Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Enterprise security plan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Enterprise security plan - Research Paper Example nes of the proposal are pertinent to information security and privacy that are currently put forward by bodies of the state, federal regulators, and the state. New technologies are coming up in the market daily. Therefore, there is need to safeguard the evolving technologies. In the case where MEMATECH Solutions limited has this need, I have proposed to develop and install a new security plan for the company. The idea behind the plan is to come up with a network that connects all the machines in the organization in protecting the plan from being publicized during the stage of development and research. The paper therefore, discusses the proposal of MEMATECH Solutions limited security plan proposal for the connections that dwells on the authentication mechanisms, policies of password, and the plan’s proposed cost (Pipkin, 2000). I have proposed a security plan for MEMATECH Solutions limited for the connection that will safeguard their new products when researching and developing stages are carried out. The paper proposes a comprehensive plan that deals with password policy, network policy, authentication of data, and the project’s cost. To safeguard the project it is imperative that all information and data are kept on different network, and on servers that are not within the success of the general corporate. This can be achieved by developing new networks through the appliances of Cisco Terascale router or Cisco ASA security, VMware, VLANS, and windows 2008 with the help of IPV6 private addressing. Employing the appliances of ASA security and Terascale, I will be able to monitor and control the entire network and access traffic on the corporate network subset through the firewall features. In conjunction with MAC address, I will implement through filtering to offer more security. The IPV6 IP mechanism will be employed to help it from attempts of network intrusion and brute force. I will use private address to ensure that all the IP address are internal free

Monday, October 28, 2019

Analysis of Video “The World is Flat” Essay Example for Free

Analysis of Video â€Å"The World is Flat† Essay Key issues or Problems in the video: The title The World is Flat was taken from a statement by Nandan Nilekani, the former Infosys (an Indian IT company) CEO. It seems like if hadnt met Nandan then he wouldnt have even written this book. He talks about Americans and the developing world but says almost nothing about Africa, Europe Australia. The World is flat applies better to people with similar kind of economic conditions. In developing world, a big portion of population is poor or much below poverty line as per American standard. Their first challenge is access to food and Education. How could they be part of level playing field and make this world flat. Friedman says first that Nineteenth century belonged to English, Twentieth Century to USA and Twenty first Century to China. Friedman argues that latest age of globalization will be spearheaded by Individuals. He just made this assumption after meeting the cab driver in Budapest Peruvian Dishware seller who have their own websites. The percentage of people doing their own business like this is still extremely low to claim that the era belongs to them. It feels like an exaggeration. Its conflicting that on one hand, he says 21st century belongs to China and on the other hand, he says latest age of globalization (which is now) will be spearheaded by Individuals. I can’t accept his methods and question his research and interview process. Friedman is stating something without actually based on real documented facts, but on talks with friends and CEOs he visits. By what it leaves out, it does nothing more than misinform the people around the World. In the end, he talks about Green New Clean energy which kind of feel out of context from the main topic. Critique of video, Supporting arguments, rebuttals of ideas: I think there is a lot to criticize about the Video â€Å"The World is Flat†. Friedmans view of the globalized world is often obsessed with the successful multinational corporations of India. In the video he talks about individuals or â€Å"free agents†, but being a free agent is riskier. Free agents will not have fixed salary and health care benefits (Source: Brown, C.V.). If there is a free agent in India, he can’t work for American company without Social Security Number for Tax purposes. 90% of the worlds telephone calls, Internet traffic, and investments are local, suggesting that this Video has overstated the trends. His talk of a new flat world  where information, money, ideas, and people can move worldwide faster than before is unreal, we just see a fraction of what he describes globalization (Refer Source:wiki). Globalization causes unemployment here in America. It is shipping jobs outside America where its easy to find cheap labor. The winners will be capitalists worldwide causing income inequality everywhere. This would imply that Globalization will make the world NON-Flat instead. He talks about mashing the two specializations together which doesn’t always give the better result. Actions I would take next and why or personal experience dealing with the issues: The video presents more of an American perspective. Friedmans work history has been mostly with The NY Times, and has definitely affected the way due to which he thinks this way. I would have liked his ideas in a more inclusive voice to show the whole World’s perspective. I would encourage fair trade instead of free trade. If we put his claims to test against documented facts. It will not pass. I would have liked more research and references. World will be actually a level playing field when everybody will have a fair opportunity to Education Resource of Technology. If I make a website and start selling say â€Å"Baseball bats†. First of all, there will be a Brand position issue that is why would people come to me instead of going to Store like â€Å"Sports Authority† or so where they can try and test things before buying. Secondly, In real world, its hard to be an Individual and manage the whole thing like getting the stuff made in foreign countries, handle the custom portion, get it shipped etc. on your own. Sources: (2014, May 9). The World is Flat. Retrieved Jun 7, 2011 from Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_Is_Flat Brown, C.V., Dehayes, D.W., Hoffer, J.A., Martin, E.W., Perkins, W.C. (2012). Managing information technology (7th ed.): Managing IT in a digital world. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Personal Ethics vs Professional Ethics :: professional vs personal ethics

What is the difference between personal ethics and professional ethics? Ethics is a word that can be used loosely, so it’s important to understand the meaning of this question by first discussing what is meant by personal ethics or professional ethics. I assume the question is using the term personal ethics to mean one’s conscience and the term professional ethics to mean adherence to a professional code. Sometimes those two roles can conflict. For instance, we have cases of doctors who have refused to prescribe the morning after pill, because they believe it will terminate a human life. In this case the doctor has decided that his personal ethics will guide him or her. Alternatively, a police officer may enforce a law that they personally believe is unjust. In this case the police officer has decided to put aside personal concerns and allow professional obligations to guide his or her behavior. Likewise a judge may follow the law and impose the death penalty even though he or she may be personally opposed to it. Typically people have resolved this by drawing a line between their role as a professional and their role as an individual. They often decide to follow a professional code of ethics when they are acting as a professional even though they may personally disagree. However, if your professional obligations put you in such a state of conflict that you feel you can’t uphold your personal ethics, then you have the option of resigning. This dilemma is not limited to professional vs personal. All of us are confronted with the reality of rules or laws that we personally believe are unjust or immoral. We have to determine how to resolve this tension. Being a pragmatic ethicist, I do not believe that we should always take a principled and extreme stance for every issue. For instance, I am against the death penalty, but I don’t feel like moving out of New York State just because this state allows the death penalty.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

How Are Vision & Mission Statements Used to Set the Strategic Direction?

Best Examples of a Vision Statement A vision statement for a company or organization focuses on the potential inherent in the company's future, or what they intend to be. While a vision statement might contain references to how the company intends to make that future into a reality, the â€Å"how† is really part of a â€Å"mission† statement, while the vision statement is simply a description of the â€Å"what,† meaning, what the company intends to become. Ads by Google Trading Stocks Online ? Find why many prefer to Trade Forex High Leverage,1/1Training & support www. iforex. h Vision Statements: Reviews and Ideas To find the best examples of vision statements, consider these statements made by some of the world's most innovative and successful companies: Online Retailer â€Å"We intend to provide our customers with the best online shopping experience from beginning to end, with a smart, searchable website, easy-to-follow instructions, clear and secure payment methods, and fast, quality delivery. † From this statement example, you can clearly tell that this company is an online retailer. You can also tell they have put thought into the statement by making a list of goals.They don't simply say that they want to be â€Å"the best† online shopping site – they give a list of ways in which they intend to do that. This is a quality vision statement because it outlines the specific future they intend to create for themselves, but it doesn't give specific steps on how they will do it (better saved for a mission statement). Hair Salon â€Å"Our salon will change the way you think about a haircut. Full service comfort, friendly staff, a relaxing atmosphere, and the best prices in town give you an experience that will leave you glowing both inside and out. Once again, it's clear from this vision statement what type of business is behind it. It's also a good, clear list of goals, without being too specific. It paints an overall p icture of a pleasant, successful business that the company hopes to become, and since the vision statement isn't just a vision of your future – it's also a vision you're presenting to your customers about who you are – it's important that it do just that. Apple Computer â€Å"We believe that we are on the face of the earth to make great products and that's not changing. We are constantly focusing on innovating. We believe in the simple not the complex.We believe that we need to own and control the primary technologies behind the products that we make, and participate only in markets where we can make a significant contribution. We believe in saying no to thousands of projects, so that we can really focus on the few that are truly important and meaningful to us. We believe in deep collaboration and cross-pollination of our groups, which allow us to innovate in a way that others cannot. And frankly, we don't settle for anything less than excellence in every group in the company, and we have the self-honesty to admit when we're wrong and the courage to change.And I think regardless of who is in what job those values are so embedded in this company that Apple will do extremely well. â€Å"- Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Computer (Quoted on CNN Money. com). PepsiCo â€Å"PepsiCo's responsibility is to continually improve all aspects of the world in which we operate – environment, social, economic – creating a better tomorrow than today. Our vision is put into action through programs and a focus on environmental stewardship, activities to benefit society, and a commitment to build shareholder value by making PepsiCo a truly sustainable company. (Quoted from Pepsi Co. com. ) Amazon â€Å"Our [Amazon's] vision is to be earth's most customer centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online. † (Quoted from Amazon. com) Short Vision Statements Sometimes a vision statement ca n be summarized in one sentence. Examples include: †¢To help people be healthy, †¢To have our product in every home in the United States, †¢To help people enjoy life, or offer an affordable solution to health care. Local companies might aspire to be the best company in the town or to offer ocally grown produce. A restaurant may have this vision statement: To offer fresh and delicious food to our customers along with a fun-filled dining experience. Long Vision Statements Vision statements may also be longer as well. Some examples include: †¢As we move towards our goal of being a world-class university, we will support research on a global scale. Locally, our campus will service the research needs of the learning community, granting access to many informational resources. †¢The XYZ Company will inspire its employees to be the best they can be.We will engage in sustainable practices and anticipate the needs of our customers. We will maximize return to the stock holders while still maintaining quality in our products. †¢Our vision is to bring our students into the 21st century through innovation and modern technology. Learning will be enhanced with computer software and educational games that will allow students to proceed at their own rate according to their ability. In each of these examples, the vision statement helps to define goals, creating something to work towards in the future.Ads by Google Best Vision Correction LASIK, LASEK, Laser eye surgery. Find best deal in Korea through KMH kmhglobal. com Cars For Sale Philippines Brand New & Used Cars For Sale At Sulit Cars Buy And Sell Philippines Cars. Sulit. com. ph Writing a Good Vision Statement Looking at these vision statement examples should give you a good jumping off point for knowing what a vision statement is and how to write one. Vision statements are a challenge for many people because they aren't sure what form the statement is supposed to take. A typical corporate or co mpany vision statement will be brief and succinct; it will say a lot in just a few words, so those words must be very carefully chosen. †¢The key to a good vision statement is to think of things in a long-term, broad sense, without sounding generic. †¢If you're too specific, you will limit your vision and it won't be applicable ten years down the road: for example, if your current goal for your business is to move into a larger building, that's a vision for the future but it's not the vision for the future of your entire business. It's too narrow in focus. On the other hand, if you say that you want to achieve success – well, any business in the world could say that. It's too generic. The best statement will be clear about who you are as a company as well as who you wish to become. Writing a good vision statement isn't difficult. Think about what your business does and what, in an ideal world, you would like it to do and how you would like to appear to the outside w orld. Consider the services and attributes that your company provides, then imagine how it would be if you provided the very best version of them possible.List those visions, and incorporate them into a brief statement that gives a good overview of the kind of image you want to represent. Understanding your goals and being able to state them clearly is the first step toward making them happen. =————– †¢PRESENTATION By Mirabel †¢2. DEVELOPMENT OF MISSION & VISION STATEMENT . FOR THE TRAMPORL GROUP. [Sandwich Makers] TASK 2 †¢3. MISSION STATEMENT. To be recognised as a leading distinctive brand of fresh, homemade, quality sandwich makers; Offered to customers at the most reasonable, affordable price; For a healthier, refreshing, filling and totally satisfying meal .MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 †¢4. TECHNIQUE USED TO DEVELOP THE MISSION STATEMENT. 1. Identified the company’s winning idea: – Providing FRESH & HEALTHY pro ducts. 2. Identified the key measures of success:- Affordable & reasonable price, best quality, for a good quantity, delivered to the customer. 3. Combined the winning idea and success measures into a measurable goal:- Total satisfaction derived by the customer. MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 A mission statement describes the basic overall purpose and function of the organisation. †¢5. TECHNIQUE USED TO DEVELOP THE MISSION STATEMENT. (contd†¦.. ) 4.Finally, I refined the words until I came up with a concise and precise statement of Tramporl’s mission which expresses our ideas, measures and desired result. Hence, our MISSION STATEMENT : MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 †¢6. MISSION STATEMENT. â€Å" To be recognised as a leading distinctive brand of fresh, homemade, quality sandwich makers; Offered to customers at the most reasonable, affordable price; For a healthier, refreshing, filling and totally satisfying meal . † MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 †¢7. VISION S TATEMENT. We at Tramporl take cautious steps to ensure that all our sandwiches reach our customers in the utmost best and fresh condition.Delivered straight to you to foster a healthy, wholesome, nourishing and flourishing lifestyle. Absolutely affordable to all to generate the optimum value. MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 †¢8. TECHNIQUE USED TO DEVELOP THE VISION STATEMENT. MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 After identifying the company’s mission, uncover the real human value in that mission. Nutritional value for the health conscious consumer. Homemade, prepared under the right food & health policies to ensure freshness. (right temperatures, proper hand washing and glove-use procedures etc. ). 2.Identified what the company, it’s customers and A vision statement is a vivid idealised description of a desired outcome that inspires, energizes and helps you create a mental picture of your target. †¢9. TECHNIQUE USED TO DEVELOP THE VISION STATEMENT . (contd)†¦ other st akeholder will value most about how the company will achieve this mission. Customer : Healthy, nourishing & wholesome lifestyle. Filling meal. Commitment to improving health Employees : Teamwork, Diversity, commitment to employee happiness and well-being, Trust and respect. Shareholders : optimising profits & minimising our cost. (optimum value for all).MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 †¢10. TECHNIQUE USED TO DEVELOP THE VISION STATEMENT . (contd)†¦ Government : adhering to the policy and legislative processes in the food industry in operation in the UK, EU and internationally. Community/Society : Tackling the social issue of obesity by helping to bring about lasting improvements to the nation’s nutrition and health. Hence a call for a change towards healthier habits in the food service companies. 3. Combining the mission and values I polished the words until I came up with a vision statement inspiring enough to energise and motivate people inside and outside the company. Hence, our VISION STATEMENT; MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 †¢11. VISION STATEMENT. â€Å" We at Tramporl take cautious steps to ensure that all our sandwiches reach our customers in the utmost best and fresh condition. Delivered straight to you to foster a healthy, wholesome, nourishing and flourishing lifestyle. Absolutely affordable to all to generate the optimum value. † MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 Our vision Our vision is what we want to be and how we want to be perceived. It is what we aspire to. It inspires and motivates us. We make sustainable food production possible.Our mission Our mission is our reason for being, what we do on a daily basis to fulfil our vision. †¢We team up with customers. †¢From our leading position in dairy farming we innovate and expand in new segments and new geographies. †¢We provide integrated solutions and ensure that everywhere we do business, we lead. †¢We exist for the customer around the clock. Our core values Our co re values help us make the right decisions and guide our daily working behaviour. Passion †¢We share a passion for delivering customer value. †¢We are proud of our heritage and our success. From our leading position in dairy farming, we expand our business with passion. †¢This passion distinguishes us from other companies People †¢We have the ability and are trusted to make decisions within our area of responsibility. †¢We build our success on competence and constantly invest in personal development. †¢We share our knowledge, support each other and enjoy being part of a team. †¢We encourage diversity and appreciate the creativity that comes from a mix of cultures, gender, sexual orientation, religions, experiences and personalities. †¢We are part of a global network.Professionals †¢We deliver quality in everything we do. †¢We have clear responsibilities and fulfil our commitments. †¢We listen, learn, innovate and constantly impr ove. †¢We are proud of who we are and humbly reflect this through our attitude and behaviour. †¢We stay true to our values. Partnerships †¢Our customers, their needs and expectations, are the starting point for everything we do. †¢Our dealers are business partners with whom we jointly deliver customer values. †¢DeLaval employees, our dealers and customers partner for long-term business results.Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Mission Statement – 12 Values & Principles for Success Mission Statement, Headquarters and History of Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin’ Brands The Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream mission statement is comprised of 12 Values and Principles for Success fashioned by its parent company, Dunkin’ Brands. (See the Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin’ Brands Values & Principles below. ) 6 of 138 PreviousNext Ad Manila | Virtual OfficesRegus. com. ph/Manila_Virtual_OfficesPrime Address & Mail Forwarding. Cost Effective to Start up. 50% OFF Getty Imag e Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Stores Founders Facts and Trivia:Baskin-Robbins was founded by brothers-in-law Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins, who each started their own ice cream shops, and then merged them together to create the Baskin-Robbins concept. Irv’s ice cream store was Snowbird Ice Cream, which he opened in Glendale, California in 1945, featuring 21 different ice cream flavors. Burt’s ice cream shop was called Burton’s Ice Cream Shop, and the first one opened in Pasadena, California in 1946. In 1953 more than 40 Burton’s and Snowbird Ice Cream shops were rebranded as Baskin-Robbins 31 Ice Cream, with â€Å"31† representing a different flavor for every day of the month.Baskin-Robbins was acquired by London-based J. Lyons & Col, and is now part of the Dunkin’ Brands group along with the Dunkin’ Donuts chain. Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Chain Headquarters: The corporate headquarters of Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream are located with the headqu arters of the Dunkin’ Brands group in Canton, Massachusetts. The Mission Statement of Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream and Dunkin’ Brands: Since 100% of the more than 6,000 Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream stores in 50 countries are franchise-owned, each Baskin-Robbins franchise owner could have their own mission statement.But as the parent company of Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin’ Brands has 12 Values and Principles that the company believes should guide the decisions of everyone associated with Baskin-Robbins retail outlets, leading Baskin-Robbins franchisees toward success. The Dunkin’ Brands Values and Guiding Principles are: †Our Values †¢Honesty – Embrace the truth about oneself and the world. †¢Transparency – Demonstrate openness and vulnerability. †¢Humility – Acknowledge own mistakes and commit to learning. †¢Integrity – Say what you think and do what you say. †¢Respectfulness – Honor the dignity, inclus ion, and diversity of others. Fairness – Do what is right based on common principles. †¢Responsibility – Make yourself accountable to the community. Our Guiding Principles †¢Leadership – Responsibility with passion at every level. †¢Innovation – Excellence in everything we do. †¢Execution – Ownership and accountability for results, success and failure. †¢Social Stewardship – Demonstration of good corporate citizenship and responsibility to all constituencies. †¢Fun – Approach every challenge with enthusiasm, energy and excitement†¦ celebrate every step of the way! † More About U. S.Company Mission Statements, History, and Headquarters: Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Founders Facts and Trivia: The first Ben and Jerry's ice cream store was opened on May 5, 1978 in Burlington, Vermont after Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield completed a correspondence course on ice cream making from the Pennsylvania State University Creamery. Ben and Jerry were born four days apart, and met in junior high school. The first Benn and Jerry's ice cream flavors included Dastardly Mash, Heath Bar Crunch, Chunky Monkey, Tuskegee Chunk, and Cherry Garcia. Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Headquarters:The headquarters of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream is located where the company first began in Burlington, Vermont. The Mission Statement of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream: The mission of Ben and Jerry's is really about contributing to making a positive change in the world. To do that, Ben and Jerry's has three missions that the company strives to integrate into its daily business operations†¦ â€Å"Ben and Jerry's Social Mission To operate the Company in a way that actively recognizes the central role that business plays in society by initiating innovative ways to improve the quality of life locally, nationally, and internationally.Ben and Jerry's Product Mission To make, distribute and sell the finest quality all natura l ice cream and euphoric concoctions with a continued commitment to incorporating wholesome, natural ingredients and promoting business practices that respect the Earth and the Environment. Ben and Jerry's Economic Mission To operate the Company on a sustainable financial basis of profitable growth, increasing value for our stakeholders and expanding opportunities for development and career growth for our employees. â€Å"

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Chapter two †Mississippi schools Essay

The following literature focuses on how schools in the Mississippi School district and nationwide are implementing school improvement plans and closing the achievement gap. In School Improvement and Closing the Achievement Gap Report 2003-2004 the accountability of Mississippi Schools past and present is discussed (2004) and Craig Jerald, author of Dispelling the Myth discusses how nationwide high poverty, high minority schools have high achieving students (2001). Both reports will be discussed here. The researcher wanted to know how many high-poverty and high minority schools nationwide have high student performance. The study used the Education Trust Database to identify certain criteria. Over 4500 schools were analyzed. Each meeting the criteria set and performing well above the expectation (2001). Both papers discuss the achievement gap, more importantly they reported the areas of greatest improvement. The Achievement Gap Report (2004) focused on the Mississippi school districts. It gave an accountability report on those school districts that have been struggling, as well as providing a strategic outline to close the gap. Specific schools were used as models of for improving test scores. Dispelling the Myth (Jerald, 2001) focused on school districts nation wide. Although no reasons for poor school performance were given, the author did state that none of the schools were magnet schools. This report showed that most schools with high poverty, high minority students live in urban areas (2001). However, the more recently published Achievement Gap Report (2004) reported that some of the poorest schools are in rural areas. Dispelling the Myth (2001) looked at specific criteria for the study, whereas, the Achievement Gap Report (2004) did not. Both studies failed to look at specific schools and detail specific strategies used in improving the achievement gap. The Mississippi Achievement Gap Report (2004) plan made suggestions on how schools can improve, but a greater detail is needed to truly understand what each school did to improve scores. Model schools or a model program can be established based on greater research. Socioeconomic Influence Literature regarding reading programs was of most interest for this study. Several scientific journals addressed factors of low socioeconomic status and under achievement. The achievement gap found amongst low-income students was addressed in Education: The State We’re In (Donahue & Griggs, 2003). Substantial information was given on the obstacles facing high-poverty youth today. Reading proficiency among elementary school students of low-income families are at a disadvantage (2003). When studying low-income fourth graders, the author found that in 2003, across the nation, only fifteen percent are proficient in reading. The authors also demonstrated that the majority of low-income students read about three grades behind non-poor students (2003). Proficiency differences among races were briefly discussed; Similar disparities exist between white students and students of color; 39% of white 4th graders can read at the proficient level compared to only 12 % of African-American students and 14% of Latinos. Overall, about three in ten fourth graders can read proficiently, and this in itself is cause for concern. (2003) Parental Involvement, Instructional Expenditures, Family Socioeconomic Attributes, and Student Achievement (Okpala, et al, 2001). Parental involvement is a commonly discussed approach to establishing higher student achievement. A study done in North Carolina was based on three factors; (a) Instructional supplies expenditures will affect academic achievement positively; (b) the SES of students in a given school, measured by the percentage of students that participate in free/reduced-price lunch programs, will affect student achievement negatively; and (c) parental involvement that is measured by parental volunteer hours per 100 students will influence student achievement positively. These factors were beneficial in understanding the SES influence on successful reading programs. These factors and the results of this particular study will be investigated further throughout this study. Implementing Change A very brief but informative piece, Evidence from Project Star About Class Size and Student Achievement (Folgers & Breda, 1989) addressed three specific questions to ask oneself when considering changing programs. The three questions were; 1) How effective will the change be? 2) How much will it cost and 3) what are the problems of implementation? (1989) All three of these questions were found to be valuable when assessing existing programs, as well as when considering the necessary factors when looking to improve upon them. The Gallup Poll (1989 Survey) was reported to have an overwhelming approval from parents when asked about reducing class size. The problem with this strategy is that â€Å"reducing class size substantially is very costly† (1989). A widely researched program investigated during this study was the Accelerated Reader Program. One report (Melton, et. al. , 2004) demonstrated the uses and results of the AR program. By definition the Accelerated Readers program is â€Å"†¦a learning information system designed to heighten student interest in literature and to help teacher manage literature-based reading (McKnight, 1992). This study was particularly significant because it was conducted in two Jackson, Mississippi elementary schools. There has been extensive coverage of the AR program. A 2004 study compared the reading achievement growth of fifth graders following a year of participation in the AR program with other fifth graders who did not participate. The results demonstrated that students in the AR program actually scored significantly lower than non-participants. Although many studies show little to no benefits from the AR program, the program has provided a few guidelines; such guidelines include, 1) Engage students in large amount of reading practice with authentic material 2) students should read at their own individual reading level, and 3) student incentives such as ribbons or extra recess improves the odds of a students success. By using computer technology, teachers can use the AR program to assess students reading level and invite and motivate students to read material they find interesting (Vollands, et al. , 1999). Students are given a choice of books suited to their particular reading level. Random multiple choice tests are given to test students’ comprehension of the material. In a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (Dept. of Education) evaluation, AR programs and other computerized reading programs were reviewed (Chenowith, 2001). The lack of research on evaluated programs ability to produce long-term gains in reading achievement caused the National Institute to determine the AR programs did not meet standards (2001). Common complaints of the AR program include, 1) when the program ended, participating students went back to reading less than before participating 2) the AR program limited the choice of books available to a student because certain books that were not accompanied by an AR test were not valid (Chenowith, 2001) and 3) AR encourages children to read for the wrong reasons, for example to win a prize (Carter, 1996). However, as Chenowith (2001) noted, many parents responded to the latter, that it did not matter why students read, as long as they were in fact reading. Topping and Paul (1999) found that with the proper educator training on the AR program, the odds of successful student achievement with the program will improve. Students already in at risk in reading before the AR program will gain positive results when AR is implemented (Vollands, Topping and Evans, 1999). â€Å"Many elementary schools have adopted programs which encourage authentic reading time and aid in the development of reading skills for life (Melton, et al. , 2004). However, little research has been conducted on individual, less costly programs (2004). When studying the effects of the AR program on African American students and white students in Mississippi, black students scored lower (2004).

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Jack and Jill essays

Jack and Jill essays The field of study known as Human Development is the committed scientific evaluation of the changes involved in a human lifespan from birth to death. There are several differing behavioral perspectives advanced by leaders in the field, but they are all united in one goal. All perspectives strive to recognize and describe the factors and events that transform and impact an individual during their lifetime. The following paragraphs have taken a simple nursery rhyme and addressed the human behaviors displayed in the context of some of the more prominent behavioral perspectives. Let us begin with the first line of the nursery rhyme. Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack and Jill are two adolescents living in a small rural English village sometime in the 1600s. Jill is a buxom young lady of considerable physical attraction who has been up the hill on several other occasions to fetch water. Actually, the well is a very secluded, often used place for amorous trysts. Jack has never fetched water before, and he is very nervous, although very excited at the prospect. He is sure Jill will instruct him in the correct water fetching technique. Lets apply the psychoanalytic perspective to this scenario. According to this theory, people move through a series of conflicts between biological drives and socially acceptable behavior. In Freuds theory, the personality has three parts-the id, ego, and superego. The id is the most basic of human desires and demands satisfaction above all else. The ego is middle management and is responsible for managing the ids desires into the appropriate time and place. The superego is the CEO, better known as the conscience of the human consciousness. He strives to make sure everything is done by the book and is always politically correct. Now id and superego are always at odds with each other, and poor ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Starr County Independence essays

Starr County Independence essays With the Magic Valley caught up in a race with the rest of the country in modern urban design and massed produced pop culture, is there anything left free to define the border background of South Texas? A journey through US Highway Ten leads to the western edge of the Magic, Starr County. With rough landscape and distinctive ways, Starr County is a foreign land unto itself. It begins with the land. As the Magic Valley becomes dissected into suburbs, developed into shopping malls and removed of its regional characteristics, Starr County remains rural in its expanse. The land continues farther than the eye can see. There is a plentiful fragrance of cactus, mesquite, and sagebrush that lingers in the air. The abundance is especially evident as the roads lead north into the huge brush country ranches that map the county. Along the Magic Valley, there are acres and acres of farmland, mostly untouched by the Magic Valleys expanding Americanized modernization. Because of the lack of modernization, the construction of Starr County has its own mode. There are many buildings and homes that are atypical of American contemporary design and decoration. There is more cinder block and clay laid out in rustic charm than red brick and stucco in suburban application. The houses and neighborhoods are randomly intended instead of carefully planned. The colors are vibrant shades of pinks, greens and yellows instead of neutral beiges, browns and creams. Parking lots and driveways are strewn with gravel and caliche rather than paved with concrete or asphalt. The tastes have remained traditional to the area. There are no theme-oriented restaurants like Applebees or Chilis to be found. It would be easier for people to savor a spicy bowl of menudo, seasoned fajitas or a thick brown plate of mole. Adding to the distinctive style is Starr Countys sound. As they reverberate th ...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Auguste Comte and His Role in the History of Sociology

Auguste Comte and His Role in the History of Sociology Auguste Comte was born on January 20, 1798  (according to the Revolutionary calendar then used in France), in Montpellier, France. He was a philosopher who is also considered to be the father of sociology, the study of the  development and function of human society, and of positivism, a means of using scientific evidence to discern causes for human behavior. Early Life and Education Auguste Comte was born in Montpellier, France. After attending the Lycà ©e Joffre and then the University of Montpellier, he  was admitted to the École Polytechnique in Paris. The École closed in 1816, at which time Comte took up permanent residence in Paris, earning a precarious living there by teaching mathematics and journalism. He read widely in philosophy and history and was especially interested in those thinkers who were beginning to discern and trace some order in the history of human society. System of Positive Philosophy Comte lived during one of the most turbulent periods in European history. As a philosopher, therefore, his aim was not only to understand human society but to prescribed a system by which we could make order out of the chaos, and thus change society for the better. He eventually developed what he called a system of positive philosophy, in which logic and mathematics, combined with sensory experience, could better assist in understanding human relationships and action, in the same way that the scientific method  had allowed an understanding of the natural world. In 1826, Comte began a series of lectures on his system of positive philosophy for a private audience, but he soon suffered a serious nervous breakdown. He was hospitalized and later recovered with the help of his wife, Caroline Massin, whom he married in 1824. He resumed teaching the course in January 1829, marking the beginning of the second period in Comtes life that lasted 13 years. During this time he published the six volumes of his Course on Positive Philosophy  between 1830 and 1842. From 1832 to 1842, Comte was a tutor and then an examiner at the revived École Polytechnique. After quarreling with the directors of the school, he lost his post. During the remainder of his life, he was supported by English admirers and French disciples. Additional Contributions to Sociology Though Comte did not originate the concept of sociology or its area of study, he is credited with coining the term and he greatly extended and elaborated the field. Comte divided sociology into two main fields, or branches: social statics, or the study of the forces that hold society together; and social dynamics, or the study of the causes of ​social change.   By using certain tenets of physics, chemistry, and biology, Comte extrapolated what he considered to be a few irrefutable facts about society, namely that since the growth of the human mind progresses in stages, so too must societies. He claimed the history of society could be divided into three different stages: theological, metaphysical, and positive, otherwise known as the Law of Three Stages. The theological stage reveals humankinds superstitious nature, one that ascribes supernatural causes to the workings of the world. The metaphysical stage is an interim stage in which humanity begins to shed its superstitious nature. The final and most evolved stage is reached when human beings finally realize that natural phenomena and world events can be explained through reason and science. Secular Religion Comte separated from his wife in 1842, and in 1845 he began a relationship with Clotilde de Vaux, whom he idolized. She served as the inspiration for his Religion of Humanity, a secular creed intended for the veneration not of God but of humankind, or what Comte called the New Supreme Being.  According to Tony Davies, who has written extensively on the history of humanism, Comtes new religion was a  complete system of belief and ritual, with liturgy and sacraments, priesthood and pontiff, all organized around the public veneration of Humanity. De Vaux died only a year into their affair, and after her death, Comte devoted himself to writing another major work, the four-volume System of Positive Polity, in which he completed his formulation of sociology. Major Publications The Course on Positive Philosophy (1830-1842)Discourse on the Positive Spirit (1844)A General View of Positivism (1848)Religion of Humanity (1856) Death Auguste Comte died in Paris on September 5, 1857, from stomach cancer. He is buried in the famous Pere Lachaise Cemetery, next to his mother and Clotilde de Vaux.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Promoting Utilitarianism or an Alternative Marketing Strategy Essay

Promoting Utilitarianism or an Alternative Marketing Strategy - Essay Example Subscription to utilitarian views promotes ethical behavior and thus, a positive change in attitude. Organizations exploit this knowledge and modify their business models and practices in order to provide services that add value and immense benefits to the consumers and society, thus presenting business venture as social services. To further appeal to the emotions of the public, business organizations of all manners are embarking on avenues to showcase their firms and products as offering the uttermost benefits to the society and individual consumers. The purpose of this paper is to look into existing literature on corporate social responsibility and find whether it is done for promoting the greater good of the society or is used as an alternative marketing strategy. In this paper we will be discussing existing literature in great detail on the subject of corporate social responsibility. ... The main research question author has tried to address in the paper is that what can be the social responsibilities of a businessman. In his book the author asks, â€Å"To what extent do the interest of business in the long run merge with the interest of society† (Bowmen, 1953, p.5). The first theoretical definition of corporate social responsibility was given in this book as, â€Å"It refers to the obligations of businessmen to pursue those policies, to make those decisions, or to follow those lines of action which are desirable in terms of the objectives and values of our society† (p, 6). The author has taken a subjectivist approach by identifying a definition of the concept. This definition is not based on any empirical evidence which depicts the subjectivist approach of the author. The author has also identified in the book the limitations of his work. He calls for future research on the subject. The author seems to have answered the research question he posed in th e beginning of the book. Also this book was the first work on the subject therefore it is considered seminal. Can business afford to ignore Social Responsibilities? Another theory paper by Davis (1960) is considered a seminal work on the subject of corporate social responsibility. The main research question that author has attempted to answer is that why businessmen have a responsibility towards society. The author has answered this question theoretically without relying on any first hand quantitative or qualitative research. The author has used power-responsibility relationship to answer the research question. The author also talks about non economic values and its impact on social responsibility (p. 74). This again is a subjectivist research where

Friday, October 18, 2019

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 39

Case study - Essay Example The video positioned the Under Amour brands as of the best quality available in the market. The company is featured to provide excellent services guided by their marketing logo â€Å"Do in Brand†. The video shows how good interpersonal relationship is important in the brand marketing (Under Armour Video, 2011). The company uses internet marketing and provides online services and ensures that the website is well updated with what is available in the store. Under Amour website is well updated with the company’s details and they provide email marketing to their consumers. In addition, the company has created video games such as super bowl to enhance marketing of the products. The company skipped the paycheck and appeared in the magazine because of their innovative products. Later, the sport garment, Polyester/Elastane was used by most of the players making the company be recognized. The statement â€Å"we will protect this house† makes marketing strategy very strong because they portray a strong feeling of their brand. The company has future plans to promote its market by producing new products and opening new stores. The company is heavily indulging in marketing campaigns by expanding in athletic footwear by sale of cross training sneakers and cleats. This video has clearly dem onstrated how e- commerce is importance in promoting company brand and enhancing communication between the supplier and the consumer (Under Armour Video, 2011). The video features Philadelphia Phillies Inc. as the oldest, one name and one city licensed professional American sports dated back in 1883. The company is well established to cater recreational facilities for families and children. The company has got superior advertising strategies where they do not guarantee a superior or a winning team so that the clients will feel okay even if they lose. Events such as fans laughing with mascot, buying of souvenirs and fans enjoying the game to the maximum were featured

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

Journal 2 - Essay Example On my visit, I discovered that the local mosque serves as a community center of sorts for people of the Muslim faith and, indeed, Islamic culture. It is a place for them to gather and be reminded of who they are and where they come from. The person spending time with me at the Mosque told me that it is not at all uncommon for them to have numerous gatherings where members socialize, eat, and reminisce about their own culture. Americans who are Islamic in the area find the Mosque to be a great place to learn more about a faith that is not widely practiced in the United States. In addition, they learn much about the culture of Islam and can transform themselves into another place and time. It certainly seems to be a wonderful way to bridge two cultures together and to achieve a balance between varying perspectives. Visiting my local Islamic Center was truly a cultural immersion experience because little at the Mosque resembled my own culture. Indeed, visitors can really transform themselves into Islamic culture from the time they enter the building. This experience opened my eyes to a faith, culture, and people group that I admit I had little understanding about. It was not an experience in religious dogma. In fact, we talked very little about the religion of Islam. Rather, we focused on discussing issues of culture and how the West perceives those who are from a Middle Eastern, Arabic, or Islamic background. It was a healthy exchange of ideas, tempered with respect, and one that was both enlightening and educational. Part of learning to appreciate other cultures is being able to simulate their feelings, emotions, and way of life (Nieto & Bode, 2012). Spending this time at the Islamic Center one afternoon and observing the comings and goings of the members was truly like witnessing another culture in action. The knowledge I gained enables me now to

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Project Management (budget part) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Project Management (budget part) - Essay Example The research seeks to address how a restaurant can install tabs as a strategy of serving customers and at the same time, improve the output per person and profitability. Cost analysis will help us generate the current position of the business’ funds and the effect that will result when the project is in progress. Essentially, information on the strengths of the undertaking, weakness as a result of internal systems, and benefits of the final implemented program will provide the most reliable information in project management. Usually, management considers the payback period in which the business enterprise will recover the amount invested in the project. In the current cost analysis, we include the balance sheet of the restaurant so as to establish the current finances available in the business. The values one incorporates in a balance sheet are derived are the various balances on the trial balance. The values reflect the balances of various assets and liabilities. The balance sheet shows that the financial position of the restaurant is at a plausible position. The average value of the current assets for the four consecutive years is at $ 46, 000. However, in this analysis, fixed assets will not facilitate the decision of either to implement or discard the project. The reason is because fixed assets are none trading but only assist the management to evaluate the degree of insolvency. The data below represents the balance sheet of current funds available before the business implements the project. The income and expense analysis shows the budget that the business has met in a period of one year before implementation of the project. The data in the statement shows that in the previous years, the restaurant’s sales were $ 190 000, $ 260 000, $ 355 000, and $ 482 000. More so, the average gross profit for the restaurant was $ 226 000. In evaluating the expenses, their value is below that of the revenues hence

Process Improvement Application Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Process Improvement Application - Assignment Example a) What is a QI story? A quality improvement story is a seven-step procedure whose main purpose is to improve business processes.  b) Discuss several reasons for using a QI story.  i) It enables the company to clearly define the problems that may be wrong with their products and to open ways for other areas to be exploitedii) The QI story also enables the company to analyze, with a considerable level of confidence, the extent to which their goods and/or services satisfies their customers and the cost effectiveness of their operations.   c) List the basic steps of a QI story. A QI story comprises of the following basic steps:i) Developing theme – the definition of the problem that is to be solvedii) Scheduling – a time plan on how these ten steps will be completediii) Accessing of current conditions -   involves the determination of the current process effectiveness and efficiency based on available factsiv) Performing cost-effective analysis – involves se eking the factors that must be changed to improve the situation.v) Verifying cause – this is designed to prove that the factors identified are indeed the causes of the present conditions.vi) Formulating countermeasures – this step involves formulation of changes that will act on the factors to improve the processvii) Assessing countermeasure effectiveness – this is a test of the countermeasures to with the aim of ensuring that the expected improvements does happen as planned

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Project Management (budget part) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Project Management (budget part) - Essay Example The research seeks to address how a restaurant can install tabs as a strategy of serving customers and at the same time, improve the output per person and profitability. Cost analysis will help us generate the current position of the business’ funds and the effect that will result when the project is in progress. Essentially, information on the strengths of the undertaking, weakness as a result of internal systems, and benefits of the final implemented program will provide the most reliable information in project management. Usually, management considers the payback period in which the business enterprise will recover the amount invested in the project. In the current cost analysis, we include the balance sheet of the restaurant so as to establish the current finances available in the business. The values one incorporates in a balance sheet are derived are the various balances on the trial balance. The values reflect the balances of various assets and liabilities. The balance sheet shows that the financial position of the restaurant is at a plausible position. The average value of the current assets for the four consecutive years is at $ 46, 000. However, in this analysis, fixed assets will not facilitate the decision of either to implement or discard the project. The reason is because fixed assets are none trading but only assist the management to evaluate the degree of insolvency. The data below represents the balance sheet of current funds available before the business implements the project. The income and expense analysis shows the budget that the business has met in a period of one year before implementation of the project. The data in the statement shows that in the previous years, the restaurant’s sales were $ 190 000, $ 260 000, $ 355 000, and $ 482 000. More so, the average gross profit for the restaurant was $ 226 000. In evaluating the expenses, their value is below that of the revenues hence

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Research Critique Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Research Critique - Article Example Initially, the lecturer had to introduce some problem-based coursework in the learning discussion which incorporated the phases of problem discovery, result generation, solution appraisal, and even the answer execution. The authors hired sixty four teachers to play a part and carry out an assessment of course syllabi for the given assignments that included a weekly issue pinpointing action or had some wide-ranging semester problem cracking bustle. Moreover, it was requisite that minimum sixty five students must be registered in each subject to make sure that enough undergraduate annotations are present for an authentic data analysis. Out of those 64 hired instructors, 15 met the preceding two criteria for analysis of the study; however, the third criterion used for the courses’ selection was basically for the each course mentor to boast a cognitive approach recognized as analogous to the two further instructors in order to figure out an additional and adaptive teacher group. Once the cognitive styles of the instructors were identified, nine instructors were chosen and grouped by similar cognitive style. Those students that were enrolled in the nine courses were administered the KAI and NSSE immediately one week after the midterms in the spring semester to guarantee instructors and learners had the occasion to work together in some problem-solving action. Students were directed the instruments throughout the programmed class times, though, it was only the instructor’s preference if the implements were to be finished at some point with in the class time. The study is pretty much in a way acceptable and can be generalized to any educational institutions or students. It suggests that student engagement within the course and the class is very essential for the achievement of some potential outcomes. However, the teacher in this regard also plays a very important role. They must introduce such curricula and programs in their classes that promote student

Monday, October 14, 2019

Black People and Young Black Man Essay Example for Free

Black People and Young Black Man Essay The narrator 1. Who is the narrator and what is the narrator’s attitude towards white Afrikaner ruling party, to blacks, and to Europeans? 2. What do these attitudes tell us about why people are divided in South Africa and in our larger world, maybe regardless of race? Van der Vyver 1. What does the action of his crying in the police station suggest to us? Are you surprised by this reaction—why or why not? Does this make him more likable—why or why not? 2. What do we learn about him by his action at the funeral? 3. What does it show us in the description â€Å"he does not let her clothing, or that of anyone else gathered closely make contact with him’ (2578). How does this moment contrast with â€Å"The farmer carried him in his arms, to the truck. He was sure, sure he could not be dead. But the young black man’s blood was all over the farmer’s clothes, soaking against his flesh as he drove† (2578)? What do we learn about Van der Vyver? The moment 1. What exactly was the moment like for Lucas and Van der Vyver before the gun went off? What does this say about their relationship? (2578) 2. Why is this moment compared to the moment that he and Lucas’s mom share at the funeral? What does it suggest to us about their relationship? (2577) To close: 1. In what way is this story about difference? About misconception? 2. What is the more tragic element of this short story in your mind?

Sunday, October 13, 2019

An Analysis Of Dantes Inferno English Literature Essay

An Analysis Of Dantes Inferno English Literature Essay Dantes Inferno represents a microcosm of society; that is, laymen, clergy, lovers, wagers of war, politicians, and scholars are all collected into one place and punished for their worst and most human attributes. Hell, despite its otherworldly appearance and brutal, ugly nature, is somewhat humanized by the fact that those who are punished come from every country (Dante 3.123) and every walk of life, regardless of age, race, sex, or creed. While Dante Alighieri did not invent the idea of Hell as a place of punishment for the wayward and sinful souls in the afterlife, he did create the most powerful and enduring (Raffa 1) imagining of a concept which has received significant attention in biblical, classical, and medieval works. Dantes Divine Comedy was written sometime between 1308 and 1321 and is considered the supreme work of Italian literature (Norwich 27). It is an epic poem divided into three separate sections: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, respec tively. The personal element of the journey through Hell in Dantes Inferno literally explores the descent of one man into sin; through the use of poetic justice, both contemporary and historical figures, and mythological figures, Dante crafts an immediate and enthralling work dealing with the nature of sin and its place in society. The concept of poetic justice is famously explored in Inferno, where it is put to dramatic effect devising appropriate torments for each particular sin (Raffa 3). From Limbo to Treachery, Dante catalogues and documents the punishment of sinners both infamous and beloved, famous and unknown. In every case, the punishment fits the crime in a twisted and malignant fashion after all, the poem does discuss the realm of Satan, the Christian embodiment of evil. The nine circles of Hell described in Inferno are as follows: Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Avarice and Prodigality, Wrath and Sullenness, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, and Treachery. These nine circles are based off of the idea of the Seven Deadly Sins, with some additions such as Limbo created by Dante. The poem begins with Dante lost in a dark wood, assailed by three beasts he cannot evade, and unable to move straight along (Dante 1.18) the road to salvation, represented by a mountain. A lion, a leopard, and a she-wolf symbolizing pride, envy, and avarice, respectively block Dantes path to the top of the mountain, forcing him to descend into the depths of Hell with Virgil. The entire journey documented in the Divine Comedy is an allegory for mans fall into sin before achieving redemption (represented by Purgatorio) and eventually salvation (represented by Paradiso). Before Dante even enters the gates of Hell, he is introduced to his guide for the first two realms of the afterlife, Inferno and Paradiso. For this role, Dante chose Virgil (70-19 BCE), who lived under the rule of Julius Caesar and later Augustus during Romes transition from a republic into an empire, and is most famous for the Aeneid. Two episodes in Virgils work were of particular interest to Dante. Book IV tells the tale of Aeneas and Dido, the queen of Carthage, who kills herself when Aeneas abandons her to continue his journey and [found] a new civilization in Italy (Raffa 8). Book VI recounts Aeneas journey into Hades to meet the shade of his father and learn of future events in his journey. Many elements in the Aeneid are present in heavily modified form in Dantes Inferno. Many of Dantes mythological elements are based on Book VI of Virgils Aeneid, which recounts Aeneas visit to the underworld. Virgil imbued his version of the underworld with a fluid, dreamlike atmosphere (5), while Dante instead strives for greater realism, providing sharply drawn and tangible figures. After passing through the gateway to hell, marked ominously with the words ABANDON EVERY HOPE, WHO ENTER HERE (Dante 3.9), Dante and Virgil witness a realm of miserable people who lived without disgrace and without praise (3.17-35) on the periphery of the Inferno. In this realm, the two poets encounter the souls of those who lived such undistinguished and cowardly lives that they have been cast out by Heaven and refused entry by Hell. These souls are forced to race after a banner which never comes to a stop, and are stung repeatedly by flies and wasps, their blood and tears nourishing the sickening worms (3.69) at their feet. The punishment for these cowardly souls is clear; just as in life they refused to be decisive and act, they now are barred from both eternal paradise and eternal damnation, and chase down a waving banner which they will never be able to reach. Next, Dante and Virgil meet Charon, Hells boatman. In the Aeneid, Charon is the pilot of the vessel that transports shades of the dead across the waters into the underworld. In both works, he is an irritable old man with hair white with years (3.83) who objects to taking a living man (Aeneas, Dante) into the realm of the dead. In each case, the protagonists guide (the Sybil, Virgil) provides Charon the proper credentials, and their journey continues. In Limbo, the guiltless damned, noble non-Christian souls, and those who lived before the time of Christianity are punished. The idea of a place for souls who did not sin; and yet lacked baptism (4.34-35) existed in Christian theology prior to Dante, but his vision is more generous than most. Dante includes unbaptized babies, as well as notable non-Christian adults in his version of Limbo, which bears a resemblance to the Asphodel Meadows, a section of the Greek underworld where indifferent and ordinary souls were sent to live after death. Dante suggests that those in Limbo are being punished for their ignorance of God by being forced to spend the afterlife in a deficient form of Heaven; while certainly not as hellish as the other circles, Limbo is by no means a paradise. Dante encounters the classical poets Homer (eighth or ninth century BCE), Horace (65-8 BCE), Ovid (43 BCE -17 CE), and Lucan (39-65 CE), who welcome back their comrade Virgil and honour Dante and one of their own (Dante 4.79-102). Philosophers Socrates and Aristotle also make appearances in Limbo as the shades of men renowned for their outstanding intellectual achievements. Socrates (born ca. 470 BCE in Athens) was a legendary teacher known for the rigorous method of questioning that characterizes the dialogues of Plato (ca. 428-ca. 347 BCE), who also appears. In addition, one notable non-Christian soul finds himself in Limbo, separated from the rest: Saladin, the distinguished military leader and Egyptian sultan who fought against the crusading armies of Europe yet was admired even by his enemies for his chivalry and magnanimity. Dantes implication is that all virtuous non-Christians find themselves in Limbo. The Lustful are punished in the second circle by being blown about by a hellish hurricane, which never rests wheeling and pounding (5.31-33). Lust, for many of the inhabitants of this circle, led to the sin of adultery and in the cases of Dido, Cleopatra, Helen of Troy, and others a violent death. The violent winds are symbolic of lust, and represent the power it holds in affairs of blind passion and physical love. Lust contains the shades of many famous lovers: Semiramis, Dido, Paris, Achilles, and Tristan, among others. Semiramis was a powerful Assyrian queen alleged to ave been so perverse that she even made incest a legal practice (Raffa 27); Dido, queen of Carthage and widow of Sychaeus, committed suicide after her lover Aeneas abandoned her (Virgil IV); Paris later died during the Trojan war; Achilles was the most formidable (Raffa 27) Greek hero in the war against the Trojans, who was killed by Paris (according to medieval accounts); finally, Tristan was the nephew of king Mark of Cornwall who fell in love in Iseult (Marks fiancee) and was killed by Marks poisoned arrow. Minos, the one who judges and assigns (Dante 5.6) the souls during their descent into Hell, is an amalgam of figures from classical sources, completed with several personal touches from Dante. He is a combination of two figures of the same name, one the grandfather of the other, both rulers of Crete. The elder Minos was admired for his wisdom and the laws of his kingdom. The second Minos imposed a harsh penalty on the Athenians (who had killed his son Androgeos), demanding an annual tribute of fourteen youths (seven boys and seven girls), who were sacrificed to the Minotaur, which appears later in Inferno. Minos long tail which he wraps around himself, that marks the sinners level (Dante 5.11-12) is Dantes invention. Gluttony is punished in the third circle. The souls of the damned lie in a vile, grimy slush brought about by cold, unending, heavy, and accursed rain (6.7-8). These former gluttons lie sightless and heedless of their neighbours, symbolizing their cold, selfish, and empty pursuit of hedonism and empty sensuality. The slush, representative of overindulgence and sensuality, serves to cut one off from both the outside world and from Gods deliverance. Gluttonous individuals of note include a Florentine contemporary of Dantes, identified as Ciacco ( pig in Italian). Ciacco speaks to Dante regarding the political conflict in the city of Florence between two rival parties, the White and Black Guelphs, and predicts the defeat of the White Guelphs, Dantes party. This event did indeed occur, and would lead to Dantes own exile in 1302. As the poem is set in the year 1300, before Dantes exile, he uses the events of his own life to illustrate the unique ability of shades in Inferno to predict the future, a theme which is returned to later in the poem. Cerberus, guardian of Gluttony, is similar to the beast of Greek mythology. In the Aeneid, Virgil describes Cerberus the three-headed dog which guards the entrance to the classical underworld as loud, huge, and terrifying. Dantes Cerberus displays similar canine qualities: his three throats produce a deafening bark, and he eagerly devours the fistful of dirt Virgil throws into his mouths like a dog intent on its meal. Cerberus bloodred (6.16) eyes, greasy, black (6.16) beard, and large gut link him to the gluttonous spirits whom he tears, flays, and rends (6.18) with his clawed hands. The Avaricious and the Prodigal are punished together in the fourth circle. Avarice, or greed, is one of the inequities that most incurs Dantes scorn and wrath (Raffa 37). Prodigality is defined as the opposite of Avarice; that is, the trait of excessive spending. Both groups are forced to eternally joust with one another, using cumbersome stone weights as weapons. They call out to each other: Why do you hoard? Why do you squander? (Dante 7.30). Here Dante describes the punishment of both extremes, criticizing excessive desire for and against the possession of material goods using the classical principle of moderation. In the fifth circle, the Wrathful and the Sullen are punished. The wrathful fight each other eternally on the surface of the river Styx, which runs darker than deep purple (7.103), while the sullen lie gurgling beneath the water. Dante describes how the Wrathful combat one another: [They] struck each other not with hands alone, but with their heads and chests and with their feet, and tore each other piecemeal with their teeth (7.112-114). The wrathful are damned to eternally struggle and fight without direction or purpose, while the sullen have withdrawn into a black sulkiness from which they can find joy in neither God nor life. In the fifth circle, Filippo Argenti, a prominent Florentine and a Black Guelph, calls to Dante. A hotheaded character (Raffa 40), little is known regarding Filippo except what transpires in Inferno. He quarrels with Dante, lays his hands upon the boat the poets travel on, and is eventually torn apart by his wrathful cohorts. The two men were political opponents, but Dantes behaviour towards Filippo indicates a more personal grievance. Perhaps he had humiliated Dante in life, or had taken some part of Dantes property after his exile from the city. Phlegyas is the solitary boatman (Dante 8.17) who transports Dante and Virgil in his boat across the Styx, the circle of the wrathful and sullen. He was known in Greek mythology for his impetuous behaviour; in a fit of rage, Phlegyas set fire to the temple of Apollo because the god had raped his daughter Apollo promptly slew him in response. Phlegyas appears in Virgils underworld as an admonition against showing contempt for the gods (Virgil 6.618-620), a role which he reprises in Inferno. Between the fifth and sixth circles lie the walls of Dis, the fortressed city of Lower Hell (Raffa 39). The fallen angels who guard the gates of Dis refuse entry to the two poets, requiring the arrival of a messenger from Heaven to open the gate for them. Dante designates all of Lower Hell circles six through nine, where the most serious of sins are punished as the walled city of Dis, with its grave citizens, its great battalions (Dante 8.69). The first five circles, which exist outside of Dis, are collectively known as Upper Hell, as they are where the lesser sins are punished. With the appearance of the three infernal (9.38) Furies, who threaten to call on Medusa, Virgils credibility and Dantes survival appear to be at risk. Furies were often invoked in Virgils classical world to exact revenge on behalf of offended mortal and gods. Medusas hair was turned into snakes by an angry Minerva after Medusa made love with Neptune in the goddesss temple, and became too horrifying to look at without being turned to stone. Dante describes Medusa as the Queen of never-ending lamentation (9.44). The Furies names evil thought (Allecto), evil words (Tisiphone), and evil deeds (Magaera) (9.45-48) describe the three manifestations of sin, which can turn people to stone by making them obstinate cultivators of earthly things (Raffa 41). Heretics are punished inside the walls of Dis, in a spreading plain of lamentation and atrocious pain (Dante 9.110-111) resembling a cemetery. The sixth circle contains souls trapped and enclosed in fiery tombs for failing to believe in God and the afterlife. Since they did not believe in Hell, the Heretics are punished by being sealed away from it in the most unpleasant possible way inside a flaming sepulchre. Among the tombstones of the sixth circle, Dante encounters more Italian contemporaries. A pair of Epicurian Florentines are disocvered sharing a tomb: Farinata degli Uberti, a Ghibelline; and Cavalcante de Cavalcanti, a fellow Guelph and the father of Guido Cavalcanti, Dantes fellow poet and closest friend. Farinata is an imposing figure, rising out of his inflamed sepulchre from the waist up and seeming to have great contempt for Hell (10.31-36). As the leader of the Ghibellines, Farinata was an enemy to the Guelphs, the party of Dantes ancestors. Farinata declares that his colleagues would have annihilated Florence (10.92), had he not interceded forcefully, an act which has earned him Dantes respect. Cavalcante was an enemy to the Ghibellines, like Dante, and married his son Guido to Farinatas daughter in order to foster peace between the two parties. Dantes best friend, Guido Cavalcanti, was a poet who held the philosophical belief that love is a dark force which leads only to mis ery and death. Therefore, Cavalcantes appearance in Hell might be more a matter of guilt by association to his sons worldview than any kind of reflection on himself. The Minotaur is the guardian and mythological symbol for the seventh circle, Violence. At the sight of Dante and Virgil, the minotaur reacts like one whom fury devastates within (12.15), and his frenzied bucking allows the travellers to proceed unharmed. The Minotaur is a physical manifestation of violence in Inferno: almost every part of the Minotaurs story, from its creation to its demise, contains some form of violence (Raffa 55). The sinners in the seventh circle are divided into three groups: the violent against people and property, the violent against themselves, and the violent against God and nature (Dante 11.28-33). The first group comprised of assassins and murderers, among others are immersed in Phlegethon, a bloodred, boiling (12.101) river of blood and fire, up to a level commensurate with their sins (12.73-75). Because they committed such acts of bloodshed and destruction in their lives, they are punished by being immersed in a river of that which they have spilt. The second group the suicides are transformed into knotted, gnarled (13.5) thorny bushes and trees, which are fed upon by Harpies. These souls have given away their physical bodies through suicide, and are forced to maintain treelike forms. These suffering trees cannot speak until Dante accidentally injures one and causes it to bleed. Dante uses the soul-trees as a metaphor for the state of mind which leads to self-harm and suicide. Finall y, the third group blasphemers and sodomites reside in a desert of sand, fire and brimstone falling from the sky. The blasphemers lie down upon the sand, the usurers recline, and the sodomites wander seemingly aimlessly in huddling groups, all while being burned by distended flakes of fire (14.28-29). This symbolizes how those who act violently against God and that which God has provided are perpetually unable to find peace and comfort in their lives. Among those immersed in Phlegethon is Alexander the Great, submerged up to his eyebrows in blood. He suffers for his reputation as a cruel, bloodthirsty man who inflicted great harm upon the world and its peoples. In the forest of suicides, Dante hears the tale of Pier delle Vigne, who killed himself after falling out of favour with Emperor Frederick II (Dante 13.64-69). Dante encounters his mentor, Brunetto Latini, among the sodomites. Surprised and touched by this encounter, Dante shows Brunetto great respect and admiration, thus refuting suggestions that the poet Dante placed only his enemies in Hell (15.43-45). The Centaurs are men from the waist up with the lower bodies of horses (Raffa 55) who guard the river Phlegethon. Thousands of centaurs patrol the bank of the river, using bows and arrows to keep damned souls submerged. In classical mythology, Centaurs are best known for their uncouth, violent behaviour. Chiron, leader of the Centaurs, enjoyed a favourable reputation as the sage tutor of both Hercules and Achilles. Pholus and Nessus the Centaurs assigned to escort Dante and Virgil have fully earned their negative reputations, however: Pholus who Virgil describes as full of rage (Dante 12.72) had been killed when a fight broke out during a wedding after he and his fellow centaurs attempted to carry off the bride and several other girls, and Nessus was killed by Hercules with a poison arrow for attempting to rape the heros wife, Deinira, after Hercules entrusted him with carrying her across a river (12.67-69). The penultimate circle as well as the most detailed is Fraud, which Dante describes as a place in Hell made all of stone the colour of crude iron (18.1-2). This circle is divided up into ten smaller pockets: panderers and seducers, flatterers, simonists, sorcerers, barrators, hypocrites, thieves, fraudulent advisers and evil councillors, sowers of discord, and falsifiers. Panderers (pimps) and seducers march eternally in opposite directions, lashed cruelly (18.36) by demons. Just as they used passion and seduction to bend others to their will, they are now themselves driven by hellish demons. Flatterers exploited other people using language, therefore, they are plunged in excrement (18.113), representing the false words they produced. Simonists payed for positions of power within the Catholic Church, and are placed upside-down into holes in the floor, with both soles [of their feet] on fire (9.25). The holes into which their heads are planted resemble baptismal fonts, used in several religious rituals a constant reminder of the corrupt nature of their former positions in the church. Sorcerers, astrologers, and false prophets have had their heads twisted toward their haunches (20.13) so that they can not see what is ahead of them. This symbolizes the twisted nature of magic in general specifically, it refers to the use of forbidden means to see into the future. Dante felt particularly unforgiving towards politicians after his exile from Florence, thus, corrupt politicians (barrators) are immersed in a stew of sticky pitch (21.8). Their punishment represents the sticky fingers, corrupt deals, and dark secrets inherent in positions of political power. The hypocrites listlessly walk with lagging steps, in circles, with features tired and defeated (23.59-60), wearing leaden cloaks, representing the falsity behind the appearance of their actions. This falsity literally weighs these souls down and renders any sort of progress impossible. The thieves are pursued and at tacked by lizards and snakes, their bites causing them to undergo various transformations (24-25). Just as they stole in life, their very human identity becomes subject to theft in Hell. Fraudulent advisers and evil councillors are encased within individual pyres. These individuals did not give false advice out of ignorance; rather, Dante refers to rhetoric [used] by talented people for insidious ends (Raffa 99). In life, they caused those whom they advised to do ill without dirtying their own hands now they are punished alone in their fires. The sowers of discord are hacked apart, their bodies dividing as in life they caused division among others. Their wounds are quickly healed, only to have themselves hacked apart again (Dante 28.139-142). Dante considers falsifiers (alchemists, counterfeiters, perjurers, and impersonators) a disease upon society, and their corrupting influence is reflected in their diseased bodies and minds (Raffa 99) in the tenth pouch. In the eighth circle, Dante meets a number of notably fraudulent individuals. Venedico Caccianemico, who sold his own sister to the Marchese dEste, is recognized among the pimps in the first pouch, despite his attempts to avoid detection (Dante 18.40-60). In the fifth ditch, the thief Vanni Fucci is burnt to ashes before being reincarnated; Agnel blends together with a reptilian Cianfa; and Buoso exchanges forms with Francesco. Vanni Fucci was a black Guelph from Pistoia, a town not far from rival Florence; Dante says he knew Vanni as a man of blood and anger (Dante 24.129). Agnel is thought to be Agnello Dei Brunelleschi, a man who joined the white Guelphs Dante s party but then switched to the black faction when they came to power. Both he and Cianfa are renowned for their thievery. Buoso stole while serving in public office, then arranged for Francesco de Cavalcanti to take over and steal on his behalf. In the eighth pit, Ulysses and Diomedes are condemned for the deception of the Trojan Horse, luring Achilles into the war effort, and stealing a statue of Athena from Troy (26.58-63). Dante encounters the schismatic prophet Muhammad; the poet views Islam as an off-shoot from Christianity, and similarly condemns Ali, Muhammads son-in-law, for the schism between Sunni and Shiite Muslims (28.22-33). The Malebranche ( Evil claws in Italian) are the devils of the fifth pocket of circle eight who bring to Hell the shades of corrupt political officials and employees. They are agile, smart, and fierce (Raffa 77), they are armed with long hooks, which they use to keep the shades under the surface of the black pitch (Dante 21.55-57). It is likely that the names Dante coined for individual demons ( Bad Dog, Sneering Dragon, Curly Beard, etc.) are based on actual family names of civic leaders in Florence and the surrounding towns. The Giants physically connect circles eight and nine: standing on the floor of circle nine, they tower over the inner ledge of circle eight with the upper halve of their immense bodies. They are archetypal examples of defiant rebels: Nimrod, who attempted to build the Tower of Babel before it was knocked down by God and his people were scattered; Ephialtes, who fought against Jove and the other Olympian gods; and Antaeus, whose relationship with the titans who stormed Mt. Olympus damned him, despite the fact that he was born after his brothers had waged war against the gods. Nimrod has been punished by being forced to speak an incomprehensible language; that is, his language is as strange to others as theirs is to him. Ephialtes, like the rest of the titans who challenged the gods, is immobilized with heavy chains. Antaeus is not given any exceptional punishment, for he is only guilty by association. It is Antaeus who assists Virgil and Dante by lowering them down to the ninth circle , after being enticed by Virgil with the prospect of eternal fame upon Dantes return to the world (31.115-129). The final circle is Treachery, a frozen lake at the centre of Hell, which is divided into four Rounds: Ca?na, Antenora, Ptolomaea, and Judecca. In Ca?na, traitors to their kindred are immersed in ice up to their faces. In Antenora, traitors to political entities are located similarly in the ice. In Ptolomaea, traitors to their guests are punished, lying on their backs in the ice, with only their faces uncovered. In Judecca, the traitors to their lords and benefactors are completely encapsulated in ice, distorted in pain. In the first round of Treachery, Dante encounters Mordred, who attacked his uncle King Arthur and was pierced mortally by Arthurs lance (Dante 32.61-62). In the second round, Count Ugolino pauses from his ceaseless assault upon the head of his rival, Archbishop Ruggieri, to tell Dante how Ruggieri imprisoned and killed him with his children. This story, the longest single episode related by a damned soul in Inferno, serves as Dantes final dramatic representation of mankinds capacity for evil and cruelty. Fra Alberigo, who had his brother killed at a banquet, explains a key conceit of Dantes Inferno: sometimes, a soul falls into Hell before they have actually died. Their earthly bodies are possessed by demons, so what appears to be a walking, living man is actually beyond the point of repentance (33.134-147). Finally, Lucifer the emperor of the despondent kingdom (34.28) lies at the centre of the Inferno. As ugly as he once was beautiful (34.34-36), Lucifer is a wretched contrast with his limited autonomy and mobility. Lucifers three faces (black, yellow, and red) parody the doctrine of the Holy Trinity: three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) in one divine nature the Divine Power, Highest Wisdom, and Primal Love which also created the gates of Hell, and, by extension, the entire realm of eternal damnation. His flapping wings generate the wind that keeps lake at the centre of Hell frozen, while his three mouths chew on the shade-bodies of the three archtraitors Judas, Brutus, and Cassius the gore mixing with tears gushing out of his three sets of eyes (34.53-57). Dantes Inferno heralded a revolution in Christian theology through its innovative use of poetic justice, historical and contemporary figures, and classical mythology. By combining these disparate elements into a single, cohesive poem, Dante effectively changed the way the Western world imagined the afterlife and Hell in particular. By focusing on the details of the scenes and the identities of those whom the fictional Dante converses with, Inferno illustrates a horrifyingly real and immediate vision of Hell, one which has persisted at least in some part to this day. By focusing on the personal journey of one man through the afterlife, the focus of the narrative is shifted onto the reader, who can easily identify with Dante as the first-person narrator. While the circumstances surrounding the creation of the Divine Comedy Dantes exile from Florence, his fall from political grace, and his eventual death soon after the completion of his magnum opus are rather tragic, they all contribute to Dantes work in a way which colours the text and gives it a personality and passion which is still felt to this day. For seven hundred years, Inferno has elicited strong responses from its readers from fascination to revulsion and everything in between (Raffa 5). Regardless as to the readership, the response to Inferno has been, and will continue to be, anything but apathetic.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

J.B. and Job :: essays papers

J.B. and Job There are many similarities but also many differences between the story of Job in The Bible and Archibald MacLeish’s J.B. These similarities and differences falls along the categories of style, story line, and characterization. First, the style of both pieces of literature. J.B. is a play by Archibald MacLeish whereas the story of Job is a drama. In both of these pieces a prologue is present. However, the prologue differs greatly. In Job, the prologue merely states a vague background of the life of Job and his family. On the other hand, the prologue of J.B. gives detailed descriptions of J.B. and each and every one of his family members. In both cases, an antagonist is present. The antagonist is not necessarily evil or bad, but simply just one who disagrees. Second, the story line. Although Archibald MacLeish wrote the play based on the story of Job in The Bible, there are many differences in the story line. In The Bible, Job’s misfortune was spawned by Satan trying to show God that Job was not as holy as God had thought. God gave Satan the power to destroy everything Job had, including his health. Job’s children all died together when the roof of the house collapsed on them while they were all dining at the house of the oldest brother. His wife died also, and all of his possessions was taken from him. Furthermore, he contracted painful sores all over his body. As for J.B., his children died separately, one after the other. The oldest had died in the army. Two were involved in a car accident. One daughter was killed by an explosion that also took out J.B.’s millions. And the youngest was raped. However, J.B.’s wife, Sarah, was not killed, but instead she left him. In The Bible, Job is confronted by his thr ee friends. His friends encourages him to turn against God and to curse him, but he refused to do so. On the other hand, J.B. was confronted with four friends, the first three encouraging him to turn against God but the fourth telling him to pray to God and to praise Him. In the end, God gives back Job his original wife Sarah and his ten kids. He is rid of the painful sores and his possessions were doubled.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Am Getting Old Now

I'm getting old now is a prose poem. It is quite vibrant and simple and presents the theme of cycle of life. It depicts the poet's acceptance of death and links with with his nostalgic memories of his mother. The first part of the poem symbolize his dream while second part signifies that he is close to death. He address death as a long lost friend whom he seeks to meet in the near future. Realizing that he has got less time to spend on earth he reminisce his past memories and dream a lot. In his dream he recollects how much love and pride his mother had in him. The poem is very touching and it instills in us the pain we feel when we reminisce about good things long lost. A few Key Points: Meeting of different cultures: tourist comes from modern world, and thinks he can dispose of this irritating beggar. But when she speaks she casts a spell, and shows him who is really in control. Woman rooted in where she lives – identified with sky and hills, and draws power from them. Things not what they seem: woman has more power than the poet suspects. Poem has a formal structure in triplets (three-line stanzas). Occasional half rhymes (â€Å"coin†/ â€Å"shrine†, â€Å"on†/ â€Å"skin†) and full rhyme to mark a pause: (â€Å"crone†/ â€Å"alone†). Lines are short but always with pattern of two stressed syllables, apart from in the final line, where the single stress brings the poem to a full stop. Most words monosyllables. Poem refers to old woman with third-person pronoun â€Å"she† and tourist with second-person pronoun, â€Å"you†. This makes poem like an account of real experience, putting reader in tourist's place. Coin which woman begs at the start of the poem, gives the ending its enduring image. Tourist's weakness is suggested in metaphor of â€Å"small change†, while â€Å"in her hand† indicates that woman has power over him. Her power also suggested by appearance – her eyes are â€Å"bullet holes†, dark spaces with nothing behind. â€Å"Cracks† (lines) in her face turn into cracks in sky, hills and temples, while the old woman remains invulnerable (â€Å"shatter-proof†). Crone† suggests the magical power of the old woman. CHURCH GOING Larkin starts his poem after making it sure that no ceremony was going on in the Church. It connotes that Larkin himself did not like ceremonies being performed in the Churches, perhaps due to people’s unconcerned attitude towards churches, otherwise he would not have said: â€Å"Once I’m sure here’s noth ing going on†. When Larkin says â€Å"Another church†, in line number three, it denotes that he has visited all the churches and every church of the city is empty. Perhaps, he has found some mental tranquility in the present church that is why he made his mind to stay in the Church for some time as it was his habit. There is a beautiful blend of similar and dissimilar objects in the poem. For example in stanza number four, line number 28 â€Å"after dark† and â€Å"dubious women† and in stanza number six, line number 48 â€Å"suburb† and â€Å"scrub† respectively. The ellipses, personification, humour, rhetorical questions, transferred epithets, synaesthetic imagery and irony combined make the poem a thing of beauty. The last stanza brings about the final and absolute conclusion. â€Å"A serious house on serious earth it is† pays tribute to churches. Everything of this world may wipe out, even â€Å"superstition, like belief, must die† but the essential uniqueness of churches can never obsolete and out dated. This final stanza not only brings about the ultimate message but it also removes the ambiguity of the poem. In the poem the poet asked his readers â€Å"And what remains when disbelief has gone? †. When everything will be annihilated, the church shall renovate humanity. This is a poetic reaction to the failure of organized religions of all traditions, not merely of Christianity, as the word â€Å"church† might lead us to suppose. Traditionally the way of devotion has been pointed out as the method of spiritual pursuit for the ordinary man of this Age of Kali. And organized religions, even though they are severely afflicted with schisms and sectarian conflicts and even open fights, flourish; and pilgrimage itself has become a billion dollar business the world over. But this is a far cry from the real way of devotion. Sri Aurobindo has expounded the nature of this path in his The Synthesis of Yoga. But he has conceded that in the religions of the masses, â€Å"†¦a most external form of ceremonial worship† , has a legitimate role to play. This is said in the light of the tantric gradation of spiritual pursuit which begins at the level of â€Å"†¦the herd, the animal or the physical being, the lowest stage of its discipline†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But larger and larger segments of this herd is getting estranged from their usual beaten tracks and wandering away from moral ways and seeking solace in drugs and debauchery. This is a clear indication that mankind has come of age, that here after mankind has no use for organized religions of the traditional types. The clergy knows this; that is why it resorts to terrorism in desperation. A college professor's palm was chopped of by the agents of terror who speak for Islam. And the Christian management of his college had him dismissed. Do you know what he was accused of? He had used the name Muhammad in a question he had set for his students. The question required the students to apply punctuation marks to a passage that reported a conversation between a character named Muhammad and God. And well/hell, the professor got his palm chopped off in the name of the Merciful. If this is religion then religion is doomed. church going is rather reality of life.. according to the present generation church going is just a tradition that they have been following since childhood, so its a part of their practise more than faith. Larkin is not interested in any ceremony or any sort of prayers and priests instead he visits the church when it is silent. He does not have belief in church but cannot stop visiting it. However he still has that respect for church as he removes his clips of trousers as a mark of respect. Throughout the poem his thoughts reveal his concern for the present as well as future of and wonders what is their fate. It is worth noticing that even though poet is not a believer of these churches, he still continues with his traditions and not only him, in fact most of us do have the same mindset, be it a temple, mosque or church. Therefore the poem is applicable in present era.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

What Is Conflict

What is Conflict? The simple meaning of conflict is basically a disagreement through which the person or people involved recognize a threat to their needs, interests or concerns. With how things are now in modern life conflicts are inevitable. Anyone can get into a conflict. Sometimes little arguments lead to an intense conflict. Also, sometimes people overcome their conflicts quickly. I believe that some conflicts can be easily resolved because it teaches people how to deal with situations like that, and leads people to think about the conflicts. It means that people learn from their mistakes.Also, if the person has enough experience about dealing with conflicts, he or she will be able to resolve it easily. For example if someone was speaking aloud and was interrupted instead of straight away starting an argument they could remind the person to respect other people when speaking. We can understand from this that because of his or her knowledge in dealing with conflicts, she was able to solve it quickly before it increase into serious fight. How we respond to conflict is in two ways, we have emotional responses which are the feelings we experience in conflict, reaching from anger and fear to depression and confusion.Emotional responses are often misunderstood, as people tend to believe that others feel the same as they do. Therefore, differing emotional responses are confusing and, at times, threatening. We also have physical responses to conflict which play an important role in our ability to meet our needs in the conflict. They include high stress levels, body tension, and increased sweat, shallow or accelerated breathing, and rapid heartbeat. These responses are similar to those we experience in high-anxiety situations, and they may be managed through stress management techniques used by many people.Establishing a calmer environment in which emotions can be managed is more likely if the physical response is addressed effectively. These are important factors into our experience during conflict, because they often tell us more about what is the true source of threat that we notice; by understanding our thoughts, feelings and physical responses to conflict, we may get better insights into the best potential solutions to the situation. One key point to understanding conflicts is seeing that each person may have a different view onto any given situation.This could also be called the role of Perception. Some of these views would be one of which, gender and sexuality. Men and women often observe situations rather differently, based on both their experiences in the world. As a result, men and women will often approach conflictive situations with differing mind-sets about the desired outcomes from the situation, as well as the set of possible solutions that may exist. Another would be Knowledge (general and situational). People respond to given conflicts on the basis of the knowledge they may have about the issue at hand.This includes specific knowledge about the situation (i. e. , â€Å"Do I understand what is going on here? â€Å") and general knowledge (i. e. , â€Å"Have I experienced this type of situation before? â€Å"). Such information can influence the person's willingness to engage in efforts to manage the conflict, either reinforcing confidence to deal with the dilemma or deflating the person’s willingness to openly consider alternatives. This can decide the confidence of a person when they going into a conflict. Although it is usually best to have a minimal amount of conflicts it is useful in some place such as in organisations.In fact, conflict can be good for organizations because it encourages open-mindedness and helps avoid the trend toward group think that many organizations fall prey to. The key is learning how to manage conflict effectively so that it can serve as a catalyst, rather than a burden, to organizational improvement. Although it is often assumed that people avoid conflict, many pe ople actually enjoy conflict to a certain degree because it can be the motivation for new thinking. Considering a different point of view which represents conflict can open up new possibilities and help to generate new ideas that might otherwise have not been considered.It is like when you are in a race you will run faster when your second rather than first because you have that person in front of you pushing you to go faster. My final point about conflict is the reason why most people tend to avoid getting into conflict. Engaging in discussion and negotiation around conflict is something we normally approach with fear and hesitation, afraid that the conversation will go worse than the conflict has gone so far. In my opinion our responses, as said earlier, are likely to to include behaviours, feelings, thoughts and physical responses. If any of these responses shows tress factors that make us reluctant to talk things out, we are more inclined to follow the pathway of avoidance, basi cally because where scared. In addition, consider that our society tends to reward alternative responses to conflict, rather than negotiation, people who aggressively pursue their needs, arguing rather than co-operating with a situation, are often satisfied by others who prefer to put up with this. Managers and leaders are often rewarded for their aggressive, controlling approaches to problems, rather than taking a more compassionate approach to issues that may seem less decisive to the public or their staffs.I find this to be unfair but it is my opinion on it. To conclude I believe that Conflict can be easily initiated but also easily resolved if handled in the right way or if he or she has experience. There are different responses to conflict which can lead to different outcomes of the conflict. Different people have different view on situations causing controversy between them. There can be use of conflict in organisations by making it beneficial to the person or company. Finally how I believe society sees conflict and why it is normally avoided which in my opinion it should be.