Metaphysics Essay - 570 Words

Metaphysics Metaphysics is the philosophical study whose object is to determine the real nature of things to determine the meaning, structure and principles of whatever is insofar as it is. (Britannica.com). So if the sole purpose of metaphysics is to determine the true meaning of things but everything isnt absolute what is the purpose of metaphysics? The nature of the world can be a ever changing thing. Depending on the generation, part of the world or even when you were born into your family (ex. first, middle or baby child) your views can change. The view that I have is that the world is not only chaos but in total chaos. The definition of chaos from Websters Dictionary, is a state of things in which chance†¦show more content†¦The hate that can exists because of different beliefs and lifestyles extends to our country because some groups of people cannot understand or like the freedom that our country has. This and many other things contributes to the chaos around the world. As long as there is people and cultures around in different parts of the world there will always be differences and peace will be something that we as a society and as a world will strive for. A world without chaos how would that be? I dont think anyone would know or how could we handle it if it did happen. Our minds do seek order out of chaos with out a question. Like I said, I think that all the chaos in the world leads to disagreements then to war. In some way or another I think the solution that we as humans to seek out order in our minds we go to war. True not all the time do we go to war sometimes we have a peace summit or something of that sorts. But order in peoples minds seems like it only c omes when they get there way or they are almost forced to take that point of view. Like we have learned, metaphysics isnt always final nor absolute when it comes to nature or science. If you want you can almost come up with an argument for anything about anything. My statements in this paper might be true or they might be totally off, but can anything in philosophy be wrong because its just thoughts and your own opinion. So basically I think the world is inShow MoreRelatedWhat Is Metaphysics? The Universal Definition Of Metaphysics1140 Words   |  5 PagesGarrett Recto 11-19-2015 PHL 204 FINAL PAPER WHAT IS METAPHYSICS? What is Metaphysics? The universal definition of metaphysics in philosophy is the aspect that deals with the first principle of things, which include abstract concepts of the being, knowing, cause, identity, time and space. Basically, metaphysics encounters the basic questions in such possible terms; what is there and what is it like? As individuals, we attempt to grasp or comprehend the theories and meaning of every aspect toRead More Metaphysics Essay705 Words   |  3 PagesMetaphysics Metaphysics can be defined as an attempt to comprehend the basic characteristics of reality. It is in fact so basic that it is all inclusive, whether something is observable or not. It answers questions of what things must be like in order to exist and how to differentiate from things that seem real but are not. A common thought is that reality is defined as what we can detect from our five senses. This type of philosophy is called empiricism, which is the idea that all knowledgeRead MoreMetaphysics Is The Study Of Reality Essay1430 Words   |  6 PagesMeta refers to the Meaning of after or beyond. Metaphysics is the study of reality. On the other hand, Kit Fine describes Metaphysics as follows; â€Å"it s the study of the most general features of reality.† Thus, it is the philosophical study of any widespread characteristics of reality. The study of the nature of the existence of a characteristic will let metaphysician answer and bring about theories for it being there. So me questions Metaphysician think of are as follows: Is there an Evil Demon?Read MoreMetaphysics Of Muhammad Iqbal1474 Words   |  6 PagesIqbals metaphysic thought and its connectivity to all philosophers overall tend to be very broad. However, it does not diminish the value of this study entitled Metaphysical Thought of Muhammad Iqbal and His College in Reconstructing Character at Institution of Education, (Case Study at Educational Foundation Prof. Dr. H. Kadirun Yahya) In this study the author limits within the conceptual scope, the view of Muhammad Iqbal in metaphysics. Also, the factor, background, and view of Muhammad IqbalRead MoreMorality, Metaphysics, And Religion1480 Words   |  6 PagesTHE PARTICULAR AND THE UNIVERSAL IN MORALITY, METAPHYSICS, AND RELIGION In his second speech to the literary salon of Henrietta Herz, Friedrich Schleiermacher dismantles the perception of religion as a blending together of morality and metaphysics. He argues that such a hybrid can never truly function as religion and that to attack such a false construct is to fight against a shadow, rather than to engage the true subject (21). Morality, metaphysics, and religion all address the same subject matter—theRead MoreQuestions On The Philosophy Of Metaphysics1372 Words   |  6 PagesEdina Pepic Metaphysics 04-04-15 Midterm 1. What is the project of metaphysics? How did the early Greek Philosophers develop the issue? What were their enduring contributions, the diversity of their responses and the abiding issues that will engage the subsequent tradition? The project of Metaphysics is the study of existence; Metaphysics purpose is to answer, â€Å"What is reality.† Metaphysics reviews everything in the world that exists, although Metaphysics is a small part of Philosophy itRead MoreThe Metaphysic Of Abstract Particulars1998 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction: In this paper I will present the arguments for tropes and their distinction from universals and particulars as presented by Keith Campbell in his paper â€Å"The Metaphysic of Abstract Particulars.† I will then present a counter argument to Campbell’s evaluation and provide possible responses to those arguments. I will also provide possible adjustments Campbell could make to create a more sound argument. Campbell’s Argument: Since Plato, two mutually exclusive yet essential categoriesRead MoreDiscourse on Metaphysics by Leibniz Essays612 Words   |  3 PagesDiscourse on Metaphysics by Leibniz In the Discourse on Metaphysics by Leibniz he suggest that, we maintain that everything that is to happen to some person is already contained virtually in his nature or notion, as properties of a circle are contained in its definition. This assertion raised a difficulty for Leibniz. This difficulty was that human freedom will no longer hold, and that an absolute fatality would rule over all our actions as well as over all the rest of what happens in theRead MorePlato s System Of Metaphysics1049 Words   |  5 PagesAdrian Farrales Introduction to Philosophy Metaphysics 11/6/14 Plato’s system of metaphysics revolves around the concept of Eidos, or forms. A form is the perfect and truest instance of a particular idea. In the world, we find particular instances of each form. For example, a certain pen is a particular instance of the form of pen. Every single pen in the world contributes to the form of pen. This contribution of particulars to the forms is called mathexis in Greek, or simplyRead More Immanuel Kant’s Metaphysics Essay3676 Words   |  15 PagesImmanuel Kant’s Metaphysics THEME In regard to Metaphysics, Kant’s results were seemingly the opposite to what he strove to achieve, cf. the claim, in his Introduction, that â€Å"In this enquiry . . . I venture to assert that there is not a single metaphysical problem which has not been solved, or for the solution of which the key has not been supplied.† In the summing up of his Prolegomena, he records with evident pride in achievement: â€Å"Anyone who has read through and grasped the principles

Caribbean Crucible History, Culture, and Globalization

Caribbean Crucible: History, Culture, and Globalization Kevin A. Yelvington In the present age of globalization, it is often forgotten that these world-encompassing processes were initiated with European expansion into the Caribbean beginning more than five hundred years ago. We now see the proliferation of overseas factories enabling owners, producers, and consumers of products to be in widely distant locales. It seems to us that in the search for profits, commercial activity has recently spread to every corner of the earth. We observe that the continual movement of humans across borders results in new forms of hybrid and creolized cultures. And, we feel that the world around us is moving faster and faster: the rapid circulation of†¦show more content†¦In the Western hemisphere, sugar was first grown in the present-day Dominican Republic and shipped back to Europe around 1516. With the rapid destruction of the native populations, enslaved African laborers were imported shortly after the first canes were planted, thus paving the way for the prolifer ation of the widespread and centuries-enduring plantation complex and the rapid transformation of tastes and consumption in Europe. One by one, at least six European powers entered the fray and wrestled with each over the riches to be obtained from the region under colonization. Caribbean islands were exchanged as part of peace negotiations after European wars, and sometimes captured outright by those countries that could muster the naval power so far from their shores. The source of this wealth was the fruits of the labor of enslaved Africans. Commercial and military intervention on the African coast ensured a supply of captive laborers for the plantations. The slave trade represented the largest capital investment in the world, meaning that the slaves themselves were valuable commodities, and was promoted and patronized by the royal families and leading merchants and politicians of Europe. Africans were enslaved and taken to the Americas, agricultural commodities were transported, often in the same slaving vessels, from the Americas to Europe, and trade goods were shipped fromShow MoreRelatedStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesBehavior 271 Understanding Work Teams 307 Communication 335 Leadership 367 Power and Politics 411 Conflict and Negotiation 445 Foundations of Organization Structure 479 v vi BRIEF CONTENTS 4 The Organization System 16 Organizational Culture 511 17 Human Resource Policies and Practices 543 18 Organizational Change and Stress Management 577 Appendix A Research in Organizational Behavior Comprehensive Cases Indexes Glindex 637 663 616 623 Contents Preface xxii 1 1

Alzheimer Disease

Question: Describe about Alzheimer Diseas? Answer: Introduction: Alzheimers disease is marked by continuous dementia. The cholinergic neurons are affected by Alzheimers disease and it is a neurodegenerative disorder. Generally aged people are affected by this disease. Due to Alzheimers disease the personality and memory of people are damaged. Emotions, capacity to solve the problems and social skills are affected by Alzheimers disease. The main reason of Alzheimers disease is cholinergic deficiency in the brain. So the patient with Alzheimers disease needs an extra care from the nurses. The role of nurse with the patient is very important because the patients are unable to do their daily work. Communication is very important in the career of nursing. The information can be transferred by communicating with the people. Nursing is the profession where the communication is more important because they are needed to communicate with the patient, the family of patient, the co-workers of nurses, supervisors, and many others (Effective communication: Principle of nursing practice E; 2015). Sometimes a long communication takes more time. We need to communicate with others at a short time, so the key components of the communication are needed. Communication in this profession is not an easy task because single incorrect information may lead to a huge problem. So the potential and the skill of communication are very important for nursing career (Laleh Loghmani, 2014). The patient with Alzheimers disease is handled carefully because their mental condition is not stable or normal. The nurse should have the knowledge to communicate to this type of patient. The nurse should communicate with the family of an Alzheimers disease patient because the patient has not the capacity to memorize (Nursetogether.com, 2011). Alzheimers disease gradually decreases the ability of patient to communicate with others. So it is difficult for the nurse to communicate with the patient. It is the challenging task to communicate with the patient for nurse and also the family of patient. There are some regulations for communication with the Alzheimers disease (Helpguid.org). The nurse should communicate in a short, clear and simple sentence which is easy to understand. It is the responsibility of nurse to tell the patient about everything if the patient wants to know. Every time the nurse should call the patient by their own name. The patient is taken more time to understand all conversations and for this reason the nurse should speak very slowly with the patient. Only closed- ended questions are used for this type of patients. Because of the short term memory the nurse should ready to repeat same conversation. Sometimes the patients are behaved like baby and it is the responsibility to nurse to talk in a baby talk language. Conclusion: The change in behavior is noticed in the patient with Alzheimers disease. The responsibility comes to the nurse to take proper care. Because of the seriousness of the disease the nurse should handle with care and communicate in a right way. The nurse should apply technique for keeping the attention of the patients. There are some techniques to capture the attention of patients. Those are eye contact, smiling face, body language gestures etc. References: Laleh Loghmani, A. (2014). Factors Affecting the Nurse-Patients Family Communication in Intensive CareUnit of Kerman: a Qualitative Study.Journal Of Caring Sciences,3(1), 67. doi:10.5681/jcs.2014.008 Nursetogether.com,. (2011).Why Communication in the Nursing Profession is Important? | Nurse Articles | NurseTogether.com. Retrieved 14 March 2015, from https://www.nursetogether.com/why-communication-in-the-nursing-profession-is-important Effective communication: Principle of Nursing Practice E. (2015). Retrieved 14 March 2015, from https://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/380795/Nursing_Standard_Principle_E_April11_563KB.pdf Helpguide.org,. (2015).Dementia and Alzheimers Care: Planning and Preparing for the Road Ahead. Retrieved 18 March 2015, from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/alzheimers-dementia/dementia-and-alzheimers-care.htm

The Impact of Mobile Devices on Cybersecurity

Introduction Computing devices and the internet are two of the most important inventions of the 21st century. These technological breakthroughs have had a great impact on the personal and professional lives of people all over the world. Mobile devices are some of the equipments that utilize computing technology and the internet to provide communication services.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of Mobile Devices on Cybersecurity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Many organizations have exploited computing devices to increase their productivity. The last decade has witnessed a prevalence of mobile devices in the corporate environment. Glisson and Storer (2013) state that mobile devices have become ubiquitous in the information rich corporate environment with most corporations increasing their usage of these devices each year. This observation is corroborated by Friedman and Hoffman (2008) who declare that mobile devices have become important tools for organizational productivity. While mobile devices have increased the efficiency of employees by enabling them to access organizational information and services at any time and from any location, they have created some security concerns. Mobile devices have a potentially negative impact on the cyber security of an organization and as such, special attention should be given when using mobile devices in the organization. Security Impact of Mobile Devices The very popularity and extent of the use of mobile computing devices and the internet creates a special vulnerability to businesses. Computing devices and the internet have been used expansively by businesses since their invention in the mid 20th century. Many businesses exploited the efficient information processing ability of computers to gain a competitive advantage. Historically, computing devices were restricted to desktop systems that could only be used within the organization†™s environment. Wired technology was the primary means through which the system communicated (Bernik Markelj, 2012). However, there have been incredible developments in technology recently, in the form of wireless technology and mobile computing, which has changed the manner in which organizations access their information. Mobile communication began as a voice service and over the decades, it expanded to include data transmission and today we have 4G mobile communications (Dong, Joo, Chae, Wan, Yoo, 2013).Advertising Looking for essay on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These developments have made it possible for employees to have constant access to data and information. Purchases of mobile devices have already reached the billions and these devices have surpassed the personal computer as the prevalent method for accessing the internet (Patten Harris, 2013). This prevalence of mobile devices has exposed organizations to a wide number of security risks. In addition to the popularity and widespread use of computers by organizations, the ease of use and the compact nature of these devices is another thing that increases their vulnerability to attack. Mobile devices introduce security risks from the physical loss of the devices as employees move from the workplace to their home or client location. This threat of loss is arguably the most important cyber security risk since it can expose the organization to significant losses. Employees store important information in their devices to enable them to work outside the office. Loss and theft of the hand-held device can lead to significant damage to the organization. Friedman and Hoffman (2008) document that an organizations sensitive or intellectual property can be accessed by cyber-criminals once the devices are stolen. Keunwoo, Woongryul and Dongho (2012) confirm that there have been numerous cases of confidential business information bei ng leaked through mobile devices. In addition to this, the devices can expose the company to external attacks. Since the devices might be linked to the organizations database, they might provide an intruder with access to the domain and server system of the organization. When using non-mobile desktop systems, the risk of theft is minimal since most organizations implement good physical security to their offices. For sensitive information, organizations utilize state of the art security measures including biometric security systems. Besides the risk of being stolen, mobile devices also expose the organization by decreasing its ability to protect itself from cyber attacks. The internet is rife with security risks ranging from viruses, worms, and hacking attacks. An organization has to employ security solutions to protect its IT infrastructure from these threats. When dealing with non-mobile desktop systems and servers, the organization can implement a perimeter defense such as firewal ls and intrusion prevention systems (Glisson Storer, 2013).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of Mobile Devices on Cybersecurity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These security measures ensure that the organizations computing infrastructure is safe from attacks. However, these strong security solutions cannot protect a device once it is outside the corporate perimeter. The mobile devices therefore suffer from an increased vulnerability to external attacks. Another way in which the security of an organization is compromised due to mobile devices is by the introduction of the risk of interception of communication. Mobile devices make use of some form of wireless communication. These communication formats include cellular radio, wireless LAN, and Bluetooth communication. Bernik and Markelj (2012) note that the internet is a crucial element of mobile devices with almost all of these devices providing a wir eless connection to the internet. The various wireless communications available have differing levels of security. Friedman and Hoffman (2008) states that in the non-mobile environment, the organization can impose stringent security protocols to the wireless networks. This security measures render the wireless network secure from external penetration. However, outside the controlled corporate environment, the mobile devices make use of unsecure networks including public Wi-Fi. Malicious elements can easily intercept the communication from these unsecure connections. In addition to the risk of interception, mobile devices cause a negative security impact by increasing risk of access to sensitive information by unauthorized persons. In many causes, employees use their personal devices for business and personal purposes. This convergence of use presents a problem since the device might be handled by the employees’ friends who are not supposed to handle the organization’s information. Bernik and Markelj (2012) observe that when wireless mobile communication devices are used, there is a blurring of the line between business and personal communications. This lack of boundaries can lead to sensitive corporate information being accessed by unauthorized parties through the mobile devices. Addressing the Security Issues Dealing with the cyber security risks introduced by mobile devices is imperative is organizations are to enjoy the benefits of these devices. A number of solutions have been proposed to mitigate or eliminate the security risks. Glisson and Storer (2013) state that organizations should implement specific security policies for mobile devices. All employees should be required to comply with the safety regulations.Advertising Looking for essay on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These regulations should include preventive measures and protocols for device use outside the corporate environment. Bernik and Markelj (2012) assert that by implementing security regulations for mobile devices, an organization can ensure that all information technology is used safely. Another way in which the security risks can be addressed is by having the IT department develop and implement a mobile device management (MDM) system that will ensure that the organization is able to comprehensively manage its employees’ devices. Keunwoo et al., (2012) state that the mobile device management system should be able to monitor mobile access, identify threats and provide appropriate protection. Being able to identify the mobile devices increases the level of control the organization has over its IT resources. MDM can also assist in preventing compromised mobile devices from accessing the network (Patten Harris, 2013). This effectively reduces the risks that compromised devices mig ht introduce into the main system. Conclusion Mobile devices introduce numerous cyber security risks to an organization that utilizes them. It began by defining mobile devices and highlighting why their usage has become prevalent in many organizations today. It then set out to show some of the inherent risks introduced to the organizations IT infrastructure by the devices. From the discussions presented in this paper, it is evident that mobile devices present risks in the form of unauthorized access to sensitive information contained on the device, attacks from malicious elements, and ease of interception of data due to reliance on unsecure networks. Addressing these cyber security risks is critical if organizations are to enjoy the many benefits of having their employees utilize mobile devices. The paper has shown that mobile devices can be safe if users are educated on the security risks and the devices are used in compliance with stringent safety regulations. However, if these me asures are not employed, these devices will continue to be the cause of great security risks to companies. References Bernik, I., Markelj, B. (2012). Unlimited Access to Information Systems with Mobile Devices: Information Security Perspective. International Journal of Education and Information Technologies, 6(1), 407-417. Dong, W.K., Joo, H., Chae, T., Wan, S., Yoo, J. (2013). A Practical Attack on Mobile Data Network Using IP Spoofing. Appl. Math. Inf. Sci. 7(6), 2345-2353. Friedman, J., Hoffman, V.D. (2008). Protecting data on mobile devices: A taxonomy of security threats to mobile computing and review of applicable defenses. Information Knowledge Systems Management, 7(1), 159–180. Glisson, B.M., Storer, T. (2013). Investigating Information Security Risks of Mobile Device Use within Organizations. NY: Americas Conference on Information Systems. Keunwoo, R., Woongryul, J., Dongho, W. (2012). Security Requirements of a Mobile Device Management System. International Jour nal of Security and Its Applications, 6 (2), 353-358. Patten, K., Harris, M.A. (2013). The Need to Address Mobile Device Security in the Higher Education IT Curriculum. Journal of Information Systems Education, 24(1), 41-52. This essay on The Impact of Mobile Devices on Cybersecurity was written and submitted by user Isai Hardin to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

North vs South essays

North vs South essays In the early American colonies, the south and the north developed into two distinctly different colonies. Although their origins were both from Europe, their customs and living habits became so different that it would play a major role in Americas history. There are many reasons why these differences occurred but only a few major reasons stand out. Religion, greed and the composition of the colonies are some of the major reasons why the north and south grew to be so different in the late 1600s. Different religions in specific colonies varied, but the people from the New England region were generally more devoted to their religious beliefs, whereas people from the south felt religion wasnt as important. Children from the north are taught from The Bible as soon as possible and this instills high moral values into the people. In the south only the wealthiest families could afford education, causing the common population to be ignorant and un-educated. The people of New England were willing to work together and help each other for the sake of the community because they felt that they were working under Gods will. (Doc. A) The south on the other hand worked to better themselves through the Headright System, which ended up pitting the people against each other instead of working with each other. The people of Massachusetts agreed: We whose names are underwritten, being by Gods providence engaged together to make a plantation... (Doc. D) This shows that religion greatly in fluenced the people of New England and the decisions they made. The South was influenced by greed and factors other than religion causing the values in the south to deteriorate. Differences in the way the colony members felt about religion is important in showing why the two regions became so diverse but it is not the only reason. Another reason why the two regions became so different was due to the greedy natur ...

Conceptual Domainsâ€Definition and Examples

Conceptual Domainss In studies of metaphor, a conceptual domain is the representation of any coherent segment of experience, such as love and journeys. A conceptual domain that is understood in terms of another is called a conceptual metaphor. In Cognitive English Grammar (2007),  Ã‚  G. Radden and R. Dirven describe a  conceptual domain as the general field to which a category or frame belongs in a given situation.  For example, a knife belongs  to the domain of eating when used for cutting bread on the breakfast table, but to the domain of fighting when used as a weapon. Examples and Observations In the cognitive linguistic view, a metaphor is defined as understanding one conceptual domain in terms of another conceptual domain. . . Examples of this include when we talk and think about life in terms of journeys, about arguments in terms of war, about love also in terms of journeys, about theories in terms of buildings, about ideas in terms of food, about social organizations in terms of plants, and many others. A convenient shorthand way of capturing this view of metaphor is the following:CONCEPTUAL DOMAIN (A) is CONCEPTUAL DOMAIN (B), which is what is called a conceptual metaphor. A conceptual metaphor consists of two conceptual domains, in which one domain is understood in terms of another. A conceptual domain is any coherent organization of experience. Thus, for example, we have coherently organized knowledge about journeys that we rely on in understanding life...The two domains that participate in conceptual metaphor have special names. The conceptual domain from which we draw metaphorical expressions to understand another conceptual domain is called source domain, while the conceptual domain that is understood this way is the target domain. Thus, life, arguments, love, theory, ideas, social organizations, and others are target domains, while journeys, war, buildings, food, plants, and others are source domains. The target is the domain that we try to understand through the use of the source domain.Zoltn Kà ¶vecses, Metaphor: A Practical Introduction, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 2010 According to the cognitive linguistic view, a metaphor is the understanding of one conceptual domain in terms of another conceptual domain. For instance, we talk and think about love in terms of food (I hunger for you); madness (Theyre crazy about one another); the lifecycle of plants (Their love is in full bloom); or a journey (Well just have to go our separate ways). . . . Conceptual metaphor is distinguished from metaphorical linguistic expressions: the latter are words or other linguistic expressions that come from the terminology of the concept used to understand another. Therefore, all the examples in italics above are metaphorical linguistic expressions. The use of small capital letters indicates that the particular wording does not occur in language as such, but it underlies conceptually all the metaphorical expressions listed underneath it. For instance, the verb in I hunger for you is a metaphorical linguistic expression of the LOVE IS HUNGER conceptual metaphor.Rà ©ka Ben czes, Creative Compounding in English: The Semantics of Metaphorical and Metonymical Noun-Noun Combinations. John Benjamins, 2006

Research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 15

Research Paper Example All these present the social welfare of different people in the determination of the inequality levels within communities. The impacts of inequalities of all sorts leave life unbearable on the disadvantaged and marginalised. All forms of inequality have a root cause in the social situations within the respective environments. The people in the marginalised communities lack economic incentives in their places of residence to cater for their medical, educational, income and economic disparities. Once a person is deprived of the economic incentives by state or authorities in the same capacity, the person will find it hard to get all the possible assets to reduce the value of life economically. Such situations can be triggered by political reasons, geographical locations of the homes, and race or ethnicity (Rosenblatt 237). The problems linked to inequalities are very severe and detrimental in the lives of persons affected. The major outcomes of inequalities are poverty to the marginalised communities, death due to the diseases related to food shortages or imbalanced diets, lack of finances and economic support to fight away diseases in such marginalised areas of the world. There is also a lack of support to help in the fight against diseases; hence, likely to cause great harm to the people, their social lives, their environments and their entire lifestyles. This concept proves for the need to frequently address the issues and related concerns of inequality in the communities and social settings (Rosenblatt 240). The persistence of problems in societies is linked to the actions and trails of inequalities. The problems are deemed to be the potential results of the inequality issues in the societies (Baumert, Gabriel and Rainer 1354-1359). Discrimination of people based on the social classes, race or ethnic group, age, gender, religion, geographical community of standards of morals in the societies, all leading to the misappropriation of economic benefits are

Mobile phone uses & gratification Literature review

Mobile phone uses & gratification - Literature review Example Exploring how to manage the distractions by creating an application for the mobile that moderately controls the media. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) reported in 2002 that there were already about one billion mobile phone users around the world.The popularity of mobile phones, however, was attributed to wireless technology as telephone applications empower peoples from all walks of lives to use it anywhere and anytime (Bates et al., 2002). Aside from mobility and accessibility, mobile phones are preferred by many due to enlarged scope of information content via the Personal Communication Systems or PCS. Services include delivery of weather updates, news headlines, traffic, locations, internet access, among many others that consumers require. It has rapidly changed the way people live, work, and interacts with one another more than the landlines before them (Wei & Lo, 2006). Socio-Psychological Impact Wei & Lo (2006) explored the role of the mobile phone in individua l’s family ties and social connectedness and suggested that phones which were considered a commodity of the past has come a long way. The wireless phones today have several purposes aside from instant verbal communication between users – the caller and the receiver. Designers provided many components and collaborations in order to produce the finished product with various features. The Qualcomm noted that â€Å"†¦enormous strides have been made in the delivery of data to mobile devices. In particular, cellular telephony networks have matured into robust delivery mechanisms for Internet data, and a rich variety of services are being offered around the world,† (Qualcomm, 2006, P) Wireless phone hardware and software evolved in parallel with internet capabilities and graphic art media so that it has become inevitable for many groups of businesses, engineers, artists and even the consumers cooperating with one another (Kaye, 2006). The Smartphone from IBM has b een cited as an â€Å"information appliance† that has a phone and a personal digital assistant or PDA. The features include a calendar, an address book, world clock, calculator, note-pad, e-mail, and games. This should not be surprising because such features were in mobile phones for more than a decade now as progression continues towards maximizing capabilities. The Operating Systems used are Symbian, Palm OS, Windows, BREW, Linux, and other new generations of programs that are capable of integration with current systems. Similar applications are developed with variations of games; access of internet and memory capabilities for various media downloads and uploads. Kaye (2006) has noted that mobile phone entertainment has been used by gaming companies to demonstrate new games to attract users in purchasing the full software. Games together with ringtones, and wallpapers were seen to generate more revenue. â€Å"In Europe and other regions, ringtones are a billion-dollar busi ness, yet sales were only in the low millions in the United States during 2003,† (Kaye, 2006). Recent developments in mobile phones include cameras and MP3 players as companies collaborate on the product â€Å"to deliver a worthy product to consumers.† Apple company with subsidiary iTunes were cited to cooperate with Motorola the phone hardware and Cingular, a U.S. wireless phone carrier, to deliver quality downloads on phone music player. Clutter is reduced on the part of the consumer as MP3 player and mobile phone become one (Kaye, 2006). Likewise, images can now be sent, downloaded, captured or uploaded on the internet and elsewhere through the mobile phone (Kaye, 2006). Mobile phones have a basic photographic quality of up to 2 mega pixels per image and even video capture and sharing fit for tiny screens of mobile phones. Nokia released the mobile phone with camcorder capabilities for amateur film-maker or for those who can and will afford it, and others soon follow ed suit (Kaye, 2006). More

Black Plague Essay Example for Free

Black Plague Essay A severe headache, the chills, a bad fever, swelling, lumps, exhaustion, and blood in your urine. What could possible cause these harsh symptoms? The Black Plague, also know as the Black Death or Bubonic Plague can. This disease killed thousands of people and left many devastated. In the 1500’s the Black Plague had a huge outbreak in England that killed over eighty-thousand people. The cause was not sure back then so victims could not take proper care and get the right medical treatment they needed. Random outbreaks would happen and there was no way to cure them. Once you were infected you had about two to six days until death. Many people died miserable deaths and others where left depressed. In the sixteen and seventeen centuries victims of the Black Plague would be sealed in their houses, which were locked and bolted from the outside. Nobody was allowed to enter the house and the victims were not allowed to leave it. Once the outbreak occurred, Plague pits, about twenty feet deep, were dug for the infected citizens. Thousands of people would be thrown into the pit each day to be burned and have their bodies disposed of so the infection wouldn’t spread even more. Many people lost their lives to this uncontrollable disease. There were many ways that the Black Plague was transmitted. It was carried by rodents such as rats and squirrels, but it was also transmitted to humans by fleas. Sometimes it was transmitted by direct contact through open sores or even an infected person’s breath. Cats, dogs and other animals were also common carriers of the Black Plague. When trade and war began, the Plague spread tremendously killing even more people than it already has. Getting infected by the Black Plague was not fun. Black spots would appear on the victims skin, which was were they got the name â€Å"the Black Death. † Early symptoms were a fever, the chills, a bad headache and extreme exhaustion. Following that came swollen glands, mainly in the armpits and groin areas. Finally you would become very ill and soon pass away. It was not just the people who lived in the towns who were at risk of catching the Plague. Elizabethan farmers and retailers of farm produce were in constant danger of getting the virus, which could affect their job. If they got it, it would spread to all of the animals making it very hard to survive. The Elizabethan era was a truly dangerous time. The Black Plague ruined many families and destroyed many lives. The Plague does still exist today but is not as common as it was in the Elizabethan era, and we have cures for it now. Many outbreaks occurred and many people lost their lives. It was a truly devastating point in history.

Personal Narrative - I Don’t Want to Cry :: Personal Narrative

I Don’t Want to Cry Tonight, I punched a child in the stomach. He gasped for air, his face grew red, and his eyes got watery. Granted, we were at Karate class and we were sparring. And, granted, I was 19 and he was likely 10. I hadn’t meant to hurt him; I had actually been â€Å"going light.† But I hurt him. The fact is, he knew it and didn’t care. He could have continued the night without a single tear. But when the Shihan came to try and make him feel better, the boy’s face got redder and his lip quivered as that single tear rolled down his cheek. The boy was perfectly fine until he was consoled. When I was younger, I wasn’t the most popular. I was known as a bookworm who frequently dazed off in class, all the while being admired by the teachers for my intelligence. I was short, wore glasses, didn’t talk much, and only had 2 friends in my grade. I was, expectedly, picked on by the bigger kids. I was hurt several times. However, I hid it from my teachers and parents. I didn’t want to cry. And I was fine without crying; I merely accepted the beating and went on, trying to avoid or get back at the bullies. Girls are taught at an early age that they can cry. The sight of a girl with tears running down her cheeks inspires compassion, while a boy’s tears bring mostly embarrassment. Girls are also ingrained with the fact that females are â€Å"there for each other,† and can therefore support one another emotionally. Women frequently talk of how refreshed a â€Å"good cry† is, as if it were a long bath or a cigarette. But guys don’t cry. Pop psychology tells us that this is because men see crying as negative. Because we can’t accept our feelings and are scared at the expression of them. So this boy was too scared to cry until the instructor let him know it was OK? Hogwash. A Karate instructor, like a coach, wants to keep little boys from crying whenever possible. It isn’t fair that a man’s dislike of being forced to cry makes others think he is â€Å"all bottled up inside. Personal Narrative - I Don’t Want to Cry :: Personal Narrative I Don’t Want to Cry Tonight, I punched a child in the stomach. He gasped for air, his face grew red, and his eyes got watery. Granted, we were at Karate class and we were sparring. And, granted, I was 19 and he was likely 10. I hadn’t meant to hurt him; I had actually been â€Å"going light.† But I hurt him. The fact is, he knew it and didn’t care. He could have continued the night without a single tear. But when the Shihan came to try and make him feel better, the boy’s face got redder and his lip quivered as that single tear rolled down his cheek. The boy was perfectly fine until he was consoled. When I was younger, I wasn’t the most popular. I was known as a bookworm who frequently dazed off in class, all the while being admired by the teachers for my intelligence. I was short, wore glasses, didn’t talk much, and only had 2 friends in my grade. I was, expectedly, picked on by the bigger kids. I was hurt several times. However, I hid it from my teachers and parents. I didn’t want to cry. And I was fine without crying; I merely accepted the beating and went on, trying to avoid or get back at the bullies. Girls are taught at an early age that they can cry. The sight of a girl with tears running down her cheeks inspires compassion, while a boy’s tears bring mostly embarrassment. Girls are also ingrained with the fact that females are â€Å"there for each other,† and can therefore support one another emotionally. Women frequently talk of how refreshed a â€Å"good cry† is, as if it were a long bath or a cigarette. But guys don’t cry. Pop psychology tells us that this is because men see crying as negative. Because we can’t accept our feelings and are scared at the expression of them. So this boy was too scared to cry until the instructor let him know it was OK? Hogwash. A Karate instructor, like a coach, wants to keep little boys from crying whenever possible. It isn’t fair that a man’s dislike of being forced to cry makes others think he is â€Å"all bottled up inside.

Nutrition paper

How do you feel about the dietary intake for the day you recorded? A feeling of both happiness and sadness flows within me as I study my dietary intake for the day. When we study my vegetable intake, I was able to take in a substantial amount; but barely enough to meet the required food intake. Happily I was able to take in more than enough fruits and milk to meet the expected requirement. When it came to my Meat, Beans and Grain intake, I was overwhelmed to see that I was able to take in more than double of what was expected. Also when it came to the fat intake, I was able to take in more than enough but still in the norms. Basically when we look at the over all food intake that I had, I was able to eat more than the daily requirement for almost all the food groups in the pyramid; which makes me happy. I was happy because I know that I have met most of the daily requirements. Similar: Chemical components in domestic activities Did you consume the recommended minimum number of servings from each of the food groups of the food pyramid? Unfortunately, when it came to my vegetable consumption, I was only able to eat 75% of the required amount. Meaning I lack 25% of the vitamins and minerals that I could have acquired from various vegetables that I should have consumed on that day. Happily I was able to eat more than the required amount when it comes to meat, beans, grains, fruits and milk for the day. Which means I am compensated for what I lack in vegetable consumption; at least I’d love to think I am. c. Which groups of foods are underrepresented or overrepresented in your diet? If you did not consume the number of servings from each group, discuss some reasons why you did not consume the number of servings. As was mentioned earlier, I lack vegetables in my food intake. And I barely passed when it came to the appropriate amount of fruits in the food pyramid that I should have consumed. In addition, when it came to Beans, Meat, and Grains, I ate two times the requirement. Grains are readily available in any meal, whether it be pasta, bread or rice. Therefore, unless I decide to follow a certain diet that prohibits me from eating carbohydrates, it is impossible for me to avoid eating a substantial amount of that food group in every meal. Grains in itself lacks appropriate taste that is why it is always a good idea to add another food group to it; Meat or Vegetables. Whether it be crab meat, fish meat, lamb chops, poultry, pork or beef, it is most definitely more palatable than vegetables. Any type of grain tastes much better when eating it with a type of meat since it is more palatable and tasty. Since meat contains enough salinity to give taste to any type of grains, and it may be cooked in a various number of ways that vegetables cannot. Aside from this, vegetables aside from tomatoes, eggplants onions and potatoes all taste monotonous. It is very hard to distinguish one from the other, which is why it is so dull to eat. Vegetables would be great to eat when you add salad dressing or cook it with a type of meat. Although vegetables are healthy and refreshing to eat because of all its vitamins and fiber, it is simply hard to get a person to eat it. On the other hand, fruits are very sweet and delicious, that is why it is so easy to include it on my diet. Fruits are very hard to make it into a full meal, but it is very easy to include it as a dessert in every meal, or a snack when hungry. d. Did your diet provide an adequate variety of foods, or were your choices monotonous? See how you met the various food pyramid groups. If you did not eat a variety of foods, how can you expand your field of choices? I can never say that my food intake was monotonous, because in one day, I was able to eat Vegetables, Meats, Grains, Fruits, and Milk. All food groups are present in my daily diet, there fore none of them are unrepresented, but simply Overrepresented if not underrepresented. The things that I need to improve with my daily diet are increasing my vegetable intake and also decreasing the carbohydrates and Proteins that I eat. But then again, my intake of food may be considered normal since, I may eat a little more than what is required for my daily nutrition, but I can never say that it hasn’t been enough for me to live a healthy lifestyle. My food intake can be summarized by saying that it is High Protein, High Energy and Low Fiber Diet. Stradley, L., Nutritional Chart. December 3, 2007, from http://whatscookingamerica.net/NutritionalChart.htm United States Department of Agriculture. Food Guide Pyramid: Dietary Guidance: Food and Nutrition Information Center . December, 3, 2007, from http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=4&tax_level=2&tax_subject=256&topic_id=1348 Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Food and Nutrition. December, 3, 2007, from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/index_e.html   

Computer Literacy Essay

Introduction: †¢ How many people in this classroom learn to use computer? As I look around, no one in this classroom, don’t use computer in their offices. †¢ We are all students of AIC, and most likely gone to different basic computer course. †¢ Does studying computer affect the way we communicate? And if so, is this a bad thing? Development †¢ As our society, increasingly dependent on computers to take care of our daily needs, it creates a high demand for skilled professionals to maintain as well as take advantage of this technology. o Pose-Pause-Pounce-Praise †¢ Questions 1. Why do we need to study the use of computer? 2. What is the personal cost as â€Å"studying a computer† becomes a necessity? (requirement, obligation, essential) †¢ We have to go in training †¢ Read & Practice †¢ Tutorial 3. When is the last time you use a computer? †¢ 4. What will you do, if you don’t know how to use computer in case of presentation or research? †¢ Library, other resources 5. Amplify †¢ I’m referring to computer literacy. As computer literacy becomes a necessity, we are faced with the facts that we are in a ever-changing society that demands the use of technology †¢ We will keep putting aside the cost of this literacy as long as we only see the positive aspects of a technology-centered future. KEYPOINT 2: IMPORTANCE OF COMPUTER †¢ Questions 1. What is the significance of having a computer in our work? 2. When is the last time that your office procures or upgrades your computer because of increasing demands from your clients? 3. What applications do use in your computer? 4. What will happen if we still use typewriters to share information? 5. Amplify †¢ Information and communication are the two most important strategic issues for the success of every organization. Computers help us to solve this issues.

blackholes essays

blackholes essays Stars are affected by two main forces: Nuclear fusion, and gravitation Black Holes are the result of an imbalance of these two forces. Nuclear fusion- the outward force from the star's centre and gravitation- the force pulling inwards. These two processes balance one another until all the star's hydrogen is exhausted, allowing gravitation to take over. Once gravitation dominates, the star becomes unstable and starts to collapse. As the core compresses, it heats up and results in a supernova explosion in which the material and radiation blasts out into space. If what remains of the star is greater than 3 times the mass of our sun, it will continue to collapse and form a black hole. Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity suggests that the most densest and massive objects conceivable, such as black holes, have gravity that is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape their grasp. I do not fully understand Einsteins general theory of relativity but Im going to try and give everyone a very basic understanding of why Einstein thought space and time are not separate but closely connected known as space-time. When we describe the position of a flying plane we can use length, width and height these make up the three dimensions of space. But another dimension can be used time, these four dimensions make up space-time. The fundamental aspect of general relativity is effect that matter, with a gravitational field, has on the curvature of space, rather on the four dimensional space-time. One way to visualise Einsteins view of gravity was to think of the rubber sheet analogy described in many texts. In order to understand this, consider a sheet of rubber, with a weight placed on it, to represent a star. The weight will form a depression in the rubber, causing the sheet near the star to be curved, rather than flat. If one now rolls marbles on the ...

Do Colleges Average Your ACT Score

Do Colleges Average Your ACT Score SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Like most students who take the ACT, you may have taken the test more than once or are thinking about taking it multiple times. How will colleges look at your multiple test scores? Will they look at all your scores? Just your highest score? Will they average your scores and use that number?Standardized test scores are an important part of applying to college, but it’s not always clear how colleges will determine your ACT scores if you’ve taken the test more than once. Will colleges average your ACT scores if you take the test multiple times? In short, no.Colleges don’t take the average of your scores. Instead, they will look at your â€Å"best† score;however, there are multiple ways a school can determine your best ACT score.In this article, I’ll go over the different methods schools use to look at multiple ACT scores, if they require you to send all your ACT scores, and how you can use this information to your advantage and help strengthen your college applications. Do You Need to Send Schools All Your ACT Scores? Before you start wondering what colleges do with multiple ACT scores, the first thing you need to know is whether they require you to send the results of every ACT you took in the first place. Infact, most schools do NOTrequire you to send in all your scores, and ACT, Inc. makes it easy to choose which scores you want to send with an option referred to asScore Choice. (Note that the phrase "Score Choice" is technically more associated with the SAT Score Choice program, but the ACT has a similar policy for its own test score reporting.) Schools that require you to send in all of your ACT scores will be referred to as "All Scores" schools. Both types of schools are discussed in more detail below. Score Choice ACT Score Choice gives you the option to send schools only the ACT scores you want them to see,rather than sending scores from every ACT you took. On the score report request form, you will be asked to list your college of choice and the test date you want to send on each line. For schools that allow Score Choice, if you did poorly on one test date, you don’t need to send that score to schools, and they will never see it. This means that if you take the ACT sixtimes, you can choose to send only your best score, or your best two scores, or as many scores as you'd like. Be aware that ifyou are using Score Choice and choose to send your scores from a specific test, you must send your scores for the entire test; you cannot only send individual section scores to schools. All Scores Some schools, including certain highly selective schools like Yale and Stanford, requireyou to send all your ACT scores.This means that you cannot use Score Choice, and youmust send them the scoresofevery ACT you took, even if there was a particular test date when you didn’t score as well as you usually do. So, if you took the ACT six times, you need to send these schoolsyour results from each of those six test dates. Check out our complete list of the schools that require you to send all your ACT scores. Only some schools require you to send all your ACT scores What Do Colleges Do If You Send Multiple ACT Scores? You may end up sending a school more than one ACT score, either because theyrequire it or because you earnedmultiple strong scores and want schools to see them. So what do colleges do if they receive more than one ACT score from you? There are several options, and each isexplained below. Highest Sitting Most schools, if you send them more than one ACT score, will simply use yourhighest ACT composite score from a single test date. So, if you took the ACT three times and received composite scores of 28, 29, and 30, the school would use your composite and section scores of the test date when you received a 30. Superscoring Another method that some schools use to determine your best score is called superscoring.When a school uses superscoring, that means they consideryour highest section scores across all the dates you took the ACT and combine theminto a superscore. Look at the example below to see how superscoring works. English Math Reading Science Composite Exam 1 25 31 30 27 28 Exam 2 27 29 32 28 29 Exam 3 30 33 30 27 30 Superscore 30 33 32 28 31 This student took the ACT three times, and, as you can see, her composite superscore is higher than any of the composite ACT scores for individual test dates. This is because superscoring combined all of her highest section scores from across the three tests. If you take the ACT with Writing, that section isalso included in superscoring. For schools that use superscoring, this student would be considered to have a composite ACT score of 31, and her section scores would be each of those listed under the Superscore row. Superscoring benefits you because schools combine your best scores from each section of the ACT into one superscore, even if those scores didn’t occur in the same test.Wondering which colleges use superscoring? We have a complete list of schools that superscore the ACT. Will Schools Look at Your Other Scores? Regardless of whether a school uses superscoring or highest sitting, will they look at your "non-best" ACT scores as well? There's no clear-cut answer to this question since it varies for each school and often for each applicant; however,many times schools will look at your other test scores, even if your best score is the one they give the most weight to. This is particularly true for schools that require all scores sent. In these cases, your scores still won't be averaged, but schools mayreview all your scores and make inferences if there were any outliers. For example, if you take the ACT three times and get composite scores of 32, 27, and 33, most schools will use 33 as your "official" ACT score, but they may wonder why you got a 27 for one test. One outlier score will usually have a small, if any, impact on your application, but it's still important to never blow off an ACT examjust because you think schools will only look at your best score. As mentioned above, schools that allow Score Choice only see the scores you send them, so you can take the ACT several times and only send your highest scorein order for that to be the only resultsthey see. The next sections give more recommendations on howyou can use school score policies toplan and improve your ACT preparation methods. Can You Take the ACT as Many Times as You Want? Since most schools will useyour best ACT score, either by using superscoring or highest sitting, does that mean you can take the ACT as many times as you want in order to maximize your chances of getting a high score? Not exactly. You are allowed to take the ACT up to 12 times, and schools will continue touse your best score from those tests, whether by using superscoring or highest sitting.However, itisnot recommended that you actually take the ACT 12 times. Generally, you shouldn’t take the ACT more than five or six times. Taking the ACT more than six times can cause schools to think you don’t take the test seriously or have trouble improving your scores. It can also becomevery stressful and time-consuming,not to mention extremely expensive, because you have to keep paying to take the ACT and to send your scores to schools.Taking the ACT as many times as you can is particularly a bad idea if one of yourschools requires All Scores sentbecause itincreases the chance of you having an off-day and getting a lower than usual score, which those schools will see and which can possibly hurt your chances of being admitted. Instead of taking the ACT as many times as you can, you should instead look at your test prep methods and how effective they are. Is your studying targeting and improving your weak areas? Are you learning what mistakes you make and how to avoid them? By putting time and effort into studying effectively, you will be able to reach your target ACT score more easily than simply taking the ACT over and over.In general, we recommend taking the ACT two-three times to get your best score, regardless of whether the schools you’re applying to use superscoring or highest sitting to determine your best score. Don't just take the ACT as many times as you can; it can hurt your college applications. How Can You Use Score Policies to Improve Your ACT Prep? If you know which schools you want to apply to, you can look at their score policies and use them to help guide your test-taking strategy. If the schools you’re applying to use superscoring, then you can maximize your superscore by studying for and gaining a strong score in one ACT section at a time.For a more in-depth explanation of this strategy, check out our guide on how superscoring can affect your test strategy. If a school uses highest sitting, then you should continue to study each section of the ACT in order to maximize your composite score. For schools that require All Scores sent, you will want to make sure you are well-prepared each time you take the ACT. Those schools will see all of your exam scores, so you don’t want one bad test day to hurt your college applications. You will also want to keep studying for each section of the ACT, even if you are only trying to improve your score in one specific section. You don't want scores from your other sections to drop on a retake. Even if the schools you’re applying to allow superscoring orScore Choice, you should always take the ACT seriously.As mentioned above, a very low score canbe a red flag to schools, and it’s also just a waste of your time and money. Conclusion Most students take the ACT multiple times, and schools have different policies for reviewing multiple test scores. Most schools don't require you to send scores from all the ACTs you took. Score Choice is a way for you to choose which ACT results you want schools to see. If you send multiple ACT scores, schoolswon’t average them, but instead will useone of two methods to determine your "best score." Some schools combine your highest section scores from multiple tests into a Superscore. This is known as Superscoring. Other schools look at your highest score from a single test date. Knowing which scoring policy schools use can help you structure your test prep and test-taking strategies to maximize your ACT scores for college applications. What's Next? First, what’s a good ACT score? Read our article on good, bad, and excellent ACT scores so you can identify and prepare for your target score. Wondering when you should take the ACT? Read this article to figure out the best dates for you. Check out our complete study plan for the ACTso you can keep up with your studying and make the most of every test date! Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points?We have the industry's leading ACT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and ACT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today:

Apocalyptic SciFi Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Apocalyptic SciFi - Essay Example Apocalyptical elements we can find in the prophetical books of Joel and Zecharian and more mature and well-developed apocalypse presented in the book of Iaiah and book of Daniel. So the origin of the apocalyptical genre begins from unfulfilled prophecy and traditional elements drawn in different sources. One more source of apocalyptical fiction was basic mythological and cosmological traditions that open before the seer the secrets of the future no less surely than those of the past. The general object of apocalyptic literature was to solve the difficulties connected with the saintliness of God and the suffering of His righteous servants on earth. The saintliness of God stipulated according to the law the temporal happiness of the righteous and the common prosperity of necessity; for as yet there was no promise of life or recompense beyond the grave. But this feature was not found to obtain as a rule in life, and the difficulties arising from this conflict between perspective and experience centered round the lot of the righteous as a community and the lot of the righteous man as an individual. Old Testament prophecy had addressed itself to both these problems, though it was hardly conscious of the claims of this latter. It concerned itself essentially with the present, and with the future only as growing organically out of the present. Moder Modern variant of apocalyptic literature exists in genre of Science Fiction. Author who writes in the genre of Science Fiction at the same time is close to and far from religion. Every Science Fiction writer tries to be a creator of his own world with its own laws and creatures. Apocalyptic Science Fiction is a branch of Science Fiction that is concerned with the end of whole civilization through the nuclear war, plague or some other general disaster. The nature of catastrophe varies and depends only on author's imagination. In the history there were so unusual disasters and one of them is coming of the darkness described in the story "Nightfall" written by the famous Science Fiction author Isaac Asimov. It is one of his earliest stories and one of the best-known stories. To make sure that "Nightfall" belongs to apocalyptic literature peculiar features of the genre must be identified. Some main aspects such as "the last day of the world", "connection with religion" and "social criticism" that approve this belonging are shown below. Understand the nature of composition helps biography of the author. Speaking about the author Isaac Asimov, he was born on the 2nd of January in 1920, in Petrovichi shtetl, near Smolensk, Russia. His real name was Isaak Judah Ozimov. He was the oldest of three children. His parents were Orthodox Jews. In 1923 Isaac with his parents immigrated to the USA and settled in Brooklyn, New York. There his parents temporarily changed his birthday to September 7, 1919, in order to send him to school a year earlier. Their family name was changed from Ozimov to Asimov. From his early childhood Asimov was an avid reader. He knew Yiddish and English languages and only a few words in Russian. His education began in 1925 in the New York Public School. In 1935 he graduated from high school, in 1939 received a B.S. and in 1941 he earned his M. Sc. in Chemistry from Columbia

Personal Income Taxes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Personal Income Taxes - Essay Example The rich taxpayers are seem to be reporting almost 48.5% of their total income as capital gains and dividends, effectively getting 48.5% of their income taxed at extremely lower rate of 15% compared to that of the low income people. The trend now is that such wealthy taxpayers with more than $10 million continue to report huge increase in their income and get taxed at extremely lower rates. Legendry investor Warren Buffet has complained that he pays much lower tax rates than his secretary. John: I should agree with Mike on this point. Studies have shown that one of the major reasons for income inequality in US is such special tax rates on investment income. While the percentage of capital income is as high as 50% for some of the wealthy, it is as low as 2% for people below the income level of $200,000. In fact, Mitt Romney is reported to have close to $14 million income and the effective tax rate is seemed to be as low as 13.5%. All these instances point to the fact that current tax system just keeps accelerating the income disparity in US. A fix to this is indispensable in order to check this inequality from spreading. One option that the government can consider is to increase the tax rates on investment income. I: Taking it on from John, I should say that is already high time that the government should find a fix for this issue. Effectively, only a higher tax rate can curb the huge tax rate disparity in US. Regarding John’s note on increasing the tax rates on investment income, I should say that it will again adversely affect the small taxpayers who have considerably small percentage of investment income. Increase in the tax rate on such income would effectively leave the small taxpayers with fewer after tax profits. Therefore, a more ideal choice would be to determine the tax break loopholes that allow the rich to lower their income tax percentage and close such

Executive Briefing Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Executive Briefing - Research Paper Example There are several reasons for which strategic planning is implemented in the department and its many organizations. This executive paper explores the importance of strategic planning to the Department of Homeland Security and its organizations. However, it is important that the meaning of strategic planning is first understood, more so in the context of the department and its agencies. In essence, strategic planning refers to the mechanisms established to indicate the direction an organization intends to take in a specified period. In addition, strategic planning entails the processes and activities by which an organization will attain its objectives within the target period and the indicators of the attainment of the set objectives (Allison & Kaye, 2005). Unlike business plans, which focus on specific programs or products, strategic planning covers an entire organization’s vision, mission, interests, and goals. A number of models and approaches to strategic planning are used by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The determinants on the models of strategic planning to be applied by a given organization include an agency’s leadership, complexity, planner expertise, organizational culture, structure, size, and environment (Allison & Kaye, 2005). Recognizing the importance of strategic planning, the department established the office of strategic plans with the mandate to express the department’s and its Secretary’s vision, mission, goals, objectives, and priorities. This role of articulating these priorities helps the department to plan for the creation of products that meet client needs using the available resources economically (Homeland Security, 2012). There are several pillars that drive the office of the strategic plans to achieve its goals. These principles include the responsibility to promote inter-departmental/organizational collaborations,

Social Cohesion And Quality Life

Social Cohesion And Quality Life In the last few decades, quality of life has replaced the idea of wealth as the dominant goal of societal development. In opposition to the individual-centered perspective of societal development, several other welfare concepts emerged which put the focus on the aspects concerning societal qualities such as the extent of equality, security or freedom, or the quality and structure of the social relations within a society. Among those welfare concepts referring to characteristics of societies are, for example, „sustainabilityâ€Å", „social cohesionâ€Å", „social inclusionâ€Å" etc. Idea of the social cohesion of a society received great political attention at the national and supranational level. In regard to these developments, this paper attempts: first, to clarify the meaning of the concept of social cohesion and to determine its inherent dimensions by reviewing the existing theoretical approaches to this issue; second, to explore relationship between social cohesion and the quality of life. Quality of life is a concept related to the individual welfare. Although social cohesion represents a societal quality, it affects the individual quality of life because the elements of social cohesion are perceived and experienced by the members of the society. Thus, the social cohesion of a society can be conceived as an aspect relevant to the individual life situation, and in this sence, it represents a part of the individual quality of life. Under this perspective a broad conceptualization of quality of life seems appropriate. Quality of life can be considered as the complex policy goal which includes social cohesion as one component. The very broad and multidimensional notion of quality of life enlarged the perspective of societal development by considering not only economic aspects but also social and ecological concerns. Several welfare concepts emerged which put the focus on aspects concerning societal qualities such as the extent of equality, security or freedom, or the qual ity and structure of the social relations within a society. One of these welfare concept is social cohesion. The goal of this paper is: first, to clarify the meaning of the concept of social cohesion and to determine its inherent dimensions by reviewing the existing theoretical approaches to this issue; second, to explore relationship between social cohesion and the quality of life. 1. The concept of social cohesion The idea of social cohesion is difficult to express in a single definition. Émile Durkheim first coined the concept of social cohesion at the end of the nineteenth century. He considered social cohesion as an ordering feature of a society and defined it as the interdependence between the members of the society, shared loyalties and solidarity [14]. Aspects often mentioned in describing social cohesion are the strenght of social relations, shared values and communities of interpretation, feelings of a common identity and a sense of belonging to the same community, trust among societal members as well as the extent of inequality and disparities [26; 14). The simpler the division of labor in a society is, the stronger the bond between individuals and the social group will be. This bond is a result of mechanical solidarity, which arises from segmented similarities based on territory, traditions and group customs. The social division of labour that modernity brings with it erodes and weakens such bonds, as does the increased autonomy of individuals in modern society. In such a context, cohesion is part of the social solidarity that is required in order for the members of a society to remain bound to it with a force comparable to that of pre-modern, mechanical solidarity. This requires stronger, more numerous ties, and must even include bonds based on common ideas and feelings, leading to what Durkheim calls â€Å"organic solidarity†. As of today there is no single definition of social cohesion and it is still debated whether social cohesion is a cause or a consequence of other aspects of social, economic and political life. There is no clear definition of the concept probably because the very tradition of social citizenship that characterizes European societies assumes that social rights entail an intrinsic relationship between social inclusion and the provision of mechanisms to integrate individuals and give them a sense of full membership in society. According to this view, social cohesion implies a causal link between the mechanisms that provide integration and well-being, on the one hand, and a full individual sense of belonging to society, on the other. Inclusion and belonging, or equality and belonging, are the cornerstones of the idea of social cohesion in societies organized around the principles of the welfare state. The concept of social cohesion is often confused with other concepts, like social capital, social integration, or social inclusion. Social capital is closely related to social cohesion, and the two are very important concepts in policy and policy research circles. Social capital understood as a symbolic societal asset consisting of the ability to manage rules, networks and bonds of social trust which strengthen collective action, pave the way for reciprocity and progressively spread throughout society resembles cohesion, and can largely be described as a stock upon which social agents can draw to make society more cohesive. However, social capital is both a consequence and a producer of social cohesion. Whereas social cohesion emphasizes processes and outcomes, social capital emphasizes the notion of investments and assets that bring benefits, benefits that are not fully appropriated by the individuals making the investments. Social cohesion is often confused with social inclusion. Inclusion mechanisms include employment, educational systems, rights and policies designed to encourage equity, well-being and social protection. In that context, social cohesion may be understood in terms of both the effectiveness of instituted social inclusion mechanisms and the behaviours and value judgments of the members of society. Behaviours and value judgments include issues as diverse as trust in institutions, social capital, belonging and solidarity, acceptance of social rules and the willingness to participate in deliberative processes and collective endeavours. Another proximate notion is that of social integration, defined as the dynamic, multifactoral process whereby individuals share in a minimum standard of well-being consistent with the level of development achieved by a country. This restrictive definition views integration as the opposite of exclusion. In a broader sense, integration into society has also been defined as a common system of efforts and rewards, which levels the playing field in terms of opportunities and delivers rewards based on merit. The idea of social inclusion may be viewed as an expanded form of integration. Rather than emphasize a structure to which individuals must adapt in order to fit into the systemic equation, it also focuses on the need to adapt the system in such a way as to accommodate a diversity of actors and individuals. Inclusion requires not only an improvement in conditions of access to integration mechanisms, but also an effort to increase the self-determination of the actors involved. The idea of a social ethic also includes an essential aspect of social cohesion, emphasizing common values, agreement on a minimum set of rules and social norms, solidarity as an ethical and practical principle, and the assumption of reciprocity. These concepts are part of the â€Å"semantic universe† of social cohesion. Viewed in this light, the specific difference that sets social cohesion apart is the dialectical relationship between integration and inclusion, on the one hand, and social capital and social ethics, on the other. Consequently, there is a distinction between social inclusion and social cohesion, inasmuch as the latter includes the attitudes and behaviours of actors, without being limited to those factors. Social cohesion may thus be defined as the dialectic between instituted social inclusion and exclusion mechanisms and the responses, perceptions and attitudes of citizens towards the way these mechanisms operate. A definition of social cohesion by relating it to the concepts of social exclusion/exclusion and social capital has also been present. For example Dahrendorf et al. described a social cohesive society as a society preventing social exclusion: „Social cohesion comes in to describe a society which offers opportunities to all its members of a framework of accepted values and institutions. Such a society is, therefore, one of inclusion. People belong; they are not allowed to be excludedâ€Å" [4, str.vii]. Other scientist have emphasised that the social capital of a society is an essential foundation of its social cohesion [18; 17]. On the basis of review of the various approaches we could conclude that the concept of social cohesion incorporates mainly two societal goal dimensions which can be analytically distinguished: 1) The first dimension concerns the reduction of disparities, inequalities, and social exclusion. 2) The second dimension concerns the strengthening of social relations, interactions and ties. This dimension embraces all aspects which are generally also considered as the social capital of a society [6]. These two dimensions must be viewed as independent from each other to a certain degree. In principle, strong ties within a community can be accompanied by the tendency to discriminate and exclude those people who do not belong to that community [19]. This problem highlights the importance of considering both dimensions disparities/inequalities/social exclusion and social relations/ties/social capital in order to get a comprehensive picture of the social cohesion of a society. 3. Social exclusion Social exclusion represents concept with increasing popularity among scholars during last decade. The popularity of the concept was especially promoted through the growing interest in matters of social exclusion at the level of the European Union. The European Commission launched a series of research programmes in the framework of the European Observatory on National Policies to Combat Social Exclusion and of the European Poverty Programmes. Research on social exclusion replaced, to some extent, older terms of poor living conditions, such as poverty or deprivation. Originally, the term was used in the context of debates on a new poverty and defined as a rupture of the relationship between individual and the society due to the failure of societal institutions to integrate individuals. Today, it is suggested that social exclusion should be conceptualised as the insufficiency of one or more of the following four systems [1, str. 258-259]: This approach focuses on relational issues, i.e. on the disruption of social ties between individual and the society. Unlike social cohesion, poverty is concerned with distributional issues, i.e. on the lack of resources at the disposal of individuals or househods [23; 12]. Thus poverty may be regarded as characteristic of indiviudals and households, whereas social exclusion may be conceived as a feature of societies and of the individuals relations to society. In contrast to this position are considerations that social exclusion can be regarded both as a property of societies and as an attribute of individuals. As an individual attribute it is defined as a low level of welfare (economic disadvantage) and the inability to participate in social life (sociopolitical disadvantage). This perspective equals social exclusion to a multidimensional notion of poverty which describes a state or an outcome of a process. As a societal characteristc the term social exclusion refers to the impairment of social cohesion caused by the way in which institutions regulate and thereby constrain access to goods, services, acitivities and resources which are generally associated with citizenship rights. This view focuses attention to the processes of social exclusion and its causes which are attributed to the failure of institutions [5]. The conclusion arising out of these considerations is the requirement to differentiate between the causes of disadvantageous living circumstances and the processes leading to them on the one side and the outcomes of those processes themselves, that is peoples living situation. The causes may be attributed to societal institutions and can then be described by the concept of social exclusion as a property of societies. The impact of social exclusion on people is observable in the form of poor living conditions. In this sense, social exclusion represents a characteristic of individual and corresponds to the concept of poverty in a multidimensional notion. 4. Social capital The counceptualization of social cohesion as it is proposed here considers social capital as representing a second main dimension which may be used to describe the social cohesion of a society. Social capital represents one of the most powerful and popular metaphors in current social science research. Broadly understood as referring to the community relations that affect personal interactions, social capital has been used to explain an immense range of phenomena, ranging from voting patterns to health to the economic success of countries [7]. Literally hundreds of papers have appeared throughout the social science literature arguing that social capital matters in understanding individual and group differences and further that successful public policy design needs to account for the effects of policy on social capital formation. In this paper we will give the primary focus to the role of social capital in stenghtening the social cohesion and further link with the quality of life. We often observe countries with similar endowments of natural, hysical, and human capital achieving very different levels of economic success. This paradox has led scholars to search for deeper and more meaningful explanations about what holds people and societies together in order to foster economic development. Over time, scholars have constructed various frameworks for understanding the social aspects of this phenomenon and what we currently refer to as â€Å"social capital†. Fueled by continuous empirical investigations, these frameworks have evolved quite rapidly in recent decades. Since Loury [16] introduced it into modern social science research and Colemans [3] seminal study placed it at the forefront of research in sociology, the term social capital has spread throughout the social sciences and has spawned a huge literature that runs across disciplines. James Coleman popularized the term as he sought to conceptualize the aspects of social structure that facilitate eco nomic transactions. His work is widely recognized as one of the most significant, as is Robert Putnams study of voluntary associations in Italy. Putnam [21] concluded that the high density of voluntary associations in the north was responsible for the regions economic success. Many others have also made significant strides in advancing our knowledge and understanding of the subject. However, despite the immense amount of research on it, however, the definition of social capital has remained elusive. There are various theoretical approaches and perspectives of social captial which use more or less narrow concept. But they all have in common that they regard social capital as a property of a social entity and not of an individual [10]. It is a relational concept, it presupposes a social relation and exists only as far as it is shared by other individuals. Therefore, it cannot be the private property of a single person, but heas a character of a public good [11; 19]. The social capital of a society includes the institutions, the relationships, the attitudes and values that govern interactions among people and contribute to economic and social development. Social capital, however, is not simply the sum of the institutions which underpin society, it is also the glue that holds them together. It includes the shared values and rules for social conduct expressed in personal relationships, trust and a common sense of civic responsibility, that makes society more than a collection of indi viduals. Without a degree of common identification with forms of governance, cultural norms and social rules, it is difficult to imagine a functioning society [25, str.1]. Social capital is not only considered to be an essential basis for the social cohesion of a society, but at the same time as a main component of the wealth of a nation and as an important determinant of economic growth, besides physical, human and environmental capital [13]. The view is empirically supported by results showing a relation between the social capital of a society and its economic well-being [21; 15; 24]. Furthermore, there are also investigations pointing to the improvement of other dimensions of welfare such as education, health, rates of crime, and the environment [3; 20]. 5. The interdependence of social cohesion and the quality of life The concepts of social cohesion and quality of life are interrelated [8; 9]. Althought social cohesion represents an attribute of a society, it ultimately rests on the behaviour, attitudes and evaluations of its members, too. Social cohesion is based on social capital which is also created by social relations and ties established, maintained and experienced by individuals. Thus, looking at the social cohesion of a society involves aspects which are part of the individual life situation and in this sense components of the individual quality of life. Secondly, elements of the social cohesion of a society may have direct impact on individual quality of life. Empirical examples are the above cited results on the influence of social capital on economic and other dimensions of welfare. At a conceptual level, the perspective of social exclusion as a process rooting in the malfunction of social institutitons and resulting in a deprived living situation of the individual is another example. Social cohesion can be conceived as a societal quality which is experienced by individuals in their daily lives, for example in the form of the perceived inequality or the social climate at the working place, at school or in the neighbourhood, and thus also refers to the individual quality of life. This perspective conciders elements of the social cohesion of a society to form an integral part of the quality of life of the individuals belonging to that society. Such a position, which is supported here, advocates a broad conceptualisation of quality of life encompassing not only individual characteristics of the life situation but also societal qualities. In this sense, quality of life represents the common policy goal with social cohesion as an important component to be addressed. 6. The measurement of social cohesion On the basis of the conclusion about two dimensions of social cohesion, measurement of social cohesion should include measures concerning: Concerning the first dimension measurement dimensions for the various aspects can be derived for nearly all domains. Regional disparities are taken into account for example with respect to access to transport, leisure and cultural facilitites, educational and health care institutions, employment opportunities or the state of the environment. Issues of equal opportunities/inequalities could be considered therough political participation and employment opportunities, generation of inequalities in social relations or unemployment risks; inequalities between disabled and non-disabled people in access to public transport or educational institutions; etc. The aspect of social exclusion can be operationalised in many domains, too. Manifestatios of social exclusion are ususally measured such as homelessness, social isolation, long-term unemployment, poverty or a lack of social protection. Concerning second goal dimension of social cohesion and that is strenghtening the social capital of a society, most of the aspects of this dimension refer to the life domain of „social and political participation and integrationâ€Å". This domain covers all general issues of social relations and engagement outside the own household community such as the availability of relatives and friends, frequency of contacts and support within those personal networks, membership in organisations, engagement in the public realm such as volunteering and political activities. The quality of societal institutions is a component of social capital which applies to several life domains since, for example, institutions of education, health care, social security or the legal system. 7. Possible contemporary threats to social cohesion There are numerous possible demographic, socio-economic and political trends and processes which have been associated with a general deterioration of social cohesion throughout the world. Over the past three decades, globalization in the form of processes of structural transformation has impacted severely, in many ways, on people throughout the world. The intensified linkage of local social conditions with activities and decisions within world financial, commodity and labor markets is increasingly apparent and in many places its consequences are devastating. Perhaps the most fundamental feature of structural transformation in industrial countries has been reducing the share of industry in the formation of GDP and consequently the massive decline in manufacturing employment. We have been witnesses to the massive relocation of capital, jobs and manufacturing to areas of the globe where labor is cheaper. Instead of a relatively stable work conditions, characterized by institutionalized wage agreements and strong trade unions, internal labor markets within large firms, and secure, tenured and full-time employment; new socio-economic patterns emerge: More and more, opportunities for work and flows of income became variable and unpredictable and stable conditions characterizing employment are replaced by growing insecurity. These kinds of changes add to a growing polarization not only between employed and unemployed, but between secure, highly skilled, well paid workers and the larger proportion of insecure, unskilled, low paid workers. In addition to that, the gender dimension is critical to this shift, since women are greatly over represented in the new flexible yet precarious sectors of casual, part-time and short-contract employment [2, str. 142]. The rise of neo-liberal political philosophy has driven many of the processes of political restructuring over the past two decades. A key aspect of the neo-liberal vision of society is bringing the market principle, along with notions of self-responsibility and individualism, to almost every sphere of politics, economics and society. Aspects of political change which have subsequently emerged, and impacted dramatically on social cohesion, include: Such policies and processes which have brought about â€Å"the new inequality† can be seen as fuelling a process of â€Å"inequalisation†. The consequences for social cohesion, however defined, are devastating. â€Å"Such a divergence of the life chances of large social groups†, Dahrendorf observes, â€Å"is incompatible with civil society† [4, str. 38]. The most socially stigmatised, spatially segregated and economically disadvantaged also become the most politically excluded. The combined forces of economic and political restructuring, along with the new social fissions created in their wake, have also threatened a key socio-psychological source of social cohesion, the idea of â€Å"the nation†. The changes associated with globalization (here considered as processes involving the intensified linkage and increased scope, scale and speed of world-wide economic activity) are now so pervasive that national governments arguably no longer hold the keys to their own national larders. The flow and control of a variety of forms of investment, currency trading, commodity markets, and labor pools are increasingly determined by agents and forces above and beyond the reins of nation-state policy. For the nation-state, prerogatives and margins for maneuvers in economic policy are greatly reduced. Conclusions Social cohesion represents a concept which focuses on societal qualities such as the extent of inequality or the strength of social relations and ties within a society. In the terms described above, it is both a means and an end. As an end, it is an object of public policy, to the extent that policies attempt to ensure that all members of society feel themselves to be an active part of it, as both contributors to and beneficiaries of progress. In an age of profound, rapid changes resulting from globalization and the new paradigm of the information society, recreating and ensuring a sense of belonging and inclusion is an end in itself. Social cohesion is also a means, however, in more ways than one. Societies that boast higher levels of social cohesion provide a better institutional framework for economic growth and attract investment by offering an environment of trust and clearly defined rules. Moreover, long-term policies that seek to level the playing field require a social contra ct to lend them force and staying power, and such a contract must have the support of a wide range of actors willing to negotiate and reach broad agreements. In order to do so, they must feel themselves to be a part of the whole, and they must be willing to sacrifice personal interests for the good of the community. The formation of the social covenants needed to support pro-equity and pro-inclusion policies is facilitated by a greater willingness to support democracy, become involved in issues of public interest, participate in deliberative processes and trust institutions, as well as a stronger sense of belonging to a community and solidarity with excluded and vulnerable groups. In this paper we have established two goal dimensios inherent in the concept of social cohesion: 1) the reduction of disprarities, inequalities and social exclusion and 2) the strenthtening of social relations, interacions and ties. Concerning the first dimension of social cohesion, examples of measurement dimensions within various life domains are regional disparities of the state of environment, equal opportunities of women and men in employment, inequalitites between social strate in the state of health, social exclusion from material goods measured by income poverty. As far as second dimension is concerned, it comprises all aspects which together constitute the social capital of a society. This includes the social relations available at the informal level of private networks and the more formal level of organisations, the activities and engagement within private networks as well as within public realms, the quality of social relations and the quality of societal instiutitons. The quality of societal institutions represents a component of social capital which applies to several life domains. Institutions of education, health care, working life, social security, social services, the political system and legal system. The perceived quality of these institutitons are measured by the level of trust, satisfaction with or approval of institutions. The combined forces of economic and political restructuring, along with the new social fissions created in their wake, threaten to deteriorate a key sources of social cohesion in contemporary societies. It is therefore not surprising that idea of social cohesion receives great attention by social scientists as well as by politicians and gradually establish itself as one of the central societal goals at the national and the supranational level.