morally right. Isnt it possible to have actions that are morally right but consequences that are not? While I like the idea of applying maxims to actions, I dont think that it is very realistic because if it means that when you choose rules to live by, you have to make certain these are rules you would want the rest of the world to live by, then what would the consequences be? Or better yet, what would the need for consequences be? While I do like idea that we should treat people the way we would like to be treated or better yet as the human being we are, it could never work in todays society because even though everything would be on the same playing field, people would eventually take advantage of the rules or those who happen to live by those rules. One of the major cornerstones of Kantian ethics is the idea that it is the will of the person, not necessarily the consequences, that makes an action moral or not. If a person does something out of a sense of duty to moral law, then his actions have moral value. According to Kant, this means that if a person cares for his or her child out of the belief that caring for children is an important duty, he or she is acting ethically. If, however, a person cares for a child simply because he or she loves the child, this action is out of inclination rather than duty and not actually of moral value. Actions have consequences. We all know that. Sometimes when it comes time to face those consequences though, we do everything we can to avoid it or to hide our guilt. One of the hardest realities for some of us to learn is that our actions have consequences. Whatever we do either affects us or others, and usually both. We begin teaching our children at an early age Do not hit! and Do not bite! and a host of other Do nots! because our actions can hurt other people. We are teaching them that there are consequences to others because of our actions. We teach them to avoid fires and hot surfaces and playing in the street, because the consequences of these can be extremely hurtful to ourselves. Some, however, are slow to learn those lessons. Many, it seems, have to learn the hard way through suffering the consequences of their actions. Consider: There is a terrorist with a gun pointed at a group of innocent hostages being held by the terrorists. There is the declaration that he will kill them. Someone nearby has a gun and points it at the terrorist and shots. The would-be hero misses the target and kills one of the innocent hostages. Now is the act of the would-be hero good or bad. Is it the intention behind the act or the result of the act that makes it good or bad? If something is good is it good because of what it is or because of what it results in? This question sets out a basic question in ethical inquiry and concerning which there are two major braches or schools of thought. There are a number of ethical theories that can be categorized according to how they address this question.

Causes For The Fall of the Roman Empire :: The Fall of the Roman Empire

What major events led to the eventual decline and fall of the Roman Empire? Categorized between internal and external factors with broad reasoning, doesn’t lend itself to just a few events as the cause for the actual fall. From the internal factors: socio-economic problems and political corruption with the emperors and senate with their selfish, indulgence lifestyles with gladiator games being a major expense from the coffers, moral decline impacted the richest Romans with immorality, various outlandish sexual behaviors, gambling on most any activities and public lewd/sexual acts in the Colosseum. Education became only for the rich and usually only males. The basic standards of ethics and values were lost with total disregard of human and animal life, cheap slave labor lead to major unemployment for the working class plebeians that stressed the continued divide from the rich patricians. From the external factors: Constant wars and heavy military spending, the great Roman army was excessively expensive, over-stretched trying to keep the experienced warriors, recruiting more and more soldiers then turning to hiring mercenaries and barbarians. With the adding of more soldiers from conquered lands, those barbarians became more like Romans after a short time and less able to fight other barbarians from other countries as a result. With the army stretched thin at all the borders, when an issue grew it could become overwhelming quickly as with the Visogoths, once they were allowed to settle on the south side of the Danube, poverty living conditions and starvation led them to attack, then move to sack the city of Rome. Then there were the natural disasters such as famine, earthquakes and plagues. With influx of barbarians and many newcomers from over-run countries, the manifestation of serious sickness, transferring of plagues and lack of consistent medical care perpetu ated all natural disasters many times over.

Licence To Kill :: essays research papers

1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The three qualities that I felt James Bond most possessed throughout the story were determination, bravery, and intelligence. In the next several paragraphs I will explain how incidents in the story revealed each quality portrayed by James Bond. Determination   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the beginning of the story a drug lord named, Frans Sanchez, severely injures James Bond’s partner, Felix Leiter, and kills his wife Della Leiter after escaping an attempted arrest by Felix. After this incident Bond becomes determined to capture Sanchez, bring his drug empire down, and avenge what he had done to his partner and close friend Felix Leiter. Bond shows such strong determination that he disobeys his chief, â€Å"M†, and the secret service branch of London in order to continue his mission with Sanchez. Bond was ordered by â€Å"M† to drop the case and head to Istanbul where he would be briefed on his next mission. However, Bond told his chief that he was not done with his mission and that if he was not allowed to continue with it he would have to resign from the secret service. Determined to bring Sanchez down and avenge all the pain which his friend inflected he eventually gave in his resignation and became a free agent. Intelligence   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  James Bond shows intelligence throughout the entire story. From his surprising attack tactics, to how he tricks villains and enemies into doing exactly what he wants. Bond was the type of man that was usually in control of the situation. There comes a point in the story where Bond must figure a way out to turn two major druglords against each other, William Krest and Frans Sanchez, in order for him to gain the trust of Sanchez so he can learn more about his drug organization and what he was about. He devises a plan that convinces Sanchez that Krest was stealing millions of dollars from him and that he was going to meet with the Chinese to plan an assassination in his name. Eventually Bond thinks of a way to set Krest up so that Sanchez believes him. The plan was so well though out that it surprised me how intelligent Bond actually was. He was in complete control of everything that happened and he eventually gained the trust of Sanchez and was granted permission to go to his secret drug plant in Isthmus city. Bravery   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many times throughout the story where James Bond shows bravery and

A Review of Eaters of the Dead :: Free Essay Writer

Eaters of the Dead Almost everybody recognizes Michael Crichton as the author of books such as Jurassic Park, Disclosure, and Congo. Considering he is one of the hottest authors in Hollywood, how could you not. The book reviewed here, however, is none of the above; it is a more or less forgotten book called Eaters of the Dead. As with all of his older books, it has been reprinted recently so it is easy to find. This book is written more like a scholarly work rather than like a novel, yet it definitely tells a story, one which many of the readers will recognize as Beowulf. It is told from the point of view of Ibn Fadlon, a representative of the Caliph of Baghdad. He then gets caught up with a band of northmen. The band, led by one Buliwyf, is on a mission to help defend King Rothgar from some evil which is spreading across his land. Doesn=t that sound compelling? What makes this book so different is the way in which the tale is offered. Ibn Fadlan is a Muslim and gives the distinct impression that he does not approve of the lifestyle of the Northmen, yet he tells his story (actually he is giving a report to the Caliph) with great detail. He tells of the Northmen's ways, relating what impresses him as well as what disgusts him. His very first impression of the Norsemen comes as he observes how they deal with a newly dead king. His description of the mourning period and funeral provices the reader his first experience with the Northmen's way of life. How wonderful! Throughout the book, Crichton uses footnotes to help the reader understand what is going on, and to give the impression that this a paper rather than a novel. As mentioned above, the story is a familiar one but told in such a different way as to make it a much more interesting story then the original. This book may be different and original which helps but, it is absolutely HORRIFIC! I had no idea what was happening.

How Effective Is Homeschooling Essay

Education is a basic requirement for inculcating civic, moral and intellectual faculties of a human being. While imparting education in a public setup is the commonest of all methodologies adopted worldwide, learning at home under the guidance of parents and/or professional teachers is also a widespread practice. Popularly referred to as homeschooling, this system of learning has come to the fore replacing formal educational methodologies. The history of homeschooling dates back to the 1920s, but the real revolution occurred in the 1960s and the 1970s when the liberal alternative school movement was set rolling. Researching into the topic, it is evident that most parents opting for homeschooling fall under radical socialists and naturalists who do not have faith in the bureaucratic setup of the American society. Moreover, the gasping nature of fierce competition has also contributed to the withdrawal from traditional educational means. There are legal liabilities and the issue of compulsory schooling attendance as far as public schooling is concerned. Albeit the environmental aspects and the mold of teaching are arguably in proximity with what can be termed as ideal in a public education system, many parents in the United States of America deem it an added advantage for their kids that they should gain access to a comprehensive educational repertoire at home. In matters of homeschooling, the legal issues involved with affiliation and certification are taken care of correspondence schools or umbrella schools. What set homeschooling distinctly apart from the conventional modes of education are facilities of unit studies, child-oriented educational materials and above all, constant parental supervision. This essay is going to discuss elaborately on the efficacy of homeschooling and its relevance in the hustling ways of modern world. All the major school of thoughts propagated by scholars and researchers will be thoroughly reviewed, thus allowing for the development of a set of viewpoints on homeschooling. The prevalence of homeschooling in the United States of America has been such in the past decade or so that it has been made legal in many states. In fact today it is widely regarded to be a perfect alternative mode of teaching at the K-12 level (Cooper 109). The media too has focused on the issue rigorously and has brought about a remarkable change in the mindset of even the most orthodox of parents and educators. Going by sheer statistics, 300, 000 children were taught at home in 1990. This number increased almost with a vertical leap by the end of 1998 when there were more than 1. 5 millions of homeschooled children across the country (Saba & Gattis 1). Since the US government’s educational policy allows for autonomy of sorts for each state, the process of imbibing any new measure is relatively easier. The designated council or board of a particular state can decide for themselves which method suits young learners the most. Accordingly, each state is designated with certain number of grants or permissions by virtue of which they can permit homeschooling. The results just speak for themselves as a vast majority of homeschooled children excel remarkably well in a broad spectrum of academic disciplines, ranging from winning the national spelling bees to earning themselves coveted degrees at the leading universities in the country. Now before delving deep into various argumentative doctrines on homeschooling, let’s just look into the basics of this rapidly evolving trend. The first question we are going to deal with involves the reason behind homeschooling. What are the unique aspects of homeschooling? Why do people tend to prefer this mode of education over public schooling? Due to the independent, state-specific educational system in America, public schools are accessible to all free of charge. For working parents not belonging to the elite segments of the society, the rationale behind choosing public schools is quite self-explanatory. But the growing trend of homeschooling calls for our attention and makes us inquisitive to investigate into the root of educational philosophies. First and foremost, fostering a child at home demands a persistent level of commitment for both parents. It not only helps the child learn in a known environment, but also strengthens the family togetherness. Since a child spends most of its time at home, the well cultivated families do not wish to assign the task of imparting education to external teachers (Stevens 30). It is purely a question of family values that a child should learn from its parents and not from those who do not share their personal spaces. Besides, many parents are guided by stern religious beliefs and want their children to follow the same paths. In public schools, children may confront teachers, instructors or fellow students with different religious faiths. So the parents feel safer with homeschooling. Another extremely valid reason behind homeschooling involves the learning environment of public schools. The quality of education in a public institution is bound to suffer due to large number of students and inadequacy of teaching tools. Albeit the student-teacher ratio is quite healthy in American public schools especially at the primary level, it still is not enough for every child to get the required attention. Moreover, children studying at public schools are taught a similar curriculum. If a particular child has different fields of interest, it is not encouraged to develop skills and knowledge on those lines. The imaginative faculties of mind slowly become blunt and ineffectual due to the institutionalized methods of teaching. Homeschooling, on the other hand, is helpful for identifying a child’s interests and unique areas of talent. Hence, education does not become a loathsome burden for the children. By relating to what they are taught, they can enjoy while they learn (Rockett 138). Most families belonging to minority groups regard homeschooling to be the best available option for their kids. This is because those children are hardly paid attention to by their local teachers at public schools (Saba & Gattis 3). It is never wise to send children with physical or mental deformities to public schools. The span and extent of attention they need can never be expected from teachers who have to look after a class of pupils. It is far better to keep those children at home and build up the required infrastructure with teaching aids. Hiring a teacher at home is a plausible solution in such cases. By resolving to one-on-one teaching modes, a challenged kid’s potential can be maximized. News of massacres, illegal drug trafficking and teen sexuality hit the headlines frequently in the US. Researches show that parents who are aware of these events choose homeschooling to ensure safety of their kids. These parents feel they can control the company of their children if they learn from home. Moreover, in the US public schools, many children hail from troubled families and tend to act violently and in a bullying manner towards other students. Contours of homeschooling decidedly relieve of such headaches. The legal aspects of homeschooling are still subject to a lot of debate and controversy. Given the parochial setup of homeschools, it is elementary to infer that they must be stripped off many benefits available at public schools, including the system of tests. The existing rights in favor of homeschooling in the United States of America were hard earned. It was by the Supreme Court’s verdict in the 1920s that enabled the states to intervene into educational affairs. Homeschooling, a fringe and distant possibility during those days, has undoubtedly come a long way. Keeping in mind the thesis question of this paper, it is now time to ponder over certain theoretical conjectures on learning in general. The schools of thought on learning and education are, however, subject to a varied degree of hypothesis. Scholars are yet to arrive at a stable perception as to which methodology of teaching augurs well for most young students. Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory is one of the seminal works of literature throwing a searching light into the complex processes of assimilation and deliverance for young, pliant minds. But since this theory was formed primarily from heuristic studies, its accuracy is questionable. Nevertheless, many later theories on education and learning are grounded on the assumptions made by this theory. According to Jean Piaget, the three main pillars of learning are organization, equilibrium and progression. The basis of his argument concentrated on the predictability of children’s cognitive formation. To put it differently, he pointed out that a child develops newer thought patterns with age and maturity. It is inherent in a child that it should search for newer elements in everything it sees. Known as organization, this process is responsible for accumulation of knowledge. What directly relates to this process is a cognitive phenomenon called schemes. This phenomenon is involved with preparing a mental picture of things to do. In other words, when a kid is asked to perform a lengthy multiplication, he/she prepares a mental framework as to how to go about the task in an organized manner. The next phenomenon comes when the child explores a better way to carry out a task. It is called adaptation. When new information is passed on, the child has to first of all ‘take’ it in before it can be processed and assimilated (Clements 2). Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory has crucial implementations in the context of choosing the best curriculum for homeschooling. His insightful analysis of the role of parents in children’s education helps in decision making as to how children learn. Do they imitate what they see, or do parents need to play a more guiding part in showing their children what and where to look for? Since this system of education does not involve social interaction which is so typical of classroom teaching, extra care has to be taken in devising learning plans. Diagnosing the intelligence quotient of a child is just as important as judging the level of prior education, should the student be an advanced learner. The final module for course works and other study materials should be prepared after careful scrutiny of the learner’s temperament. As a novel research effort in the field of educational psychology and motivation theory, Piaget’s findings indeed simplified the understanding of children’s cognitive bloc. The second argument that can be propelled concerns the role of academic materials or learning resources in the curricula of pupils. What is often seen in public schooling environments is that a vast array of course materials covering every subject are available. This is particularly favorable as far as step-by-step learning is concerned. The student can make the required shift from one level to another without having to skip any of the important learning modules. But espousing homeschooling methodologies often throw up a quandary for parents as to the suitability of the course materials at hand (Perry 54). This occurs mainly because of the lack of awareness about academic resources for a given standard. This usually happens for the first child in a household with more than one child. Due to lack of knowledge and experience, parents feel uncertain about the proper educational grooming techniques. Hence for the beginners, it generally takes a couple of years to gain command over the objectives and modes of teaching, including ‘unschooling’ and ‘phonics’ (Suarez 1). It is followed the most important part of the system, e. . , selecting the right tools and integrating them to create a congenial environment for learning at home. Unit study, for example, is a widely trusted educational methodology for homeschooling. The depth of this methodology and the fun of learning associated with it make for an ideal module for the beginners. Several subjects such as Mathematics, Social Sciences, History, Geography and Theology are combined together under a common natural or to pic-specific theme like water, animals, or ancient Egypt. For instance, if the academic discipline to be discussed in a particular sitting is Mathematics, the child would be introduced to the story of ancient Egypt and how Mathematics flourished over there. No doubt, the commonality of the central topic generates the fun of unit study methods. The young learner can relate just one topic to a variety of academic disciplines. However, it is to be made sure that the thematic topic should have connections with all the subjects. Study of languages occupies an important place in unit study. Not only does it help in communicating, it also gives the children a broad view of the world and people around them (Field 85). Far from just as an educational ploy to bring out the untapped resources of a child, the societal significance of homeschooling can never be underrated. It is imperative that we understand the significance of homeschooling from a twofold perspective. Firstly, the coziness of the family bondage gets stronger and closer with all the members of it spending time together. This is precisely the reason why many mainstream parents are falling back on homeschooling as the prospective mode of education for their kids. However, some shortcomings of this educational model are also there, especially the accusation that little kids do not get the chance to interact socially with others. This lack of socializing sometimes tells upon the mental health of even the most meritorious boy in a pool of ordinary geeks who, after all, know how to enjoy the little things life has to offer. But it is a minor glitch in a far greater canvas of a revolutionary and highly individualistic learning framework.

American public attitude on science and technology

Throughout history, the public perception on science and technology has not been stable. It has changed constantly and the fluctuation on the attitudes is still evident today. It is important to note that the public perceptions on scientific and technological advancements vary from one society to another. Since the end of the Second World War, the first war to make use of sophisticated scientific technologies such as atomic bombs, there has been several scientific advancement and consequently changes in the public perception in the United States.This is as a result of the massive research that was prompted by the events of the Second World War and the subsequent tensions of the cold war era (Mindell, pg 1). The attitudes of the Americans on scientific and technological advancements have always had far reaching impacts (National Academy of Engineering, pg 1). It affects the level to which the federal government funds for scientific research and development, the number of people especi ally college student willing to pursue careers in research and development the application of the new and better technologies that have been developed and the improvement of existing technologies.There are varies factors that have been found to influence the perceptions and attitudes of the Americans towards certain technologies. These factors includes that knowledge about the specific technology held by the general public, optimisms of the technological advancement and the general public attitude towards the profession dealing with the technology. These factors have made comparison of attitudes and perceptions of societies from different backgrounds on certain scientific advancement difficult (Liao, pg 1).In the 1970s, there was a growing concern in the United States due to the increased negative perception of the public on science and technology. The public were slowly losing confidence on research and development when compared to the situation in the Second World War where the Am ericans had full confidence on the ability of science. These increased concerns were prompted by the increased environmental awareness. The public was increasingly getting aware of the impacts of air pollution and the negative consequences of technological advancement.There were reports on the mass media on the dangers associated with increased research and development of nuclear weapons and power plants, biotechnology research especially on the DNA, disposal of toxic industrial waste and massive use of pesticides and fertilizers in the plantations. Protests against science and technology were witnessed in the 1970s. This created a need for the National Science Board to embark on strategies of reducing the general cynicism towards science and technology in the United States (Pion and Mark, pg 303).Despite this, compared to other societies around the world, the American society’s attitude favor science and technology. Most of the Americans believe that technological advancemen t makes them healthier and comfortable. Majority of the Americans today believes the scientists’ main aim is to make life easier for the ordinary Americans. Moreover, they believe that advancement in technology and its applications in their daily lives are interesting and create more opportunities for the future generations.However, about half of the Americans believe that the modern society is over-dependent on science and technology. It is interesting to note that the more the public learn about the improvement in technology and become aware of its positive and negative effective, their attitude shifts towards favoring technological development. This explains the increased perception that though technological advancement may have harmful effects on the environment or degrade the sanctity of human life, the benefits outweigh the negative effects (Science and Engineering Indicators, Para 5).However, this does not mean there are no concerns among the public on the increased de pendence of science and technology among the Americans. The increased debates on climate change and global warming has been blamed to be associated with technological advancement in the second half of the twentieth century. But a good number of Americans believe science and technology is the solution to the environmental problems responsible for climate change.The confidence held by the Americans on science and technology is due to the perception that technology was essential in the establishment of the United States as a world superpower. The supremacy of the United States military in the Second World War, the Vietnam War, and the confidence during the cold war, the gulf war and the current 21st war in Middle East has been attributed to science and technology. Americans therefore consider research and development as their greatest achievement in the 20th century (Miller, pg 274).Despite the increased debate on the biotechnology especially genetically modified organisms, Americans a re still weighing the options with majority being opposed to adoption of biotechnological advancement in food production. Biotechnology is not the only field of technology where the Americans are keenly listening to scientists to weigh their options. They are also closely monitoring research on global warming, space exploration and nuclear energy. In conclusion, the public perceptions on science and technology in America have changed progressively since the end of the Second World War.It is important to note that the Americans are more confident with science and technology compared to other societies in the world. Moreover, the perception of the public largely depends on the knowledge about the technology. Work Cited Liao, Dan. , Jiang, Lingrui. , Palmer, David. , Liu, Xiaoming and McCutcheon, Allan. Attitude towards Science and Technology in European New Member Countries: A Cross-National Study. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Public Opinion As sociation, Fontainebleau Resort, Miami Beach, FL,Mindell, David. The science and technology of World War II. Retrieved on 7th June 2010 from: http://www. learnnc. org/lp/editions/nchist-worldwar/5. 3. Miller, J. D. â€Å"Public understanding of, and attitudes toward, scientific research: what we know and what we need to know. † Public Understand. Sci. 13 (2004) 273–294 National Academy of Engineering (2002) Technically Speaking: Why All Americans Need to Know More About Technology. Washington, DC: National Academy Press Pion, Georgine M. and Mark, W.Lipsey. â€Å"Public Attitudes Toward Science and Technology: What Have the Surveys Told Us? † The Public Opinion Quarterly, Vol. 45, No. 3 (1981), pp. 303-316 Science and Engineering Indicators. Science and Technology: Public Attitudes and Understanding, (2004). http://www. nsf. gov/statistics/seind04/c7/c7s3. htm. Sturgis, P. I. Brunton-Smith, and C. Fife-Schaw. â€Å"Public attitudes to genomic science: an experi ment in information provision† Public Understanding of Science, 19(2) (2010): pp 166 – 180.

English- Short Story Analysis

Valenzuela Instructor English 101 17 September 2012 Discovering an Identity Self-deliberation arises quicker during the stresses of life. Breaking forth through these stresses comes from the realization that freedom is obtained through the willingness to welcome a new world, leaving behind the past. Mrs. Mallard comes in contact with the experience itself, as she receives news of her husband’s death, Brently Mallard, in an accident. Grieving this pain she encloses herself within the room of her home, knowing no one will follow behind her.Left alone, she embarks on a reflection of her past, realizing the breakage that lies behind her and willingly steps forth to accept the future that lies ahead, foreshadowing the brightness of the identity she longs to discover. In the short story, The Story of An Hour by Kate Chopin, the symbolism of the window’s images support the idea that personal freedom constructs ultimate peace with an identity. Through the use of symbolism, the window was seen to be an image of the possibilities beyond the life she had as a sense of freedom conveyed the very willpower that allowed for her to find an identity.Alone the window has a significance of presenting possibilities to the speaker. â€Å"There stood, facing the window, a comfortable, roomy armchair† (299). Noticing the emphasis of the window being in front of the chair shows a possible escape from the truth the speaker just witnessed. Being invited by a comfortable chair to look through the window only emphasizes more to the point that this sort of reflection is needed, and that through this escape she will feel the freedom at once when she feels alone with herself to wonder.Beyond the window reveals a preview of the life that would complete the image of the life that Mrs. Mallard seeks to obtain. â€Å"She could see in the open square before her house the tops of the trees that were aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air † (299). As Mrs. Mallard spies through the window- â€Å"the open square†- she witnesses the liveliness of spring. Analyzing the context of spring, the idea of rebirth drives through the mind of the speaker, however the connotation of â€Å"spring† can be analyzed much further.Spring can be seen as the liveliness of youth such as the possibilities of exploring sexual freedom as she experiences the rebirth after the loss of her husband. Rain also holds connotations that point towards the ideas of rebirth; through this, Mrs. Mallard smelling the scents of rain reveals a sort of spiritual cleansing, as she reacts towards the death of her husband and reflecting upon it. Because the window presents these images of, symbolically, reliving life, Mrs.Mallard experiences and sees the possibilities that face her ahead of time. This experience for the speaker then suddenly becomes more than just a reflection of the recent news, but a presentation- done by the window- for he r to view the life beyond the closed door and suspend herself within the world she never had beyond the married life of her husband. With the presentation of her possibilities for a future, she senses the freedom that lives within her. There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully†¦ she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air† (300). Feeling the window open up into her world, she senses that something beyond the clouds beseeches her to welcome them into her life. This sort of â€Å"monstrous joy† –as described later in the text- demands a welcome from Mrs. Mallard as an initiation towards the revival of her new world.Though she fears the unknown object that she describes, â€Å"†¦she was striving to beat it back with her will- as powerless as her two white slender hands† (300), realizing her weakness while fighting back the possession of the unkn own entity, she shows a lack of true interest to fight back knowing that she must submit to the future that lies ahead of her. Through the experience of coming forth and welcoming the fear of moving on, she seeks the freedom presented by the window. Ultimately, a sign of an identity in the end shows her happiness through the imagination of the days that lie ahead of her. Spring days, summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own. She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she thought with a shudder that life might be long† (300). Discovering her days are meant to be lived without the intrusion from her husband, she senses that although her life was once the depression of her day, now became the essence of her identity. Living through this ideology, she feels that she can move on through whatever her life brings forth to her, because she would feel as though all was meant to be given to her.She brought this thinking forward even in the end when the surprise of finding her husband unharmed from the accident, which in the end killed her. â€Å"When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease- of joy that kills† (301). The heart disease that had her worried for her life in the beginning of the short story then became the relief that she felt when she left the world to pursue the joy without her husband intruding on her sudden realization of an identity.Heart disease, in the context, reveals itself as the â€Å"joy that kills† emphasizing the discovery of her freedom through the disease that she feared would kill her. Noticing that the identity for herself lied within the freedom that she obtained from her husband, she died to achieve this ultimate peace with the identity she found. Through the use of the symbolism that the images of the window present to Mrs. Mallard, a sense of personal freedom constructs the idealness of obtaining an identity. And in this short story, The Story of An Hou r, The breakthrough represents itself through the most peculiar ways.Mrs. Mallard through the story discovered her life was to be relived through the images of the window as they revealed the possibilities that brought forth her true identity. Henceforth, discovering in the end that her husband never allowed her freedom within the marriage by being alive brought forth her breakthrough; Revealing itself through the joys of being set free in death, she is brought to the haven she so desperately desired, growing to be the individual that lives or, in this case, dies without the handcuffed life she lived through with her marriage to Brently Mallard.

Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Cat in the Rain’

Moya, Jon Enc1102 February 27, 2013 Midterm Essay The story I will be analyzing is ‘Cat in The Rain’ By Earnest Hemingway. The story tells a story of an American couple staying at a hotel, presumably in Italy because of the mentioning of Italians and the dialogue sometimes having the Italian language. Hemingway uses good imagery to describe the room the couple stayed in. He wrote that it faced the sea, a public garden, and a war monument. He goes on to describe the beauty of the garden and how if there was a good weather, there would always be an artist admiring it and painting it.He then mentions that Italians â€Å"come from a long way off† to visit the war monument. He does this probably to show that Italians really respect the monument and what it stands for. It then begins to rain and all the cars were gone around the monument which means that everyone was probably inside. Then story then introduces the American Wife and how she notices a cat trying to stay d ry in the rain by sheltering itself under a table. She says that she wants to get the â€Å"kitty†. After her husband offers to do it for her, she declines the offer and goes on to do it herself while her husband goes back to reading.She goes downstairs and as she passes the front desk she has small talk in Italian with the hotel owner about the weather. I presume Hemingway made it in Italian to confirm that the setting was indeed in Italy. In this time Hemingway writes about the wife’s feelings towards the owner, saying this â€Å"The wife liked him. She liked the deadly serious way he received any complaints. She liked his dignity. She liked the way he wanted to serve her. She liked the way he felt about being a hotel-keeper. She liked his old, heavy face and big hands†.Hemingway used many likes to contrast the hotel-keeper to the Husband. Hemingway makes it a point to have so many â€Å"likes† in that section to show that the wife is most likely unhapp y with her husband because she’s paying close attention to what she likes in a man. After the conversation, she goes out into the courtyard to look for the cat. A maid that was sent from the hotel-keeper then offers her an umbrella. They go on to have a conversation on how the wife was looking for a cat and that it was no longer there and that she really wanted â€Å"kitty†. The story begins to address the protagonist as â€Å"American Girl† now. Most likely to emphasize her increasing childlike behavior stated by her use of the word â€Å"kitty† now rather than cat. The girl then returns to her room passing by the office and feeling special and important when the owner bows to her. Hemingway most likely wrote that to emphasize that she really doesn’t get much attention if a simple bow would make her feel special. Back in the room, the wife has a conversation with her husband on how she wants to grow out her hair.The husband tells her she looks fin e but she goes on to say that she wants to brush her hair, and she wants a kitty, and her own silverware and candles and some new clothes. After saying this, George just tells her to shut up and get something to read. This reaction that George has to his wife is also contrasting with what the wife liked from the owner. She liked the way the owner listened to her complaints and wanted to serve her, this instance further contrasts what she has in a marriage and what she wants.The list of things wanted by the wife shows that she is unhappy with the marriage and that she wants things that are common in every marriage. She then says even if she doesn’t get those things, she still wants a cat. The story then abruptly ends with the maid knocking on the door holding a cat saying it was sent by the owner to the wife. This ending contrasts the actions of the husband and the owner even more than before. There has been much speculation as to what the cat represents in the story.One theor y that scholars and professors have is that her want for a cat shows her desire for a child. [1] In the story there is also mention of a man in a â€Å"rubber cape† passing by the square. Scholars know it isn’t Hemingway’s style to add pointless interludes in a story so they speculate that it could represent a rubber condom preventing the wife from becoming pregnant. [2] In the biography â€Å"Hemingway’s Cats†, the author writes that â€Å"Cat in The Rain† was a tribute to Hemingway’s wife Hadley.According to biographer Gioia Diliberto, Hemingway based this story on an incident with his wife when she was two months pregnant and saw a cat under a table and told Hemingway that she wanted a cat. [3] Cat in The Rain is an extremely ambiguous story and really demonstrates Hemingway’s skill of using very simple items to portray much more complex ideas. Sources [1]   Hemingway, Ernest (1925, 2006). In Our Time. New York: Scribner. [2]   Hamad, Ahmad S.. Post-Structuralist Literary Criticism and the Resisting Text. [3]   Brennen, Carlene (2006). Hemingway’s Cats. Sarasota, FL: Pineapple Press.

Venus de Willendorf vs. Barbie

Venus de Willendorf is a statuette that first appeared during the Upper Paleolithic period. The exaggerated carvings of the body parts were how the artists of that time viewed women, fat and fertile. History often takes from the past to reinvent the future. Today’s society has the Barbie doll. Ruth Handler created it in 1959. Its long legs and slim figure has been worship by so many, that real women have undergone intense cosmetic surgeries to resemble the doll. Both figurines have gained notoriety based on the representation of women of their era, displayed their own meaning of beauty and cultures’ perception of it. Venus de Willendorf Venus de Willendorf, also known as the Woman of Willendorf, is a type of art statuette that was discovered sum 25,000 years ago. It was discovered in 1908 by the banks of the Danube River near the town of Willendorf in Austria during diggings led by Josef Szombathy. The statuette was carved from a rare oolitic (stone eggs) limestone using a flint tool. This particular type of stone was not available in the area it was located in, thus concluding the statuette was not created locally. Standing 4 3/8 inches (11. 1 centimeters) tall, the figurine is noticeably rounded. It displays obese and voluptuous women’s body parts. It has large pendulous breast as well as a large middle section, thighs, and a pronounced posterior. Her arms are thin and rested high on her breast. There is a braided pattern around the top of the head. Some archeologists identify it as the hair while others say it is a woven hat. The vulva is very detailed, which led scholars to believe the original sculptor had some knowledge about human anatomy. The statuette does not have feet, so it cannot stand on its own. In addition, it does not have facial features, which is consistent with others figures from that era there were found. The large breasts and abdomen along with the detailed nature of the vulva have caused people to believe the Venus is indeed a fertility symbol. The people who carved this statuette lived in a stone-age environment. Fatness and fertility was highly desirable during that time. The Venus was said to have a structure of sexually charged swollen shapes, an epitome of abundant fertility and of eternal sex. She was the woman of all women. For Paleolithic people, accentuating the parts that dealt with reproduction mattered most in the figurines, which is why the breasts and pelvic area were exaggerated most, unlike the buttocks. The artist’s goal was to draw the most attention to those parts. During this era, food was scare so obesity was unlikely. This led artists to believe the sculptor worked from a model, creating a body worth ritualization. Mattel ® Barbie Over the years, Barbie, or Barbie doll, has become a household name for many American families, as well as throughout the world. So, where the idea of Barbie derive? While watching her young daughter play with paper dolls, Ruth Handler noticed she was using her infant like dolls to play adult roles. She shared the idea of creating an adult doll to her husband Elliot, a co-founder of Mattel, who was less than impressed. After coming across a German toy doll called Bild Lilli during her stay in Europe, Handler was determined to make her idea a reality. In March 1959, Barbie, named after Handler’s daughter, Barbara, was born. Barbie stands a slender 11 ? tall, with long legs, perky breasts, high buttocks, flat stomach, barely there hips, and thighs, displaying an exaggerated hourglass figure. She has long thin arms and her feet are created for wearing high heels. She has long flowing hair with a slender face, long neck, high cheekbone, slanted big blue eyes, and comes wearing make-up. There has been much criticism over Barbie’s size. If her measurements were created in human form, the woman would be 5 feet, 9 inches, measuring 36-18-33, a figure impossible to have or achieve naturally. This known fact created a lot of controversy amongst consumers and anorexia groups. Studies show the average size of an American woman is a size 14, the exact opposite of Barbie. Barbie displays the â€Å"ideal† look of modern culture. Paleolithic Culture vs. Modern Culture. The Paleolithic era is the earliest period of human development that began roughly 2 million years ago. There are three successive divisions of the Paleolithic era: Lower, Middle, and Upper. The most notable feature of that time was evolution of the human species, which went from looking like an ape to more humanlike features, which was a very slow process. The Upper Paleolithic era is known for its increased creations of art and ornaments. One of the most famous Venus figurines to come from that era was the Venus of Willendorf. Barbie has allowed little girls to be more feminine and display etiquette. While some consumers see this as a great thing, naysayers believe it hinders, causing them not to want to play outside, get dirty, and depend on men to do the hard work. At the same time, Barbie has displayed women can have any kind of job. She has more than eighty jobs. In addition to being a model and fashion designer, Career Barbie has been a veterinarian, firefighter, astronaut, nurse, and politician. Because Barbie comes with so many accessories, parents believe it may give little girls a shallow mindset that materialistic items are what matter most. During the Paleolithic culture, men were the workers and women took care of home. Barbie has over eighty jobs, thus showing gender equality among careers. In today’s world, women make up a larger percent of employed individuals. Although the figurines display very different characteristics, both are considered beautiful and desirable within their respective cultures. The Venus was a representation of the women of their time and Barbie is a representation of the ideal woman, according to critics. The main differences between both figurines are their sizes and the eras they were discovered or created. The Venus is naked, much like the women of the Stone Age while Barbie comes with hundreds of accessories and clothes. In Often times, history repeats itself and it shows in the creations of these statuettes. Effects on how Society Views Women The Venus de Willendorf as always maintain her size and exaggerated features, for the meaning behind them is unparalleled. Throughout the decades, Barbie has evolved, taking on a more diverse look to appeal to different nationalities, such Native American, African American, Hispanic, Oriental, and more. While the color and some facial features are altered to resemble the people of each ethnicity, one thing has remained the same and that is her unrealistic size. Theories about the usability of the Venus figurines were said to involve religion while other observers saw it as a sex toy for men. As for Barbie, she has always been the definition of beauty, what little girls and some adult women aspire to look like. In today’s culture, thinner women are considered better looking than full-figured women, thus creating a void between women because of their sizes. This has been an ongoing stereotype for quite some time. It has even led to bullying throughout our schools. Critiques feel instead of displaying Barbie in the thinnest form, she should be created in different sizes, showing that beauty does not define your size. Conclusion The Venue of Willendorf, commonly known to some as Nude Woman, is on display at the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna. She sits in a glass case and the only thing that allows it to show is the light illuminated from above. The case is places within what looks to be a resemblance of a temple that reads, Venus von Willendorf. Despite the controversies surrounding the perception of Barbie, it continues to be the world’s bestselling doll. The collection of Barbie includes Vintage Barbie, Pop Culture Barbie, Holiday Barbie, Malibu Barbie, and the list goes on. Barbie’s appearance has changed over the years, with the exception of her body shape, of course. It is how we identify her. The same goes for the Venus and her exaggerated curves. Both figures had played a pivotal role in how people of their time view a beautiful woman. Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. The sooner we accept this notion, the more we can build up confidence in little girls who will someone day grow to become women.ReferencesGerber, R. (2009). Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her. HarperCollins. McElvaine, R. S. (2000). Eve's Seed: Biology, the Sexes, and the Course of History. McGraw-Hill. Rogers, M. F. (1999). Barbie Culture. SAGE Publications.Sayre, Henry M. (2012). Discovering the Humanities, 3rd Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions. Enger, Crissi. (n.d.). Types of Barbie. eH ow. Retrieved April 11, 2013 from http://www.ehow.com/facts_5491736_types-barbie.html Witcombe, Christopher. (n.d.).The Venus of Willendorf. Art History Resources. Retrieved from March 12, 2013 from http://arthistoryresources.net/willendorf/willendorfwoman.html

To what extent does an understanding of the history and evolution of Assignment

To what extent does an understanding of the history and evolution of business and globalization help in our understanding of business today; and what value could this have for your career - Assignment Example world reach unprecedented levels of globalisation; this has been as a result of liberalising economic trade, which has seen human capital flow from regions where it is surplus to the regions where there is shortage (Gerdes, 2006, p87). Businesses have also capitalised on the opportunities brought about by globalisation and expanded their market in different regions in the world, which has necessitated them to send expatriates in those regions. Initially, when protectionism and imperialism were the order of doing business in the world, movement of people from one country to another was restricted and countries attempted to be self sufficient; both in terms of technology, human capital and goods (Boudreaux, 2008, p107). However, when countries realised that opening up their boarders to trade provided more opportunities for them, the process of globalization began. One of the greatest effects of globalization was movement of human capital from areas where there it was in surplus to wher e it was needed. This movement of people created several challenges due to different cultures and competitions. In order to overcome this barrier, there was need for businesses to develop intercultural competencies in order to deal with people from different cultures (James, 2007, p90). The desire to develop people with such skills has made organizations to train their employees, a practise that has been developing with time and which s currently very popular with a large number of international NGO’s and multinational corporations. Opening up of trade between countries which saw a shift in trade policies from protectionism to open economic systems is also part of history that can be used to understand why countries trade the way they do, for instance, countries are interested in making bilateral and multilateral trade agreements. In understanding the inspiration between these agreements, it is important to define open and closed economic systems as countries are moving from

The federal judiciary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The federal judiciary - Essay Example In cases where an act of legislation is made by the legislature but it goes against the constitution the court has a right to rescind that act. The executive is aimed at having more powers and advancing its authority as well as limiting the congressional powers. The legislative veto was the powerful mechanism that congress used for its oversight and was meant to make checks on the government and a policy-making instrument. They went beyond their powers and exercise duties or veto rules made by executive at times and the judicial review would come in like in the case of Chadha. Chadha, an international student whose visa had expired, was due for deportation but applied for a suspension and an application was made by the Attorney General for suspension since Chadha would face hardships and did not have anywhere to go. The INS judge suspended the deportation and made a report to the congress under law. The house sub-committee recommended deportation but did not make submission to the members for vote. It was thus passed without vote or debate. After the veto by the house it was not submitted to the senate or president, but the INS judge reopened proceedings and Chadha was ordered deported. He filed a petition for review and the court of appeal held that the house was without consultative authority and thus approved the suspension. The INS argued in this case that the Immigration and Nationality Act had violated the separation of powers as it had authorized the legislature to revoke decisions made by the executive arm. It also found out that the particular section of the act was unconstitutional since it violated the principles bicameralism and the presentment clause. The court ruled that the house had taken action that meant to alter the duties of attorney general. The ruling stroke down the legislative veto and the attorney general had the delegated duty of the executive and thus by vetoing

Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Education - Essay Example In addition, US government supports education to reduce illiteracy, criminal activities, and drug abuse behaviours that are prevalent with the uneducated. This paper discusses education in the US as a social issue. The two theories quoted in literature trying to explain or predict student’s performance include needs theory and expectancy theory. According to Geiger and Coopers, â€Å"expectancy theory suggests that motivation to act is a combination of the perceived attractiveness of future outcomes and the likelihood one’s actions will lead to these outcomes† (Geiger and Coopers 1995). This means that to motivate a student to work hard depends on their perceptions of the academic performance and in their beliefs that after hard work they will yield great results. The second traditional that attempt to explain academic success suggests that motivating students to perform depends on their intrinsic individual needs. Individual student’s motivational behavio ur is influenced by their desire to achieve, to dominate, to belong to a certain affiliation, or autonomy. The two theories differ in that motivation from students may come from some needs in the subconscious mind or by a conscious choice. A concern on whether educational opportunities are equal to all lingers many minds. According to Collins, â€Å"Social reproduction theory argues that schools are not institutions of equal opportunity but mechanisms for perpetuating social inequalities† (Collins 2009). Researchers have associated three perspectives in the analysis of the emergence and development of social reproduction, which include economic, cultural, and linguistic. Despite different analysis to understand how social inequality results from the interplay of schools, classrooms, and the wider society, no solution exists yet (Collins 2009). Conflict theory believes that the society is full of a community with different values and social rewards. It views relations in socie ty as based on exploitation, oppression, domination, and subordination. Teachers equally behave in the same manner whereby they use traditional teaching curriculum and expect students to get some support from their parents in the evenings but this is not normally the case. The state gauge knowledge passed to its students via the curriculum, which in most cases does not make sense to the students. Structural functionalism views institutions of education as gateways that keep order and meaning to a society. Through socialization, the society produces citizens after equipping them with knowledge, attitudes and values the need. These theories together with political arithmetic helps one understand the structural mechanism in educational inequalities. Implicitly, schools have central role of assisting immigrants in adapting to the new lives they find themselves. This is where immigrant students start their integration with working life as they share the same skills with the native studen ts. However, this is not the case in America since equality in schooling inputs is no longer enough to assess equity in education. After accounting for the social-economic factors of the parents of the students, PISA mathematical scale discovered that immigrants still rage behind by 30 score points to their native counterparts (Schleicher 2006). Researchers shows that immigrant students attend schools with poor learning conditions such as student-teacher ratio and that they lack in other