Lost Boys by James Garbarino: A Review

Through the ‘Lost Boys, by Dr. James Garbarino discusses the phenomenon of youth violence in America, with emphasis on understanding its causes as a major tool for dealing with the menace. This essay seeks to explore the main points and arguments pointed about in the book, ways in which society has failed in curbing the disorder, and what can be done to INTRODUCTION: A TYPICAL SCENARIO A 15-year African American Ken lived in the inner-city trouble zone of Los Angeles, with parents who are both poor and uncaring. He grew up to protect himself, seeing the world as an unsafe place: He saw form his point of view, that life is unbearable and one must be aggressive to make your way through life, especially to possess the material things that mattered to him. He understood that he was not cared for by his parents, but seen as an outsider; he was detached. On many occasions when he was young, he had been abused by his father, bullied seriously at school and for that he developed an aggressive approach to living as he grew up. He also hated his father for his violent activities and unwholesome behavior of drinking and smoking. At his age, he got hooked up in a gang of five boys who called themselves ‘Fox Army’. Because of his dedication to these gang activities, his performance at school dwindled. For this, his father expresses serious harsh words on him, telling him he would never be anything good in life. In the whole of this picture stood a fearful mother who was always quiet and strictly aligned to the father’s opinion. Ken wondered on several occasions why he and his siblings were treated as such. He was ashamed of himself and his family. Having being threatened by his violent father with guns on several occasions, he felt the gun was a tool to silence enemies. In the gang, they all seem to share the same experiences of parental neglect and abuse, depression and confusion about the essence of living. They never felt any emotions nor did they perceive anything positive about schooling, family and other things around them. They share same schema of life: fight to protect yourself, enemies are out there in the world planning to eliminate you. The faster of us win to survive and see the light of another day. To see another to get others, use illegal means to make money and acquire material possessions in an attempt to use such things to eliminate the deep-seated feelings of worthlessness and shame. They were eager to make money by all means; so, they got into illegal drug sales. They also started smoking and drinking, adventures they felt would relieve them of the burden they carried. In no time, they had access to the guns of their parents for protection. Even with these, Ken did not make as much money as his friends. He got really frustrated and distressed because he needed the money to add up to that he got from his parents to stay in school. He woke up one morning by hammering slaps of his violent father who accused him of theft. He was guilty of the offence; yet, he denied it. His father started threatening hi with guns again. He left his bedroom and headed to the sitting where he kept his gun: he reached for it, and with it, killed his parents. In this vexation, he started saying all sorts of things like: ‘Fox soldier, go for the bait. Kill the enemy with sharpened teeth of the fox. Go and deal with the wicked world’ He kicked the main entrance door open and shot in the crowd of school children going early to school. He shot continuously, until he became so vexed and put the gun into his head, pulled the trigger and said, ‘it all ends here’. As the noise of the approaching cop intensifies, he pulled the trigger and shot himself. It was reported that five people died including Ken. The news was carried by a local newspaper. The only national daily that featured it described the teenager as ‘brutal’ and ‘horribly terrible’. And that was where it ended. Nobody wanted to know more. ‘WHAT IS NOT SEEN AT THE SCENE’ The main intention of the writer is to draw the attention of the Public to the menace of youth homicide with emphasis on understanding what is not seen at the scene, as a tool to stemming its tide. The scenario created above typifies the main point and arguments enunciated in the ‘Lost Boys’. The ideas launched in the text were based on statistical date from reliable sources, the experiences of those who have been affected in one way or the other by acts of youth violence and a ‘systematic’ approach to understanding what is not seen at the scene of the incident. He also drew ideas from the research and writings of other experts in the field to arrive at the following salient points: Youth violence is a major societal disorder that is quite extensive. However, it is obscured from its staggering reality by the national homicide picture which is reportedly stable. Lethal violence is common among the poor African-Americans and Hispanics, those who form the minority groups, with only few cases by Americans. These groups are concentrated in the inner city and suburbs of the South. As a result of those involved, the media and the general Public ignore ‘making sense’ of such crimes giving limited attention to it. This is claimed to be as a result of racism and class bias, as well as the perceived immunity Native Americans think they have. With the current tide of the menace sweeping to the abode of the ‘immunized’, he argues that no one is really immune. The current incidents recorded with new white faces awakened the Public to the reality of the issue: white teenagers are joining the train. With this pointed established, everyone sees a problem to be checked and it is easier to do. Having established that everyone is endangered, he seeks to lay a foundation for finding lasting solutions. First, he emphasizes the need to understand why the killers kill others and themselves. He believes that this would invariably be achieved by learning from the lives and experiences of those who have lived with it for the past two decades. Drawing form this point of strength where everyone’s attention is drawn, he shows that the accumulation of risk factors such as smoking, involvement in gang activity and illegal drug deals, access to guns, family history of violence, psychiatric disorders is central to the distorted behavior of killers.   He emphasizes that the causes of youth violence are complex and cannot be associated with a single factor. He notes that culprits are no animals but humans who have been strongly influenced by risk factors they grew with, and only live to bury their deep-seated shame by acts of violence; they are like Ken, who did not see any cogent reason for living. THE WAY OUT Having stated the reality of violence, the ‘Southern’ location of its prevalence because of prevailing factors and the lessons of the past, he then proposes ways of dealing with the violence: Both the individual and the community, are involved.   The individual needs proper parental care, protection, training and mentoring; these would help to build a strong self-image and create positive outlook to life. The home is the first community that is pertinent in building a good child: this should be stable, loving and full of positive affirmations for the growing child; necessary needs should also be met. The government has a major role to play; it should enact laws that reduce crime, promote community campaigns against violence and crime, provide funds for educational and health institutions. A credible and fair justice system must be on present. He particularly suggested a ‘Visiting Nurse Program’. He also emphasized good working relationships between professionals involved with the menace of youth violence. In conclusion, a society who fails to wake up to the roar of a wandering lion by getting hunters ready, should be prepared to dance to the music of the Vulture that would feast on their carcasses.   

Neural Markers of Categorization

In 2006, University of Delaware’s Paul C. Quinn and Harvard Medical School’s Alissa Westerlund, and Charles A. Nelson study titled â€Å"Neural Markers of Categorization in 6-Month-Old Infants† was published in Psychological Science. The study was motivated by the lack of existing literature on neural markers in infants. These neural markers have been seen as critical in developing an underpinning concept-formation in infants which in turn influences perception and cognitive development. Despite the importance of the neural markers of categorization to various fields of study, there is limited existing literature about it. Furthermore, existing literatures have not yet determined the neural markers and conditional determinants that can be associated with category formation. Most studies on infants have focused on the use of novel stimuli or the use of behavioral indicators to indicate categorization or concept formation. Study Objectives The main objective of the study was to identify neural activity involved in concept-formation in infants. By analyzing learning a category during familiarization, behavioral performance preference for a novel category global-level category learning, neural determinants will be identified. This will then enhance existing methodologies and research regarding concept formation, in particular, category-learning processes in infants. In doing so, the study will be able to not only further knowledge in neural markers and development but also serve as a means to verify conclusions regarding the topic determined outside of neural indicators (Quinn et al 58). Furthermore, the study is to serve as a foundation for further studies focusing on infant development and learning. Methodology Ten infants were included in the study that was selected from an original group of twenty one. Criteria for inclusion included were the child’s ability to stay focused on the stimuli and behavior. The mean age of participants was 198.8 days and 70% of the selected participant were female (60). The stimuli used for testing were colored photos featuring various breeds of cats and dogs assuming different postures. Luminosity of the photographs was based from analysis of the pictures using Adobe Photoshop: luminosity of the pictures ranged from 225.54 to 248.42 for pictures depicting dogs, for cats 226.05 to 249.57. Shape values ranged from 20.03 to 56.88 for cats and 24.28 to 61.65 for dogs. While the area and perimeter of the pictures was based on LASICO 1281 Area/Line Meter. Testing procedures included event-related potential (ERP) Testing, ERP Waveform Analysis and Behavioral Testing. ERP Testing was conducted in an acoustically shielded and light-controlled room. The infants sat with a respective parent in front of a monitor measuring 48 centimeters across and 31 centimeters tall. The infants viewed the pictures randomly from a distance of 60 centimeters with each picture being flashed for 500 ms. Adjustments were made based on observations on the child through video monitors. The results were then recorded and amplified onto a vertex reference at 0.1- to 100-Hz band-pass filtering and digitized at 250-Hz. Electroencephalographic data was handled through NetStation 4.0.1. Adjustments were made as baseline correction to 100-ms prestimulus recording interval. Final phase of testing was done to determine behavioral evidences for category learning. Two 5-s test trials during which a novel cat was paired with a novel dog in a left-right arrangement with two independent observers, both blind to the lateral position of the animals shown to the infant. Results The study concluded that infants, in the processes of learning a category, exhibited higher negative amplitude on left occipital-parietal scalp in response indicating initial experience with category exemplars with the first cat pictures 1 to 18 and novel dogs. Furthermore, comparisons of average amplitude of ERP signals between 1,000 and 1,500 ms after each picture was shown did not vary in cats 1 to 18. this indicates that neural instantiation of are key behavioral indicants of categorization implying that the infants respond to the novel as something familiar. With regards to novel categories, the results indicated the infants’ preference for such (61). This was indicated by the infants’ response to the novel dogs: negative amplitude over left-central became more pronounced. The implications is that Nc component or negative central component of the ERP  waveform can be e a neural marker of infants’ novel-category preference. Behavioral Performance tests from the looking-time data recorded when paired-preference was conducted indicated the infants’ preference for the novel dog versus the novel cat. The infants also showed novel-category preference by 62.52%. Since this value exceeds probability thresholds which in the study are divided equally between cats and dogs, the researchers are confident in concluding that the infants learned category representation for cats that included novel cats without the exclusion of the dogs. The results also yielded conclusions regarding global-level category learning. The researches believe that global-coding nodes are quickly learned as a means to represent or map large differences when there are a limited number of attributes that distinguished the global level Significance and Implications The discrimination of entities categorically is believed to have its roots during development. Therefore, determining the mechanism of category representations develop together with knowledge structures, vocabulary development and expressions that influence cognition, thus, the importance of measuring infants’ visual timing and recognition when presented with both realistic and abstract figures. This will allow for insights to not only in visual and cognitive development but also provide critical information in the overall development mapping of an individual (59). However, since there are no previous studies existing to evaluate the conclusions of the study to, the determination made by the paper will need further research, a constraint that the researchers themselves recognized (61). Despite this constraint, the study was able to provided significant evidence using neural markers using ERP and brain wave mapping that infants learning a category through the process of familiarization have a preference for novel category and respond to category exemplars at multiple levels of inclusiveness. Therefore, neural architecture required for object categorization processes is present in infants aged six months and below which in turn is giving greater insight to the neurological developments critical to learning and development. Work Cited Quinn, Paul C., Westerlund, Alissa and Nelson, Charles A. Neural Markers of Categorization in  6-Month-Old Infants. Psychological Science 17 (1) (2006), 59–66.

Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Strategies - Essay Example A leader should always be aware that their emotional instability shows in the group through frustration and low morale (Goleman, Boyatziz and McKee, 2013). According to Goleman, Boyatziz & McKee (2013) there are different types of leaders. Discordant leaders are those who are not in touch with their group emotions. The negative impact, a discordant leader, can have on the group, include internal anger and rage, frustration and lack of focus on tasks. Harmony and understanding are part of a strong working unit. According to Goleman, Boyatziz & McKee (2013) the brain is in charge of many functions within the body. One of them includes hormones that generate superior emotions or those that create awful emotions. A leaders frame of mind is related to how the brain operates. An emotionally able leader can be a powerful tool in stirring, awakening passion and enthusiasm in people. Leadership: Leading At the Edge The most important aspect of Shackletons’ leadership according to Stokes (2006) is primal leadership highlighted in Emotional Intelligence (EI). Primal leadership refers to the most crucial act of leadership which means acting as the group’s emotional leader while eliminating emotions that are negative and unhealthy for the group. According to Ainsberg (2010) to create movement and momentum Shackleton found that although you are not able to influence what happens to you, you can choose how you handle the situation. Instead of giving up and allowing self-pity to take over, Shackleton chose to motivate and inspire himself and his men in order to reach their goal. According to Ainsberg (2010) the main goal was to keep the emotions and spirits of the group up. Shackleton encouraged the crew to sing songs and play music that can act as a method of unifying and keeping attitudes positive. Through these actions, the group can connect and become closer to each

Reflect on places and spaces that you are familiar with, whether in Essay

Reflect on places and spaces that you are familiar with, whether in your past or in the present - Essay Example But rarely do people in general put into context what Friedman and Douglas (1998) cite as space and rights dealt in the contemporary discussion of citizenship, which is vital in the urban formation; urban in a way that it is composed of people, space, and the built environment. They identified these rights as to voice, to differ and to humanly flourish as part of a worldwide social movement and a rising civil society. This essay shall try to point out parts of our built environment that has become a part of me as an individual and at the same time had impact on me. There are several night clubs in my area. Almost all of them look alike and are built alike, inside-out. There are of course slight variations, such as one was set on the second and third floor of a five storey building, while another is a single building with three storeys, and some as occupants in the ground floor of a building with several storeys. Most of these have only the front door, an exhaust outlet, and fire exit as openings on the outside world. But the single building/nightclub has its lobby or lounge area which is open outside, so that the lobby, set on the second floor, seems inviting enough for anyone who would be interested. Aside from the physical differences and similari

Problem Recognition Process for the Consumer Assignment

Problem Recognition Process for the Consumer - Assignment Example Thus, realizing that the desired state was a much bigger TV that would be suitable for the interest of both the children and her husband, Alice decided to go for the 32-inch Panasonic flat screen TV, although it cost her considerably. However, the need for a bigger TV was not so urgent, until Alice and her family moved into a bigger house, when they realized that the TV appeared too small for the comfort of watching from the situated sitting positions within the living room. According to the Ordinal utility theory of consumer behavior, situational influences may cause a consumer to realize an existing difference between the real and ideal situation (Lantos, 22). Thus, the movement from one house to the other was a situational factor that caused the need for a new TV to become more urgent. The problem recognition stage was followed by the information search stage, which entailed assessing the available information related both to the different sizes and brand of TVs. The information search stage also entailed evaluating information related to the choice between the purchase of a new TV or a secondhand TV. Thus, Alice had to consult her family, most especially her husband, regarding the most appropriate TV set that should be purchased to replace the small one. Alice also contacted some of her friends in order to here different options available for the range of money she intended to spend on the TV. Evaluation of alternatives entailed low effort processing in evaluating information related to the desirable TV, since advertisement messages were not important considerations in reaching the TV purchasing decision (Roth, 72). Under the evaluation of information, the consideration was the appropriateness of a secondhand TV vs. a new TV, in which the second hand TV appeared to be riskier compared to a new TV, especially regarding quality and durability.

Not waving but drowning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Not waving but drowning - Essay Example In each of these states, whether European or American, people were experiencing a great deal of alienation and isolation as a result of these tremendous changes. Perhaps it is not surprising, then, to find the desolation and isolation of this period reflected as a major theme in the poetry created during this period such as â€Å"Not Waving but Drowning† by Stevie Smith. The isolation is almost overwhelming in Smith’s poem as she begins with the desolate lonely cry of a man that nobody hears. Although he is introduced as being dead, â€Å"Nobody heard him, the dead man, / But still he lay moaning† (1-2), making himself known to someone. This introduction presents several possibilities as to his true condition. The first is that the man is only symbolically dead, dead on the inside, and so is physically alive and able to moan in his continued pain and loneliness. He could also be so close to death that there is no possibility of saving him before he’s gone, and he’s moaning in anticipation of the inevitable. Another possibility is that he is actually dead, but there remain a few possibilities as to his continued moaning. The pain and anguish of his death might have been too much for him to bear and thus he is still moaning even after death. Finally, the suggestion that nobody heard him invokes the sense of the ghostly, so that perhaps the man is moaning in the form of a ghost, attempting to warn those who can hear of the dangers of allowing individuals to become too isolated from society. The words that Smith provides him in the second portion of this stanza further emphasize the sense of isolation and failed attempts at connection. The dead man says, â€Å"I was much further out than you thought / And not waving but drowning† (3-4). This indicates that whether he was alive or dead, this man never felt as close to his fellow humans as they perceived him to be and, as a result, they were unable to recognize the signs of distress he was sending

Histology - Fixation techniques Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Histology - Fixation techniques - Coursework Example and Pugsley, M. 2013. An Overview of Colorimetric Assay Methods Used to Assess Survival or Proliferation of Mammalian Cells. Proc. West. Pharmacol. Soc, 54 pp. 10-14. [Accessed: 30 Nov 2013]. 3. Immunohistochemistry.us. n.d. Immunohistochemistry Techniques. [online] Available at: http://www.immunohistochemistry.us/what-is-immunohistochemistry/Immunohistochemistry-Techniques.html [Accessed: 30 Nov 2013]. 4. INTRODUCTION TO TISSUE FIXATION-Chapter 12. 2013. [e-book] pp. 1-13. Available through: http://histologycourse.com http://histologycourse.com/Tissue%20Fixation-Lecture%2012.pdf [Accessed: 30 Nov 2013]. 7. Loqman, M., Bush, P., Farquharson, C. and Hall, A. 2010. A CELL SHRINKAGE ARTEFACT IN GROWTH PLATE CHONDROCYTES WITH COMMON FIXATIVE SOLUTIONS: IMPORTANCE OF FIXATIVE OSMOLARITY FOR MAINTAINING MORPHOLOGY. Europeon cells and materials, 19 (1473-2262), pp. 214-227. Available at: http://www.ecmjournal.org/journal/papers/vol019/pdf/v019a21.pdf [Accessed: 30 Nov 2013]. 11. Rolls, G., Chapman, C., Rasanen, M. and Stephen Peters, D. n.d. Histology Sample Preparation. [online] Available at: http://www.leicabiosystems.com/pathologyleaders/topics/histology-sample-preparation/ [Accessed: 30 Nov

SEE ATTACHMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

SEE ATTACHMENT - Essay Example The new healthcare policy opens up shared responsibility between the state and the individual, and thus, those who prefers not to avail insurance offered by the state, may exercise essential responsibility to avail healthcare pre-need policy from the open market of insurance companies (Healthcare.gov, 2012). I am willing to pay an insurance coverage that is only commensurate to my income (Healthcare.gov, 2012). Hence, it’s but proper that we are given options to choose which insurance scheme is more favorable to us as subscribers (Healthcare.gov, 2012). Section 1002 cited the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and Section 1501 (b) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (as amended) (Healthcare.gov, 2012). Applicable payments for workers are also cited in Section 1003 (Healthcare.gov, 2012). The subscribers options are however limited depending on the implementation of new healthcare policy in various states and on the age bracket of the subscribers (Healthcare.gov, 2012). For instance, the new law clearly stipulated that those who are aging below 26 years old are still covered under parent’s insurance policy and those who are beyond 65 could already avail of free preventive healthcare services and discount for medicinal prescriptions (Healthcare.gov, 2012). Those are employed will also be able to avail healthcare policies that will be provided by the company (Healthcare.gov, 2012). Providing healthcare policies for workers is an opportunity for company to avail healthcare tax credits (Healthcare.gov,

Assessment Activity Week 7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Assessment Activity Week 7 - Essay Example TQM will be introduced through continuous improvement which will eventually reduce costs, enhance customer service and reduce waste. The first step is to empower the employees by allowing them to design efficient procedures and control quality service. A feedback mechanism should be in place to determine whether this initial idea is effective and if it resulted in positive reactions from customers. After that, another pilot idea will be introduced to them such as regular meetings with quality circles to discuss how to improve performance. To test the success of the TQM through the introduction of pilot ideas, management should make a survey among its clients and ask them if indeed service has improved. The employees will also be asked their opinions on the changes introduced. Another method for dealing with change is to respond constructively to failure. Responding to failure is very critical for a leader. The leader must learn from the experience of failure. He should gain knowledge , wisdom and understanding from it. A leader must be able to share this experience with his subordinates because they too can learn from it. For example, I am the head of the franchising division of a fast food chain and I assigned employee A to look for a possible site for expansion. After a thorough research, employee A came up with a site and we built on the site.

The Da Vinci Code Essay Example for Free

The Da Vinci Code Essay Also searching for the Grail is a secret cabal within Opus Dei, an actual prelature of the Holy See, who wishes to keep the true Grail a secret; the revelation of this secret would certainly destroy Christianity. The Da Vinci Code film, like the book, was considered controversial. It was met with especially harsh criticism by the Roman Catholic Church for the accusation that it is behind a two-thousand-year-old coverup concerning what the Holy Grail really is and the concept that Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene were married and that the union produced a daughter. Many members urged the laity to boycott the film. Two secret organizations, the Priory of Sion and the Council of Shadows, whose existence is a polarizing issue, figure prominently in the story. In the book, Dan Brown insists that the Priory of Sion and all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents and secret rituals in this novel are accurate. The Da Vinci Code was met with largely negative critical response upon its release on May 19, 2006. However, this did little to hamper its box office performance; it earned US$230 million in its opening weekend and was the second highest-grossing film of 2006 behind Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest. Cast * Tom Hanks as Professor Robert Langdon * Audrey Tautou as Sophie Neveu * Ian McKellen as Sir Leigh Teabing * Paul Bettany as Silas * Jean Reno as BezuFache * Alfred Molina as Bishop Aringarosa * Charlotte Graham as Mary Magdalene * Jurgen Prochnow as Andre Vernet * Etienne Chicot as Lt. Jerome Collet * Jean-Yves Berteloot as Remy Jean (RemyLegaludec in the novel) * Jean-Pierre Marielle as Jacques Sauniere * Hugh Mitchell as Young Silas * Seth Gabel as Michael the Cleric * Marie-Francoise Audollent as Sister Sandrine Plot In Paris, Jacques Sauniere is pursued through the Louvres Grand Gallery by albino monk Silas (Paul Bettany), demanding the Priorys clef de voute or keystone. Sauniere confesses the keystone is kept in the sacristy of Church of Saint-Sulpice beneath the Rose before Silas shoots him. At the American University of Paris, Robert Langdon, a symbologist who is a guest lecturer on symbols and the sacred feminine, is summoned to the Louvre to view the crime scene. He discovers the dying Sauniere has created an intricate display using black light ink and his own ody and blood. Captain BezuFache (Jean Reno) asks him for his interpretation of the puzzling scene. Silas calls a mysterious man known as The Teacher, revealing that he has killed all four protectors of the keystone and that all confirmed the same location. He dons a metal cilice on his thigh and proceeds to flagellate himself with a whip for the sins of murder. Facilitated by Bishop Manuel Aringarosa, Silas then travels to Saint-Sul pice and is admitted by an elderly nun; left alone, he excavates beneath the floor of the church to find a stone saying only JOB 38:11. He confronts the nun, who quotes the passage: Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further. Realizing that he has been deceived, Silas is enraged and kills the nun. Sophie Neveu, a cryptologist with the French police, enters the Louvre as well and slips Langdon a message which leads him to the bathroom. There, Sophie meets him and tells him that he is being tracked, a GPS tracking dot has been (unknown by him) slipped into his jacket and that he is a primary suspect in the murder case because of a line of text found by the corpse (P. S. find Robert Langdon). Sophie however, believes that Sauniere, who is revealed to be her grandfather, wanted to pass a hidden message on to her (Princesse Sophie, P. S. , was the nickname he used for her), and that he had wanted to bring Langdon into the equation so that he could help her crack the code. Buying some time by throwing the tracking device into the back of a truck, the pair begin exploring the Louvre, finding more anagram messages that Sauniere had left behind. Many of these relate to Leonardo da Vincis art, and the pair find a key with a Fleur-de-lis behind Madonna of the Rocks. Langdon deduces from this that Sauniere was a member of the Priory of Sion, a secret society associated with the Knights Templar. Pursued by the French police and cut off from the United States Embassy, the pair escape to the Bois de Boulogne where Langdon closely inspects the key. He notices an inscription on the side – an address. The address directs them to the Depository Bank of Zurich where the key is used for a safety deposit box. In the bank, they find Saunieres deposit box and open it using the 10 digit Fibonacci numbers in order (1123581321). Inside the box, they find a rosewood container, which contains a cryptex: a cylindrical container with five alphabetical dials which must be arranged in the correct sequence to spell out a 5-letter code word, in order to open and access the papyrus message inside. Using force to open the cryptex would break a vial of vinegar inside, which would dissolve the papyrus and destroy the message. Unfortunately, the police are called by a security guard and they are forced to leave. The bank manager, Andre Vernet, assists them in escaping by taking them as passengers in an armoured van to escape the routine checks of the police. In the back of the truck Langdon and Neveu have a lengthy discussion about the cryptex and Neveu says that her grandfather often played games with her involving cryptexes. Langdon says that the cryptex might hold valuable information or another clue about what they are trying to discover. Eventually, they come to a sudden stop and Vernet forces them at gunpoint to give him the cryptex. Langdon tricks Vernet and disarms him and he and Sophie escape with the cryptex in their hands. Langdon suggests that they visit his friend, Leigh Teabing (Ian McKellen), for assistance to opening the cryptex. Leigh Teabing turns out to be an enthusiastic seeker of the Holy Grail, which he believes is not actually a cup but instead Mary Magdalene. Mary was pregnant at the time of Christs crucifixion, and Teabing tells Sophie that the Priory of Sion was formed to protect the descendants of Jesus. Jacques Sauniere was believed to be a part of this society and Teabing suspects that he was training Sophie to join it also. Silas, meanwhile, breaks into Teabings mansion and attempts to steal the cryptex. Teabing uses his cane to knock Silas out and they escape again, taking the butler, Remy Jean, and Silas with them. The group escapes in Teabings plane, following the next clue to London. Fache learns of their destination, and alerts the London Metropolitan Police to apprehend them at the airport. But Teabing manages to slip the party past the police with a trick of misdirection. Teabing leads Langdon and Neveu to the Temple Church in London, which is shown to be a red herring. Silas is freed by Remy Jean, who is revealed to be a follower of The Teacher as well. The two take Teabing hostage, and Silas, believing Remy to be The Teacher, holes up in an Opus Dei safehouse. Remy is killed by the mysterious man after deceiving Silas. Silas accidentally shoots Aringaros and is shot by the police. Aringarosa is taken to the hospital and apprehended by Fache. Langdon is betrayed by Teabing, who is revealed to be the true Teacher. He escapes with the Cryptex, and attempts to find the next clue at Isaac Newtons tomb in Westminster Abbey, as Newton was another member of the Priory. Langdon and Neveau catch up with him, and chase him into the nearby hapter house. Teabing explained that he wanted to find Mary Magdalenes remains to prove he was correct about the Holy Grail and threatens to shoot Sophie if Langdon does not open the cryptex. Langdon throws the cryptex into the air, and Teabing fumbles and destroys it. Distraught at not receiving the code, Teabing is arrested, but Langdon had cracked the code (Apple, a reference to Newton) and removed the cl ue from the cryptex before destroying it. Using the clue, they travel to Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland where Magdalenes remains had previously been hidden. The remains had since been moved, but they meet other members of the secret organization that protected her. Sophie is actually Magdalenes descendant and therefore is the current living descendant of Jesus Christ. They vow to keep her safe before going their separate ways. In Paris, Langdon accidentally cuts himself while shaving and the line of blood on the sink reminds him of the Rose Line. He follows the Rose Line and finds the location of the Holy Grail, buried under the pyramid in the Louvre. Langdon then kneels above Mary Magdalenes tomb as the Knights Templar did before him. first-rate thriller . The exposition is actually the best and most valuable part of the film A great film to look at and Salvatore Totinos cinematography is pitch-perfect. This is a servicable enough adaptation, but like many others, the book is of course far better. Robert Langdon is a symbology professor who gets called into a criminal investigation that gets him wrongfully implicated. On the way to figu ring things out for himself, he begins a quest to discover the truth about the Holy Grail, the details having some very shocking revelations. I really liked the book. Its a standard thriller sure, but its so well written and thought provoking. In the end, you need to just put personal beliefs aside (same here) and just accept it as riveting and entertaing fiction. Even though it is just fiction, the details of the truth behind the Holy Grail are so well argued that Dan Browns ideas actually do seem like a realistic and plausible scenario. With this adaptation, it seems a little stiff, and more overly serious than the book, but its mostly faithful, for the most. Some details had to be changed for time concerns, others for content, but the end result here could be far worse. I enjoyed this a fair amount when I first saw it, but in revisiting it, some of that has worn off, and the films not as good as I initially thought, but its hardly a failure. Its just not as gripping and suspenseful as the book. The film is really well cast though, and their performances are better than average, especially those by Bettany and McKellan. The location shooting is good, the direction is fair, and having Howard as director ensures that the film has some decent clout and production values. All in all, its okay. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (commonly referred to as Breaking Dawn – Part 1) is a 2011 romanticfantasy film directed by Bill Condon and based on the novel Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer. The first part of a two-part film forms the fourth installment in the The Twilight Saga series. All three main cast members, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner, reprise their roles. Plot Further information: Breaking Dawn The film starts out as Bella Swan plans her wedding with the Cullen family. Before the wedding, Edward Cullen tells Bella that he has murdered people in the past. Undaunted by this, Bella and Edward go ahead with the wedding. During the reception following her wedding to Edward, Bella is visited by her friend Jacob Black. When Bella admits that she and Edward plan to consummate their marriage during their honeymoon, Jacob becomes angry but is held back by his pack. He then runs off into the woods, and Edward takes an upset Bella back to the reception. The couple spends their honeymoon on the Cullens private Brazilian island. Although hesitant, Edward has sex with Bella for the first time. After, Edward realizes that he bruised Bellas arm, back and shoulders during sex and he vows to never be intimate with her again, much to her disappointment; he later gives in to her seductions. Two weeks into their honeymoon, Bella discovers that she is pregnant with a baby growing at an extraordinarily accelerated rate. After consulting with Carlisle, they rush back to Forks. Bella refuses to consider having an abortion, and enlists Rosalies help to protect her wishes. Opposed to Sam Uleys plans to kill Bella and her child, which is thought to be a demon, Jacob angrily leaves his pack and arrives at the Cullens to protect Bella; Seth and Leah Clearwater join him, forming a new wolf pack. As the pregnancy progresses, Bellas health severely deteriorates. As a last resort, she begins drinking blood, which satisfies the fetus vampiric thirst and allows her to regain some strength. Soon afterward, Bella goes into a painful labor and gives birth to her child, Renesmee, anconflation of the names of Bellas mother, Renee and Edwards adoptive mother, Esme. To save her life, Edward injects Bellas heart with his venom to transform her into a vampire, but nothing seems to happen and Bella is thought to be dead. Greatly distraught, Jacob attempts to kill the baby, but stops when he realizes he has imprinted on the child. When the werewolves learn of Bellas death, they attack the Cullens house in an attempt to kill the baby. They are forced to stop after learning Jacob has imprinted on Renesmee (imprinting is the involuntary response when a werewolf finds his soul mate; thus under their wolf law, Renesmee cannot be harmed).

The Power Of The Mind English Literature Essay

The Power Of The Mind English Literature Essay Life is divided into three terms that which was, which is, and which will be. Let us learn from the past to profit by the present and from the present to live better in the future (William Wordsworth Quotes). The Romantic Age of Literature has impacted thousands of people around the world through the periods authors, literary works, and social movements. In particular, the Romantic Period was inspired by three themes that include imagination, nature, and individualism (Romanticism). These ideas have been captured in the authors work and brought to life through the mind of the reader. One main idea that seems to impact the life of every human is individualism. All people strive for that feeling of self-independence from other people, beings, objects, or ideas of their imagination. Two literary works of the Romantic Period entitled The Lime-Tree Bower My Prison and Resolution and Independence both exemplify the theme of individualism. The authors who wrote the poems both overcame indi vidual mental barriers and in the end, truly showed the power of the human imagination. The poem, The Lime-Tree Bower My Prison, was written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge during the year 1797. The poem starts out with Coleridge being visited by his friends William Wordsworth, Dorothy Wordsworth, and Charles Lamb. Before his friends arrived, Mrs. Coleridge accidently spilled a skillet of sweltering milk on Samuels foot. When Dorothy, William, and Charles arrived, they decided to embark upon a day long hike through nature. Because of his foot injury, Coleridge was left behind to sit under a lonely lime tree, watching as his friends enjoyed the sights and scenery of the countryside (Coleridge 428). At the beginning of the poem, Coleridge feels trapped by the lime-tree. He views the tree not as a physical barrier but as a mental barrier, keeping his mind and imagination from roaming and connecting with his friends. Readers can see how Samuel first felt by reading the first few verses of The Lime-Tree Bower My Prison: Well, they are gone, and here must I remain, This lime-tree bower my prison! I have lost Beauties and feelings, such as would have been Most sweet to my remembrance even when age Had dimmed mine eyes to blindness! They, meanwhile, Friends, whom I never more may meet again, (428) At this point in the poem, Samuel Coleridge is overcome with the fact that he is unable to join his friends on their hike through the countryside. He let the lime-tree become a mental barrier to his imagination. Readers can see in only the first few verses that Coleridge feels alone and left behind. The title is used as a metaphor in the second line to represent lime trees as bars or walls of a prison that have him trapped physically and emotionally. In line six, Coleridge says, Friends, whom I never more may meet again, using that line as a hyperbole to exaggerate his lonesomeness and the distance from his friends (Shmoop Editorial Team). Although Coleridge is sad and depressed in the beginning of the poem, his emotions soon change. In the second stanza, he writes that he sees the images of his friends emerge from the hillside. At this point in the poem, his attitude begins to change. Through the second stanza, Coleridge connects to nature using adjectives that captivate the minds o f readers and help them see exactly what Coleridge was viewing. By the end of the second stanza, his spirits are once again high and he feels as if he experienced time with his friends through nature. At the beginning of the third stanza, Coleridge gave his readers a taste of his new emotions: A delight Comes sudden on my heart, and I am glad As I myself were there! Nor in this bower, This little lime-tree bower, have I not marked Much that has soothed me. Pale beneath the place Hung the transparent foliage; and I watched Some broad and sunny leaf, and loved to see The shadow of the leaf and stem above (429) Readers can see at the beginning of the third stanza that Coleridge overcame his dull feelings of loneliness and depression. Through the power of nature and his imagination, he regained his individual spirit as a writer. He overcame the physical and mental barriers of the lime-tree and showed readers the true power of the human mind. Having a similar theme to Lime Tree Bower My Prison, the poem Resolution and Independence was written by William Wordsworth in 1802 (Cambridge 281). The poem begins in the morning with Wordsworth walking through the country side. He reflects on the previous nights violent storm then admires the new morning which brings about fresh life. At first, Wordsworth is exuberant on his walk, but his emotions soon change. Thoughts of distress and solitude about his future as a poet soon fill his mind. In the fifth stanza of his poem, readers realize what emotions Wordsworth is experiencing: I heard the sky-lark warbling in the sky; And I bethought me of the playful hare: Even such a happy Child of earth am I; Even as these blissful creatures do I fare; Far from the world I walk, and from all care; But there may come another day to me- Solitude, pain of heart, distress, and poverty (281) Thoughts about the death of a young man named Thomas Chatterton filled his mind. Many people believed this to be a suicide death because of Chattertons hard life as a young poet. Wordsworth became more and more worried as he thought about the death of Chatterton. His head was filled with thoughts about his own life and if he too would die in poverty. While continuing his walk, Wordsworth spotted a man staring into a pond in the distance (Drabble 118,119). William walked up to the man and introduced himself. He asked the older man, What occupation do you there pursue?(Cambridge 282). The man replied that he was a leech gather (282). During these times, leeches were used to draw patients blood for curative purposes (Wordsworth 304). Wordsworth saw the leech gatherer as the last person who would inspire him. After discovering the occupation of this man and how he lived a poor life, Wordsworth asked the leech gatherer, How is it that you live, and what is it you do (Cambridge 282)? Even though the life of a leech gatherer may be grim, the old man never lets his thoughts lower his self-esteem. With a smile on his face, the timeworn man enthused William Wordsworth with his words of encouragement. In the last stanza of Resolution and Independence, readers are able to see that Wordsworth began to honor the words of the Leech Gatherer: And soon with this he other matter blended, Cheerfully uttered, with demeanor kind, Bur stately in the main; and when he ended, I could have laughed myself to scorn to find In that decrepit Man so firm a mind. God, said I, be my help and stay secure; Ill think of the Leech-gatherer on the lonely moor! (282) The words of the leech gatherer inspired and motivated the imagination of Wordsworth. At the same time, this man brought back Wordsworths sense of individuality and made him believe he had a future in poetry. Wordsworth was emotionally empowered by how the old man lived his life and never let his job as a leech gatherer lower his emotional spirit. This influential experience left a lasting impact on Wordsworth that enabled him to continue his career as a poet. William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge are two extraordinary poets who exemplified the individualistic and imaginative themes of the romantic period. In the poem The Lime-Tree Bower My Prison, Coleridge overpowered his thoughts through nature and enabled his mind to enjoy the outdoors. In Resolution and Independence, Wordsworth overcame his conscious thoughts through the inspiring words of the leech gatherer and decided to continue his livelihood as a poet. In the end, both poets displayed how an individual can conquer conscious thoughts and demonstrated the power of the human imagination. As I live and am a man, this an unexaggerated tale my dreams become the substances of my life (Samuel Taylor Coleridge Quotes).

The Peloponnesian War :: essays research papers fc

The Peloponnesian War Is war inevitable? It appears that the answer to this question is yes. However, war is unpredictable and must be studied based on individual circumstances, actions taken, and reactions. States disagree with each other on many subjects and conflicts arise often. To answer this question, we must first examine the causes of a conflict, evaluate the outcome and determine any alternatives that may exist. Then we can analyze some alternative theoretical outcomes compared to the actual conclusions. The Peloponnesian War provides an excellent example to be evaluated. The following gives a brief history of the war, causes of the war, and the importance of its study. In the case of the Peloponnesian War, we have two equal but different powers in control of Greece and the surrounding area. Athens and Sparta as allies gained independence from the Persians in 480 BC. Athens with a democratic rule expanded by using the surrounding waterways for trade and developing a great navy. Sparta with an oligarchic rule settled in by developing a thriving agriculture community and a land based army. Civil war occurs in Epidamnus with two sides, democratic and oligarchic. The democrats requested assistance from Athens. If Athens chooses to get involved, she breaks the truce with Sparta. If she does not, the balance of power leans towards Sparta and her allies. Sparta already feared Athens’ growing power. Therefore, Sparta needed to check Athens’ control of the region. The need to keep a balance of power is the main reason of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides attains that Sparta’s fear of Athenian rule provided an unavoidable path to war. Athens controlled about half of the city-states; dominated much of the trade; and maintained a strong navy. Sparta kept a strong army and retained equal allies but was primarily an agriculture state. Athens’ ability to maneuver on the sea provided opportunities to expand her power, and this alarmed Sparta. Since Sparta is concerned by Athens’ growing power, Sparta waits for a way to be able to stop the expansion. When an opportunity comes for war against Athens, Sparta is not very reluctant and could even be considered eager to enter an altercation. Pericles leadership appeared sound but may have over reached the power of Athens. Pericles convinced the Athenians that allowing allied states to become free was a sign of weakness. In addition, he convinced them that Sparta was no match and could not win a long-term war against the great Athenian navy.

Essay --

Resumen Este trabajo investiga sobre el advenimiento de la era tecnolà ³gica la cual a medida que pasa el tiempo se expande a todos los sectores de la sociedad, ya sea por la cantidad de nuevas investigaciones y tecnologà ­as como por la ubicuidad de à ©stas. Para lograr una mejor comprensià ³n de ello es necesario abordar los conceptos de Computacià ³n Ubicua, Tecnologà ­a Calma, Interaccià ³n Inconsciente y nociones psicolà ³gicas de Resistencia al Cambio. En el transcurso de este informe se irà ¡ seà ±alando brevemente como avanzan estos temas a lo largo de la historia y resaltando el estudio del lugar de la interface y el nuevo rol del ambiente en la Interaccià ³n Humano/Computadora. Palabras claves Computacià ³n Ubicua, Tecnologà ­a Calma, Interaccià ³n Inconsciente, Resistencia al cambio. Introduccià ³n Varios aà ±os atrà ¡s la tecnologà ­a era una herramienta muy fà ¡cil de distinguir, percibir e identificar, ya sea de forma visual (ya que eran artefactos nuevos o diferentes a la vida cotidiana) o tambià ©n mediante la interaccià ³n del usuario, por ello muchas veces existià ³ la necesidad de tener conocimiento previo para poder utilizarlas y entenderlas o si no se tenà ­a ese conocimiento era necesario adquirirlo para un correcto â€Å"uso†. A una gran cantidad de usuarios, estas nuevas tecnologà ­as les resultaron muy llamativas, fascinantes y amenas para indagar, profundizar y sumergirse mà ¡s en ese mundo, los cuales con gran facilidad pudieron apreciarla y aprovecharla, pero tambià ©n siempre existen y existieron las personas que tienen una gran resistencia al cambio, a aprender nuevos modos, nuevos lenguajes, nuevos usos y nuevas formas de vida. Al ser esta una tecnologà ­a muy fà ¡cil de distinguir, a à ©ste grupo de personas les resultà ³ muy fà ¡cil la tarea de identificar... ..., con las nuevas tecnologà ­as lo interesante es el hecho de que a esta altura del tiempo todas las personas (quieran o no) forman parte del mundo que està ¡ inmerso en la computacià ³n ubicua, de una u otra forma son usuarios de alguna de estas tecnologà ­as y no han tenido la necesidad u oportunidad de decidir si forman parte de este nuevo mundo o no, porque lo son de forma imperceptible ya que no tuvieron que adoptar nuevas formas de uso o cambios en la vida cotidiana porque la tecnologà ­a se acomodà ³ a ellos, se invirtià ³ lo que sucedà ­a en un principio, asà ­ es posible el alcance de estas tecnologà ­as a toda la sociedad sin generar los problemas sociales de resistencia a lo nuevo o al cambio, porque este cambio ya no es tan brusco, porque la tecnologà ­a està ¡ tan mimetizada con el entorno que no genera un choque, se disimula, se percibe el entorno y el entorno es la interfaz.

Anne Bradstreet as First American Feminist Essay -- Anne Bradstreet Fe

Anne Bradstreet as First American Feminist Feminism today remains prominent because even while women’s rights are very strong, women are still fighting for equality every day. In the time of Anne Bradstreet, women had few rights and they were seen as inferior to men. Anne lived among the puritans whom ruled her everyday life. Although it was against the puritan code for women to receive an education, Bradstreet’s father, Thomas Dudley, loved his daughter dearly and made sure that she was well educated which shows in her works. Anne Bradstreet’s literature became well known only because her family published her works under a male name. This was done because writing poetry was a serious offense to the puritans since poetry was considered creative and the only creating that was done was by God. In the works of Anne Bradstreet, she conveys a feminist attitude, and could very well be one of the first American Feminists. Bradstreet was very religious, and the religion she faithfully followed was very male dominant. Perhaps this is why Bradstreet never had a strong voice. Surely if she were to have voiced her opinions loudly and strongly she would have suffered dire consequences. Anne Hutchinson was banished because she publicly voiced her objections to the code of puritan lifestyle and beliefs. Living in a harsh puritan society most likely intimidated Bradstreet, so instead, she carefully weaved her early feminist thought into her poems and stories so that they weren’t too apparent. For example, in †The Prologue,† Bradstreet conveys knowledge of recognizing the kind of patriarchy she lives in, in the fifth and sixth stanza. I am obnoxious to each carping tongue/ Who says my hand a needle better fits,/ A p... ...sband, mothered eight children, risking death from each pregnancy, and managed to live sixty years. She was the first woman in American Literature to have her work published and also one of the first American women to begin thinking as a femenist. Even though Bradstreet was not a prominent, public femenist, she realized that she had to start somewhere and due to her living in the strict patriarchal puritan society, she did what she could. Although Bradstreet was very religious and held her spirituality very close to her, she still put together early femenist thought and can be considered one of the first American femnists. Works Cited History of Women in the United States. 9 November 2005. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia Online. 15 November 2005 . Woodlief, Ann. Biography of Anne Bradstreet. Virginia Commonwealth University. 14 November 2005 . Anne Bradstreet as First American Feminist Essay -- Anne Bradstreet Fe Anne Bradstreet as First American Feminist Feminism today remains prominent because even while women’s rights are very strong, women are still fighting for equality every day. In the time of Anne Bradstreet, women had few rights and they were seen as inferior to men. Anne lived among the puritans whom ruled her everyday life. Although it was against the puritan code for women to receive an education, Bradstreet’s father, Thomas Dudley, loved his daughter dearly and made sure that she was well educated which shows in her works. Anne Bradstreet’s literature became well known only because her family published her works under a male name. This was done because writing poetry was a serious offense to the puritans since poetry was considered creative and the only creating that was done was by God. In the works of Anne Bradstreet, she conveys a feminist attitude, and could very well be one of the first American Feminists. Bradstreet was very religious, and the religion she faithfully followed was very male dominant. Perhaps this is why Bradstreet never had a strong voice. Surely if she were to have voiced her opinions loudly and strongly she would have suffered dire consequences. Anne Hutchinson was banished because she publicly voiced her objections to the code of puritan lifestyle and beliefs. Living in a harsh puritan society most likely intimidated Bradstreet, so instead, she carefully weaved her early feminist thought into her poems and stories so that they weren’t too apparent. For example, in †The Prologue,† Bradstreet conveys knowledge of recognizing the kind of patriarchy she lives in, in the fifth and sixth stanza. I am obnoxious to each carping tongue/ Who says my hand a needle better fits,/ A p... ...sband, mothered eight children, risking death from each pregnancy, and managed to live sixty years. She was the first woman in American Literature to have her work published and also one of the first American women to begin thinking as a femenist. Even though Bradstreet was not a prominent, public femenist, she realized that she had to start somewhere and due to her living in the strict patriarchal puritan society, she did what she could. Although Bradstreet was very religious and held her spirituality very close to her, she still put together early femenist thought and can be considered one of the first American femnists. Works Cited History of Women in the United States. 9 November 2005. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia Online. 15 November 2005 . Woodlief, Ann. Biography of Anne Bradstreet. Virginia Commonwealth University. 14 November 2005 .

Does Religion Cause Wars?

There is a conventional belief among many individuals that religion is the main cause of the present and past wars inflicting torment within the world. However, many humans fail to see past that belief; they are unable to understand that religion is just a small factor amongst the many contributing to the cause of wars. In fact, religion is merely a tool and an excuse used to hide the need for power and sins of the human nature. Among these factors, it may be the misinterpretation of religious teachings and the differing ideals of many individuals.Unfortunately, these factors are often overlooked as most people view this issue with a simplistic mindset. The idea of religion is often able to bring peace and harmony within the world. In saying this though, religion may be twisted and exploited by individuals for either economic or political reasons, mostly with the blind ambition for power and control. Such people have used religion as a tool and an excuse in order to achieve their own personal desires. This is apparent with the previous Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein.The Iraqi president had aimed to persuade the Jihadists to start a holy war against the United States and British forces, who were seeking to dismiss him for his position. Saddam Hussein had publicly voiced his call toward the Jihadists in an Iraqi state television, where he encouraged them through his statement, â€Å"jihad is a duty in confronting them†¦ Those who are martyred will be rewarded in heaven. Seize the opportunity, my brothers† (Saddam Hussein). It is evident; however, that Saddam Hussein did not really view the war he intended to begin as a religious war.Instead he planned to use religion as an excuse for his own political gains, which was to maintain his position as president of Iraq. In conclusion, religion is not the sole reason of the previous and present wars within the world, it is also the people themselves who exploit and twist religion itself. Many individuals of ten find it difficult to give religion a precise definition. It is within their ability to understand the concept of religion yet are unable to provide an accurate definition of the word. Therefore, many may have their own interpretations of what religion truly is.This notion is similar to how individuals may have varying views in regards to the religious teachings of their religion. Sadly, in some cases, people may actually misinterpret the teachings of their religion, which can often lead to disastrous outcomes. Such consequences are evident with the infamous belief of ‘Jihad'. The concept of Jihad means â€Å"holy war† or â€Å"the holy struggle†. It also teaches that there shall be no use of violence â€Å"except in the case of defensive wars, wars which are waged to punish a tyrant, or those which are meant to uphold freedom† (Concept of Jihad, pg 2).Unfortunately, there are others who misunderstand the concept of Jihad and instead believe it to be co mplete submission to Allah, which further means they are â€Å"prepared to die (martyrdom) in the course of this submission†. Such cases usually result in terrorism and suicide bombings, where individuals believe that by forcing others into their religion, by death, will please Allah. The most known example of these occurrences is the September 11 suicide bombings where approximately two planes crashed into the twin towers in New York, USA.This event was not necessarily a war but was instead an attack part of the already ongoing war between the United States and the Islamic, terrorist group, Al-Qaeda. From this event it is evident that the members of Al-Qaeda had misinterpreted the concept of Jihad and instead violated the religion by using violence for unnecessary reasons. It can be concluded that even though religion may play a role in the cause of wars, it is not necessarily the only factor to blame but also the misinterpretation of the religious teachings of religions.It is not solely religion itself that spur the gruesome wars that have occurred throughout history, but also the varying ideals of the religious worshipers. Unfortunately, in some cases there is a chance that the ideals of certain individuals may have a larger influence on them than their own religious beliefs. Such terms are often confused with each other; however, there is a prominent difference between the two. Beliefs are set in stone already, statements or truths that humans have decided to place their confidence in.On the other hand, ideals are personal concepts of perfection; they have no boundaries unlike beliefs. When the ideals of humans have a larger power over them, the results often have a high chance of becoming cataclysmic. Such results are evident within Nazi Germany during the Second World War, after the 1930s. Germany had been under the dictatorship of a tyrant known as Adolf Hitler. Hitler was infamously known for his cruelty and mass murder towards the Jews in Germa ny at that time.His reason for his actions was that by protecting himself against the Jews, he was â€Å"defending the handiwork of God† (Mein Kampf, pg 60). Despite his religious reason, he had a deeper hatred towards the Jews and desired an ideal world, where there was only a majority of pure descendants of the â€Å"Aryan† race. The Aryan race involved humans with certain features such as blonde hair and blue eyes. Hitler believed that the Jews were contaminating his ideal race as they offered the â€Å"most striking contrast to the Aryan† (Mein Kampf, pg 259), thus leading to his revulsion towards the Jews.It is unmistakable that the beliefs of Hitler were not the only cause of his actions but also his extreme ideals, which had lead to the carnage he had incited. Therefore, it is not only religion itself that cause wars but also the differing ideals of humans. Religion is often unfairly blamed as the direct cause of wars throughout the world. It is often use d as a scapegoat as many people cannot look past that simplistic view. Many individuals have never considered the possibilities of other factors contributing to such wars.A few of these factors are the exploitation of religion for the personal gains of individuals, the misinterpretation of religious teachings and the differing ideals of many humans. From these factors, it is evident that it is not just religion itself that causes the wars, but the people themselves also who actually wage these atrocities. Adolf Hitler (1998). Mein Kampf. United States: Houghton Mifflin Company PDF file viewed at – http://www. greatwar. nl/books/meinkampf/meinkampf. pdf Last accessed 26/2/12 A. Ezzati. 1986). The Concept Of Martyrdom In Islam . Available: http://www. al-islam. org/al-serat/concept-ezzati. htm. Last accessed 26/2/12. Coel Hellier. (2011). Nazi racial ideology was religious, creationist and opposed to Darwinism. Available: http://coelsblog. wordpress. com/2011/11/08/nazi-racial- ideology-was-religious-creationist-and-opposed-to-darwinism/#sec5. Last accessed 26/2/12. Dr. John Kelsay. (1999). THE RETURN OF THE RELIGIOUS WAR . Available: http://rinr. fsu. edu/fallwinter99/features/religiouswar. tml. Last accessed 26/2/12. Hadrat Mirza Gulam Ahmad. (1995). Jihad. The true Islamic concept. Available: http://www. alislam. org/library/articles/Jihad-Brochure. pdf. Last accessed 26/2/12 Jim Lehrer. (2003). Saddam Hussein Calls for Jihad. Available: http://www. pbs. org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june03/saddam_4-1. html. Last accessed 26/2/12 M. Amir Ali. (Unknown). Islam, Jihad, and Terrorism. Available: http://www. aboutjihad. com/terrorism/islam_jihad_terrorism. php. Last accessed 26/2/12.

Macbeth Stylistic Devices

A. J. Wronski Shakespear Style Analysis Mr. Mettey English IV December 19, 2012 Macbeth Stylistic Devices In the play Macbeth, William Shakespear uses several stylistic devices. These devices help contribute meaning to the central themes of the play. One of the main devices used by Shakespear to convey the theme, the fall of man, is symbolism. Strange occurences, birds, and blood are all symbols that hlep convey this theme. The first examples of symbolism are the strange occurences after Duncan is murdered. After Duncan is murdered, Ross and the Old Man talk about many strange things that are happening.They talk about how its unusually dark when its daytime and how an owl attacked a falcon. They also talk about how Duncan's horses were acting strange and how they, â€Å"Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, Contending ‘gainst obedience†(2. 4. 16-17). The fact that these strange occurrences happen right after Duncan's death means that they could symbolize his death or his downfall which supports the theme of the fall of man. The symbolism of birds also helps convey the theme of the fall of man. Birds are used many times throughout the play as symbols but once in particular before Duncan is murdered.While Lady Macbeth is talking about her thoughts to murder Duncan she says, â€Å"The raven himself is hoarse/ That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan†(1. 5. 36-37). Ravens are birds that usually symbolize death. This raven symbolizes the death of Duncan that is soon to come which conveys the fall of man as Duncan will soon fall. Blood is also a very strong symbol in this play. After Macbeth kills Duncan, his hands are stained with blood. Lady Macbeth tell him to just wash it off and forget about it but Macbeth can't do that.Macbeth questions if, â€Å"All great Neptune's ocean wash this blood/ clean from my hand†(2. 2. 58-59)? Macbeth is saying that nothing will ever be able to wash away the blood of Duncan off his hands. T his blood symbolizes the strength of Macbeths guilt and hints that that this guilt could possibly be his downfall in the future. The symbolism that Shakespear uses in Macbeth is very strong. Its helps clearly convey the theme of the fall of man. Through the use of the symbols of the strange occurences, birds, and blood the theme of the fall of man is clear throughout the play.

Explanations of crime deviance Essay

The right realist perspective on crime is mainly associated with the American sociologist W.J Wilson. This perspective became very influential on home office policy-making during the conservatives period in office. The right realist approach assumes that human beings are naturally selfish, individualistic and greedy. Therefore ther are ‘naturally inclined’ to further their interest, even if this means comitting crime. They also believe the origins of crime are misunderstood, that is policies aimed at tackling crime by removing social and economic inequalities. Wilson noted that the Great Depression in the USA did not result in a rise in crime. Another right realist explanation is that the welfare state has undermined our sense of obligation to support each other, andthat community controls, i.e. informal controls imposed by neighbours, family and peer groups are breaking down. Right realists stress that attempts to explain the causes of crime should be abandoned and that sociologists should instead focus on finding practical solutions to slow the growth of crime. This developed the control theory. Hirschi argues that crime is opportunistic and anyone would commit crime if the situation was right and there was little chance of being caught. He says that sociologists should not focus on whypeople commit crime but why more people do not. He maintains that most people are rational in their choices and that there are controls that operate to make most people keep their actions within the bounds of the law. They are, Attachment- commitment to family relationships which could be threatened by criminal acts, Commitment- years of education, building a career, buying a home and aquiring a good reputation, all this could be lost by commiting crime, Involvement- some people are activley involved in community life as volunteers, parentgovernors for schools etc. all this would be jepordized by criminal behaviour. Right realists believe the way to control crime is to take practical measures to make sure the cost of crime outweighs the benefits. Left realists such as Lea and Young attempt to explain street crime in urban areas. Theirvictim survey of inner-city Islington showed that working class, black peopleand especially elderly women, had a realistic fear of street crime. Lea and Young argue that despite evidence of police racism, criminal statistics are largely correct as working classes and Afro-Caribbean’s do commit the most crime. They agreed thatwhite-collar and crimes go largely undetected and under punished, they do not point out however that they do not have the same negative impact on society as crimes such as mugging or burglary.Lea and Young maintain the reason why working class and Afro-Caribbean people commit crime is to do with feelings of ‘relative deprivation,’ such as comparing themselves to middle class or white youth with regard to life chances, living standards and income. Such groups feel frustrated with their lack of power. Negative treatment by the police and authorities leave groups feeling hostile and resentful, consequnently they are marginalized. Some mayform subcultures to help copewith the statusfrustration and marginalization. Hughes notes that left realists should be valued for the challenge they posed to radical criminology’s thinking on the issues of intra-class and intra-ethnic crimes. Left realism has drawn attention to the brutalising effects of street crimes in the inner-city and the fact that some theories of crime have romanticised offenders, it has highlighted the effects of crime for victims, a group neglected by most theories of crime. It realistically acknowledges that the police amplify the presence of some groups in the criminal statistics through the use of stop and search, but points out that policing is quite rightly focusing on those groups most likley to commit crime. There is no emperical evidence to support the view that young working class or black criminals interpret their realities in the way described by Lea and Young. Research on the motives of offenders is required. Lea and Young do not really explain why the majority of working class and Afro-Caribbean youth do not turn to crime. Left realism only focuses on collective or subcultural criminal responses and does not explain crimes such as burglary, which are  commited by individuals rather than gangs. It focuses exclusivley on street crime and ignores other serious crimes such as fraud and it fails to account for oppurtunistic crime commited by adults.

Simulation Lab

Simulation Lab Group #5 Dynamic Systems 1, ME3211 David Cramer Percentage of Work_______________________________________ Cory Spelman Percentage of Work_______________________________________ Table of Contents Objective Calculations Experimentation Results Appendices Objective The objective of this lab was to understand how to use the Working Model 2D software and to apply this knowledge to create a vibration absorber. Part 1 was to open up a demo file and analyze the force vs. time of the piston. Part 2 was to create a vibration absorber. The reason for creating the vibration absorber was to limit the motion of a punch press. This press causes unwanted vibrations that affect nearby equipment during operation. The vibration of this press was to be dissipated using a mass and spring sized appropriately for the size of the press and its motion. Calculations The reciprocal motion of the press was given by Equation 1: RPM=440+5*group number? (1) where group number was 5 and RPM is the reciprocal motion of the press in revolutions per minute. This motion was converted to radians per second by using Equation 2: ? RPM*2? 60 (2) where (2? )/(60) was used to convert the revolutions per minute to radians per second. The mass of the press and table top was given as 320kg. The mass for the vibration absorber, ma, was calculated using Equation 3: kama=? 2 (3) where ? was found based on Equation 2 and ka was found using Equation 4: ka=(4450+50*group number) (4) where group number was 5 and ka was found in units of Newtons per meter . These values were used to construct a mass spring system suspended from the table top with mass ma and spring ka. Another mass spring system was created with a mass five times larger than the previous mass and an equivalent spring necessary to satisfy Equation 3. The values found from the calculations are summarized below in Table 1 and the calculations are attached in Appendix A. | Table 1: Calculations| | ? (rad/s)| ka (N/m)| ma (kg)| 1| 15. 5| 4700| 19. 6| 2| 15. 5| 23545| 98| Experimentation For Part 1 the demo file Piston2. m2d was used to analyze the forces on a piston on a crank moving at 500 and 6500 RPM. The animation step was changed from the default value to 0. 001 seconds to allow more data points to be plotted. The plot displayed force in X-direction vs. time that was provided by the Working Model simulation and also a second set of data points for the theoretical force that was calculated using the mass of the piston and its X-acceleration. The objective of Part 2 of th is lab was to create a mass spring element to dampen the vibrations of a punch press. For this part the gravity was turned off so that the displacement of the press table caused by the forcing function could be analyzed without the effect of gravity. The punch press table was modeled in Working Model as a rectangle with a mass of 320kg which was given. The two legs were each modeled as a spring damper system with stiffness and damping given as 15N/mm and 500kg/s respectively. The sinusoidal motion of the press was modeled as a force in the Y-direction with the value given by Equation 5: F=-150sin(? t) (5) where F was the force in Newtons and ? was the value found using Equation 2. The force was applied to the center of the press table. The simulation was run on the system and a plot of the displacement of the table vs. time was created. A spring with stiffness ka found using Equation 4 was attached to the bottom of the center of the table and mass ma found using Equation 3 was attached to the other end of the spring to act as a vibration damper. The displacement of t he table top vs. ime was again plotted as well as the displacement of ma vs. time. The test procedure was repeated using a ma value 5 times larger than the previous ma value and a different ka value sized accordingly. The values for displacement for this setup were also plotted. All data series for the displacement of ma were imposed on the same chart to allow comparison between the three tests. The model used for this simulation can be seen below in Figure 1: Figure 1, [ ] Results Using demo file Piston2. wm2d a crank with a running speed of 500 RPM, was analyzed in the program for three seconds. After looking at the calculations, calculate the theoretical force by taking the mass multiplied by the acceleration. Figure 2 below shows the theoretical force compared to the actual force. Figure 1 The calculated theoretical force is similar to the actual force relative to time but differs in the directional force by being less than what the actual value really is. Changing the engine speed to 6500 RPM and repeating the process as mentioned above is the next part. Figure 3 shows the theoretical force compared to the actual force with an engine speed of 6500 RPM. Figure 3 The difference between the theoretical and actual force for 6500 RPM is the same as for the speed of 500 RPM. The theoretical force doesn’t have as much directional force as the actual. As predicted, the 6500 RPM engine moved at a much faster rate than the 500 RPM for the three seconds tested. It created many more data points and more values to compare. For part two of the experiment, a mass spring element to dampen the vibrations of a punch press was created. After calculating the ka and ma values as shown in Table 1,the mass was to be multiplied by five and the spring constant must represent the ass calculated which is also shown in Table 1. A plot was created to show the displacement of the table and displacement of ma after the addition of the absorber for both sets of masses.. Figure 4 below shows the top without dampering, the top with a damper of 19. 6 kg , and a top with a damper of 98 kg. Figure 4 Comparing the three different table top displacements, the second absor ber clearly works the best. Based on figure 4, it shows to be more constant and steadily goes towards zero at a faster rate than the top without dampering and the top with a damper of 19. 6 kg. The displacement of the top with the damper of 19. 6 kg and the top with the damper of 98 kg was plotted based on its displacement of ma. Figure 5 below shows the comparison between the two table tops with different dampering. Figure 5 Based on the given information from the graph, the second absorber works better yet again. The ma of the 19. 6 absorber isn’t as constant and dispersed everywhere while the ma of the 98 absorber is more constant and has a steady range for the seconds that it was tested. References 1 Design Simulation Technologies. (2007). Working Model 2D [Computer program]

Failure of Oslo Peace Process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Failure of Oslo Peace Process - Essay Example The conflict has been over borders, water rights, security, Palestinian freedom of movement, control of Jerusalem and solving refugee problem. Zionist claims that they returned to claim their ancestral land from Palestinians (Gelvin, 2007, p. 7). Complete dispossession of the Palestinian-Arabs from the land so that Israelis could inhabit and make it a Jewish state become completely impossible. 1947-1949 war which Israel outnumbered Palestine on the land of Palestinians and the continued massacres resulted to continued war up-to-date. Israel over time has forcefully acquired private land in West Bank and taken control of Gaza where Palestinians have little control over their lives, are oppressed and discriminated. Oslo peace process begun as a clandestine negotiation in a house that was secluded and owned by Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1990 in the Oslo outskirts. The negotiation was to initiate peace process and even at the time of conducting the meeting it was done in se crecy since house occupants were informed that it was an academic working (Williams, 2009, p. 77). It was illegal for Israel citizens to come into any meeting with members of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Publicizing of the peace process resulted to a serious preparation on both sides to come into an agreement with a long time enemy. This was not taken lightly by the Israelites where an assassination was made on Israel Prime Minister Rabin in 1995. The Oslo Accord comprised of a series of understandings and agreements reached upon and accepted in the initial secret bilateral negotiations conducted between PLO and Israel. It had aspects of mutual recognition and declaration of principles. Every detail of historical undertakings and the failure of the process will be the focus of this paper. Initiation of the process After several centuries of bloodshed, conflicts, unending war, discrimination and inhuman activities, leaders led by Israel Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PL O leader Yaasser Arafat begun negotiations that were meant to resolve the conflict. A mutual recognition was granted and declarations of principles were initiated agreeing to establishment of Palestinian self-government in parts of Gaza strip and West bank (Selby, 2003, p. 182). The accord was agreed upon and signed in 1993 where timetables and frameworks of Palestinians transition to self-rule and address border issues, Jerusalem and Israeli settlements and establishment of Palestinian state. Agreement of transfer of responsibility and powers was reached upon in1994 and a treaty of peace was established. These accords were established for the purpose of keeping peace and maintaining justice throughout the operations between Israel and Palestine. President Clinton, Prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat after the signing of the Peace Accord. Source: http://janmeador.wordpress.com/2009/06/12/america-adding-sin-to-sin/ Success of Oslo Peace process Control o f most parts of Gaza and Jericho was transferred to Palestinians. Israel forces were therefore within a short time conducted an accelerated withdrawal from the areas specified. Responsibility was given out to over 9,000 Palestinian police force but Israel retained West Bank and most areas of the Jewish settlement in 1994 (Efrat, 2006, p. 201). Transfer of authority was also done on culture, education practices, social welfare, health, tourism and the entire taxation process. Borders between Jordan and Israel were defined and a peace treaty established leading to normalization of existing relations. Later on in 1995, further transfer of powers was done on labor, all economic activities, local

IMIGRATION CRIMES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

IMIGRATION CRIMES - Essay Example To clear this dilemma, this research investigates on the relationship between immigration and crime in the USA. Statement of the Problem Different studies carried out around the world have led to opposing views on whether or not immigration correlates with crime. According to Ellis, Beaver & Wright (2009) in ‘The Handbook of Crime Correlates’ which is a review of studies of variables related to crime, a majority of studies carried out on immigrants have led to the discovery of high crime rates. This however differs greatly depending on the countries of origin. Other studies conclude that indigenous population have higher crime rates than immigrants. Actualization of the situation in USA is vital for the establishment of immigration policies advised by facts rather than generalizations. Crime Rates for Immigrants vs. Native-Born Crime rates for immigrants have been discovered to be lower than for the native born by a century of research. During the former period of large scale immigration in the early decades of the 20th century, several federal commissions discovered lower levels of crime amongst those that are foreign born as compared to the native born individuals. A 1994 report by the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform came to a similar conclusion. Using data from the outcomes of community studies in Miami, El Paso, San Diego and Chicago; the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health; and the 1980, 1990, and 2000 Census, academic researchers have also reached the same conclusion (Ellis, Beaver & Wright, 2009). No matter their legal status, immigrants do not cause or even worsen the problem of crime in the United States (Motomura, 2007). This is not surprising at all as the main aim of most immigrants coming into the United States is to go after educational and economic opportunities which are not available in their home countries; and to make a better living for themselves as well as their families. They therefore have much more to los e and very little to gain by engaging in law breaking activities. Undocumented immigrants especially have even more reason to stay clear of law breaking activities given that they are at a risk of deportation due to their lack of legal status if caught. Violent and Property Crime Rates As the undocumented population doubled in size, there was a subsequent drop in property and violent crime rates. Even though from 1994 to 2005, there was a double increase in the undocumented immigrant population to approximately 12 million, there was a reduction in the property crime rate in the United States by 26.4%. The violent crime rate on the other hand fell by a significant 34.2% (Schaefer, 2011). This reduction in crime rate experienced was not only national but also happened in the border cities plus other cities that have large populations of immigrants. Some of these cities include Miami, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, El Paso and San Diego. The reduction in crime rate was in part because of the successful establishment of new strategies in crime-fighting such as community policing which have greatly assisted in formation of cooperative relationships between the police and their communities. How successful such cooperative approaches to law enforcement will be in immigrant communities is dependent on how willing crime witnesses and victims are to come forward to the police (Ellis, Beaver & Wright, 2009). This should be irrespective of their legal status or the legal status of members of their family. According to data

Communication in the 21st Century Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Communication in the 21st Century - Term Paper Example Communication is one fundamental process in human’s existence. Due to the fact that the economic and corporate environment is one of the important components of the present society, the interest regarding the process referred to as corporate communication is also an immediate concert and interest. The main objective of the study undertaken is to be able to present the issues that are related to corporate communication specifically in the 21st century. The importance of the said study can be considered based on the role of communication in different aspects of the corporate world. As in human interaction, it is also important for the different processes in the operation of organizations and participants in the corporate world. In addition, it is considered as one of the most significant resource that can be viewed as an input for the success and profitability of a company (Kitchen and Schultz 1). The objectives of the study are achieved through the determination of the differen t ways and methods that corporate communication is defined due to the fact that communication can vary through the transition of history. In addition, the elements and factors that are related to corporate communication are also defined. The different elements include the innovations and the effects that are associated upon the application of the said innovative technologies and methods to the conventional system. The importance of communication in the corporate and business context an be described on the basis of the importance.

Economics assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Economics - Assignment Example Both oligopolies and monopolies are affected by the increased production in the sense that higher production decreases the prices of products and services. The two market structures, unlike other market structures, are able to attain a monopoly on production in the specific goods or services under their copyright (Albano & Lizzeri 1997). Monopolistic markets are solely controlled by a single seller only. The seller has absolute power to influence market decisions and prices. Consumers attain limited choices, and they have to make a choice from what is being supplied at the market. Conversely, oligopoly is characterized by few sellers in the market. The market situation is friendly to consumers since it encourages competition among the sellers (Spanjers 1994). A monopolistic market gets its power from three sources: these include, legal, economic and deliberate. A monopolistic market will make into use the position it has to its advantage and completely drive out competitors. It can achieve this either through reducing prices to such levels that existence for another firm may become nearly impossible or through virtue of economic situations like large capital requirements when starting companies. Though an oligopolistic market situation does not have sources of power, it, however comes into existence merely due to the accommodating character of other sellers already in the market (Spanjers 1994). A monopolistic market might quote very high prices because of nonexistence of other competitors. The monopolistic sellers will make use of their status of dominance in the market and maximize their profits. Oligopolistic markets, on the other hand, ensure competition in the market hence fairer prices for the consumers (Spanjers 1994). These are regulations that are put into place to prevent entrance of firms into the market. Barriers to entry into

International Legal and Ethical Issues in Business IP Week 3 Essay

International Legal and Ethical Issues in Business IP Week 3 - Essay Example This rule also applies to someone who is inebriated or otherwise under the influence of intoxicating drugs. For the purpose of this element, likewise minors do not have the capacity to enter into a contract, so a parent or guardian must act on their behalf. A minor’s age of consent varies from state to state and different countries but is generally eighteen. 2. Legal Purpose. In order for a contract to be valid, it must also be legal in the domicile which it is drawn. For example, loan contracts with usury above the legal limit are invalid, as are agreements for such things as prostitution, arson, murder and gambling. 3. Offer and Acceptance. This aspect is common in the real estate business, where two parties have something to offer each other. The seller has a house or land and the buyer has the cash to purchase the property. They bargain for a bit and finally acceptance is made from both sides. At this time they have a contract, which once signed can be legal and binding. 4. Consideration. The seller surrenders his property and the buyer hands over his money. As such they have consideration. Of course with real estate, there are often two more parties to the contract, for any number of entities can be party to the contract. The real estate agent does the footwork for both buyer and seller and expects to receive a commission for the efforts. Also, normally the Mortgage Company or bank provides the cash for the transaction and the buyer promises to repay the mortgager. The objective theory of contracts basically means that the person entering into the contract would consider it valid if he or she thought the other party had the intent of carrying through with his offer and the other party’s conduct would justify such intent (Thompson, 2005). A good example of this would be the Washington’s Birthday celebration some car dealers had many years ago. Washington was born on

Management Accounting as a Part of Strategic Process Essay

Management Accounting as a Part of Strategic Process - Essay Example As management accounting also deals with the analysis, interpretation, and communication of data in addition to identification and measurement of those, it can be said that it is a tool for the management for the decision-making process and is a much broader concept than to provide mere numerical data to the management. The tools and techniques used for the purpose of management accounting include marginal costing, standard costing, budgetary control, etc. A strategy is a process deployed by an organization to accomplish its mission and long term objectives. As management accounting facilitates the top management with preparation, analysis, interpretation, and communication of financial and non-financial information, the essence of management accounting is implicit with the strategic process in an organization. Management accounting provides the top management with the required (interpreted) information at the right time which in turn aids the management in the decision-making process.   Quality, Cost and Time are the three important aspects of any strategy. Management accounting information assists the top management to achieve quality goals. It also helps the management to achieve the objective of cost management as management accounting also involves costing methods. In addition to quality and cost, management accounting also provides timely information to the decision-makers (Bell J., Ansari S., Klammer T., Lawrence C., n.d.). Therefore, it can be inferred that management accounting is a part and parcel of the strategic process of an organization. As it is often said that change is the only constant term in this world, the concept of management accounting and the roles of management accountant are also subject to it. With the change in the way of business being conducted especially because of massive technological innovations, today management accountant has a much bigger role to play in an organization. From the obligation of the accounting duties, his responsibilities are more of managerial in nature. Apart from the technical expertise, management accountant of today must also possess the technological knowledge. The management accountant has to play the integrating role in the business. In the competitive scenario of today, he cannot expect his role to be over by just preparing the report, rather he has to try and interpret the key areas to the management and be a partner to the decision making process. The management accountant has to keep his eyes wide open and analyze the future with the tools of the subject and add value to the organization.

The First Nations of British Columbias South Coast Essay

The First Nations of British Columbias South Coast - Essay Example There are other issues discussed such as the historic Indian cultures that were identified by explorers (VirtualMuseum.Ca, 2008). Nevertheless, unlike the Southwest, the place lacked intensive archaeology that would be stimulated by the stone ruins; instead, there were potlatches, totem poles, masks, which depicted the prehistoric cultures attributed to clam shells. On the other hand, an analysis of the Blackman’s â€Å"Facing the Future, Envisioning the Past† (1990) explains the way contemporary Northwest Coast art was perceived as a result of revival that had commenced in 1960s. In fact, the Blackman (1990) argues that the bulk of contemporary art was focused on commercial market, given that the buyers were influenced by the meaning. Nevertheless, it is significant to acknowledge that historical archival photographs from the Northwest Coast are substantial resources to facilitate the analysis of the North coast art and material culture. Blackman offers a fascinating illustration of the Northwest Coast Art through publication of historical and contemporary photographs, research slides of museum collection piece. Chapter two focuses on the form in Northwest Coast Indian art, whereby the Holm (1983) explains that the styles identified in this area were partially derived from two-dimensional space. These entail a division of continuous process, which was attributed to both positive and negative from of silhouette and sculptures on the Northwest Coast. Moreover, the chapter indicates that Northwest was known for three-dimensional sculptural art and concept. Nevertheless, there chapter offers a description of the fundamental distinction between arts of various cultural groups on the Coast, and an illustration of the exemplary examples through a presentation of some of the early pieces (Holm, 1983). In fact, some of these pieces can be accessed via websites, which are hosted by leading

Investment Strategies Order Number Essay Example for Free

Investment Strategies Order Number Essay There are many methods an investor can use to determine if a stock is a good buy or not. Three indicators often used to assess the risk of a security are beta, alpha and the Sharpe ratio. One of the most popular measures of risk associated with a security is its beta. Beta is a measure of a stock’s volatility in relation to the market as a whole. The market is given a beta of 1. 0 and individual stocks are ranked according to how much they deviate from the market’s beta. Stocks with a beta of less than 1. 0 are considered less volatile than the market and, therefore, pose less risk. Stocks that have betas higher than 1. 0 are considered more volatile than the market and, therefore, pose more risk. All things being equal, an investor would expect to see higher returns on a stock with a beta higher than the market than one with a beta lower than the market. (1) Beta is also a key component for the capital asset pricing model (CAPM). The original CAPM defined risk in terms of volatility, as measured by a stock’s beta coefficient. The formula is: Kc = Rf + beta Km – Rf) where Kc is the risk-adjusted discount rate (also known as the cost of capital) Rf is the rate of a â€Å"risk free† investment, i. e. ten-year treasury bill Km is the return rate of a market benchmark, such as the SP 500 Kc is the expected rate of return you would require before you would be interested in a particular stock at a particular price. The CAPM expresses the amount of risk a particular stock has and gives an investor an idea of the expected returns he should expect given a certain level of risk. The more risky a stock is the higher the level of returns an investor would expect for that particular stock. (2) A stock’s alpha is a mathematical estimate of the amount of return expected from a stock’s inherent values, such as the rate of growth of in earnings per share, management strengths or other factors, as opposed to general market conditions. Stocks with an alpha greater than 1. 0 can be expected to outperform the market regardless of what happens to the market as a whole. (3) The Sharpe ratio helps investors determine the best possible proportion of securities to use in a portfolio that can also include cash. The formula for the Sharpe ratio is: S(x) = (Rx – Rf) / StdDev(x) where x is some investment Rx is the average annual rate of return of x Rf is the best possible rate of return of a â€Å"risk free† security (i. e. cash) StdDev is the standard deviation of Rx The Sharpe ratio is a direct measure of reward-to-risk. In other words, the Sharpe ratio is used to characterize how well the return of an asset compensates the investor for the risk taken. (4) Although beta, alpha and the Sharpe ratio are useful for an investor to gauge the risk of a security or portfolio of securities there are also other methods an investor can use to determine whether a security is a good investment or not. The two most common methods used to determine the investment potential of a security are fundamental analysis and technical analysis. Fundamental analysis is the process of looking at a business from its financial statements. This type of analysis typically looks at various ratios of the business to determine its financial health. The goal of fundamental analysis is determine the current worth of a stock and how the market values the stock. (5) Probably the most two important factors looked at in fundamental analysis are a company’s earnings and revenue growth. Investors like to see earnings and revenue increasing by at least 25% for each of the last three quarters and year-to-date. Return on equity (ROE) is also a major fundamental factor. ROE reveals how much profit a company earned in comparison to the total amount of shareholder equity found on the balance sheet. (6) The higher a company’s ROE compared to its industry the better. Investors typically look for an ROE of at least 17%. Technical analysis is a method of evaluating stocks by relying on the assumption that market data, such as charts of price, volume and open interest can help predict future market trends. (7) Investors using technical analysis typically look for trends in chart data and use a variety of technical indicators, such as moving averages, Bollinger bands, fast and slow stochastics, MACD, and RSI to determine the right buy point for a stock. More sophisticated investors use a combination of fundamental analysis and technical analysis to determine whether a stock is a good buy or not. They use fundamental analysis to make sure a company is healthy from a financial standpoint and is a leader in its industry. Once determining a stock is healthy from a fundamental standpoint, these investors will use technical analysis to determine the correct buy point for a stock. A stock’s chart will show the investor how the stock is actually performing in the market and whether it is rising out of a good base or is overbought based on how far its current price is from its 50 day moving average. If a stock’s price is 30% or more above its 50 day moving average, the risk that it will fall into a correction is greater. References: (1) http://www. investopedia. com/articles/stocks/04/113004. asp Beta: Know the Risk (2) http://www. moneychimp. com/articles/valuation/capm. htm CAPM Calculator (3) http://www. allbusiness. com/glossaries/alpha/4943389-1. html Business Definition for Alpha (4) http://www. moneychimp. com/articles/risk/sharpe_ratio. htm The Sharpe Ratio (5) http://stocks. about. com/od/evaluatingstocks/a/Fundanatools1. htm Tools of Fundamental Analysis (6) http://beginnersinvest. about. com/cs/investinglessons/l/blreturnequity. htm Return on Equity (ROE) (7) http://www. investorwords. com/4925/technical_analysis. html Technical Analysis