Values and Personality Reflection Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Values and Personality Reflection Paper - Essay Example Every day we do in our life requires funding that life would be unimaginable without it. To ensure that there is enough funding to be able to do the things I would like to do, a trust fund would be nice source of fund. And to sustain my everyday expenditures such as eating out, buying school supplies and other things, it would be very convenient to have a worry free charge. Trust fund without the means to spend it through a convenient charge would be pointless so a charge card should come with the trust fund. Finally, it is very important for me to have my own big house not only as a means of shelter but also to call it my home. These values made me strive to study harder to be able to get a good education. My parents were instrumental in the formation of these values by stressing that without a good education, I will not even have a chance of having financial stability because the world is based on knowledge and skills. These values will affect me in choosing a major in college or a career by ensuring that the course I will take must teach financial know how and that the career I will have must earn well to afford financial security. I took the ESTJ personality test to have an objective hypothesis on my personality type. My hypothesis on my personality type is that I am an Introvert-Sensor-Feeler-Judger. It means that I tend to be reflective, reserved and private. I draw my energy from my own thoughts and the time I spend alone and do not need people around me all the time. It also says I live for the present and rely on facts and handle practical matters pretty well which I think is very accurate assessment of me. I am also a feeler which is basically sensitive to the feelings of other people which I am. I am also a judger who prefer a lifestyle that decisive, planned and orderly. This personality type reflects well in my interaction with people as I am very considerate with

Fantasy Faces Reality Essay Example for Free

Fantasy Faces Reality Essay Joyce’s short story â€Å"Araby† shows us the moment of awakening from fantasy by a boy’s one-side love story. we sometimes experience when we continue to work on ourselves, understand that if something is causing regret, anger, unhappiness or and other â€Å"negative† emotion, we are, by definition, experiencing an illusion. We will experience the illusions we still think are real. We will do so because we have made the unreal to real, and the best way to understand that what we see as valuable is actually valueless is to experience its valuelessness. Many times, when people awaken from their particular illusion, they feel so empty, angry, or feel like such a loser, but after this moment, people will step forward again into everyday life to begin new chapters in their personal histories. The short story â€Å"Araby† is filled with the fact that both ‘Symbolism’ and ‘Realism’ share significant weights. It opens and closes with strong symbols to awaken realism. The fantasy and reality are faced at beginning of the story by symbolizing the priest’s death. When the boy narrates about the priest that reads, ’He had been a very charitable priest; in his will he had left all his money to institutions and the furnitures of his house to his sister’ (302). It makes the boy thinks him as a sneer, for it implies that the priest, by having a fortune, might not have been faithful to his position, and by handing his furnitures over to his sister, might not have yet been free from secular ties of family relations. When the priest writes the will, he might believe that he will be charitable and respected by people, but his fantasy is broken by leaving his furnitures to his sister. As an old priest, even if he had been inherited a big fortune, he might have donated the fortune to the society if he had been charitable. It is somehow not delightful to see a wealthy minister, who is supposed to be poor and honorable, especially in the times of poverty. The Joyce’s comments in the story, the boy finds old books in the priests room (Among these I found a few paper-covered books; the pages of which were curled and damp: The Abbot, by Walter Scott, The Devour Communicant and The Memoirs of Vidocq. ) The Abbot (It is said that Queen Mary of Scotland was depicted as a very devout, serious, religious and romantic person.) shows a boys confused recognitions among religion, romanticism and sex, while The Memoirs of Vidocq (the story of a double life of a police and a thief) suggests an allusion on deception and dishonesty. With the name of Mangan, whose sister is the partner of the boys one side love, Joyce suggests a strong allusion of James Clarence Mangan who is an Irish poet in 19th century. By the name Mangan, she was symbolized as a person of hypocrisy and misled emotion. Moreover, there is the back drawing room, where the boy does masturbations in confused illusions of sexual fantasy and religious mystery and devotion. This implies the fact that the desire of the boy, who is a Dublin Irish Catholic, was completely hidden by the religious suppression. The last sentence in the story, the boy says ’my eyes burned with anguish and anger’ (304) In the opening part of the story, the writer used the expression, being blind. (Some scholars explain that the expression, being blind means an impasse indicating the deadlock situation of the Irish society. ) It shows how the boys emotions change to anguish and anger when he faces the reality, coming out of the walls of traditions and religion. The boys emotions had been vague and abstractive up to this point but from there he becomes a real and concrete person. At the last scene, the boy realizes that his journey to Araby is not for a holy duty(The girl, his one sided lover, asked him an errand to buy something for her, and he regarded her as a holy subsistence. ) but only for his imprudence and vanity. The society made him open his eyes to reality (What helped him open his eyes were a few shabbily left-over coins and the English girl who was mindlessly fooling herself by playing around with boys.) He opens his eyes and realizes the reality from the behaviors of English girl casting amorous glances to boys. This is the Epiphany that Joyce suggested. It is the moment when the consciousness of a human being is manifested as if there were the advent of the god. Another point that should be commented is the sentence, What is Araby about. The Araby is a story about love, sex, religion, and a process of a boys growth to an adult in which he faces illusions, separations, and realizations of reality. Also, Araby can be said as a place of growth. The boy was unable to argue against the society and therefore he had to reconcile the strange emotions he faced with the Catholic emotion. That means he sublimated the doubt about his emotions with the mystery of religion. The journey to Araby brought him the realization of reality and the growth to an adult. Dubliners (In this story, the author describes the Dubliners as a moralist reprimanding the spiritual paralysis of his homeland, Ireland. He indicated Dublin as the center of the paralysis) delivers a feeling that is so distressing and so realistic that one becomes painful. Joyce delivered such feeling for Irish people. Koreans of today may also be sympathized if a great writer sharply and realistically reprimands the immoral and sluggish features of the present Korean society but it was the suggestion not for a limited region but for the common society, as presentation of a rule that proves the general history of the human societies. That shows why he is so great a writer. Araby successfully expresses the mix of situations of abundant symbolisms along with politics, culture and religion, through a story of puppy love in adolescence. He properly avoided the fantasies and exaggerations that are typical to novels. This shows how a novel can reflect and affect the real society. As the process of getting used to the reality and living with concealed wounds is the destiny for the human being, the boy is now telling us his past plainly, after having a painful experience to become an adult. To the boy, Araby was an unexpected place for a ceremony to become an adult and a mirror reflecting a new world.

Online Newspaper Vs. Print Version -- essays research papers

The contents of the Southeast Missourian online paper may seem so much more fitting with this day and age, but the traditional newsprint edition still offers their subscribers a lot more information. The print version organizes the newspaper with pictures from various sections located at the top, side, and bottom in order to draw the reader in to the articles and advertisements. The online version is very to the point in its content in the fact that the Southeast Missourian does not have to sell the online version to the public or subscribers, this is seen online with minimal advertisements that deal directly with the surrounding area . With the unappealing online version having only a basic structure to the inner contents along with two pictures, and a lead story, it seems more like a quick reference of news for the person that doesn’t have time to sit back and browse the newsprint edition.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Web version displayed a different story from the printed newspaper. Another aspect of the online edition that didn’t appeal to me was the format of the articles. The articles were broken up into lengthy segmented paragraphs; this gets very tedious by having to scroll down the screen to read. Although the contexts of the articles are the same, the newsprint edition is more appealing in the sense that each article has at least one or more pictures relating specifically to it, this helps with the interpretation by referring back to the pictures surrounding...

Controversy Control And Contraception Essay -- Religion

Controversy and contraceptives has been recorded together in some of the earliest writings of man. In Genesis, it was written that when a man spilled his seed on the ground, the Lord was upset and killed the man. â€Å"And it came to pass, when he went into his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the Lord: wherefore he slew him also (Genesis 38:9-10).† Many have used this scripture as their reason to be against birth control, but throughout time there have been particular groups of people and parties that have also taken up the issue of birth control and have used it as a way to divide people. Two groups in particular have very opposing views on the issue of contraceptive use, they are Conservatives and Feminists. While feminist believe women should have control over the use of birth control and it should be available for all, contemporary conservatives are against contra ceptives because they believe contraceptives creates moral degradation, and the use of birth control is contrary to God’s will, and that the government is violating religious freedom rights by requiring women access to birth control. Conservatives views on contraceptive uses varies, the type of contraception Conservatives choose to boycott depends on their religious beliefs. Followers of the Vatican strongly oppose all types of birth control. . Ironically, the man responsible for improving the birth control pill, that many use today, was Catholic. Dr. John Rock labeled himself a social conservative and early on in his medical career he began to change his mind about the use of birth control. Dr. Rock began to support contraception within the confines of marriage... ...inter_1118.shtml (accessed May 29, 2012). Hartline, Dave. The American Catholic: In the Birth Control Controversy; The Mocking of Conservative Religios Women By Militant Secularist Will Soon Backfire. February 19, 2012. http://the-american-catholic.com/2012/02/19/the-mocking-of-conservative-religious-women-by-militant-secularists-will-soon-backfire/ (accessed May 29, 2012). Holman, D.S. Commonsense Conservative Views: Are American Women Stupid? March 4, 2012. www.dsholman.com/conservative-politics/are-women-stupid/ (accessed May 3, 2012). MacKinnon, Catherine A. Toward a Feminist Theory of the State. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1989. NOW. NOW and Abortion Rights?Reproductive Justice. 2011. www.now.org/issues/abortion/ (accessed May 28, 2012). Schrieber, Ronnee. Righting Feminism: Conservative Women and American Politics. Oxford: University Press, 2008.

History of modern psychology Essay

Psychology’s history cannot be understood adequately without knowing something of philosophy’s history. All of the important issues that concern modern psychologists have been addressed by philosophers (2008). I will discuss how the philosophers: Descartes, Locke, Hume, Mill, and Berkley. These individuals life work greatly influenced the development of modern psychology. The End of the Renaissance and the 17th century brought to history, the man who is â€Å"sometimes considered the father of modern philosophy, mathematics, physiology and psychology†, the great philosopher, Rene’ Descartes (Goodwin, 2008). Descartes was born in La Haye on March 31, 1596 of Joachim Descartes and Jeanne Brochard. He was one of a number of surviving children (two siblings and two half-siblings). His father was a lawyer and magistrate, which apparently left little time for family. Descartes’ mother died in May of the year following his birth, and he, his full brother and sister, Pierre and Jeanne, were left to be raised by their grandmother in La Haye. At around ten years of age, in 1606, he was sent to the Jesuit college of La Fleche. He studied there until 1614, and in 1615 entered the University of Poitiers, where a year later he received his Baccalaureate and License in Canon & Civil Law (2012). Goodwin (2008) summarized that, Descartes was a rationalist, believing that the way to true knowledge was through the systematic use of his reasoning abilities. Because he believed that some truths Were universal and could be arrived at through reason and without the necessity of sensory experience, he was also a nativist. In addition, he was a dualist and an interactionist, believing that mind and body were distinct essences, but that they had direct influence on each other. It is Descartes’ who is most likely responsible for many of the themes that came from the late Renaissance that are incorporated into the science of psychology today, but since that time there are many philosophers in the Western tradition that contributed to the formation of psychology as a discipline. Western Philosophers that Contributed to the Formation of Psychology as a Discipline John Locke (b. 1632, d. 1704) was a British philosopher, Oxford academic and medical researcher. Locke is often classified as the first of the great English empiricists. Locke, according to Goodwin (2008) â€Å"is important to psychology as a consequence of the concepts expressed in two of his books, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690/1963) and Some Thoughts Concerning Education (1693/1963) (p. 38). Goodwin (2008) explains further that the â€Å"former explains Locke’s views on how knowledge is acquired, how we as humans come to understand our world† (p. 38) and the â€Å"latter is based on a series of letters to a friend and shows how empiricist thinking could be applied to all aspects of a child’s education† (p. 38). David Hume was born near Edinburgh, Scotland. David Hume, was an empiricist/associationist that Goodwin (2008) summarizes was â€Å"known for making a distinction between impressions, which result from sensation, and ideas, which he said were faint copies of impressions† (p. 59). It is also said that he â€Å"identified the rules of association as resemblance, contiguity, and cause/effect† and â€Å"he believed that we cannot know causality absolutely, only that certain events occur together regularly† (Goodwin, 2008, p. 59). George Berkeley was born in or near Kilkenny, Ireland on 12 March 1685. He was raised in Dysart Castle (Flage, 2005). He was a bishop of the Anglican Church in Ireland and was one thinker that was especially concerned about the materialistic implications of seventeenth-century science (Goodwin, 2008, p. 43). Berkeley was one of the three most famous British Empiricists. (The other two are John Locke and David Hume. ). George Berkeley wrote a detailed analysis of visual perception based on empiricist arguments, in the process describing visual phenomena such as convergence, accommodation, and the effects of the inverted retinal image. He rejected Locke’s primary/secondary qualities distinction, and to counter materialism, he proposed (subjective idealism) that we cannot be sure of the reality of objects except through our belief in God, the Permanent Perceiver (Goodwin, 2008). Nineteenth-Century Development of the Science of Psychology John Stuart Mill was a child prodigy and one the leading British philosopher of the nineteenth century (Goodwin, 2008). Mill’s politics derived from and contributed to his psychology. As an empiricist, he believed that all knowledge came through experience and that under the proper circumstances, anyone could become knowledgeable. Thus, he favored government support for universal education and was appalled at the traditional English system that favored the landed gentry, an elite minority (Goodwin, 2008). According to Goodwin (2008), He brought British associationism to its zenith and he provided an analysis of scientific thinking that guides psychological research to this day. He was a key transition figure in the shift from the philosophy of the mind to the science of the mind. Immanuel Kant agreed with the empiricists that our knowledge is built from experience, and he argued that the more important question was how the process occurs. Kant derived the fundamental principles of human thought and action from human sensibility, understanding, and reason, all as sources of our autonomy; he balanced the contributions of these principles against the ineliminable inputs of external sensation and internal inclination beyond our own control; and he strove both to demarcate these principles from each other and yet to integrate them into a single system with human autonomy as both its foundation and its ultimate value and goal (Guyer, 2004). Wilhelm Wundt (1832–1920) is known as the founder of experimental psychology. He founded the first â€Å"school† of psychology, called structuralism. The main goal of Wundt’s school was to analyze the contents of the mind into its basic structural components or elements, using introspection of mental contents as the chief method (Goodwin, 2008). According to Goodwin (2008), Wundt is justifiably considered the first true psychologist of the modern era and although it is difficult to identify a single Wundtian among the early American psychologists, he had a strong influence on the origins of American psychology. Psychology, as a science is rooted in its origin of philosophy. Descartes, Hume, Mill, Berkeley, Locke, Kant, and Wundt were some of the brightest of their time. The development of modern psychology and its many branches would not be possible without the hard work and contributions of these individuals.

Benefits of Working With a Study Partner

Benefits of Working With a Study Partner One great way to stay on target and earn better grades is to pair up with a good study partner. If you are serious about improving your school performance, this is a great way to make the most of your study time. What are some of the benefits? 10 Benefits of Having a Study Partner A study partner will help you remember a due date or the date of an exam. Never forget another test! Share calendars with your study partner and both of you will know when a big project or paper is due.Your study partner can share flashcards with you and quiz you before a test. Create your paper cards and meet up to study or use online flashcards together.Two heads are better than one, so your study partner may think of practice essay questions that you didnt think of.Study partners can switch papers and pre-grade each other before assignments are turned in. Proofread together and share your thoughts and ideas.A study partner can have your back if you get sick on the day when your paper is due. Arrange ahead of time to pick up and turn in papers for each other in the event of an emergency.A study partner will understand some methods or problems that you dont. You will be able to explain some of the problems to your partner in return. Its a great trade-off!Your partner may be able to help you with your research skills. Meet your partner in the library and learn to use the resources together. Then, you can share what you know to help each other out. For example, one partner can learn to search databases while the other learns to find books on the shelves. You can benefit from sharing your strengths. One may be better with grammar, while the other is better with numbers, as in finding statistics to support a claim for an argument essay.Study partners motivate each other and reduce the potential for procrastination.Study partners can be there if you forget important toolslike a calculator, dictionary, colored pencils, or notebook paper. A study partner relationship should be beneficial to both students, so remember it is important for both partners to fulfill their responsibilities. For this reason, it might ​not make sense to partner up with your best friend. Your study partner should be a person who complements you and your skills.

Discovering the Invisible Man essays

Discovering the Invisible Man essays In Ralph Ellisons novel, Invisible Man, the narrators search to find an identity for himself is harsh journey of internal and external struggles through which several incongruous identities are forced upon him. This experience teaches the narrator that the act of placing a title on someone is linked to issues of power and control. He only finds betrayal, and never a true identity when he attempts to live his life under someone elses accord. Through his words, the reader can see the narrator's development in realizing that he is invisible simply because people refuse to see or acknowledge him. Since he is a black man in a white mans world, he is obscured and indistinguishable to others. The text embodies the universal theme of self-discovery, of the search to figure out who one truly is in life, which the narrator achieves through confrontations with the corrupted Dr. Bledsoe, racial segregation and the influences of the tainted Brotherhood. Dr. Bledsoe is a major influence in the narrators search to find himself. At first, Dr. Bledsoe was somewhat of a role model for the narrator, as he saw the immense power, fortune and high position he held. The true side of Dr. Bledsoe was much different from what he portrayed to others. Bledsoe has three faces: one he shows to important whites, another he exhibits officially to the students of the college, and the private and true side he reveals to the narrator. When the narrator sees Bledsoes true nature, he soon comes to realize the corruption and malevolent methods that Dr. Bledsoe utilizes. This is the narrators first encounter with such deep-seated corruption. The narrators perception is that his world is at its deepest levels corrupted by certain varieties of radical dishonesty and manipulation (Butler 97). He sees this, when the man he idolizes, Dr. Bledsoe, is heavily entrenched in dishonesty and manipulation. &qu...

The Top 4 Part-Time Jobs for Moms

The Top 4 Part-Time Jobs for Moms If being a full time Mom isn’t enough for you, you’re not alone. Just Google â€Å"being Mom isn’t enough for me† and you’ll land on page after page of Mommy Blogs capturing that very message. It’s not enough for most of us. And that’s O.K. While there’s enough work for Mom’s to go around, it’s simply not fulfilling enough for many, which has many Mom’s looking for something else.Having a side gig that’s separate from your regular Mom life is the perfect antidote. Part time work can be fun, social, and a way for you to have your own identity (again).If you’re looking to itch the scratch and go earn some cash - we’ve got you covered! We rounded up the best part time jobs for Mom’s lined up:1. Direct SalesEvery time I look, one of my Mom friends has launched a Direct Sales business. There are so many direct sales companies and they were made for Moms, by Moms. From Tupperware to Pa rtyLite to Mary Kay to Stella and Dot; there’s truly something for everybody. This is one of the best part time jobs for moms because you â€Å"own your own business† so you learn about sales, marketing, and accounting. You also present to groups of women in their homes which means your public speaking and presentation skills will sharpen. It’s entrepreneurial and rewarding. You’re in charge of your success, your commitment, and best of all - you’re on your time. Want to learn more? Click on the following link for a list of direct sales companies.2. Temp AgencyStaffing agencies are an excellent part time jobs for Moms. If you’re not familiar, a staffing agency hires temporary workers and then dispatches those workers to various job sites and companies in the local area on an as need basis. As a worker, you’d be employed by the agency and then loaned out to their customers. Depending on what your current skills are, you’d be pl aced within an area of interest and ability to you. Agencies are fantastic for Mom’s because they provide flexible hours, diverse work tasks, and new (and exciting) work environments. The best part about staffing agencies is that the mixture of work, environments, and tasks equates to increased skills, networking, and overall exposure which looks great on the resume.3. Volunteer WorkIf your desire to return to work isn’t about the Benjamin’s, then volunteering is an option for you. Being able to give back to your community, help others, and do something that is beyond â€Å"self† breeds gratitude, mindfulness, and happiness.   Aside from all the happiness you’d be feeling, it’s a wonderful example to teach your children about community responsibility. Volunteering is a great option for Moms because again, you can set your own hours and choose your level of commitment. As Mom’s we have a limited bandwidth so it’s crucial to id entify exactly how much time is enough to be away from your family. If you can find a volunteer opportunity that links back to your family like sports, community, or arts then all the better.4. Passion ProjectIf there’s something that’s been inkling away at you, there’s no better time than the present. Having a side project that happens to be your passion project ignites your creativity, determination, and passion – and your kids will reap the benefits of an energized Mama. Passion projects could be writing on the side, painting, cooking, starting a business, or ____! Anything. Think of it this way, what would you do for free? Do that.To be a better Mom we all need to take care of ourselves first and sometimes that requires looking into part time jon. In my opinion it means treating yourself like an individual, not just Mom.Note: This article was originally published on TopResume.TopResume is a Talent Inc. company, the personal branding destination for al l career-driven professionals. Through our extensive network of professional writers, we offer career advice and analyze and write more resumes and LinkedIn profiles than any other service in the world. Ready to get started? Request a free resume critique today.

Utilitarianism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 6

Utilitarianism - Essay Example pproaches to ethics in the history of philosophical thought, Unitarianism was supported by different authors, which resulted in the creation of many varieties of the concept. However, among the most famous and powerful can be named the work by John Stuart Mill, in which he explains the details of the concept and provides logical grounding for its relevance. Therefore, I suggest resorting to the ideas of the famous philosopher to defend the practice of tortures. The core of Utilitarianism is developed from the idea that that actions are as good as their consequences are. Mill argued that there is no value of searching for the morality of an action in the action itself while leaving the context in which it occurs without attention. Consequently, according to Utilitarianism, human morality should serve the principle of Utility or the â€Å"Greatest Happiness Principle† which persuades that â€Å"actions are right in proportion as they can promote happiness and wrong when they produce the reverse of happiness.† (Troyer 98-99) Moreover, the notion of happiness should regarded as a sum of happiness of the majority, which is more essential than the happiness of the one. Applying the concept of utilitarianism to torturing terrorist or military, it becomes clear that its essence and purpose can be fully justified under the condition that this intervention is aimed at the common good. Firstly, under the principles of Utilitarianism, the happiness of one person is less important than the happiness of many. (Evans 53-66) Subsequently, interests of one person can be sacrificed for the sake of preserving interests of the majority. Secondly, the morality of an action should be evaluated taking into account consequences which they would bring, rather than whether a particular action is right or wrong. (Troyer 98-99) It follows that it is morally right to torture a person who hold the information related to the potential harm that can be caused to masses of people. The issue of

Strategy, Business Information & Analysis Essay

Strategy, Business Information & Analysis - Essay Example Sri Lanka is one of the few countries in the world, providing free universal healthcare, including both education and healthcare services (Workinsrilanka.lk, n.d.). Development of the healthcare industry is one of the major government priorities and for achieving its goals; the Government has initiated the National Health Master Plan (2006-2016). Government support has contributed significantly to the rapid growth and development of both public and private sectors, improved quality of healthcare services and human capital base in the industry (Workinsrilanka.lk, n.d.). As of 2012, Sri Lanka had 593 government hospitals and 197 private hospitals. The number of qualified doctors in total exceeded 17, 129 (approximately 1,187 persons per doctor) and the number of qualified nurses was 29, 871 (approximately 683 persons per nurse) (Workinsrilanka.lk, n.d.). In 2012, the total expenditure on health care both private and public was approximately US $89 per head, or 3.2% of GDP (The Economis t Intelligence Unit, 2014). Even though the level of expenditure on health is low, Sri Lanka illustrates significant positive trends: increase of life expectancy to 75 years, and fall of mortality rate among children t 9.6 cases per 1,000 births (The Economist Intelligence Unit, 2014). The quality of healthcare services provided in Sri Lanka is known around the world, as this country has high quality clinicians, adopts the latest innovations in medicine, science, and technology (Medicare, 2015). In order to have better understanding of the healthcare industry dynamic in Sri Lanka there was utilised the five forces model. There is a limited number of suppliers of medical devices, consumables and pharmaceutical items in Sri Lanka. In addition to limited availability of suppliers, Sri Lankan’s healthcare industry faces with a problem of limited availability of medical devices, consumables and pharmaceutical items often causing stock out situations. Limited number of

Legal and Ethical Issues Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Legal and Ethical Issues - Research Paper Example The rules permit covered entities such as hospitals, clinics and health care providers in general to release de-identified data without obtaining an authorization. There are no further restrictions upon use or disclosure because de-identified data is not personal health information and, therefore, not subject to the HIPAA rules. Therefore during a research study, a researcher can obtain the data required under this provision. The right to anonymity and confidentiality is an important part of the rule. This rule can be applied during the study through involving the subject directly.  Here, the researcher can apply the confidentiality clause during the study by letting the test subject decide on what to avail to the public. The rules contain criteria for the alteration of the authorization requirement by an IRB or another review body called a Privacy Board. This works well for a study in which one does not wish to follow all the tiresome steps. The use of war victims in the recent past as test subjects without their consent or that of their families has led to a public outcry. Consequently, the rule on right to fair treatment and protection from harm was created. In the medical study one considers that the subjects are human and therefore avoids causing harm to them. Macklin (2004) notes that there are a number of marginalized populations where the rules of ethical treatment and legal actions are not followed. Such include case studies of Ebola in Central Africa and other areas close by. The application of the HIPAA rules can be achieved through incorporation of the basic rules in the recent studies by creating a compiled set of ground rules to follow in the study

Strategic issues of Zara Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Strategic issues of Zara - Essay Example It is interesting to mention that the basic retailing theme that is followed by the flagship brand is highly unique in nature. The brand of Zara largely focuses on the process of providing fashionable retail products of average quality at highly competitive prices to the consumers of the world (Morris, 2013). It needs to be mentioned that the brand of Zara is largely present in various markets around the world. Also, the company has attained tremendously high levels of efficiencies in regards to maintaining the distribution channels as well as managing the logistics and supply chain. It can be said that the efficiency of the supply chain attained by the flagship brand Zara helps in attaining significant advantages related to shorter product lifecycle, shorter turn around and reduced time for production. Thus, it can be said that the logistic and supply chain efficiency can be treated as a pillar of strong point and significant advantage for the company. ... Detailed analysis of the competitive forces It can be highlighted that the best way to undertake an analysis of the competitive forces that are affecting the business prospects of the retail company is to conduct an analysis of Porter’s competitive forces. It needs to be mentioned that Porter’s five forces strategy talks about the competitive issues that arises from the multiple factors like bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of consumers, power of substitutes, threat of new entrants as well as inter firm rivalry (HBR, 2008, p. 4). Source: HBR, 2008 p. 4 Now matching Porter’s five forces competitive strategy with regards to organizational issues of Zara, it can be said that several challenges and cases can be highlighted at the same time. Talking in regards to the bargaining power of the suppliers, it needs to be highlighted that more than 50% of the retail merchandise of Zara are produced in an in house fashion. It is important to highlight that bec ause of this particular practice, the globally acclaimed retail organization has developed the advantage in regards to gaining momentum in various complex task based process, lower cycle time as well as minimization of error. However, talking in more details in regards to manufacturing practices, it can be said that the various processes involved in the manufacturing process of the firm’s end products are often outsourced to the network of local cooperatives, who work with the company only on the basis of long term good will. Hence, in this particular case, the negotiation power of the suppliers and local manufacturers are pretty low as compared to that of the organization.

Four Circles of HR Professionalism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Four Circles of HR Professionalism - Assignment Example This involves having a knack for managing people and conducting activities which may include hiring and recruiting the staff, managing work culture and job performance within an organization, training the personnel working within an organization, assuring that the staff complies with the rules and regulations in an organization, and the overall management of the behaviour of personnel at the workplace (Sartain &Finney 2005). Thereby in a professional context, any HR manager does need to be astutely aware of as to how to conduct oneself at the workplace (Kulik 2004). There stand to be some predominant professional considerations related to the workplace that an HR manager does need to hold sacrosanct. As an HR I am well aware of the fact that within a professional environment it is not only the sacrosanct ‘best practices’ but also an array of rules and regulations that my conduct needs to be subservient to. I am well aware of the fact that for the personnel I manage, I am the actual company. Not only the staffs that I manage to view me as the management but in the courts of law, I will also be considered to be the actual employer (Muller 2012). This realization has a serious impact on my professional conduct. I am well aware of the fact that as an HR manager I will always be directly held responsible for the things I do or fail to do for the employees (Muller 2012). The other thing that I always keep in my mind is that employees never leave organizations; they mostly tend to leave bosses. Thereby I also keep in my mind that every employee that comes to work in the organization is not a passive toolbox, but rather a complete person with a heart and a mind and a soul. My approach towards employees is always imbued with concern and I hold very human expectations from them. I well understand the fact that employees do always need a feedback. Whether they are doing a good job or are not doing well, the employees are mostly not able to ascertain it until they are evinced an honest feedback (Slade 1994). I have also realized that extending a timely feedback to the employees does go a long way in assuring organizational efficiency and thereby as an HR professional I make it a point to be thorough and prompt with the feedback I extend to the employees.  

Strategic issues of Zara Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Strategic issues of Zara - Essay Example It is interesting to mention that the basic retailing theme that is followed by the flagship brand is highly unique in nature. The brand of Zara largely focuses on the process of providing fashionable retail products of average quality at highly competitive prices to the consumers of the world (Morris, 2013). It needs to be mentioned that the brand of Zara is largely present in various markets around the world. Also, the company has attained tremendously high levels of efficiencies in regards to maintaining the distribution channels as well as managing the logistics and supply chain. It can be said that the efficiency of the supply chain attained by the flagship brand Zara helps in attaining significant advantages related to shorter product lifecycle, shorter turn around and reduced time for production. Thus, it can be said that the logistic and supply chain efficiency can be treated as a pillar of strong point and significant advantage for the company. ... Detailed analysis of the competitive forces It can be highlighted that the best way to undertake an analysis of the competitive forces that are affecting the business prospects of the retail company is to conduct an analysis of Porter’s competitive forces. It needs to be mentioned that Porter’s five forces strategy talks about the competitive issues that arises from the multiple factors like bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of consumers, power of substitutes, threat of new entrants as well as inter firm rivalry (HBR, 2008, p. 4). Source: HBR, 2008 p. 4 Now matching Porter’s five forces competitive strategy with regards to organizational issues of Zara, it can be said that several challenges and cases can be highlighted at the same time. Talking in regards to the bargaining power of the suppliers, it needs to be highlighted that more than 50% of the retail merchandise of Zara are produced in an in house fashion. It is important to highlight that bec ause of this particular practice, the globally acclaimed retail organization has developed the advantage in regards to gaining momentum in various complex task based process, lower cycle time as well as minimization of error. However, talking in more details in regards to manufacturing practices, it can be said that the various processes involved in the manufacturing process of the firm’s end products are often outsourced to the network of local cooperatives, who work with the company only on the basis of long term good will. Hence, in this particular case, the negotiation power of the suppliers and local manufacturers are pretty low as compared to that of the organization.

ISOM 201 Excel assignment Speech or Presentation

ISOM 201 Excel assignment - Speech or Presentation Example The means are however different among the retailers and means that the standard deviation is not a god measure for variability. The universal measure, coefficient of variation, which does not depend on units, is therefore suitable (109). Based on the coefficient of variation, the demand is more volatile for retailer D and least volatile for retailer B. Retailer A experiences the second highest level of volatility and retailer C follows. From the results, and using either the standard deviation or coefficient of variation because of equivalent means, combining retailer B and retailer D, reduces the variability from 69.9 percent to 64.75 percent. The other combinations increase variability of D. Postponement tactic allows Benetton to meet uncertain demand of each color by reducing the level of uncertainty. By waiting until demand arises in a season, the company operates under certainty. Production is also done on demand and therefore to meet customers’ needs at a low inventory level. With high level of uncertainty, the postponement strategy reduces volatility to establish accuracy in production volumes. This ensures reliable and valid data and the eliminated error, due to variation, in the production volumes, ensures accurate

Critical Lens for Romeo and Juliet and Of Mice and Men Essay Example for Free

Critical Lens for Romeo and Juliet and Of Mice and Men Essay Duff Brenna once said, All literature shows us the power of emotion. It is emotion, not reason that motivates characters in literature. To me, this quote means that it is emotion that causes characters to make decisions, not reason. I agree with this quote because characters in literature do what they feel is right at the time, not what they feel is logically right. In William Shakespeares tragedy Romeo and Juliet and John Steinbecks novella Of mice and Men, the characters demonstrate how emotion can overpower reason. In Romeo and Juliet, this statement is proven right. As the characters make decisions based on emotion, many literary elements are intertwined by William Shakespeare. Conflict is not only a literary element but also is a theme that is used throughout the whole playwright. For example, the passion of hate causes the Capulets and Montagues to constantly fight and feud. This External conflict interferes with Romeo and Juliets love and causes them not to tell their parents about their marriage. They have to constantly meet in secret and them not being able to see each other causes more major conflicts. For example, they feel so deeply for each other that they feel that they cannot live without the other. These strong emotions lead to many misunderstandings and eventually the death of the two star crossed lovers. If Romeo and Juliet were thinking within reason, they would have told their parents about their love and possibly may not have committed suicide. The death of Mercutio also causes problems between the characters. When Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo feels vengeance and anger towards Tybalt. If Romeo would have been thinking realistically, he would have told Prince Escalus about the killing and Tybalt would have gotten in trouble. Instead, Romeo makes a rash decision and kills Tybalt and later faces the consequence; being banished from Verona. In Addition, Shakespeare also uses the literary element of Characterization in Romeo and Juliet. After Tybalt dies, Capulet feels that he has the responsibility to lift the spirits of his family. He quickly arranges to have Juliet to marry Paris, a man whom she does not wish to marry. When Capulet does this, he follows his own feelings and doesnt reason with Juliet. After his actions, Capulet is looked upon as harsh, ridiculous and insensitive. Additionally, when Romeo kills himself on impulse,  characterization is used. As soon as Romeo sees that Juliet, the woman that he is deeply in love with, he feels that he cannot live with out her and commits suicide. As a reader, I thought that he could have gone on with out her but he kills himself anyways. Romeo is looked characterized as immature, irrational, and impractical. Conflict is also an effect of characters acting based on feeling, not reason in the story Of Mice and Men. For example, although Lennie is not the brightest bulb in the box, he should have had enough reasoning skills and know not to touch a womans skirt. However, his feeling of desire and attraction to touch the red skirt causes the woman to tell the police on Lennie and Lennie and George are run outta weed. After they are run out, they face having to move to a new ranch, and hopefully having no one find out the real reason why they left weed. Another example of a conflict is Curleys wife. She has an internal conflict. She wanted to feel happy and content with her life and she rushed into the marriage with Curley. In the end, she was unhappy and lonely because she was often times left alone all day while Curley worked or at night when the men went into town. The literary element of characterization is also used in Of Mice and Men. For example, when Lennie is run out of weed, George decides to go with him because he really cares about Lennie. He disregarded anything that he had in Weed and left. In this case, it is good that George followed what his feeling said because Lennie would have not been able to survive with out the help of George. As the bond between Lennie and George strengthens, George is characterized as accepting and tolerant. George also acts on feeling when he decides to kill Lennie himself. George does not want to put Lennie through the pain of dealing with Curley. George cares so much for Lennie that he puts him out of his misery right away instead of taking the risk of trying run away or move on to a new ranch with Lennie. George is looked upon as mature and understanding after his actions. In conclusion, in literature, characters are driven by the power of emotion, not reason. In William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet and John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men, many characters are shown as following their emotions  instead of reason. Sometimes the outcome was good, and other times, the outcome was not so good. In my opinion, when characters follow their emotions and do not reason, the author is trying to show the reader the good and bad consequences that can occur if there is no reason behind the actions that we make. Bibliography: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare- the book/playwrightOf mice and Men by John Steinbeck- the novellawww.sparknotes.com

Area Study Merging with Cross-National Approach

Area Study Merging with Cross-National Approach Overview Are area studies and a cross-national approach really that different or they have more in common than we might expect? I think it is the latter, having three major similarities. First, these studies have increasingly merged to seek systematic explanations that cut through regions, which had been thought to be fundamentally different or exceptional (such as Latin America). As such, the second similarity is that they have also come to share some roles, such as confirming a theory. Third, the rise of mixed method approach that can combine area study and cross-national approaches further illuminates not only the second similarity but also a common and ultimate goal shared by the two approaches, which to expand our knowledge. At the same time, how they go about playing similar roles and accomplishing the shared goal remains as a major difference. In other words, to answer the second question, each approach is better suited than another to answer particular types of questions. Area studies that are often in qualitative nature ask for conditions necessary or sufficient for particular outcomes to occur, while cross- national approach that tend to be in quantitative in nature is much suited for asking the average effect of an independent variable on such outcomes. Similarities: Area Study Merging with Cross-National Approach Once again, I think area studies and a cross-national approach have come much closer to each other, having three major similarities. The first major similarity is that both studies seem to have sought systematic explanations that cut through regions. While it is straightforward that a cross-national approach seeks such accounts, I argue that this similarity has emerged due to a change in seeing what area study should be. Fundamentally, area study is a study that focuses on particular areas or regions of the world. In the mid 20th century, an area study approach had particularly been used as a â€Å"cookie cutter† strategy. That is, it ‘snips’ out regions or areas that do not conform to accepted ideas or particularly the ones that are studied through the scope of â€Å"ethnocentrism† (Wiarda 1993, 16). Thus, the study is driven by the idea—â€Å"what works in one context may not work in another† –and utilized to understand not just deviant or outlier but ‘exceptional’ cases (Wiarda 2005, 2). For instance, O’Donnell’s area studies on Argentina and Brazil (1973; 1976) caught grater attention in the 1970s; he challenged Lipset’s modernization theory (1959; 1960) that came out a decade ago based on Western states as a widely accepted idea displaying the positive relationship between economic development and democracy. Contra rily to Lipset, O’Donnell showed that a process of modernization actually yielded a bureaucratic-authoritarian regime in the ‘richest’ countries in the region. Dependency theorists, such as Frank (1969) and Dos Santos (1971) also elevated the importance of area studies by arguing that Latin American economies would not follow the path of Western states because the region was exploited as ‘satellite economies’ by the West and ended up contributing to the Western modernization. Recently, Mainwaring and Perez-Linan (2003) empirically demonstrated a non-linear relationship between economic development and democracy in Latin America; they concluded that â€Å"Latin American exceptionalism† existed in the mid to late 20th century because of distinctive economic policies (ISI) and a link between political elites. Regardless of Mainwaring and Prez-Linan’s work, however, I see area study to increasingly become a ‘lesson-drawing’ approach (Wiarda 2005). Instead of pointing out regional distinction and exception as an end goal, these differences are used as lessons for building a ‘mega-theory’ or producing systematic accounts regarding comparative politics. This is in part because of the rise of other area studies focusing on the Middle East and East Asia, which show their paths towards democracy that are distinct from both Western states and Latin America. These studies, therefore, diminish Latin America exceptionalism. In addition, area studies, namely of O’Donnell’s (1973; 1976) have come under much attack for being ad hoc explanations, since Latin American turned to re- democratize in the 1980s. All of these factors have then called for a more systematic investigation for providing an account, which identifies common and different conditions c ontributing to such outcomes (Acemoglu and Robinson 2006). For instance, Acemoglu and Robinson (2006) recognized Lipset’s modernization theory as one of four paths, rather than ‘the only path,’ and sought conditions that make democratization likely, using the cases of Argentina, Singapore, and South Africa. O’Donnell’s later work with Schmitter (1986) on Latin America also merged with Przeworski (1991) and Haggard and Kaufman (1995), which utilized cases from various regions, such as the Philippines, South Africa, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Nepal. These studies have then provided a powerful account, suggesting the entrance and exit or authoritarianism to depend on a strategic bargaining between political (military) and economic elites in the wake of economic downturns. Hence, the first major similarity is, once again, a tendency of both area studies and cross-national approaches to seek systematic accounts that cut through regions. While cross-national approach is essentially thought to have such a goal, area studies have come to understand the need of the goal, while no single region seems to stand as entirely exceptional or can be isolated from the rest of the world. As such, the second similarity is that they have also come to share some roles. When area studies, at least some parts of the studies, have come close to cross-national approach theoretically, these studies can play a similar analytical role as well, namely the role in confirming a theory. The theory of political activism may be a good example. Mainly based on Western states, including the United States, empirical cross- ational studies have suggested that well-established democracies have increasingly faced a â€Å"legitimacy crisis† or increase in â€Å"democratic deficits† (Norris 2011, 3- 5). Using a wide range of indicators such as a declining civic engagement or voter turnout (Teixiera 1992; Putnam 2000), declining party loyalties (Aldrich 1995; Dalton et al. 1984), and surveys, they show dissatisfaction and decrease in confidence in national governments (Norris 2011). As such, Fung and Drakeley (2013) conducted an area study focusing on East Asia, ranging from South Korea to Indonesia and Cambodia, and confirmed that even in ‘transnational democracies’ face similar challenges with old democracies or what Norris (2011) calls ‘democratic deficits.’ The area study shows that East Asian states are remarkably similar with Western democracies in a sense that democratic regime may be ‘flawed’ but not ‘broken.’ In turn, cross-national studies can also confirm a theory based on area studies. For instance, Lipset’s modernization theory on the basis on Western Europe has been reinforced with a growing number of empirical cross-national studies (Boix and Stokes 2003; Epstein et al 2006), although debatable (e.g. Przeworski and Limongi 1997; Kennedy 2010; Teorell 2010). Geddes (2003, 351-365) explicitly stated the literature on modernization theory has become much more â€Å"persuasive† because â€Å"large-n studies have begun to play a greater role in the comparative development fields.† Third, the rise of mixed method approach that can combine area study and cross-national approaches further illuminates not only the second point but also a common and ultimate goal shared by the two approaches, which to expand our knowledge. For instance, Liberman (2005) recently suggested a mixed-method approach, called nested analysis, which is a research design employing both a Large-N statistical analysis and small-N case studies for in-depth investigation. In particular, this approach advocates the use of a large-N analysis as a guide to draw a subsequent small-case N analysis for two different purposes: a model-building tool for testing an outlier case and a model-testing tool for confirming an online case. Coppedge (2002) is a good example of the nested analysis; he developed a large-N study to determine the need of an area study on Venezuela, which appeared to have a large portion of residuals since the 1990s. Fish (2005) also employed a mixed approach, which conducted a larg e-n analysis and the Russian case study. Similarly, King et al (1994) and Brady et al (2006) also suggest a mixed approach, which, though unlike Liberman, utilizes area studies to draw a large- n analysis. For instance, Krieckhaus (2006) briefly reviewed areas of Latin America, East Asia, and Sub- Saharan Africa to argue distinctive effects of democratic governance on economic growth. This area study thus confirms not only a null relationship between the two variables in cross- national studies but also the positive and negative relationships that appear when empirical analyses are conducted separately. In short, these mixed approaches show that area studies and cross-national studies can reinforce their finding or give a valid reason for each to be conducted; and ultimately, these mutual roles highlight the most important similarity –both studies contribute to enhance our knowledge in comparative politics (Walt 1999). Different Questions and Approaches At the same time, how they go about playing similar roles and accomplishing the shared goal remains as a major difference. In particular, area studies are usually qualitative in nature, with some exceptions (e.g. Mainwaring and Prez- Pinan 2003). This means that, as I mentioned sometimes, area studies are a small-n or case study, which intensively examine particular events with careful attention to historical and cultural contexts. King et al (1994) similarly argue that a small- n study is better at conducting a descriptive inference, which is the â€Å"process of understanding an observed phenomenon on the basis of a set of observations† (55). As such, area studies are particularly suited for asking two questions. The first one is, â€Å"what are conditions necessary or sufficient for a particular event to arise?† Returning to the works by O’Donnell and Schmitter (1986), Przeworski (1991), and Haggard and Kaufman (1995), they essentially found economic downturn and ‘authoritarian bargaining’ between political and economic elites as crucial and interactive conditions that change the likelihood of a regime change. Acemoglu and Robinson (2006) as well as Boix (2003) also constructed a model where the level of income inequality and capital mobility to interactively alter the probability of democratization, as they contribute to power relations between political elites and mass citizens. Area studies are also suited for questions that identify important actors. The identification of domestic actors is crucial because they, according to Mahoney (2011, 115), â€Å"create†¦structures, which in turn shape subsequent actor behaviors, which in turn lead to the development of institutional structural patterns† It is also important, as Walt (1999, 12) points out that the main task of political science research is to produce â€Å"useful knowledge about human social behavior.† As such, the above studies are also praised for identifying important actors, such as political elites, business actors, and military, which are â€Å"black boxed† (Rueschemeyr et al. 1992, 29) in Lipset’s modernization theory and subsequent empirical studies that focus on the relationship between economic development and democracy (e.g. Prezeworksi and LImongi 1997; Epstein et al 2006; Boix and Stokes 2003; Kennedy 2010; Teorell 2010). Ziblatt (2006: 322) commented, â€Å"their accounts improve upon the agentless structural functionalism implicit in modernization theory by reasserting the primacy of collective actors resources, preferences, and strategies.† Teorell (2010, 151) also argues, â€Å"The key theoretical virtue of this novel approach is that it integrates the previous †¦traditions by providing structural conditions explaining preference and actions of ordinary citizens, in turn affecting the strategic choices made by political elites.† In turn, cross-national studies are naturally equipped with a larger sample size and conducted through statistical or quantitative analyses. As such, they are better suited for asking, â€Å"what is the average effect on an independent variable on the same or similar outcome seen across the world?† (Mahoney 2011; King et al 1994). Put differently, King et al (1994) argues that, while area studies tend to be good at descriptive inference, large- n studies are better suited for causal inference—that is—to â€Å"demonstrate the causal status of each potential linkage in such a posited mechanism the investigator would have to define and then estimate the causal effect underlying it† (86). For instance, Boix and Stokes (2003, 531), building on Lipset, specifically concluded, â€Å" A simulation of the results shows that for low and medium levels of development, the probability of a transition to democracy grows by about 2 percent for each $1,000 increase in per capita income.† Similarly, Kennedy (2010, 797) notes â€Å"a 1% increase in per- capita GDP above the country mean† increases the probability of democratic transition. These specific numbers would not come out of area studies; for instance, although Haggard and Kaufman (1992) identified economic downturn as a crucial condition for a regime change, they do not specify exactly how bad the economic situation has to be; it was rather relative judgment in comparing cases.

The History of Rollerblades :: essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Roller skating is said to have been born during the summer months when ice was not available. The first documented inventor of roller skates was John Joseph Merlin who was born September 17, 1735, in the city of Huys, Belgium. Merlin was well known for his abilities for making musical instruments and other interesting mechanical gadgets. Through various incarnations, roller skates strove to replicate the streamlined speed and maneuverability of ice skates, but without ball bearings or shock-absorbent wheels it would take 200 years before that dream was achieved. Even as late as 1960, the Chicago Skate Company attempted to market an inline skate that looked much like today's skate, but it did not offer sufficient comfort, stability or a reliable brake (Zaidman 1). Although the Chicago Skate Company’s attempt of the inline skate was not successful, it did play a pivotal role in the molding of what is now known as inline skating. In 1980, two hockey-playing Minnesota Olson brothers discovered the in-line skate that the Chicago Skate Company had manufactured while rummaging through a sporting goods store and decided that this design would make an ideal off-season hockey-training tool. They refined the skate and began assembling the first Rollerblade skates in the basement of their parents' Minneapolis home. Working in their garage, they modified the design to add plastic wheels, a molded boot shell, and a tow brake. The Olsen brothers sold their product, which they dubbed â€Å"Rollerblade Skate,† out of the back of their truck to off-season hockey player and skiers (Kerin 5). It was that same year, when they founded the company that would become Rollerblade ® (Rollerblade.com). In 1984, Minneapolis businessman Bob Naegele, Jr. purchased Olson's fledgling company, which eventually became Rollerblade, Inc. Though not the first company to manufacture inline skates, Rollerblade, by offering a comfortable skate with a reliable and easy-to-implement brake, took inline skating out of the exclusive domain of hockey players and introduced millions to the sport that now has the whole world on a roll (Zaidman 1). The History of Rollerblades :: essays research papers fc   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Roller skating is said to have been born during the summer months when ice was not available. The first documented inventor of roller skates was John Joseph Merlin who was born September 17, 1735, in the city of Huys, Belgium. Merlin was well known for his abilities for making musical instruments and other interesting mechanical gadgets. Through various incarnations, roller skates strove to replicate the streamlined speed and maneuverability of ice skates, but without ball bearings or shock-absorbent wheels it would take 200 years before that dream was achieved. Even as late as 1960, the Chicago Skate Company attempted to market an inline skate that looked much like today's skate, but it did not offer sufficient comfort, stability or a reliable brake (Zaidman 1). Although the Chicago Skate Company’s attempt of the inline skate was not successful, it did play a pivotal role in the molding of what is now known as inline skating. In 1980, two hockey-playing Minnesota Olson brothers discovered the in-line skate that the Chicago Skate Company had manufactured while rummaging through a sporting goods store and decided that this design would make an ideal off-season hockey-training tool. They refined the skate and began assembling the first Rollerblade skates in the basement of their parents' Minneapolis home. Working in their garage, they modified the design to add plastic wheels, a molded boot shell, and a tow brake. The Olsen brothers sold their product, which they dubbed â€Å"Rollerblade Skate,† out of the back of their truck to off-season hockey player and skiers (Kerin 5). It was that same year, when they founded the company that would become Rollerblade ® (Rollerblade.com). In 1984, Minneapolis businessman Bob Naegele, Jr. purchased Olson's fledgling company, which eventually became Rollerblade, Inc. Though not the first company to manufacture inline skates, Rollerblade, by offering a comfortable skate with a reliable and easy-to-implement brake, took inline skating out of the exclusive domain of hockey players and introduced millions to the sport that now has the whole world on a roll (Zaidman 1).

Bengal Tiger Essay -- essays research papers

The Bengal Tiger   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Bengal tiger is a carnivorous, mammal primarily from India. It lives in habitats such as the coniferous Himalayan Forest, the mangroves of the Sunderbans, the hills of the Indian Peninsula, or the forests of Rajasthan and Northern India. At one time Bengal tigers were scattered throughout Asia. Now they are generally found in India and some regions of Bangledesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar. There is approximately 4,000 alive in the wild now, and about 300 are in captivity in zoos around the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bengal tiger’s are one of the largest and most feared cats in the cat family. An adult tiger can weigh any where from 350 to 550 pounds. The adult males weigh an average of 480 pounds, while the females weigh about 300. Their body lengths are between 6 and 9 feet long! A Bengal tiger hunts primarily deer, wild pigs, water buffalo, birds and other small mammals. When driven from hunger a this tiger will eat almost anything. Crocodiles, lizards, fish, and even humans are eaten by a frustrated Bengal tiger. They eat meat and only meat. Their style of attack is differant from the cheetah’s and the lion’s; who hunt in open habitats. Although it is a heavier predator than that of the lion and cheetah, it averages about 50 deer a year. Bengal tigers need a wide forest-like areas to hunt their prey. They are known to hunt alone, but have been found to hunt in packs. These tigers are semi-nocturnal, bec...

Everyday Use Essay Essay

In â€Å"Everyday use† Maggie gained the most emotionally because she finally got something she wanted after years of feeling she didn’t deserve the things she desired. Dee, Maggie’s sister, usually could take what she wished from her mother’s home such as the churn top from a butter churn her family had for years. Meanwhile Maggie usually assumed it was the way life went and that other people were more deserving of the things they wished for than she was. When Dee asked her mother for two quilts their grandmother had handmade, her mother told her no and that the quilts were promised to Maggie. In this case Maggie finally gained something she wished for and was shown she deserved it too. Part of Maggie’s belief that she didn’t deserve the things she wanted sprung from her sister’s ability to get everything she asked for. Dee, as it would seem always received everything she asked for when she asked for it. When Dee was graduating from high school she requested a yellow organdy dress to wear on the evening of her graduation which her mother purchased fro her. This showed Maggie that Dee received many things she wanted, while she remained with the little she already had, never asking for much. When Dee asked her mother for the hand carved churn top their relatives had made her mother gave it too her with no problems, even though it was an important piece from their family. This gave Maggie another example of how her sister got things she would have liked to keep. Maggie often felt that she didn’t deserve as many good things as her sister got. Maggie was often stuck with lesser than that of what her sister received and believed that was how life worked for her. As a child Maggie was badly burned in a house fire while her sister escaped just fine, this resulted in her feeling insignificant and shuffling everywhere she went trying to hide her face. The fire having burned and scarred her made her believe she deserved the lower hand of all things in life. Maggie’s school was closed when she was young while Dee went on through full education, this made Maggie feel simple and uneducated. The advantage of her sister’s education made Maggie feel lesser and undeserving. Before the events in the story Maggie felt more like an outcast and unimportant. When Maggie’s mother gave the quilts to Maggie instead of Dee it shocked Maggie and helped her change her perspective on how she should be treated. Dee who always got what she wanted begged and begged for the quilts and expected to receive them. Maggie also expected so and believed her sister was more deserving of the quilts than she was, she told her mother to give the quilts to Dee. Maggie’s mother instead gave the quilts to Maggie shocking everyone and giving Maggie something she deserved for once. In the end Maggie was shown she deserved just as much as everyone else and that life didn’t always give certain people what they wanted. Her sister who had always gotten everything she desired was not given what she wanted for once. Showing her that their was a little fairness to the way things work. While Maggie received what her sister had asked for, getting something she wanted for the first time. This showed Maggie she deserved a little more than she was getting. Over all the event with the quilts broke Maggie’s mindset and gave her a new view on how she was treated.

Persuasive Essay: Not Allowing Public Smoking

Have you ever been walking down the street and some inconsiderate person has the nerve to blow their cigarette smoke over their shoulder right into your face? Not only is that disgusting but it’s also very disrespectful. As a non-smoker I believe that if you have the right to smoke, then I have the right to not be affected by it. I do not think that smoking in any public place should be allowed. It has a negative effect not only on you, but on those around you, the youth in your community, and the entire environment.According to the American Lung Association, Idaho scored a B in the overall smoke-free air, but they also got 3 F’s in the categories: Tobacco Prevention and Spending, Cigarette Tax, and Cessation. In 2004, Idaho met the Smokefree Air Challenge, which calls on all fifty states to pass laws that prohibit smoking in all public and work places. Idaho’s current laws are that smoking is prohibited in publicly owned buildings and offices, or at public meeti ngs.It is also prohibited in government buildings and public or private elementary or secondary school buildings and most educational facilities (American Lung Association, 2012). I think that it should be banned from any school campus, including the colleges and universities, not just high schools, junior high, and elementary schools. It’s not like second-hand smoking becomes less harmful the more you farther your education. When I was a young kid I remember my friends pretending to be smoking and thinking it was funny. It looked harmless.In the movies the â€Å"bad boys† always had a smoke in their mouth and one behind their ear. Society plays up smoking and portrays it as being okay. It is true that people start smoking for many different reasons: some think it will make them look cool, or fit in with a certain crowd, others start because their family members or friends smoke. Statistics show that about 9 out of 10 tobacco users start before they're 18 years old. (H irsch, MD, 2012) Of course in your teenage years you think you’re invincible or that you’re above the rules and statistics, but you’re not.A leading cause in people starting to smoke is being exposed to it and the thought we put into their heads that it is acceptable in society when it shouldn’t be. If we banned all smoking in public, children and teenagers wouldn’t be as exposed and give into trying it. Second-hand smoke is about just as dangerous to your health as smoking itself is. In reality most of the smoke from the cigarette does not make it all the way into the smoker’s lungs, it escapes into the air and can be inhaled by everyone nearby. The smoke of tobacco contains over 4,000 chemicals and over 50 of them are known for causing cancer.Secondhand smoking is not preventable even though smoking is. 126 million non-smokers are exposed to the smoke either at work or at home. This exposure results in 50,000 deaths in the U. S each year, but that number is only for adults. Between 150,000 and 300,000 children are infected each year with sicknesses such as pneumonia and bronchitis, of that number roughly 10,000 of them are hospitalized. (Karriem-Norwood, MD, 2012) So the next time you light up, remember you’re exhaling not just yours, but somebody else’s life away as well.If we didn’t allow smoking in public it would help reduce the number of smokers there are. It would help people quit because they could not smoke for longer time periods than they are immune to. If you expand the amount of time passing through each smoke consistently it helps the nicotine cravings lessen. But if you really don’t think you can last through a school day it’s not like there aren’t other alternatives to getting the nicotine your body is hooked on such as chewing tobacco, or the nicotine gum.Both of those options are harmless to the people around you and will not result in you intoxicating their bodies too. In conclusion, I don’t think smoking should be allowed publicly because it portrays the wrong message to the youth and is a leading cause in people trying and becoming addicted in the first place. Also because it doesn’t just affect the person smoking, it affects everyone around them and puts others at risk for major health problems.If we didn’t allow smoking in public it would reduce the number of people smoking and better the environment. Citations: American Lung Association. (2012). Slati state information: Idaho. Retrieved from http://www. lungusa2. org/slati/statedetail. php? stateId=16 Hirsch, MD, L. (2012, March). Smoking. Retrieved from http://kidshealth. org/teen/drug_alcohol/tobacco/smoking. html Karriem-Norwood, MD, V. (2012, May 12). Effects of secondhand smoke. Retrieved from http://www. webmd. com/smoking-cessation/effects-of-secondhand-smoke

Earlier 19th century fashion styles and their cultural and historical Essay

Earlier 19th century fashion styles and their cultural and historical significance at the time - Essay Example As Lynch and Strauss point out, it becomes evident from history that the concept of beauty is not set by women but by the mainstream society and also that the mainstream society redefines the same from time to time. In other words, it can be said that the evolution in society and social thought is well expressed in fashion too (12). To begin with, in the ancient times, the most important factor of consideration while selecting a partner was health. While men had to engage in hunting in order to support their families, women had to be able to meet birth needs. That means, in the ancient times when survival was of utmost concern and the sick had little chance of survival, large muscles made a man beautiful and wide hips and large breasts made a woman attractive. As Hyland states, until the social economic development of Greece during the fifth century B.C, there was no clear concept of beauty. However, as painting and sculpture developed, beauty was attributed to certain essential features (45). To illustrate, Plato considered beauty as a result of symmetry and harmony which creates a golden proportion. The ideal face had to have a width which is two-thirds of its length. In addition to this attraction towards symmetry, in the Greek and Roman culture, one can see an affinity towards blond hair. However, one can see that during the Middle Ages, woman had to face a lot of hardships in the name of fashion. To illustrate, in Europe, the period saw woman as predators who posed a carnal challenge, and this situation was created mainly by religion. So, women were restrained from even wearing jewelry, and this restraint almost solely came from clerics. As a result, married women had to conceal their hair in order to avoid arousing desires in others; though virgins were allowed to expose their hair. However, blond hair was something to be frightened as it directly meant an invitation to

Organizational Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Organizational Design - Essay Example Organizational Design Orlando Health is a network of privately run, non-profit community and specialty hospitals, located in Orlando, Florida. The network consists of eight health care institutions, and the one which is the focus of this brief report is Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC), which is the only level one trauma center in Central Florida and also the corporation's flagship medical center. Although, the network consists of eight institutions, each one operates independently and works under a decentralized setup. OHCG is at its heart a decentralized one. (Freund 1995). There is a centralized leadership with CEO and top management teams, but each institution functions independently. As far as physical location is concerned, though the main campus of Orlando Health is located with four out of the eight health care institutions including ORMC grouped together in that campus, each one has a separate or decentralized physical setup. This design enables each institution to act independently and also coordinate when there is a need. Focusing on ORMC, it is an 808-bed hospital specializing in trauma, critical care, emergency care, cardiology, orthopedics and neurosciences. (About Us, n. d). So, its function is to treat critically injured patients as part of trauma care, with a dedicated team of certified doctors, nurses and other technicians working 24/7.

Describe the difference between religion & magic, giving examples of Essay

Describe the difference between religion & magic, giving examples of each. (Give 2 + examples each.) - Essay Example It’s made up of different norms or practices agreed upon and practices by a society. In contrary to magic, a religion is usually accepted and followed devotedly and mostly act as a guidance that contains a moral code governing the conduct of a community. Religion can also be well explained through consideration of its essential characteristics; religious belief, unity of a society of the same faith and finally religious practices and belief (Frazer 38). As indicated by sociologist, religion is not just monotheistic, some religions for example Confucianism recognize no gods at all while others practice polytheism, that is, believe in many deities. Contrary to Adam and Eves story in the Bible, religion is not necessarily a revelation of origins of creation. Not all religions have similar myths of origin though they still fit within the correct definition of a religion. It is, therefore, correct to say that religion is a set of moral norms and principles concerning rules regulating behavior of its believers and sacred. All religion to a greater extent shares at least same features. For example, most religions embrace an individual responsible and is considered to specialize in religious practices (Frazer 41). Christianity and Islam are some of the example of religion. Magic, on the other hand, can be defined as the art that claims to influence or foresee natural events (Frazer 5). It mainly works by invoking the supernatural. Magic is, therefore, performed through superstitious practices and behaviors intended to cause a predetermined or desired end. Magic does require a general agreed set of beliefs or practice upon which its practice is derived as compared to religion. It can be real or manipulation of natural events to attain the desired outcome (Frazer 10). Some religions however incorporate a bit of belief in magic, especially those that arose from traditional practices. An individual who performs magic is assumed

Base on reading of the Bunraku play chushingura Essay

Base on reading of the Bunraku play chushingura - Essay Example The play entails several sub-plots and elements, but it primarily emphasizes on the notions of honor and loyalty that pervaded the Japanese society and the play primarily focuses on these traits as the main theme. The protagonist of the play is Yuranosuke, who is the chief retainer of Hangan’s household and wants to fulfill his master’s dying wish to avenge him. Yuranosuke is assisted by a band of retainers, who have sworn allegiance to him and go to severe extremes to help him accomplish his mission; Kampei is one of the most notable retainers, who is unable to make any substantial contribution to the assassination plot, but his devotion to Hangan still moves all the other retainers to include him in the list. Yuranosuke’s loyalty to his master is exhibited through his undying resolve to exact revenge on Morono. Even though, a vendetta in Tokugawa Japan is punishable by ritual suicide, but the retainers remain resolute under Yuranosuke. They are ready to lay dow n their lives for their Master Hangan, which is a sure sign of their loyalty. Moments before Hangan is ordered to commit Seppuku; ritual suicide, he asks Yuranosuke, to take his dagger after his death, which clearly indicates his wish to be avenged. Yuranosuke, who is both aggrieved and determined to take revenge upon his master’s tormentor, licks the blood off his master’s dagger ; this act to show his dedication to the cause (p. 23). He gathers all the other retainers, who are devoted to cause and secretly starts off the vendetta. The vendetta is a secret mission; therefore he takes every measure to protect it from Morono, who was already suspicious of it. The strength of Yuranosuke’s resolve to proceed with the assassination is very clear as he is willing to do anything to prevent his plan from getting compromised. He even eats fish on his master’s death anniversary; which is considered to be a great religious taboo, but he breaks it just so he could p rotect his master’s last wish. After their master’s death, the retainers were left without a leader and Yuranosuke, being the chief retainer in Hangan’s household gained the leadership by default. All his fellow retainers were quite dedicated to him and had they not sworn complete allegiance to him, they would not have been able to bring their plans to fruition. The case of the merchant in the play further underscores the lot’s loyalty to Yuranosuke; the merchant had been supplying them with weapons in order to help them with the plot. The merchant had sent his wife off to live with her parents in order to prevent her from finding out about the plan, but in so doing he earned the ire of his father-in-law, who wanted her daughter to marry someone of wealth and constantly forced the merchant to divorce her. Upon seeing his ordeal, Yuranosuke intervenes and cuts off the woman’s lock and prevents her remarriage. This trait is reflected in all of Hangan ’s retainers, particularly Kampei as well. He suffers from a lingering guilt for he had abandoned his post in order to meet his lover, with whom he had scheduled daily trysts and when Hangan was being provoked into drawing his sword, he had been with his lover all this while. As a result, Kampei always felt guilty and responsible for his master’

Question 2,6,7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Question 2,6,7 - Essay Example Firm diversification is a central issue of importance to managers. The research literature on the subject of diversification affirms that over the past two decades the growth in the globalization of markets and products by firms has been tremendous. Globalization as a concept is used often to imply a condition of increased mutual interdependence among nations. The given condition depends on a number of factors. First, there is decreased governmental policy on trade barriers. Second, free international movement of capital across borders. Third, there is high volume of foreign direct investment. Fourth, there is migration of the workforce across the borders. Finally, there is exchange of services and goods among the nations involved in trade. However, despite the recorded increase in diversification by firms, the definite factors that contribute to diversification remain debatable among firm managers. The drivers of a firm’s diversification decision-making process can be explained with the aid of two theoretical frameworks. Namely, the Resource Based View and the Transaction Cost Theory. The resource-based view theory offers an understanding of the choice of industries into which a firm diversifies. According to the theory, a firm is best viewed as a collection of resources that enable it to compete against other firms. The theory suggests that the potential of a firm to gain and maintain a sustained competitive advantage relies on its defined resources (Wierseme, 2008). Firms that have the ability to develop unique and difficult to imitate resources, are more likely to engage in diversification compared to other firms with no such unique and inimitable resources. The transaction cost theory of strategic management also offers an understanding of firms drivers for diversification. The theory holds that firms diversify when the firms’ activities can be performed cheaply within the company,

Asset Classes Paper Essay Example for Free

Asset Classes Paper Essay Business Finance Resources: Week One readings Select a mutual fund and a Dow 30 organization. Prepare a 700- to 1,050-word paper in which you determine asset classes for your mutual fund and Dow 30 organization. Explain how such classifications and the current investment environment affect organizational decisions concerning portfolio composition. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. A healthy diet is extremely important during your time at college. The freshman 15 can make a negative impact on your life if you do not eat properly. Make sure you are careful about your intake. Stay away from fast food, junk food and other terrible choices. These foods are quick and easy, but they are very bad for you. This work comprises FIN 402 Week 2 Asset Classes Paper Business Finance Resources: Week One readings Select a mutual fund and a Dow 30 organization. Prepare a 700- to 1,050-word paper in which you determine asset classes for your mutual fund and Dow 30 organization. Explain how such classifications and the current investment environment affect organizational decisions concerning portfolio composition. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Article Discourse Analysis: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Article Discourse Analysis: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict A Critical Discourse Analysis of an article on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict With increasing global media synergies, media studies seems to be gaining popularity in academia. One part of this discipline involves the close examination of media texts, be they written, spoken, or symbolic. To analyse texts linguistically, two dimensions are often considered: that of coherence, involving semantics or the construction of meaning, and that of cohesion, or syntax. This analysis can be done through various types of frameworks, including grounded theory, narrative semiotics, conversation analysis, and critical discourse analysis (CDA). According to Barthes (1994), texts are always multi-dimensional and their meanings are uncovered differently depending on the reader, context and setting. Particularly in the media, they are interconnected to other texts, through means such as quotations, indirect or direct references, photos or historical facts; thus, it could be said that the media produce and reproduce not only texts, but from these, social meaning, which is then further reinforced through subsequent intertextuality (Ibid). Baudrillard (2000) adds that language itself is not necessarily powerful; what makes it more so is its use by powerful people—in today’s society, this being epitomised by the globalised media. Critical discourse analysis is also sometimes referred to as critical linguistics (Wodak and Busch, 2004). Its roots lie in classical rhetoric, sociolinguistics and applied linguistics, and it is often used to illustrate the relationships that power, hierarchy, race and gender have with language (Fairclough, 1995). CDA is especially used today by academics that regard the discursive unit of a text to be one of the most basic units of communication. In fact, it is so widely used within scholarly environments that its legitimacy as a tool for examining power imbalances has been called into question by some, such as Billing (Wodak and Busch, 2004). He claims that because CDA has become so entrenched in academic discourses, it is thus subject to the same rituals and jargon as institutionalized knowledge, thus negating its potential to demystify the functions and intentions of CDA research. While these points are interesting and worthy of further exploration, the scope of this paper will not allow such examination, and furthermore, the assumptions of this paper are that CDA does, in fact, provide useful tools for critical analysis of media texts. Thus, this paper will apply CDA to one article by Rory McCarthy in the Guardian newspaper, dated Wednesday, December 12th, 2007. CDA will be employed to illustrate overt and underlying assumptions and beliefs, as well as the construction of social meaning. Wodak and Busch (2004) claim that all texts can help reproduce and produce unequal relationships in power between men and women, racial groups, social classes, ethnicities, and nations. This can be done through the creation of the Other, which involves the textual representation of a group as being ‘perpetrators and agents’ operating outside the law (Ibid, p. 99). They further claim that after the terrorist attacks of September 11, anti-Islamic prejudices became more pronounced in the media, which characterizes Muslims in anonymous and criminal terms (Ibid). Additionally, ‘strategies of generalization, blaming the victim, and victim-perpetrator reversal are increasingly prominent’ (Ibid, p.100). Analysing the text in the Guardian, these strategies do indeed seem to be in place. For example, actions attributed to Palestinians in the article often involved negative activities, whereas verbs related to the Israelis were more neutral: Palestinian actions: firing rockets, accused, complained, fired back, were detained, were reported, appeared to be Israeli actions: mounted an incursion, said, issue tenders for It is only when the voice of the article shifts from the writer to a direct quote from a Palestinian official that any harsher activities are attributed to the Israelis: sabotage, place obstacles The first sentence of the article is also interesting: Israeli troops in tanks and armoured vehicles mounted an incursion into Gaza yesterday, killing at least six Palestinians†¦.As many as 30 tanks and vehicles were involved in the operation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Although the facts in the article imply that the Israeli army killed several Palestinians, it is important to note the syntax of the sentence removes direct responsibility from the army and pins it on ‘the incursion’. What is more, semantically, Israeli activity is never referred to as an ‘invasion’ or an ‘attack’ but is referred to as a mere ‘incursion’ or ‘operation’, or in the title, ‘Israeli tanks enter Gaza’. The Israelis have neutral ‘troops’ which are seeking ‘members of Islamic Jihad’ ‘a hardline Palestinian militant group’ or ‘Palestinian fighters’. These phrases imply that Palestinians are the only ones operating outside the law. Although it is clear from the facts stated in the article that Israel is the aggressor in this particular case: (tanks enter Gaza, killing at least six Palestinian militants) the writer felt it was necessary to include the feeble reaction of the Palestinians to this ‘incursion’ even though no Israelis were killed or even injured by the Palestinian action: ‘Palestinian fighters fired back’. This structure implies a fair battle, although it is abundantly clear that Israel is the only party here with fierce military power. The body count is kept low in the piece, which claims ‘at least six Palestinian militants’ were killed, rather than emphasizing a larger number, such as ‘about ten’ or even ‘half a dozen’ even though it seems certain that more than six were killed. Importantly, only the deaths of the ‘militants’ are mentioned here: it could be quite possible, then, that several hundred civilians were also killed. Although ‘as many as 30 tanks and vehicles’ seems a high number, the fact that these machines, and not people, were semantically involved in the invasion diminishes personal, human responsibility for the invasion and deaths. The sentence: ‘most of the dead appeared to be members of Islamic Jihad†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ only slightly suggests the possibility that ‘innocent civilians’ were also killed in the attack, and the words ‘appeared to be’ mean that there was no firm confirmation that the dead were, in fact, members of Islamic Jihad. ‘Several Palestinians were reported injured’ is another vague sentence which refuses to offer quantitative data regarding how many were injured, or give information about who, exactly, gave this report, which makes it sound dubious. The simple use of Palestinians is also vague and fails to clearly state the possible injury of ‘innocent civilians’. The situatedness of this text historically and politically supports Barthe’s claim that social meaning is reinforced through intertextuality. There is no mention or even implication that the Palestinians are, in fact, fighting to free their homeland from an illegal oppressor, and there is also no overt mention of the illegitimacy and illegality of Israel’s acts: for example, by choosing the word ‘settlement’ in the sentence: ‘†¦an Israeli decision†¦to issue tenders for more than 300 houses in the East Jerusalem settlement of Har Homa’ allows for a form of Israeli ‘newspeak’ to whitewash what is essentially an illegal occupation that has destroyed the natural environment of the Abu Ghneim forest and stolen more land from the Palestinians (poica.org) . Moreover, there is no mention of how Israel has repeatedly been condemned by the United Nations for its illegal ‘settlements’ such as that in Har Homa (Ibid). In fact, after reading such an article as the one in the Guardian, readers could well be left wondering just why the Palestinians have been ‘firing rockets’ or why they have been ‘detained’ or have become ‘militants’, although the article makes Israeli grievances easier to understand by employing the very lexis just mentioned previously (as well as: Islamic Jihad, accuse, complain). Thus, victim-perpetrator relationships are skewed by the semantics and syntax used in the article. There is no doubt that Israel is an oppressive power and disturbing presence in the Middle East, yet it is rarely portrayed as such in the media. There could be several reasons for this, but one may reside in Foucault’s notion of discourse, which states that discourse is an institutionalized way of thinking about something, or in other words, it defines the limits of what constitutes acceptable speech on a topic. Discourse is thus related to power, and defining discourses are often taken to be defining of reality itself (Foucault, 1997). Wodak and Busch (2004) state that the dominant discourse on Israel generally supports this state, possibly as a kind of backlash after the blatantly anti-Semetic propaganda that was once so common in Europe before and during the Second World War, but also because power relationships have shifted: Israel is a key ally to the most powerful nations in the world, including the United Kingdom and the United States, and as mentioned by Baudrillard (2000), the powerful use language to keep power structures intact. The final sentence of the article illustrates this point well: Although Israeli and Palestinian leaders and negotiators have been meeting regularly for months, today’s meeting marks the beginning of talks intended eventually to bring the creation of an independent Palestinian state. This paragraph implies that talks to create a Palestinian state are just beginning, and that a Palestinian state could possibly be created for the first time. Both of these assumptions are erroneous. Without delving too deeply in the politics of the Middle East, it is generally known by most that shortly after Israel’s inception, talks to negotiate Arab/Jewish territory have gone on almost continually. Secondly, in 1919 Palestine was provisionally recognized as an independent nation by the League of Nations in League Covenant Article 22(4) as well as by the 1922 Mandate for Palestine that was awarded to Great Britain. This recognition continues today due to the conservatory clause found in Article 80(1) of the United Nations Charter (Boyle, ) . Thus, ‘the creation of an independent Palestinian state’ negates the fact that such a nation has already existed. Incidentally, legally, Israel does not have fixed and permanent borders (except most recently with respect to Egypt) and yet it is generally considered by the media to be a legitimate state (Ibid). What is important to note here is that history is practically being rewritten in the Guardian text. Van Djik’s (1990) explanation as to how this is possible is closely connected to Barthes (1994) and Baudrillard’s (2000) ideas mentioned above. He claims that journalists and media consumers own ‘mental models of the world’ and thus any text that is understood contains only the ‘tip of an iceberg of information’ (Ibid, p.6). The tip is expressed through syntax and semiotics, but the rest is assumed to be supplied by the underlying knowledge of previous texts. For this reason, Van Djik states that ‘the analysis of the implicit†¦is very useful in the study of underlying ideologies’ (Ibid, p.6). In conclusion, this paper has illustrated how critical discourse analysis can be a useful tool for unearthing implicit meanings in text, through the analysis of syntax, semiotics, and assumptions implicit through intertextuality. Furthermore, it has given examples of how current discourses of power can influence the content of media texts. There is no doubt that after several years of exposure to standard news formats, broadcasters and audiences alike are prone to overlooking the covert messages in news content. For this reason, a critical perspective is certainly important, and furthermore, if news texts are assumed to be a system of encoding reality, then the agendas of the encoders must be understood before a thorough deconstruction of their messages can be possible. Appendix 1 Israel tanks enter Gaza on eve of peace talks Rory McCarthy, Jerusalem Israeli troops in tanks and armoured vehicles mounted an incursion into Gaza yesterday, killing at least six Palestinian militants on the eve of a new round of peace talks. As many as 30 tanks and vehicles were involved in the operation in southern Gaza, near the Sufa crossing and close to the town of Khan Yunnis. Several Palestinians were reported injured. The Israeli military said it was a routine operation against militants, but Palestinian officials accused Israel of trying to disrupt the peace talks. Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were to meet today at the King David hotel in Jerusalem to start a new process of talks in the wake of the Middle East conference in Annapolis late last month. Palestinian officials have already complained about an Israeli decision last week to issue tenders for more than 300 houses in the East Jerusalem settlement of Har Homa. ‘The Israeli policy of escalation aims to sabotage and place obstacles before the negotiations even before they start,’ said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, a spokesman for the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas. Most of the dead appeared to be members of Islamic Jihad, a small but hardline Palestinian militant group which ahs been responsible for firing makeshift rockets from Gaza into Israel. Around 60 Palestinians were detained in what was the largest Israeli operation in months. Palestinian fighters fired back and hit one Israeli tank. Although Israeli and Palestinian leaders and negotiators have been meeting regularly for months, today’s meeting marks the beginning of talks intended to eventually bring the creation of an independent Palestinian state. References Barthes, R, (1994) Mythologies, Hill and Wang, London Baudrillard, J, (2000), Routledge Critical Thinkers, Routledge Publishing, London Boyle, F, (2007) Elements of Palestinian Statehood, in The European Journal of International Law, Vol.18 No 3 Fairclough, N (1995) Critical Discourse Analysis, Longman, Harlow. Foucault, M (1997) The Politics of Truth, Semiotext(e), France McCarthy, R, Israel tanks enter Gaza on eve of peace talks, in the Guardian, December 12, 2007 Van Djik, T. A. (1990). Discourse Society, in Van Djik, T. A (ed.), (2007) A New Journal for a New Research Focus, Volume 18 No 2, Sage Publications, London Wodak, R and Busch, B, (2004) Approaches to Media Studies, in Downing, J, The Sage Handbook of Media Studies, Sage, London http://www.poica.org/editor/case_studies/view.php?recordID=1207