Capricious traffic police Essay

A few days ago, while I was returning to Dhaka from Comilla, one of my friends called me in my mobile and wanted to know where I was. Right on that time I was in Kaanchpur Bridge. I told him that I was in Comilla. The thing is that was not untrue in the sense that it took 4 hours to reach Jatrabari, a time more than enough to reach Dhaka from Comilla. I knew this would happen and the confidence stemmed from the constant and horrible national Jatrabari gridlock. Gulistan-Jatrabari 10 kilometre flyover construction has not been completed yet which was supposed to end in December, 2012. This giant construction narrowed the passage for vehicles. Besides, the traffic police are also reckless in their duties and are completely failing to handle this gridlock. They make it even worse by letting the vehicles move disorderly. If it takes 3-4 hours to reach Saidabad from Kaanchpur, what the hell city are we living in? People who face this unbearable congestion in 8-9 pm have to wait until it is 1 am to reach Saidabad. The pick pockets and hijackers do roam right in that time exposing the passengers to vulnerable criminal attack. Moreover, it is hard to find a public transport then. How horrible this scenario is! The trucks with heavy consignments from Chittagong and the busses from south-eastern districts with passengers blend here in this narrow passage. Any bypass road hasn’t been there to ease the gridlock which is supposed to be when a flyover like this happens in a city area. The timeline provided by LGRD ministry to have the flyover finished has exceeded and we keep suffering. How long will it continue?

Robert and the Dog

Language was born as an instrument to communicate people, to convey messages in many ways. According to the evolution of human beings, their language has been an evolution too and during this process literature emerged with an artistic interest to express feelings, thoughts and their imagination. But, what is literature? Many theorists have tried to explain that, and we have some patterns that are typical in their texts. In the text â€Å"Robert and the dog† by Ken Saro-Wiwa you can find some of this patterns such as the human being view, the disposition to analyze stories and the literature as an aesthetic object. To begin with, the first example is the concept of man that is given by the text. This is not about the generic male or female description is about the type of person in it. In the text we can see a men that is coward, insecure and with thirst of power. You can recognize this by the description of the character in the development of the story: the thirst of power is seen in â€Å"And he always repaired there nightly to exercise authority over his wife and six children. (Saro-Wiwa, 1) the insecurity in â€Å"Robert began to feel like a human being† (Saro-Wiwa ,page 3) and the cowardice in â€Å"He gathered up all the tins of dog food, all the tins of milk, tethered the dog to the settee and walked off, out of the house and the job he had loved to do. † (Saro-Wiwa, page 5). In these cases we can see that the author invites to get into the feelings of the character, giving a description of it. This is a clear example of a literary text, because by this he is describing a man that is typical in the actual lower classes. On the second case we can see the disposition to analyze the story. The author has a particular way to describe the principal character feelings about the dog. He shows us by a image what â€Å"Robert† thinks: â€Å"And when he got home in the evening and saw his children, with distended stomachs, gamboling in the filth that simmered in a swollen stream at his door, and watched them hungrily swallow small balls of eba, he asked himself, ‘Who born dog? † Saro-Wiwa, page 3) This description is not literal; you have to deduce it, according to the text. The author is trying to transmit to the audience the comparison that â€Å"Robert† is making with the dog, but not by words, instead he is using a shocking image of his children eating like dogs. That is were literature is present, in the way of telling and describing the thoughts of the character. In any other text the comparison is literal, but not in literature. On the last example we analyze the literature a s an aesthetic object. Literature, as a written representation of art, has to follow the basic concepts of aesthetic and, among others, there is the connection between its form and it’s content to make it beautiful. So, in the analyzed story this relation is present; the form of the text uses the language beyond the importance of giving a message, it makes it alter the grammar in order to give emphasis and sound to the text: â€Å"She ensured that he was well fed with tinned food and milk and meat and bones. (Saro-Wiwa, page 3) The word â€Å"and† is used too many times, and that grammatically it is incorrect, but in literature it is not a problem. The repetition of the word â€Å"and† is a way to explain that the dog has more than Robert, and this shows that â€Å"Robert† it is prisoner of his jealousy and his thirst of power. The language and the message, the content and form make this story a work of art that traps the lectors and transmites one of the worst parts of the human being. So, to sum up the text â€Å"Robert and the Dog† by Ken Saro-Wiwa is a literary piece, because of its form and content, the way of the language is used and the message that it contains. A non literary piece of writing is less emotional, and everything is literal, you do not have to conclude anything, but in this text the author uses a very particular way of explaining the feelings and thoughts of the principal character, using the aesthetic as a way for you to interpret every situation that he goes through. Also the vision of human being that is showed in this text, reflect that is a literary piece, because the author describes a men with a poor economical situation, but he never says it, you know that just for de description. On the last the use of a shocking image makes you think about how he sees his own life. So if you connect these three reasons you can see that in a literary text the most important parts of the writing are the ones that are not written; what you can infer, the moral that leaves you and the feelings of each person, and at the end that is what every work of art wants, it is the purest purpose of literature.

Reduce stress in life Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Reduce stress in life - Assignment Example For example, not enough time of the day to deal with personal issues and work; need to find another higher pay job to afford endless bills. In my case, working fulltime while attend school full-time; a baby is on the way at the same time and not to mention I am a first time mum. However, I do not believe that a stress free life is possible and realistic. Stress is a response to challenges in life that occurred around us and many of these challenges cannot be avoided. As adult, we need to learn to confront the stressful situation, learn to find causes and to escape or cope with the stress around us. Mitigating of stress remains a major concern in every individual and this can only be achieved through the development of new behaviors. However, breaking from the old habits and adopting best practices remains a major challenge to a number of people due to the comfort that the old offers despite the stress that we face as a result of them. In this paper, shading of old traits as a way of mitigating stress will be discussed in line with a number of psychological theories and application (King, Singh, Bernard Merianos, & Vidourek, 2012). The management of stress is essential in the development of a normal life and this makes the description of cognitive approaches essential. Stress is considered as an event that has different variables and is influenced by individual’s behaviors and exposures in life. This makes interpretation of fear to differ from one person to another with some viewing the construal of stress and as either positive or negative. Four cognitive factors have been identified to influence fear reception and response in individuals, which ultimately determines their ability to change old habits. Appraisal, retribution, self-efficacy and general stress perception are four cognitive elements essential in the development of stress responses in an individual (Voisin, Stone & Becker, 2013). Initial response to

Structure of Homeland Security Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Structure of Homeland Security - Research Paper Example The paper sheds light on what aspects of U.S response people feel have been successful and effective, and those that have been less effective or counter-productive. How did 9/11 attack affect your sense of security? Reactions from respondents show that people feel insecure after the 9/11 terrorist attack. Unexpectedness amplifies fear of terrorist attacks. This makes people feel highly vulnerable to similar terrorist attacks. People who were in the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon were caught unawares by the attack and so many lost their lives to the deadly act. Memories of the massive loss of lives and damage of property are still vivid in the minds of people (Barkun, 2011). Despite the government's efforts in reassuring and guaranteeing the safety of its citizens, many cannot help doubting the possibility of a repeat. What is your perception of the US government towards 9/11 attack? The government of the United States of America responded quickly to the attack. Provisions and am endments that will help curb future terrorist attacks on America are some of the initial government responses. Such included interception of communication between suspected individuals. This extended to telephone calls and other devices of communication including computer. Subsequently, America invaded Afghanistan and this war has continued for a long time since it begun. America also launched a global campaign against terrorists and terrorism, leading to the subsequent invasion of Iraq (Viotti, et. al., 2008). Most significantly, the Homeland Security emerged to protect American citizens against terrorist attacks. Many respondents applaud these responses by the government. They are confident that these efforts are for the good of all American citizens. The creation of the Homeland Security Department stands out. The respondents confirmed that thanks to the department, they are more assured of security and safety on their soil. The sight of officers checking all terminals of transpo rt, and more so in airports, reminds them of the government’s commitment to protect them (Barkun, 2011). There have been reservations with America’s decision to take on Afghanistan and Iraq marking them as the primary breeding grounds for terrorists and terrorism. Although some respondents acknowledge that many of the terrorists come from these countries, they hold that to a considerable extent, America has overreacted. So many lives perish in the wars. Opponents believe that this loss is not necessary. They move that these reactions are extreme and amount to counter-terrorism (White, 2012). It follows that there are innocent victims of these wars suffering the same fate as their American counterparts. Is 'war on terror' a suitable term? Many respondents felt the war on terrorism is an appropriate term. Terror need not be coming from a country on to another. It can originate from individuals or groups either within or outside the country. Reaction to terrorist attacks can as well be described as fight (or war) against terrorism. Nevertheless, they are adamant that even if all nations came together, it is quite impossible to eliminate terrorism. Curbing terrorism is rather possible, and government efforts so far have succeeded significantly. Security checks at transport terminals, deployment of more security forces on the boarders, installation of surveillance cameras and legislation regarding the fight

Auditing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Auditing - Assignment Example This report will discuss several audit problems which can impact the materiality of financial statements. Wentworth Brewster limited specializes with the manufacture of sports equipment. All the products are sold to specialist retailers and private member gym clubs. The company owns a large number of freehold premises than it generally requires. The surplus office is usually sub-let to three other businesses. All sales are on a credit basis and customers are authorized and credit checked by the credit controller before an account is being set up. Detailed records on stocks are also maintained. The audit risk areas for Wentworth relate to debtors, stocks, claims on damages and rent income. Debtors have been circularized and no evaluation on replies and follow ups on non-replies had been done. There was also a dispute from a particular debtor with regard to account balance. There were also slow-moving stocks whose valuation was questionable. Rental income had not been audited since it was argued that its amount was less than that of sales income. Finally, there were no provisions made for claims or contingency. The audit duration will be a period of one month and the audit team will from time to time visit the site to obtain information. Communication shall also be done via emails when necessary. Debtors The main purpose of circularizing debtors is to obtain evidence regarding the ownership, existence and value of debtors in the financial statement. Debtors are third parties and thus are considered to be an external source of information. Obtaining evidence from different sources or types especially from third parties increases the level of assurance (Kumar and Sharma 2006). Circularization is done by writing to debtors directly requesting them to confirm their account balances. Debtors’ circularization can either be positive or negative. In positive circularization, the debtors are required to respond whether they agree or disagree to the contents of the circular. In negative circularization, the debtor is required to respond whether they disagree with the contents of the circular. The major drawback of negative circularization is that in case the debtors fails to reply to the contents of the circular, the auditor assumes that he is in agreement with the contents of the circular. The auditor of Wentworth Brewster limited sent circulars to a sample of 30 debtors to confirm year end balances. There were replies and non-replies to the circular. Second request was done to non-replies where some debtors replied but five did not reply. One of the debtors who failed to reply had a zero balance while three of these debtors had balances ranging between ?5,000 and ?20,000. There were no follow ups done on these accounts. The fifth customer was a major customer, Multi-gym ltd and had a yearend balance of ?145,000. The audit senior had discussions with the credit controller of Wentworth with regard to this account as part of the follow up proce ss. According to the credit controller, Multi-gym limited had disputes on a number of invoices worth ?95,000. The amount related to a model of rowing machines bought from Wentworth and Multi-gym disputed that the machines were inefficient as they kept on jamming every time. Upon the receipt of replies, the

Econ5150final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Econ5150final - Essay Example Another reason as to why the economy of these two nations as well as that of the general Asian region is the availability of technology and well skilled personnel who are able to use this technology to improve production (Onyemelukwe, Pg. 265). The high population of these nations has also been a contributing factor due to the fact that it creates a large and ready market for finished goods. In economics, one of the factors that influence the demand of a commodity is the size of the population. As such, with the high population in China and S. Korea, the demand for finished goods is high (Onyemelukwe, Pg. 266). Despite the numerous similarities between the economic growth and development of China and that of S. Korea, it is imperative to note that there are some distinguishing factors between the two and hence there exist a number of differences. As a norm, the economical and political environment of one geographical region will always differ from that of other regions. This article will purpose to compare and contrast the economies of China and S. Korea. It will address the variety of factors that influence the economies of the two nations before giving a conclusion on the same. Economy of China China is one of the nations that have had the most significant economic growth over the last couple of years. Being a third world country, China has been able to grow to such a level that today it is ranked second largest economy in terms of GDP second only to the United States of America which is considered a global superpower. In addition, over the period of the last three decades, China has been ranked as the fastest growing economy in the world registering an average growth rate of 10% per annum in the last thirty years (Lardy Pg. 3-6). In addition, China has also been ranked as the largest exporter in the world and at the same time as the second largest importer after the USA. It is also imperative to note that China is ranked first in manufacturing. It has outdon e the USA and has now become the largest service driven economy. Ranking on per capita basis, China was at position 87th by Nominal GDP in the year 2012. This was according to the records of the International Monetary Funds. Despite the enormous rejuvenation of the Chinese economy, it should be acknowledged that there are some parts of the country which are less developed tan others. For instance, areas located in the hinterland have experienced relatively slow development while areas at the coastal region are highly industrialized. China continues to strategize itself for further development and economic growth. One of the strategies that are guiding its development is the Xi Jinping’s Chinese Dream. Under this dream, the China government is committed to achieving â€Å"Two 100s† by the year 2049. This means, by the year 2020 which also happens to be the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, the nation plans to have become a moderately well off community a nd that will denote the first 100 of the â€Å"two 100s.† then, by the year 2049, which will also be the 100th anniversary since the People’s Republic was founded, it is expected that China will be a fully developed economy. There are a number of factors that have contributed to the growth and

Limited Liability in a Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Limited Liability in a Company - Essay Example The word limited indicates that the liability of members in respect of company’s debts and other liabilities is limited to amount contributed or undertaken by the member to contribute in respect of share capital of the company. Limited liability protects shareholders against any financial loss exceeding the investment4. It has been termed as the greatest single discovery of modern times, even more than steam and electricity.5 As per Ross Grantham and Charles Rickett6, there are certain economic justifications for such restriction of liabilities of a member of a limited body corporate. The limited liability reduces the shareholders’ responsibility to monitor corporate managers because the financial consequences of company failure on shareholders are limited. Corporate managers work efficiently for profit maximization because limited liability induces free share transferability that would force shareholders to withdraw funds from unprofitable ventures. Directors who run the company can take risky decisions as well as they aware that shareholders have nothing at stake.7 That is why Tony Orhnial8 states that limited liability ‘is not related to company structure but to the business’s economic risks, and is instrumental to the encouragement of entrepreneurial risk bearing and innovative attitude’. The principle of creating a limited liability company is that debts in case of failures cannot be carried back to founders9. Limited liability works as an extra non- taxable incentive for investments besides dividends and capital gains on transfers of shares that are taxable. Moreover, the attribute of ‘limited liability is quite significant when work locale, machinery, chemicals, or even artwork are potentially hazardous’10 Limited liability has helped to develop public share market.11 The primary objective of limited liability is to  encourage investment by the public in risk-taking enterprises by insulating the investing public from debts of the enterprise.

Diabetes Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Diabetes - Article Example Mukesh, B.N., Le, A., Dimitrov, P.N., Ahmed, S., Taylor, H.R., and McCarty, C.A., (2006). Development Of Cataract And Associated Risk Factors: The Visual Impairment Project. Archives of Ophthalmology; 124(1): pp. 79-85. 6. Dielemans, I., de Jong, P.T., Stolk, R., Vingerling, J.R., Grobbee, D.E., and Hofman, A., (1996). Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma, Intraocular Pressure, And Diabetes Mellitus In The General Elderly Population. The Rotterdam Study. Ophthalmology; 103(8): pp.1271-1275. 7. Hennis, A., Wu, S.Y., Nemesure, B., Leske, M.C., and Barbados Eye Studies Group, (2003). Hypertension, Diabetes, And Longitudinal Changes In Intraocular Pressure. Ophthalmology; 110(5): pp. 908-914. 9. Klein, R., Klein, B.E., Moss, S.E., and Meuer, S.M., (2000). The Epidemiology Of Retinal Vein Occlusion: The Beaver Dam Eye Study. Transactions Of The American Ophthalmological Society; 98:133-41; discussion 141-3. 11. Wong, T.Y., Larsen, E.K., and Klein, R, et al., (2005). Cardiovascular Risk Factors For Retinal Vein Occlusion And Arteriolar Emboli: The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities & Cardiovascular Health Studies. Ophthalmology; 112(4): pp. 540-547.

Globalization and the State. Discuss Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Globalization and the State. Discuss - Essay Example Companies which grew their subsidiaries in different countries and continents found themselves in a unique situation of transcending those states where they had a presence. As globalisation become more prevalent, states find themselves unable to enforce sovereign power that is supposed to be absolute, supreme and unlimited; instead, in the name of economic progress, states have learnt to negotiate, compromise, and in some extreme cases, capitulate before the large MNCs. Globalisation challenges the traditional link between constitutionalism and the state, and elevates constitutionalism to a transnational context (Anderson 2012). The purpose of this brief discussion is to cursorily explore the various issues posed by globalisation and how in response to them the nation-state has evolved, as embodied in the academic literature existing to date. The topic will cover the political, economic and legal implications of globalisation upon the state, and how the concept of statehood is being reinvented and redefined to adjust to the recent phenomenon of modern globalisation. Dimensions of Globalisation Ewoh, Matei and Matei (2013) distinguished among three dimensions of globalisation: economic, political and social globalisation. ... Of particular interest in the investigation was the link between corruption and globalisation. In this empirical study, a direct correlation was found to exist between political globalisation, stability and impact of the anti-corruption strategies put to effect in states. The most powerful influences on political globalisation are related primarily to political stability, and secondarily to anti-corruption strategies. These findings indicate that the greater the degree of political globalisation of the state, the less likely it is subject to corruption. Globalisation and the Perfect Market Globalisation requires deregulation, but deregulation of the markets is premised on the condition that perfect market opportunities are present – this means complete transparency, complete information available to all players, transaction costs are zero, and the market is therefore efficient. It is well known, however, that markets are in reality inefficient, so deregulating the markets will be done without the assurance of free market conditions. The study by Prentis (2012) proved empirically that deregulating stock markets (and it assumed any auction market), particularly as a measure leading to globalisation, can actually hinder rather than help in returning stability to the markets. The findings of this study relate political ideology of the state to the level of its globalisation. The implication of a national economy that participates more fully in globalisation is that it tends to be more competitive, with greater openness to the free market forces; conversely, the less globalised a nation’s economy is, the more likely it is to be a

Negative Influence of Social Media Essay Example for Free

Negative Influence of Social Media Essay Today, Mass Media is notoriously known to project a negative influence on teens and society. It manipulates several aspects of our lives including, but not limited to, the choices we make about our overall physical appearance, how we perceive beauty, healthy decisions we make regarding drug and alcohol use, engaging in premarital sex, and our peer and social interactions. We emulate what the media portrays as acceptable and desirable, though it goes against the norms and values put forth from society. As we mature, our goals and values seem to change as we break from the traditional values and connect with those portrayed as cool and current, through the media and pop culture. During adolescence, one often struggles with choosing between what is right from wrong and the media often accentuates the lives of celebrities. Young children are known to emulate their role models, unconscious of the consequences that may result in their actions. The media has been proven to be detrimental to the health and lifestyle of the youth. The media has a strong impact on the appearance satisfaction of today’s youth. Young women are constantly comparing their bodies to the ones seen advertised on television commercials. Around 10 million females and 1 million males in the United States are suffering from eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, etc. After seeing these beautiful and flawless models on billboards and advertisements, many women are disturbed with their personal body images. This is known to be a main contributor to eating disorders around the world. Thus, the media has the effect to change ones mental set up. Beauty and Body Image in the Media† is an article that explains the negative affect the media has on young women and how they view themselves. Images of female bodies are seen in films, TV, magazines, ads, etc. These models are engraving the perfect body image into the minds’ of the youth. Women’s magazines are full of ads influencing women that if they lose weight they’ll have it all. Researchers have observed that these images of thin and airbrushed models are associated with depression, loss of self-esteem, and the development of harmful eating habits. It’s been suggested that almost half of all preadolescent girls are dissatisfied with their appearances and either diet or think about dieting. Further, 50 to 70 percent of average weight girls feel that they’re overweight and 90 percent of women are frustrated with their body images. These advertisements are not only advertising their products, but they’re also selling an entire way of life. The media promotes tan, fit, and outward physical perfection in men and women. It is not only middle-aged adults who seek cosmetic surgery to alter their appearance. Today, children also undergo cosmetic procedures. In fact, in 2005 it was reported that children under the age of 18 underwent approximately 333,000 cosmetic procedures. Some included liposuction, breast augmentation, otoplasties (ear pinnings), and rhinoplasties (nose jobs). Teenagers of both genders are trying to acquire a perfect figure rather than living a healthy lifestyle and appreciating themselves for who they truly are. The media also has a reputation for promoting unhealthy choices, such as unprotected premarital sex and drug and alcohol use. The media is sending the wrong message to young adults that taking part in these activities is okay. The article, â€Å"The Media’s Influence Undermines America’s Morals†, by Tim LaHaye contains numerous examples of how the media is detrimental to the future of the United States. AIM, Accuracy In Media, and PMRC, Parents Music Resource Center, are organizations that support government regulation of the media. They believe that the media is destroying our culture and altering our values. Moviemakers, producers, and journalists are provoking sexual immorality in our society by explicitly exposing and promoting sexual relationships. The media is even found glamorizing teen pregnancies in the MTV series, 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom. LaHaye states that, â€Å"the media’s power is seen in its degrading influence not only on the nation’s morals, but on†¦ virtually every area of life. † Music also plays a huge role in influencing teens toward becoming sexually active and provocative. â€Å"Rock Music Has a Negative Effect on the Youth†, by Rob Lamp is another article which states that rock music is somewhat accountable for the increase in teenage pregnancies. A counselor for pregnant teenagers believes that young girls are emulating celebrities. They are buying their albums and dressing like them. Today, 30 percent of all women loose their virginity before age sixteen. Violence sexuality has also become popular in music videos and song lyrics. Rap lyrics are being criticized by child advocate groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, for imparting the wrong message to the youth about sex and drugs. Misogamy is a derogatory or hateful comment geared towards girls and women and a lot of rap artists tend to include misogamy in their lyrics. The  APA has determined that today’s youth actually spends more time listening to and reading to the lyrics via the Internet to their favorite music than they do watching television. This council urges parents to be vigilant when it comes to knowing what their children are listening to. Lamp also states the kind of electronic music played at raves has been associated with the use of drugs and alcohol. † The Robert Wood Johnson foundation backed a report titled â€Å"Substance Abuse: The Nations Number One Health Problem†, which shows juveniles are starting to use drugs and alcohol between the ages of 12 and 13. In fact, by eighth grade 52 percent of adolescents have used alcohol and 20 percent have used marijuana. This figure jumps to 80 percent use of alcohol and 49 percent use of marijuana by the 12th grade. A research conducted in 1997 showed that in the 200 most popular movie rentals, alcohol appears almost 93 percent of the time and illicit drugs appeared roughly 25 percent of the time. Further, of the 1,000 most popular songs, 27 percent were shown to include alcohol or drug references. These numbers have surely risen since 1997. In addition to music videos and song lyrics promoting premarital sex and drug/alcohol use, this form of media is also seen promoting violent behavior among adolescent teens. Robert Lamp also believes that â€Å"heavy metal and rap have been associated with reckless behavior and below-average academic performance†¦ heavy metal and rock music have also been associated with an increasing risk of suicide, depression, delinquency risk behavior, smoking, and conduct problems† (Neale 1). In recent years, lyrics are becoming more vulgar and inappropriate. The violence heard in rock music instigates adolescents to commit violent crimes. In Northport NY, a seventeen-year-old boy was slaughtered; the names of Ozzy Osbourne and his former band members were spray painted at the crime scene, along with many satanic symbols. Doctor Guttman, a Professor of Psychiatry at Northwestern University states that, â€Å"Rock has so often been involved in these things (violence, teen suicide, etc. ) many of us in psychiatry have had to take it more seriously. † 45 percent of about 1,200 rock music videos supervised were viewed as explicitly violent. Video games and movies also play a prominent role in promoting violence among youth. The article â€Å"Most Teens Play Violent Video Games†, by Ben Berkowitz and published in the Washington Post, states that â€Å"70 percent of American teenage boys have played the violent, but popular â€Å"Grand Theft Auto† video game, and they are more likely to have been in a fight than those who have not played. † It is clear that the violence depicted through these games are mimicked by youth who have difficulty distinguishing between fantasy and what is appropriate and acceptable in a realistic environment. Tim LaHaye gives a real life example of how the media affects certain people. In San Diego, a High School honor student watched An ABC horror movie on the life of Lizzy Borden, an infamous axe murderer in the 1890’s. After viewing this film, he decided to murder his mother, father, and sister. These examples illustrate how juvenile violence is promoted through music, video games, and movies. We live in a society that depends greatly on the media to impart information, allow for communication, and provide entertainment on a regular basis throughout our daily lives. It is vital that we are attentive and vigilant in deciding what our youth should be allowed to view and listen to, as we know there is a direct connection between what one consumes and what one in turn values, how one behaves and how one interacts in society. Too much exposure to the negative aspects of the media can be detrimental to one’s mental, emotional and physical health. The media influences how we perceive beauty, the healthful decisions we make, and how we interact socially. The negative media is harmfully transforming our ethical values of life and our outlook on society.

Evaluation Of The One Sony Strategy

Evaluation Of The One Sony Strategy The following report contains about the Sony Corporations new strategy implementation called One Sony which is a new structure for the top management of the company where the company is making changes to drive revitalisation and growth. The report further discuss about the extent to which the strategy fits the Sony Corporations current capabilities to face external challenges and achieve the objectives. In addition to that, the suitability and the feasibility of the strategic decisions arising from the implementation of this strategy are also discussed. In order to do the above the report is guided through three stages which is analysis of strategic position internally and externally which is the research content, strategic choices and decisions by applying relevant theories and implementation of the strategy. Finally considering all of the above a critical opinion or a perspective will be made with relevant justifications and in respect to the Sony Corporation. Analysis of strategic position In order to identify the external environment in which Sony operates a PEST analysis could be done which will be as follows; When the political aspects are looked in to it is evident that they are changing at all times. The government has the power as stated in Henry (2008) to impact the operations of Sony through changes in policies and regulations. On the other hand better sales could be achieved by Sony due to the reduction in liquidity crisis and recession. But by doing so the number of competitors Sony has will increase significantly. In addition to that, the government can create laws which will have an impact on policies in the global context. When economy is considered it is currently not is a good position where it has faced recession recently and has a negative economic growth. Due to this there can be significant changes in the exchange rates and interest rates. Sony should make sure that they are aware of any government restrictions on trading and exchange rates as Sony is an international company where these restrictions would affect Sony negatively. As for the social factors Sony is expected to perform well. That is because of the reputation they have obtained through their quality products and services as per William and Green (1997). Sony should make sure that they develop revolutionary devices at regular intervals to retain and hold on the customer and may be attract new customers. It is also important to understand the perspectives of the public where they can introduce products which match the expectations of their customers. Towards technological aspect Sony Corporation should put more attention as they work in that industry with high technological usage. The productivity level of the company depends on the level of technology used. Therefore Sony should make sure that they use upgraded technology to have high level of productivity and to be efficient. Use of technology is also important to Sony Corporation to research and develop new products which matches the expectations and choices of the customers. Next would be to identify the internal environmental factors which should be considered when developing a strategy for Sony according to Drejer (2002). Prahalad and Hamel core competencies model and Michael Porters value chain could be used to do the analysis as follows; Sony has created a reputation and a brand name which has a high recognition in the technological industry. But at present they are having a hard time which is why they are coming up with a new strategy call Sony One. The strategies implemented by Sony previously are outside in as well as inside out. Out of these one was to develop mini-series of their products in order to grow their core competencies where they require high level of technology, human resources such as engineers and marketers. In addition to that the customer needs should also be looked in to through market research for the success of a strategy. Sony had required all the resources which allowed them to be success in almost all the strategies they implemented. But the uniqueness of these resources or competencies as stated in Enders (2004) is questionable. Sony also had an aim of manufacturing customer oriented products which they believed will help the company to increase the competitive advantage and will also create more value adding activities. Sony also implemented a strategy of diversification which is to add value to the processes of the organisation. Also taking risks and learning from mistakes is one of the unique factors done by Sony which is also an advantage. After both the internal and external analysis is done the internal strengths and weaknesses as well as the external threats and opportunities need to be identified for the SWOT analysis to be completed. The strengths as recognised above are the fact that Sony is trying out unique strategies as per Hitt et al. (2010) such as miniature products as they are available to the required technology and engineering. Sony being diversified is also unique to the organisation which creates core competencies. In addition to that, taking risks when introducing new products and making mistakes, moreover learning from these mistakes without breaking down the operations is another major strength which is unique only to the Sony Corporation. As for the weaknesses it would be a fact that the resources such as technological staff, engineers and marketers are not being unique to Sony in the todays technological industry. Sony not being able to differentiate the level of skills required within the organisation is a weakness which would affect the company in the years to come. One reason would be the technology being outdate very quickly at present and the industry being very competitive. The opportunities that are arising from the industry would be corporate political activities with the government where Sony operates which will give the support of the government policies in favour of the operations that is being carried out. In addition to that, identification of new customer groups and new customer expectations through the customer oriented strategy as per Beloff et al. (2005) and delivering products which matches those choices would allow Sony to exploit opportunities arising from the external environment. Lastly the threats that are arising from the external environment could be identified. The fact that the industry in which Sony is operating is being innovative and fast moving is making the company to adapt to the situations and move forward with a lesser time. Companies like Apple and Samsung is creating a rivalry where technology is becoming outdated almost every day. Moreover, the rival companies are introducing new products to market with lesser lead time which increase the threat arising towards Sony. Strategic choices and decisions The development of strategic choices is a critical stage for Sony where they need identify their capabilities, resources and requirements as per Johns and Saks (2004). There are three main focus areas under this stage. Deciding how Sony could achieve competitive advantage Identifying possible directions through which Sony would enter a market and the types of products and market it should enter or leave Deciding in methods of growth with in the market Deciding on the basis of competitive advantage When deciding how Sony Corporation could compete in a market or create a basis for the customers to want to buy their products the following options are visible as stated in Daft et al. (2010). These are also known as Michael Porters generic strategies. Be a low cost provider of goods and services or in other words providing products at a budget price. This is not suitable for Sony as they require high research and development cost to come up with new products where selling at a lower price would be difficult. Being a high value adding market player or a differentiator is another option. According to this type of a choice Sony can build in a higher level of value in the products or devices they offer by the company. Following a focused strategy is another option. A choice made by Sony Corporation to provide a device targeting a smaller number of customers, such as coming up with a special edition of an existing product. Strategic Direction This is where the Sony Corporation decides how it would grow in to the future entering different markets and using its strengths. When deciding on strategic directions available for the organisation the Ansoff matrix can be used according to Ewy (2009). The matrix identifies growth possibilities for Sony based on the dimensions of markets and products. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qO_opl7mobdLdNPj7Kl3_m7sTuu9v5mZlN95V0WQoY0IzvrM8HTRktSYzwf1o1nCEKZgJfwnUVxkdveV1ENjtBNcskTkMd4gQ7bamqeOqIkXSz2mW5-3zfWiRCmod4pCjrgMX_Il62k/s320/Ansoff+Matrix.jpg Figure 1.1: Ansoff Matrix [Source:http://www.marketing-equity.com/2011/09/few-examples-of-ansoff-matrix.html ] Market Penetration: This is where the company would grow internally into existing markets by aggressively promoting its existing devices and products with in them. Sony could promote their Sony Xperia with in the UK market. Product development: This is where the company would develop new products for the existing markets and generates more sales from them. Sony could develop new models of Sony Xperia to sell in the UK market. Market development: This is where the company would develop new markets for its existing products such as Sony Xperia being launched in China Diversification: This is where the company would enter a completely new market according to Freeman (2010) with a completely new product or a device. Sony entering in to the Laptop market where it provided Sony Vaio would be diversification. Strategic methods With the selected growth directions the Sony Corporation can use many different methods in order to grow and achieve their goals. Internal development: This is where Sony growing through its own resources where the case of Sony Vaio appeared according to Mahadevan (2009) Takeovers or acquisitions: The Sony Corporation might buy over another company and use its products and technologies for growth. Sony taking over Colombia pictures is a perfect example Strategic alliances: Sony Corporation would grow by linking and partnering with other organisations. Franchises also fall under this category. Sony forming an alliance with Olympus would be an example here Out of the choices that were generated the organisation should pick one or more options based on the SAF model which is the strategic decision making Suitability: Selected growth directions and methods should match with the Sony Corporations brand image and reputation Acceptable: Selected options should be approved by the shareholders and be in line with their thinking and expectations Feasibility: Strategic choices that were selected should be financially viable for the company. As the above stated methods the strategic options will be generated according to Vos (2004) and chosen in order to implement the most correct strategic option or options. Implementation Putting strategy in to action Before a strategy is being implemented Sony should understand the culture of the organisation, the management as well as the leadership styles. McKinsey 7S Framework 7S model Figure 1.2: Mckinsey 7S model [Source: http://b4tea.com/information/mckinsey-7s-framework-7s-model/] The 7S model developed by the Mckinsey consulting group identifies seven different elements that lie at the heart of a culture of the organisation. Hard Factors These refers to non-human type of elements as stated in Egan (2007) which has an impact on culture Strategy: The direction followed by Sony in order to achieve the goals and targets of the business as explained above Structure: The organisations structure or how the lines on authority are arranged with in the company, how decisions are made and whether the communication channels between top and bottom levels are long or short will affect the culture Systems: The level of control that exists within the company such as the budgeting and management accounting controls as well as controls on processes will have an impact on the culture of Sony Soft Factors These are more of human related factors that affect the culture of Sony Skills: The talent and abilities of people and whether all staff members have equal levels of skill as per Cole (2001) or a few members have a high level of skill on whom the others will depend decides on the nature of the culture Staff: The nature of the attitude of staff members as well as their individual cultures will have an impact in the overall organisation Style: The style of management by the superiors will have a direct impact on the culture of the organisation. Leadership style Sonys co-founder Akio Morita was following was based upon the values, imaginations and beliefs of his which is now being changed by the new strategy One Sony Share Values: Organisations will have a common set of values and beliefs which are followed by all the employees and is given top priority when Sony does it operations After considering the above factors and understanding them the implementation of the strategy will be successful. In addition to that, understanding of the leadership style with in Sony is also important. For that, the Likert four systems of management which identifies four leadership styles as stated in Harrison and John (2009) ranging from the extremes of being job centred and employee centred can be used. figure Figure 1.3: Likert four systems of management [Source: https://www.ncjrs.gov/policing/corr177.htm] Exploitative Authoritative: This is where as stated in Waters (2006) the leaders are highly exploiting the lower individuals and there is a very high distance between higher level and lower level individuals Benevolent or Somewhat Authoritative: There would be still a high distance between the higher level and the lower level management, but the leaders will be believe in that they are acting in the interest of the rest of the individuals with in the Sony Corporation Consultative: This is a more employee centred approach where by the leader would be listening to others but will not always follow their comment or ideas Participative: This is where the leader will get the others involved as well and the final decision that is made is one that everyone agrees with and no single handily made by the leader. This is the most extreme employee centred leadership approach according to Daft and Marcic (2010) Once strategies have been planned and choices made also understanding the culture and leadership styles it needs to be implemented through a series of programs. Tactical programs: Programs run at a middle management level such as training programs Operational programs: This refers to the daily activities happening with in an organisation with a focus of realising the company strategy The Sony Corporation should now select one out of the two above to implement the strategy of One Sony by considering the culture of the organisation and the management styles. Review and control is also required as stated in Grunig and Gaggl (2011) where the organisation would check if the strategic path implemented is correct one by looking into following aspects; Is the strategy allowing the achievement of the objectives stated initially Since the consumer electronics environment keeps changing dynamically and strategy implementation is based on an environmental scan done earlier it should be checked if current strategies match the environment Conclusion The above report contains about the Sony Corporations new strategy implementation called One Sony which is a new structure for the top management of the company where the company is making changes to drive revitalisation and growth. The report further contains about the extent to which the strategy fits the Sony Corporations current capabilities to face external challenges and achieve the objectives through PEST, core competencies and SWOT analysis. In addition to that, the suitability and the feasibility of the strategic decisions arising from the implementation of this strategy are also included with reference to the SAF model. The report is guided through three stages which is analysis of strategic position internally and externally which is the research content, strategic choices and decisions by applying relevant theories and implementation of the strategy where theoretical as well as practical aspects has been applied. Finally considering all of the above it is clear that the strategy implementation of One Sony is dependent on the above stated factors and because of that the implementation is successful.

Supernatural Imagery Depicted in Shakespeares Macbeth Essay -- Analyti

Shakespeare uses the supernatural in many different forms during the course of Macbeth to create an atmosphere and add drama, tension and interest to the story. Many of the supernatural images which appear in the play are based on the beliefs and superstitions of those around Shakespeare’s time who would have gone to see his plays. The theme of supernatural forces and beings occurs at many different points during the play, allowing a common thread to be recognized by the audience. The supernatural imagery that Shakespeare uses can be interpreted at many different levels by members of the audience who would have ranged from royalty to working class. Shakespeare integrates the theme of supernatural occurrences throughout each act in a variety of ways. Some of the most obvious supernatural images appear in the first act with the witches who set an atmosphere for the rest of the play. The self-proclaimed â€Å"weird sisters†, are seen throughout the story as a source of evil, their prophesies lead Macbeth to his downfall in â€Å"deepest consequence†, as Banquo had warned. However, there ...

Computer Crime Essay -- Technology

ABSTRACT Billions of dollars in losses have already been discovered. Billions more have gone undetected. Trillions will be stolen, most without detection, by the emerging master criminal of the twenty-first century--the computer crime offender. Worst of all, anyone who is computer literate can become a computer criminal. He or she is everyman, everywoman, or even every child. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION To first understand computer crime one must understand first what crime is. According to Diana Kendall, "crime is a behavior that violates criminal law and is punishable with fines, jail or other sanctions" (Kendall 1999; 161). Yet since computer technology is so new it has really no laws to govern it. A law is formal norms that are enforced, norms being established rules of behavior. Many of the crimes committed on computers often times go unpunished. As stated by David Pitch ford in the London journal Focus when writing on pornography on the Internet, " the only way illegal pornographers can be caught is through chance leads, tip-offs and telephone tracing" (Focus 1995; p10-12). Many of the crimes that are also committed on computers via the Internet are very new also. New subcultures have formed around the Internet for the possibilities it brings. Computer crime despite the many problems it has brought has also brought some needed social controls to the Internet and as stated befo re some laws have been formed to protect many of the institutions that because of computer crime have become targets for criminals. CHAPTER 2 THEORETICAL REVIEW Now that we have briefly explained computer crime, let's go into further depth into explaining computer crime from the different sociological perspective theories. Many of those th... ...world starts the work as one to control the Internet and those that abuse its power and seek to take what is not theirs. Yet, the technologies are very new and they're very vulnerable, we in going to be in a messy situation for a while. In my view point hacking and computer crime will be with us for as long as we have the Internet. It is our role to keep the balance between what is a crime and what is done for pure enjoyment. Luckily, the government is making an effort to control the Internet. Yet, true control over the Internet is impossible, because the reasons the Internet was created. This is why families and the institution of education of is needed, parents need to let their children know what is okay to do on the computer and what is not and to educate them on the repercussions of their actions should they choose to become part of the subculture of hackers.

Evolution and Darwin Essays -- Fittest Science Religion Competition Es

Evolution and Darwin In a society based on survival of the fittest, adaptation and evolution are the keys to success. If there is a hurdle that a species cannot conquer as it is, it will then do everything it must to overcome it, even if that means change. Throughout time, evolution has helped us to thrive in the toughest of times. The human species is at the top of its class, overthrown by no other, but what happens when a species begins to encounter hurdles within its own society? Can the human species overthrow itself, making a new kind of human? (Bear 195) Did Charles Darwin leave out the last piece of the puzzle? If adaptation and evolution are inevitable when faced with a problem, then the demise of our species as we know it and the birth of a newer, better model is inevitable as well. In Greg Bears, Darwins Radio, our society has become so consumed with competition that evolution is beginning to occur, the only problem is that at a first glance, this adaptation appears to be the outbreak of a viru s, one that will wipe out the entire population. Few McCandless 2 believe in the truth, but with such a small number, can they possibly help the government to see the truth before it wipes out an entire population faster than Mother Nature can create it? Set in a time and place very similar to our own, it is very easy to note the similarities. The values and beliefs and trends in society in this story were so closely related to today that it felt as if I were reading non-fictional material. We pride ourselves on the fact that we live in a free country. We are allowed, encouraged even, to think and believe freely. Some people choose to believe in religion, others in science, and some in both. Many times, those who believe i... ...? Are we as a species really so confident in ourselves that we think there is no way to better our performance against Lifes hurdles? There is always room for improvement and in a world filled with constant stress and competition we have no choice but to improve. Everyone hates it, but we have to compete or we end up out on the streets. (Bear 245) What better way to keep up with the competition than to mutate into a stronger species? If a creature is thrown into an environment it will adapt, if it doesnt, it will surely fail. Maybe Charles Darwin was on the right track when he created the theory of evolution, but the last (Or should I say the next?) piece of the puzzle has not yet been fitted in. All theories leave room for improvement and addition, and his is no exception to the rule. Works Cited Bear, Greg. Darwins Radio. New York: Ballantine Books, 1999.

Gender Issues and Roles Essay

Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behavior, activities and attributes that a particular society considers appropriate for men and women. It is a basic organizing principle of society that shapes how we think about ourselves and guides how we interact with others. The distinct roles and behavior may give rise to gender inequalities, i. e. differences between men and women that systematically favor one group. There are differences between the sexes in that men weigh more than women and have more muscle. Women outperform men in some test of long term endurance and life expectancy. However, biologically, the sexes differ in limited ways with neither one naturally superior. Origin of Gender roles The root of all gender issues which presently exist in society may be traced back to The Creation Story in Genesis. This crucial chapter of the Bible provides evidence supporting that God intended for man and woman to exist as equals, yet he assigned gender roles once Adam and Eve disobeyed him by eating the fruit from the forbidden tree of good and evil. Thus, men have been characterized as the â€Å"breadwinners† and women as â€Å"child bearers and housekeepers† since the beginning of humanity. Men and women have been trapped in certain roles since the beginning of time, and have always had a power struggle between them. Gender issues have not evolved over time; they have always existed. Partriarchy and Sexism Partriarchy literally means â€Å"rule of fathers†. Conceptions of gender vary everywhere in the world and we find some degree partriarchy. Sexism is the belief that one sex is innately superior to the other and is built into the institutions of society. Sexism stunts the talents and limits the ambitions of the human population who are women. Masculinity comes with a high price as it calls for men to engage in many high-risk behaviors, including using tobacco and alcohol, participating in physically dangerous sports, and driving recklessly. It is also closely linked not only to accidents but to suicide, violence and stress-related diseases. As men seek control over others, they opportunities for intimacy and trust. In general men have more social resources than women. Martriarchy is a form of social organization in which females dominate males. Although there is no clear case of matriarchy, women’s power can rival that of men. Many societies count among their historical heroes at least one brave woman warrior or leader, but few are as reviled as the Kikuyu Wangu wa Makeri. Appointed as the head of Weithaga, in Muranga district, by the colonialists, Makeri’s legacy is as a woman who made hell for the men of her tribe, wreaking revenge and sewing humiliation for the gender roles she had broken out of. Born in 1856, according to Nairobi University historian Mary W Wanyoike, Makeri’s rise to fame came relatively late in her life, when, in 1901 she was appointed as the head of her district. The elevation of a woman to such a position of power was unheard of in those days. Wangu, however, embraced the position with vigour. Tales abound of her demeaning men, riding on their backs on all fours, taking multiple lovers – among them one Karuri Gakure – and being very far from an â€Å"attractive’ woman. Certainly, such behaviour was anathema in early 20th Century Kikuyu culture. In those days, once men had paid the dowry on the women they were to marry, the women were considered their property. Women might be disgruntled, but they were expected to be silent victims. Thus when Wangu â€Å"superwoman† Makeri got power, she felt it her personal mission to avenge for the exploited women. Her zeal, however, quickly made her a hate figure for men, as did her tendency to overstep the boundary of leadership. Yet she held on to power for a remarkable 35 years. In the end, what lead to her downfall and death, was the brewing conflict between the Kikuyu and British colonialists. From around 1910, colonial resentment was budding. The Kikuyus who later formed the Mau Mau saw Wangu Wa Makeri as a proxy for colonialists. They instigated a rebellion against oth the colonialists and her. With her support thinning, her back-riding tenure ended unceremoniously. Yet her reputation for multiple lovers and a passion to domineer the masculine species, is still used as a weapon today in the gender war, driving accusations that any women who loves power and money is of her line, and setting up a horror figure that no good Kikuyu women would wish to be associated with. In time, it seems, hers is one story that may yet be retold. In preindustrial societies, women have little control over pregnancy and childbirth, which limits the scope of their lives. Similarly, men’s greater height and physical height and physical strength are highly valued resources. But industrialization gives people choices about how to live. Today, then, in societies like our own, biological differences provide little justification for partriachy. Legitimate or not, male dominance still holds. Some sociologists claim that biological factors â€Å"wire† the sexes with different motivations and behaviours, specifically more aggressiveness in males. Most sociologists, however, believe that gender is primarily a social construction that can be changed. Gender Socialization From birth until death, human feelings, thoughts and actions reflect the social as different kinds of human beings. By age tree, they incorporate gender into their identities by applying society’s standards to themselves. Just as gender affects how we think of ourselves, so it teaches us to act in normative ways. Gender roles are attitudes and activities that society links to each sex. Male – female differences Most of the differences between men and women turn out to be socially created. However there are some differences in physical ability between the sexes such as, on average, males are 10 percent taller, 20 percent heavier and 30 percent stronger, especially in their upper bodies. On the other hand, women outperform men in life expectancy. In adolescence, males show greater mathematical ability, whereas adolescent females excel in verbal skills a difference that reflects both biology and socialization. Research points no overall differences in intelligence between males and females. Biologically then, men and women differ in limited ways, neither one being naturally superior. Sex and the body At birth, females and males are distinguished by primary sex characteristics, namely the genital organs used to reproduce the human species. At puberty, humans exhibit secondary sex characteristics, whereby bodily development, apart from the genitals, that distinguishes biologically mature females and males. To accommodate pregnancy, giving birth, and nurturing infants, adolescent females develop wider hips, breasts and soft fatty tissue, thereby providing a reserve supply of nutrition for pregnancy and breast-feeding. Adolescent males, usually slightly taller and heavier than females from birth, typically develop more muscle in the upper body, more extensive body hair and deeper voices. Sexual orientation Sexual orientation refers to an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, or both sexes. Sexual orientation also refers to a person’s sense of identity based on those attractions, related behaviors, and membership in a community of others who share those attractions. Research over several decades has demonstrated that sexual orientation ranges along a continuum, from exclusive attraction to the other sex to exclusive attraction to the same sex. However, sexual orientation is usually discussed in terms of three categories: heterosexual (having emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to members of the other sex), gay/lesbian (having emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to members of one’s own sex), and bisexual (having emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to both men and women). This range of behaviors and attractions has been described in various cultures and nations throughout the world. Many cultures use identity labels to describe people who express these attractions. The most frequent labels are lesbians (women attracted to women), gay men (men attracted to men), and bisexual people (men or women attracted to both sexes).. Sexual orientation is distinct from other components of sex and gender, including biological sex (the anatomical, physiological, and genetic characteristics associated with being male or female), gender identity (the psychological sense of being male or female) and social gender role (the cultural norms that define feminine and masculine behavior). Sexual orientation is commonly discussed as if it were solely a characteristic of an individual, like biological sex, gender identity, or age. This perspective is incomplete because sexual orientation is defined in terms of relationships with others. People express their sexual orientation through behaviors with others, including such simple actions as holding hands or kissing. Thus, sexual orientation is closely tied to the intimate personal relationships that meet deeply felt needs for love, attachment, and intimacy. In addition to sexual behaviors, these bonds include nonsexual physical affection between partners, shared goals and values, mutual support, and ongoing commitment. Therefore, sexual orientation is not merely a personal characteristic within an individual. Rather, one’s sexual orientation defines the group of people in which one is likely to find the satisfying and fulfilling romantic relationships that are an essential component of personal identity for many people. How people know their Sexual orientation? According to current scientific and professional understanding, the core attractions that form the basis for adult sexual orientation typically emerge between middle childhood and early adolescence. These patterns of emotional, romantic, and sexual attraction may arise without any prior sexual experience. People can be celibate and still know their sexual orientation-–be it lesbian, gay, bisexual, or heterosexual. Different lesbian, gay, and bisexual people have very different experiences regarding their sexual orientation. Some people know that they are lesbian, gay, or bisexual for a long time before they actually pursue relationships with other people. Some people engage in sexual activity (with same-sex and/or other-sex partners) before assigning a clear label to their sexual orientation. Prejudice and discrimination make it difficult for many people to come to terms with their sexual orientation identities, so claiming a lesbian, gay, or bisexual identity may be a slow process. What role do prejudice and discrimination play in the lives of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people? Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people encounter extensive prejudice, discrimination, and violence because of their sexual orientation. Intense prejudice against lesbians, gay men, and bisexual people was widespread throughout much of the 20th century. Public opinion studies over the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s routinely showed that, among large segments of the public, lesbian, gay, and bisexual people were the target of strongly held negative attitudes. More recently, public opinion has increasingly opposed sexual orientation discrimination, but expressions of hostility toward lesbians and gay men remain common in contemporary American society. Prejudice against bisexuals appears to exist at comparable levels. In fact, bisexual individuals may face discrimination from some lesbian and gay people as well as from heterosexual people. Sexual orientation discrimination takes many formsSevere antigay prejudice is reflected in the high rate of harassment and violence directed toward lesbian, gay. Numerous surveys indicate that verbal harassment and abuse are nearly universal experiences among lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. Also, discrimination against lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in employment and housing appears to remain widespread. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is another area in which prejudice and discrimination against lesbian, gay, and bisexual people have had negative effects. Early in the pandemic, the assumption that HIV/AIDS was a â€Å"gay disease† contributed to the delay in addressing the massive social upheaval that AIDS would generate. Gay and bisexual men have been disproportionately affected by this disease. The association of HIV/AIDS with gay and bisexual men and the inaccurate belief that some people held that all gay and bisexual men were infected served to further stigmatize lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. What is the psychological impact of prejudice and discrimination? On the social level, prejudice and discrimination against lesbian, gay, and bisexual people are reflected in theeveryday stereotypes of members of these groups. These stereotypes persist even though they are not supported by evidence, and they are often used to excuse unequal treatment of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. For example, limitations on job opportunities, parenting, and relationship recognition are often justified by stereotypic assumptions about lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. On an individual level, such prejudice and discrimination may also have negative consequences, especially if lesbian, gay, and bisexual people attempt to conceal or deny their sexual orientation. Although many lesbians and gay men learn to cope with the social stigma against homosexuality, this pattern of prejudice can have serious negative effects on health and well-being. Individuals and groups may have the impact of stigma reduced or worsened by other characteristics, such as race, ethnicity, religion, or disability. Some lesbian, gay, and bisexual people may face less of a stigma. For others, race, sex, religion, disability, or other characteristics may exacerbate the negative impact of The widespread prejudice, discrimination, and violence to which lesbians and gay men are often subjected are significant mental health concerns. Sexual prejudice, sexual orientation discrimination, and antigay violence are major sources of stress for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. Although social support is crucial in coping with stress, antigay attitudes and discrimination may make it difficult for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people to find such support No, lesbian, gay, and bisexual orientations are not disorders. Research has found no inherent association between any of these sexual orientations and psychopathology. Both heterosexual behavior and homosexual behavior are normal aspects of human sexuality. Both have been documented in many different cultures and historical eras. Despite the persistence of stereotypes that portray lesbian, gay, and bisexual people as disturbed, several decades of research and clinical experience have led all mainstream medical and mental health organizations in this country to conclude that these orientations represent normal forms of human experience. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual relationships are normal forms of human bonding. Therefore, these mainstream organizations long ago abandoned classifications of homosexuality as a mental disorder. What is â€Å"coming out† and why is it important? The phrase â€Å"coming out† is used to refer to several aspects of lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons’ experiences: self-awareness of same-sex attractions; the telling of one or a few people about these attractions; widespread disclosure of same-sex attractions; and identification with the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community. Many people hesitate to come out because of the risks of meeting prejudice and discrimination. Some choose to keep their identity a secret; some choose to come out in limited circumstances; some decide to come out in very public ways. Coming out is often an important psychological step for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. Research has shown that feeling positively about one’s sexual orientation and integrating it into one’s life fosters greater well-being and mental health. This integration often involves disclosing one’s identity to others; it may also entail participating in the gay community. Being able to discuss one’s sexual orientation with others also increases the availability of social support, which is crucial to mental health and psychological well-being. Like heterosexuals, lesbians, gay men, and bisexual people benefit from being able to share their lives with and receive support from family, friends, and acquaintances. Thus, it is not surprising that lesbians and gay men who feel they must conceal their sexual orientation report more frequent mental health concerns than do lesbians and gay men who are more open; they may even have more physical health problems. What about sexual orientation and coming out during adolescence? Adolescence is a period when people separate from their parents and families and begin to develop autonomy. Adolescence can be a period of experimentation, and many youths may question their sexual feelings. Becoming aware of sexual feelings is a normal developmental task of adolescence. Sometimes adolescents have same-sex feelings or experiences that cause confusion about their sexual orientation. This confusion appears to decline over time, with different outcomes for different individuals. Some adolescents desire and engage in same-sex behavior but do not identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, sometimes because of the stigma associated with a nonheterosexual orientation. Some adolescents experience continuing feelings of same-sex attraction but do not engage in any sexual activity or may engage in heterosexual behavior for varying lengths of time. Because of the stigma associated with same-sex attractions, many youths experience same-sex attraction for many years before becoming sexually active with partners of the same sex or disclosing their attractions to others. For some young people, this process of exploring same-sex attractions leads to a lesbian, gay, or bisexual identity. For some, acknowledging this identity can bring an end to confusion. When these young people receive the support of parents and others, they are often able to live satisfying and healthy lives and move through the usual process of adolescent development. The younger a person is when she or he acknowledges a nonheterosexual identity, the fewer internal and external resources she or he is likely to have. Therefore, youths who come out early are particularly in need of support from parents and others. Young people who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual may be more likely to face certain problems, including being bullied and having negative experiences in school. These experiences are associated with negative outcomes, such as suicidal thoughts, and high-risk activities, such as unprotected sex and alcohol and drug use. On the other hand, many lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths appear to experience no greater level of health or mental health risks. Where problems occur, they are closely associated with experiences of bias and discrimination in their environments. Support from important people in the teen’s life can provide a very helpful counterpart to bias and discrimination. Support in the family, at school, and in the broader society helps to reduce risk and encourage healthy development. Youth need caring and support, appropriately high expectations, and the encouragement to participate actively with peers. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth who do well despite stress—like all adolescents who do well despite stress—tend to be those who are socially competent, who have good problem-solving skills, who have a sense of autonomy and purpose, and who look forward to the future. In a related vein, some young people are presumed to be lesbian, gay, or bisexual because they don’t abide by traditional gender roles (i. e. , the cultural beliefs about what is appropriate â€Å"masculine† and â€Å"feminine† appearance and behavior). Whether these youths identify as heterosexual or as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, they encounter prejudice and discrimination based on the presumption that they are lesbian, gay, or bisexual. The best support for these young people is school and social climates that do not tolerate discriminatory language and behavior. What can people do to diminish prejudice and discrimination against lesbian,gay,and bisexual people? Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people who want to help reduce prejudice and discrimination can be open about their sexual orientation, even as they take necessary precautions to be as safe as possible. They can examine their own belief systems for the presence of antigay stereotypes. They can make use of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community—as well as supportive heterosexual people—for support. Heterosexual people who wish to help reduce prejudice and discrimination can examine their own response to antigay stereotypes and prejudice. They can make a point of coming to know lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, and they can work with lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals and communities to combat prejudice and discrimination. Heterosexual individuals are often in a good position to ask other heterosexual people to consider the prejudicial or discriminatory nature of their beliefs and actions. Heterosexual allies can encourage nondiscrimination policies that include sexual orientation. They can work to make coming out safe. When lesbians, gay men, and bisexual people feel free to make public their sexual orientation, heterosexuals are given an opportunity to have personal contact with openly gay people and to perceive them as individuals. Studies of prejudice, including prejudice against gay people, consistently show that prejudice declines when members of the majority group interact with members of a minority group. In keeping with this general pattern, one of the most powerful influences on heterosexuals’ acceptance of gay people is having personal contact with an openly gay person. Antigay attitudes are far less common among members of the population who have a close friend or family member who is lesbian or gay, especially if the gay person has directly come out to the heterosexual person.

Ebay Case Study

Characteristics of digital media that support eBay is storage. Data is one of the most important assets to any business same goes to storage that eBay needs to save their customer data. If they lack of storage they will face the problems such as lost product data, high technology security that help eBay to keep their information save. Due to its absolute volume, how and where eBay store this ever-growing pool of data has become more important than ever. The IT infrastructure must be able to scale with growth and continue to provide consistent levels of performance for the sake of eBay. Storing data is not just about how and where, but also the speed in which it can be accessed, manipulated, and presented where it can ease eBay's customer. Next characteristic of digital media that support eBay is community. Community media can play an important role in helping eBay to use storytelling to communicate and advance eBay's mission. Community media canters provide community members entree to the tools and training they need to produce digital stories. There are three ways community media can help use storytelling to start a meaningful dialogue and create modification. First, use storytelling as a community development strategy. It is through judicious storytelling that community media can help turn a community's shared experiences and concerns into a big picture. This big picture lays the foundation for an effective community development strategy for eBay. Secondly, use storytelling as an instrument for citizen empowerment. Personal stories facilitate deeper connections between people. Storytelling reaches the heart of decision-makers who often forget the predicament of the people; this is where storytelling begins to create power and empowerment. And lastly, use storytelling to build social capital. Social capital refers to personal relationships people have developed over time that enable them to influence human capital, policy-making or community initiatives. Other than that, digital communication also one of the characteristic of digital media that support eBay. Digital conversation is a powerful medium for delivering the data. In virtual global, visible communication is a perfect style of conveying your brand info by means of the use of the image, video, or minimal texts. Digital conversation may be a drawing, a commercial, a poster or any visible fabric you could find on line on social media structures. These days, the net is occupied by way of visible content and everything is revealed with the help of visual media. In addition, the characteristics of digital media that support eBay also include data. The sheer volume of data coupled with the improved analysis skills to be had these days approach that groups now have the potential to get a higher information of the way their customers behave within the beyond and present in addition to probable the future. This veritable wealth of records can be mined and manipulated into actionable information which could help remedy key business issues, promote extra products or services, and the entirety in between. Facts analytics has emerge as a vital aggressive differentiation from which most any enterprise can advantage. Lastly, ratings and reviews also one of the characteristics that include in eBay's. Ratings and reviews are the maximum essential assets of information during the customer buying process. Users are eager to verify their purchase decisions, and strive to do so using social media and real-time feedback from other users as their primary source. Good ratings and reviews will instantly create a sign of trust to others customer. The five characteristic of eBay was the most important to growth their income.

Human Morality Essay

A common question throughout history has always been about human morality. Because of our higher thinking capacity, we are hardwired to adapt and refine our basic instincts to survive; therefore, it is obvious this question would be disputed throughout time. Are humans innately good, bad, or plainly neutral? The position that any one person takes may be derived from any number of ideas, be them philosophical thoughts or scientific inquiries. This essay asserts that morality is innate, and uses both scientific studies and ideas from philosophers to support this argument. Man is essentially good, and the different ways people are nurtured—from societal influences to parental influences—creates the large spectrum and variety of behavior that may not be deemed â€Å"good† or â€Å"moral. † The magazine Smithsonian published an article named â€Å"Born to Be Mild† in January of 2013 on morality in young children. This article wrote about a few different studies done on children by three different experimenters. In one of the studies titled â€Å"Spontaneous Altruism by Chimpanzees and Young Children,† Felix Warneken tested the morality of humans through young babies (because they have had little to no socialization) and also tested morality of chimpanzees, the closest relative to humans. In this study, 18-month-old toddlers were tested to see if they would help others in need by retrieving a dropped item that an adult struggled for. In almost all instances, the child returned the item. Warneken stated, â€Å"[Helping at that age] is not something that’s been trained, and [the children] come to help without prompting or without being rewarded† (Tucker 39). Not only did the toddlers help people in need, they also helped without social cues (such as the distress someone in need has). Many toddlers in the experiment Warneken created helped retrieve a can that had fallen off a table next to an adult and the adult failed to realize something was amiss. When Warneken tested the chimpanzees to see if they would return the same answers, he tested chimpanzees that were nursery-raised and semi-wild chimps. Both tests displayed the same results as the tests on the toddlers—chimpanzees were willing to help both humans and other chimps in need with no reward for themselves (Tucker 39-41). The fact that most of the toddlers and human relatives, the chimpanzees, helped others in need both with and without social cues strongly points to the idea that human morality is innate. A second study highlighted in the Smithsonian article was a reproduction of a previous study from the mid-2000s. The original study was an animated presentation shown to six to ten month old babies in one group and three month old babies in a second. The animated presentation consisted of a red circle attempted to climb a hill. In one instance, a triangle helped the circle climb, and in another, a square knocked the circle down. When the square and triangle were presented to the older group of babies, almost all babies chose the helping triangle over the hindering square. For the younger group, the researchers tracked the eye movement of the babies to either the triangle or square, because the babies could not physically grab the object. In the reproduction, done by another experimenter, the results were the same. Once again, evidence suggests that because babies seem so morally good, humans are innately good, and it is the nurture we receive as we are socialized into this culture that may cause some people to seem morally corrupt (Tucker 38-39). It should be noted that because the reproduction provided the same results as the original study, an even stronger case was created for the idea of innate human morality. The messages that Machiavelli gives in â€Å"The Qualities of the Prince† may cause one to believe that humans are innately evil because through â€Å"The Qualities of the Prince,† Machiavelli details how to be cunning, take control, and maintain control as a ruler of a province. His teachings seem to create humans as greedy people, hungry for more. This is actually very incorrect. Machiavelli clearly states, â€Å"it is necessary for a prince†¦to learn how to not be good† (42). I emphasize that Machiavelli wrote a man must learn to not be good. One can assume from this that Machiavelli is saying man is at least in some degree, wholesome and moral. After all, humans were never meant to civilize and evolve. We are, in true form, animals that have an instinct to survive. Ruling and gaining power is a man-made idea. Opponents to the idea that humans are moral might suggest that if ruling is man-made, evil is already within us because we created the concept of ruling others; however, if man were truly evil, he would not take murder as a heavy offense, and would kill others in his way to get what he wants instead of just gaining control. The examples of rulers that Machiavelli writes help to reiterate this point. These men were not born thinking of war and control. They were raised and socialized to lead and gain power. Steinbeck and the messages he delivers in The Grapes of Wrath also point to the idea that human morality is innate. The author often writes of the distinct line of those with, and those without—in other words, the owners and the migrants or farmers. Steinbeck makes a point to write about how close-knit the migrants are in many instances. Steinbeck writes â€Å"‘I lost my land’ is changed†¦[to] ‘We lost our land. ’,† ‘I have a little food’ plus ‘I have none’†¦. is ‘We have a little food’† (151); â€Å"the twenty families became one family† (193); and â€Å"when a baby dies a pile of silver coins grew at the door flap† (195). All of these quotes show the goodness in others, to do something for someone in need. This is all in contrast to the owners, which on multiple different pages Steinbeck writes how disconnected they are from the land, and â€Å"the quality of owning freezes you forever into ‘I’† (Steinbeck 152). These owners are so encompassed by the material culture around them, by the greed and the blanketed reality that they cannot see with a moral compass anymore. Of course they have one, for at one point they might have been like the farmers, caring for others and instituted into the â€Å"we† group. Proponents for human neutrality might argue that the owners were never at any point good, that they were neutral and socialized into the owning culture, unlike the farming culture. This is not the case, however, through a passage that Steinbeck wrote very early in The Grapes of Wrath, which said, â€Å"Some of the owner men were kind because they hated what they had to do, and some of them were angry because they hated to be cruel, and some of them were cold because they had long ago found that one could not be an owner unless one were cold† (31). This insinuates that in all types of owners, there is a moral compass. Even in the coldest owners, deep within them, they acknowledge the idea that the work they do is wrong. Because the owners know what is wrong, they know the opposite as well—what is right. If the owners were not innately good, their views on what is right or wrong would be skewed by their societal influences. While people will never give up the argument of human morality, it is a safe bet to argue that humans are innately good. We possess the ability to help spontaneously and without reward, as shown in the scientific studies, and we understand what is right and wrong. Our societal influences and the way we were raised affects if we will channel our morality or go against it, as shown by Machiavelli in â€Å"The Qualities of the Prince† and by Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath. Works Cited Machiavelli, Niccolo. â€Å"The Qualities of the Prince. † A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee Jacobus. 8th e. Boston: Bedford, 2010. Print. Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 1939. Print. Tucker, Abigail. â€Å"Born to Be Mild. † Smithsonian Jan. 2013: 35-41, 76-77. Print.

Obedience To Authority Essay

The Vietnam controversy made many people feel at distress. It was never considered a â€Å"war,† although that is exactly what it was. The My Lai Massacre in Vietnam was one of the many atrocities of that war. There is an unquestionable connection between Milgram’s â€Å"Obedience to Authority† and the My Lai Massacre. According to Kelman & Hamilton, â€Å"Unquestioning obedience has been the cause of such disasters as the My Lai massacre and the Holocaust. People need to resist the dangerous web of influence from strong personalities in fields such as politics, religion and the mass media who become the objects of their idolatry. To become less susceptible to the irrational persuasive power of such personalities, individuals should develop a sense of self-respect and practice critical thinking† (Kelman & Hamilton). In cases such as the My Lai Massacre, the soldiers were not just following the thoughts of a politician or religious figure. They followed their military leader, the same person they counted on for leadership and survival. â€Å"Soldiers are trained to always follow orders, never question orders (When I say jump, u you say how high). But that belief is somewhat erroneous, the charge to the soldier is to obey any lawful order given (Schwalbe). â€Å"Absolute obedience, although not wholeheartedly embraced in official military pronouncements, is nevertheless unanimously praised in combat context (Peppers). Some military scholars call the modern version of military discipline â€Å"enlightened obedience.† Enlightened obedience springs from a belief on the part of the subordinate that his superior’s orders are authoritative and valid (Peppers).† A classic example of the power of authoritative factors is provided by Stanley Milgram’s study on obedience to authority. College students from Yale University were asked to participate in an experiment to test the effects of punishment on learning. They were willing to continue administering what they thought were increasingly higher levels of shocks to  another subject (actually an actor) simply because the experimenter (Milgram) said to do so. The results, in fact, were so unbelieveable that they made Milgram one of the most famous social psychologist. About 65 percent of the subjects continued to obey the experimenter to the end of the experiment even when they thought the victim was getting dangerous levels of electric shock, and even when he asked them to stop So what exactly does the My Lai Massacre have to do with Milgram’s experiment? The My Lai Massacre of 1968, in which a company of American soldiers poured automatic rifle fire into groups of unarmed villagers, killing perhaps 500 people, many of them women and children† (Hammer). Those soldiers were obeying orders from a superior officer. â€Å"It passed without notice when it occurred in mid-March 1968. Yet the brief blood bath at My Lai, a hamlet in Viet Cong-infested territory 335 miles northeast of Saigon, may yet have an impact on the war. According to accounts that suddenly appeared on TV and in the world press last week, a company of 60 or 70 U.S. Infantrymen had  entered My Lai early one morning and destroyed houses, livestock and all the inhabitants that they could find in a brutal operation that took less than 20 minutes. When it was over, the Vietnamese dead totaled at least 100 men, women and children, and perhaps many more, only 25 or so escaped, because they lay hidden under the fallen bodies of others. (Schawlbe) Military men said that stories of what happened at My Lai are correct. If so, the incident ranks as the most serious atrocity yet attributed to American troops† (Hammer). Isard said, â€Å"I see men who obeyed the leaders of their country, then lost themselves†. The My Lai Massacre was planned. â€Å"Planned, how could it have been planned? A recon patrol, perhaps, was planned, maybe even a search and destroy mission: Burn the villages; interrogate the villagers, and all that. But a massacre? Strategies are planned. Brutalities just happen† (Isard). â€Å"Obedience to Authority† Stanley Milgram described the â€Å"agentic shift in  which an individual attributes responsibility for his or her actions to a person in the position of authority.† In the My Lai Massacre the men felt it was their duty to open fire on the village. They were given orders to do just that. There was no questioning of orders from Cally, their superiour. The soldiers must have done as they were told, or incur sever consequences. Soldiers are taught from their first moments in Boot Camp that orders must be obeyed. The way in which the My Lai Massacre was particularly a case of over obedience to the military, is that the men that committed the massacre were ordered to do so. They did not decide on their own to destroy a bunch of people. They were following orders from military authoritative figures to destroy My Lai. What does this mean? Its clearly a case of over obedience to military authority. The men had two choices. They could obey a command and kill hundreds of innocent people, or they could disobey a command and face a possible consequences from the courts. In actuality they didn’t have a choice. many of the soldiers in Vietnam were there because of the draft, they however in their eyes, served their country to their best of their knowledge. They went bravely into battle and they did what had to be done. In the case of the My Lai Massacre, they were following orders just as they had done in many other times in the war. Only this time, the orders were to kill hundreds of villagers, not the Viet Cong, not the enemy. There were women and children in that village. They were gunned down mercilessly. For what reason? They were ordered to do so. The soldiers had an obligation, a duty to obey their superiors. That is what makes the military so successful. Soldiers not ask questions; they merely obey orders. In this  instance the orders went too far. Hundreds of innocent people were killed in the name of following orders. Is this any less an atrocious because the men were ordered to fire on the village of My Lai? No. Were the men doing this for personal gain? No. Were they doing it out of hatred or in defense? No.  Many of the people in the village were women and children. The soldiers had nothing against those people In this instance the village of My Lai was a case of death by over obedience of the American army. Was what they did right or wrong? In the eyes of most people, including the participants, the action was wrong, but they could not be faulted because they were simply following orders. Works Cited Hammer, Richard One Morning in the War: The tragedy at Son My. Coward-McCann NY 1970 Isard, Walter., ed. Vietnam: Issues and Alternatives. Schenkman . Cambridge MA: 1969 Kelman, Herbert C.; Hamilton, Lee V. Crimes of Obedience. New Haven: Yale University Press. 1989 Milgram, Stanley. â€Å"The Perils of Obedience.† Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. 7th ed. By Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen. New York: Longman, 2000. 343-355 Miller, Heather. â€Å"Stanley Milgram† http://muskingum.edu/~psychology/psycweb/history/milgram.htm Peppers, Donald A. â€Å"War Crimes and Induction: A Case for Selective Nonconscientious Objection.† Philosophy and Public Affairs, Vol. 3, No. 2. (Winter, 1974), pp.129-166. JSTOR Middlesex County College Library, Edison. 29 Nov. 2000 http://www.jstor.org Schwalbe, David. â€Å"The My Lai Massacre.† American History. 1998 http://americanhistory.about.com/homework/americanhistory/library/weekly/aa031798.htm