Capital Punishment Essay Hypocrisy of the Death Penalty

The Hypocrisy of the Death Penalty If there is a desire by the American people to maintain the death penalty, let us at least be spared the hypocrisy of a justification by example. The death penalty is a penalty, to be sure, a frightful torture, both physical and moral, but it provides no sure example except a demoralizing one. It punishes, but it forestalls nothing; indeed, it may even arouse the impulse to murder. It hardly seems to exist, except for the man who suffers it-- in his soul for months and years, in his body during the desperate and violent hour when he is cut in two without suppressing his life. Let us call it by the name which, for lack of any other nobility, will at least give the nobility of truth, and let us†¦show more content†¦Retaliation is related to nature and instinct, not to law. Law, by definition, cannot obey the same rules as nature. If murder is in the nature of man, the law is not intended to imitate or reproduce that nature. It is intended to correct it. Now retaliation does n o more than ratify and confer the status of a law on a pure impulse of nature. We have all known that impulse, often to our shame, and we know its power, for it comes down to us from the primitive forests, In this regard, we French, who are properly indignant upon seeing the oil king in Saudi Arabia preach international democracy and call in a butcher to cut off a theifs hand with a cleaver, live also in a sort of Middle Ages without even the consolations of faith. We still define justice according to therules of a crude arithmetic. *Can it be said at least that the arithmetic is exact and that justice, even when elementary, even when limited to legal revenge, is safeguarded by the death penalty? The answer must be no. Let us leave aside the fact that the law of retaliation is inapplicable and that it would seem just as excessive to punish the incendiary by setting fire to his house as it would be insufficient to punish the thief by deducting from his bank account a sum equal to his theft. Let us admit that it is just and necessary to compensate for the murder of the victim by the death of the murderer. But beheading is not simply death. It is just as different, in essence, from theShow MoreRelatedAn Eye for an Eye: The Death Penalty1553 Words   |  7 PagesThe death penalty has been present, in one way or another, for virtually as long as human civilization has existed. The reasons why are apparent; it is intrinsically logical to human beings that a person who takes the life of another should also be killed. This philosophy is exemplified in the famous Biblical passage, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. However, in light of recent research into ethics, criminology and the justice syste m, the time has come for us to re-examine our agelessRead MoreThe Stranger - Meursaults Trial Essay1020 Words   |  5 Pagestrial and persecution of Meursault to express his belief that the justice system is flawed because of his absurdist ideals that truth does not exist, and human life is precious. In order to reform the justice system, Albert Camus believes that capital punishment needs to be abolished. The trial portrays the absurdist ideal that absolute truth does not exist. This ideal destroys the very purpose of the trial, which seeks to place a rational explanation on Meursault’s senseless killing of the Arab. HoweverRead MoreCalculus Oaper13589 Words   |  55 Pageshttp://www.terry.uga.edu/~dawndba/4500compulsoryhet.htm Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence †¨ Adrienne Rich    Adrienne Rich s essay constitutes a powerful challenge to some of our least examined sexual assumptions. Rich turns all the familiar arguments on their heads: If the first erotic bond is to the mother, she asks, could not the natural sexual orientation of both men and women be toward women? Rich s radical questioning has been a major intellectual forceRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 Pagesprimary data on the movement but to analyze and re-analyze the growing body of scholarly and popular literature on the movement, including sociological and anthropological studies, biographies, monographs, dissertations, published and unpublished essays, and periodical articles. Archival sources, such as newspaper reports, policy statements, pamphlets, and organization manuals have also provided useful information. Chapter 1 reviews and reï ¬ nes Webers theory of charisma and routinization, usingRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesexplains the financial success of the firms that are highly effective?† The five most powerful predictors were identified and assessed. They included market share (assuming that the higher the market share of a firm, the higher its profitability); firm capital intensity (assuming that the more a firm is automated and up-to-date in technology and equipment, the more profitable it is); size of the firm in assets (assuming that economies of scale and efficiency can be used in large firms to increase profitability);Read MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pagesoperate. Source: Henning Kaiser/Getty Images In the global economy, jobs tend to shift from developed nations to countries where lower labor costs give firms a comparative advantage. In this photo, an employee wearing a sign on his head reading â€Å"Capital Interests† joins co-workers at a Nokia factory in Germany to protest the company’s decision of terminating mobile phone production at the plant, resulting in the loss of 2,300 jobs. Nokia announced plans to shift production from Germany to Romania

The Theories Of The Theory Of Behaviorism - 854 Words

John Locke argued that people start out with a blank slate. I don’t totally agree that we start as blank slates, but I appreciate the meaning behind Locke’s observation: we are extremely impressionable creatures, but we have the control to be great. Through the human development, people develop their own history of learning experiences that shape who they are and how they react. There are certain laws or rules of learning that happen through how people interact with the environment and how they think, feel and behave. In order for the person and the situation and environment to coexist, we must look at the idea of introspection and the theory of behaviorism. Behavioral methods are not only useful to observe development and how it happens, but also to understand how and why behavioral abnormalities such as phobias happen. I will flesh out behaviorism and share some personal experiences. Early developments in the behavioral theory are primarily focused on conditioning. Iv an Pavlov was the first major behaviorist and discovered classical conditioning. He used the digestive system of dogs as a model for describing much of the automatic/nonconscious learning that occurs in everyday life. In classical conditioning, a meaningful stimulus is linked to a neutral stimulus so that a similar response is elicited by either stimulus. A common example is fear response-young children might associate load noises with traffic and become afraid and stay clear of the traffic. When I was eightShow MoreRelatedBehaviorism Theory On The Theory Of Behaviorism Essay1221 Words   |  5 PagesOne of the theories we have studied this semester in Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science is the Behaviorism theory. The behaviorism theory states that behaviorism is a theory on learning that only concentrates on noticeably observable behaviors and disregards any independent activities of the mind. The Behaviorism theory was brought up by Burrhus Frederic Skinner. He based this theory on operant conditioning. This theory has a reinforcing stimulus which can be modified into continuousRead MoreThe Theory of Behaviorism900 Words   |  4 PagesA significant piece of several psychological theories in the late nineteenth century was introspection, which is â€Å"the examination or observation of ones own mental and emotional processes† (Press, 2013). In retort to this theory behaviorism came about. Behaviorism is predominantly concerned with observable and measurable aspects of human behavior. In other words behaviorism does not look at the biological aspects but it suggests that all behaviors are learned habits and changes in response to theRead MoreBehaviorism And The Theory Of Behaviorism1816 Words   |  8 Pageslearning theories, developments and techniques have been created, adjusted and disseminated throughout the years. Throughout history, psychologists, scientists, and other professionals have attempted to understand and explain the une xplainable. Others have tried to reason their own personal beliefs into existence as the status quo. However, to fully understand the complexity of evolution, one must begin at the beginning of an era. In this paper, the starting point resides with behaviorism. NugentRead MoreBehaviorism Vs. Behaviorism Theory849 Words   |  4 PagesBehaviorism Approach to Life According to Ciccarelli and White (2010), behaviorism is the science of behavior that focuses on observable behavior only. An example of this is the environment a person is exposed to determines their behavior affecting their personality (McLeod, 2007). Furthermore, personality determines a person’s motivations and goals in life. With this said, this theory assist in better understanding interactions with people every day. For instance, all people have their own uniqueRead MoreLearning Theories : Theory Of Behaviorism1037 Words   |  5 PagesLearning Theories Essay Behaviorism focuses on a new behavioral pattern being repeated until it becomes automatic. The theory of behaviorism concentrates on the study of overt behaviors that can be observed and measured (Good Brophy, 1990). It views the mind as a black box in the sense that response to stimulus can be observed quantitatively, totally ignoring the possibility of thought processes occurring in the mind. Some key players in the development of the behaviorist theory were Pavlov,Read MoreBehaviorism And Behaviorism Theories Of Psychology Essay1322 Words   |  6 Pagesvery active in nature. Behaviorism says that you have to look at psychology in a way that is observable and objective. The main focus was on how we react to stimuli. Unlike Ebbinghaus both James’s view and behaviorism stray from introspection as opposed to observation. Gestalt psychology emphasized people’s tendency to organize the information they receive. Like behaviorism and James’s view, Gestalt psychology did not agree with Ebbinghaus’s introspection. Unlike behaviorism Gestalt psychology didRead MoreTheories Of Behaviorism And Cognitivism Essay2002 Words   |  9 PagesIntroduction As two classic theories of learning and teaching, behaviorism and cognitivism have inspired a lot of great thinkers to make contributions to education. It is essential to point out the differences between the two theories so as to study how these two theories have been implemented to educational experiences. Studies have been made on the comparison on the two theories and their contribution to educational experiences. Bates (2016) had detailed analyses on the both theories and how they can beRead MoreBehaviorism Theory And Social Cognitive Theory1082 Words   |  5 PagesLearning perspective also known as behavioral perspective is a theory that is apprehensive with how a person’s behavior changes because of their environment and experiences. The learning perspective has two theories; behaviorism and social-cognitive learning theory. Furthermore, behaviorists do not invoke the mind to explain behavior; they prefer to stick to what they can observe and measure directly: acts and events that happen in the environment (Carole Wade, 2008). In this essay the followingRead MoreBehaviorism, Psychoanalytic Theory, And Attachment Theory879 Words   |  4 Pagesvery frustrated and decided that if my baby was dry, fed, and not tired. I would just let him cry it out. I didn’t know wha t else to do. Explain how Behaviorism, Psychoanalytic Theory, and Attachment Theory suggest handling this situation and predict what would be each likely outcome. Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner all state that Behaviorism is the shaping of the child’s behavior through an environment of learning in which the adult use favorable or unfavorable reinforcement (pbworks.comRead MoreTheories Of Behaviorism And Constructivism754 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Behaviorism and constructivism are learning theories which stem from two philosophical schools of thought which provide a structured foundation for planning and teaching instructional tasks. Behaviorism is based on observable changes in behavior. Any concept can be learned if it is repeated enough until it becomes automatic. Some key players in the development of the behaviorist theory include Pavlov, Watson, Thorndike and Skinner. Constructivism is based on the premise that we

The Counterculture free essay sample

The hippies of the sass had many effects on the American society. The visual appearance and lifestyle of the hippies were in sharp contrast to the conservative nature of the older generation, which defined them as a counterculture. The hippie lifestyle was based on free love, rock music, shared property, and drug experimentation. They introduced a new perspective on drugs, freedom of expression, appearance, music, attitudes toward work, and held a much more liberal political view than mainstream society.One of the main effects that the hippies made is the appearance of the American society. The hippies wore bell bottom jeans and bright colored shirts usually tie-dyed. They wore out their clothes and when a hole occurred they would just patch it up to show that they were not materialistic and preferred living off the land. Both men and women had long hair, and the men usually had fuller beards. Most of their clothing was self-made to protest against the American society materialistic values and their clothes showed their laid back or casual lifestyle. We will write a custom essay sample on The Counterculture or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Many of the music artists that they admired determined what the counterculture would wear and listen to. The hippie movement had a new and different preference in music called rock n roll. Rock n roll is a type of music that evolved from earlier jazz music. This type of music took countercultures topics such as peace and drug use and put it into lyrical form. This music idealized and encouraged the use of drugs to promote free thought and artistic expression. Be-ins were a large part of the hippie lifestyle which were rock music festivals that were held in public places and outdoors.One of the largest and most known sass rock inserts started on August IS, 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Festival. The promoters of Woodstock expected around two hundred thousand people at the most to show up but an estimated four hundred and fifty thousand people attended. These people camped out for three days in the rain near Bethel, New York on a six hundred acre piece of muddy farmland. These concert goers enjoyed no rules, drug use, sex, and loud rock music.Some of the best known artists from this concert were; Credence Clearwater Revival, The Who, The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, Sly the Family Stone, and Jefferson Airplane. Another one of the main parts of the hippie counterculture lifestyle was drug use. LSI and marijuana were the drugs most frequently used by the hippies in the sass. These drugs drew thousands to the hippie lifestyle and to their beliefs. Drugs were used to escape the traditional values of American society, and to see deeper into ones self. Timothy Leary, a psychologist at Han. Radar, is known for his experimentations with LSI and other hallucinogenic drugs. Leary would encourage his students and fellow faculty members to go on these psychedelic trips while he recorded their responses to the drugs. In 1966 LSI was made illegal in California then later in 1967 the Federal Government banned it in the United States. Even thought the drug was illegal it didnt stop the hippies from using it. Many of these drug users died of overdosing, two of the most well known were musical artists Jim Hendrix and Janis Joplin.The counterculture rejected American values and lifestyles such as materialism and work. Many stopped working their jobs and joined communes where they shared property and attempted to share the work. Some who joined these communes were only Weekend hippies. Weekend hippies were people that stayed in these communes on the weekends to enjoy the hippie lifestyle and then went back to their jobs during the week. The failure of the hippie communes was due to a lack of organization. Hippies resented society for oppressing people with rules.Therefore, the hippie counterculture made no rules and little or no work was completed. This caused the communes to fall apart. The hippies were involved in many different political movements in the sass. The peace movement was their main focus. The hippie anti-war protestors usually had liberal views and participated in peace marches. Some f hippies burned their draft cards during anti-Vietnam War demonstrations. Many of the hippies were anti-war because they were of age to be drafted into the Vietnam War.Besides the anti-war movement the hippies were also apart of the Civil Rights Movement and the Womens Movement. Hippies believed in equality and freedom for all people. That message fit into the Civil Rights Movement and Womens Movement. The hippie counterculture of the sass had low to moderate impact on the American society at the time. However, they had a lasting impact on a society that tended to be resistant to change. Even though the hippies lacked organization, they called attention to some important issues that mainstream society may not have fully considered..These issues included the Vietnam War, Civil Rights and Womens rights. Once society got past the extreme behavior and appearance of the hippie counterculture, they thought about the views that challenged their own. Change came over time, not overnight like the hippies would have wanted. The drug use and lack of work by the hippies was counterproductive to their political movement. It added to their disorientation and made the sass society try to dismiss what the hippies believed in.

Mean Creek Essay Example

Mean Creek Essay In the film ‘Mean Creek’, the director Jacob Aaron Estes uses visual and verbal techniques to successfully convey the main idea of loss of innocence; this idea is relevant today to teenagers and shows their actions due to it. The main idea is presented to the viewer in three vignettes; banks of the river, burial site, and taking the police to the burial site. In the vignette ‘Banks of the river’ the director successfully displayed the use of verbal and visual techniques to show the relevant idea of loss of innocence.For instance, the visual technique blue filter shows that the characters have become sorrowful because of the death of George; it also makes the setting dark grey-blue which reflects how the characters lost their innocence. Another visual technique was the pull focus from George’s face to other main characters; it creates the effect that George is the centre of attention and he will be engraved in their minds, as they grow up they will rem ember how they lost their innocence and are guilty for George’s death. Further on, the director also uses verbal techniques.For example, Millie frantically screaming â€Å"wake up† to George, previously she was a polite and cheerful girl. This vignette shows her inner anger and sadness resulting in her to lose innocence. Another two verbal techniques that were used were the Foley effect and Lament music. The ‘Foley effect’ was used on the flies making them louder; this emphasises death and that the swarm of flies are on George’s dead body. The Lament music was played by the cello instrument in the background which made the vignette more funereal like.It shows to the viewer that the death is the main focus and that loss of innocence is relevant today because it shows how teenagers can lose it easily as they grow up and the consequences they will face in the present and future mentally. Another vignette that the director used to portray the idea of lo ss of innocence and successfully developed by visual and verbal techniques was the ‘burial site’. The director used the visual technique close up shot. It was used to express the facial features of the main characters.All of the characters were red yet getting pale; it also shows how the characters were hyperventilating because of the death of George. In addition, the director also used an establishing shot of the burial site, the setting at first was fresh and pure green but as the events occurred the vignette became dark and suspenseful. The verbal techniques that the director used were lack of dialogue and sudden silence. In this vignette lack of dialogue was evident as no characters were speaking, only heavily breathing; it shows that the characters were astonished and grieving over George’s death.The sudden silence technique was used when Millie stabbed the slug, nothing was to be heard for a moments. This reflects Millie’s loss of innocence because b efore the death of George she was peaceful and calm. The vignette is relevant today as it shows how an incident can ruin anyone’s life; it also accentuates that It can change the personality of one as they grow up. The ‘taking police to the burial site’ was also a vignette that the director effectively presented the main idea of loss of innocence through visual and verbal techniques.The visual technique mid-shot was used on the creek it shows that the creek was extremely misty and full of shadows giving the viewer the impression that death is present. Another visual technique was the p. a. n shot of the burial site; this shows to the viewer that death of George was official and it also suggests that characters have chosen the right pathway by telling the police what had happened. The director also presents the visual technique slowness of the water, at first during the day the water was rapid and the sunlight was reflecting off of it.In this vignette it is in con trast the water began to drift slowly across the creek which gives the impression of a tranquil mood. The verbal techniques of lament and synthetic music was also used. This really connects to the main idea as it emphasises the relevance of death and loss of innocence to real life situations today; it also shows that it can ruin someone’s life. ‘Digetic voice over cuts to non-digetic scene’ this suggests that the character George did not deserve this and also that he was different.He also says in his voice over â€Å" People that do not see inside my mind don’t get there are gazzilion things going on† This is relevant today as people should not judge one’s personality through looking at him or by his actions but to look inside and see his inner feelings. In conclusion, the director Jacob Aaron Estes successfully conveyed the idea of loss of innocence sing visual and verbal techniques in the three vignettes Banks of the river, Burial site and taking police to the burial site. The viewer’s learn the relevance of losing innocence and how it can affect them.

Acl Injuries In Athletes Essays - Knee, Dance Science, Anatomy

Acl Injuries In Athletes ACL Injuries in Athletes The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) attaches the femur, which is the thighbone, and the tibia, which is the shin, together (northstar). A torn ACL is one of the most excruciating experiences in an athlete's life. It is the first thing that comes to mind when they hurt their knee on the field; for many it is their greatest fear. A torn ACL can sometimes mean the end of an athlete's career. It can mean losing the chance to get that scholarship for young athletes, and it can also mean the end of those million dollar paychecks for those who have gone professional. A torn ACL can result in numerous surgeries, months of vigorous exercise and rehabilitation, and a sufficient amount of pain. It requires complete patience, for pushing too hard can result in further, more painful injury. Even after all that, an athlete is not guaranteed he or she will ever be able to play sports again. The anterior cruciate ligament is the reason that the knee only has one pattern of movement. Instead of moving sideways and up and down, the knee only serves as a pivot for flexion (bending) and extension (straightening); it holds the tibia and femur in place (northstar). In the northstar web page it is stated that, ?The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the most important ligaments to athletes because of its main function, stabilization of the joint while decelerating.? In other words, it is the reason that we can stop abruptly without our leg collapsing. Obviously this asset makes it an essential to have a functioning ACL while playing sports. It is an especially common injury in soccer, which is a game of constant abrupt stops. Not only is soccer a danger to the ACL because of its constant stops and starts, it is also a game of jumps, falls, and slide-tackles, which put a continuous stress on the ACL for the entire 90 minutes of the game. ACL tears are also more common in women . It is said that the reason for this is because women's bodies were not meant for playing intense sports, and are therefore more likely to endure such injuries. The ACL is the most frequently injured part of the knee when related to sports. As fore-mentioned, the ACL aids us in abrupt stops; it are these abrupt stops that are the most common cause for its injury. ( Figure 1. shows the difference between a normal ACL and a torn one.) An ACL injury has not been scientifically proven to be linked to weight, size, or strength (Duff 308). The cause can be a violent twist of the knee, or it can simply be caused by standing up too fast. It can be twisted or hyper extended. In any case, if it is concluded that the ACL has been ruptured, the symptoms and treatment remain the same. In any injury tiny, or large, blood vessels are broken, resulting in bleeding into the area of the injury. This is the cause of swelling. In an ACL tear, the knee swells almost immediately because of the broken blood vessels in the ligament ( Sechrest.com). The initial tear makes a loud ?pop? and, because of the absence of the ligament's reinforcement, there is a feeling of instability in the knee. In some cases, the knee actually subluxes, which is a dislocation that pops back into place on its own. In these cases, there is usually more injured than just the ACL. Often the MCL (medial collateral ligament) is also injured (Sechrest.com). Other common symptoms, according to the northstar website are pain and the athlete falling to the ground as a result of the instability, or buckling, of the knee. A torn ACL can only truly be determined through a series of tests starting with a physical examination, as in the Lachman's and Anterior Drawer tests. In the Lachman's test (shown in Fig. 2.), ?[the] Patient with suspected injury lies supine on examination table and flexes the knee at 15 degrees. The person examining the patient stands on the affected side of the extremity and holds the patient's femur (thigh) immobile with one hand. The other hand is placed

Differentiating Reasoning Essays - Critical Thinking, Advertising

Differentiating Reasoning Essays - Critical Thinking, Advertising Differentiating Reasoning CRT/205 April 4, 2014 Captain E. F. Rollins Differentiating Reasoning Article: Air Pollution The author uses deductive arguments in writing this article by resorting to scare tactics and nationalism. Scare tactics is defined by our course material as, Trying to scare people into doing something or accepting a position (University of Phoenix, 2012). An example of the scare tactics used in this article is when the author talks about the results of burning fossil fuels. The author concludes that burning fossil fuels makes the air unsafe to breathe, causes acid rain, and damages our environment (Air Pollution, 2014, para 2.). This conclusion is meant to scare the reader into accepting this position by describing terrible results of burning fossil fuels (University of Phoenix, 2012). Nationalism is defined as, a powerful and fierce emotion that can lead to blind endorsement of a countrys policies and practices (University of Phoenix, 2012). The author attempts to appeal to the readers sense of nationality by claiming that environmental protection requirements cause American industries to be at a disadvantage when competing with foreign companies with fewer restrictions (Air Pollution, 2014, para 7). The author wants the reader to accept this claim of not abiding by environmental requirements because our companies would not be able to compete with companies outside of the United States (Air Pollution, 2014). Article: Advertising The author of this article uses deductive arguments such as rationalizing, apple polishing, and popularity. Rationalizing is defined as a false pretext to satisfy our own desires or interests (University of Phoenix, 2012). An example of rationalizing can be seen in the conclusion against seller advertising (Advertising, 2014, para 1). In this conclusion against seller advertising, the author states that the constant stream of advertising that bombards consumers every day misinforms or encourages them to live beyond their means (Advertising, 2014, para 1). This conclusion is the authors attempt to justify why the reader should accept this position but it is only a rationalization that only serves the authors viewpoint (University of Phoenix, 2012). Apple polishing is defined as old-fashioned flattery (University of Phoenix, 2012). We see this in the authors statement that viewers can draw conclusions for themselves about the products used by characters on television and in movies (Advertising, 2014, para 11-12). This implies that the viewers are smart enough to see through this advertising and therefore, the advertisers are not at fault if viewers purchase a product solely on the fact that a famous person is endorsing it (University of Phoenix, 2012). Finally, popularity is defined as urging someone to accept a claim simply on the grounds that all or most or some substantial number of people believe it (University of Phoenix, 2012). The basis for the conclusion in support of sexy ads was that advertisers were only providing the images that people wanted to see (Advertising, 2014, para 8-10). This is an attempt by the author to persuade the reader to accept this conclusion based on the fact that it is what is popular (University of Phoenix, 2012). REFERENCES "Air Pollution." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. "Advertising." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. University of Phoenix. (2012). What is critical thinking, anyway? Retrieved from University of Phoenix, CRT205 - Critical Thinking website.

Ancient History Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ancient History - Assignment Example The Eastern region was infertile, unproductive and sparsely populated. Its significance lay in the fact that it was a natural buffer zone that secured the western, fertile region from invasions and raids. During this period, Asia was inhabited by many different communities who were quite progressive and developed. The dyes and woolen textiles made in this region were quite famous and in tremendous demand. The Romans saw this region as a rich place for collection of taxes so that they could live lavishly and in style. The area also was quite rich in natural resources. Spices were grown in Asia which seasoned the food of the Romans, and was a crop that had worldwide commercial value.1 The larger cities of Asia were important centers for education and culture. In fact, Asia had everything that the Romans desired and wanted. Riches from Asia allowed them to indulge in a luxuriant life style, build their cities and have the largest armies in the world. Their large armies helped them to co ntrol and manage the territories they conquered.2 During the Roman peace period, trade and other cultural activities flourished in Asia Minor. Roman emperors acknowledged the importance of this region and travelled to different cities in Asia to help and encourage in the development and progress of this province. The Romans were quite adept in constructing roads, and a vast network of roads was built here to connect this part of Asia to the rest of the Roman Empire. During this time many enormous temples and other public construction such as libraries, sewerage systems, fountains etc. were designed by Roman architects and built by the local populating. Answer 2 The Third Mithridatic war fought during 73-63BC was the longest of the three Mithridatic conflicts. It started because the ruler of Bithynia was a puppet of the Romans, and Mitrhridates tried to overthrow him. Consequently, the ruler of Bithynia declared war on Pontus because of encouragement and support provided to him by th e Romans advisors. The two legions of Roman soldiers allied with the army of Nicomedes IV proceeded to invade Mitrhridates’ kingdom of Pontus in 89 BC. Nicomedes and his Roman allies were completed routed.3 Although Mitrhridates was welcomed in Anatolia, his hatred against the Romans persisted, and in 88 BC, he instigated a massacre campaign against the Romans and their Italian allies and eliminated them throughout the entire region. Tigranes the Great, who ruled neighboring Armenia became an ally of Mitrhridates and consolidated his alliance by marrying Mitrhridates’ daughter. Both kingdoms supported each other against Rome.4 The conflict in Asia Minor reflected Mithradte’s desire to defeat the Romans and include Asia in his rule. The second conflict was different because it reflected the ambitions of the Roman general Murena. Since both wars were inconclusive, it was apparent that there was going to be another war because Sulla who had discussed the terms and agreement of the first conflict had died. Sulla was a staunch proponent of peace. 5 Most of Sulla’s allies thought that the peace terms that he had negotiated were too soft, and when Sulla died the Roman Senate firmly refused to approve the agreement. In this war, the Romans defeated Mitrhridates VI of Pontus which ended the Pontic Kingdom and created the Kingdom of Armenia as an allied client of Rome. The importance of these wars was that the Romans gained power and influence in absolutely new territories. The precise dates of the

Crafting and Executing Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Crafting and Executing Strategy - Essay Example The new CEO of the company formulated a strategic plan as per the need of the time. He formulated that there was an immediate need for the introduction of some strategy that needed to refresh their market condition. For that, he incorporate the strategy of markets drifts; existing electronic devices with revised and more easy-to-handle in lesser space. He worked on the new corporate philosophy of recognizable products and simple design, that did not exist right then (Sebastian Desbidt, 2006). Pertaining to the successful and in time execution of strategic planning, Apple now is the bench mark of excellent pocket electronics and a status symbol in electronic market, leading to have dropped the word â€Å"Computer† from its name. Now, it widely operates with high sales, premium profits and big market share as Apple Incorporation (Bread, 2011). Simply put, the strategic planning has helped Apple gain competitive advantage in the market. It gains the company a road map to define i ts strategies and seethe future road. The plan predicts the way to company’s future, and where is it going over a particular period of time and how is it going. As in the case of Apple, it is clearly evident that strategic plan is a management tool, which is for the management persons and business owners who seriously aim for the business growth. Strategic planning is one of the very important components of business plan. A typical business plan only lays out the purpose of the business, whereas strategic planning shows how it can be made successfully operational; business plan sheds light on the fund seeking, strategic planning drafts prioritization of financial needs and the effective sources to get them; business plan focuses on planning human resource, whereas strategic planning breaks down the duties and responsibilities and works on smoothing the communication between all the levels of the organization and finally, business plan structures the ideas, whereas strategic p lanning draws direction to move from plan to action. 2. Anticipated Mission Statement for Apple Incorporation Apple Incorporation’s mission is to provide its customers with convenient to use, all applications centered one single and handy user friendly electronic device that can even be easily used by the people who are not technology literate. We are constantly working on bringing in new and innovative technological devices that can add further ease and be suitable to be used for all ages. Our products meet the highest quality standards and come with high level usage assurance. Importance of Mission Statement Effective mission statements focus on the purpose of the formation of businesses. They highlight their fundamental and unique purposes. It puts light on its unique formation and it proclaims the corporate purpose of the organization. Additionally, the mission statement tackles what a particular firm intends to accomplish and guides the philosophical premises that guides their actions (Dermol, 2012). If once the mission statement has been successfully set, it becomes basis for building other intended actions. For instance, the Apple Incorporation’s mission statement makes it clear that their primary motive is to focus on the production of user friendly devices. Once cleared, the company can easily define the line of its operations and it can make its way from the monotonous market approaches towards a single and outlined method

Analysis of proposed legislation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysis of proposed legislation - Essay Example he bill claims that an individual automatically commits a crime of illegal use of firearms if he or she possesses a gun while in possession of a specific amount of a controlled substance in the country. The bill is categorical and appropriate since it makes appropriate propositions that will govern the use of firearms while strengthening other existing laws that control specific substances (Webster and Jon 32). Drug abuse for example is another closely related legal aspect the bill seeks to curb. The government has categorized numerous types of drugs as controlled substances. Such drugs as cocaine, marijuana and heroin among others are example of controlled substances. Besides the hard drugs, the government regulates the use of other medicinal drugs often proposing for prescription before any form if over the counter purchase of such drugs. Such stringent legislations are responsible for the growing illegal trade on different types of drugs in the country. Drug peddling is a major social menace responsible for the rising crime rate and extrajudicial killings in the country. Drug peddlers operate in effectively structured syndicates characterized by heightened conflicts most of which result in violent use of both legal and illegal guns in the country. This validates the unique features of the law that seeks to control the use of firearms by associating guns to drugs among other types of controlled substances in the country. The bill will criminalize being in possession of a legal firearm while in possession of a specified amount of a type of controlled substance. Such is an appropriate clause that will help curb the rising number of gun violence in the country since some of the people implicated in both drug business and gun violence are always reputable business people with legal firearms. Without the bill, such individuals may readily use their guns to settle conflicts arising from the sale and use of rugs in the country. Proponents of the bill often cite the

Demographic Profile of Perth and Kinross

Demographic Profile of Perth and Kinross PERTH KINROSS: DIVERSITY DEMOGRAPICS Q. Assess the demographic profile of Perth and Kinross as evidenced in the 2001 council  census. How might this demographic profile impact on community care? The most important revelation of the Scottish Census of April 29th 2001 was that the ethnic minority population of Scotland had risen by 63% between 1991 and 2001; whilst the White Scottish population has remained almost static at 1.3%. Moreover, whilst the ethnic minority profile is getting younger, the White Scottish profile shows a greater percentage of members of retirement age. The story then of the 2001 Census was essentially one of growing diversity in Scottish demographics. This brief essay considers the demographic results of the 2001 census for the Perth Kinross area, and the implications of these population shifts for the councils of Perth Kinross who will have to, in the near future, take the ethnic minority profile of their area into greater account in their educational, religious and social planning. Firstly, let us consider some of the general features of the demographic profile of Perth Kinross as detailed in the 2001 Scottish Census[1]. The total population of Perth and Kinross in 2001 was 134,949; of this number around sixty percent were of employable age. Of this sixty percent 134,949 5,241 economic and social migrants left the area and 5,442 entered (an increase in entry of 201). Of the migrants who left Perth and Kinross 4,193 were of working age whilst only 3,993 of those who entered were of working age (a fall of 202). Thus these figures tell that on the whole Perth and Kinross received an increase number of migrants into the area, though the percentage of economic migrants eligible to work fell. The origins of the migrants entering Perth and Kinross were as follows: 58% were from elsewhere in Scotland, 19% from England and Wales, 13% were of unknown origin, 10% came from elsewhere in the world and less than 1% came from Northern Ireland. 23.21 % of households in Perth % Kinross have members who hold and practise different religions from other members of that household; whilst the number of households where various members are of different ethnic origins is 0.74% (compared with Scottish average of 0.97%). Turning to ethnic diversity in particular, the Scottish Census found that Scotland now has just over 100,000 citizens of ethnic minorities; this amounts to two percent of the national population of Scotland. In Perth Kinross the population that belongs to ethnic minorities represents 1% and this is 1.3% of the total ethnic minority population living in Scotland. Nationally, and in Perth Kinross also, Pakistanis represent the largest ethnic minority population, followed by Chinese, Indians and then citizens of a mixed ethnic background. Of the total ethnic minority population over 70% are Asian: Pakistani, Chinese, Bangladeshi, Indian or other South Asian. The next largest group are those people who describe themselves as of a mixed ethnic minority and these represent 12% of the ethnic minority population. These figures represent a significant overall increase in the total ethnic minority population of Perth Kinross in comparison with the 1991 census. Whereas the whole population r ose by only 1.3% from 1991 to 2001, the ethnic minority population jumped by 63% (and likely much more due to the fact that figures of asylum seekers and illegal immigrants are not included in the census). An interesting feature of the demographic profile of the ethnic minority population is that (excepting Caribbeans) all other ethnic groups have 20% or more of their population aged sixteen or less (the Mixed Group percentage is 44%); whilst the figure for White Scots is 16.96%. Correspondingly, the ethnic minority population in Perth Kinross has a smaller elderly population than the White Scottish population. What then do these figures tell about the ethnic diversity of Perth Kinross, and how do such findings impact upon policies of community care? The first important observation about the ethnic minority profile is clearly the leap of 63% between 1991 and 2001 – a figure almost fifty times higher than the growth of the White Scottish population. Perth Kinross however has only 1 of the total ethnic minority population of Scotland; the highest percentages being in major cities such as Glasgow (31%) and Edinburgh (18%). Moreover, the relative youth of the ethnic minority populations suggests that in the next decades they will produce a (relatively) higher percentage of citizens of working age; whilst the ageing White Scottish population will require a growing level of support in their retirement. In light of these changes, Perth Kinross councils now have to begin community projects that reflect the growing diversity of its population. Schools, for instance, ought to have citizensh ip classes in which the virtues of ethnic diversity, ethnic tolerance, and religious tolerance are taught. Special classes should be arranged for Non-White Scottish children where necessary; likewise, teachers should be aware of the religious practices of schoolchildren. Where there are large ethnic minority communities local councils might consider providing suitable facilities: mosques (and other religious buildings), community centres and so on. In the final analysis, it seems evident from the demographic profiles of the 1991 and 2001 censuses that the population of Scotland generally, and Perth Kinross also, is experiencing a rapid percentage increase of members who belong to an ethnic minority. What is more, this increase seems likely only to accelerate and to penetrate the more rural parts of Scotland as well as its cities. Accordingly, the Perth Kinross council must make preparations to meet the religious, educational, and social needs of their rising ethnic minority populations. At the same time, the local White Scottish population and ethnic minority communities must learn an increasing tolerance for the cultural and religious outlooks of one another. Only if this tolerance is achieved can the product of these demographic changes be edifying for all concerned. 1004 words BIBLIOGRAPHY Academic Works Internet Sources Perth Kinross Council. (2002), www.pkc.gov.uk The 2001 Scottish Census. (2001) www.gro-scotland.gov-uk/statistics/census/hm.index.html. The Oxford English Dictionary. (1989). Oxford University Press, Oxford. Encyclopaedia Wikipedia. (2000). www.wikipedia.com [1] All figures in this essay are derived from the Scottish Census of April 29th 2001. www.gro-scotland.gov-uk/statistics/census/hm.index.html.

Acunpuncture: an Overview Essay

What is Acupuncture? How does sticking a bunch of needles into your body make you feel better? Is this stuff for real? These are all questions I’ve asked myself, and have heard from others over the years. Acupuncture is a system of complementary medicine that involves pricking the skin with needles. It’s used to alleviate pain and to treat various physical, mental, and emotional conditions; is one of the key components of Traditional Chinese Medicine; and is among the oldest healing practices in the world. In a 2007 Consensus Development Conference, The National Institute of Health determined that â€Å"According to the traditional Chinese medicine approach, stimulating specific acupuncture points corrects imbalances in the flow of qi through channels known as meridians. † Acupuncture can be dated back thousands of years, and as with any topic that old, there is a plethora of information available, and it sometimes can be hard to decipher. After researching the topic, and because of the context of the assignment, I narrowed my focus down to three specific areas: theory, which covers qi, meridians, and acupuncture points; history, which can be broken down into antiquity, middle history, and the modern era; and lastly the length, diameter, and material of needles. The basis of acupuncture deals with manipulating the flows of qi throughout the body. According to Daoist principles, qi is the active principle forming part of any living thing, and it is the central underlying principle in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and martial arts. The literal translation of â€Å"qi† is breath, air, or gas; however, it is frequently translated as â€Å"life energy†, â€Å"life force†, or â€Å"energy flow. † In A Clinical Introduction to Medical Acupuncture, the authors, Aung & Chen, state, â€Å"Traditional Chinese medicine distinguishes not only one but several different kinds of qi. In a general sense, qi is something that is defined by five â€Å"cardinal functions. † These cardinal functions are what keep the body alive. The first function qi provides is keeping the body, especially the limbs, warm during cold temperatures. The energy from it heats the blood, the extremities, and allows us to live and our biological processes to take place. Qi also enables the actuation of the biological processes such as breathing, sweating, it controls the nervous system, and most importantly the circulation of all the body fluids such as blood in its vessels. Qi also provides containment of those fluids in their proper spot; it keeps blood, sweat, urine, and semen from leaking or excessive emission. We know now that food broken down by the digestion process, and that various enzymes convert it into blood, nutrients, and that there’s a process for making the air we breathe into oxygen for our lungs. The ancient Chinese believed that qi did the transformation of food, drink, and breath into qi, blood, fluids, and the transformation of all of the latter into each other. The last function provided by qi, is defense against the Six Essences. The Six Essences are allegorical terms sometimes used to describe disharmony patterns in the body and their names are derived from environmental elements that were thought to pattern, or mimic, the symptoms. The first of the Six Essences is Wind, which is characterized by rapid onset of symptoms, wandering location of symptoms, itching, nasal congestion, â€Å"floating† pulse; tremor, paralysis, or convulsion. The second of the Essences is Cold, which manifests itself in cold sensations, aversion to cold, relief of symptoms by warmth, watery/clear excreta, severe pain, abdominal pain, contracture and hypertonicity of muscles, (slimy) white tongue fur, and hidden, string-like, or slow pulse. Fire (or heat) is the third of the Essences. Its symptoms are recognizable by aversion to heat, high fever, thirst, concentrated urine, red face or tongue, yellow tongue fur, and a rapid pulse. The last three Essences are Dampness, Dryness, and Summerheat; the symptoms of which are, respectively, sensation of heaviness, fullness, and symptoms of Spleen dysfunction; dry cough, mouth, throat, lips, skin, stool, and nosebleeds; and either heat or mixed damp-heat symptoms. In order fulfill its functions, qi has to steadily flow from the inside of the body to the â€Å"superficial† body tissues of the skin, muscles, tendons, bones, and joints. It is assisted in its flow by â€Å"channels† referred to as meridians. Traditional Chinese Medicines identifies twelve â€Å"regular† and eight â€Å"extraordinary† meridians. (Aung & Cheng, 19-20) At various points along the meridians, are acupuncture points. The number of points has varied considerably over time. Initially they were considered to number 365 acupuncture points, symbolically aligning with the number of days in the year; however, the modern total, while once considered 670, has been subsequently expanded due to more recent interest in auricular (ear) cupuncture and the treatment of further conditions. These acupuncture points are mainly, but not always, found at specified locations along these meridians and acupuncturists use the points to manipulate the qi and restore harmony and balance to the body. Though most of these points are found along the meridians, there is a second group of points, called extraordinary points, which are found outside the meridians and are credited with special therapeutic properties. Examples of these are the pressure points in the webbing between the thumb and forefinger, just inside the arch of the foot, the temples, and the anterior base of the neck. Lastly, a third category of acupuncture points called â€Å"A-shi† points have no fixed location but represent tender or reflexive points appearing in the course of pain syndromes. The history of acupuncture can be broken down into three distinct eras: that of antiquity, which goes back to its origins; its middle history dating, from the early 11th century through the 1800’s; and the modern era, which picks up in the early 20th century. The precise start date of acupuncture’s use in China and how it evolved from early times are uncertain; however, there are a myriad of theories and explanations as to how it came about. One explanation is that soldiers wounded in battle by arrows were believed to have been cured of chronic afflictions that were otherwise untreated. Another is the sharpened bian shi stones found in China, which evidence suggests the practice may date back to the Neolithic or Stone Age (Acupuncture in Medicine 10: 92–9). There have also been hieroglyphs found dating from the Shang Dynasty, which ran from 1600 through 1100 BCE. It is believed that Korea was the second country acupuncture spread to outside of China, and in 1023, the emperor of China ordered the production of a bronze statuette depicting the meridians and acupuncture points then in use. The practice of acupuncture lost a lot status after Song Dynasty. In the 16th century, Portuguese missionaries were among the first to bring reports of acupuncture to the West, and a Dutch surgeon traveling in Asia described the practice in both Japan and Java; however, in China itself the practice was increasingly associated with the lower-classes and illiterate practitioners (Barnes, 58–9. The middle era of acupuncture came to an end in 1823, when an edict from the Emperor banned the practice and teaching of acupuncture within the Imperial Academy of Medicine, as unfit for practice by gentlemen-scholars. The modern era of acupuncture came in to being around the time of the Chinese civil war, 1927-1949. Early Chinese Communist Party leaders ridiculed T raditional Chinese Medicine, claiming that it worked against the party’s dedication to science as the way of progress. Chairman Mao reversed that position, and rewrote its theory in order to make it fit into the Chinese political doctrine. Acupuncture gained attention in the United States when President Richard Nixon visited China in 1972, and his delegation was shown a patient undergoing major surgery while awake; however, it was later found out patients were chosen because they had naturally high pain tolerance, were indoctrinated into the method, and were on morphine IV’s which were claimed to have been essential nutrients and fluids. The greatest exposure in the West came after a New York Times reporter received acupuncture in Beijing for post-operative pain in 1971 and wrote about it in his newspaper column. From there, the first legal acupuncture center was opened in Washington D. C. in 1972, and in 1973, the IRS declared acupuncture was allowed to be deducted from taxes as a medical expense. The last aspect of acupuncture, and arguably the most essential, is the needle. While there are certain methods that do not involve needles, most of them do. The needles have evolved over the years, originally starting out as bone, or stone; now, however, most of the acupuncture needles are made of stainless steel, with some cultures using copper. Needles vary in length ,between 13 to 130 millimeters (0. 5 in to 5 in. ), with shorter needles used near the face and eyes, and longer needles in more fleshy areas, and range in diameter from 0. 16 mm (0. 006 in) to 0. 46 mm (0. 018 in), with thicker needles used on more robust patients. After this brief overview of acupuncture, I’ve answered a lot of my own questions and concerns with acupuncture The three aspects of acupuncture theory are qi, meridians, and acupuncture points. It long history has unknown origins, and edict from Chinese Emperor banned teaching in academy, but it brought back my Chairman Mao, and made popular in America by a reporter in the 70’s. Needles are mostly made of stainless steel, and they vary in length, and diameter,

Honor in Othello and Hamlet Essay

Being one of the central themes in Othello and Hamlet, honor is used in very strange ways by Shakespeare. He has a way of showing how his characters can be very honorable or have a lack there of. He displays how honor is interwoven with personal integrity and how acts of attempting to keep a reputation can be confused with the acts of personal integrity. Lastly, he also displays how honor relates to the foresight seen by his characters. Honor can be connected to almost any actions made by any of the characters in these plays. He really keeps the readers/viewers guessing at what the motivations are for all of his characters. I will take a look into these motivations and explain my thoughts on such things. In these plays, honor is very important to the characters. It is a driving force, of sorts, for much of what the characters do. Along with that, judgments made about certain characters, by other characters, are almost always based on honor. In Othello specifically, honor connects almost all of the actions and judgments throughout the play. Honor seems to be one of the main reasons Desdemona fell in love with Othello. Being much older and having so many military accomplishments sent Othello into an honorable light in Desdemona’s eyes. To me, that seems to be the sole reason she fell in love with him, in the first place. His own character influenced her love thereafter, but initially, I believe it was solely his honor. Cassio is also attracted to this quality in Othello. His platonic love for Othello is based around how honorable Othello has been in his life, prior to the end of the play. In Iago’s eyes, however, Othello’s honor means nothing. He cannot comprehend why Othello got the job he has, while he is stuck in the same position. Iago gives the impression that Othello’s honor is almost a negative thing in his eyes. Despite Iago’s negative views, every judgment about Othello is based on how honorable he is. His behavior prior to the end of the play shows this honor as well. In opposition to the honorable basis of thoughts about Othello, many characters choose less honorary behavior and are viewed dishonorably by other characters. Iago is a prime example of this. Not only do you see the lack of honor in quite literally everything Iago does, but you witness these negative thoughts about him as well. From Othello, you hear the sarcastically said â€Å"honest Iago†, and from Emilia, you hear many a complaint. Iago’s dishonorable behavior even produces dishonorable behavior from Emilia. She makes it seem like she constantly cheats on Iago, because of his neglectfulness. Dishonorable behavior is just followed by more dishonorable behavior, in Shakespeare. This could not be more true when it comes to Hamlet. The entire play is based around the central occupation of greediness and revenge. The play starts off with the fact that King Hamlet has died. Right away, when Hamlet talks to the ghost of his deceased father, we find out that he was killed by his brother Claudius. This one event (not to belittle it) sparks a string of dishonorable behavior from Hamlet, who was once considered to be a very honorable intelligent young prince. Hamlet’s cunning, yet destructive, behavior however, could be argued as honorable, to a point, by some. His actions are based on the need for justice, which most people have within themselves. They are done in order to avenge his father’s death and make right in the world. This could be argued to be a noble and honorable cause. It could be, but I don’t think it would necessarily carry much weight. Sure, the cause behind his actions are great, but the way he goes about achieving that cause loses much, if not all, validity. He tries to make right, but in the process of it all, he hurts Ophelia, which causes her to commit suicide, he mistakenly kills Polonius (with little or no remorse), and his actions lead to the death of almost all other characters. Hamlet should, of course, not be blamed entirely for these incidences. Obviously Claudius should bare more burden when it comes to all of these deaths. In means of applying this theme of dishonorable behavior being followed by more of the same: you could also argue that if Claudius had not killed his brother, than Hamlet may have never become as dishonorable as he became. He was, after all, in school, away from the kingdom. Presumably, Hamlet could have married Ophelia and led an honorable life as king after the natural death of his parents. ————- When it comes to Shakespeare’s characters, there seems to be something missing: Integrity. While characters may have some personal integrity within themselves, there doesn’t seem to be many that are driven by what is right, rather than driven for their own gains. Want of personal integrity lags far behind the want of reputation in these plays. There’s an abundance of instances where characters act with integrity, but few show this integrity throughout an entire play. A good example is Michael Cassio. For the first part of the play, to me, he seemed to have a lot of integrity. Despite his dispute after drinking, he felt terrible about it, and he wanted to make it up to Othello. It sounded like all he wanted was forgiveness from his good friend. That made him have a lot of integrity in my eyes. But in the end, he’s seen visiting the prostitute and leading her along, for the fun of it. Last of all, foresight in Shakespeare appears to be a quality with positives and negatives. The two largest forms of foresight in these two plays would have to be that of Hamlet and that of Iago. In terms of Hamlet: forgetting the terrible acts of violence and vulgarity that he committed in the spur of the moment, Hamlet’s foresight, when it came to Claudius, was very honorable. His use of foresight was to avenge his father’s death and to find justice in the world. Anything Hamlet did that was dishonorable had nothing to do with foresight; it had to do with his impulsiveness. In the other spectrum of things, Iago’s foresight is unquestionably dishonorable. His ability to perceive how people will react and what they will do in the future, while revered by Shakespeare the world over, is one of the most dishonorable instances in Shakespeare. His manipulation of people is only means of pitting them against each other in order to help himself in the future. After reading these plays, it is hard to decide whether or not honor can still be legitimately given to any character. In my eyes, Hamlet, Cassio, Iago, and Othello have all lost real honor. Sure, aside from Iago, the others have done honorable things, but I don’t think I could attribute any of them honor fully. The only characters I would consider giving that to would be Desdemona (for trying to save Othello at the end of the play) and possibly Horatio (for helping Hamlet discover find out about Claudius and choosing to not die in order to tell his friends story). I don’t think I could do that however, because these acts of honor do not serve entirely large parts of the plays. Honor is apparently a fickle thing. It will come and go in Shakespeare’s world. His plays make it very clear that he doesn’t believe many people can be truly honorable. Every once in a while he will convince us that one of his characters has this quality through and through, but he then snags that away from us. I’m convinced that, in these two plays, there is no truly honorable character. Some come close at moments, but spoils are constantly brought.

Qualitative Validity And Reliability Qualitative Data Collection Coursework

Qualitative Validity And Reliability Qualitative Data Collection Coursework Qualitative Validity And Reliability Qualitative Data Collection – Coursework Example Qualitative Validity and Reliability Qualitative Data Collection. Instruction: Qualitative Validity and Reliability Qualitative Data Collection.1. Throughout the article, the authors establish qualitative validity and reliability through the use of a historical perspective which is heavily laden with statistical information. These statistical information and their historical perspective lay a firm foundation for the proper evaluation of the research article on homeless women with preschool children. Additionally, the sampling choices consisting of two groups of different environments ensured that the research was presented with a case that covered all the possible environments, thereby resulting in a more reliable representation of the issue under research (Creswell 2013, pp. 188). This was further augmented through the use of focus groups as a data collection mechanism, which helped ensure reliable data consequently improving the validity and reliability of the research holistically . 2. The qualitative article primarily uses focus groups to collect the data used in the research article. This is whereby the researchers come up with a conducive setting and ensure that the sampled individuals feel safe about giving out as much information about the topic as possible (Averitt 2003, pp. 85). The safety and confidentiality associated with such focus groups ensures that the data is as reliable and valid as possible. Moreover, the researcher gets to interact with the sample in such a way that he/she experiences the effects of homelessness in the context that it is presented. Women for the focus groups were selected from the two identified shelters based on their adherence to a criteria that filtered them based on having at least one preschool child. These sessions are then recorded, and this is what constitutes the data collection mechanism for the qualitative research.References.Averitt, S. (2003). â€Å"‘Homelessness is not a choice!’ The Plight of Hom eless Women with Preschool Children Living in Temporary Shelters† Journal of Family Nursing, 9(1): pp. 79-100.Creswell, J. (2013). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Method Approaches. Los Angeles, LA: SAGE Publications.

A Separate Peace The Heart of Darkness essays

A Separate Peace The Heart of Darkness essays There are many similarities between the books The Heart of Darkness and A Separate Peace. Most are between the two main characters' friends and how they deal with their situations and problems. The similarities between the two characters are their leadership skills, their expertise, and how their friends affect them. Mr. Kurtz and Finny both have incredible leadership skills. Finny is able to persuade Gene to do practically anything he wants him to do which in the end is his downfall since he convinces Gene to climb the tree with him and do a double jump. He also shows his leadership skills when he gathers a lot of the students and teaches them a new game that is fitted perfectly to his physical abilities. Mr. Kurtz showed these skills when he had the courage to go into the cillages of cannibals and convince them to give him their ivory or to tell them where they knew there was some. He also saved Marlow and his crew's lives when he commanded the natives to stop firing at their steamboat. "Kurtz got the tribe to follow him, did he?" I suggested. He fidgeted a little. "They adored him," he said." At the drop of his finger, he could have had the natives attack Marlow and his crew and kill them. While Mr. Kurtz and Finny are both alive, they are extremely good at what they do. Before his accident, Finney is the most athletic student at his school. After the accident, he tries to help Fene to become more athletic. His dream is for Finny to make the Olympics instead of him. Mr. Kurtz worked for a company that found ivory and then sold it to the public. "The he began again, assuring me Mr. Kurtz was the best agent he had, an exceptional man." Mr. Kurtz also brought back the most ivory then any other employee; "Sends in as much ivory as all the others put together." Both Mr. Kurtz and Finny had friends that had something to do with their deaths. In Finny's case, his friend Gene accidently jarred him off the tree bran...

Relationships Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Relationships - Essay Example He taught me how to write before I went to school; every day; he would come home and sit with me on a small chair and table next to his huge study desk. At first, I would play around in the room running around and sometimes upsetting him with my toy cars. Most times, he would smile understandingly and after he was done working, I would help him tidy up the room. However, he gradually started insisting I sit still and he would then teach me how to print out letters, words and eventually sentences. At first, I did not like the restrictions involved while he was teaching me, but I gradually got used to them. In addition, when my father wants you to do something, it is easier to do it than resist him since he will inevitably wear you out. This was the first lesson I learned about him that informed most of my interactions and sometimes-even fights with him. I began school at a slightly older age than most of my colleagues, but when the teachers realized I had been homeschooled, they put m e in an accelerated program and I soon caught up with my peers. However, my father’s involvement in my life went beyond academics since he was an ardent sports fan and particularly loved football. Every Sunday, he would take me with him to the local stadium and we would watch the game and cheer his favorite team, which soon become our favorite. Sometimes when he came from work early, we would kick around a ball at the yard outside our house and then I would either join him in his study or watch TV in the den as he worked. One thing that he and I both loved apart from football was reading. He was a voracious reader and his study was filled with hundreds of books from all over the world; I had taken to perusing through some of those as I grew older and when he noticed my interest he bought me several children’s versions which I enjoyed immensely. By the time, I was 13, I had started reading most of the original works in his collection

Management of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System Essay

Management of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System - Essay Example Other concerns have been expressed about the fact that SEVIS system information is kept by record number and not names. Some students have more than one record and this can make it difficult to update the database. Additionally, some contend that SEVIS has placed an added burden on schools, as they are now responsible for noting in the SEVIS system changes of those accompanying the students such as spouses and children. They are required to report on people who are not enrolled in their institutions. Schools are required to note in SEVIS when a student has entered the country, but has not shown up for classes. Thus, schools are supposed to be notified when a student enters at a port of entry, but, reportedly, this does not always happen. Through SEVIS, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should be able to identify students who have violated the terms of their visas; however, some have questioned whether DHS has the staff to locate all student visa violators, and whether it is a beneficial use of DHS resources to do so. There are also concerns that SEVIS errors will lead to unwarranted enforcement action taken against innocent students. Concerns have been raised about the fact that immigration ser

History of Pyramids Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

History of Pyramids - Term Paper Example These structures very prominently reflect wealth and status of the Kings of that time. â€Å"Man fears time but the time fears pyramids†. [Arab saying]. The history of pyramids stretches 4000 years back. Around 3000 B.C, an era began which is normally called the dynastic era. An era in which the greatest kings ruled different parts of the world. Especially the history of Egypt tells that Kings were praised like they are being appointed by God. People wanted to keep the king’s dead body in some special safe and conditions because it was their belief that there king has not completely died and they have to keep it intact. â€Å"Believed to be gods, the royal family lived amid colossal palaces and temples built to honor them and their deified ancestors† (Hawaas). The word Mummy came from this practice of the people of that time. These structures were to provide a safe and strong shelter for the dead bodies of their kings. However this culture of building pyramids wa s definitely started by their kings. Pyramids are not the part of Egyptian civilization only. There are others also like Mesopotamian and Mayan. As described earlier, pyramids are so old that â€Å"from the heights of these pyramids, forty centuries look down on us†. (Bonaparte). ... e mounds.† More likely, Egyptian pyramids were modeled on a sacred, pointed stone called the benben.  The benben symbolized the rays of the sun; ancient texts claimed that pharaohs reached the heavens via sunbeams†. (National Geographic) For a long period, archeologists and historians presented their theories regarding pyramids that how and why are these structures built? This is a question that kept everyone in a state of severe confusion for a very long period of time. The information related to such confusing questions was provided by the pyramids itself. The inside of these pyramids is so well designed and managed by the ancient people that it provided loads of information and history of these structures. The concept or the culture of picture writing was introduced by Egyptians. They were really good at that and this mean of communication is very affective and understandable. The interior of Egyptian pyramids contains such picture writings on the walls describing th e happenings and other processing of those old Kingdoms. In such picture writings that were found, some were showing the construction of these pyramids. These embedded pictures were of labors and mechanism technique they used to build these structures. These were so clear that people got the idea and the mystery of process of creating the pyramids didn’t remain a mystery anymore. One of such writing which was commonly found on the inside walls of most of the pyramids was â€Å"HRAM† (haram). â€Å"This name (haram) signifies the holy place, the edifice consecrated in a particular manner, it may be some divinity, or some religious usage† (Silvestre De Sacy). From these wall prints, it was also concluded that the process of making these pyramids was not easy. In fact these projects were running on

Philosophy Statement on Adult Education Essay Example for Free

Philosophy Statement on Adult Education Essay For human beings, learning appears to be unstoppable and insatiable. People are always craving, curious and willing to learn new things every time. New information or methodology never fails to excite the curiosity and interest of the people thus inspiring learning attitude and enthusiasm. Even though at adult age or middle age, the rate of learning enthusiasm of the people never declines and sometimes it even increases with every year that passed on someone’ life. This idea is attributed to many factors that includes the psychological and emotional maturity of the person’s perspective towards learning and education, which is characterized by an upsurge in the degree of seriousness and willingness. Some cases are attributed to factors such as financial capabilities or time availability but most of the cases are because of the personal reason within the individual. Thus, adult education is a conventional and constructive approach to the learning process because it based on the humanistic and progressive philosophies of the human being. Adult Education The Corley and Stedman define adult education as â€Å"all forms of schooling and learning programs in which adults participate. Unlike other types of education, adult education is defined by the student population rather than by the content or complexity of a learning program (2005). † Accordingly, it is the learning process and enthusiastic approach of adults to the world of knowledge and information through the use of the schooling methodologies whether formal or informal. There are actually many reasons why an adult wants to participate in the education process. Some adults reasoned out that they want to learn new things and information which are not yet available during their schooling periods thus they want to be updated. Others want to develop or enhance their skills by taking either a masteral or a doctorate degree on their field of career or acquire skills on a new career they wish to embrace. While other, commonly the people who have not yet experienced schooling process or became literate, wants to learn the basic skills which they have not yet learned. Because of different reasons, the adult education programs offered at the present caters to different motives or needs. These programs ranged from categories such as literacy training, community development, university credit programs, on-the-job training and continuing professional education (Corley Stedman, 2005). In addition, due to the surging demand and popularity of the idea of adult education many institutions have already established facilities and programs to accommodate the interested students. Programs vary in organization from casual, incidental learning to formal college credit courses. Institutions offering education to adults include colleges, libraries, museums, social service and government agencies, businesses, and churches (Corley Stedman, 2005). Conclusion Adult education is normal process and something that should not be subjected to discrimination and subjection because learning is a human impulse or need that can be satisfied or fulfilled regardless of age and social status. Age and time should not be a hindrance to the acquisition of skills, information and literacy. Humans regardless of age always have humanistic and progressive philosophical aspects that continuously crave for enhance and learning to aid the development of a person in all aspects. Education whether in form of literacy, practical knowledge or scientific information will help the person realized and fully understand himself or herself and his or her environment thus continuous attainment of knowledge is important and adult education is one means of attaining it.

The Hurt Locker Essay -- Film Analysis

â€Å"The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug.† This quote is the first thing that flashes across the screen as viewers begin their journey into The Hurt Locker, a critically acclaimed war movie written by Mark Boal and directed by Kathryn Bigelow (Hurt). The quote was written by former New York Times war correspondent, Chris Hedges and it perfectly sets the stage for a story that depicts just how potent and addicting war can be (Corliss). The 2008 movie won six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Actor in a Leading Role (â€Å"Nominees & Winners†). The Hurt Locker is an exceptional movie that contains everything one would expect from an award-winning film: an intriguing plot, heart-wrenching tragedy, breathtaking visuals, top-notch acting, believability, and even a bit of controversy. An intriguing plot is the first thing people look for in a movie. War is a complicated subject so in a film about war, while it is important for the plot to be interesting, it is even more important that it is sensible and flows smoothly. This allows the audience to be entertained and keeps them from getting lost in too many complicated details. The Hurt Locker is the story of three men who are part of a United States Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (E.O.D.) team stationed in Baghdad in 2004. Sergeant First Class William James is a daring specialist who knows everything there is to know about bombs, inside and out. He begins his rotation with Bravo Company after the former team leader is killed while attempting to disarm a roadside bomb. Bravo Company has just 38 days left on rotation and since James has arrived, those days are fraught with tension. James d... ...es." Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Web. 01 Mar. 2011. . Ryzik, Melena. â€Å"A Lawsuit for ‘Hurt Locker,’ in Time for Oscars.† The New York Times. 04 Mar. 2010. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. Schmidt, Michael. â€Å"Fatal Bombs in Iraq Seemed Aimed at Militia.† The New York Times. 09 Feb. 2011. Web. 26 Feb. 2011. Seal, Karen H., Daniel Bertenthal, Christian R. Miner, Saunak Sen, and Charles Marmar. "Bringing the War Back Home: Mental Health Disorders Among 103 788 US Veterans Returning From Iraq and Afghanistan Seen at Department of Veterans Affairs Facilities." Archives of Internal Medicine 167.5 (2007): 476-82. Print. Zoroya, Gregg. "In 'The Hurt Locker,' war is like a drug." USA Today n.d.: Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 24 Feb. 2011.

Engineering management Essay

1. Department/Program Mission The mission of the Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department is to Equip individuals with engineering, management and systems expertise to prepare them to be leaders in the identification and solution of technical and organizational problems that are complex and evolving Conduct innovative and pioneering research that continues to expand the body of knowledge in Engineering Management and systems engineering while maintaining engineering discipline diversity. Expand the boundaries of Engineering Management and systems engineering through our service to the professional community at large and through relationships with industry. 2. Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) a. Campus-Wide Student Learning Outcomes: Programs must demonstrate that their graduates have: I. an ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. II. an ability to think critically and analyze effectively. III. an ability to apply disciplinary knowledge and skills in solving critical problems. IV.an ability to function in diverse learning and working environments. V. an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility. VI. an awareness of national and global contemporary issues. VII. a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, life-long learning. b. Engineering Management Program Outcomes developed to address ABET outcomes a – k and campus wide outcomes (a) Engineering Management graduates will have an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering in the solution of Engineering Management problems. (b) Engineering Management graduates will have an ability to design and conduct experiments related to operations, marketing, management and finance, as well as to analyze and interpret data. (c) Engineering Management graduates will have an ability to carry out the design of an operational system and its various components and processes for Engineering Management applications. (d) Engineering Management graduates will understand the importance of teams, know how to develop effective teams and have an ability to function on teams. (e) Engineering Management graduates will have an ability to identify, formulate, and solve Engineering Management problems. (f) Engineering Management graduates will have an understanding of professional ethical responsibility. (g) Engineering Management graduates will have an ability to communicate effectively individually and in teams. (h) Engineering Management graduates will have the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering and enterprise solutions in a global and societal context. (i) Engineering Management graduates will recognize the need for and have an ability to engage in life-long learning. (j) Engineering Management graduates will have knowledge of contemporary issues related to Engineering Management. (k) Engineering Management graduates will have an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice. 3. Curriculum Mapping to Campus and/or Program Outcomes Performance Criterion Evaluated in Course(s) Maps to Campus Learning Outcomes a Engineering Management graduates will have an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering in the solution of engineering management problems. a. 1. Creates and analyzes quantitative charts and graphs and incorporates information into managerial decision-making systems. 266/299 3 a. 2 Identifies and uses appropriate modeling tools in the solution of quantitative problems. 251/253 3 a. 3 Applies quantitative models to specific problem categories and classifications. 253 3 a. 4 Uses a firm’s accounting system in making management decisions. 147 3 a. 5 Uses financial ratio analysis, financial forecasting, valuation of assets, time value of money, capital budgeting and cost of capital concepts to solve engineering management problems. 147 3 b Engineering Management graduates will have an ability to design and conduct experiments related to operations, marketing, management and finance, as well as to analyze and interpret data. b. 1 Designs an operation system and analyzes and interprets data relative to the designed system. 253 2 b. 2 Analyzes operational and financial data of organizations in case studies and organizational profiles. 251/260 2 b. 3 Conducts research related to publicly traded firms and applies financial tools to evaluate the firm as a possible investment choice. 147 2 c. Engineering Management graduates will have an ability to carry out the design of an operational system and its various components and processes for engineering management applications. c. 1 Identifies operational problem and design solutions to the problem using the appropriate quantitative and qualitative models and methods. 253/266 2 c. 2 Designs and critiques a marketing plan with typical components, while recognizing intra-firm involvements and implications. 251 2 d Engineering Management graduates will understand the importance of teams, know how to develop effective teams and have an ability to function on teams. d. 1 Functions as team player by fulfilling appropriate duties, sharing workload, communicating well and taking initiative. 251/254/260 4 d. 2 Conducts effective and efficient meetings. 254 4 e Engineering Management graduates will have an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering management problems. e. 1 Develops model for making management decisions. 251 3 e. 2 Identifies and analyzes engineering management problems related to case studies, current events, and real-life scenarios, and recommends solutions to problems. 251/260/266. 3 f Engineering Management graduates will have an understanding of professional ethical responsibility. f. 1 Demonstrates knowledge of engineering code of ethics or other relevant code and applies code to case studies. 134 5 f. 2 Identifies an ethical dilemma and suggests a general course of action. 134/251 5 f. 3 Recognizes far-reaching implications of ethical behavior with respect to all organizational stakeholders. 299 5 g Engineering Management graduates will have an ability to communicate effectively individually and in teams. g. 1. Effectively communicates in oral presentations. 254/299 1 g. 2 Demonstrates proficiency in communication through team presentations. 254/299 1 g. 3 Demonstrates command of the written and spoken word in required technical reports and presentations. 254 1 g. 4 Understands impact of how difference in communication styles can lead to barriers in communication. 134 1 h Engineering Management graduates will have the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering and enterprise solutions in a global and societal context. h. 1. Understands concept of Corporate Social Responsibility and can give examples to illustrate concept. 134/299 6 h. 2 Effectively analyzes case and determines the impact on all stakeholders. 260 6 h. 3 Comprehends pertinent issues in global marketing and the impact of these issues on marketing decisions. 134/251 6 I Engineering Management graduates will recognize the need for and have an ability to engage in life-long learning. i. 1 Recognizes benefits of continued learning through attendance at professional presentations and through reading professional publications. 134/251 7 i. 2. Identifies, reads about, analyzes and reports on â€Å"world view† issues that are opposed to own view. 253 7 j Engineering Management graduates will have knowledge of contemporary issues related to engineering management. j. 1 Demonstrates awareness of, knowledge of, and respect for contemporary issues in engineering management, business and economics. 134/251 6 j. 2 Understands the importance of engineering to the future of society. 253 6 k Engineering Management graduates will have an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice. k. 1. Utilizes electronic resources to acquire external data to solve engineering management problems. 134/251 2 k. 2 Understands and utilizes computerized accounting systems to solve engineering management problems. 147 2 k. 3 Uses Excel financial functions to solve time value of money problems. 137/147 2 k. 4 Uses Excel in the solution of operational problems. 253 2 4. Methods/Instruments and Administration Data assessment methods vary by instructor and course. However methods employed include the following: -Student response to exam questions -Student response to specific homework assignment. -Student team evaluations related to case studies and capstone senior design -Instructor assessment of case study assignments -Instructor assessment of assigned student paper -Instructor assessment of capstone senior design projects Data collection occurs during the spring (January – May) semester and last occurred during the Spring 2010 semester. If all outcomes pass according to the department agreed upon metric, no collection will occur during the fall semester. 5. Results and Changes Implemented or Planned a. All outcomes passed during the Spring 2010 assessment cycle. According to our department assessment plan as detailed during the last ABET accreditation cycle; the next assessment cycle will occur during the Spring 2011 semester. No data was collected for the Fall 2010 semester. b. Use of results No specific curriculum changes have been made due to quantified assessment results. However, curriculum change will be forthcoming as we have observed the performance of capstone senior design student members and project results. It should be noted that a more traditional capstone senior design course was added as a core/required course in the department. The department has â€Å"partnered† with several different companies in the development of problems/projects that sufficiently meet the culminating experience as required by ABET. c. Results Brought by the Changes Due to observations and overall performance of senior design capstone projects, a new course will be added to the current 26 hour core set of courses. The undergraduate curriculum committee, which is the committee that evaluates outcome and assessment data, has approved adding a course which will focus on generalized problem solving and critical thinking. We are currently evaluating potential course resources for this class. We anticipate gaining campus wide approval for the course effective for the Fall 2011 semester. It should also be noted that our Academy of Engineering Management has been very supportive of our efforts and has contributed constituent input in this process. One final note to be made to this report is that even though we will perform a full outcome evaluation during the Spring 2011 semester, concurrently we will be re-evaluating our outcomes/ performance criteria, and assessment methods.

Philosophy 103

According to Sartre, a philosopher from the World War II and Cold War eras, people will create the world around them, thus manipulating their lives. By doing this, they create certain limitations, while also creating more possibilities. Sartre created his philosophical theory at a time in history when more people were able to afford more amenities and luxuries for themselves. More and more industries, companies, and manufacturers were popping up around the world. This created a global human interest in possessing more amenities, especially in a democratic society.People were now able to not only afford the items they needed in order to sustain a normal lifestyle, but they could own things that could entertain them and bring them happiness. This is a lifestyle that has continued on through today. Many people argue that the habit of buying unnecessary items as opposed to buying those that are vital has become worse over time. Many of us wonder why this is the case. Sartre states that p eople â€Å"may not become what they wish to be† because they are too busy focusing on their material possessions instead of focusing on improving their moral selves.It is the responsibility of the person to decide what is really important in their lives. Sartre also makes a few more important notations towards his theory. First, many people think that they will only be defined by the items in which they possess. People think they will only be accepted socially if they possess items that are considered to be attractive to others. People also think they are only defined by what they have, not by who they are as people. However, Sartre also says, in reality, the world in which we live in is not composed of all the material possessions.But we tend to feel complete when we do possess these. It is our way of â€Å"escaping responsibility†. A free market constantly manipulates us, and it is easy for us to fall into its trap. When choosing whether or not to splurge on luxury items, we tend to evaluate our lifestyles and consider what are values truly are. When we evaluate our lifestyles, we fulfill ourselves in which we think will improve our overall lifestyle. Our values become our material possessions, therefore forgetting what is morally significant in our lives.It is all up to the way in which we evaluate things and our ability in attempting to resist our negative and insignificant assumptions of ourselves and the lifestyles we choose to maintain. When doing this, we usually create standards for ourselves to abide by. We only will invest in the most expensive items because we believe it will make us appear more superior to everyone else. By doing this, we forget about what is important: our consciousness of our spending habits with our money.For example, when it comes to buying a car, we forget about the role a car is meant to play in our lives. As opposed to focusing on its ability to get us from place to place, we only focus on the way it looks, h ow fast it can go, how good the sound system is, how high we can have it lifted, etc. By doing this, people lose sight of what is morally important like shelter, food, and one’s own livelihood. We see this a lot in our everyday lives. You see this on billboards, over the radio, in magazines, in movies, and especially on television. According to dictionary. om, a â€Å"Marketer† is defined as â€Å"A person whose duties include the identification of the goods and services desired by a set of consumers, as well as the marketing of those goods and services on behalf of a company. † This means that the job of the marketer is to convince the average consumer that they need their product, and this is where more often then not people confuse Luxuries versus needs. First lets start by defining â€Å"need. † In the strictest sense of the word, a â€Å"need† is something that you have to have to get by in this world – a necessity.You need food, shelte r, clothing, medical care, which are all examples of the basics. You will probably experience physical suffering of some sort if you don't have your needs met. On the other hand, a â€Å"Luxury† is something that you desire — something you would like to have. But by no means will you suffer in any way except perhaps mental anguish, if you don't get the thing you want. â€Å"Wants† quite often fall into the category of Luxuries, nice to have, but the world won't end without them. The hard part comes when you live in a prosperous capitalistic society, like ours.The â€Å"western† standard of living is so high that even many of our poor tend to live above the level of basic needs. In 1998, 97% of â€Å"poor† Americans (as defined by the Census Bureau) owned a television — something that could definitely be considered a luxury. In many third-world countries, less than 30% of the population even has access to electricity, which most westerners wo uld consider an absolute necessity. My intention is not to make anyone feel guilty — it's simply to point out that the distinction between want and need is often relative.It depends on the area in which you live, the company you keep, the lifestyle you choose, and the expectations of the society around you. We are influenced, every day, by the popular culture around us. Television, magazines, movies, and advertising have all done a splendid job of programming us to think that we need a lot of excess consumable goods. Pretend that you are watching TV or flipping through your favorite magazine and see an ad for something awesome. Suddenly, your heart speeds up, and you get a tingly feeling in your gut. It's perfect, how had you ever lived without it before?You rush right to the store, what?! You don't have any left in stock?! Your heart sinks and you feel a rush of disappointment. You spend the rest of the day moping because you couldn't find it anywhere. Now, this might be a b it of an exaggeration, but it's not far off the mark for some people. How often have you learned of a new product and were certain that you absolutely had to have it? What if you had never seen the ad? Would your life be any worse off? It's as if the knowledge that something exists causes the need for it. Thus brings up the age-old saying of keeping up with the Joneses.With the advent of the â€Å"global society,† the Joneses are not just the people next door anymore. They include movie stars and billionaires and imaginary people on TV that don't even really exist. But we hold these folks up as the standard against which we should measure our own lives. Just because Bill Gates has a multi-million dollar house, we think ours is too small. Certainly, no one is suggesting that one gives away everything they own and become a monk, but it is important that one strikes a balance between those things that they have to have and the things that they would like to have.It is also impor tant that people be able to prioritize their spending. The goal is to focus on those things that will really improve one’s quality of life, rather than just look flashy. Here's a perfect example of prioritizing between two â€Å"wants. † Wouldn't it be nice to retire early? Not have to work, spend your time doing what you want? And let's say that while you are thinking about retiring early, you are also looking to buy a house. You could choose the $500,000 home with 10 bedrooms, or you could choose the smaller, less-expensive house that meets all of your basic needs.If you choose the expensive home, you can probably kiss retiring early goodbye. But, if you decide that retiring early would improve your quality of life more than having a huge flashy house, the choice is simple. This coincides with Sartre’s theory of self-responsibility. He defines it as â€Å"individuals are responsible for their choice, i. e. , they are the incontestable author of their act. â⠂¬  This means that whatever decision a person makes, whether it be good or bad, is their own personal responsibility.For example, when a professional athlete is caught cheating by using steroids, throwing a fight, or betting on themselves, etc. they are personally responsible for the actions that take place thereafter. This also applies to Sartre’s theory on responsibility for others. He states that, â€Å"in choosing for one's self, one is thus also choosing for others and is to that extent responsible for the others. † So by having the professional athlete cheat, he or she is also affecting others, such as fans, the team’s image, and their teammates, with their actions.Sartre’s teachings on existentialism are a perfect example for the topic of Luxuries versus necessities. His idea of personal responsibility and the responsibility of others shows that in Sartre’s eye’s every consumer is responsible for themselves and if their actions caus e a negative reaction on the rest of society they person responsible for this change be held accountable. When choosing between necessities and luxuries its up to one’s own moral judgment to decide what is considered a necessity or what is a luxury. So next time your out buying something think to yourself what kind of effect could this it have on society?