Debate of Gun Control in America

Gun control issue The issue of gun control raises a very contested debate whenever any act of violence is committed and a gun is involved executing it. Several stakeholders, including politicians, policy implementers, gun lobbyists, and the civil society have been engaging in the discussion for over a century, but an ultimate response is yet to be reached.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Debate of Gun Control in America specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Those suggesting that ownership of the gun is illegal and unethical observe that the local authorities and the federal agencies in charge of the gun control policy are not doing enough in terms of policy formulation because the rate at which people acquire guns and use them to destroy life is alarming. Indeed, it is a threat to the national security. For the advocates, they present a dissenting view by noting that the law goes too far, which amounts to i nfringement of individual rights. Opponents of gun control defend the argument that each American should be allowed to own a gun since introducing control measures prevent individuals from protecting their lives and property. For instance, hunters, sport shooters, and recreational gunmen should be allowed to acquire guns since their aim is not to harm anyone, but instead to enjoy their lives (Lavery Hughes, 2008). The Second Amendment to the constitution allows free ownership of guns in the country. Since life is highly valued, any person should have the ability to protect it at any given time, irrespective of whether the state has an effective and sufficient security system or not. Major debate In this article, it is argued that gun control should be embraced in the country and stronger laws ought to be drafted to stop unnecessary loss of life. Proponents of gun ownership suggest that certain groups should not be allowed to acquire guns meaning that controlling the distribution an d ownership of these dangerous weapons should be supported. For instance, the society would be unmanageable if criminals and the mentally challenged were allowed to acquire guns. Similarly, children should not be given an opportunity to own any form of a lethal weapon, including guns because they might use them to commit mass murder.Advertising Looking for critical writing on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Since the 1970s, a number of legal and social reviews suggest that the rates of gun-connected felonies have gone up in the country as compared to other industrialized states, such as Britain and Canada. New York City implemented the gun control policies and the result was positive since cases of crimes went down. The development of technological weapons poses a serious threat to the very survival in society, something that has forced legislators to reconsider their previous decision on gun control. Be fore the Supreme Court ruling in 1939, the constitution allowed several militias to own guns, as it was important in the preservation of the national and state security. If not managed in the right way, arms, weapon technology, gun possession, and regulatory laws have the potential of damaging the society. The establishment of the national gun registry could perhaps generate personal issues while utilization of invalid or ambiguous gun control rules could lead to loss of life and property. The truth is that a lasting solution to the issues surrounding ownership of guns is yet to be reached, but controlling the supply and ownership is inevitable. Views of opponents In the newspaper article published by Morris on April 21, 2013, it is noted that gun ownership is directly related to homicide in the sense that the community would be safer if only the government is given the responsibility of protecting the populace. In fact, no one would be willing to start a fight once he or she realiz es that there is no gun to rely on in protecting oneself. If each person is allowed to acquire a gun or any form of a lethal weapon, chances are high that individuals would be reluctant to cooperate with the authorities. Each person has to depend on the government for protection and this explains the reason why an individual would first dial the police hotline once he or she is attacked in the house. This facilitates obedience and loyalty to the government leading to peaceful coexistence.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Debate of Gun Control in America specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the case is different for the individuals with guns because they might end up rising against each other since they are fully armed. Allowing ownership of guns in the country would be taking the society back to the times when the social contract never existed whereby life was nasty, brutal, and short-lived. At th at time, individuals were highly appetitive and self-centered because selfish interests overrode communal or common interests. Based on the views of Hobbes, there should be a leviathan, which is charged with the responsibility of overseeing the interests of each person. The government acts as the leviathan or the common authority that should offer protection to all people in the country, including the ruling class. Human beings are naturally brutal and aggressive and allowing them to own guns would be fuelling mass murder and crime. The study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health revealed that ownership of guns and the persistent rates of homicide were inseparable. The correlation between guns and homicides is compared to the relationship between Nicholas Cage and horrifying films. Additionally, a strong correlation between gun ownership and suicide exists. Planning a suicide mission is like strategizing on how to make a wedding successful since an individual has to sit d own, figure out all the options, set the date, and execute the plan. Since shooting is the most effective option, an individual would likely apply it, but the situation would be different if gun ownership is controlled. Data from various governmental sources as regards to suicide prove that a state with a high number of gun ownership has a higher suicide rate while those with gun control laws have low cases. For the last thirty years, the US has experienced at least sixty-two mass shootings in several states. Criminals or illegal gun owners did not perpetrate the mass murders, but instead those licensed to defend their wealth using the weapons were the culprits implying that possession of guns is a threat to human life.Advertising Looking for critical writing on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Official governmental data proves that licensed gun owners carried out forty-nine mass murders and the weapons used are believed to be high-capacity magazines. The government has all the reasons to control gun usage and ownership in the country if life and property is to be protected. In case it is necessary to own a gun, then only short-guns should be issued out or be recommended to the applicants since they do not have the capacity to exterminate the lives of many people. In other countries, such as Australia, the government has been quick to take action once wrong usage of the gun is reported to the state security agencies. For instance, the conservative premier moved in to take stern action in 1996 when mass shooting led to the deaths of over thirty-six individuals. In the crackdown, over six hundred automatic weapons were repossessed and destroyed while several short-guns and pistols were recovered from individuals. Views of proponents Proponents of gun ownership in the country support their claims by noting that the Second Amendment to the constitution permits free ownership of weapons, including all forms of guns. However, this is not true because the constitution was amended specifically to give the state militias some powers to defend their territories following the formation of the union. It was felt that the union was weak and it could not have the capacity to protect the aggressor from harming the locals. Advocates of gun ownership simply quote the phrase â€Å"bear arms,† yet they neglect the key word, which is the militia (Morris, 2013). The US was going through several problems and conflicts since some regions were simply concerned with disturbing peace and security. The government lacked sufficient structures and measures to deal with the rising cases of crime and loss of life through ethnic, racial, and religious clashes. The enemy would invade any time and the government would take sides meaning that a possibility of a genocide occurri ng was imminent. The militias served the interests of the public because they would be deployed as the state army, but the current system of gun ownership simply fulfils the interests of an individual. Based on this, the law should be reinterpreted the way the Supreme Court did in previous years to prevent individuals from owning guns in the country. Since the constitution appreciated the sovereignty of each state, the militias were justified to own guns. References Lavery, J., Hughes, W. (2008). Critical Thinking: An Introduction to the Basic Skills. New York: Broadview Press. Morris, M. (2013, April 21). 10 arguments for Gun Control. LISTVERSE. Retrieved from https://listverse.com/2013/04/21/10-arguments-for-gun-control/ This critical writing on Debate of Gun Control in America was written and submitted by user Ph1ll1p 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.

Understanding the Big Five Personality Traits

Understanding the Big Five Personality Traits Todays psychologists agree that personality can be described by five broad traits: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Together, these traits make up the five-factor model of personality known as the Big Five. Key Takeaways: Big Five Personality Traits The Big Five personality traits are openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.Each trait represents a continuum. Individuals can fall anywhere on the continuum for each trait.Evidence suggests that personality is highly stable during adulthood, although small changes may be possible. Origin of the Big Five Model The Big Five, as well as other models that specify human personality traits, arises from the lexical hypothesis, which was first proposed by Francis Galton in the 1800s. The lexical hypothesis states that every natural language contains all the personality descriptions that are relevant and important to the speakers of that language. In 1936, pioneering psychologist Gordon Allport and his colleague Henry Odbert explored this hypothesis by going through an unabridged English dictionary and creating a list of 18,000 words related to individual differences. Approximately 4,500 of those terms reflected personality traits. This sprawling set of terms gave psychologists interested in the lexical hypothesis a place to start, but it wasnt useful for research, so other scholars attempted to narrow the set of words down. Eventually, in the 1940s, Raymond Cattell and his colleagues used statistical methods to reduce the list to a set of only 16 traits. Several additional scholars analyzed Cattell’s work, including Donald Fiske in 1949, and they all came to a similar conclusion: the data contained a strong, stable set of five traits. However, it wasnt until the 1980s that the Big Five began to receive wider scholarly attention. Today, the Big Five is a ubiquitous part of psychology research, and psychologists largely agree that personality can be grouped into the five basic traits specified by the Big Five. The Big Five Traits Each Big Five trait represents a continuum. For example, the trait of extraversion’s opposite is introversion. Together, extraversion and introversion make up opposing ends of a spectrum for that Big Five trait. People can be very extraverted or very introverted, but most people will fall somewhere in between the extremes of the spectrum.   Its also important to remember that each trait of the Big Five is very broad, representing a cluster of many personality characteristics. These characteristics are more specific and granular than each of the five traits as a whole. Thus, each trait can be defined in general and also broken down into several facets. Openness to Experience If you possess high openness to experience, you are open to all the original and complex things life has to offer, both experientially and mentally. The opposite of openness to experience is close-mindedness. Individuals with this trait are usually: CuriousImaginativeArtisticInterested in many thingsExcitableUnconventional Conscientiousness Conscientiousness means having good impulse control, which enables individuals to fulfill tasks and meet goals. Conscientious behavior includes planning and organization, delaying gratification, avoiding compulsive action, and following cultural norms. The opposite of conscientiousness is lack of direction. Key facets of conscientiousness include: CompetenceOrder, or organizational skillsDutifulness, or a lack of carelessnessAchievement through hard workSelf-disciplineBeing deliberate and controlled Extraversion Extraverted individuals who draws their energy from their interactions with the social world. Extraverts are sociable, talkative, and outgoing. The opposite of extraversion is introversion. Extraverts are typically: GregariousAssertiveActiveExcitement-seekingEmotionally positive and enthusiasticWarm and outgoing Agreeableness The trait of agreeableness refers to a positive and altruistic orientation. This trait enables individuals to see the best in others, trust others, and behave prosocially. The opposite of agreeableness is antagonism. Agreeable people are often: Trusting and forgivingStraightforward and undemandingAltruisticAffable and amenableModestSympathetic to others Neuroticism Neuroticism refers to a tendency towards negative emotions and includes experiences like feeling anxious and depressed. The opposite of neuroticism is emotional stability. Key facets of neuroticism include: Anxiety and tensionAngry hostility and irritability,Depression,Self-consciousness and shyness,Being impulsive and moodyLack of self-confidence The acronym OCEAN is a handy device for the traits specified by the Big Five. Can Personality Be Changed? Personality traits tend to be highly stable during adulthood. While some gradual shifts in personality traits may be possible, these shifts are generally not drastic. In other words, if an individual is low on the trait of extraversion (meaning they are more introverted than extraverted), they are likely to stay that way, though they may become slightly more or less extraverted over time. This consistency is partially explained by genetics, which plays a significant role in the traits one develops. For example, one twin study showed that when the Big Five personality traits of identical and fraternal twins were assessed, the influence of genetics was 61% for openness to experience, 44% for conscientiousness, 53% for extraversion, and 41% for both agreeableness and neuroticism. Environment may indirectly reinforce inherited traits as well. For instance, in creating an environment that works with their own traits, parents also create an environment that works with their children’s traits. Similarly, as adults, people choose environments that reinforce and support their traits. The Big Five in Childhood Research on the Big Five has been criticized in the past for focusing primarily on adult personality development and ignoring the development of these traits in children. Yet, recent research has shown that children as young as five have the ability to describe their personality and that by six, children begin to show consistency and stability in the traits of conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness. Two other studies showed that while the Big Five seems to manifest in children, childrens personalities may also include additional traits. One study of American adolescent boys found that in addition to the Big Five traits, participants also displayed two additional traits. The researchers labeled these as irritability  (negative affect that led to developmentally inappropriate behaviors like whining and tantrums) and activity (energy and physical activity). Another study of Dutch children of both sexes between the ages of 3 and 16 also found two additional personality traits. While one was similar to the activity trait found in the previously discussed study, the other, dependency (relying on others), was different. Age Differences in Personality Traits Research has suggested the Big Five traits evolve with age over the life span. In an analysis of 92 longitudinal studies that examined changes in personality traits from youth to old age, scholars found that people became more conscientious, less neurotic, and increase in social dominance, a facet of extraversion, as they get older. People also became more agreeable in old age. And while adolescents were more open to experience and demonstrated greater social vitality, another facet of extraversion, especially during the college years, people decreased in these traits during old age. Sources Allport, Gordon W. and Henry S. Odbert. â€Å"Trait-Names: A Psycho-Lexical Study.† Psychological Monographs, vol. 47, no. 1, 1936, pp. i-171. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0093360Cattell, Raymond B. â€Å"The description of Personality: Basic Traits Resolved Into Clusters.† Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, vol. 38, vol. 4, 1943, pp. 476-506. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0054116Costa, Paul T., and Robert R. McCrae. â€Å"The NEO-PI-R: Professional Manual.† Psychological Assessment Resources, 1992. sjdm.org/dmidi/NEO_PI-R.htmlDigman, John M. â€Å"Personality Structure: Emergence of the Five-Factor Model.† Annual Review of Psychology, vol. 41, 1990, pp. 417-440. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ps.41.020190.002221Fiske, Donald W. â€Å"Consistency of the Factorial Structures of Personality Ratings from Difference Sources.† Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, vol. 44, 1949, pp. 329-344. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0057198Jang, Kerry J., Jo hn Livesley, and Philip A. Vernon. â€Å"Heritability of the Big Five Personality Dimensions and Their Facets: A Twin Study.† Journal of Personality, vol. 64, no. 3, 1996, pp. 577-592. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1996.tb00522.x John, Oliver P., Avshalom Caspi, Richard W. Robins, Terrie E. Moffitt, and Magda Stouthamer-Loeber. â€Å"The ‘Little Five’: Exploring The Nomological Network of the Five-Factor Model of Personality in Adolescent Boys. Child Development, vol. 65, 1994, pp. 160-178. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1994.tb00742.xJohn, Oliver P., Laura P. Naumann, and Christopher J. Soto. â€Å"Paradigm Shift to the Integrative Big Five Trait Taxonomy: History, Measurement, and Conceptual Issues.† Handbook of Personality: Theory and Research, 3rd ed., edited by Oliver P. John, Richard W. Robins, and Lawrence A. Pervin, The Guilford Press, 2008, pp. 114-158.John, Oliver P. and Sanjay Srivastava. â€Å"The Big Five Trait Taxonomy: History, Measurement, and Theoretical Perspectives.† Handbook of Personality: Theory and Research, 2nd ed., edited by Lawrence A. Pervin, and Oliver P. John, The Guilford Press, 1999, pp. 102-138.McAdams, Dan P. â€Å"Can Personality Change? Leve ls of Stability and Growth In Personality Across the Life Span.† Can Personality Change? edited by Todd F. Heatherton and Joel L. Weinberger, American Psychological Association, 1994, pp. 299-313. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/10143-027 McAdams, Dan. The Person: An Introduction to the Science of Personality Psychology. 5th ed., Wiley, 2008.Measelle, Jeffrey R., Oliver P. John, Jennifer C. Ablow, Philip A. Cowan, and Carolyn P. Cowan. â€Å"Can Children Provide Coherent, Stable, and Valid Self-Reports on the Big Five Dimensions? A Longitudinal Study from Ages 5 to 7. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 89, 2005, pp. 90-106. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.89.1.90Roberts, Brent W., Kate E. Walton, and Wolfgang Viechtbauer. â€Å"Patterns of Mean-Level Change in Personality Traits Across the Life Course: A Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies.† Psychological Bulletin, vol. 132. No. 1, 2006, pp. 1-35.  Van Lieshout, Cornelis F. M. and Gerbert J. T. Haselager. â€Å"The Big Five Personality Factors in Q-Sort Descriptions of Children and Adolescents.† The Developing Structure of Temperament and Personality From Infancy to Adulthood, edited by Charles F. Halverson, Gedolph A. Kohnstamm, and Roy P. Martin, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1994, pp. 293-318.

Sexuality Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sexuality - Research Paper Example Particularly, advertisement through billboards was considered by the research respondents to be most offensive of all mediums of advertisement. A number of French Reports have also emphasized upon the promotion of sex through advertisements, saying that the advertisements have used overtones of violence to degrade women and project bestiality and inferior role of women in sex. Such an attitude towards women creates a very distressed situation which should be immediately addressed so that dignity of those women on different levels could be restored. â€Å"Sexist advertising affects the shaping of people's identities and is counter-productive to society's goal of achieving gender equality† (â€Å"Sweden mulls ban†). This paper analyzes such an ad by Calvin Klein and discusses how the female model in the ad has been used as a source of sexual appeal for the audiences. In the end, there is a brief discussion of the guidelines that if followed, may help eradicate this practi ce. Women are being overly sexualized in different advertisements and fashion magazines, which is not only building negative perceptions about the character of women in the society but is also playing a role in derogating the society on moral grounds. Research done by sociologists lately suggests that sexploitation of women seen on the cover of one of the mainstream fashion magazines Rolling Stone suggests that women are far more potently targeted sexually than men over the last few years and such a negative attitude definitely does not deliver a positive message to the society at large. Sexploitation through advertisements in such an open manner not only holds very negative ramifications for understanding the concept of female dignity but also leads to exploitation of women. ... Sexploitation through advertisements in such an open manner not only holds very negative ramifications for understanding the concept of female dignity but also leads to exploitation of women. Media has definitely exploited women on many levels by portraying them as sexual objects so that product sales could be increased. As a result of such advertisements in which provocative images of women’s often partially clothed bodies are shown and female sexuality is used as an effective tool for gaining public attention and increasing product sales, a lot of pressure is put on common women to be sexually attractive and also sexually active (Media Awareness Network). In the advertisement by Calvin Klein for promoting its trademark unisex fragrance CK one (Lunch), a half naked girl is shown standing immediately against a male model who is also half naked so that their bodies are touching each other’s as well as their mouths. With one outstretched arm, the male model is seen grabbi ng the female model and holding a CK one perfume bottle in his hand. The image shown in this fragrance advertisement is no doubt very provocative and fraught with all kinds of sexual suggestions. Both models have been made to pose so proximal to each other that it seems more like a pornography ad than a fragrance ad. Women definitely get exploited by such kinds of advertisements which show no respect for female sex and also such media actions deliver very negative images to the people who start accepting such ideas and believe it is normal for a woman to act provocatively. Culture is especially targeted by such advertisements in which women are over-sexualized so that it is left badly mutilated because no culture can sustain if the society shows no respect for women. Respect in

Managing Stress in the Workplace Research Paper

Managing Stress in the Workplace - Research Paper Example Persistent stress in an individual is reflected on the behaviors, responses, result delivery and attitude towards different people within an organization. It is characterized by continued headache, fatigue, lack of motivation to work and deliver severe withdrawal symptoms and depression (Leka, 2003). A number of workplace events create stressful employees and this reduces the overall productivity of the employees as they exhibit severe depression and lack of motivation to work on particular assignments. Stress is caused by time-constrained events, high expectation from the employer, family and relationship problems, job security and related issues and unrealistic deadlines imposed by supervisor. It is worth noting that despite the desire by a company to achieve its objectives within a specified period, the employees are overall responsible for the implementation of the policy and they are psychological beings. Pressure increases the urgency of delivering on a specific assignment but also decreases the productivity as the employees are forced to deal with both job related stress and psychological stress because of the pressures from the employees (Lee, 2000). Stress management at the work place has been given significant time in current management practices at is affects the overall productivity of the business. ... The paper will seek to provide the best approaches that an organization can develop in the management of stress and the different roles the employees play in these approaches. This paper will also seek to persuade organizational managements that stress management begins with the development of positive policies and regulation and not necessarily the adoption of the health and safety policies (Lee, 2000). Impacts of stress to employees and employer Stress is an all round problem that affects both the employees and the employer in equal proportion since the productivity of the employee is of much concern to the employer. Employees are affected in a number of ways by stressful work environments and these have significant impacts on their personal health, work productivity and the overall stat e of wellbeing. Excessive stress affects the normal brain functioning abilities resulting into significant brain related complications on employees. The brain works well in a stable emotional envir onment where an individual views the environment positively and enjoys every moment and responsibilities assigned to them (Leka, 2003). However, stress affects the emotional balance of an employee resulting into increased depression, emotional instability and psychological trauma. This affects the normal functioning of the human brain resulting into loss of coordination and concentration for the employees. Headache, fatigue, loss of interest and concentration, loss of appetite and emotional instability and the resultant effects of stressed brain and this affects the normal health of an employee (Lee, 2000). Employees enjoy working in a free environment free of intimidation, stress, strict and punishing deadline, features that characterize stressful workplaces.

Synopsis final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Synopsis final - Essay Example These indicators should be reliable and based on a sound frame work. They should also be Feasible and linked to data sources; Focused on the interests and justice needs of the people, neutral and administered by unbiased stakeholders. They should be nonjudgmental; track data over time and identify trends, establish benchmarks in key areas and contribute to improve implementation of the basic values of the EU, such as the rule of law, justice and fundamental rights. The rule of law plays a very important role in human life. It brings the value of fundamental human rights. The rule of law ensures respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy and equality. It also creates institutional trust among EU Member states. It eliminates vices such as unfair laws, unequal application of the law, corruption and violation of fundamental rights. The rule of law also ensures justice. People, organization’s and business firms enjoy protection when disputes arise. Fair dispute resolution is attained. Human, economic and social development is also attained through the rule of law and measure of property. Waldron’s also argued that citizens can bring out the best in themselves if their rights and interests are respected and protected. He also stated that the rule of law should protect personal property. The society which fails to protect property rights against legislative restrictions is failing to support the rule of law and the measure of property. Waldron’s argument rejects the idea that the rule of law privileges property rights over other forms of law, but instead claims that the rule of law should endorse the use of legislation to achieve valid social objectives. Waldron’s argument considers some of the implications of the law in economic matters and legislative impacts on property through appropriate balance between private property rights and

Technology impact on social interactions

Technology impact on social interactions Technology can have positive and negative impact on social interactions With the proliferation of technologies that are able to overcome the obstacles of time and space (e.g., airplanes, cars, the Internet), one would think that these tools would be used to gain an understanding of other cultures, meet people all over the world, maintain and strengthen familial relationships, communicate effectively with others, and help people to become more socially adept. However, some technological advances cause people to be distracted, overly stressed, and increasingly isolated. Many people are involved in an abundant number of relationships through technology, but sometimes the quantity of these associations leaves people feeling qualitatively empty. Obviously, technology has had a profound impact on what it means to be social. Society is likely on the cusp of a social revolution, during which it will be important to redefine socially appropriate and acceptable behaviors (with regard to digital or virtual interaction). We are at a point in history where very few people have given critical thought to new social realities created by technology and what those realities mean for the individual and society. In this section we closely examine a few social technologies that influence leisure. The section first looks at virtual communities, social networking sites, and today’s communication tools. Then we critically reflect on gaming and television. Think about how each technology affects your social life and social skills. Keep in mind that these are only a few of the technologies that may affect you socially. A comprehensive list is not feasible here. A study of students and information technology found that 85 percent of undergraduates surveyed used social networking sites (Salaway et al., 2008) (see figure 8.2). Many of the respondents reported using such sites daily. Figure 8.3 indicates how undergraduate students use social networking sites. This report found indications that use of these sites is increasing yearly. Let us now look critically at whether this trend is positive. The use of social networking sites has both positive and negative consequences. It is amazing how someone can find a long-lost friend through a social networking site, enabling them to reconnect. In a society where people have become quite mobile and family and friends are often geographically separated, it is convenient to keep in touch through technology. However, one need not look far to find problems associated with social networking sites. There is a lively debate about whether Internet addictions are real. To me it appears to be a real problem (perception is often reality in a social context) with which people have to grapple. Some assert that these Web sites contributed to cheating on significant others, often leading to divorce. People have been fired from their jobs or put under pressure because they use these sites at work or because something is posted on a site that undermined the person’s professional standing. Although divorce and loss of employment are serious issues, perhaps they are not as common as other problems that have the potential to stem from social networking sites. Narcissism—excessive interest in one’s appearance and in oneself—is sometimes manifested on social networking sites. These Web sites have been found to be an avenue for people to display their narcissistic traits online (Buffardi Campbell, 2008). I often wonder whether people use these sites to display their popularity to the world rather than use them as a vehicle to develop meaningful relationships. Creating meaningful relationships is often about sharing our lives with others, and technology can allow us to do so through photos, videos, text, and music. In conducting research for my doctoral dissertation, I looked at how eight senior citizens used technology and how it affected their lives. My hope was to find that they used technology to stay in touch with friends, family, and people with similar interests. Although the participants did use e-mail to stay in touch with family and friends, almost all of the study participants talked about how vapid chat rooms and discussion boards seemed to be. Most had tried chatting a few times and then gave up because they viewed it as a waste of time (similar reasons were given by undergraduates in the ECAR study who did not use social networking sites). However, one participant was a chat room monitor for a fantasy baseball site. As he spent more time in that chat room he began to realize that it was not as shallow as he first imagined. Pe ople were in that virtual community because of a shared or common interest. Gradually he got to know people and care about their lives. He was eventually able to meet some of these new, online friends in person and said they connected as if they had known each other for years. While working on my dissertation I visited many chat rooms and discussion boards that catered to older adults. After visiting many such sites, I began to be discouraged because of the inane nature of many of the conversations. However, I stumbled on one online discussion board in which two World War II veterans wrote about their experiences in the war. They also lamented the fact that where they lived, there were no more veterans of that war left. They felt alone and isolated, but this chat room was a forum where they fit in again. They were able to share similar interests and experiences. Perhaps overcoming a sense of isolation is one of the greatest features of online communities and virtual worlds. Someone might feel like an outcast in her own community or family but might find someone online with similar hobbies, pursuits, and interests. Consider someone who enjoys photography as a serious leisure pursuit. This person would be able to share that passion with people all over the world by using the Internet and its powerful tools (e-mail, video chat, discussion boards, online video, family Web sites). However, simply sharing common interests and pursuits with people through technology does not necessarily have a positive impact on social skills and social development. Gaming and Social Development Gaming is an instance where you may encounter potentially serious social setbacks. I lead a group of Boy Scouts who share a love of a certain online virtual world game. This game seems to be all they talk about. When given other opportunities for deep, respectful, meaningful conversation, these boys are sometimes rather inept. Although linking their online gaming to poor social skills might be spurious, studies show negative social impacts of some video games. One study tested whether high exposure to video games increased aggression over time. It was found that playing violent video games is a significant risk factor for later physical aggression in both Japan and the United States—for boys and girls (Anderson et al., 2008). However, linking video games to poor social skills and behaviors often misses the bigger picture. People might participate in other activities (take football, for example) in which the social problems that arise from the activity may be the same or even worse than those of gaming. Evidently it is not enough to simply blame the medium. In fact, in many instances, gaming may aid in relationship building. The 13th Annual MediaWise Video Game Report Card (Walsh Gentile, 2008) indicated that 75 percent of gamers play with other people. Since my family received a Wii as a gift, we have spent countless hours of enjoyment playing together. Naturally, overindulgence in this one activity would have deleterious results, but the limited time we do spend playing together seems to strengthen our family. Television and Social Development Television is another technology that has mixed reviews with regard to social skills and social lives. Some researchers suggest that spending a limited amount of time watching wholesome programs can strengthen families and friendships. Others believe that television contributes to the downfall of social values in this country. It does seem that many people spend less time with others in their community than they do with the people they watch daily on television. Television tends to be a passive medium, which requires little skill and thought on our part (although some programming bucks this trend). Therefore, television provides little opportunity for meaningful interaction while watching. Watchers simply sit there and ingest what is presented to them without having to respond or react to another person. Obviously this can have serious effects on people’s social skills because viewers are not practicing how to relate to and deal with other people. Exposure to what is viewed on television can have some other serious effects on people’s social lives. For example, exposure to television shows with sexual content may increase the chance of teen pregnancy (see figure 8.4) (Chandra et al., 2008). Furthermore, when some people see violence, sex, and all manner of lasciviousness on television, they may be prone to mimic the behavior and think that it is acceptable. Were everyone to copy the social behaviors portrayed on television, our society would lack morals, and many levels of individuals’ lives would be destroyed. It is apparent that technology has the potential to harm or enhance your social skills and social life. The key is to analyze how technology affects you socially. Do technologies help you build positive, meaningful relationships, or do technologies hinder this process? Are you better able to communicate, listen, and share because of the technologies in your life? Do you use technologies to improve your relationships and build new ones? Are you letting a few choice people know who you are and what you contribute to this world, or are you merely distracting yourself with shallow pursuits? Does technology increase or decrease your concern for others, your compassion for others, and your desire to serve them? Such are the critical questions regarding technology and social development. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/positive-effects-of-technology-on-society.html Positive Effects of Technology on Society Technology runs in the veins of society. It is the fuel that drives our lives. It is an integral part of daily life. It has definitely benefited society. It has brought luxury in the life of every common man. Automation brought about by technology has saved human effort and time to a large extent. It has brought distant places closer and simplified information access. It has made the world a smaller place to live in. Let us look at some of the important areas, where technology has brought a positive change. Automation of Processes in the Industry and the Household: Technology has automated many of the critical processes in the industry as well as the household. Imagine the amount of labor that must have been involved in industrial processes when the concept of automation did not exist. Electronic gadgets have entered homes of the common man to rescue him from the boredom of daily chores. Imagine the amount of time people must be spending doing household chores during the time there w ere no machines and household appliances. Its better not imagined. Todays is the age of robotics. Machines can learn, adopt new things and perform tasks with near-human efficiency. Changed Modes of Transport: The automobile industry and technology are interwoven. Time has witnessed this industry evolve from mechanical scooters to automated aircraft. Animals were the only modes of transport in the olden days. Technology was the driving force behind the creation and design of the modern-day automobiles. Bicycles evolved into scooters and sports bikes. The idea of having four-wheeled modes of transport gave rise to the creation of cars. Modes of air and water transport came up, thanks to technology. Reduced Risk to Human Life: Machines have automated many crucial industrial processes. Machines are now taking up mundane jobs that were once done by human workers. Technology has evolved to an extent where machines can perform tasks that are not feasible for man, either because they are ri sky or life-threatening or because they are beyond human capacity. The use of advanced technologies like robotics and artificial intelligence has proven to be helpful in life-risking endeavors like mining and space exploration. Data Management and Information Retrieval: Computer technology, needless to say, has changed the face of the world. Computers can store, organize and manage huge amounts of data. They can process large amounts of information. Computers have given rise to the software industry, one of the most progressive industries of the world. The Internet that seeded from computer networking concepts is the most effective communication platform and the largest information base existing today. Impact on the Entertainment and Advertising Industries: The Internet has brought a positive change to the entertainment and advertising industries. Over the Internet, advertisements can reach the masses within seconds. Internet advertisements have changed equations of the advertising industry. Branding on the Internet is much more effective that other forms of product promotion. The entertainment media has progressed because of advancements in technology. Movies, songs, games are a few clicks away. People have begun using the Internet to watch and download movies, listen to music, play games and entertain themselves. Thanks to handy, mobile and user-friendly devices, all this has become really easy. Onset of the Digital Age: Theres hardly anything analog now, we live in a digital world, a digital age. Talk pixels and bytes. The digitization of information has made it possible for us to store it in a compact form. Ever wondered how gigabytes of data can be stored on a small chip? Digitization it is! Also, digitization enriches the quality of data storage. Digital voice and digital images are of a higher quality. Digital cameras and digital TVs provide users with an enriched picture quality, thus bettering user experience with technology. Communication Redefined: Cellular communication has revolutionized the communication industry. The conventional telephone, also a piece of technology, was one of the earliest technological developments in communication. Mobile phones have broadened the horizons of communication by enabling convenient long-distance calling and mobile use. Letters have taken a backseat and emails and cell phone messages have become the easiest means to connect. Owing to developments in technology, communication is wireless. Social networking is another defining factor here. It has given an all new dimension to communication, entertainment and recreation. Satellite Technology: Satellite communication is an important facet of technology. Satellite TV and satellite radio have eased the broadcasting of events across the globe. How else do you think could matches and concerts be broadcasted live? Not just TV and radio, even communication to ships and airplanes wouldnt have been possible if not for satellite communication. Even you r hand-held devices wouldnt be of use, if not for radio communication. These were still a few fields influenced by technology. It is almost impossible to enlist all the positive effects of technology on society. The fast-advancing technology on the whole, has given impetus to developments in various fields and improved the quality of human life. Theres less risk, less effort, less mess. Theres more leisure, more ease and more speed all because of that ten-letter word not a word, a phenomenon technology.  

A merger between Kennecott and Carborundum Essay

In 1968, Kennecott Copper Corporation made a hasty decision when it purchased Peabody Coal Company. In the years preceding the acquisition, Kennecott had experienced wide swings in its profitability, which it was looking to offset by diversification. Investing in another company in a different industry was an intelligent decision; however, Peabody was the wrong company to do this with. Although Peabody had been profitable and stable over the past few years leading up to the acquisition, the internal rate of return related to the investment was not high enough to justify a purchase of the company. Peabody’s cost of debt was .038. This was calculated by assuming a 40% tax rate and .095 rate on debt (Exhibit 3). There was a .095 interest rate on notes payable due June 30, 1998; therefore, we assumed the rate of debt at the time of purchase would have been similar. Also, Peabody’s cost of equity was .1397. This was calculated by using a risk-free rate of .055, which was the rate of the 90-day T-bill in 1968. A beta of 1 was assumed and a .082 market risk premium was used. The latter figure was determined by taking the average returns on the short-term T-Bill rate from 1951-1975. This rate was used because we know Peabody was a short-term investment and the years 1951-1975 give a more accurate reflection of the market return than using the figure from 1926-1987. Furthermore, the weight of debt and equity were .35 and .65 respectively. These figures were used because we are told that approximately 65% of Kennecott’s net worth was tied up in Peabody. These figures gave a weighted average cost of capital of 9.70%. The IRR for this purchased was calculated by using $621.5 million as the initial investment. This figure was determined as a result of Kennecott giving Peabody $285 million in cash, assuming $36.5 million in liabilities, and taking on a reserved payment of $300 million. Also, the figures used to determine IRR came from the figures given under cash flow from operation for the 8 years preceding the Peabody acquisition. This gave us an IRR of 6.8% (Exhibit 3), which is less than the WACC. When the IRR of a project is less than the WACC, the project should not be accepted. Likewise, after Peabody was acquired, it under-performed for several years until Kennecott sold it. Because of its underperformance, Kennecott had to sell Peabody for less than it paid for it. After being forced to sell Peabody, Kennecott had a large amount of cash on hand, which it did not know what to do with. Instead of giving the money back to its investors in the form of dividends or repurchasing shares of Kennecott stock that was trading below book value of the firm, Kennecott once again chose to diversify by investing in another company. This time Kennecott tendered an offer to Carborundum, a company that produced abrasives and ceramics used in the high-technology industry. Kennecott is correct in its decision that it must do something with its excess cash. By doing nothing, it will be vulnerable to a takeover; however, we do not believe diversification is the most prudent form of action. Kennecott is simply reacting to low and unstable copper prices, which have drastically hurt its bottom line. Furthermore, there are no obvious synergies connected with this deal. During an acquisition, the company being acquired should provide a greater value to the acquiring firm, than to any other firm. Because there are no synergies and the fact that the $66 tender is over $31 greater than Carborundum’s book value, the acquisition should not be made. Similarly, when discovering the terminal value, we took the total capital for 1976 and divided it by the net profit (Exhibit 1). We then took this figure, which was 10.68, and used it as our multiplier. We multiplied the projected net incomes for the next 10-years by 10.68 (Exhibit 2) to discover the firms terminal value. Finally we added the firm’s projected terminal value in 1977 to its net present value, which we calculated to be ($1.05 Million). This was achieved by discounting the cash flow each year by the IRR. So for year 1 the formula was (410)/1.054 giving (389). We discounted through 1987 (Exhibit 4). The large initial investment is what hurt Kennecott. They paid too much for a company they knew little about. This gave us a firm value of $ 409.06 million in 1977. At the time of the tender there were 8 million outstanding shares. At $66 per share, Kennecott was paying $528 million for a firm with a value of only $409.6 million. Obviously, it does not make sense to acq uire this firm. Like wise, Kennecott was ignoring its responsibility to its shareholders. Making this acquisition would dilute shareholder value. This was most evident in the actions of one investor who took the time to file a suit against Kennecott. This investor also believed the tender offer was too high. We feel Kennecott would best benefit from a stock repurchase. At the time of the Carborundum tender offer, Kennecott’s stock was trading at $28 per share, which was $14.50 less than its book value. By not partaking in a stock repurchase, it appears as if Kennecott does not believe it can turn its own operations around. If it cannot fix its own business, it should not be expanding. Kennecott must take an inward look at itself and discover where its problems lie. Until this is done, it should put ambitions of expanding on hold.

19th Century Theories in Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment Essay

19th Century Theories in Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment â€Å"I teach you the Superman. Man is something that has to be surpassed. What have you done to surpass him? † These words said by Friedrich Nietzsche encompass the theories present in Dostoevsky’s nineteenth century novel, Crime and Punishment. Fyodor Dostoevsky, living a life of suffering himself, created the character of Raskolnikov with the preconceptions of his own sorrowful and struggling life. Throughout his exile in Siberia from 1849-1859, his sentiments of suffering, sorrow, and the common man surfaced and heightened, inspiring him to begin writing Crime and Punishment in 1859. The main motif in this novel is that of suffering. It is apparent that all characters, major and minor, experience some sort of internal or external affliction. The overall theme of the work is that all mortal men suffer, and that salvation can not be obtained unless this anguish is present. Dostoevsky’s protagonist, Raskolnikov, must evolve and realize this fact to overcome his conflicts and reach the salvation of peace and tranquillity. Volumes and volumes of critique can be written on where this suffering originated, but Dostoevsky’s main concentration and focus is not where, but why suffering must exist and how this suffering can be overcome. See more:  First Poem for You Essay This is seen from the fact that throughout the six sections of the novel, only one section is focused on the origin of the torment – the Crime, and the remaining five sections are concentrated on Raskolnikov’s path to overcoming this anguish – the Punishment. By focusing solely on the punishment, the internal and external conflicts that arise within the novel do not only provide Raskolnikov’s own philosophy of the path toward salvation, but encompasses that of the German philosopher Nietzsche, as well as his contemporaries. Raskolnikov’s justifications for his actions are relayed in his own Extraordinary Man Theory, which states that there are two classifications of men in the world: ordinary, and extraordinary. He wanted prove that he was extraordinary, that he could commit a crime as horrid as murder, but because he did it for the betterment of society, he would feel no sympathy or regret for his justified actions. In following Raskolnikov’s theory, it becomes apparent from where his conceptions originate. Though the whole work encompasses the philosophies of all the nineteenth century theorists, Raskolnikov’s ideas spawn from that of Friedrich Nietzsche and Georg Wilhelm Hegel. Since it has already been established that the entire novel contains theories of its era, to begin an analysis in regard to the novel’s main ideas evolving from the concepts of merely Nietzsche or Hegel would, in a way, belittle the importance of the remaining non-Hegelian nineteenth century philosophers. By analyzing the ideologies of the major theorists from Father to Fruitcake (Kierkegaard to Freud) with respect to Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky’s intentions, motifs, and ideas can be interpreted with ease. Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) believed that truth is both power and suffering. He is often noted as the Father of Existentialism, an innovated modern belief that life has no meaning, and that we must live life just for the sake of living, and nothing else. To know the truth about life and the individuals living it would be a form of powerful knowledge incomprehensible to man. The truth is – Life is suffering. Kierkegaard believed that man was blessed with the greatest gift of all – free will, but this free will creates decisions, and decisions generate emotions. Emotions are the key to the suffering of man. Happiness creates a fear in losing prosperity, fear leads to anger toward life’s unjust ways, anger leads to hatred of life in general, and hatred leads to the suffering of the individual mind. This is the path of the common man, the man who â€Å"thinks† that life can be blissful. The existential man â€Å"believes† that life has no meaning, no substance, and no path for happiness. He is the man who knows and accepts that all things, good and evil, exist, including suffering. This is why the existential man is indifferent toward the benefits and consequences of life. Raskolnikov believes that The Extraordinary Man feels no suffering and no pain. He is the man who can break the laws, transgress the laws, and make the laws. Raskolnikov believed that if he were extraordinary, he could commit any crime, even the crime of murder, and walk away from it indifferent, apathetic, and without emotion. What he did not realize was the main point of Kierkegaard’s philosophy, that no matter what – man suffers. Raskolnikov thought that he could avoid the truth and avoid suffering. It is not until he confesses to both Porfiry and Sonia, which coincidentally is the same instant that his own pain begins to vanquish, that he fully understands and believes in the suffering of man. Georg Wilhelm Hegel (1770-1831), another prominent philosopher of the nineteenth century, hypothesized a dialectic method for the analysis and comprehension of history. He believed that all events in time move in a teleological fashion contrary to the popular belief of a circular path. Hegel stated that history, rather than repeating itself, learns and moves forward toward a purpose. In his theory this purpose is the freedom of all men in a rational state, and moving toward such a beneficial purpose justifies all good and evil events in history. The dialectic method also consisted of a diagram regarding this teleological path. Hegel believed that history is made up of a series of events all corresponding to a thesis, antithesis, and synthesis. The thesis and antithesis serve as the conflict in history, while the synthesis becomes the result. In Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov is the thesis, the symbol of good intentions, while Svidrigailov is the antithesis, the epitome and reality of evil and suffering. With the battle of good and evil comes salvation, or the synthesis, in this case – Sonia, the representation and key to Raskolnikov’s salvation. This method can also be viewed in the perspective of Dostoevsky’s primary concentrations. With that respect the crime can be viewed as the symbol of good intentions. Raskolnikov killed Alyona because she represented the evil in society. Because her death would be a blessing and benefit to the world he believed his crime would be justified. The punishment can be viewed as the reality of suffering. It is not until after he commits the crime that Raskolnikov realizes that all men in fact do suffer. The key is to overcome this suffering instead of avoiding it. The salvation can be viewed as the redemption and end to suffering – the result of the crime and of the punishment. This analysis also maps Hegel’s teleological perspective because the novel moves in a linear fashion. The Crime (thesis) encompasses Part I of the novel, the Punishment (antithesis) is demonstrated in Parts II-VI, and the salvation (synthesis) is introduced in the epilogue. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844- 1900) did not believe in the suffering of all men. He believed that there existed a superman, a powerful individual that lived for self-gratification and nothing else. The Nietzschean superman asserts his own power to situations while he watches the common and ordinary man suffer because of life’s imperfections. This man needs no justification in his actions, because as long as he has satisfied himself, then his dominance over others requires no reason. Nietzsche also believed that in order to become a superman, an individual must surpass the common man. He must have no qualms or regrets in his actions, and above all, he must not fear his actions or consequences. â€Å"Fear is the mother of morality,† it is an emotion only known to ordinary men. A superman has no fear. Perhaps the character of Svidrigailov emits the best example of a Nietzschean superman in the novel. He is the epitome of evil and lives only for self-gratification. His downfall to his superman visage is suicide. Death is the escape to suffering. Svidrigailov feared its company, and in turn, took his own life to avoid it. Raskolnikov on the other hand, did not avoid suffering – he conquered it. Though before his crime he did ask the Hegelian question of â€Å"Will this crime serve a noble purpose,† he also asks the Nietzschean question of â€Å"Do I dare commit this murder and therefore prove myself to be a man by proving that my will is strong? † It is after this that he commits the crime and begins to endure this suffering. Unlike his rival, Svidrigailov, Raskolnikov overcomes his pain through salvation with the help of Sonia, ends his isolation, and returns to the humanity of society. Karl Marx (1818-1883) believed that society was the root of suffering. His common man, the proletarian, struggled because of the capitalistic bourgeoisie. He believed that â€Å"the proletariat goes through various stages of development. † The first stage is the struggle against the bourgeois, which later turns to suffering. Through the growth of the masses, the final stages of the common man of strength and victory evolve. The goal and path of the Marxist man is to emerge from being a mere commodity of society into being a creative and active member of it. The strength that allows him to do this is the realization that he is suffering because he lives for others, and his victory is obtained by overcoming this anguish through the bond of the proletariat. Though Raskolnikov does not face the same pain of worthlessness as the proletariat, he develops in the same fashion. He struggles against his inner emotions of reason and morality, and suffers because of it. Though Sonia and Porfiry contribute to his salvation, it is Raskolnikov himself that overcomes his emotions. He does not need the bond of the masses to aid him in his survival and path toward salvation; he only needs the bond of his inner rational and emotion states. This is why Raskolnikov survives. In 1859 the theorist Charles Darwin (1809-1882) published a controversial book of survival entitled The Origin of Species. In this work Darwin established that an organism’s evolution or devolution in life is representative of their ability to conform, adjust, and survive within the harshness of its environment. This theory of â€Å"survival of the fittest,† later became the coined theme of Social Darwinism. Social Darwinism believes that man survives and prospers in nature because he is the organism that is fit enough to do so. In a battle between man verses nature, and even man versus society, only the strong shall survive, while the weak will parish. Faith and belief no longer have any bearing on the members of tomorrow’s society, only strength.   his theory is presented many times in Crime and Punishment. Alyona and Lizaveta both perish because they are not capable of defeating Raskolnikov. Alyona also did not survive because Raskolnikov’s beliefs were stronger than her will and intentions. Svidrigailov cannot conquer the constraints society has placed upon him, and in turn, he commits suicide. The only exception to this theory is Raskolnikov. His inner strength of intelligence may be strong, but his physical and emotional abilities do not coincide with Darwin’s notion of fit. Raskolnikov’s survival is from his redemption. He reaches salvation because he chooses to, and therefore he survives because he chooses to. He does this through his own realization and rationalization. The psychologist and theorist Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) believed that an individual’s decisions are not always determined by the rational state of mind. He believed that all humans possess three distinct decision making chambers of human behavior. He refers to the first of these as the id. The id is the childhood and instinctual need of the individual. This is the sector that satisfies an individual’s wants and desires, accomplishing them at no fear of risk. The second portion of human behavior is referred to as the ego. The ego is the rationalist, the sector that makes decisions that benefit the individual and society. Freud believed that the majority of all individuals make decisions based on their ego. The final and third division of an individual’s behavior is called the superego. The superego is the ideal individual. This individual makes decisions that should be made; he does things the way they should be done in his opinion, and no matter what the results may be, has no reason for regret. Though most of the characters in the novel make decisions based upon their ego, it is evident and apparent that Raskolnikov does not. He knows what he believes to be right and wrong, and tries to right the wrongs in society with his superego. Though he is the only one to use his superego, all of the other Freudian sections of human decisions exist in the work. Throughout the novel, Svidrigailov uses his id. His encounters with women, prosperity, and fortune are not prolific because he deserves them, but because he wants them. It is his id that leads him to his desire for an end to suffering, and his death near the end of the novel. Sonia and Dounia both rationalize their actions through their ego. Though Sonia does not and should not be a prostitute, she knows that it is the only way for her family to survive. Dounia is in a similar predicament. She did not wish to marry Luzhin, but his wealth and proposal to help Raskolnikov rationalized her to stay. Later, her ego permits her to marry Razumihin for his compassion, admiration, and companionship. This use of the id, ego, and superego supply a Freudian element to Dostoevsky’s work. With all of these theories analyzed, computed, and settled, we can end this critique where we began: â€Å"I teach you the Superman. Man is something that has to be surpassed. What have you done to surpass him? † Is Raskolnikov a Superman? Well, he follows Kierkegaard’s existential statement of â€Å"I believe, therefore I am,† which means that he surpasses the common man who merely â€Å"thinks. † Through the ideas of Hegel, his teleological movements from crime to punishment all serve a justified purpose in benefiting his moral and rational states. He overcomes the common man through the salvation he obtains from this linear evolution of trials. He suffers not from Marxist classes, but from internal struggle, excluding him as a member of the proletariat, or common man. Though not physically or emotionally fit to survive, his confession becomes his salvation, his survival, and his disclaimer in the Darwin theory of surviving. The common man may survive because he is fit to survive, but Raskolnikov survives because he chooses to survive. Unlike Freud’s theory that the everyday man lives his life through his ego, Raskolnikov makes his decisions based on his superego, doing things not just because it would be rational, but because that it the way it should be done. So then, â€Å"Is Raskolnikov a Superman? † Yes.

Twains A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court essays

Twains A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court essays King Arthur becomes the butt of Mark Twain's satire in "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." As Twain often does, his vision of life in King Arthur's court is quite different than the life that Thomas Mallory presents in "Le Morte D'Arthur." This paper will examine how Twain depicts King Arthur as an individual that comes across as nothing more than In contrast to Arthur's court, in "Le Morte D'Arthur," Hank sees a very different court life. Mallory's King Arthur is always seen with nobility and respect. On the other hand, Hank notices the stark contrast between classes. The king is presented as a man who revels in storytelling and apparently believes every story he is ever told. While the starving peasants wore tattered clothing, Arthur's Round Table was: as large as a circus ring; and around it sat a great company of men dressed in such various and splendid colors that it hurt one's eyes to look at them. They wore their plumed hats, right along, except that whenever one addressed himself directly to the king, he lifted his hat a trifle just as he was beginning his remark" (Twain 25). This scene leaves us with the impression that the aristocracy is arrogant and mindless of the ordinary citizens. Hank tells us that he "knew that the highest and first ladies and gentlemen in England had remained little or no cleaner in their talk, and in the morals and conduct which such talk implies, clear up to a hundred years ago" (34). Additionally, we learn that no one in the country can read except a "few dozen priests" (48). We can definitely see how the higher classes deprived the lower classes of many things that we consider absolutely essential for modern life. Interestingly, Hank likes the king regardless of his lack of refinery. He tells us, "Well, I liked the king, and as king I respected him respected the office; at least r...

My graduation speech by Neil Postman Essays

My graduation speech by Neil Postman Essays My graduation speech by Neil Postman Paper My graduation speech by Neil Postman Paper The Dominance of the Visigoth My Graduation Speech by Neil Postman encompasses power, brevity and depth. The main focus of this speech is to inform the reader of the two existing kinds of people, those who are morally upright and those who are morally depreciated. Through this speech, the reader is able to obtain an idea regarding the good aspect of humans from an Athenian point of view, which dates back to 2500 years ago. On the other hand, the idea regarding the bad aspect of humans originated from the Visigoth from Germany approximately 1700 years ago. The Visigoths every action would only embody their own selfish benefits, such as living to only overcome and supersede others, and in turn creating problems for them. As Postman mentioned, Visigoth ideas are predominant in society today, which can be proven through the material found in media today. The desire to fulfill the need of entertainment for the audience results in the creation of television shows lacking in both temperance and moderation, displayed in the television program Extreme Makeover. Furthermore, the desire to win and supersede others is shown in the exploitation of violence registered by the characters in the film Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Lastly, many stories in daily newspapers such as the Globe and Mail, further display many realistic examples of peoples actions encouraged by the need to work for their own selfish benefits, instead of exercising those intentions for the benefit of others. Kasemphaibulsuk2 The Visigoths discovered that the factors that intrigued and pleased the general masses should be the factors to be used to control them. To accomplish this, the Visigoths aimed to project their desire for power, popularity, and superiority through the television series Extreme Makeover. To further explain, Extreme Makeover displays the lavish idea of the creation of beauty in women in order to raise the television ratings to compete in the race to supersede the other television series airing (http://abc. go. com). The use of beauty as a selling point for a television series captures the interest of masses of women both young and old. Because of the masses of women in society today unwilling to accept how they look, these women would settle for watching it being done to the lucky few appearing on the show. From this, Extreme Makeover encourages its women audience of the fact that all dreams no matter how farfetched or hard to reach can be attained one day. Through this, Extreme Makeover has succeeded in finding a point of immense interest and providing it for the audiences entertainment. However, of course, the main purpose of the series is not to provide an encouragement to women of today, but to actually make money from the television ratings out of other peoples expense. The exploitation of other peoples dreams, goals, and ambition as a tool of marketing is an act unrestrained and uncontrolled, characteristic of the Visigoth character. Despite the fact that Extreme Makeover is such a depraved form of entertainment, many people continue to enjoy watching it. The reason for this persistence lies in the way people in society think, which seems to surprisingly project the values of the Visigoth. Through the film Mr. and Mrs. Smith, the main characters are portrayed as humans fanatical with the desire to fight, and to surpass the each other, which are all Kasemphaibulsuk3 ideas befitting the Visigoths. Mr. and Mrs. Smith is the story of a husband and a wife who are both assassins. They are not aware of each others hidden career of an assassin in the beginning of the film. However, in the end their secrets are exposed when they are hired to kill each other. The fights, the violence, and all the hectic jumble of the plot are all Visigoth characteristics. The characters in the film care only about their own affairs, and none of the world and the environment around them (www. imbd. com). Despite the fact that all these ideas encompassed in the film are against tradition, society appears to be all right with them, which further shows that society views the Visigoths ideas as nothing out of place or wrong for that matter. Through this film, it is evident that the producer of the movie created all the violence, fights, and the hectic jumble to create one intriguing plot to captivate mass audience attention. From this, the producer aims to make a profit, instead of projecting meaningful ideals that the audience can actually learn from and apply to their life. Being self-centered is the act of being inconsiderate to others and lacking in ethics, which is another Visigoth idea. Found in the Globe and Mail, the article Upgrade how far will you go? informs the reader of the countless ways to lie to the staff in the airport for the chance to upgrade their seats, which shows that the Globe and Mail is full of Visigoth ideals that the means of achieving comfort in life is clever, and should be shared among everyone (Globe and Mail, T6). In another article, After all it was only public money, depicts the idea that people in society will do anything because of their greed. This article tells of the greed of Paul Coffin, who is an ad executive, a remorseless invoicer, and an Olympic biller, who feigns to act as a moral as possible, but Kasemphaibulsuk4 in reality is guilty of countless cases of corruption. (Globe and Mail, A25). The mask and pretense that a self-centered person creates reflects societys lack of honesty and ethics, all characteristic of a Visigoth. The evilness of Visigoth outnumbers the epitome of beauty, reason, and moderation. The immoral and deprecating values of a Visigoth appear on popular television programs such as Extreme Makeover, in films such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, which motivates its audience to violence, and in real life of people who appear in news articles in the newspaper. According to Postman, the numbers of people who view the world in the Visigoth perspective outnumber the number of people who think like Athenians. Nothing is needed to be said that the majority of people do things for themselves, lack the sense of community, reject tradition, use rude language, work on grotesque art, and learn to win other people or to make money, and create problems to other people for their own power. The history of humans and the imagination of people are all rooted in Visigoth ideals. Kasemphaibulsuk5. Work Cited Hayden, Scott. After all, it was only public money. Globe and Mail 24 Jan. 2005: A25. Knight, Jeff. About the Show. June 26 2005. ABC, Inc. 24 Jan. 2005 http://abc. go. com/primetime/extrememakeover. Liman, Austin. Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005). June 26 2005. IMDB. Earths Biggest Movie Database. 24 Jan. 2005 www. imdb. com/title/tt0356910.

City of God Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

City of God - Essay Example Considering the type of theme presented in the story, this article will use the movie to analyze various planning issues in the film like urban slum and physical environment, urban crime and youth gang, lack of social and economic mobility and the importance of Education. The movies is a perfect depiction of life in the urban slums since it presents many incidence which are slums-like. The movie presents various lifestyles that relates to the slums style of living, from how people relate to the type of business carried out. First, the movies shows that in the urban slums people usually do not have homesteads where they can enjoy their privacy. This is shown at the beginning of the movie when the gang chases after chicken which obviously was not there’s. The gang chasing the chicken, shows that no individual have privacy in the city instead they live in plots. This is a perfect description of the today’s urban slum life where individuals usually live in places they rent besides other individuals. Further, the movie also presents the real traits of individuals living in the slums. When the gang meets Rocket, he (Rocket) presents a strong feeling that the gang were likely to kill him. This is a vivid description for the lawlessness existing in the physical environment of the urban slums. ... This depiction of lawlessness also makes the movie to be relevant as it presents a real life in the urban slums with how the people are trying to life. Most of the governments always presents little support to the people living in the urban slums. Consequently, it is possible to conclude that the movie presents sarcasm to the governments who usually live far from the people in the slums. The theme of the movie can also be depicted in the taligne, â€Å"if you run, the beast catches; if you stay, the beast eats† (Netfix,2002). This taligne is a good interpretation of what is happening in the slums where individuals do not know the fate of what they are doing. In proper English, the taligen means that an individual there are both positive and negative consequences of doing something good or bad. They have to do it whether it is bad or good, since there is no authority to regulate the actions. Urban crimes and youth gang The plot of the movie comes out to be crime oriented, with presentation of the youth gangs, who an individual can depict as the ones controlling the whole city. The youth gang does what they feel like at any time, with the public having no objection but to accommodate them. From the beginning of the movie, the movie depicts a gang chasing after a chicken, which is obviously not theirs. Further, the gang also meets Rocket and the only thing coming in his mind is that they are likely to kill him. This depicts a region where crime is the talk of the day, with no action taken by the authorities. The people in the region live by the â€Å"law† set by the crime perpetrators. To show that the people live by crime, the movie depicts three thieves whom there is job is to loot the existing business while taking part of their loot to the people. This is

Analysis of Current Issues in Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analysis of Current Issues in Finance - Essay Example On one side, the change process must be rapid and fast while on the other hand the process of supporting the information technology systems consists of improving on the multifaceted interrelation. Their repercussions on the expected change can normally be dependably managed by letting various people involved. Therefore, the procedures involved in the organizational change call for both managerial competencies and analytical skills in coping with high level of convolution to concentrate on the process (Van, 2001; p. 112). All the tasks call for the incorporation of individuals who have unique views such as business experts, senior management or IT-professionals. Hence it is critical for the efficiency of management of change to enhance the process of communication over such professional cultures. There are various ways to research and boast the organizational change process. Majority of the methods are found on social and psychological dimensions. Other areas comprise of change in man agement, organizational learning, enhancement of communication, images within the organization and organizational culture. These strategies amount to a good comprehension of the process of change, focus on the fundamental aspects of success and thus enhance the management and design of the process of change. ... The terms given by the respective language of modeling encourage the analysis, transformation and evaluation of the models (Van, 2001; p. 115). The procedures for modeling support various views on an organization like tactical view, as a business procedure or an IT perspective. It tends to be considerable to execute conceptual models for evaluation, designing, introduction of information systems and for the procedure of organizational change in common. Nonetheless, the application of the conceptual models for the purpose of organizational change has to overrule two stumbling blocks. Most managers are hesitant to deal with the conceptual models on top of the availability of economic assessment of models even if they are taken to establish they lead to more expenses (Audretsch & TTS, 2013; p. 293) Found on the presumption that there is no valid process to evaluate the general cost and benefit, there is need to assess the models in different views. Control of the organizational change i s found on an efficient evaluation of the corporate strategy, challenges in the future period, major resources and organizational environment. This comprise of for example, the evaluation of evolving and changing markets, the evaluation of core rivals, the analysis of the IT and human resources on top of evaluation of the main business processes. An enterprise’s conceptual models pledge to encourage processes of change in the organization in different dimension. By concentrating on the major abstractions, they enable the reduction of the entire intricacy. The particular intention of language modeling must give terms that encourage evaluation and analysis. For example, a language for designing business process might comprise of terms like use of resources and media conflicts