Space Cowboys free essay sample

This paper analyzes the movie Space Cowboys from the point of view of two theories semiotics and ideology. The movie Space Cowboys can be critically analysed by using both the theories of semiotics and that of ideology. Each of these theories allows us a different perspective on the movie. We will look at the movie from the perspectives of these two theories, firstly be defining the theory and secondly by applying it to the movie. In conclusion, it will be shown that the theory of ideology is not only relevant to the movie, but also reflects the very purpose of the movie. From the paper: Semiotics is defined as the study of signs. It focuses on the relationship between signifier, signified and sign. (Abercrombie 373) In Questions concerning faculties claimed for man, Peirce discusses signs. Peirce?s basic idea is that signs are the universal medium between human minds and the world. We will write a custom essay sample on Space Cowboys or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A sign has the meaning that society gives it. This shared nature of signs means that they do not necessarily represent truth. The focus of analysis then should be on how the sign is interpreted, not on the truth behind it. It is the way it is interpreted that tells us something about society, rather than the sign telling us some universal truth. We can view semiotics then, as a critical tool that provides us with information about society.

Conservative John Birch Society Was Ridiculed But Had Political Impact

Conservative John Birch Society Was Ridiculed But Had Political Impact The John Birch Society was a political group on the extreme right that emerged in the late 1950s, determined to continue the anti-communist crusade of the late Senator Joseph McCarthy. The organization took positions which mainstream America regarded as outlandish.  As a result, it was often mocked and satirized. The organization, which took its name from an American killed by the communist Chinese at the end of World War II, was founded in 1958 by Robert Welch, who had made a fortune in the candy business. Welch organized the group into many regional chapters which  spread his offbeat views while exerting political influence at the local level. In early 1960s the John Birch Society was embroiled in a number of newsworthy controversies. And in the 1964 campaign of Barry Goldwater the influence of the groups hardcore ideology was evident. Historian Richard Hofstadter, in a famous 1964 essay titled The Paranoid Style In American Politics, cited the John Birch Society as a modern example of a political group using fear and a feeling of persecution as an organizing principle. Despite criticism from the mainstream, the group continued to grow. In 1968, on the 10th anniversary of its founding, the New York Times, in a front-page article, noted that it claimed to have 60,000 to 100,000 members. It was producing a radio show that aired on 100 stations nationwide, had opened its own chain of bookstores, and was provided staunch anti-communist speakers to address groups. Over time the John Birch Society seemed to fade into obscurity. Yet some of the extremist positions, as well as the tactics of the organization, wended  their way into more mainstream conservative political groups. Traces of the groups ideology can be spotted in conservative circles today. Accusations from conservative pundits during the Trump administration that a Deep State is subverting democracy are  eerily similar to conspiracy theories about hidden forces behind the U.S. government promoted by the John Birch Society decades earlier. And talk of globalists manipulating the American economy echoes talk of pernicious internationalists in John Birch Society literature. Founding of the John Birch Society Following the death of Senator Joseph McCarthy in 1957, his followers, who fervently believed the United States was not only threatened, but actively infiltrated, by a worldwide communist conspiracy, were adrift. A businessman in Massachusetts, Robert Welch, who had made his fortune by organizing distribution channels in the candy business, called a meeting of other anti-communist activists. At a two-day gathering at a home in Indiana, Welch laid out his plans. He claimed the other attendees were 11 businessmen who had traveled from all regions of the United States, though they were never identified. In a rambling monologue, portions of which were later published and distributed, Welch essentially gave his version of world history. He asserted that a group that formed in Bavaria in the late 1700s, called the Illuminati, had helped spur the French Revolution and other world events, including World War I. Welch claimed that a secret group of international bankers had created the American Federal Reserve system, and controlled the American economy. Welchs exotic and convoluted theories of history seemed unlikely to gain acceptance with a wide audience. Yet his plan was to couple his dire warnings of secret agendas with the organizational skills he had developed in his business career. In essence, Welch proposed creating local chapters of the John Birch Society which would function much the way a neighborhood store would have retailed candy. His political ideas, geared to an audience of wary Americans during the Cold War, would be promoted at the local level. An early Cold War incident inspired the name of Welchs new organization. While researching a book, Welch had come across the story of an American intelligence officer who was also a Christian missionary in China during World War II. At the end of the war, the American officer, John Birch, had been captured and executed by communist Chinese forces. (Government records disputed Welchs account of Birchs death, which prompted Welch to claim pro-communist elements in the U.S. government had suppressed the facts.) Welch considered Birch to be the first casualty of Americas struggle against worldwide communism. By using Birchs name as a rallying cry, Welch sought to make resistance to communist infiltration the central mission of his organization. Public Perception The new organization found a receptive audience among politically conservative Americans who were opposed to changes taking place in America. The John Birch Society was fixated on a perceived communist menace, but it broadened that to include generally liberal ideas going back to the New Deal of the 1930s. In opposition to the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education ruling, Welch and his followers opposed the desegregation of schools. Members of the John Birch Society, often at local school boards, declared that integrated schools were part of the communist plot to weaken America. Wherever John Birch Society chapters appeared  there seemed to be controversy. Members accused local officials of being communist dupes or outright communists. By early 1961 news articles about the group were becoming common, and church groups, labor unions, and prominent politicians, began denouncing the organization as dangerous and anti-American. At various times Welch and his followers attacked Eleanor Roosevelt and former presidents Truman and Eisenhower. As part of its agenda against integration and liberal ideas in general, the group promoted the idea of impeaching, Earl Warren, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The groups billboards proclaiming Impeach Earl Warren appeared beside American highways. In early 1961 an American general, Edwin Walker, was accused of distributing John Birch Society literature to soldiers stationed in Europe. President John F. Kennedy was asked about the Walker situation during a press conference on April 21, 1961. Kennedy at first avoided mentioning the John Birch Society directly, but a reporter pressed him on it. Kennedy gave an answer:. Well, I dont think that their judgments are based on accurate information of the kinds of challenges that we face. I think we face an extremely serious and intensified struggle with the Communists. But I am not sure that the John Birch Society is wrestling with the real problems which are created by the Communist advance around the world. After citing  a number of points of conflicts with communist nations and guerrillas around the globe, Kennedy concluded: And I would hope all those who are concerned about the advance of communism would face that problem and not concern themselves with the loyalty of President Eisenhower, President Truman, or Mrs [Franklin D.] Roosevelt or myself or someone else. The following day, the New York Times published an editorial denouncing the John Birch Society as a addition to the lunatic fringe of American life. The editorial contained scathing remarks:   Lost in a world of fantasy, the John Birchers are busily looking for Communists in the White House, the Supreme Court, the classrooms, and presumably under the bed. Skepticism of the organization wasnt restricted to the nations elite press. A dispute over the group even became part of pop music history. Bob Dylan wrote a song, Talkin John Birch Paranoid Blues, which poked fun at the group. Invited to perform on the Ed Sullivan Show in May 1963, the 21-year-old Dylan intended to sing that particular song. CBS Television executives, apparently fearful of offending pro-Birch viewers, wouldnt let him. Dylan refused to sing another song, and during the programs dress rehearsal he walked out of the studio. He never did appear on the Ed Sullivan Show. Impact On the Mainstream Much of America might have scoffed at the John Birch Society, but within the Republican Party the group was exerting pressure.   The presidential campaign of Republican nominee and stalwart conservative Barry Goldwater was influenced by the John Birch Society. Goldwater himself never explicitly aligned himself with the group, but in his famous line at the 1964 Republican National Convention, Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice, many heard echoes of the John Birch Society. As American society changed in the 1960s, the John Birch Society continued to rail against the Civil Rights Movement. Yet Robert Welch refused to support Americas involvement in Vietnam, as he contended it was being sabotaged by communists within the United States government. Familiar themes of the John Birch Society became part of the campaign of independent presidential candidate George Wallace in 1968. Following the 1960s, the organization seemed to fade into irrelevance. Mainstream conservatives such as William F. Buckley had denounced its extreme views, and as the conservative movement transformed itself leading up to the  1980 election of Ronald Reagan, it kept a distance from Robert Welch and his followers. Welch died in 1985. He had retired from the organization he founded after suffering a stroke in 1983. Legacy of the John Birch Society To many Americans, the John Birch Society was a peculiar relic from the 1960s which had faded away. But the organization still exists, and it can be argued that some of its extremist rhetoric, which drew jeers decades ago, has seeped into the mainstream of the conservative movement. Accusations about government conspiracies which are regularly touted in venues such as Fox News or conservative talk radio do seem similar to conspiracy theories that once circulated in books and pamphlets published by the John Birch Society. The most prominent proponent of conspiracy theories today, Alex Jones, on whose program Donald Trump appeared as a presidential candidate, routinely  echoes longstanding John Birch Society assertions. In the summer of 2017 Politico published an article about John Birch Society chapters in Texas. According to the report, the groups members had been successful in getting the Texas legislature to introduce bills aimed at such things as restricting suspected United Nations activities in Texas and curtailing the rumored spread of Sharia Law in America. The article contended that the John Birch Society was alive and well, and the group was gaining new members.

Disability in Modern Society

Disability in Modern Society Introduction Disability is a mental or physical condition that restricts a person’s activities, senses or movements. Modern societies have recognized the problems faced by these individuals and passed laws that ease their interactions.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Disability in Modern Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Some people, therefore, believe that life for the disabled has become quite bearable. These changes are not sufficient to eliminate the hurdles associated with their conditions. The life of a person with a disability today is just as difficult as it was in the past because of the stigma in social relations as well as economic, mobility and motivational issues associated with such a condition. How disability is still an obstacle today A person with a disability would live a hard life today owing to the emotional issues associated with the condition. His or her identity would revolve arou nd his or her disability rather than anything else that the person can do. It does not matter whether the individuals is handsome or talented, like Tom Cruise. At the end of the day, he will always be a disabled man. This attitude obscures one’s accomplishments and may even discourage some people from accomplishing anything. Other able-bodied individuals would always categorize such a person as a second-class citizen. It would take a lot of will power and resolve to get past these labels and merely lives one’s life. Opponents of this argument would claim that some great inventors of modern society are disabled. A case in point was Dr. Stephen Hawkings, whose mathematical inventions led to several breakthroughs in the field of cosmology (Larsen 87). While such accomplishments exist, they do not represent the majority.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Perso ns like Hawkings have to work harder because they have their handicaps to cope with alongside their other scientific work. A disabled scientist is more diligent than a normal one because he has two forms of hurdles to tackle. It is not common to find such immense willpower in the general population. Therefore, disability leads to a tough life owing to its emotional demands on its subjects. Modern life has created several technologies designed to simplify movement. For instance, modern cities have stairs, trains, cars, doors and elevators to achieve this. However, these technologies are not easy to use for disabled people. Many of them find that they cannot climb stairs, drive cars or even access trains without help from someone else. Therefore, while the rest of the world is enjoying the benefits of technology, a disabled person would still have to overcome these challenges in order to move from place to place. Some opponents of this assertion would claim that the life of a disabled person today is unproblematic because a lot of devices have been developed to facilitate movement and other interactions. For instance, a person with amputated legs can buy artificial limbs or use a wheelchair. However, some of the best assistive technologies for the disabled are quite expensive, and average citizens cannot afford them. Many of them would have to contend with difficult -to-use devices like wheelchairs, which may not always fit into certain spaces. They would also have to exert themselves in order to use those regular devices.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Disability in Modern Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Social relations are a serious challenge for disabled people today. A number of them live isolated lives or only interact with persons who have the same condition. Social stigma is still rife today even though progress has been made. Friends would simply be unwilling to dedicate much of their free time to help this disabled person move. Additionally, finding a life partner or marrying someone would also be a laborious process because of the physical and psychological implications. If one’s handicap is physical, and affects their kinetics, then they would not engage in sexual activity. Alternatively, psychical deformities may be off putting as many individuals find them sexually unattractive. These social stigmas can impede a disabled person’s ability to enjoy normal relationships with others. Economic hurdles are also another cause of unfulfilled lives amongst the disabled. Some jobs do not require an investment in one’s image, so these would be tenable for the disabled. However, a number of positions take into account one’s physical image. These include television anchoring, sports, politics, and even sales jobs. The practical demands of these jobs, such as sales and sports, would not allow a disabled person to engage in them meaning fully. Alternatively, the positions may also place too much emphasis on physical appearance to the point of making disabled persons unsuitable for them. While the latter might seem like discrimination, it is a given fact that the world is increasingly becoming superficial.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Companies only want to focus on what sells, so they have little time to be proactive or fair. In essence, these attitudes close the door t many opportunities for the disabled as they pigeonhole them into passive professions. Conclusion Modern societies have not eradicated the obstacles that persons with disabilities face. This is evident in their attitudinal inclinations as most of them reduce a disabled person’s identity to their inability rather than their accomplishments. Difficulties in mobility and use of technology among the disabled also testify to their hardships. Social stigma concerning their physical attractiveness and demands in friendships also limit their social relationships. Finally, their economic prospects are neutralized by their mobility challenges as well as their physical image. All these hurdles indicate that disability causes its victims to live painstaking lives. Larsen, Kristine. Stephen Hawking: A biography. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publish ing, 2007. Print.

Find out What Mathematical Economics Is

Find out What Mathematical Economics Is Much of the study of economics requires an understanding of mathematical and statistical methods, so what exactly is mathematical economics? Mathematical economics is best defined as a sub-field of economics that examines the mathematical aspects of economics and economic theories. Or put into other words, mathematics such as calculus, matrix algebra, and differential equations are applied to illustrate economic theories and analyze economic hypotheses. Proponents of mathematical economics claim that the primary advantage of this particular approach is that it permits the formation of theoretical economic relationships through generalizations with simplicity. Mind you, the simplicity of this approach to the study of economics is certainly subjective. These proponents are likely to be skilled in complex mathematics. An understanding of mathematical economics is particularly important for students considering the pursuit of a graduate degree in economics as advanced economics studies make great use of formal mathematical reasoning and models. Mathematical Economics vs. Econometrics As most economics student will attest to, modern economic research certainly doesnt shy away from mathematical modeling, but its application of the math differs within the various subfields. Fields like econometrics seek  to analyze real-world economic scenarios and activity through statistical methods. Mathematical economics, on the other hand, could be considered econometrics theoretical  counterpart. Mathematical economics allows economists to formulate testable hypotheses on a wide array of complicated subjects and topics. It also permits economists to explain observable phenomena in quantifiable terms and provide the basis for further interpretation or the provision of possible solutions.  But these mathematical methods that economists use are not limited to mathematical economics. In fact, many are often utilized in the studies of other sciences as well. The Math in Mathematical Economics These mathematical methods generally reach far beyond typical high school algebra and geometry and are not limited to one mathematical discipline. The importance of these advanced mathematical methods is captured perfectly in the mathematics section of books to study before going to graduate school in economics: Having a good understanding of mathematics is crucial to success in economics. Most undergraduate students, particularly those coming from North America, are often shocked by how mathematical graduate programs in economics are. The math goes beyond basic algebra and calculus, as it tends to be more proofs, such as Let (x_n) be a Cauchy sequence. Show that if (X_n) has a convergent subsequence then the sequence is itself convergent. Economics uses tools from essentially every branch of mathematics. For instance, a  great deal of pure mathematics, such as real analysis, appears in microeconomic theory. Numerical method  approaches from applied mathematics are also used a great deal in most subfields of economics. Partial differential equations, which are normally associated with physics, show up in all kinds of economics applications, most notably finance and asset pricing. For better or for worse, economics has become an incredibly technical topic of study.

Assessing reliability and credibility of CAM resources Essay

Assessing reliability and credibility of CAM resources - Essay Example With this context, the paper explains the applicability of acupuncture, as a CAM therapy in medical science. The paper duly assesses the reliability and credibility of this practice thereto. Additionally, the paper analyses the credibility of the sources that provide detailed information about the disease online. Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of treatment under the Chinese traditional medicine practices. The process of medication trails pricking of needles at specific positions of the body, which effectively alters flow of energy into healthier arrays controlling and refreshing the neuron system in a human body. Acupuncture is often argued as effective in curing approximately 40 different types of diseases. Based on these grounds, acupuncture has been recognized as one of the widely effective CAM therapies. The procedure of acupuncture includes the stimulation of therapeutic methods that helps in developing manual therapeutic systems. The process involves stimulation of the body through various processes to relieve the patients from a series of diseases (Tait et al., 2002). It is in this context that the CAM practitioners are compared with the conventional medical doctors. For practicing CAM through acupuncture, practitioner recognition depends on proper accreditation from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). Medical doctors who have a valid medical license can avail a certification from the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. The person availing for a certification of acupuncture completes the necessary curriculum requirements and a tutorial requirement for the apprentice (NCCAOM, 2014). The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA) and the NCCAOM are the regulatory bodies that have been verifying the operations of practitioners when practicing acupuncture

Benefits of Merger and Acquisition over Partnership Essay

Benefits of Merger and Acquisition over Partnership - Essay Example Mergers are necessitated by firm’s need to improve on profitability, change of management and administration system, need to conquer or acquire a significant market share and/or improve on productivity from its operations as a single entity to a stronger merged entity. The merged entity enjoys stronger management and administration base as the leadership of the merging firms take respective roles in their area of specialization and they pool their expertise towards running this new merged firm (Enkel & Covin, 2012). It should be noted that since the merging firms were operating as sole entities before, then the size and scale of operations may vary from each other and thus merger clauses are spelt out on the benefits and contributions of each firm in terms of segments and roles which in a big picture, defines the expected targets (Clark, 2009). Acquisition or simply a takeover involves purchase of a firm by another firm with an aim of maximising profits and management expertise or gaining market share and /or expansion motive. The acquiring company may decide to retain its name after acquiring the new firm or depending on the purchase clauses, if for instance the acquirer purchases a given percentage of the firm, they may decide to consolidate the two firms with a new name, new image and operation targets (Warde, 2010). Partnership can be viewed as an alliance between business entities on contractual basis and/or an exclusive bond with an aim of achieving a short term objective. Some partnerships are viewed as differentiation in which firms form alliances with an aim impressing customers and/or competitors with the size of network but with a business commitment of not allying with third party entities. Depending with the motive of the alliance, partnerships can take forms of: an exclusive supplier, customer, an intermediary channel and a vendor of a given complementary or supplementary offering of the firm’s products. For instance, a telecommunication company can partner with Internet service provider to provide a certain region or class of customers with some customized internet services for a given period. This is meant to attract more customers to the class and try to lure the internet providing firm into business with its telecommunication company’s operations within that period wi thout the provider engaging with other third parties (Deering & Murphy, 2008). In this paper we will analyse the benefits of merger and acquisition over the partnership agreements. Question 1: Under what circumstances is merging with or acquisitions of other companies a better solution than entering into partnerships or alliances with this companies? To answer this question we shall look at the circumstances that necessitate mergers and acquisitions, the benefits then compare with those of partnerships /alliances. For instance, when a firm acquires another firm on the grounds of productivity, both the acquirer and the acquired firms enjoy mutual benefits of improved productivity. For example, firm â€Å"A†, with a significant economies of scale, a stronger investment/capital base and effective management/administration acquires firm â€Å"B† which has a competitive advantage of market share due to their edge cut technological advancement in their products but with a we ak management and capital base, there are defined clauses of the acquisition in that for instance firm B has weak production methods but has a considerable market share in terms of the products it produces. Firm A’s acquisition will strengthen productivity and /or cut the total costs that could have been incurred by firm B and they benefit with the returns of their investments as there will be increased output by combination of

Product analysis ( Philip Starch Juicer) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Product analysis ( Philip Starch Juicer) - Essay Example It appeals to customers who want classic and different items. The customer could include an organization or any other entity that wants to use the Philip starch juicer in their day to day operations. The Philip starch juicer retails at  £43. Such is a good price for an effective, simple and durable product. The operation procedure of this product is simple. It involves inserting pressure on the lemon to force the juice together with the pulp from rind through the sieve or filter. During this process, Philip starch juicer itself must resist pressure; hence easily deformable materials cannot be used. The Philip starch juicer is mostly used in lemons. Consequently, since lemon is acidic, only acid based materials can be used to make the product. The safety of the product can only be judged during its normal use. In all products, using them in a different way or purpose from that directed by the manufacturers makes them to become unsafe. There is the manual and electric option of the Philip starch juicer. For the manual, after turning the device, the operator must hold the lemon while for the electric option; the squeezer turns the device on automatically. However, the operator must still hold on to the lemon. Other squeezers crush the lemon against projections. Thus, they usually have long handles in order for them to gain mechanical advantage of the

Diversity climate in an organization Research Paper

Diversity climate in an organization - Research Paper Example This paper illustrates that successfully managing an organization especially in today’s increasingly diverse workforce has become one of the most challenges faced by management and corporate leaders in recent years. Human capital is the most valuable and powerful asset and therefore it has been found that effectively managing the human resources is extremely critical to organizational success. Managing diversity climate effectively is one of the most significant elements of effective managing of the human capital as it can help the organization increase the productivity of its workforce, make them fully satisfied and highly committed to the job as well. Â  Diversity refers to the attributes and aspects that can be considered to be salient to an employer making him think that he is different from another individual. Gender, racio-ethnicity, nationality, age etc are some of the attributes that create and influence diversity within the organization. Diversity happens in an organ ization where its members’ have attitudes and perception towards people from cultural groups other than their own. Herdman and McMillan-Capehart described that diversity referred to the degree of inter-organizational representation of people in a way that different groups are inter-affiliated of cultural significance. A plurality of perspectives and experiences prevail in diversity climate and it serves as the strategic resource to the organization securing a competitive advantage. Â   They viewed diversity climate as an opportunity and a resource that the managers can turn them better strategy to increase organizational performance and achieve sustainable competitive advantage if the management is successful in managing it. As Garcia and Hoelscher (2010, p. 23) detailed, there are four different themes when it comes to diversity climate, they are: Perceptions of degree between group conflicts and a mind set to accept others, Level of institutional commitment to the diversity in the organization, Fairness, like lack of institutional bias, and A very generalized atmosphere for getting and giving respect each others. As today’s workforce has become increasingly diverse, diversity management has gained considerable attention and has emerged to be an important element of larger business strategy that can help an organization improve organizational competitiveness and effectiveness. As Hur, Strickland and Stefanovic (2009, p. 501) noted, many large organizations have recently given greater emphasis on identifying, considering and implementing varieties of practices that are designed and developed to foster better diversity business environment as well as to combat discrimination and all other legal risks in the workplace. Where diversity climate persists, there will be shared perceptions regarding the ways things are around there. Employees in such circumstances will be able to retrieve information from salient stimuli so that they can describe and interpret their work environment. They also can integrate the perceptions of unique workplace conditions and events in to quite a broader perceptions of organizational climate. A strategic method to analyze diversity climate There can be different cultural groups and people from different ethnic background in any organization. the workforce today is getting too much diverse. Diversity climate, as mentioned above, is the perception and attitude of people towards the culture of people other than their own. In a diversity culture, people are mentally capable of accepting other culture, groups and ethnic behaviors, rather than their ow

A Deadly Duel in the Name of Preserving Burr and Hamilton Honour Research Paper - 79

A Deadly Duel in the Name of Preserving Burr and Hamilton Honour - Research Paper Example The author intended this document for historians and the entire public since the duel was shrouded in mystery. Even to date, historians are never too sure as to why the two men duelled. Therefore, through this document, the author attempts to solve the mystery for historians and other concerned parties. The document makes it clear that the duel was long overdue. This is because Burr and Hamilton had a long-standing political, military and personal rivalry. The only way to solve the rivalry was to eliminate either of them. The author of the document seems to be striving for credibility and authenticity in presenting his ideas. He says: â€Å"Matthews L. Davis, Burr’s close friend, gives an eye-witness account of the encounter, in which Hamilton was mortally wounded.† (p143). The author, therefore, wished to draw confidence from the readers so as to help them solve the Burr-Hamilton puzzle once and for all. The author does so, considering the shock waves that the duel sent across America’s political and social landscape. Moreover, it is possible that having been a close ally to Burr, Davis may have wanted to set the record straight to avoid suspicion for foul play in the debacle. He may, therefore, be out to clear his conscience. The second primary source, Duel as Politics by Freeman corroborates the evidence in the first document. It states: â€Å" ‘General Hamilton was shot by Colonel Burr in a duel this morning. The General is said to be mortally wounded.’† (Freeman 47). This quotation appeared in a bulletin in 1804, reporting the death of Hamilton in the fatal duel.

WorldCom Essay Example for Free

WorldCom Essay This paper explores the Accounting fraud that took place at WorldCom. Three aspects of the corporate culture are discussed including WorldCom’s harsh top-down management approach, the lack of written rules or a code of conduct, and the inaccessibility of many of WorldCom’s departments. The CEO’s desire to be the #1 stock on Wall Street is also discussed. WorldCom’s inappropriate booking and releasing of accruals is explored and proper accrual accounting procedures are stated. Three aspects of whistleblowing are discussed, including saving a company from a destructive end, facing public reprisal, and potential legal effects. Arthur Andersen is then used to explore the credibility of the Accounting profession when corporate fraud is unveiled. Keywords: WorldCom, fraud, accruals, whistleblowing WorldCom The corporate culture at WorldCom was one that was very loose. Although several factors contributed to the loose and unhealthy environment at WorldCom, one of the greatest downfalls of the corporate culture was the harsh top-down management approach. Employees were advised to do as they were told without questioning management. In addition, CEO Bernard Ebbers and CFO Scott Sullivan dabbled in too many affairs that should have been handled by lower-level management. Too often they ordered overrides of basic procedures that resulted in the downfall of WorldCom. Orders were issued that resulted in the override of accounting procedures. This greatly contributed to the fraud. Another factor that contributed to the unhealthy corporate culture at WorldCom was the fact that no written rules or code of conduct existed. The CEO himself thought it was a waste of time. This paired with the harsh top-down management approach seemed to create a lack of internal control as well. There were no real company rules and managers were completely capable of overriding any rules that may have existed. The inaccessibility of other departments may have contributed to the fraud as well. With so many corporate headquarters, key personnel who may have detected the fraud sooner were not able to confirm that anything wrong was taking place. If a key manager from the finance department in Mississippi, a key manager from the human resources department in Florida, a key manager from the legal department in Washington, D. C. , and a key manager from the network operations department in Texas been together at any point in time, worked together in the same building, or even had the appropriate means to communicate (cell phones were not a hot commodity like they are today and e-mail was just starting to take flight), it is possible that WorldCom could have been saved from its fraudulent end. The CEO’s desire to be the #1 stock on Wall Street was the main source of the fraud. He was so driven to be on top that he ordered managers to engage in inappropriate accounting procedures that included maintaining a certain expense-to-revenue ratio at all costs, releasing accruals, and capitalizing expenses. Furthermore, his top leadership instructed employees about what information could and could not be disclosed with the external auditors. Employees were cursed and threatened if they disclosed anything that was perceived to be a threat to his plan of being the #1 stock on Wall Street. According to Beresford, Katzenbach, and Rogers, Jr. 2003), â€Å"WorldCom manipulated the process of adjusting accruals in three ways. First, in some cases accruals were released without any apparent analysis of whether the Company actually had excess accruals in its accounts. Thus, reported line costs were reduced (and pre-tax income increased) without any proper basis. Second, even when WorldCom had excess accruals, the Company often did not release them in the period in which they were identified. Instead, certain line cost accruals were kept as rainy day funds and released to improve reported results when managers felt they were needed. Third, WorldCom reduced reported line costs by releasing accruals that had been established for other purposes— in violation of the accounting principle that reserves created for one expense type cannot be used to offset another expense† (p. 69). According to Investopedia, â€Å"†¦economic events are recognized by matching revenues to expenses (the matching principle) at the time in which the transaction occurs rather than when payment is made (or received)† (para. 1). Thus, accruals are booked when transactions occur. Accruals are released when either payment is made or when they are evaluated and deemed to be in excess of the actual accrual. Accruals of one type should never be released to offset another type. Accruals should also be released in the period they are identified. While whistleblowing may seem like a relatively easy concept to some, it really is not. The decision between doing the easy thing and doing the right thing usually is not easy. For instance, a person could report fraudulent activity that is taking place within an organization, whether it is due to corruption, misappropriation of assets, financial statement fraud, or another type of fraud. However, such a decision could carry a great price tag. Not only could it lead to the complete destruction of a company, but it could cost other employees their benefits, their retirements, and their jobs. One of the pros of whistleblowing is the fact that a company could be saved from certain destruction, as in the case of WorldCom. It is possible that the sooner fraudulent activity is reported, the less negative the outcome could be. However, whistleblowers are often perceived as tattle tales and snitches and sometimes face public reprisal, as was the case with WorldCom’s Cynthia Cooper. Another downside is the potential legal effects of whistleblowing. According to Wikipedia, â€Å"†¦most whistleblower protection laws provide for limited make whole remedies or damages for employment losses if whistleblower retaliation is proven. However, many whistleblowers report there exists a widespread shoot the messenger mentality by corporations or government agencies accused of misconduct and in some cases whistleblowers have been subjected to criminal prosecution in reprisal for reporting wrongdoing† (Common Reactions section, 4). The consequences of whistleblowing may prove to be steep. The credibility of the Accounting profession is put in jeopardy when corporate fraud is unveiled. As a result of the WorldCom fraud, Arthur Andersen was ordered to cease practicing before the Security and Exchange Commission by August 31, 2002. According to Wikipedia, â€Å"†¦the damage to the Andersen name was so severe that as of 2010[update], it has not returned as a viable business even on a limited scale. There are over 100 civil suits pending against the firm related to its audits of Enron and other companies. In addition, its reputation was so badly tarnished that no company wanted Andersens name on an audit. Even before voluntarily surrendering its right to practice before the SEC, it had many of its state licenses revoked† (Demise section, 1). As stated by Charles Niemeier (2001), â€Å"A loss of confidence can cause even a company with solid core operations to fail. That is because the negative impact of a lack of credibility can be far greater than the sum of the misstatements in the financials† (The Dangers of Smoothing section, 7). References http://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/accrualaccounting.asp http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Andersen http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/wsj/docs/worldcom/bdspcomm60903rpt.pdf http://www.sec.gov/news/speech/spch529.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistleblower

Internet Pornography Influences For Social Issues Information Technology Essay

Internet Pornography Influences For Social Issues Information Technology Essay Internet is the most popular and resourceful source available in the modern world to gather and share information. According to the World Bank indicators, there are 30 internet users for every 100 people of the world. Following is a chart of the growth of internet users over the years. Source: Trading Economics, 2012 When considering about these statistics, it clearly describes that the internet users have been highly increased over the past few years. According to the Mobile Internet research of Stanley Morgan (2009), mobile internet users have been increased in massively over the past years and passed the desktop internet users. This clearly describes that most of the people use their mobile phones or tablet computers to access internet. This has been increased with the mobile phone technology. After the release of smart phones, many people have used their mobile phones to access internet. Theres a saying that internet is like double edged sword, this means that theres good and bad in internet. So its up to the users to use internet in appropriate manner. Most of the internet users use internet for inappropriate things. Pornography can be described as an example of using internet in inappropriate manner. According to the article of The internet porn epidemic: By the numbers (The Week, 2010) 43% of the internet users are addicted to the pornography. When considering about this fact, mobile phone is the major consideration for this issue, because nowadays many people use mobile phones to access these porn sites. This problem has arisen in many countries and grown over the past few years. Most governments facing this problem and theyre trying new methods to reduce this pornography addiction of their country people. This pornography issue has spread many social, ethical, legal and professional issues in every region all over the world. Mobile phonography has been grown recently with the release of the smart phones and tablet computers. These kind of mobile devices introduced with improved technologies such as HSDPA, 3G, 4G, etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ providing enhanced internet access which allowed users to connect internet with high speed. This new trend widely opened the mobile users to the internet. A person who can afford a simple mobile phone allowed to access internet with low data charges. This improvement of the technology somewhat caused the people to addict pornography. Internet has been described as the best way of distributing pornography. So it has been distributed in various types over the internet such as websites, streaming sites, peer-to-peer file sharing, etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. There are so many websites in the internet showing pornography related things. According to the Internet Pornography Statistics (Top Ten Reviews, 2006), there are over 4.2 million websites and 420 million web pages on the internet. Another major consideration of pornography is streaming web sites. These types of websites allow users to view videos online without downloading. This facility attracted lots of people to the pornography, because most of the people search for this pornography contents in secret and this is the best way to view these types of contents without any problem. These streaming websites are now becoming popular day by day. This issue has been grown with the technology and the internet speed. When considering about the social issues, this pornography contents have spread many social issues all over the world. The biggest among them is family problems. According to the The effects of pornography on individuals, marriage, family and community research which has been done by Mr.Patrick F. Fagan demonstrates that the many married couples children face for different kinds of difficulties problems due to the Internet Pornography. One of the major problems is psychological damage to the lives of the married couples. Most of the wives of the pornography addicted people have been victimized with deep psychological damage (Fagan P.F, 2009). According to the Mr.Patrick F. Fagan, most of the wives come up with Feelings of loss, mistrust, devastation betrayal anger after getting known about the online sexual activities of their partners. And also when wives get to know that their husbands view pornography, they become harshly depressed and may feel unattractive or sexually inadequa te. Another social issue is sexual violence. There are so many sexual violence contents in the internet which can be viewed free. After watching these contents, people try to use sexual violence when they make love with their partners and some people use objects without the will of their partners. According to the Mr.Patrick F. Fagans research mentioned above, this sexual violence leads to marital dissatisfaction, temporary separation, and divorce. The major social issue in pornography is fake contents. When it comes to the mobile phones and tablet computers, many people take photographs or videos of beautiful girls, boys and change them using software with new technologies which are in built in the modern mobile phones. Then these fake photographs or videos being uploaded and shared through social networking sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Hi5. This is a big social issue which makes people so embarrassed and even the governments finding solutions for this matter by adding and changing government laws. This is a huge issue when considering about the peoples privacy. This mobile internet growth and the pornography have made so much affect for the day to day life of people. Most of these fake contents are created by the people who watch pornography. They collect these pictures, videos mostly from the online social networking profiles. Another social issue is uploading private sexual activities to the internet. When considering about this matter, some people upload their sexual activities in social networking sites, streaming sites, etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This affects to the privacy of their partner because most of them doesnt know that these contents have been uploaded to the internet. Sometimes these situations make these people to take suicide decisions. Apart from that raping and the affection to the children are the other major social issues which are combined with pornography. The article Web pornographys effect on children (American Psychological Association, 2007) describes that Each year about 40 percent of teens and preteens visit sexually explicit sites either deliberately or accidentally. When considering about this article statistics, the mobile internet can be taken as the major reason for this pornography addiction, because nowadays most of the teens and preteens use mobile devices. This article describe s that the average age of first internet pornography exposure is 11 years. Its very clear that the minds of the children are not developed as adults, so the children can be easily misguided through these porn contents. When it comes to the professional issues, the major consideration is celebrity scandals. This can be described as a significant matter, because sometimes this helps to increase the popularity of the celebrity. Most of these scandals are being released by paparazzi reporters. This is a major issue when considering about the term privacy. Another main professional issue is professional porn movies, awards and rankings. There are some websites and award ceremonies which ranks the top porn movie stars and sex tapes. This can be taken as the professional issue, because people are participating for these sex movies as their profession. There are many sex tape jobs available on the internet. Any person can simply register for this kind of job where theres no academic qualifications required and also can get paid well. The cybersex jobs which are mostly known as webcam jobs are the next issue of this topic. There are many websites which provide cybersex facilities and mostly they consist with image galleries of girls. A person who pays the money through the website can enjoy a live nude web cam show of a selected girl. There are people who watch pornography contents within the office time. When it comes to the privacy, sometimes more than one person uses the same computer. So if a single person viewed porn contents, theres a possibility that the others may also exposed as porn addicts. Nowadays most of the companies have banned most of the pornography websites. But the problem is people use their mobile devices to access these pornography contents and this issue affects the employers in so many ways. When considering about the ethical issues which arise by the internet pornography, pregnant sex videos, videos faking nuns and monks, fake contents and spy camera videos are the major issues these days. There are many sex videos of pregnant ladies available on the internet and also there are many porn contents which faking nuns and monks. These contents arise many security and privacy issues. When considering about the privacy in ethical pornography issues, spy camera videos are the main problem. There are so many video clips and pictures taken from the spy cameras. Most of these clips were taken in bathrooms, honeymoon suites, fit-on rooms, public washrooms, etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ These contents violate the privacy of the other people. When it comes to the subcontinent countries like Sri Lanka, most of the people have killed themselves after knowing that they have been exposed. These video clips and pictures are mostly recoded and captured using mobile devices, because they come up with built-in cameras and internet access. When it comes to the legal issues, pornography is illegal in Sri Lanka according to the Obscene Publications Ordinance of 1983 in Sri Lanka. A citizen who involved in pornography can be imprisoned or fined. In late 2011, Sri Lanka government banned most of the porn sites for the citizens. This decision raised lots of privacy problems, because even an adult couldnt access porn contents. This decision somewhat caused of increasing sexual abuses in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka police have the authority of taking into custody of a person who travels holding sexual contents, even inside the mobile phone. Child pornography is another legal issue which is illegal in many countries. According to the United Kingdom law, child pornography will violate the Protection of Children Act 1978, Section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 as well according to the Sri Lankan Law child pornography will be violating of the National child protection authority act, no. 50 of 1998. Considering recommendations to overcome these issues, establishing various acts and strict laws would be much helpful. And also educating the children about sex and related topics and conducting awareness programs will somewhat reduce these discussed issues.

Canada Cultural Landscape :: essays research papers

Canada is the world's second largest country, and it is the largest country in the Western Hemisphere. It comprises of the entire North American continent north of the United States, with the exclusion of Alaska, Greenland, and the tiny French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon. Its most easterly point is Cape Spear, Newfoundland and its western limit is Mount St. Elias in the Yukon Territory, near the Alaskan border. The southernmost point is Middle Island, in Lake Erie and the northern tip is Cape Columbia, on Ellesmere Island. Canada has an abundance of mineral, forest, and waterpower resources. The mining industry has been a major force in Canada's economic development in the past and is still the main force in the advance and economic activity and permanent settlement into the northlands. The principal minerals are petroleum, nickel, copper, zinc, iron ore, natural gas, asbestos, molybdenum, sulfur, gold, and platinum; in addition extensive beds of coal, potash, uranium, gypsum, silver, and magnesium are found. Fresh water covers an estimated 8% of Canada. The many rivers and lakes supply ample fresh water to meet the nation's needs for its communities and for irrigation, agriculture, industries, transportation, and hydroelectric power generation. Canada has four principal drainage basins: the Atlantic Basin which drains to the Atlantic Ocean by way of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, the Hudson Bay Basin which drains northward into Hudson Bay via the Churchill, Nelson and Saskatchewan rivers, the Arctic Basin which is drained by the Mackenzie River and the Pacific Basin which drains into the Pacific Ocean via the Fraser, Yukon and Columbia rivers. Most of Canada's people live in the southern part of the country, in an elongated, discontinuous belt of settlement parallel to the U.S.-Canadian border. The most populated provinces are Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. During the last couple years, the Canadian economy has been transformed from on based primarily on agricultural production and the export of agricultural products and raw materials to one based primarily on its manufacturing and service sectors, as well as a mining sector of continuing importance. Canada's economy reflects a high-tech industrial society and resembles the United States, with whom it has close economic ties. This is one reason why a large percentage of the population, live by the U.

The Powerful Character of Pearl in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

The Powerful Character of Pearl in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter      Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the most significant writers of the romantic period in American literature was Nathaniel Hawthorne.   Hawthorne wrote stories that opposed the ideas of Transcendentalism. Since he had ancestors of Puritan belief, Hawthorne wrote many stories about Puritan New England.   His most famous story is the Scarlet Letter.   This novel tells of the punishment of a woman, Hester Prynne, who committed adultery and gave birth to Pearl.   A minister of Boston, Arthur Dimmesdale, had an affair with Hester while believing that her husband, Roger Chillingworth, had died.  Ã‚   However, Chillingworth did not die and appears during the early stages of Hester's punishment.         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The purpose of this paper is to analyze the character of Pearl in the Scarlet Letter.   Her whole life had many difficulties while living in Puritan New England.   Furthermore, Pearl displays much parallelism to the scarlet letter that Hester must wear.   Finally, Pearl's birth intensified the conflicts in the novel.  Ã‚   Clearly, Pearl becomes the symbol of all the other major characters' tragedies.         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The character of Pearl in the Scarlet Letter lived a very difficult life.   Before the novel begins, Hester Prynne gives birth to Pearl after having an affair with Arthur Dimmesdale, a Puritan minister.   Pearl's birth proves that Hester cheated on her husband Roger Chillingworth provoking the stories action. The novel opens with the people of Boston staring and laughing at Hester holding Pearl while standing on the town's scaffold.   At this time, Pearl is three months old. Years later Hester gets released from jail and lives with Pearl in the outskirts of town.   Since Hester becomes alienated from Boston, Pearl turns into "her mother's only treasure!" (Hawthorne 76). Hester makes bright red clothes for Pearl that parallel the scarlet "A."   At age three, Pearl endures many laughs and jokes from other Puritan children but chases them away with stones. Since Pearl's birth resulted from broken rules, she does not feel the obligation to follow rules. Although her life is an outcast of Puritan society, Pearl's language shows a high level of intelligence.  Ã‚   Later, Hester receives word that the magistrates want to take Pearl away from her. Hester takes Pearl to the governor's house where the child meets her father, Arthur Dimmesdale.

Of Mice And Men – Crooks PEE Paragraph

Racism was a strong form of prejudice in the 1930’s, and throughout the novel is violently used against the stable buck Crooks. From his first introduction in the book, he is constantly being described and treated like an animal. In the first description of Crooks’ room in chapter 4, it is referred to as ‘A little shed that leans off the wall of the barn’. This gives the impression that Crooks is not important enough to sleep with the other ranch hands, and must be isolated and separated from them: giving him no other choice but to sleep with the animals: creatures that are on the same level of the hierarchy as him.Also, Crooks’ possessions reflect this image. His bed is described as ‘a long box of straw’ which implies that Crooks isn’t worth his own bed, and must settle for a horse’s trough: something that even a horse doesn’t sleep in, but eats out of. As well as this, most of his other possessions don’t eve n belong directly to him. For example, ‘a broken harness in process of being mended; strips of new leather’ and ’a range of medicine bottles, both for him and the horses.’This shows that even his own room, isn’t fully his own room, and that he has to share it with the horses; suggesting that even the horses are more important than Crooks as even they have the power to invade crooks’ space. It could also mean that all of crooks’ possessions are considered just as worthless as a horses ‘broken harness’. This shows the reader that crooks means no more to the ranch hands than one of the other horses.

Problems on Staff Training and Development Essay

Understanding the phenomenon of employee training and development requires understanding of all the changes that take place as a result of learning. As the generator of new knowledge, employee training and development is placed within a broader strategic context of human resources management, i.e. global organizational management, as a planned staff education and development, both individual and group, with the goal to benefit both the organization and employees. To preserve its obtained positions and increase competitive advantage, the organization needs to be able to create new knowledge, and not only to rely solely on utilization of the existing. Thus, the continuous employee training and development has a significant role in the development of individual and organizational performance. The strategic procedure of employee training and development needs to encourage creativity, ensure inventiveness and shape the entire organizational knowledge that provides the organization with uniqueness and differentiates it from the others. Evidence collected from this research, especially from those joint venture hotels supported the rationales that underpinned Western human resource development (HRD) models that effective T&D activities in hotels required to have systematic and strategically integrated T&D structures, which was particularly true when considering hotels’ long term development. Furthermore, some â€Å"emotion†-involved elements identified in the Chinese state-owned hotels seemed to have provided valuable ingredients to be added into the existing Western HRD models, which could help to increase their robustness in a cross-culture context and also to improve their effectiveness in the hotel industry. It was found that positive learning attitudes and energetic learning leaders had the power to turn passive training activities into active â€Å"learning from heart†. It is, therefore, proposed that to build up an effective training and development architecture in the Chinese hotel industry, both systematic training and development structure (as widely addressed in Western human resource development literature) and consistent emotional inputs (e.g. devoted learning managers; turning trust-based personal relationships into learning drives, etc.) are necessary. More empirical studies are needed to further test these ideas. In general, employees who feel undervalued or unwanted are likely to leave. This is an especially important issue in China, where employees are possibly among the least satisfied in the world. While the number of dissatisfied employees is significantly greater in the Chinese state-owned enterprises, employee dissatisfaction in MNCs is a big issue as well. Of all the factors which lead to dissatisfaction among Chinese employees, of course, compensation and benefits packages always play an overarching role. In the Work China survey, Watson Wyatt asked respondents who said they might leave in the next several years to list the top three reasons for their planned departure. The results were consistent with popular perceptions: better pay was the number one reason employees wanted to leave their company, followed by better career opportunities, and training and development. Sources: 1. Ã…  uÃ… ¡njar, Ã…  , G, Zimanji, V, MenadÃ… ¾ment ljudskih resursa, Ekonomski fakultet, Subotica, 2006 2. Wang, Yu, Leeds Metropolitan University, September 2005 3. Gross, Ames & Lepage, Shawna Lepage, Employee Retention: Building an Effective Strategy to Retain Your Chinese Employees, April 2001, Corporate Relocation News 4. Leininger, Jim, The Key to Retention: Committed Employees, China Business Review, Jan/Feb2004, Vol. 31 Issue 1, p16-39

Introducing an East World to a West World Essay

On June 26, 1982, Pearl Sydenstricker was born in Hillsboro West Virginia, to two American Presbyterian missionaries who primarily served in China (â€Å"Buck, Pearl S.†). At the age of two, Buck and her family moved back to China where she spent the next 6 years of her life adapting the Chinese culture while integrating aspects of her American heritage as well. Buck’s childhood in China stimulated the bicultural traits that she infused into her writing by exemplifying both American and Chinese culture and values. At 15, Buck was sent to a boarding school in Shanghai and continued her schooling at the Randolph Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg Virginia, where she graduated in 1914 and taught psychology. Later on she finished her schooling at Cornell University receiving a Master of Arts Degree. Buck also taught English at several universities throughout her career including the University of Nanking, Chung Yang University, and Southeastern University (â€Å"Works of Pearl Buck†). A notable historic event that impacted Buck’s life and her writing was the Boxer Rebellion (â€Å"Works of Pearl Buck†). The boxers were a group of Chinese people who opposed the spread of Western ideas and technology and convinced the empress to drive out all foreigners in China in order to sustain China’s ancient culture and history. Despite the empress’ support for the arising Western influence, the Boxers lashed out by imprisoning the empress and stimulating the attacks on foreigners. This ultimately caused Buck’s family to flee from China back to America in order to escape the rebellions plotted against foreigners (â€Å"A Life Lived in Interesting Times†). Buck also witnessed the foot-binding and murder of female babies in China due to the patriarchal nature that was indigenous to the Chinese culture. This influenced her to become an advocate for woman’s rights and her experience with the Boxer Rebellion profoundly affected her perspective for equality and the political barriers that seemed to separate the values of the West and Asia which was reflected in the various themes she covered. Throughout her life Buck was an outspoken feminist and equalist. She displayed her advocacy by supporting various organizations who strived for equality, promoting birth control, and even adopting nine children. (â€Å"Pearl S. Buck: A Cultural Biography†). She married John L. Buck, and they had one daughter who was mentally disabled. Her daughter’s disability motivated her to support children’s advocacy which inspired her to write â€Å"The Child Who Never Grew† in 1950. It also led her to establish the Pearl S. Buck foundation which strives to assist in the adoption and well-being of Amerasian children. However, her and her husband divorced in 1935 and she soon married Richard J. Walsh, her publisher who she stayed married to until the end of her life (â€Å"Buck, Pearl S.†). Pearl Buck was known for her works such as Dragon Seed which focuses on a female empress named Tzu Hsi who was faced with ruling China during a period of war. Some of her works also reflect her lifestyle that was influenced by two entirely different cultures. Buck’s memoir My Several Worlds tells about her long journey growing up in an environment of political struggle and internal warfare between her own people when her and her family was outcasted by the Chinese as foreigners. It tells about her career as an influential writer, an ambassador, and civil rights activist with her motives defined by the countless experiences of her life. Her most notable title which earned her a Pulitzer Prize and a Noble Prize in Literature was The Good Earth. The book tells of a poor farmer named Wang Lung and his wife who struggle with the changes that war and a corrupted government have brought upon the nation such as famine and poverty. This theme of personal obstacles can most likely relate to Buck’s audience when the book was published in 1931: the many Americans who struggled with the shifting politics and economy during the Great Depression (â€Å"The Good Earth, 1931,† The American Novel†). Buck’s work conveys the complexity of Chinese culture and life to America based off her experience growing up in a bicultural environment (â€Å"The Good Earth,† Barnes and Noble). Buck’s work can best be categorized by the movement of Realism because of the reality that she tries to depict in order to relate the hardships that both the Chinese and Americans share. Realism mainly focused on portraying average experiences and it transitioned after the movement of Romance. It is thought to be known as â€Å"the faithful representation of reality† (â€Å"Realism in American Literature, 1860-1890†). The realist nature of her books forged a connection through the similarities in lifestyle and adversities that the Americans shared with the people of China (â€Å"1860s-1900s Realism,† PBS). She aimed to depict the daily lives of the civilians of China through her characters’ lifestyles that gave an insight of life shrouded by Chinese culture and beliefs. Her ability to express the personal struggles of both the upper, middle, and lower class allowed her to convey the theme of cumulative struggles and experiences of a country as a whole. Pearl Buck’s main purpose for her writing was to link the alien and foreign culture of China to the people of America who were clueless to the cultural values that China imposed (The American Novel). She delivered with a style that precisely aimed to reveal the plain and blunt truth of life, no matter what social class a person belonged to. The works of Pearl Buck have left a lasting impact on both America and China. She created countless milestones in literature such as being one of the first women ever to receive a Noble Prize in Literature and a Pulitzer Prize, and acting as a mediator and uniting the two cultures of America and China through the various situations that she presents of life in China through her characters and various stories. I think that the reason she has left such a profound mark on literature is because of her ability to establish a connection with the audience. Being bi-cultural, Buck utilizes her first-hand experiences of life in China such as war, famine, and even traumatic murder experiences in order to fully convey the events that were occurring in China with the Great Depression of the United States. What makes her writing and themes so universal is that, it portrays the life experiences of people, with personal struggles and I think her themes have the capability to relate to any time period because everyone is able to relate to the hardships of others. Her ability to successfully connect with her audience on a personal level of experience with a completely foreign culture establishes her as one of the most impactful authors in literature in which modern-day writers aspire to achieve. â€Å"Buck’s Accomplishments have proven unique in military, political and literary history† (Taylor). Some even think that â€Å"We are very much in need of a twenty- first century Pearl Buck† (â€Å"A Life Lived in Interesting Times†). This further demonstrates the lasting influence that Buck’s literary work left during her time period, which some believe that â€Å"no one will ever be able to do again† (Taylor). Unfortunately, Pearl Buck died on March 6, 1973 of lung cancer at her home in Danby, Vermont (â€Å"Pearl S. Buck Biography†). Her work continues to live and is enjoyed by people all over the world today. Her deeds as an activist who strived for fairness among people and cultures are survived by the many people who are influenced by her contributions toward equality. She is recognized as a prominent author because of the major impact that she worked towards her whole life so that America would be able to share a culture and history with China. Despite her death, Buck has left her mark as a humanitarian and advocate who had the best interests of people in mind and a legendary writer who brought to America, a style of writing that will remain timeless in practically every age of literature. Works Cited Allen, Brooke. â€Å"A Life Lived in Interesting Times.† Hudson Review 3. 2010. eLibrary. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. â€Å"Buck, Pearl S.† Compton’s by Britannica, v 6.0. 2009. eLibrary. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. Campbell, Donna M. â€Å"Realism in American Literature.† Realism in American Literature. Department of English, Washington State University, 8 Sept. 2011. Web. 21 Dec. 2012. Frenz, Horst. â€Å"Pearl Buck- Biography.† Noble Prize. The Noble Foundation. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. Matterson, Stephen. â€Å"1860s-1900s Realism.† PBS. Educational Broadcasting Corporation, Mar. 2007. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. â€Å"Pearl S. Buck Biography.† Bio.com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. Taylor, Peter Shawn. â€Å"Pearl Buck to Pearl Harbor; How a much-loved novel won over Depression-era readers, erased Chinese stereotypes and helped bring war to the Pacific.† National Post. 15 Oct. 2012. eLibrary. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. â€Å"The Good Earth.† Barnes & Noble. Web. 12 Dec. 2012 â€Å"The Good Earth, 1931.† PBS. American Masters , The American Novel. Web. 21 Dec. 2012. White, Barbara. â€Å"Book Reviews: Pearl S. Buck: A Cultural Biography.† Contemporary Women’s Issues Database. 01 Jun. 1997. eLibrary. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. â€Å"Works of Pearl Buck: Pearl Buck.† MacMillan General Reference, 1963. eLibrary. Web. 12 Nov. 2012.

A Few Simple Rules for Expressing Numbers in Your Writing

A Few Simple Rules for Expressing Numbers in Your Writing When you refer to a number in your writing, you often have to decide whether to use a numerical expression/figure or spell it out as a word. This article discusses numbers, how to write them correctly, and when to use numerical expressions instead.General rulesRelated numbers should be expressed consistently. For example, if you choose to use figures because one of the numbers is greater than nine, use figures for all of the numbers in that category. If you choose to spell out numbers because one of the numbers is a single digit, spell out all numbers in that category. For example:Right: two apples, six oranges, four pears, and three bananasWrong: two apples, 6 oranges, four pears, and 3 bananasIf a passage includes numbers that follow one another, one is spelled out and the other is represented with a figure.Unclear: The club celebrated the birthdays of 6 90-year-olds who were born in the city. (This may cause the reader to read 690 as one number.)Clearer: The club celebrated the bi rthdays of six 90-year-olds who were born in the city.Rules for spelling out numbersThe rules of usage vary, but small numbers, such as whole numbers smaller than ten, should be spelled out. This is the one rule that is fairly uniform among all rulebooks. Most style guides also include all numbers that can be expressed in one or two words. Figures are recommended for the other cases. For example:Exactly three poundsTwo thousand dollarsAbout twenty-six yearsThirty-two peopleJust 268 days until ChristmasCost $46.151,238 tons116.3 gallonsAnother widely accepted rule is to write out a number if it begins a sentence. For example:Right: Six percent of the group failed.Wrong: 6% of the group failed.You may need to reword sentences to avoid spelling out large numbers. For example:Right: Fans bought 400,000 copies of her new book on the first day.Wrong: 400,000 copies of her book were sold on the first day.In English, the comma is used as a thousands separator and the period is used as a dec imal separator to make large numbers easier to read. Thus, you should write the size of Alaska as:Right: 571,951 square milesWrong: 571951 square miles.If the number is rounded or estimated, spell it out. Rounded numbers over a million are written as a numeral plus a word:Right: About 400 million people speak Spanish natively,Wrong: About 400,000,000 people speak Spanish natively.Hyphenate a number written as two words if it is under one hundred. For example:There are twenty-two students in my class.Use a hyphen to separate the numerator from the denominator in written fractions. For example:Two-thirds of the class chose the correct answer.Rules for using figuresThe following should be expressed as figures.Exact measurements followed by symbols or abbreviations: 55 m.p.h.Exact amounts of money: $110.79Decimals and fractions: 2.5, 3/5Percentages, scores, or statistics: 38%, score of 10-1Volume, chapter, and page numbers: Vol. I, Chapter 12, page 87Act, scene, and line numbers: Act II I, Scene 2, lines 23-27PlacesFigures are generally used for addresses. For example:16 Tenth Street350 West 114 StreetTimeUse numerals with the time of day when exact times are being emphasized or when using A.M. or P.M. For example:8:00 A.M.However, use noon and midnight rather than 12:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M.Normally, spell out the time of day in text even with half and quarter hours. With oclock, the number is always spelled out. For example:eight oclock in the morningDatesIt is generally acceptable to express a decade by spelling it out or writing it as a figure. When expressing a decade as a figure, do not use an apostrophe between the year and the s, i.e., 1980s. When spelling out a decade, use lower case letters, i.e., the eighties.In general, do not use st, nd, rd, and th after dates to indicate ordinals.Right: We will meet again on April 15.Wrong: We will meet again on April 15th.Here are a few more examples of dates:December 12, 1965 or 12 December 1965A.D. 1066in 1900from 19 71–72 or from 1971–1972Expressing numbers in mathematics and the sciencesUse an en dash, not a hyphen, to indicate a closed numeric range, i.e., 100–110.Insert a space on either side of mathematical operators (-, +, =, etc.) or symbols unless they directly precede a number to indicate a value (There should not be a space between a number and a percentage sign, i.e., 100%.Preferably abbreviate units of measurement when used with figures, but spell them out when not preceded by figures.Write decimals in figures. Put a zero in front of a decimal unless the decimal itself begins with a zero.Please keep in mind that this article discusses general rules regarding the expression of numbers in writing. In business and academia, you should always consult the applicable style guide. For example, the APA Publication Manual and the Chicago Manual of Style have extensive sections devoted to the use of numbers in technical papers.

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The definition of an architect according to Random House is: Architect ( ar-chi-tects) a person who engages in the profession of architecture (Random House). Requirements for education as stated in The Chronicle Guidance Publications are In most states architects must have either a bachelors or a masters degree earned for completion of studies in an accredited degree program for architecture. In 1999 the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accredited 108 programs culminating in either a five-year bachelors degree in architecture or a masters degree in architecture. There are several ways to earn a professional degree in architecture. More than half of all architecture degrees are for completion of a five-year program for students entering college directly from high school. Masters degree programs generally require either two years for students with an undergraduate degree in architecture or a related study, or three to four years for students who have a degree in another discipline. Computer literacy is essential. Most firms are now using computers for word processing, design development, specifications wri! ting, two-dimensional and three-dimensional design drafting, financial management, and research. US News ranked Claremont McKenna College in California as the best Liberal Arts School in the nation for architecture. California Institute of Technology was the top ranked university for architecture followed by Stanford also in California (US News). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics All States and the District of Columbia require individuals to be licensed (registered) before they may call themselves architects or contract to provide architectural services. Many architecture school graduates work in the field even though they are not licensed. However, a licensed architect is required to take legal responsibility for all work. Three req...

Process Essay Example

Process Essay Example Process Essay Process Essay Romance14 October 2010 Sneaking Out Most teenagers know that sneaking out is key when it comes to the end of the week especially since parents are getting stricter and grounding a lot more. On the weekends, teenagers hang loose, party, relax, and just try to have fun, unfortunately, most parents do not understand. Teenager’s number one goal is to not get caught, therefore hey put a lot of thought in to this process. Even though most of the time teens do get caught in the act, every teenager should know at least one way of sneaking out of the house. Every teenager should know at least one way of sneaking out of the house. Teens put a lot of thought in to sneaking out, they must consider their area situation, disciese themselves, take chances, and be prepared. Most importantly is sneaking back in. As teens put a lot of thought into sneaking out, their number one goal is to not get caught. First, the teen needs to have an emergency excuse ready, in case the teen does get caught. Second, they must remember what time they’re parents usually go to bed, or if they have to stay up late to finish some paperwork etc. Teenagers should remember two important things before sneaking out. One, they need to stuff soft, bulky items, such as stuffed animals, clothes, etc. under their covers to show that the teen is safe and sound in bed. Two, if they do sneak out at night and leave a door or window unlocked, you leave they’re parents home vulnerable to a home-invasion robbery/break-in. The lives of they’re family could be in jeopardy. Anyway, let’s say they’re parents are sound aslee p. The first step would be figuring out how the teenager would get out of their room. An important factor in getting out of the room would be where the room even is, whether it’s downstairs, upstairs or on the main floor. If the room is upstairs, you either would go out the window with a roof, or a tree to climb down. They could also go down the stairs and to one of the doors. It’s easier to go out the window, but noise is key. The teen can’t wake up their parents, or any of their siblings in order not to get caught. If the room is downstairs, then its as easy as going out the front door, though sometimes parents have a security system installed in case of a break in, or to even prevent teens in sneaking out. The teen could also go out another door, like the back. Say the parents do have a security system; the teen has no choice but to go out a window carefully and quietly. The teen needs to make sure and have a friend meet them down the block so the lights of the car in the drive way doesn’t bother the parents, and gets the teen caught. After getting out of the house, getting back in is also very tricky, and most important. In order to complete a mission in sneaking out, the teen must get out and get back in without getting caught, that’s the point. After the teen feels successful in getting out, they go out and have fun. When they arrive back home,they need to come in the same way they got out. If the teen came out the window, they should have cracked it and left it semi-open to re-enter the home. If there is any light on in the house, and the teen is sure that they have gotten caught, they need to call home immediately and used their emergency excuse for a cover up. If not, the teen would re- enter the home through the middle floor window in this case. Once the teen is back in his or her room, they must clean up anything that may put them in jeopardy in getting caught. The teen needs to get in bed, and go straight to sleep. If the teen would want to wash their face, take a shower, etc. , they may get themselves caught, so the recommendation for that would be not to do it. Finally, the teen makes it home, safe and sound without getting caught. Most teenagers know that sneaking out is key when it comes to the end of the week especially since parents are getting stricter and grounding a lot more. On the weekends, teenagers like to just have fun and stay out with their other friends, unfortunately, most parents do not understand this concept. Teenager’s number one goal is to not get caught; therefore they put a lot of thought in to this process. Most teens do get caught, but every American teenager should know at least one way of sneaking out of their house.

10 Quotes About Summer Love

10 Quotes About Summer Love Summer has always been considered  the most romantic of the four seasons. The clear skies, the blazing sun, the gentle summer breeze, and the lazy afternoons flavor the season with passion and warm love. Its also a time when many experience the passion and heartbreak of young love while on summer vacation. The lovers are destined to part at summers end, returning to their distant homes and inevitable loss. These summer love quotes attempt to celebrate this fervent spirit of summer love. Summer Love Quotes Anonymous All we need is the truth in our hand.Someone to call a friend.Never fear the darkness.All we need is just the sun in the sky.And the hope of a summer to come with the meaning of love. Robert Burton What is life, when wanting love? Night without a morning; loves the cloudless summer sun, nature gay adorning. Swedish Proverb A life without love is like a year without summer. Anonymous Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmers year- it brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul. Francis Thompson Summer set lip to earths bosom bare,And left the flushed print in a poppy there Edna St. Vincent Millay I know I am but summer to your heart, and not the full four seasons of the year. William Shakespeare Shall I compare thee to a summers day?Thou art more lovely and more temperate.Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,And summers lease hath all too short a date.Sometimes too hot the eye of heaven shines,And often is his gold complexion dimmed;And every fair from fair sometime declines,By chance, or natures changing course, untrimmedBut thy eternal summer shall not fadeNor lose possession of that fair thou owst,Nor shall Death brag thou wandrest in his shadeWhen in eternal lines to time thou growst.So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. Alexander Pope But see, the shepherds shun the noonday heat,The lowing herds to murmuring brooks retreat,To closer shades the panting flocks remove;Ye gods! And is there no relief for love? Bern Williams If a June night could talk, it would probably boast it invented romance. Carl Sandburg Under the summer rosesWhen the flagrant crimsonLurks in the duskOf the wild red leaves,Love, with little hands,Comes and touches youWith a thousand memories,And asks youBeautiful, unanswered questions. Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook Summer romances begin for all kinds of reasons, but when all is said and done, they have one thing in common. Theyre shooting stars, spectacular moments of light from the heavens, a fleeting glimpse of eternity, and in a flash theyre gone. Kenny Chesney Its a smile, its a kiss, its a sip of wine ... its summertime! Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Summer Nights Summer loving had me a blastSummer loving happened so fastI met a girl crazy for meMet a boy cute as can beSummer days drifting away to oh oh the summer nights

RITZ CARLTON HOTEL COMPANY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

RITZ CARLTON HOTEL COMPANY - Essay Example The logo of the hotel, which had the British royal seal (the crown) and the logo of a financial backer (the lion) was designed by Cesar Ritz. The hotel assumed the status of a private club meant for the very rich. The hotel entertained only those guests who were on the Social Register or were the Who’s Who of the society. Edward Wyner, the owner of the Ritz-Carlton,  Boston passed away in 1961. The property was thereafter owned and managed by land developers Cabot, Cabot & Forbes and their chairman Gerald W. Blakely. Charles Ritz, son of Cesar Ritz, remained an active board member of the Ritz-Carlton hotel until he died in 1977. William B. Johnson bought the hotel and the rights to The  Ritz-Carlton name from Blakely and established The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company (Ritz-Carlton, 2014). Herve Humler is the President and Chief Operations Officer of Ritz-Carlton. Leeny K. Oberg is the Chief Financial Officer while Bob Kharazmi is the Global Officer, Worldwide Operations (Marriot, 2014). Simon F. Cooper remained the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company from February 2001 to September 2010 and was instrumental in the expansion spree of the hotel chain during the period (Ritz-Carlton, 2014). Ritz-Carlton is committed to providing top-notch service to its esteemed customers. The hotel chain has adopted the motto; â€Å"We are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen.† Genuine care and comfort of its guests is the highest mission of Ritz-Carlton. All the employees of the company are taught the â€Å"The 12 Service Values,† â€Å"The Credo,† â€Å"The Three Steps of Service,† and â€Å"The 6th Diamond† which together form the basis of day-to-day working of the company. The company has been honored with the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award twice (Ritz-Carlton, 2014) The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. operates the Ritz-Carlton chain of luxury hotels. It is

A proposal for security camera installation at Marbrisa Apartment Essay

A proposal for security camera installation at Marbrisa Apartment - Essay Example But the privacy of the tenants should in no way be harmed by these cameras. I ask you to regard the included proposal and give it a serious consideration as it is a basic step to give Marbarisa Apartments a safe and secure environment and it is necessary to maintain its prestigious status and collectively build the apartment and its surrounding area’s reputation. Marbarisa Apartments provides a unique neighborhood and district as well as comfortable dwelling homes. On-site management staff tries to provide the comfort and security that was assured when the tenants rented the apartment. However, Burglaries, robberies, vandalism and outdoor damages are gravely prevailing in the apartment and its surroundings’ what is more confusing is, these increases are not observed in the nearby areas or other apartments. Criminals attack unexpectedly and our police department should have proper equipments to help reduce these incidences. Thus, the residents of the Marbarisa Apartment are proposing to install closed circuit television or surveillance cameras for security reasons. These cameras should be strategically placed specially in the areas affected by higher crime rates. There are numerous benefits of the camera surveillance. This will make the residents and the police more confident about the security situation of the apartment, Apartments which have adopted this particular measure, present substantial decrease in crime rate. It is imperative for the management of the apartment to provide the safety and security that is assured while renting the apartments as it is continuously damaging the reputation. The whole area covered by the building is very large and there are numerous advantages for the criminals and vandals to break in any time of the day. No matter how many security measures taken by the local police of the area such as emergency text messages, call box, safety awareness and safety precautions guide, the crime rate is still prevailing compare to

Healthcare Finance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Healthcare Finance - Assignment Example This saves time and resources dedicated to budgeting (Shim, Siegel & Shim, 2012). Top-down approach also minimizes unnecessary spending by the various departments and helps streamline an organization’s accounting processes. This further helps an organization to stay financially firm while avoiding cost overruns. This is unlike the bottom up approach where departments make their own budgets and pass them to the upper executives. The major risk that comes with this approach is the possibility of experiencing cost overruns, which can be financially damaging (Shim, Siegel & Shim, 2012). By leaving the responsibility of budgeting to the upper management, chances of costs overruns are greatly reduced. A top-down approach can also be used to help departments know what is expected of them. Each department is allocated a budget according to the expectations of the organization on that department. This is ideal in a situation where an organization wants to reduce on its

Business Communication and ICT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business Communication and ICT - Essay Example More so, non-verbal communication enhances ideas and concepts of verbal communication through the application of gestures, body language, tone of voice, and facial expression among other aspects such as symbols, pictures, and icons. However, non-verbal communication relies on personal presentation, audience awareness, and body language. Types of Non-Verbal Communication Non-verbal communications include the haptics, artifacts, and kinesics, which have been used to enhance verbal communications from an individual level to business dealings (Wood, 2010). Haptics is the physical communication that is meant to communicate particular information at a personal level with specific aspects of the body. Physical communication includes the use of aspects such as facial expression, body movements, and gestures that often accompany verbal communication. Haptics is often evident in the social scene where more intimate and close relationships and communications are established. The distance betwee n individuals conversing determines the level of haptics communications alongside cultural aspects regarding interpersonal norms (Wood, 2010, p.131).   Body posture in this case is the speaker’s body position, which may correspond with communication expectations and intention in a particular context. Physical communication often conveys symbolic messages with regards to the orator’s intentions and attitude concerning the message being communicated (Wood, 2010). Facial expressions on the other hand are dynamic features and sources of emotional communication that often communicate the speaker’s intentions, attitudes, and emotions. In addition, facial expression includes eye movement as a key aspect of facial behavior and displays with regards to eye contact frequency, stare, and glances. Glance, eye contact frequency, and stare may convey a wide range of information, emotions, and intentions of the speaker himself. This is in consideration of the fact that facia l expressions vary continuously during oral communication, and they are therefore monitored and interpreted constantly by the message recipient (Wood, 2010). Artifacts are non-verbal forms of communication based on environmental, cultural, and social artifacts for message conveyance and understanding. The environment generally refers to the physical place where communication takes place while artifacts are environmental objects that provide some form of communication stimulus. The environment of communication and environmental stimulus are basically the concepts of nonverbal communication that affect the changes regarding how people communicate non-verbally. Appropriate non-verbal communication is dependent of the artifacts and the environment in which communication takes place, with regards to giving clues of non-verbal behavior. Environmental factors include aspects such as climate, which influences the non-verbal behavior of individuals and even native residents of a particular c limate (Wood, 2011) Kinesics non-verbal communication on the other hand is the general body language interpretation and message conveyance. Kinesics non-verbal communication relates to movements of particular parts of the body or the body as a whole with respect to the gestures that individuals choose to put in place when conveying particular information. The manner in which the body is held generally constitutes posture and body gestures,