The Pequot War - A History

Making A New Department From Within Sterility Assurance...

I would like to talk about a challenge which I faced at my present job. I work in quality control group of a pharmaceutical company making sterile injectable drugs. I was given the responsibility to start a new department from within sterility assurance and microbiology. The new department was given the responsibility of environmental monitoring of all the production areas. We aseptically fill different drugs in multiple filling rooms. Air in these and supporting areas is controlled by HEPA filtration and is positively pressurized. My department’s job was to monitor the air and surface quality of these rooms. We monitor both the non-viable (particles in the air) as well as the viable (microorganisms) particles in the air inside these†¦show more content†¦In one of my previous job also, I was given a similar assignment and there I took sufficient of time to hire the best fits since there were not many candidates fitting the requirements. That delay in hiring delayed t he start of the assignment, which was not liked by the upper management. Learning my lesson from that experience, I hired the required number of personnel within a short period. I trained them quickly and got them to work within a short period of time. Although, I hired them quickly to start the work but I found out after some time that few of them were not good workers. Since we were part of the quality control, I wanted the best quality out of all my folks but some of them were not up to those standards. I had to spend extra time to retrain them and teach them the concept of aseptic techniques and details about our sampling methods. I was able to bring most of them to those standards but two of them did not understand the process fully and were making lots of mistakes on a daily basis. They posed a big challenge for me since even after repeated training sessions; they did not understand the whole process. I did not want to let them go since both of them badly needed their job. As a solution to this issue, I assigned them less challenging work with lesser responsibilities, so that they make less

A Critical Analysis of Death Metal Songs free essay sample

A Critical Analysis of Death Metal Songs BY Schistose While I wouldnt say that I have the broadest musical taste, I believe that I do have a taste for music outside of my main genre hip hop. For most of middle school, and a bit of high school, I listened to rock and pop bands such as Breaking Benjamin, Skillet, The Black Eyed Peas, and Three Days Grace. Therefore, I would not consider myself ignorant or close-minded towards other genres of music. I appreciate good music when I hear it, regardless of the genre.That being said, I seriously do not understand why fans of death metal enjoy the music specifically the band Cannibal Corpse. I listened to their most popular songs Make Them Suffer and Hammer Smashed Face hoping to find something likeable about It and I could not. I had preconceived notions regarding the song titles but my mom taught me to never judge a book by its cover, so I listened. The first thing that set me off when giving these songs a try was the overwhelming instrumentals (heavy electric guitar and drum use) that made it hard to hear/ understand the lyrics.Good instrumentals are important characteristics of a successful song, but dont necessarily mean the song is bad without them. Next, I read along the lyrics while listening to the songs and I did not Like the lyricism at all. The text spoke of death, agony, and other malicious acts being performed or felt by people. When I listen to music, I tend to stick to upbeat artists that sing on inspirational material, with the occasional stereotypical rap song thrown in when looking for a song to have fun to. I suppose that may have been my own bias when listening to death metal.I try to have a beginners mind when trying something new but the song titles, Instrumentals, and lyrics gave off the vibe of satanic and demonic-type music hat made me feel uneasy when listening to death metal. The first song that I listened to by Cannibal Corpse was Make Them Suffer. I searched popular songs by this music group and found this, hoping that since it was popular it would be the type of song to open me up to this type of music. Like I said before, I like to come into new things with an open mind so I tried not to let the song title throw me off and give me a biased pollen before listening.Unfortunately, the song did exactly what the title said to me. The heavy electric guitar, drums, and vocals called death growls together made an unpleasant sound that made it both arid to follow along and to take seriously as a respectable genre of music. Furthermore, lyrics such as Make them suffer! Make them plead for cessation, entirely demoralized and close to mass extinction Did not appeal to me. Immediately, I looked to the comment section of this Youth video to read what viewers found appealing about this music.Numerous people stated that the song was soothing, this is what I listen to when I want to relax, and after a hard day, this is what I needed. Others said that they related to this song with regards to how they felt about the world. A few also commented that it brought back pleasant memories for them. I wondered; What pleasant memories could be brought when listening to this song? What kind Perhaps these people have some repressed (or not-so-repressed) anger towards the Nor. I can only imagine what they have been through during their childhood or adolescence.It is a scary thought, honestly. But since I do not know their struggles, I can only continue to imagine. My ignorance was clearly showing, so I decided to think of the positives and see from the point of view of fans of this music. It seems like Cannibal Corpses music would be great to pump you up for a workout at the gym. No couldnt get pumped up when listening to such fast paced, heavy music? The second song I listened to by the Cannibal Corpse was Hammer Smashed Face. The lyrics in this song were a bit more brutal than the first song as the title may suggest.The guitar riff, drums, and vocals were very intense. Some lyrics from the song included: Eyes bulging from their sockets with every swing of my mallet I smash your bucking head in, until brains seep in through the cracks, blood does leak distorted beauty, catastrophe steaming slop, splattered all over me. I was speechless upon reading those lyrics. What about that is appealing? How can any normal, non- psychotic person enjoy listening to these lyrics? I thought to myself. To answer this inquiry, I interviewed a couple friends of mine that would call themselves fans of death metal.My first friend, Shannon, said that she loves the riffs, how heavy it sounds, the anger behind it and the purpose. She described how there are different growls such as pig growls and that every vocalist has a different sound and technique. Another reason why I like it is because you get so many death metal bands that sound so different and its great fun exploring them all, she stated. My other friend, Yanking said he would also tell me what was appealing about this genre of music. The instruments behind it are amazing stimulating emotion and letting Ho feel the pain through the drums, guitars, and occasional violin Earning someone scream l am the man they couldnt hang, a force-fed son of romance. Took these hooks and kissed your head I killed twelve dead, baby! I am an addict running Inter, a closed door annihilator. Mother ere, burn buried in your bone garden! can really pump you up, but at the same time calm you down. pleaded to Yanking, asking what about these lyrics was interesting. The lyrics are usually amazing, deep, and brilliant. Unlike a lot of pop songs that are repetitive and cliche, metal music can add a beautiful-nightmare tone to the words.When I close my eyes listening to music like this, I see a gothic wonderland of a sort, and it makes me happy like a sparkly vampire would for most girls my age. I guess, I kind of am fan girl for the people I picture singing this Lovely and deathly. It was clear that Yanking has a strong love for death metal music and I respected that. Most of the feelings he associated with death metal were some of the same things I felt towards rap and hip hop. The instrumentals from some hip hop songs definitely stimulate happiness and elation, and not to mention again, great memories Vive had in the past.While I may not see why these commenters are fans of this music, I can sort of understand why they are fans of this music. Perhaps the same Nay Im a fan of rap/hip-hop, thats how they see their music. I have many memories Ninth rap and hip hop songs, and when I listen to them I get taken aback to the place I having. Death metal fans and I may have different definitions of good memories but can relate to the feeling of euphoria a song from the past can give you, and that just be what they experience. I did more research online to see fans reasons of enjoying the genre and to expand my understanding of this.One person said: l like the really heavy bass tone that comes with it, plus the lyrics are hilarious. They only sound the same because your ears are untrained. Something clicked in my mind when I read this. I could finally relate to death metal. Hated when people generalized hip hop, too! When people who primarily listen to a genre other then hip hop and I ask them on their opinion on hip hop, they usually say All hip hop sounds the same and All hip hop and rap sing about is money, girls, ND drugs. In fact, they are Just generalizing hip hop when songs in the genre come in many different styles, artists, and song topics. Those rookie listeners has an untrained Just as I am to genres outside of the one they would call their own. I realized that the same way outsiders would criticize hip hop music was the same way I was on the outside looking in on death metal. Im now sure that death metal has many different sound, but I may Just be too ignorant to be able to distinguish the differences or appreciate the sound and lyrics in the songs I listened to. I have learned a lot about the genre of death metal and actually life through the process of completing this assignment.When youre on the outside looking in, it is hard nearly impossible to Judge the inside accurately. While Im on the outside looking in at death metal music, would generalize the genre and think that it all sounds the same. This was the most eye-opening part of this whole assignment. I Nas Judging death metal and the band Cannibal Corpse on the basis of a 2 songs. Nile, in the past people have wrongly Judged rap and hip hop the same way. I was being a hypocrite by doing the same thing with another music genre. At first, I found it hard to understand what fans of this genre found entertaining and enjoyable about it.However, after listening to Cannibal Corpse songs, interviewing fans, and conducting online research I began to get some understanding about how the fans eddied this. While I still wouldnt consider myself a fan of Cannibal Corpse or death metal, I can respect other peoples taste of music more. Personally, taste has been shaped through my environment, memories and life experiences Vive had with this music. Now I understand that this could also be the same for fans of death metal, and thats why they enjoy the music.I have learned to not let my ignorance get the best of me because I dont like when others ignorantly Judge something I feel strongly about if they are misinformed. It is important to explore a new idea/event/topic vigorously before giving a definite Judgment on it. And even then you may still not be in the position to give a fair, accurate review of it. Thats where opinions come into play since we cannot all be expert of every area, so we give our premature thoughts on a subject. I consider this assignment as a great learning experience and I will keep this new value and teach it to others from now on.

Staffing and Marketing New Disney Theme Park at Slovakia

Executive Summary Visitors are the key factors of the theme parks and therefore the management must take into consideration the major influencing factors. Theme parks in Europe receive over 60 million visitors annually but this number is considerably low compared to U.S. This is attributed to geographical factors and national appeal. In addition, there is considerably high competition from the local museums and historical parks.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Staffing and Marketing New Disney Theme Park at Slovakia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In order to gain competitive advantage new theme park must get it right on it’s marketing and staffing strategies. Disneyization is used to describe the process through which Disney Company has been able to penetrate different markets globally and forms parts of its marketing and human resource strategy. Introduction Overview Clave (2007) defines theme park as a gated attraction that includes rides and shows in a themed surrounding, offering ticket price for its visitors and attracts at least a half a million visitors annually. A more comprehensive definition of theme parks was given by Economic Research Associates (2008, p. 5). They define a theme parks as a capital exhaustive, highly developed, self-sufficient space which charges admission invariably. Theme park facilities are normally arranged in a thematic fashion and may represent physical or historical features. These themes are important to the operations of the park since they generate a feeling of attachment in a setting which is a complete contrast of the real world. However, it should be noted that there is a distinction between the commercial theme parks and the outdoor museums or historic theme parks. The latter focuses less on commercial aspects and there main goal is to preserve historical/national heritage and for public education. Theme parks are more intricate than the n ormal city parks or recreational spots. Theme parks have a blend of attractions which can be classified into a number of categories. They include ecstasy rides, family rides, water attractions, dark rides and roller coasters. The main source of revenue for the theme parks comes from the gate charges. There are also standard admission for pay-one-price Park and charges for some services excluded from the admission charge (Davis, 1996, p. 400).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Visitors are the key factors of the theme parks and therefore the company must take into consideration the major influencing factors. The most frequent visitors in the theme parks are normally families and friends (Clave, 2007, p. 5). According to Jafari (2000, p. 683) Theme parks in Europe recorded more than 60 million attendance which represented a 3 percent growth compared to the previous year. Howeve r, these European parks are stagnant compared to their counterparts in U.S. This is attributed to geographical factors and national appeal. Each European country has a unique park and a lead market. Besides Disney parks, European theme parks are local ones. Brief Account of the Disney Company The company was established in 1923 in Burbank as a cartoon studio by the two Disney brothers (Walt Disney and Roy Disney). Three years later the company created two movies and purchased a studio in Hollywood, California. Logistic problems nearly led to the demise of the company but it was saved by the designs of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. Later on the company managed to secure merchandise licensing, complete animated pictures, TV programs, live action movies and ,of course, one of the company’s grand project, a theme park by the name Disneyland (Bryman, 1995, p.3). The first Disney Park was opened in Anaheim in 1955. The company maintained its success and became under the control of Roy after Walt died. In the past few years, the company has expanded its market through cables and creating subdivisions such as Touchstone to make films instead of the typically family-oriented fare. During 70s and 80s the company was on the edge of being taken over but everything got well thanks to the team of experts who have ensured that the company maintains its traditions of brilliance to date. Walt Disney is a global company operating four major commercial divisions: Media Networks, Studio Entertainment, Parks and Resorts and Consumer products (Bryman, 1995, p.5). The company’s main challenges are: exceptionally large workforce, repeated change in leadership and towering operating costs. Company’s expansion means increased number of employees and complex structure. This becomes even more complicated with the company’s tendency to change its corporate officers now and then (Davis, 1996, p. 403).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Staff ing and Marketing New Disney Theme Park at Slovakia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Even though there are very many positive elements associated with expansion and change is leadership, this can also result in too much struggle and massive expenditure. Large number of workforce and fixed assets normally leads to increased operating costs and this cost is passed to the consumers. No visitor will be willing to pay for a ticket price that is above $35 and therefore the company must strictly regulate their operating cost to match the price customers are willing and able to afford for their goods and services (ERA, 2008, p. 16). Walt Disney Company has experienced abundant external opportunities, for instance, governments’ attitudes towards their operations, barriers of entry, massive number of loyal visitors and the entertainment industry. Officials and government forces have been identified through experience as being part of the negative external aspects of the company (Weinraub, 1995, p. 12). However, some governments have even helped to fund a number of the company’s project; for instance, French government donated $1.2 billion to help the company build transport facilities and even offered it tax reliefs (Smith Clark, 1999, p. 59). The purpose of the Report The main purpose of this report is to come up with a staffing and marketing requirements needed to create a new Walt Disney theme park in Slovakia to attract more tourists from Eastern Europe. The report will act as a guide during staff recruitment and deciding on the best marketing strategies. Marketing Disney Theme Parks in Eastern Europe The term ‘Disneyization’ has been used to refer to the process through which principles of the Disney theme parks dominates all aspects and different sectors of the society. Disneyization is presented as encompassing four facets: dedifferentiation of consumption, merchandising, theming the soc iety and emotional staff. The origin of Disneyization in theories of consumerism and consumer culture is the concept of McDonaldization. McDonalization is a term that has been used to refer to how the McDonald restaurants managed to incorporate their culture in the U.S. society and the rest of the world (Ritzer, 1993).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Ritzer (1993) McDonalization comprised of four dimensions and these are efficiency, calculability, predictability and control. These dimensions were drawn from Disney parks and other theme parks. However, the idea of Disneyization was introduced to reflect and build upon the proposition that there is more to theme parks than McDonald institutions (Ritzer, 1993). Theming is the first and obvious element of Disneyization and involves theming different areas of economic life. There are numerous themed recreational facilities, which draw on famous and accessible cultural themes as hip-hop and other types of music, sports, movies, personalities, geography and history. Examples of the theme restaurants include Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, Harley Davidson Cafe, and Fashion Cafe among others. Most of these themed restaurants are not sought after because of their food, but because of the sounds ands sight that are constitutive of the themed environment (Ritzer, 1993). Theme d pubs and restaurants are very popular in U.S., Europe and a number of Asian countries. Theming can also be extended to famous landmarks in the country, transport facilities, shopping malls, supermarkets, schools and other social facilities. These have helped to incorporate Disney principles and culture into the society and can be adopted in Slovakia and other countries in Eastern Europe to market the company’s theme park (Davis, 1996, p. 399). The company’s founder used theming as a device for differentiating his vision from tasteless and mucky amusement parks to which he had taken his children. He noticed that many parents like him visited these parks just to appease their children. As a result of this, he felt the urge to create a park that would also accommodate adults. As a matter of fact, he was more successful to this regard since the number of adults who visits the park at the moment has more than tripled the number of children. Therefore, the goal of the comp any’s founder and his successors was to use theming as a mechanism of appealing to both adults and children and to differentiate Disneyland from amusement parks. For that reason the New Disney Park in Slovakia should lace many of the attractions and environment with captivating nostalgia that would have direct appeal to both adults and children (Bryman, 1995, p. 15). Theming accomplishes two major things. First, it creates a connection between the park facilities and attractions and the environment in which it is located. Second, the designs of rides and attractions are placed on their themes instead of the thrill factor which was common in the traditional amusement parks. Disney ‘lands’ (distinctive subdivisions in the park) should be presented through structural design, scenery, costuming, live entertainment, attractions, products and food and beverages that reflects the local/regional cultures and historical/national sites. In each land, theme intrusions and d istractions should be minimised to ensure visitors becomes totally submerged in its ambience (Davis, 1996, p. 404). Dedifferentiation of consumption denotes the broad-spectrum trend whereby the forms of consumption and institutional principles are interlocked together and increasingly become very hard to differentiate. The new Disneyland can be used as vehicle for selling food and several goods. It should not only act as a house of attractions but also a context for shopping. This will help to market the theme park far and beyond Slovakia (Bryman, 1995, p. 16). Disney theme park concepts have been used to optimize the mix of goods in stores within the theme parks and are highly profitable and can achieve the maximum sales per square metre for retail stores. Therefore, tendency for shopping, eating, hotel accommodation and theme park visiting should become inescapably entangled. Dedifferentiation of consumption should encompass main terminals, national museums and heritage attraction s where visitors are forced to exit through miniature theme parks with Disney products and services. The company should also engage local restaurants in a form of dedifferentiation, for instance linking there range of foods with Disney Cartoon characters and films. Some of them should attach themselves to the opening of the new Disney theme parks by offering free gifts to the visitors (Davis, 1996, p. 410). Merchandising is also another marketing strategy that can be used by the company. Merchandising refers to the marketing of products in the form of or bearing patent images and logos of Disney Corporation. This is a realm in which the company has been most excellent and can be replicated in Slovakia and the whole Eastern Europe. Instead of using Disney cartoon characters, the company can chose to promote some of the products and services offered in the theme park in this manner (Davis, 1996, p. 408). Merchandising is one of the most effective marketing tools since it enhances the emotional attachment among the Disney funs and has long term advertising effect. Disney merchandise range from clothing, to books, sweets, watches, and other domestic products (Johnson, 1991, p. 40). The company’s Studio and Entertainment division can also play a significant role in marketing the new theme park. They can produce and distribute animated action films, music recordings, home entertainments with local and regional contents. Use of local and regional scenes, music and culture will make the Slovaks and other citizens of the Eastern Europe to feel like being part of the larger Disney family. The company can also resort to the conventional advertising and marketing strategies to complement Disneyization. These include the use of billboards and other local and international mass media (Jafari, 2000, p. 685). Staffing On New Disney Theme Park in Slovakia The changing nature of the global economy requires new innovations and strategies in organizations so as to continue with competitive advantage. These comprise training and development of the human resource to enhance productivity and overall business performance. Organizations are taking huge risks by spending greatly on human resource training and development. Business executives analyze innovation as one of their top most challenges. Innovation in this case refers to upgrading the human resources to meet the new challenges posed by the dynamic global economy (Dessler, 2008). Strategic human resource management is considered as a method of management which aims at managing the employees with the motive of achieving an efficient competitive advantage. Strategic human resource management is considered as the supervision of the contributions of the employees to the organization in order to accomplish a desired objective, therefore, an organization with well organized and reliable staff members is in a good position to achieve a competitive edge. Cortese (2003) recommended that organizational strat egies must take the form of a process of continuous learning, in which at the limit, preparation and execution becomes impossible to tell apart. He proposes that organizations should generate, develop and maintain excellent business designs capable of taking advantage of its strategic landscape and business environment beyond the lifetime series of changes in an organization. This can only be achieved through self-organizing process of the individual employees. He acknowledges the role of strategic planning and the formation of networks since individual errors may have severe impact in the organization as a whole. The resource based theory, also known as the resource based view of the firm, is one of the latest strategic management concepts to be enthusiastically embraced by marketing scholars (Dessler 2008). This theory focuses mainly on the resource base a firm has other than the finished products of the firm. A firm gains competitive advantage by suitably employing its resources in production. Competitive advantage here refers to the state where the firm adopts strategies of production which add value to the resources and these strategies are not common in the competing firms. Hill et al (2006) confirm that resource diversity and resource immobility are the two main hypotheses that the resource based theory of the firm are based on. Many authors have been relatively silent about the nature of work in Disney theme parks. But it clear from Ritzer (1993) that since the company incorporates scientific management and principles of the Ford Corporation, working in the theme park tend to be dehumanizing and isolating. He emphasized that there is more to theme park jobs than simple clerical jobs found in many industries. Ritzer drew attention to the fact that besides the normal desk skills, service work also entails self control through emotional labour, which he defines as ‘an act of articulating socially desires emotions during service transactions’. According to Leidner (1993) besides controlling how these workers interact with the clients, the company should also control how they view themselves and their feelings. However, there are still uncertainties on how far emotional labour is associated with theme park jobs. Leidner (1993) stress that service sector such as theme parks demands employees who are amusing, jovial, ever smiling, and courteous and those who take pride in their work. Therefore, this type of job requires overt behaviours and less of introverts. Emotional labour should be epitomized by Disney theme parks. The character of employees in the theme park should be managed in many ways and regulated through a scripted interactions and promoting of emotional labour should be one of the principle aspects (Davis, 1996, p. 412). Friendliness and helpfulness among the Disney theme park employees is well-known all over the world and has been praised by many visitors. The conduct coupled with distinctive language of the c ompany is intended among other things to express the impression that the workers are also having fun and therefore are not taking part in real work. Therefore, the new Disney theme park in Slovakia should ensure that the staff hired have the attributes typical of the Disney employees and satisfactorily trained to master and improve on the necessary skills. Walt Disney University was specifically built to inculcate the essential training and teaching of Disney vocabulary to the new recruits. According to the founders of this institution, the fundamental element of the early training approach was to inculcate friendly phrases in addition to a friendly smile (Clave, 2007, p. 6). Conclusion Visitors are the principle component of the theme parks and therefore companies must ensure all the influencing factors are taken into consideration. Sustainability of the theme parks can only be ensured if they maintain the existing clients and attract more visitors. Theme parks in Europe receive co nsiderably high number of visitors annually but this number is relatively low compared to U.S theme parks. This is attributed to geographical factors and socio-economic factors. In addition, there is considerably high competition from the local museums and historical parks. Therefore, marketing and staffing policies for the new theme park must be set right. Disneyization is used to describe the process through which Disney Company has been able to penetrate different markets globally and forms parts of its marketing and human resource strategy. In addition, the company can use the conventional marketing strategies to complement Disneyization. These may include use of billboard, wall paintings, printed fliers and advisements through local and regional mass media. References Clave, A. (2007). The global theme park industry. Oxfordshire: CABI. Cortese, A. D. (2003). The critical role of higher education in creating a sustainable future. Planning for Higher Education, 31(3), 15-22. Brym an, A. (1995). Disney and his Worlds. London: Routledge. Davis, S.G. (1996). The theme park: global industry and cultural form. Media Culture and Society, 18, 399-422. Dessler, G. (2008). Human resource management. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs. ERA. (2008). Theme Park Attraction Attendance Report 2007, Burbank, p.16. Hill, C.W.L. Jones, G.R., Galvin, P. (2006). Strategic management: an integrated approach. Milton, Australia: John Wiley and Sons. Jafari, J. (2000). Encyclopaedia of Tourism. London/New York: Routledge, pp.683-690. Johnson, R. (1991). A strategy for service-Disney style. Journal of Business Strategy, 12, 38-43. Leidner, R. (1993). Fast Food, Fast Talk. Berkely, CA: University of California Press. Ritzer, G. (1993). The McDonaldization of Society. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge. Smith, D., Clark, S. (1999). Disney: The first 100 years. New York: Hyperion, 59-60. Weinraub, B. (1995, April 9). Clouds over Disneyland. The New York Times, p. 12. This report on Staffing and Marketing New Disney Theme Park at Slovakia was written and submitted by user Mat Moth 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.

The Road Not Taken- Analysis essays

The Road Not Taken- Analysis essays I chose the poem because I happened to recall Robert Frosts name when viewing a database of poems on the internet, and I remembered that the poems we read earlier as a class by Frost were well written and appealed to me. This specific poems ties in with the theme of our English class, identity and that is why I chose it. I think the theme of this poem is choice, the act of making a decision that involves a lot of contemplating. Its not a simple decision such as what to wear or what to eat, but something deeper, a decision that can impact ones entire life. We make millions of decisions every day and most of them require no thought, but decisions such as identity, choosing to be yourself, or choosing to be someone else are very serious. Its not the obvious decision, that everyone is themselves, because we are so heavily influenced by the media and our peers. Basically the author, Robert Lee Frost is talking about himself making a life decision that I think involves his identity. We can take example from this and apply this in our own lives. Have we taken the road less traveled by? In every decision there are always at least two choices (in this poem the two roads would be symbols for choices) and theres always a choice that is more common than the other. When it comes to identity, its a sad fact that many people take the popular road and leave the grassy one (the unpopular but genuine one). In the first stanza the author is confused, he has a dilemma and he looks at the obvious choice in front of him. He doesnt really know what he wants And sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler, hes facing a hard decision long I stood. The second stanza takes a look at the second choice the author has, this road is more grassy and wanted wear. I think this means that this choice is the one people take ...

Why We Have Factory Farming, and How to End It

Why We Have Factory Farming, and How to End It Factory farming is the intensive confinement of farmed animals raised for food. The technique was invented by scientists in the 1960s who knew that there was no way to continue feeding animal products to an increasing human population without a significant increase in efficiency. But if so many people are concerned about animal welfare and object to factory farming, why do we have factory farming? Scientists, economists, and farmers alike argue that in order to meet the demand for commercially produced meats, either too much land or too much food and fuel would be required to allow all animals used for that purpose the freedoms animal rights activists demand they have. Conversely, these animal rights activists argue the mistreatment and slaughter of animals for human consumption is not only inhumane but morally wrong. Why We Need Factory Farming Allowing cows, pigs, and chickens to roam free requires more land, water, food, labor, and other resources than factory farming. Roaming animals consume more food and water because they are exercising and therefore, in order to produce meat for human consumption, must be nourished accordingly or risk their meat being too tough or fatty. Furthermore, rounding up and transporting roaming animals requires manpower and fuel. Grass-fed animals also require more food because the animals gain weight slower on a grass diet than they do with a manufactured, concentrated feed. There are currently seven billion people on the planet, many of whom eat the animal products produced by factory farming. And while all animal agriculture is inefficient because crops are fed to animals instead of being fed to people directly, the increased inefficiency of allowing animals to roam free is the reason factory farming was invented and popularized. The Opposition to the Meat Industry From a more cynical perspective, factory farming exists because agribusiness cares nothing about the rights and welfare of the animals, and continues to lobby against any attempts to better the animals condition. However, giving the animals more room is not a feasible solution because we are already destroying our environment with animal agriculture. The solution is not to make animal agriculture more inefficient. The answer might be to move away from animal dependency as a culture entirely. From both an environmental perspective and an animal rights perspective, veganism is the only solution to factory farming. Some scientists predict that with modern consumption trends of cattle alone, the global demand will outweigh the supply, causing a shortage of beef and potentially the extinction of that source of animal protein.   Further, environmentalists argue that factory farming, especially of cattle, produces a high concentration  of methane that is released into the atmosphere, speeding global warming. Transport and processing of the meat itself also pollute the environment with dangerous waste byproducts.   Any way you look at it, factory farming is necessary for the continued consumption of animal meat and products - but is that the ethical way to move forward as a planet, and is it sustainable? Science says no, but the current legislature in the U.S. says otherwise. Perhaps it is time, as a nation, the United States move away from commercial farming altogether.

Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 13

Media - Essay Example ty and wearable technology has had profound implications on communication, interpersonal interactions, security and privacy and healthcare services provisions. One of the key significance of the mobility and wearable technology has been the facilitation of communication and interpersonal interaction (Ling, 2008).The extent of interpersonal interaction and communication is no-longer dependent on the physical proximity between parties. Wearable and mobile technologies have led to real time flow of information and data through the internet and social platforms such as face books. Subsequently, this phenomenon has transformed information technology into the most vital resources of our time. Socially, mobile technologies have further accelerated the globalization of the entire universe. Information can be shared by everyone on the globe through the internet. Furthermore, the social context of the wearable and mobile technology has been extended to nontraditional spheres of information technology such as provisions of healthcare services especially in the management of chronic disease such as mHealth services. Wearable technologies have proved e ffective in the management of diabetes through transmission of alerts and medical feedback to doctors. Similarly, users of wearable of technologies have been primarily driven by digital devices empowering abilities. By wearing them, users are frequently encouraged to check their fitness status, interact more with friends and strangers and triggering of social changes. Culturally, the mobile and wearable technologies have had significant impact on users’ lifestyles trends. Foremost, wearable technologies such a Google Glass has been inherently integrated into dressing fashion of its users through their design into cloths and accessories. Also, mobile device and smart phones have become a necessity even for communities in the developing world with the invention of Mpesa for mobile money transfer in Kenya. Interactive

1. St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, encouraged Essay

1. St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, encouraged his followers to live their lives in the service of others. How do you plan to serve others in your future endeavors - Essay Example Being a servant leader, I try and clean up my ethical or moral issues that would prevent me from leading and eventually serving others. To serve others, I plan to willingly do humble tasks such as creating time to take care of the sick, visit orphaned children, support the elderly when they need it and engage in clean up activities voluntarily. I will always try to be open to listen since people are more willing to share their struggles and experiences to persons who are free to others and hence I will be able to support them in any way that I can. When I choose to be honest and make impartial judgments that administer justice effectively, people will have more trust in me since they appreciate someone who is fair. Lastly by assisting others to nurture personal or professional values I will enable them to have a strong belief in themselves. In the long run, I acknowledge that by serving others, my rewards will be so much greater than if I were to serve with self-serving motives since I will be serving others and adding value to their

Teacher Tenure Essay Example for Free

Teacher Tenure Essay One issue among many issues in today’s education system is teacher tenure. The problem with teacher tenure is that it makes firing an incompetent teacher virtually impossible. Many teachers in public schools have tenure, according to Education Reporter; approximately 80% of public school teachers have tenure (â€Å"Why Bad Teachers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  1). This in turn then affects the amount the students learn and progress. In order for the education system to improve the problem of teacher tenure, needs to find a solution. The amount of time and money required to fire a tenured teacher makes it difficult to remove underperforming teachers, and affects students. Tenured teachers are difficult to be fired because of the amount of money and time required by the schools and state. In many states it can take almost a year to fire a tenured teacher, there are even some states where it could take over a year to fire a tenured teacher. According to ProCon.org, in the state of Michigan it can take up to 355 days to fire a tenured teacher (â€Å"Teacher Tenure† 1). In an Education Reporter article â€Å"Why Bad Teachers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  it states that the Ney York State School Boards Association found that it takes an average of 455 days to dismiss a tenured teacher (1). This process of firing a tenured teacher also costs the state a lot of money, according to ProCon.org a school in Los Angeles a three and a half million dollars to try and fire 7 under performing teachers (â€Å"Teacher Tenure† 3). Due to the amount of time and money required of the schools and states, they are not firing underperforming teachers. According to â€Å" Pro tecting Bad Teachers,† in a Chicago school district 28.5% of 11th grade students met or exceeded expectations on Chicago’s state standardized tests, only 0.1% of teachers were dismissed for performance related reasons between 2005 and 2006 (1). â€Å"Between 1995 and 2005, only 112 Los Angeles tenured teachers faced termination – eleven per year – out of 43,000. And that’s in a school district where the graduation rate in 2003 was just 51 percent, (â€Å"Protecting Bad Teachers† 1). As reported by ProCon.org in â€Å"Teacher Tenure,† 81% of school administrators reported that they knew of a poorly performing tenured teacher at their school; however 86% administrators said they do not always pursue dismissal, (1). The point is that teachers that are not meeting the standards still have their jobs, because the school districts and statescannot afford to spend the time and money on firing them; they therefore continue to teach and it directly affects student test scores and graduation rate. There are cases although where the school instead of firing the teacher they move them to different positions. In LA and San Francisco they pay suspended teachers to answer phones, work in ware houses, or just stay home. One case of a teacher being moved is that of Patricia Adams, her story can be found in the New Yorker’s article â€Å"The Rubber Room,† (2-3). In November of 2005, Adams was found unconscious in her classroom, the principal tried to wake her up but she did not wake up. A teacher at the scene reported that he could smell what he believed to be alcohol on her. Adams two years later returned to teach one last semester and then a secretary position, as long as she had not found another teaching job, and she would be required to have random alcohol testing. In February of 2009, she passed out in the office she worked in a drug and alcohol testing services technician was called to the scene and reported that Adams could not even blow into a breathalyzer and her water bottle contained alcohol. Adams was eventually fired, but cost the school and state a decent amount of money. People like Patricia Adams should be fired when the first incident occurs so they do not cost the state any more money. Tenured teachers that are under performing are not being fired because of the amount of money and time they cost states and schools. Underperforming teachers are not fired due to the amount of money and time required to fire them and in turn affect student’s learning. In some cases teachers that are not performing to standards are moved to â€Å"Rubber Rooms,† where they will do the least amount of â€Å"damage† to a student’s education, these rooms normally contain remedial students. However, there are some extreme cases where teachers are put in a room and are not responsible for students. In New York City according to The New York Daily News† there is an average of 700 teachers being paid not to teach, because it would cost too much to fire them, (â€Å"Protecting Bad Teachers† 2). In The New Yorker it describes a Rubber Room â€Å"It’s a June morning, and there are fifteen people in the room, four of them fast asleep, their heads lying on a card table. Three are playing a board game. Most of the others stand around chatting. Two are arguing over one of the folding chairs. But there are no children here. The inhabitants are all New York City schoolteachers who have been sent to what is officially called a Temporary Reassignment Center but which everyone calls a Rubber Room,† (The Rubber Room 1). The author then states that these teachers stay in the Rubber Room and get paid to do nothing for an average of three years. These teachers take money from the system and affect the students. A student’s success is dependent on consistently having a good teacher. As stated in the New Yorker, â€Å"Kids succeeding in school isn’t money spent on buildings or books, but, rather the quality of their teachers†¦ ‘having a top-quartile teacher rather than a bottom-quartile teacher four years in a row would be enough to close the black-white test score gap,’†(The Rubber Room 4). A student simply cannot be successful in school if they do not have a good teacher. Early elementary students can suffer long – term negative effects, even if they have good teachers later on. The way concepts build on each other throughout school make it very difficult to catch up after a year with a bad teacher. In the MET project it states â€Å"Teachers previously identified as more effective caused students to learn more. Groups of teachers who had been identified as less effective caused students to learn less,† (Ensuring Fair†¦Effective Teaching 3). The success of students relies on the effectiveness of their teachers. In order for the education system to improve, the majority of teachers need to be effective in their teaching styles. There are many different possible solutions to the problem with teacher tenure, including the Peer Intervention Program Plus, taking away tenure, and more effective ratings of teachers. The Peer Intervention Program Plus (P.I.P. Plus), is a program in which teachers suspected of incompetence are observed by a peer teacher for up to a year; at the end the peer then submits a report as to if the teacher was incompetent. This program would allow for the peer to help the teacher improve their teaching and keep the teacher before they would be fired. Another solution is to not have tenure anymore, schools would save money because they would not have to pay incompetent teachers and would not spend money to fire them. Tenure is not needed for some teachers to apply, according to ProCon.org; 900 teachers applied for 80 openings knowing there was no tenure (â€Å"Teacher Tenure† 1). More effective ratings of teachers would also help solve the issue of teacher tenure. These ratings should not be based solely on test scores but balanced with observations as well as student surveys. Many teachers receive one of the top two ratings, because the principals know they cannot fire bad tenured teachers anyways. Teachers could also be evaluated by â€Å"value-added scores,† with this system teachers add value when a student improves in a year. In conclusion the best overall best solution is a combination of the solutions suggested above. Joel Klein and Michael Bloomberg took over the New York school system and their success in the schools is described in the New Yorker. Klein and Bloomberg have a very aggressive approach to removing bad teaches, they also used P.I.P Plus. In the New Yorker school teacher Brandi Scheiner is quoted, â€Å"‘Before Bloomberg and Klein, everyone knew that an incompetent teacher would realize it and leave on their own†¦There was no need to push anyone out,’† (â€Å"The Rubber Room† 1). Bloomberg and Klein’s aggressive tactics to remove teachers have been successful, both graduation rates and test scores have improved since they took over. The principals also play a role in firing of teachers and are therefore responsible in pointing out incompetent teachers and removing them from teaching. An example of a pro-active teacher is Daysi Garcia; she is a princip al in Queens and according to Klein a standout principal. Garcia is motivated to remove incompetent teachers and in the New Yorker is quoted after spending 5 days testifying to remove a teacher, â€Å"‘when I think about the impact of a teacher like this on the children and how long that lasts, it’s worth it, even if it is hard,’† (â€Å"The Rubber Room† 5). Before the education system can improve principals need to step up and remove incompetent teachers. The issue of teacher tenure also needs to be resolved.

studying media Essay -- essays research papers

Much of what we know about the world, beyond our immediate experience, comes to us through the media. Media studies gives us the tools to respond thoughtfully and critically to media content, and recognise media productions as deliberate constructions rather than windows on reality. The ‘mediated’ society in which we live, is heavily shaped by the transfer of information. Many of our values, our ideas, and our knowledge of the world come from beyond our individual daily or immediate experience, usually via the media. They play a vital role in democracy, shaping citizens\' understanding of social and political issues and functioning as gatekeepers through which issues, and events must be passed. By studying the media, and understanding the implications of mass communication, we are able to develop an understanding of how things work, how people become informed, and misinformed, and how the myths and ideologies that govern all of our lives are created and sustained. The media are an important part of our lives for many reasons. Primarily, they help to keep us informed about current affairs, both in the world at large and on the home front. The media are a central part of our lives. Think about how much time we spend being ‘exposed’ to their product’s everyday and how many different ways it can be used. Everyday, we use the media for information and perhaps less willingly, we also accept the media as a source of persuasion, most notably through advertising. Another way in which media represents an important part of our lives is through the influence and power they hold in society. Although it is not always clear what influence is held or whether it is good or bad, the media are often blamed for many of the problems in today’s society, most commonly with reference to the portrayal of violence. There are a disturbingly large number of cases in which the perpetrator of a violent crime has cited a relationship to the media, and in some cases has admitted to imitating a character or scene from a film. Though the media are a prevalent part of our lives, we need to recognise that there are other influences that are as strong, or even stronger. Family, education, religion, and peer groups all help to shape our ideas, values, beliefs and behavior. Whilst it is generally accepted that Hollywood films may desensitise children to the consequences of violence, we shou... ...dia and the way it reacts is especially important in society today. Everyday, interpretations of texts are made available to us in the form of mass media such as newspapers and television and it is in our interpretation of these media texts where the basis of public opinion is formed. In summary, the study of media is a crucial tool for regulating what is said and what should not be said. It gives us the power of choice and the power to question. Its main concern is with helping us develop an informed and critical understanding of the nature of media, the techniques used, and the impact of these techniques. More specifically, it aims to increase understanding and enjoyment of how the media work, how they produce meaning, how they are organized, and how they construct reality. It teaches us to understand the enjoyment people derive from texts and how audiences may be manipulated and deluded by stereotypical material. It helps us to develop important critical insights, and generate questions rather than taking what we are told at face value. Most importantly, it empowers us, its students, with the knowledge required to be active consumers and producers of the media. Words: 1,102.

Leibniz: Theory of Monads

Introduction Whether ultimately correct or not, Leibniz rejects both Cartesianism and atomism. What ought not be missed is that throughout his objections Leibniz's focus never strays far from the mereological issues of wholes, parts, their unity, etc. Indeed, the very nature of his arguments against the mechanist project clearly demonstrate Leibniz's underlying concern for the problem of the continuum, which seems never very far from his mind. (Thompson) In rejecting Cartesianism, Leibniz's concern is with its inability to make sense of the whole, except at the expense of the reality of the parts. In rejecting atomism, his concern is with its inability to make sense of the parts, except at the expense of the unity of the whole. Neither can provide illumination sufficient to escape from the second labyrinth, and the entire mechanist project therefore finds itself impaled effectively on both horns of a dilemma. Since the problem of the continuum has so much relevance to the unity of substance, Leibniz considers mechanist philosophy inadequate. (Brown) Remaining entirely in character, it should not be surprising that Leibniz's own metaphysics is most fundamentally an attempt to reconcile the mechanistic philosophy to that of Aristotle. He attempts to take the best of each of these two systems and synthesize a new theory that manages to escape their individual defects. (Thompson)   Monads are the unit of substance which supposedly bridge the gap between the old and the new, and plug the holes in mechanist theories. Thus, it is with this in mind that his argument for the existence of monads must be examined, for it is the very heart of Leibniz's theory of substance. At the core of Leibniz's metaphysics one finds monads, which are dimensionless and â€Å"windowless† centers of force, the true substances that comprise the created universe. Infinite hierarchies of monads populate the continuum of all created things, each one mirroring the rest of the universe from its own unique point of view, expressing every other monad with a greater or lesser degree of clarity. Monads are the â€Å"metaphysical points†, so to speak, which are the indivisible, unified, and simple substances that are the foundation of the created world. (Mercer) Distinguishing Features of Leibniz's Ontology There are two particularly significant distinguishing features of Leibniz's ontology as a whole. In brief, Leibniz's ontology remains as true to his desire to be the great reconciler as it does to his expectations for substance, epistemology, and the problem of the continuum. This ought not be forgotten amidst the details that follow. Monads are a Synthesis of Old and New It is not surprising, in light of Leibniz's reconciliatory nature, that monads bear hallmarks of both Aristotelian and mechanistic philosophy. In terms of the former, they do the work of substantial forms, possessing an entelechy which guarantees that they unfold through time as they ought. In terms of the latter, they do the work of atoms, explaining how features in the phenomenal world (i.e., the macro-level world) come about as a result of changes of state in the real world of monads (i.e., the micro-level world). The monad is, by its very definition, designed to leverage the strengths of the two opposing theories, while simultaneously inheriting none of their defects. (Mercer) From this it is clear that Leibniz's theory of substance is determined by his expectations, and by the perceived failures of mechanism. In assembling it, Leibniz borrows liberally from what he considers the best features of the old and the new. Regarding those aspects in which Leibniz finds either of them inadequate, he crafts his own philosophy so that it avoids said inadequacies, essentially by definition. Qualitative, not Quantitative What is arguably most interesting and quite unique about this synthesis of systems is the shift in focus. To elucidate, Leibniz sees the mechanist philosophy as a fundamentally quantitative and extensive endeavor. The Cartesian defines the very essence of body as extension, which is quantitative in its extensive nature. Similarly, the atomist cannot help but construct the macro-level world by aggregation, through the grouping of many extended entities in the micro-level world, which is also quantitative by nature. Both variants of mechanism therefore sustain a quantitative and extensive view of the relationships between wholes and parts, explaining or reducing qualitative features of the macro-level world in light of or to quantitative features of the micro-level world. (Mercer) Given the problems he finds with quantitative theories, Leibniz concludes that that the correct theory must instead be uniquely qualitative and intensive, rather than quantitative and extensive, and this unique notion is given flesh along very Aristotelian lines. Latta (1965) provides the following apt description: Accordingly, the essence of Leibniz's argument is that a quantitative conception of the relation of whole and parts affords an inadequate theory of substance. The common element in the contrary positions of the Cartesians and the Atomists is the explicit or implicit reduction of qualitative to quantitative differences. And it appears to Leibniz that the solution of the dilemma is to be found in the opposite hypothesis, namely, that the essence of substance is non-quantitative, and that the relation of whole and parts must be conceived as intensive rather than extensive. Thus a ‘simple substance' has no parts, i.e. no quantitative elements, and yet it must comprehend a manifold in unity; that is to say, it must be real, it must be something, it must be qualitative, specifically determined. (p. 27). The suggested intensive view of the relations between parts and wholes is noteworthy for its novelty if nothing else. What Leibniz seems to have in mind is that the parts of a whole somehow â€Å"participate† in that whole, and similarly that the whole somehow â€Å"participates† in all of its parts. The nature of this participation isn't entirely clear, but it is certain that the conception Leibniz holds is not the traditional understanding of the part-whole relation. There is something deeper at work here, some understanding that is intended to allow both the parts and the whole to remain distinct and unified, the parts in themselves and the whole through its special relationship to the parts. (Thompson) What Leibniz seeks is some sense in which the whole somehow mirrors or expresses all of its parts, containing within itself the explanation for why the parts are precisely as they are. And similarly, the parts must somehow mirror or express the larger whole as well, containing within themselves their explanations, while also mirroring the explanation of the whole, albeit with a lesser degree of clarity. The important degree of mutual inter-participation is what is key to the more organic or holistic relationship Leibniz intends. (Swoyer) Despite the present vagueness, however, this much remains clear: Leibniz believes that the part-whole relation in genuine unities must be something far more special than other philosophical systems have taken it to be. Leibniz's use of monads is therefore intended not only to reconcile Aristotle with the mechanists, but also to lay the groundwork necessary to make such a special relationship logically possible and plausible. (Thompson) The Argument From â€Å"The Monadology† In the first few sentences of â€Å"The Monadology†, Leibniz gives one formulation of his argument for the existence of monads, a formulation which might be described most charitably as terse. Though this is not the only argument Leibniz gives for monads, it is probably the most well known. As early as 1671, for example, Leibniz argues for monads qua indivisible unextended things, though in a much different fashion involving the proper beginnings of extended entities. (1969, p. 139-140) Because his earlier argument is even more terse than the later argument it shall not be discussed any further. It is worth mentioning only because its similarities mark it as a clear precursor for Leibniz's later thinking on the subject. Further, Leibniz claims elsewhere that the existence of monads may be inferred from his doctrine of the pre-established harmony, though his reasons for this remain obscure. (1985, p.80) Returning to the better known argument of â€Å"The Monadology†, while it would be unreasonable to fault Leibniz for his brevity in making the argument, it is nevertheless the case that much remains to be said before the argument can be accepted, rejected, or even understood adequately. Because the monad is at the very heart of Leibniz's metaphysics, one might reasonably expect a more complete formulation of his argument to be possible, just as one might expect Leibniz's critics to focus their attacks upon that argument if monads qua simple substances are to be rejected. For the purposes of this essay, it is necessary to understand this argument and the issues underlying it in order to make clear precisely how Leibniz takes the monad to be united and simple. The following is Leibniz's argument for the existence of monads as given in â€Å"The Monadology†: The Monad, of which we shall here speak, is nothing but a simple substance, which enters into compounds. By ‘simple' is meant ‘without parts.' 2.  Ã‚   And there must be simple substances, since there are compounds; for a compound is nothing but a collection or aggregatum of simple things. (1989, p.213) Common Sense Observations Relevant Observations For Leibniz, the observations relevant to a theory of substance are those of entities in the world. As established already, Leibniz simply looks at the world and takes inventory of what he sees. Among the entities perceived he finds what might be called â€Å"macro entities† of a relatively mundane variety such as tables, chairs, rocks, streams, etc., as well as perhaps not so mundane macro entities such as plants, animals and persons. With the aid of the microscope, one may similarly perceive â€Å"micro entities† both mundane (e.g., crystals) and not so mundane (e.g., unicellular organisms). Further, with the aid of a telescope, one may perceive entities at the large end of the macro scale, if not, in fact, objects of an altogether different order of size. (Mercer) There are two primary points of interest as regards this body of observations. The first is that each entity, because it has extension, is divisible into parts. The second is that despite this divisibility into parts, the entities in question are more or less unities in some sense; i.e., each entity is numerically one, and it is what it is rather than something else. To put these two points a bit differently, this body of observations indicates that for all such objects there seems to be a unified whole, just as there seems also to be discernable parts, which are similarly real and unified. A third less interesting but important point is that in each case one seems to find entities at every scale. No matter how high one turns up the telescope or the microscope, one never reaches the end of things. Wherever one looks, one finds worlds within worlds. Existing Theories This body of observations requires explanation. More to the point, Leibniz takes this body of observations to require an explanation in terms of some sort of substance. In virtue of what is it the case that some particular entity is a whole? In virtue of what is it the case that the parts of that entity are themselves both unified and real? Further, what relations are sustained between the wholes and their parts? And finally, what conclusions may be drawn more generally once answers to these questions have been established? These are the sorts of questions Leibniz has in mind when considering existing theories. A successful theory must address them adequately without falling into either internal conceptual contradiction or external contradiction. That is, the theory must cohere with the present body of observations, just as its predictions (if any may be made) must also cohere with both present and future observations. (Thompson) In terms of evaluating mechanist theories, there are only two that Leibniz takes as plausible candidates, Cartesianism and atomism. As established already, Leibniz considers both of these views to be inadequate for explaining the body of observations under consideration. Having already examined Leibniz's reasons for rejecting these systems in some detail we may move directly to the next step, which involves synthesizing a new theory that avoids the inadequacies of mechanism while embracing its strengths. A Novel Theory of Substance If both ends of the spectrum of mechanist philosophy are unacceptable, then why not head for the middle? Leibniz is convinced of unities in the world because of a wealth of observations, and he believes both the Cartesians and the atomists to be unable to explain such unities with their theories. (Thompson, p. 24-6) What is needed according to Leibniz is a theory whose fundamental unit of substance is both real and indivisible. It must be real for the obvious reason that it simply will not do to explain what does exist by appeal to what does not, and it must be indivisible in such a fashion that it may explain the genuine unity of the observed entities in the world. Further, it must provide a qualitative and intensive, rather than quantitative and extensive, construal of the part-whole relation, as previously discussed. Leibniz concludes, therefore, that what is needed is a new, basic unit of substance:  Ã¢â‚¬ ¦physical points are indivisible only in appearance; mathematical points are exact, but they are merely modalities. Only metaphysical points or points of substance (constituted by forms or souls) are exact and real, and without them there would be nothing real, since without true unities there would be no multitude. (1989, 142) This conclusion, which lays the foundation for the development of the remainder of Leibniz's metaphysics, owes its support to the two factors given earlier as motivations. Most central to it is the fundamental assumption that monadic unity is necessary â€Å"at bottom† for the production of all compound things. In light of this, it is possible to summarize the more complete formulation of Leibniz's argument for monads as follows: P1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Common sense observations show that real, unified entities exist. P2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What is real may be explained only by appeal to something real. P3  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What is unified may be explained only by appeal to something indivisible. C  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Therefore, the explanation for such entities in the world must involve real and indivisible substances, namely, monads. This bears little relation, prima facie, to the less detailed argument given in the first two sections of â€Å"The Monadology†, but it is nevertheless reducible to that argument. P1 amounts to nothing more than the initial premise that compounds exist. P2 and P3 do not appear at all in â€Å"The Monadology†, but it is tolerably clear from the preceding discussion that these principles are indeed assumed by Leibniz. Finally, the conclusion is just a restatement of the conclusion that monads exist. Again, to restate the argument more succinctly: compounds exist, therefore simples exist. The remainder of Leibniz's metaphysical deductions in â€Å"The Monadology† follow from this more complete formulation at least as well as they follow the abbreviated version. Because monads must be both real and indivisible, Leibniz may argue that they can have neither extension nor form and must therefore be immaterial. Because they cannot be divided, Leibniz may still maintain that they cannot go out of existence in any natural way, by the dissolution of parts. Similarly, they cannot come into existence in any natural way, by the aggregation of parts, and so forth. Thus, this more complete formulation of the argument acts as a â€Å"drop in replacement† for its far more concise sibling. Conclusion To summarize, Leibniz's argument for monads is an enthymeme, an argument with an implied premise. Examining the logical derivation suggests a line of thought that Leibniz's other writings explicitly affirm, namely, that there is no reality without unity. With this additional premise in hand, the argument for monads is rendered formally valid. What's more, this additional premise provides a starting point for untangling the issues previously suggested as problems for monadic simplicity. The close tie between reality and unity prompts one to consider what Leibniz means by ‘simple' in a different light. It seems that what he intends in his argument for monads is not merely that they have no parts, but rather that they also include a kind of indivisibility, an inability to be divided in any way that destroys them. If there is no reality without unity, then things that are fatally separable and thus not unified are not intrinsically real. The relation between reality and unity helps suggest the fatal inseparability criterion for simplicity. Further, it also seems that mereological simplicity and fatal inseparability are but negative entailments of a more positive construal of simplicity, namely, ontological simplicity. A thing is ontologically simple if it stands alone, or described negatively if it is self sufficient in the sense that it bears no internal relations of ontological dependence to any other thing. Such an understanding of simplicity resolves the problems raised previously for the mereological construal, helps to make sense of Leibniz's argument for monads, and coheres nicely with the various other texts in which Leibniz uses the term. References Brown, Stuart. The Young Leibniz and His Philosophy. Dordrecht: Kluwer AcademicPublishers, 1999. Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm. (1969) Philosophical Papers and Letters, 2d ed. Translated and edited by Leroy E. Loemker. Boston: D. Reidel Publishing Company, Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm. (1985) Theodicy. Translated by E. M. Huggard, edited by Austin Farrer. Open Court Publishing Company. Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm. (1965) The Monadology and other Philosophical Writings. Translated and edited by Robert Latta. London: Oxford University Press. Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm. (1989) Philosophical Essays. Translated and edited by Roger Ariew and Daniel Garber. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company. Mercer, Christia. Leibniz's Metaphysics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. Swoyer, Chris. (1995) Leibnizian Expression. Journal of the History of Philosophy 33 (1), 65-99. Thompson, Garrett. On Leibniz. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2001.

Advantages & Disadvantages of E-Learning

E-learning is a broad term that generally refers to any kind of learning done with a computer and Internet connection or CD-ROM. It is used by individuals, educational institutions and businesses. As with any type of learning, it works better for some than others. The quality of e-learning has improved in recent years, as teachers and students have become more comfortable with the technology. 1. Considerations * E-learning is an excellent option in education, particularly when there are hindrances to traditional learning situations.For example, some people wish to continue their educations but do not live within driving distance of a college or university and don't find it feasible to relocate. E-learning is a viable alternative for these students. Another hindrance to traditional learning, especially in grades K through 12, is the â€Å"one size fits all† mentality it embraces. Many students just do not learn well in a traditional learning environment, but thrive in a more fl exible setting. To address this issue, parents are turning to e-learning opportunities for their children.Some choose full-time enrollment in a virtual school, while others use e-learning to supplement a home school curriculum. In the business world, e-learning provides a way for companies to train and instruct employees without requiring them to travel to a central location. Advantages * Convenience is one of the major advantages of e-learning. It allows students to work and learn at their own pace without the unyielding time restrictions of traditional learning. Because e-learning provides access to learning materials at any time, students have the flexibility to schedule around families, jobs and other activities.Another major benefit of e-learning is the accessibility it provides. Students can learn from anywhere in the world. This is an especially important consideration for students who wish to study in a different country. In addition, because e-learning can be done from home , students have less clothing and driving expenses than with traditional learning. Disadvantages * A major disadvantage to e-learning is the self-discipline it requires. While being able to work at your own pace can be an advantage, it can also be a disadvantage.This is especially true for students who have difficulty with time management and procrastination. These students tend to be more successful with the structure of traditional learning. Another disadvantage to e-learning is the technology involved. Some people do not have ready access to a computer and Internet connection. And some who do have the required equipment feel ill-equipped to use it. Lack of interaction between teacher and student is another drawback to e-learning. Some students need the immediate feedback that interaction provides. Types * There are several types of e-learning situations.The most common include taking a single course online, full-time enrollment in an online high school or college, distance learni ng via satellite and learning from information on a CD-ROM. Many businesses and organizations offer training for their employees using various e-learning methods. Warning * E-learning greatly increases the availability of educational opportunities. Unfortunately, it also increases the number of scams related to online education. Persons considering e-learning possibilities should be alert to such scams and thoroughly investigate any program before making a commitment.

Men; Useless After Procreation essays

Men; Useless After Procreation essays In the inquisitive eyes of society the womans daily life has dramatically changed. Their role has morphed into an almost independent lifestyle. From liberation to suffrage, ladies have molded the lives of our future generations, and changed the worlds views of art and politics. The current status quo is unstable for the feminine being, there are feminist extremists, and in the same way there are some who believe that complete submission is the only way a woman should behave. Religion plays a large part in the life of a particular female. Of course the life one female leads can and is completely different than the life of another. Especially in the twenty first century where women work longer hours and sometimes make more money than their husbands, if they are married. Marriage is not as common as it was fifty years ago. In the primitive church females played a distinctive role. Early Christianity has been quite debated in the recent gender arguments. In a letter Paul wrote he greets women and calls them co-workers in meaning equals. Paul is even documented as referring to women of the church with a Greek term which translated means deaconess. We learned from Pauls writings in Acts that women also owned the houses in which early Christians met. Therefore women held the first church services, and were key in the spreading ministry of Christianity (Clark 2). Paul also welcomed women into the churchs activities and many had prominent parts. Hence it would be later in time before women were seen as more than a mother and keeper of the home. Females were, in biblical times, to dress in a certain attire. They were not to wear mens clothing, even as work clothes. It was not all considered compulsatory for women to wear veils. They were then and are still expected to be submissive in the church and at home. A literary example of a wifes submission is Arthur Millers L...

Different Areas of Knowledge Essays

Different Areas of Knowledge Essays Different Areas of Knowledge Essay Different Areas of Knowledge Essay After reading the topic question, straight away a thought came to my mind. Are numbers, pictures, lines, dots, characters, images, music a form of language? That is the ultimate knowledge issue when it comes to language. What is language? What does it consist of? There is no way to define language so that our entire society can conform to it. This creates a situation where this knowledge issue is almost insoluble. People communicate using many tools and methods. They understand each other with sounds as well as pictures. But does this make one more of a language then the other? To be able to make a clear argument, I will define language as a tool of communicating ideas, objects and actions. Within the IB Program there are only a certain number of Areas of Knowledge. I for one am taking a full diploma with six subjects. One of my subjects is English. In English we mostly discuss literature, English and international, and there is a lot of analyzing that takes place. I think that language in a language course obviously plays a tremendously huge role. We need to read, write and share our opinions. A lot of the work I do in that class consists of personal response. I read passages, novels, plays, articles, journals and with every piece of information I gain, a form an opinion. This opinion then needs to be supported by using the work as back up. To do every single part and aspect of that class, language is required. Language in the sense of the communicating tool required to read, and write. A counterclaim to this argument would be that when we do personal responses and we write about what we feel, we are not necessarily sharing it with anyone else. Many times authors will write things and then he will have an audience that will read his work. What the audience understands might be completely different than what the author intended. He did not communicate anything with them in this case. According to my definition of language, if the author portrayed his ideas and it was misinterpreted, then there was limited communication that occurred. There might have been some form of exchange but the communication was frayed and broken. You could argue then that personal response papers and anything that is an interpretation of another work is therefore not language. It is more a method of keeping track of emotions. To counter that counterclaim however, I would argue that even though the author isnt communicating what he wanted to, to me, I am still getting information from what he has written. He might not be giving me what he intended, but he is giving me something. That sharing of information is considered communication. The whole point of writing novels and plays is for them to be shared. Regardless of what is passed on, something is transferred from one being to another through the work.

History Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History Assignment - Essay Example During this period all racial groups including whites, blacks, Indians, Mexicans and others were affected. Between the country’s Civil War and World War II, the US underwent profound racial reorganization with officially recognized group categories expanding and contracting, socially acknowledged boundaries between groups becoming blurred and shifting, and with both citizen and public actors passionately debating on who belonged to which group. The country’s basic components on racial order were revised, revisited and generally altered; however, whites never lost their position at the top of status hierarchy. Q.1 Between 1870 and 1910, USA witnessed the greatest influx of immigrants with more than 20 million immigrants entering the nation in this period partly as a result of the country’s gains in industrial revolution. Initially, new immigrants from northern and western Europe with industrial skills were welcomed; however, other immigrants coming from south and Eastern Europe were unwelcomed by resident Americans. These immigrants lacking skills came at a time when huge arrival of untrained labor caused the Native Americans feel that their lifestyle was under threat by arrival of fresh immigrants having various values and ideas. Some immigrants had an extra burden of the easily noticeable characteristics that made them prone to attacks by anyone seeking justification to carry out such attacks. The onset of hard financial times in 1870s saw immigrants and European-Americans struggle for jobs usually set aside for the Chinese. The hard economic times resulted in dislike and even racial suspicion and hatred, which resulted in anti-Chinese riots in California for exclusion of Chinese immigrants in the USA. Hatred and intolerance toward immigrants resulted in endorsement of immigration laws that greatly hampered immigration. In 1875, the USA passed the page law that prohibited entry of Chinese women and the Chinese exclusion act of 1882 refused entry of all Chinese laborers without making explicit mention of Chinese women; hence, page law continued to regulate their entry. The law prohibited the entry of all Chinese women since immigration officials assumed most of women were prostitutes. Nevertheless, Chinese merchant class was exempt since the law hindered male Chinese laborers from bringing their family to the US, hence limiting their permanent settlement in USA. Later, Japanese immigrants who came three decades later after passage of the page law experienced less harsh policies (Lee 249). Since the exclusion of Chinese from gold mines in California in 1850s, segments of California society consistently opposed the employment of Chinese and the pressure to exclude Chinese increased. The slowdown of 1870s meant the notion that Chinese men and white women were able to share became unpalatable and difficult to maintain. The depression indicated to white women that the Chinese had not only usurped jobs from them but also fo rced the reduction of wages of women who had jobs (Brown and Peter, 64). Convergence toward exclusion relied on the logical racial workings construction and attachment of mediocre status and meaning to immigrant groups via discourse, formal and informal categorization. The convergence relied on racial claims that Japanese were inassimilable and racially undesirable in the same way as the Chinese; hence, early racial claims offered an effective framework for meaningful construction and ultimate exclusion. Gender and race mattered in this period with their meaning constructively interconnected; hence, race was not an objective truth for exclusionists to discover but rather the claims that they had to make to express. Through discursive and symbolic

Ethical Issues Concerning Marketing Departments of Major Global Essay - 1

Ethical Issues Concerning Marketing Departments of Major Global Corporations - Essay Example The paper tells that interests in the ethical issues that pertain to international business have grown enormously due to the complexity of the global business environment of the 21st century. Ethical issues for corporations are very important, especially in the age of the internet as information is accessible to everyone. Marketing activities usually pose significant ethical issues in business such as price discrimination and unfair pricing, miscellaneous unfair competitive practices, dishonest advertising, price collusion with competitors, exploiting social paradigms, establishing guilt, post-purchase dissonance, insufficient expertise and cutting corners. Ethical dilemma, otherwise called moral dilemma, are situations in which there are two alternatives whereupon choice is to be made between them, however neither the option has the capacity to resolve the situation in a morally or ethically acceptable manner because the individual and societal ethical or moral guidelines are not ab le to provide a satisfactory result or outcome for the chooser. A circumstance is viewed or regarded as a moral dilemma on the off chance that it fulfills the accompanying three conditions. The first basic condition obliges that an individual must make a decision about the best course of action. Also, there must be different courses of action for the chooser to select from. Finally, there should be no perfect solution so that regardless of the course of action taken; at least one ethical principle is compromised. Therefore, the chooser is subjected to an intricate circumstance that involves an apparent mental conflict between moral imperatives and complying with one option results in transgressing the other.

The Strategy of Economic Development and World Trade Via Free Markets Essay

The Strategy of Economic Development and World Trade Via Free Markets - Essay Example Patriotic consumption is brought out by the author as it becomes clear following a terrorist act that occurred in 2001. Due to the event, there were many claims by the public figures that the individuals were patriotic in spending their money in the place to stimulate the economy of the country. Due to the event that occurred, the people would be much concerned with personal and family affairs without the observation of the economic objectives of the country. it was noted that Americans had rationales to shopping before the attack occurred but this reduced as there were other new considerations when they did their shopping. According to Murray, preppies are the ones that can be used in the context to bring about linking of the roles. The link comes as the students are able to develop some moderate amount of discipline. Most successful students in their studies are those that have developed discipline and work extra hard in their studies. The students should find time out of class by getting themselves involved in recreational activities such as fine arts or enjoying a beautiful scene. This allows them to show knowledge and appreciation to the scenes. Partying is viewed as an event that enables one to forget about some factors though the event should be restricted to weekends only. Additional self-indulgence is required in activities that are daily carried out and they should be combined with self-discipline. When these practices are considered, there is taking the form of displaying better quality in the activities and goods that one uses (Milner, 78).

Cerebellar Lesions and the Neurologist :: Brain Neurology Cerebellum Essays

Cerebellar Lesions and the Neurologist What is a Neurologist? A neurologist is a medical doctor trained in the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system disorders including diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles (www.neurologychannel.com). Common nervous system diseases treated by neurologists include multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, headaches, stroke or injury to the nervous system. The types of diagnostic tests employed by neurologists to detect neurological problems include: †¢ the CAT (computed axial tomography) scan; †¢ the MRI/MRA (magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic response angiography); †¢ lumbar puncture (or spinal tap); †¢ EEG (electroencephalography); †¢ and the EMG/NCV (electromyography/nerve conduction velocity). (www. Neurologychannel.com) A neurologist can also prescribe medications to treat diseases or may refer a person to a neurological surgeon if surgical treatment is needed. (www.my.webmd.com) Most of their patients are referred to them by other doctors who suspect their patients problem/s are neurologically related. Unsure as to exactly what neurological problem their patients are afflicted with, neurologists act as a kind of medical detective and work to figure out what the neurological problem is, what brain structure is implicated in the problem, where in that brain structure the problem is based, the severity of the problem, its future implications, and how the problem can be treated (Phone interview conducted with Licensed Nurse Practitioner and Neurological Specialist Douglas Lucas 4/05). This ‘detective work’ is done through a careful screening process. A neurological examination includes a series of questions and tests that provide crucial information about the nervous system. For the most part, it is an inexpensive, non-invasive way to determine what might be wrong. The neurological examination is divided into several components, each focusing on a different part of the nervous system. These components include testing patients mental status, cranial nerves, motor system, sensory system, the deep tendon reflexes, coordination and the cerebellum, and gait. (www.neurologychannel.com) Testing for coordination and cerebellum, for example, is designed to provide clues conditions that affect the cerebellum. For example, â€Å"the neurologist may ask patients to move their finger from their nose to the neurologist’s finger, going back and forth from nose to finger, touching the tip of each. Patients also may be asked to tap their fingers together quickly in a coordinated fashion or move their hands one on top of the other, back and forth, as smoothly as they can. Coordination in

A Change of Heart About Animals

Name: Amr Mohamed El Sayed Teacher: Ghada el Shimi A Change Of Heart About Animals Breakthroughs in biotechnology, nanotechnology, and more universal questions like the age of our universe, inside the lab a bigger story is revealed, one which will influence how we think forever. The researchers are finding that many of zoo animals we visit have a lot of common human traits, more than one may think.Ironically, companies that invested in these projects are fast food companies, which conduct research into the emotional, mental, and behavioral states of our fellow creatures. Research on pigs' social behavior funded by McDonald's at Purdue University, for instance, has found that pigs want to be cared for, and are easily depressed if left alone or denied playtime with each other. Germany’s government is urging pig farmers to give each pig 20 seconds of human contact everyday for nurturing purposes.Researchers were amazed more recently, with the discovery of the extent to which New Caledonian crows, attain conceptual abilities, Jeremy Rifkin said â€Å"In controlled experiments, scientists at Oxford University reported that two birds named Betty and Abel were given a choice between using two tools, one a straight wire, the other a hooked wire, to snag a piece of meat from inside a tube. † Self-awareness is another aspect, which raises the question of whether these animals’ inferiority affects their mentality.Philosophers and animal behaviorists’ perspectives on these issues are quarreling and confusing, they have long argued that animals lack a sense of self. Rifkin stated that â€Å"Elephants will often stand next to their dead kin for days, occasionally touching their bodies with their trunks,† proving that sense of self and mortality. Recent studies in brain chemistry have found that when rats play, their brains release large amounts of dopamine, a neurochemical associated with â€Å"pleasure and excitement in human beings. â₠¬  Scientists are still advancing the vision that most animals ehave by innate instinct, and what is viewed to be learned behavior, is nothing more than genetics. We are now finding that learning is passed on from ancestor to offspring more often than not, and that most animals engage in all kinds of â€Å"learned experience brought on by continued experimentation. † Harvard and 25 other U. S. law schools have introduced university level courses on animal rights, the numbers of animal rights lawsuits being filed around the world, are increasing at an exponential rate. In fact, Germany recently became the first nation to guarantee animal rights in its constitution.

Crime in Literature

When crime features in literature, there are often many ways it is dealt with. In â€Å"Thank You Ma’am† by Langston Hughes, Mrs. Jones was almost robbed by a boy named Roger. Instead of calling the cops Mrs. Jones took the boy home to her house, washed, fed and gave him money to buy the sneakers that he had wanted to steal the money for. In contrast, in Roald Dahl’s â€Å"Lambs to the Slaughter†, Mary kills her husband, Patrick Maloney, after he told her he is going to leave her. After killing her husband, she tricks the police that she found him dead when she came home and also tricked them into eating the leg of lamb that she killed him with.While the lesson that is taught in each literature work are far different from each other, both show that crime is treated differently in many cases. However, were as Hughes illustrates the lesson that is being taught about theft, dhal demonstrates the unexpected turn in a common crime. In both works of literature w orks, â€Å"Thank You Ma’am† and â€Å"Lambs to the Slaughter†, crime is a common theme. Though in both literature works crime is conveyed differently. In â€Å"Thank You Ma’am† Mrs. Jones is almost robbed by a young boy Roger. But instead of calling the cops, Mrs.Jones catches him and takes him home where she taught him that stealing may not be the solution to his problems. In contrast, in â€Å"Lambs to the Slaughter†, Mary Maloney kills her husband, Patrick Maloney. But instead of getting caught, she finds a way to cover her tracks. Though both themes were crime, it’s shown in different ways. In â€Å"Thank You Ma’am† the theme can portrayed as crime is solved by forgiveness. Mrs. Jones shows roger forgiveness which made the reader believe that roger will change his ways. In â€Å"Lambs to the Slaughter† the theme shows that crime can be solved by lying.Mary will not go to jail because she covered her tracks an d the cops can’t trace her to her husband’s murder. Another example of how the theme is different by the ending of each story. In the end of â€Å"Thank You Ma’am† roger leaves Mrs. Jones house changed, speechless of what just happened to him. However, in â€Å"Lambs to the Slaughter† Mary giggles at the end of the story. This can show that both works of literature were conveyed differently throughout each story. Therefore, this shows how he crime is common in both works of literature through to theme is different. These two examples show how the themes are different.In both works of literature, â€Å"Tank You Ma’am† and â€Å"Lambs to the Slaughter†, characterization is a common influence on how each story plays out. However in each works of literature characters influence in different ways. In â€Å"Thank You Ma’am† Mrs. Jones helps roger realize what his wrong doing was. Therefore, Mrs. Jones influences roger t o realize what he has been doing wrong. In contrast, in â€Å"Lambs to the Slaughter† Mary tricks to police into eating the lamb, the weapon in Patrick murder case. This shows that Mary influence the police to believe that she did not kill her husband.In â€Å"Thank You Ma’am† Mrs. Jones could be characterized as kind. It was kindness that Mrs. Jones showed Roger for him to realize his wrong doings. And yet, in â€Å"Lambs to the Slaughter† Mary can be characterized as manipulative. In addition, the characterization could change the seriousness of a crime. In â€Å"Thank You Ma’am† Roger is characterized as a minor. He was just a young boy who had potential of changing his ways. In â€Å"Lambs to the Slaughter† marry could be characterized, in this case, as a consequential adult. Mary was dealing with a serious crime that she had committed.This shows that even though both works of literature consist of crime, the authors illustrates a different kind of crime in each by using the characterization of each character. Roger was a kid with a chance of change, who as just committed a robbery, but in Mary’s case she as an adult that had committed a murder. Through characterization, these stories consist of a common trait, but are conveyed differently. These two examples show how the two text are different. In conclusion, throughout both works of literature, there were common traits that consist in the story that is told by convey themselves differently.In both â€Å"Thank You Ma’am† and â€Å"Lambs to the Slaughter† consist of crime, but in each work they convey itself differently than the others. † In â€Å"Thank You Ma’am† crime was resolved by forgiveness. In â€Å"Lambs to the Slaughter† crime was solved by lying. Both works also consist of characterization that play out the story, but is used differently in each one. In â€Å"Thank You Ma’am† Mrs . Jones characterization help roger for the better. In â€Å"Lambs to the Slaughter† Mary’s characterization helped her for the bad. There were common trait but all was conveyed differently to create a different reaction of each literature works.