Darwinism versus Creationism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Darwinism versus Creationism - Research Paper Example Darwinism versus Creationism Introduction The significant difference between Darwinism and Creationism is that Darwinism is based on data while Creationism is based on human belief (Scott, 2005). Darwinism is a theory of the original perpetuation of new species of plants and animals which offspring from a certain organism. According to Darwinism, natural selection favors the survival of some species which makes new species arise with time forming divergent variety and groups of plants and animals (Scott, 2005). Darwinism is based on the concept of biological evolution whereby DNA strands cause differences in plants such as color and height of plants and animals (Young & Largent, 2007). On the other hand, Creationism is a doctrine which holds that the world and various forms of life were created by God out of nothing (Scott, 2005). Unlike Darwinism, creationism is not a scientific theory but is based on religious beliefs and doctrines. Charles Darwin theory of origin of species that w as published in 1859 demonstrated that organisms produce offspring that is capable of living and that variations occur in every species population (Young & Largent, 2007). ... Darwinism theory is based on the idea that species change over time and space. Populations in different geographical areas will differ in behavior and physical make up like the fossil deposits (Young & Largent, 2007). According to Darwinism, all species share a common ancestor like human beings share a common ancestor with Chimpanzees some eight million years ago and with Kangaroos some one hundred million years ago (Witham, 2005). According to natural selection process which forms the basis of Darwinism, organisms will exhibit variations in their behavior and physical appearance like voice variations and facial marks. Such traits are passed from the ancestor to offspring but some traits may be influenced by the environmental conditions (Witham, 2005). A trait must pass an advantage to the offspring in order to survive during the struggle for limited resources. The gradual change of the population takes many years like 100,000 rather than creation of new species which is the creation ism belief. Darwinism theory is evident since industrial melanism phenomenon which was experienced during industrial revolution caused tree trunks to darken while light colored moths diminished while black colored moths became abundant. The organisms also transfer genetics to the offspring. Due to competition for the limited resources, the organisms with advantageous traits will survive the competition and continue reproduction. Darwinism theory has been proved by the DNA evidence since parents pass some genes to the offspring (Scott, 2005). On the other hand, Creationism asserts that natural selection doctrine by Darwinism has not been proved scientifically. According

Women buying behaviour towards Essay Example for Free

Women buying behaviour towards Essay Introduction Marketers in today’s business environment are presented with the particular challenge of circumventing conflicted messaging, over-saturation of marketing initiatives, and consumer hesitation and guarded behaviour in order to achieve their objectives of enhancing long term brand loyalty and encouraging product purchases. While there are various environmental stimuli which may influence consumer behaviour, the most significant affectation comes from psychological influences associated with marketing communication and personal interpretation of brand and product value. By expanding this value beyond base level interpretation, marketers are able to influence consumer behaviour and redirect purchases over extended periods of time. In order to achieve such standards, however, it is essential that marketers understand what behaviour may be influenced and in what ways this influence may be affected. Undeniably, the product itself has particular importance in this process; however, the result of a productbased marketing campaign may not demonstrate the value desired by a diverse consumer population. Therefore, the achievement of key consumer development and loyalty objectives is based on investigation and analysis of past, present, and future consumer behaviour. This investigation seeks to expand upon the relationship between consumer behaviour and marketing, highlighting those mechanisms that can contribute to more effective marketing practices. A variety of academic theories and empirical studies have been compiled and analysed over the following section and models of consumer behaviour  analysis and marketing programme development will be highlighted. Ultimately, conclusions will be drawn in which effective marketing is directly affected by consumer behaviour, and more effective means of communication and consumer encouragement are the direct result of cognitive stimuli. From both scientific and market perspectives, the ability to influence consumer behaviour is directly reliant upon an understanding of the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation which the majority of consumers within a given market or business sector exhibit. By modelling such motivations and establishing value associated with a particular brand or product, marketers will be able to sustain consumer loyalty over the lifecycle of a product and compete more effectively within marketplaces that are highly saturated. A milestone definition of marketing by Peter Drucker (1999) would firmly establish the relative value and importance of consumer behaviour in effective marketing, arguing that marketing is ‘the whole business seen from the point of view of its final product, that is, from the customer’s point of view’ (58). Marketing, therefore, becomes a composite of both pre-purchase consumer behaviour interpretation and forecasting and post-purchase behavioural analysis. In this way, a rapid increase in consumption over a short period of time may be viewed as an opportunity to develop a broader, loyal consumer base and marketing tactics  must change to accommodate such an opportunity. While early marketing efforts were based on communicating new and diverse products with a growing class of discerning consumers, Raaij et al. (2001:60) argue that marketing communication has since been repurposed in order to establish brand loyalty and reinforce consumer perceptions of value. I n effect, marketers attempt to influence consumer behaviour through their presentation of a strategic, targeted marketing message, establishing the unique value of a given product or brand that will ensure future purchasing loyalty. In his empirical analysis of consumer behaviour and its affectation by marketing initiatives, Foxall (1992:397-98) argues that marketing interventions provide reinforcement of the anticipated result or features of a given product while simultaneously modifying the scope of consumer settings (i.e. purchase  intent, brand loyalty, etc.). Such reinforcement is affected through a variety of channels including product features, strategic delays in provision, and modulation of information exchange and messaging (Foxall, 1992:398). Ultimately, the marketer assumes responsibility for a psychological connection between a particular brand or product and the consumer, strategically directing communications in order to improve a cognitive connection that can potentially influence consumer behaviour. Foxall (1992:398) addresses key concerns surrounding the effectiveness of such communication, but indicates that consumer behaviour has a direct impact on marketing strategies, the result of a meas urable need for reinforcement and connection. As the internet age continues to challenge marketers to consider more diverse relationship formats in the online environment, behavioural analysis has quickly become an effective means of programme development and modulation. From trust to satisfaction to site navigability, Taylor and Strutton (2010:954) have compiled widespread academic evidence that investigates various behavioural features that are frequently evaluated by marketers seeking to enhance their online presence and consumer loyalty. Consumer satisfaction, for example, was found to have a direct impact on trust and brand loyalty in addition to the perceived value of a given product, potentially influencing future purchasing decisions or commitments (Taylor and Strutton, 2010:954). While such concerns are more traditional in nature, their applicability within an online purchasing environment is undeniable, and without marketer intervention and a strategic reinforcement of value, there is a potential that future purchases will be impacted. Yet such interventions require a concise and accurate understanding of consumer behaviour in order to effectively provide value-oriented reinforcement and messaging that is directly related to consumer value systems. Aside from the electronic nature of online consumption, the diversification of communication channels and its impact on consumer behaviour in the past decade has had direct and remarkable influences purchasing decisions, brand loyalty, and consumer commitment. Anton et al. (2007:515) argue that as consumer access to information, feedback, and peer reviews has increased, consumers have increasingly become intolerant to inconsistency and mediocrity, the result of exposure to choice. Essentially the consumer right to choose continues to  impact behaviour and future purchasing considerations, as substitute products and competitive messaging have a direct impact on interpretation and loyalty. By communicating added value and fostering a stable and sustainable relationship, Anton et al. (2007:516) suggest that marketers are able to influence consumer switching behaviour and restrict the influence of competitive initiatives. The affectation provided by strategic marketing communication is essentially a direct link to consumer preferences and purchasing models, as psychological affectation becomes a means of sustaining a particular, idealised behaviour. The role between consumer behaviour and marketing is based on adaptation, a concept that is oftentimes difficult to implement within a diverse, competitive environment as firms attempt to strategically manage resources and reduce corporate excess. Thrassou and Vrontis (2009:499) argue that the consumer behaviour is the most valuable information conduit for marketers as they attempt to navigate market changes, competitive influences, and the consumer buying cycle. From channel preferences (i.e. television, magazine, etc.) to message content, the consumer response to various initiatives should be predictable, a function of extensive market research and behavioural analysis (2009:510). Marketing  communications, as a strategic, value-added enterprise for modern organisations has shifted in its purpose, embracing the demonstration and modelling of product value within the context of consumer preferences, as opposed to past models of feature presentation, differentiation, etc (2009:516). Essentially, the role of the consumer has become one of exchange and communication, providing marketers with information necessary to evolve their messaging, models, and marketing channels. While there is inherent value in strategic messaging, the targeted nature of such communication must be linked to key stimuli which inspire consumer behaviour. Chiu et al. (2005:1682) evaluate such phenomena from a more scientific perspective, suggest that the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) paradigm provides evidence the underlying psychological response that can be expected from consumers. Essentially, the relational bonding activities by a firm (stimulus) can have a measurable impact on con sumers’ value perceptions (organism), whereby  their purchase behaviours may be influenced (response) (Chiu et al., 2005:1682). Within such a model, it is evident that the consumer perception of value has a direct influence on their subjective response to stimuli from marketers, but in order to ensure that such responses are consistent with what the marketing initiative had intended, marketers must understand consumer perceptions and their impact on behaviour. Chiu et al. (2005:1687) used empirical data to model the influence which value perceptions can have on switching behaviour amongst consumers, suggesting that dissatisfaction in general cannot be overcome through messaging or branding alone. Instead, there is a measurable link between the depth of the relationship between a given brand and its consumers which can allow marketers to overcome dissatisfaction and achieve a renewed state of trust. Such relational bonding focuses on the inherent value of a given product to the consumer in relation to their wants and needs, establishing a connection between fulfilment and the particular product in which there is an inherent purchasing response when considering that particular need. When considering the decision making process of consumers, there tangible rewards which must be considered for picking a particular brand or product. De Wulf and Okerken-Schroder (2003:97), for example, have suggested that at the first level of relationship marketing, basic, tangible rewards are identified including cost savings and pricing incentives which provide consumers with a more general value based on financial concerns. More dynamic rewards also focus on intrinsic value in which rewards systems connect consumers and products according to an extended, implied position of loyalty. From rewards coupons to frequent flyer programmes to loyalty bonuses, the long term achievement of reward for consumers can lead them to remain loyal to a particular brand, as switching behaviour would ultimately have a measurable consequence for their rewards earnings (De Wulf and Okerken-Schroder, 2003:97). Such second tier rewards systems establish a long term relationship between the consumer and the brand, ultimately defining consumer participation within the programme in spite of other value challenges or product inconsistencies. Oftentimes the value of understanding consumer behaviour can provide marketers with the information necessary to repurpose their products,  meeting consumer needs without directly impacting the product or brand itself. Fine (2010) presents evidence of the information value associated with purchase behaviour, as consumers self-actualise particular objectives and needs through consumptive actions. From luxury items to particular brands, the decision to purchase a particular product is frequently based on deeper psychological influences, oftentimes influencing brand loyalty according to psycho-social interpretation of product value (Fine, 2010:244). While such peer-based acknowledgement of value can be identified through survey and research, information surrounding consumer behaviour and brand preferences is much more valuable when considering rebranding efforts and consumer communication. Ultimately, Fine (2010:245) argues that it is the achievement of status through the purchase of a luxury or personally valuable brand that can provide consumers with a level of satisfaction that is linked to their future purchase intentions. As previously discussed, dissatisfaction or product failure can ultimately lead to reduced value within this relationship and dissolve the psychological connection. Consumer behaviour is both time sensitive and immediate, experiencing influences according to various stimuli over time. Kowatsch and Maas (2010:702) have modelled the impact which direct communication can have on consumer behaviour during their purchasing process, using an in-store, mobile recommendation agent (MRA) to provide information and feedback for consumers as they shop. The inherent value of such decision assistance systems was demonstrated from a practical perspective, allowing consumers to access additional product data that might have otherwise remained unavailable. The authors also determined that the effectiveness of the system (MRA) had a measurable impact on consumer purchasing behaviour, suggesting that the personal value of the information and the means in which it was communicated could determine whether or not the consumer would engage in the purchase (Kowatsch and Maass, 2010:702). These findings also have implications for more practical marketing applications, as information exchange during the consumption process can have different influences on consumer behaviour than information exchanged over a more extended period of time. Whether communicated at the point of purchase or over other channels, the marketing message can have a direct impact on consumer behaviour.  Research on exploratory buying behaviour has been conducted by Baumgartner and Steenkamp (1996:132), demonstrating how psychological affectation can ultimately lead to consumers decision to purchase, even without original experience with a particular product. The authors argue that there are a host of unique, individual-specific traits which can lead to differences in product purchasing behaviour, the result of interpretation of stimuli and risk taking proclivity (Baumgartner and Steenkamp (1996:131). In order to chase consumers motivated by curiosity or by particular incentives, the authors suggest that marketers must explore the psychological implications of their particular messaging, potentially resulting in a greater sales opportunity. Taking advantage of promotional campaigns and marketing to specific niche consumers are some methods in which consumer behaviour can be influenced by particular psychological undercurrents within a singular marketing mix. The authors also suggested that there may not be a large difference in consumption behaviour amongst individuals with similar cultural ties, as the influence of marketing campaigns may resonate universally amongst these individuals (Baumgartner and Steenkamp, 1996:134). Regardless of affectation, such findings do have important implications when considering the inherent value of marketing campaigns in affecting consumer purchasing behaviour. While marketing initiatives are frequently associated with consumer purchasing behaviour, there are underlying variables related to such consumption that must also be addressed in order to encapsulate the value of a particular product or brand for consumers. Demirdijian and Senguder (2004), for example, have investigated products from a psychological perspective, highlighting key genetic characteristics that influence behaviour and programme future purchasing behaviour. Whether linked to an individual’s personal preferences or actually a function of internal chemical stimuli, the researchers suggest that there are more scientific reasons for consumer behaviour that can ultimately be determined, modelled, and used in product marketing (Demirdijian and Senguder , 2004:351). From the interpretation of a particular taste to the analysis of various sensations associated with fabric, analysts are able to determine and synthesise a future intent to purchase. While such product development can  be used for consumer influence, it can also be used to generate data relevant to the development of those products and services that have greater value to consumers over the long term. While value-added positioning can be achieved through market research, scientific analysis of consumer behaviour will also produce a means of defining those more subversive value components that might otherwise not be identified, from product packaging to secondary uses to the inherent status perceptions held by consumers during use. Conclusions This analysis began with a simple question of why consumer behaviour and an understanding of such processes is useful from the perspective of the marketer. There were a variety of findings uncovered over the course of this research, the majority of which establish some form of affectation according to  psychological influences and messaging stimuli. Inherently linked to brand loyalty and the consumer commitment to the product or brand over time, the means of reducing switching behaviours within extremely saturated marketplaces are directly afforded by marketing communication. The effectiveness of such communication, however, can have the desired (or opposite) result on sustaining consumer loyalty over an extended period of time. While more traditional marketing models focused on product features and competitive positioning of particular brands or products, modern marketing emphasises the relationship between consumer behaviour and value. By enhancing a product’s value, consumers are encouraged to engage in the buying process and are more likely to maintain personal investment in a product over an extended period of time. There are several implications associated with this research and this analysis of various academic perspectives within this field. First, there is a psychological link between purchase and loyalty. Where cognitive interpretation of marketing messages may have influence on purchasing behaviour over the long term, exploratory consumption may result from proper stimulation and more dynamic brand messaging early in the buying cycle. It is this internalisation of intent which ultimately allows marketers to  attract a larger base of consumers, even in a marketplace where there are various substitute products. In order to identify the best fit communication strategy, marketers are oftentimes forced to rely on trial and error or unsupported market research. By modelling particular behaviour patterns, however, associated with exploratory buying, these firms and individuals may be able to predict consumer responses to more dynamic marketing campaigns. From rewards programmes to creative branding to niche marketing, the ability to communicate with consumers according to their personal preferences and their understanding of intrinsic an extrinsic product value is invaluable and can sustain a product’s market expansion over the long term. This research has demonstrated that consumer behaviour and marketing are undeniably linked, and through the understanding of the former, the latter may be more appropriately defined. References Anton, C., Camarero, C., Carrero, M. (2007) ‘The Mediating Effect of Satisfaction on Consumers’ Switching Intention.’ Psychology and Marketing, Vol. 24, No. 6, pp. 511-538. Baumgartner, H., Steenkam, J.B.E.M. (1996) ‘Exploratory Consumer Buying Behavior: Conceptualization and Measurement.’ International Journal of Research in Marketing, Vol. 13, pp. 121-137. Chiu, H.C., Hsieh, Y.C., Li, Y.C., Lee, M. (2005) ‘Relationship Marketing and Consumer Switching Behavior.’ Journal of Business Research, Vol. 58, pp. 1681-1689. Demirdijian, Z.S., Senguder, T. (2004) ‘Perspectives in Consumer Behavior: Paradigm Shifts in Prospect.’ The Journal of the American Academy of Business, pp. 348-353. De Wulf, K., OdkerkenSchoder, G. (2003) ‘Assessing the Impact of a Retailer’s Relationship Efforts on Consumers’ Attitudes and Behavior.’ Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Vol. 10, pp. 95-108. Drucker, P.F. (1999 ) Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, and Practices. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Fine, L.M. (2010) ‘Altruism and Hedonism: A Review and Discussion of Recent Findings in the Marketing and Consumer Behavior Literature.’ Business Horizons, Vol. 53, pp. 241-246. Foxall, G.R. (1992) ‘The Consumer Situation: An Integrative Model for Research in Marketing.’ Journal of Marketing Management, Vol. 8, pp. 383-404. Kowatsch, T., Maass, W. (2010) ‘In-Store Consumer Behavior: How Mobile Recommendation Agents Influence Usage Intentions, Product Purchases, and Store Preferences.’ Computers in Human Behavior, Vol. 26, pp. 697-704. Mooij, M., Hoftede, G. (2002) ‘Convergence and Divergence in Consumer Behavior: Implications for International Retailing.’ Journal of Retailing, Vol. 78, pp. 61-69. Raaij, W.F.V., Strazzieri, A., Woodside, A. (2001) ‘New Developments in Marketing Communications and Consumer Behavior.’ Journal of Business Research, Vol. 53, pp. 59-61. Taylor, D.G., Strutton, D. (2010) ‘Has EMarketing Come of Age? Modeling Historical Influences on Post-Adoption Era Internet Consumer Behaviors.’ Journal of Business Research, Vol. 63, pp. 950-956. Thrassou, A., Vrontis, D. (2009) ‘A New Consumer Relationship Model: The Marketing Communications Application.’ Journal of Promotion Management, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 499-521.

Essay --

CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE MAIN INFLUENCES ON OCCUPATIONAL CHOICE AND THE CONTENTION THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CHOICE Introduction: Occupational choice is the most important decision for one person with out any doubt which could be made in a person's life time. In about 1951 or more back, Ginzberg et al carried out a major study research regarding the occupational choice, which now in the 21st century is known as the originating theories on the topic. '' Waliam stated that It is very Important and Crucial at times to determine the standard of living, the income, the quality of ones life, self esteem, social relationship, the environment and also its crucial to determine whether the child of a particular family would enter which occupation field'' (Williams 1974:15) Stating above by Williams (1974), it is reflecting that how a person is satisfied within his/her working environment and it could be often previewed that the other aspects of that particular persons lives will follow on from this. This essay will firstly explain the occupational choice, then it will address its theories and how they are developed and contrasting opinions and further moving down it will explain the freedom of choice for the individuals and argue on it. Jackson(2001) said that people from higher class positions could use their non merits benefits to obtain their certain positions. Goldthrope said that pupil from less advantage class need to show more merits than pupil from more advantaged class in order to obtain the same position. Achieved roles are those roles which are achieved and gained for themself and are f... ... the best job for one person as it maybe not percieve to others. Wilson(2010) states the problem of race. The EHRC research report found that the black Caribbean boys and White people have achieved bad grades(EHRC 2010) where as Haw(1998) explained from her research that some were confused with Muslim pupls Treatment.(Ambercrombie and Warde 2003:474-5). The ninety percent of women in its role of The Royal Army force now offers them where as the Navy and the Army have about three quarters to both the females and males. Womens are mostly looking for Self fulfilment for their occupations. (Watson 2003:194).Timperley and Gregory (1971) had recently research that about three to four times females want to go into education or further studies after school where as males are different they want to find a job and go straight into the labour market or work.(Wilson 1974:193).

Marxist and Neoclassical Economics

Marx's economic theories mainly deal with the comparison and contrast between Marxism and Capitalism. Karl Marx had many theories that dealt with many different aspects of society. This concept deals with the exploitation of workers and the components involved in production. The first part of Marx's value of labour theory deals with commodities. Commodities are defined as an object outside of us, a thing that by its properties satisfies human wants of some sort or another (Miliband, 1977, 243). These commodities have different values and according to Marx every commodity has two values: exchange value and use value. The use value of a commodity refers to the fact that is has some sort of use; it serves some purpose or meets some want. Every commodity must have a use or it has no value and is not a commodity. Exchange value refers to the ratio at which a commodity can be exchanged with another. In certain quantities all commodities can be exchanged for other commodities (Miliband, 1977, 254). Even the most worthless commodity, when taken in big enough quantities, can be exchanged for the most valuable of commodities. For example, a large quantity of corn or apples can be exchanged for a diamond. The next part of Marx's theory deal with the values of the labour. Marx argued that what commodities all have in common is the fact that they are all products of human labour. It is human labour that has created them and it is the amount of human labour that goes into them that determines value. Karl Marx's labour theory of value asserts that the value of an object is solely a result of the labour expended to produce it. According to this theory, the more labour or labour time that goes into an object, the more it is worth. Marx defined value as â€Å"consumed labour time†, and stated that â€Å"all goods, considered economically, are only the product of labour and cost nothing except labour†(Parekh, 1982, 386). One crucial element of classical political economy that was eventually displaced in the neoclassical revolution of the nineteenth century was the idea that labour was a primary or even exclusive determinant of value. Now, readings of Marx that posit him either as the last of the great classicals or as the leading left-wing critic of classical political economy often share the claim that Marx extracted from the classicals the view that labour is the sole source of value. Marx is applauded for his consistent formulation of a labour theory of value and, thus, for his adherence to the view that social relations of production determine the distribution of social labour and the value and exchange-value of commodities. That is, as for many other Marxists, the fact that individuals may desire beings and motivated in their economic behaviours by instinct, affection, emotion, and so forth is relegated to the status of secondary phenomena insofar as the determination of value, the social allocation of labour, and the distribution of income and wealth are involved. For many Marxists, the essential causes of economic activity are labour and production. Thus, the labouring body, rendered in some versions of this story as a truly trans-historical corporeal entity, is given pride of place in establishing the conditions for that which is uniquely human and thereby economic. This ‘productionist’ bias of Marxists has constituted the grounds by which Marxism has discursively ignored or excluded libido, excess, and true expenditure in the economic theory to which it has given rise. (Resnick, 2001, 56-60) Contemporary Marxian critics in the field of economics, then, often prefer to resurrect the nineteenth-century debates over the correct attribution of value to either ‘subjective’ desire or ‘objective’ labour. Their critique of neoclassical theory devolves on the claim that the bourgeois individualism, naturalism, and arcane abstraction consequent upon the use of axiomatic formulations in neoclassicism obscure the true (McCloskey, 2003, 12-14) conditions under which economic activities and institutions arise. Whereas production is viewed as ubiquitous across epochs and geographical boundaries, desire and utility maximization are seen as limited in historical importance to capitalist societies and, even there, they are more a consequence of a hegemonic false consciousness imposed by the self-promotion of the bourgeoisie (for example, to hide the ‘fact’ of exploitation or to explain away the waste and inefficiency of unplanned markets) than the objective conditions of life under capitalism. The modernism of much Marxism consists, at least partly, in its insistence in finding an ontological referent for the essential cause – labour – that emerges in Marxian economics as the source of value. The labouring body and the conditions of work, then, take precedence in everything from determining the nature of subjectivity (the individual who produces him/herself in the course of participating in social labour) and estimating the ‘good life’ (the elimination of alienation in work) to the primacy of certain struggles in the movements to transform and move beyond capitalism. Comparison and Contrast Karl Marx set the wheels of modern Communism and Socialism in motion with his writings in the late nineteenth century. In collaboration with his friend, Fredrich Englels, he produced the Communist Manifesto, written in 1848. Many failed countries' political and economic structures have been based on Marx's theories. That is why he is known as on of the most influential people of the history of the world. Marxism in its various forms has affected the world greatly throughout time. Both World Wars have involved communist countries to a great extent. Communism has gone wrong in many countries, with the state turning into an authoritarian one, with a few people at the top abusing their power for their own personal gain, at the expense of the other members of the public. (England, 1993, 37-53) Rather than codifying the classicals’ labouring body as a first principle, Marx can be said to have disrupted the order of the body established in classical political economy and in much Marxism. For us, Marx is not the inventor of a new anthropology (his work, we believe along with Althusser, represents a sharp rupture from the humanist anthropology that preceded – and, in the pretensions of the early neoclassicals, followed – him). Briefly stated, we view Marx’s contributions to be more along the lines of presenting the human body as a register of class and other economic and social processes, a place where the effects of capitalism are largely inscribed, rather than the site of the privileged origin (through labour) of subjectivity, agency, or socioeconomic relations. In other words, the body that Marx presents in his writings is over determined and has no centre or essential unity other than that which is the effect of the historical conditions of production, consumption, circulation, distribution, and so forth. In this sense, the body in Marx’s work is closer to some current neoclassical renditions, at least insofar as it is differentiated, dispersed, and brought to temporary unity by specific productions rather than by the presumption of its essentiality. (Cohen, 1978, 110-14) The problem, then, for some of the Marxian critics of neoclassical theory is that the story they prefer revives a view of the body and subjectivity that are fully part of the modernist project to promote an overarching and exhaustive notion of ‘man’. In this regard, the post-modern moments of Marxism are suppressed and the affinity that Marxists may have with other developments within which the humanism of the classicals is finally displaced is largely ignored. (Blaug, 1992, 319-22) To put this otherwise, the retention of the labouring body as prime cause of social and economic relations does little to undermine the humanist essentialism that, purportedly, many Marxists have been at pains to attack over the course of the last century. While recent neoclassicals and Marxists may make absurd bed mates, there is a sense in which Marxists can augment rather than blunt their attacks on bourgeois social order by acknowledging the fragmentation of the human body and the dismemberment of theoretical humanism that may have been accomplished by some neoclassicals. (Ollman, 1995, 201-10) A similar issue confronts post-Keynesian critics of neoclassical economics. Instead of using their trenchant questioning of the notions of certainty (and of probabilistic certainty), rationality, and much else that still abounds within neoclassical theory, together with their own exploration of the significance and effects of uncertainty, as the initial steps in decentring the body, post-Keynesian economists have largely resisted such a move. As we see it, the ‘radical uncertainty’ (de Marchi, 2001, 86-90) originally focused on by Keynes and now embraced by post-Keynesian economists has the potential of disrupting the modernist unity of the body, for example, by severing the necessary connection between, the presumed sequence of, some set of initial anticipations and the actions of economic agents as well as by ‘relativizing’ even the recognition of the degrees and forms of certain and uncertain knowledge on the part of those agents, making uncertainty into a variable and heterogeneous constituent and effect of bodily capabilities and orders. (Amariglio, 1994, 7-35) Conclusion Up to the end of the nineteenth century, the sensible presence of the monetary substance (gold, silver) which guaranteed more or less directly the value of the circulating sign, could lead us to forget that money was also a sign. The gold-standard system implied the circulation of gold by itself or the free convertibility of bank-notes into gold. And this, according to a creed which was almost unanimously shared by all economists and statesmen of the nineteenth century, regardless of their nationality, their religious beliefs, or philosophical opinions: ‘banknotes have value only because they represent gold’. Marx himself denied the possibility or the legitimacy of money which would be a mere sign. For him, the backing by commodity-money (produced by a certain amount of labour) is necessary. Nowadays, the direct representational possibility of monetary signs is suspended not only for circumstantial reasons, but completely suppressed, as we know, for reasons that became structural. Thus, we passed from a monetary regime where gold circulated in presencia to a regime where money was a sign representing gold; and finally to money which is a pure sign, without any reference to a gold-value, a regime of complete non-convertibility. The logical relationship between the non-convertibility of money and the dismissal of the labour theory of value by neoclassical economists and mainstream economics has been stressed. Post-Keynesians, however, tend to emphasize the extradiscursive ‘brute nature’ of uncertainty, reducing it to the limits on knowledge imposed by an unforeseeable future. Their view is that neoclassical economists (and, with them, others such as new Keynesian economists), by emphasizing certain (or, again, probabilistically certain) knowledge, have simply exaggerated the role and possibilities of rational calculation and diminished the ‘animal spirits’, ‘spontaneous optimism’, and other nonrational, corporeal determinants of economic behaviour. In this sense, post-Keynesian economists seek to reinscribe a more ‘balanced’ human body – one which, if not exactly derivative of the classicals, both recognizes the limitations of the body (for example, in terms of the ability to gather and process information) and recovers the kind of profusion of sentiments and emotions, conventions and habits, that were seen to be central to the activities and practices of economic agents prior to the marginalist revolution. It is this body which, for post-Keynesians, serves both to replace the ‘sterility’ of disembodied neoclassical decision-makers and to avoid the ‘nihilism’ occasioned by the post-modern decentring of the body. References Amariglio, J. and Ruccio, D. F. (1994) ‘Postmodernism, Marxism, and the Critique of Modern Economic Thought’, Rethinking Marxism 7 (Fall): 7-35. Blaug, M. (1992) The Methodology of Economics; Or How Economists Explain, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 319-22. Cohen, G.A. Karl Marx's Theory of History. Princeton University Press, Princeton. 1978. 110-14 de Marchi, N. (2001) ‘Introduction’ in N. de Marchi and M. Blaug (eds) Appraising Economic Theories, Aldershot: Elgar. 86-90 England, Paula (1993) ‘The Separative Self: Androcentric Bias in Neoclassical Assumptions’, in Marianne A. Ferber and Julie A. Nelson (eds) Beyond Economic Man: Feminist Theory and Economics, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 37-53. McCloskey, D. N. (2003) ‘The Rhetoric of Economics’, Journal of Economic Literature, 21 (June) 12-14 Miliband, R. Marxism and Politics. Herron Publishing Inc., New York. 1977. 250-59 Ollman, B. Grolier's Encyclopedia, Karl Marx and Marxism. Grolier Electronic Publishing Inc. 1995. 201-10 Parekh, B. Marx's Theory of Ideology. The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 1982. P.386 Resnick, Stephen A., and Wolff, Richard D. (2001) Knowledge and Class: A Marxian Critique of Political Economy, Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 56-60

INTRODUCTION OF NEURAL NETWORK Essay

What do I expect from you? 1. Be prepared. Roughly go through the material in the textbook before the class. 2. I am going to spoon-feed you with lots of questions ! These questions are designed to arouse your interest and to help you to figure out most of the stuff by your own thinking! You will have fun by actively participating in thinking and discussing these questions. It will be a waste of your time if you just want to passively listen to the answers. 3. Do the homework assignments by yourself. You can discuss the questions with your classmates. But do not copy and paste! 4. Please Use Anonymous Feedback in IVLE! Tell me what you want from me! What is the most important technology invented in 20th century? The digital computer. †¢How does the digital computer process information? The computer performs binary operations according to a list of instructions (program) How many operations can your laptop execute in one second? CPU speed of 2 GHz –ïÆ'   2 billion (109) What is the fastest speed of the supercomputer now? China’s Tianhe-2 (2013): 33.86 Petaflops (1015) USA’s Cray Titan (2012): 17.59 Petaflops Japan’s K Computer (2011) : 10.5 Petaflops How many operations can a computer (with one CPU) execute at any given instant? †¢Only ONE! The operations are serial: one after another! The modern computers are so fast that it may appear that many programs are running at the same time even though only one is ever executing in any given instant.    EE5904/EE5404 Neural Network EE5904/ME5404 Neural Networks †¢Can computer beat the human brain now? †¢Yes and No. †¢What are the tasks that the computer can beat the human brain? †¢Playing chess—the Deep Blue defeated the world champion Garry Kasparov in 1997. †¢Solving equations! †¢But there are certain things that we can do much better than computer! Can you list some of them? Pattern recognition such as recognizing one familiar face among a crowd! Half a century ago, artificial-intelligence pioneer, Marvin Minsky of MIT predicted that computers would exceed human intelligence within a generation. Recently, he admitted: â€Å" The world’s most powerful computers lack the common sense of a toddler; they cannot even distinguish cats from dogs unless they are explicitly and painstakingly programmed to do so.† †¢ Can computer rival the human brain 1000 years from now? Is Terminator ever possible? 9 EE5904/ME5404 Neural Networks    How about the brains of other animals? Are they also good at pattern recognition? Pigeons as art experts (Watanabe. et al. 1995) Experiment: Pigeon in Skinner box

Personal Goals Essays

Personal Goals Essays Personal Goals Essay Personal Goals Essay I have made several goals and aims that I feel I should meet in order to gain a profit and to help me to run my business successfully. My main aim is to find a local vacant business site and make recommendations on the business idea. I could develop this local business site into my business. Afterwards if all the planning looks reliable I will go ahead with my ideas. I want to open a business that is prosperous and can make me have my own personal satisfaction. Personal Goals My personal goals are to be able to feel content with the outcome of my business. I want to bring a new trend of clothing to British people, especially young youths. With the money made I want to be able to settle down and start a family. I also want to provide the consumers wants and needs. Plus have a good relationship between my employees and customers. I felt that I was motivated by the youth in my society. I know that the youths are craving for these materials after conducting some interview this was the most desired shop. I know for a fact that the things would sell to the youth of my community. Also have always wanted to work for myself and be my own boss. I find it less hassle once my business gets of the ground to work for myself than have the hassle working for someone else. My personal aim is to make new friends and new contacts I would like to leave the business when it is successful to my children. Business Aims I want to be able to maintain a steady profit margin in while running my business. I need to make sure that the launch of my business is well promoted and advertised to the public. Be able to borrow sufficient money for my business from a bank loan. I want to be able to provide a good service to my customers and make them feel comfortable. I want to be able to pick the right location. I would have a sales promotion to try and encourage customers to buy from my shop. I want to be able to expand my business when the time is right. I want to be able to situate my business in a part of London. I would also install changing rooms and security men because it would be tempting to buy from my stall. But this will be useless if I didnt find a vacant local business site. My main business aim is to find that site with the right location. Then make recommendations pertaining to the site and the business. It is essential that the location I choose is legitimate because if I buy a premises and the price is to high or not enough customers pass by there. The before I start my business is already doomed. Methods of arriving at my aims If I want to fulfil my aims there are certain procedures I have to take into consideration. I would need to carry out some research into my chosen field to try and find out what my potential customers want. I would find my data by conducting a field research to gain customers views. I will use questionnaires as my tool for my research. It would provide facts and figures that are up to date, appropriate and specifically on what I want to find out. The disadvantage is that it is expensive to collect, I may get a low response rate and I need a large sample size to get an legitimate result. To have a good relationship with my employees I would be polite and courteous towards them. Like no other job I would make them look forward to coming in to work. I am going to definitely use Abraham Maslows motivation theory, which is: Methods of arriving at my aims To make certain that the local public know about the arrival of my business and it location I will need to advertise my business. Since I dont have a lot of money to spend I would advertise locally first then expand. But for the time being I will advertise on a local radio station. I would consider the time as well, I would want to put my message on when potential customers would be listening. For example I want young youths so I would put my advertisement on what they would be listening to. I wouldnt put it on when the classical music program is playing. To find out what youths listen to I would ask them that in my questionnaire. Also I would set up some posters to give an visual effect. Most people may not know what I am going to sell. The poster would have some sample clothing of what I would sell in the shop. The potential buyers would see it and would want to have it and be able to see more. My adverts would be persuasive and try to convince the consumer that they need this product to look cool. They would play on peoples fears and vulnerabilities and cause desires that didnt exist before. In order to keep customers coming back regularly I would use the pricing strategy of skimming. I would charge a high price for the product first which would attract people with large incomes. When the product has been established I would then lower the price to make it a mass-market product. The customers would feel they are getting a bargain and buy the product. Also after a few months when the sales start to reduce I would introduce discounts to the products. When the price decreases the quantity of demand would rise. These clothes would become a substitute to the other expensive clothing that is worn. I will also sell current cool clothes to attract the customers. Also there would be a constant piece of advertising in my front window. A manikin would be placed in front of the shop window displaying some clothing. This method is known as point of sale advertising. In order to pick the right location I need to consider how customers can travel to my store. Is it easy to get to? The easier it is to get to and the more noticeable it is the more customers I would receive. I would try to make the store as modern as possible to make it appeal to the young youths. I would also play music in the store that they would be into to help them feel more welcome and relaxed. My Business Objectives It is a necessity for my business to have understandable and clear objectives in for my business to run according to plan I need objectives and goals to set. An objective is anything that the business wants to achieve. The reason I am opening a business is because I want to be able to provide a different style of clothing to the youths of today. I also would like to feel independence that comes from being my own boss. I intend to meet new people and make new companions. I want my store to be diverse according to the other stores. I want to be able introduce new trend to the society. I would investigate the chosen area to see the crime rates and the transport and communication links. Also I would research on what other shops look like selling products similar to mine. It would help me accumulate more information about what features modern shops have. Which would result in better ideas. I anticipate that the average product life cycle of my products would be like this: My main business objective is to make a substantial profit, which would allow me to pay the bills and be able to have some money left over for me to live off. I need to be able to fulfil my needs which are food, water, warmth, shelter and clothing. An additional objective would be to supply the clothes that the public demand from my business. Also my turnover should always be greater than my expenses.

Nathaniel Hawthorne (Literary Background)

Nathaniel Hawthorne (Literary Background) Free Online Research Papers Puritan heritage was a support and drawback for his work. His heritage gave him inspiration to write, but scine Puritan heritage saw fiction as vanity and an imitation of Gods creatures and creations, it also frowned upon his work. Hawthorne always tried to be mindful of imitating and analyzing human nature in his writings. He disected many human behaviors and reflected them in his writings. He wanted to expose human nature at its raw finest, and so he has done with his many works. Even though they are fictional, they are based on things he has witnessed Hawthorne read a great deal of romantic poetry and was influenced by all chief romantic poets, including, Williams Wordsmith, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Bryan, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats. Of these writers, Hawthorne was most influenced by the work of Coleridge. Coleridge gave Hawthorne the most insight and inspiration. Hawthorne is best known today for his many short stories and his four major romances written between 1850 and 1860: The Scarlet Letter (1850), The House of Seven Gables (1851), The Blithedale Romance (1852), and The Marble Faun (1860). His work was and still his praised for it’s sentimentality and moral purity. More modern evaluation focuses on the dark psychological complexity or his writing. Research Papers on Nathaniel Hawthorne (Literary Background)Mind TravelCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsHip-Hop is ArtBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided Era

Quotes From the Movie Borat

Quotes From the Movie Borat The 2006 film Borat, starring Sasha Baron Cohen, is a comedy about a fictional man from Kazakhstan who comes to America and finds it very different than he expected. Its full title is Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.   The Backstory of Borat: Controversy and Criticism The film is a style known as mockumentary (think Spinal Tap), and many of the Americans who Borat interviewed were supposedly unaware he was an actor and not a real Kazakh journalist. (A few were none too pleased with how they were portrayed in the film, and claimed that they were duped into participating.) The film and its highly crude humor made it extremely controversial even before it was released in theaters, and Borat was banned in many Arab countries. Nonetheless, Cohen won a Golden Globe for his performance, and the movie was a critical and box office success. Here are some weird and wild quotes from this unusual movie. Be warned that theyre definitely not for a family audience and may be offensive to some readers. Borats Conversations With Others Mike Jared: Im, er... recently retired...Borat: You are a retard? Azamat: [arguing with Borat] Whats in California?Borat: [making it up] Pearl Harbor is there. So is Texas. Borat: Your dog is a loser... you are upset?Dog Show Contestant: No, no. I dont get upset. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.Borat: You will put him in a sack in the river? Borat  [To Veteran Feminists of America, on being questioned whether women should be educated] Is it not a problem that the woman have a smaller brain than a man? The government scientist Dr. Yamuka has proved it is  size  of  squirrel. More From the Mouth of Borat You let  women in cinemas here? In my  country, we have a pen outside for the animals and  womens.I bring iPod back from America and I get my  neighbor  iPod mini... because it is for girls!I can hit a gypsy with a rock from 15 meters away if chained... ten if not.I say this because  I had a very bad gypsy attack... they stole my wife, plow... and they touch my horse in a very bad way... he got very depressed.In my country, we say to let a woman drive a car is like to let a monkey fly a plane, very dangerous yes.Kazakhstan is the greatest country in the world; all other countries are run by little girls.Kazakhstan is number one exporter of potassium; other Central Asian countries have inferior potassium.I arrived in Americas airport with  clothings, US dollars, and a jar of gypsy tears to protect me from AIDS.Democracy is different in America. For  example,  women can vote but  horse  can not!Please, you come see my film. If it not  success, I will  be execu te.

Report on the viability of Braeside Distillery Essay

Report on the viability of Braeside Distillery - Essay Example This includes external factors like, an increase in the prices of oil, which has the capability of increasing its fixed costs. On an overall perspective, the company plans at producing and selling 30,000 bottles of Pure Gold, and if all factors remain constant, this is a very profitable initiative. For purposes of determining the viability and profitability of this project, there will be a need of using the concepts of the Break Even analysis. This will help the company to identify the point where the sale and production of Pure Gold will not result to a loss, or even a profit (Epstein, 2011). This point of intersection is called the Break Even point. Before the identification of this point, the following are the assumptions that the company should undertake, By carefully looking at this graph, where total revenue and total cost intercept each other, is the Break Even point. This means that, it is at this point of production, where the company will not make any losses nor any profits (Epstein, 2011). From the calculations and the graphical representation, it is possible to denote that the break-even point is 3980, which is a very low figure. This means that the production and sale of Pure Gold at the conditions identified is a very profitable venture. Furthermore, as previously discussed, the margin of safety of project is very high, which stands at 86.73%. This means that if the sales of the company fall to 86%, the company will still make some profits. One of the major areas where the company is vulnerable to is on the currency fluctuations and value (Epstein, 2011). Currently, the value of the currency stands at 1 pound is equal to 1.28 Euro. However, if the strength of the Euro increases, against the pound, this means that the profitability of the company would decrease. An increase in the strength of the Euro would mean that it trades at a lower price of 1.28 against the pound. Take for example; the current

Bill Joy's Why the Future Doesn't Need Us Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Bill Joy's Why the Future Doesn't Need Us - Essay Example The paper tells that Bill Joy debates the negative prospects of the technological advancements in nanotechnology, genetics development and the use of robots. The computer's processing speeds exponentially growing in recent years and the development of novel inventions will supersede the speed of growth. The gigantic computing power might make the intellectual fictitious robot possible. Human beings and the robots will merge in an attempt to complete the industrial tasks. These changes might even lead to human replacements in these industrial tasks. These hazards also occur in nanotechnology and genetics scopes of life. The establishment of nanotechnology made possible development of electronics of the molecular nanoscale. This technology will grow greatly in the subsequent two decades. Joy said that it is by far easy to make negative applications for nanotechnology as opposed to the more functional ones. He further articulated that, if we do not put the ethical issues of nanotechnolo gy in mind, there is a high danger of destroying the earth’s biosphere that we all depend for survival. The development of genetic technology presently brought us numerous ethical issues. Bill Joy supposed that the general community is conscious of, and nervous about, genetically customized groceries, and appears to be declining the concept that such edibles should be allowed to be unlabeled. Bill’s apprehension was that genetic technology might give the authority to bad personality and aid them to perform the disparaging act with an example being the White Plague.

How to Make local company international Research Paper

How to Make local company international - Research Paper Example In Saudization the Advance Electronic Company is a leader. In all areas of business and the community the highest integrity has been maintained consistently by the Advance Electronic Company. The Advance Electronic Company is considered as a strategic asset by the Saudi Arabian Government. The recognition as the leading technology solutions provider in the region is the vision of the Advance Electronic Company. The continuous improvement and diversification of the companies’ offerings by alignment of its business strategies with the end customers’ priorities, creation of long-term partnership, harness the opportunities, acquirement of new capabilities, investment I the people and community at large is the mission of the Advance Electronic Company. The Advance Electronic Company aims to be the leader across all the business of the company and to act in the most professional way in an ethical manner. The Advance Electronic Company has access to the   Ã‚  world class and local manufacturing, repair, engineering and maintenance. It also has the access at its facilities to the complete solution deployment capabilities. The access of the Advance Electronic Company to other distribution networks, customers and markets are rapid and easy. As a result, to the highly specialized services, offers and opportunities, the Advance Electronic Company acts as a gateway. An in-depth understanding of the Dynamics and structure of the Saudi and international electronics market is possessed by the Advance Electronic Company. The superior engineering and technical capabilities of the company has helped it to forge close working relationships with many renowned international OEMs. The end-to-end customer support of the Advance Electronic Company, its reliability and its ability to deliver on time and to budget are excellent. the Advance Electronic Company successfully operates in the Industrial business, Military, & Telecom sectors and has shown leadership in it. The service package provided to the customers by the Advance Electronic Company is aimed at standard as complete satisfaction and quality. More than 2000 people are encompassed in the Advance Electronic Company team with a variety of skills, qualifications and experience.  The first company to receive the AS 9100-A2001 certificate in the Middle East and Africa was the Advance Electronic Company.    (Advanced Electronic Company, n.d.) 2.0 Market Penetrated Political system, economical system and the legal system of the host country- The Advance Electronic Company plans to enter Romania as its host country. Romania is an ideal country to expand the business as the country adheres to maintain its openness to the global commerce and business regulation efficiency. Romania is a member of the European Union. By filtering the economies active on the market, Romania has further scope of the attractively /improvement of the Romanian business environment - The political System- Rule of Law Th e major political effects on a business are the political policies of a nation, its stability and the taxes imposed by it on the business. A flat 16 percent tax rate is implemented in both the income and corporate sectors in Romania. An environmental tax and a value added tax are included in other taxes. 26.5 % of the total domestic business equals to the overall tax burden.

A Constant Increase of Nuclear Weapons Assignment

A Constant Increase of Nuclear Weapons - Assignment Example Nuclear power is known for its explosive ability that can cause massive destruction. Such effects are against human dignity of life, human rights, and respect. Therefore, keeping such weapons is directly risking the existence of the human race1. It is from this that I develop the research question; what is likely to be the future outcome of allowing nations to own nuclear weapons? This is a predictive study that tries to focus and bring out the likely unseen outcomes of the recent increase in possession of nuclear weapons. For many people, there are some obvious answers to this question. The most common ones are; deaths of many people in case of explosion land and property destruction. As much as there might be some scientific reasons for keeping nuclear weapons, the constant increase in the development of many of these weapons in most nations raises eyebrows. Many countries have been testing these weapons, and that brings even more fear. It is not common that someone will spend extraordinarily much to have something that will not be of use. Developing these weapons is costly, and it is not a process any nation would go through if the weapons are not to be used. Eventually, these weapons will be used, either by accident or intentionally, and the consequences are severely catastrophic. Therefore, this question can be of interest to the intelligence community as the answers will give the ultimate motive of these nations different from what they have been giving to the press conferences and international conferences. Thomson, a British researcher, and author say that nuclear weapons create a direct as well as a constant threat to the human race everywhere. They are far from keeping the peace as they breed fear and mistrust among all nations. They are the ultimate terror and mass destruction instruments that have neither legitimate military nor strategic utility.  

Rebranding Selfridges Brand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Rebranding Selfridges Brand - Essay Example This is because the various branding associated to the department store has the ability of attracting various customers who poses different taste and preferences. Therefore, it is of very key importance to rebrand various brands of products offered by the department store in order to increase sales and profits by attracting more customers. This essay will focus on rebranding Selfridges brand known as Miss Selfridges (Honeycombe, 1984). Today, there are many cases focusing on women who are abused or have been abused both within the country and globally. The healing process for these abused women is always a difficult journey as most of them always end up loosing their self esteem hence failing in all major sectors in life. To address this, Selfridges started a brand known as Miss Selfridges which was aimed giving these abused self esteem in the society through their dressing. The brand focuses on delivering various clothe wear for women ranging from wedding dresses, Selfridges loves or such dressings like summer denim amongst other types of clothing. These clothe wears are always designed to cheer mood of make women feel young, beautiful and sexy again hence allowing them to continue with life normally accomplishing their different task while enjoying a strong self esteem brought about by the different women’s wear (Our heritage. 2015). However, in spite of the brand doing good in the market, it has faced some stiff competition form such companies or designers in the region who also produce similar products like the Marks and Spencer. This store in spite of having a strong brand and enjoying a strong customer loyalty in the market, it also produces women wears which helps in raising and building confidence of women in different situations. A good example of the products that are being produced and sold by this store is ladies underwear. Moreover, the kind of advertising being used by this company has really yielded positive fruits for the sale s

Contemporary international problems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Contemporary international problems - Essay Example These individuals that became entrenched in slavery provided the second source of slaves, namely their children. Children born in slavery were the property of their parents masters. This was especially prevalent in Americas experience with slavery in the Deep South prior to the Emancipation Proclamation. In modern times, many people that end up in slavery are not forcibly taken from their homelands. They are lured by the prospect of increased financial opportunity. Only after contracting with individuals for transportation, housing and other expenses necessary for relocation does the slave realize they have entered into servitude. A major difficulty in defining modern day slavery and in developing strategies to combat is the institutions that create the market for slaves so not see themselves as contributing to the phenomena. For example, legislators in Florida that have the ability to champion legislation that would define and combat modern day slavery are also owners or have interest in agricultural entities such as orange groves or tomato farms that directly benefit from the modern day slave trade. Other institutions not linked to the legislature claim that it is the contractors that are to blame for the slavery, not the farmers or the food processors. Internationally, the United Nations passed a resolution on trafficking in humans, especially women and children, in 2003. This is the first international law dealing with modern day slavery. The resolution passed but questions still remain about enforcement. I believe that formulating domestic and foreign policy through a gendered lens is not just helpful, but necessary. What seems most damaging is developing these policies according to an ideology that tries to explain why men present the traits and attributes that seem to be more prevalent in their populations and why women present attributes generalized to their population. Working with an

Rebranding Selfridges Brand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Rebranding Selfridges Brand - Essay Example This is because the various branding associated to the department store has the ability of attracting various customers who poses different taste and preferences. Therefore, it is of very key importance to rebrand various brands of products offered by the department store in order to increase sales and profits by attracting more customers. This essay will focus on rebranding Selfridges brand known as Miss Selfridges (Honeycombe, 1984). Today, there are many cases focusing on women who are abused or have been abused both within the country and globally. The healing process for these abused women is always a difficult journey as most of them always end up loosing their self esteem hence failing in all major sectors in life. To address this, Selfridges started a brand known as Miss Selfridges which was aimed giving these abused self esteem in the society through their dressing. The brand focuses on delivering various clothe wear for women ranging from wedding dresses, Selfridges loves or such dressings like summer denim amongst other types of clothing. These clothe wears are always designed to cheer mood of make women feel young, beautiful and sexy again hence allowing them to continue with life normally accomplishing their different task while enjoying a strong self esteem brought about by the different women’s wear (Our heritage. 2015). However, in spite of the brand doing good in the market, it has faced some stiff competition form such companies or designers in the region who also produce similar products like the Marks and Spencer. This store in spite of having a strong brand and enjoying a strong customer loyalty in the market, it also produces women wears which helps in raising and building confidence of women in different situations. A good example of the products that are being produced and sold by this store is ladies underwear. Moreover, the kind of advertising being used by this company has really yielded positive fruits for the sale s

Strict Liability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Strict Liability - Essay Example However both at common law and through Statute there are crimes of strict liability and vicarious liability. Crimes of strict liability are those where intention (be it mens rea and/or negligence) need not be proved in respect of one or more of the elements of the actus reus of an offence. The prosecution only has to prove that the accused committed the actus reus. Crimes of vicarious liability are those whereby the accused neither did the act nor had the intention but is held liable due to his relationship with the actual perpetrator. The development of strict and vicarious liability offences seems to be historical; a reaction to the plethora of regulatory sanctions and poorly drafted legislation which did not mention malice, intent, knowledge or will. It might appear that 'state of affairs' offences, such as crimes of strict liability are exceptions in English law. These are offences where either the legal or the evidential burden of proof falls on the defence. However, Ashworth and Blake claimed in their research that up to 40% of trials in the Crown Court required the defendant to prove either a statutory defence or disprove at least one element of the offence and that over 123 serious criminal offences had an element of strict liability. Most of these offences are regulatory, pertaining to food, drugs, health, alcohol, factories, pollution and other public health matters, and are mala prohibita rather than mal in se. They argued that this has made significant inroads on the presumption of innocence. The prosecution does not always have to establish that the actus reus was voluntary. So for example in Callow v Tillstone [1900] a butcher was held liable for exposing unsound meat for sale even though the carcass had been certified as fit for human consumption by a vet. A crime may have a mixture of strict liability and mens rea/negligence as to the elements of the actus reus. Hence in R v Prince [1875] the accused was convicted of taking an unmarried girl under the age of 16 out of her father's possession as knowledge that the girl was under 16 was not required for conviction. It was sufficient that he knew she was in her father's possession. At common law there is a presumption that mens rea is required to establish guilt. One remaining controversial area is that of the common law offence of Blasphemy where there is still some confusion. Lord Denning had said during a speech in 1949 that the blasphemy laws belonged in the past: [...] it was thought that a denial of Christianity was liable to shake the fabric of society, which was itself founded upon Christian religion. There is no such danger to society now and the offence of blasphemy is a dead letter. In 1979 morality crusader Mary Whitehouse successfully sued Gay News and its editor for publishing a poem which described a purported affair between a male soldier and Jesus Christ and necrophilic acts with his corpse: Whitehouse v Gay News Ltd [1979]. In 1990 it was held that blasphemy laws only applied to

Heaven Is for Real Essay Example for Free

Heaven Is for Real Essay Sadness, happiness, excitement, joy, and astonishment are only but a few of the emotions you will endure while reading the book Heaven is for Real, the amazing story of a brave and eccentric little boy named Colton Burpo. In March of 2003, what seemed to be a seemingly typical family trip turned into a terrifying fight for Todd and Sonja Burpo’s little boy’s life. Even after months of injury and illness within the Burpo family, Colton’s incident tops them all. The strength of this little boy, even at the young age of only four, is truly inspirational. This book truly portrays the crazy days, weeks, months, and even years that follow the frightening experiences that this family had to go through. In February of 2003, the Burpo’s decide to take a family outing. The Butterfly Pavilion is their destination of choice, and the family couldn’t be any happier to get away. After Sonja’s miscarriage, Todd’s shatter leg, round of kidney stones, and hyperplasia; a vacation is precisely what they need. The Thursday before they’re to leave, however, Colton isn’t feeling well and had complained of a stomach ache. Their babysitter, Norma, calls Sonja at work to report a plunge in little Colton’s sickness. After a trip to the doctor, the Burpos find that the stomach flu is the cause of Colton’s poor health. They see the fun-filled trip slipping away as soon as it had come, and nobody in the household is content. But, by morning, Colton is up and feeling well again; the Burpo’s then set out on their adventure. They soon made it to the Crawl-A-See-Um right outside of Denver, and the kid’s stop to see the many tarantula exhibits. These draw Cassie and Colton Burpo in like magnets. The kids are easily amazed by the many eight-legged creatures, which shock the children with everything that they do. They soon see Rosie, the spider you can hold in exchange for a sticker. Cassie holds her, but Colton is afraid, so they make their way on through. After visiting the many aquariums, they make their way to the butterfly pavilion. They see a monarch fly by, enjoying the beauty of the beautiful orange creature. Sonja, remembering the kids want to swim, insists they leave. As they walk by Rosie, Todd asks Colton if he wants to try and hold Rosie. Colton is positive that this time, he will do it. He ventures up to Rosie, holds her, and gets a sticker. He leaves feeling triumphant as they leave. After swimming, the Burpos head to the Old Chicago Restraunt in Greeley to eat with Pastor Steve Wilson and his wife. While sitting around the large, round booth, they talk about their churches and enjoy Italian food. Todd and Sonja decide to visit Pastor Wilson’s church the next day, as Rebecca Wilson divides her time between the conversation and coloring with the kids. Colton’s eery quietness isn’t noticed throughout the dinner, until Colton makes a remark about his stomach again. They Burpos decide to cut the dinner short, after Colton and Cassie both decide they aren’t feeling well. Colton’s statement comes true, as he throws up all of that night. Soon the next day, they decide to take Colton to the hospital. â€Å"Could it be appendicitis? † Sonja asks the doctor, fearing for bad news. Colton squirms, afraid of the IV as any kid would be. He assures her that the blood test don’t show this, but they don’t know what has happened. As Colton’s health gets worse, Todd and Sonja worry for their son. Then the worst thing yet happened, the shadow of death. Todd sees it on Colton, and afterwards they decide to take Colton to the Great Plains Regional Medical Center. Calling ahead to let the doctor know, they set out towards the center. Todd and Sonja blame each other throughout the whole trip, but when they reach the center and the doctor has gone to lunch, they’re out of people and reasons to blame. Fifteen minutes later, the doctor comes in and looks over Colton. They perform a CT scan, and send the Burpos into a secluded waiting room. â€Å"I think this is it,† are the only words Sonja can muster out as she cradles Colton’s limp body. Five tiresomely long minutes later, a Radioligist comes out to let them know Colton has a ruptured appendix and needs emergency surgery. They wheel Colton away on a gurney, preparing him for his surgery. He thrashes, screaming for his dad, as they put the IV in his arm. Anger flashes in Todd’s eyes, realizing that he may have waited too long and might not see his son alive again. He rages at God, assuming he is going to take his son before he had the time to even live. After the surgery is over, Todd is asked to come back. All the fear and anger leaves his eyes, when he is told that his son is conscious and has been asking for him. Todd and Sonja are amazed at how much better their son feels, looks, and seems. They are told, seven days after checking into the hospital, that they can take their son home. After packing the mulititude of toys and clothes, they go to leave. The elevators are sliding shut, when they are told they cannot leave. New pockets of infection show in Colton’s CT scan, in his abdomen. Sonja, completely exasperated, has a breakdown. The church comes to pray with Colton shortly after, only praying for one simple thing: gas. They are told that if Colton passes gas, that it would be a good sign. Within an hour, the prayer was answered. Colton felt better the next morning, and doctors were shocked at this miracle. After what seemed like forever, Colton and the rest of the Burpo family can finally go home after this horrific event. After they go home, life seems to go back to normal. It wasn’t until four months after Colton’s surgery, on their Fourth of July trip, that they realize their son has witnessed something extraordinary. On their way, Todd jokingly asks Colton if he wants to go back to the hospital. The response he gets is far from what he expects, however. Colton proceeds to tell him that the hospital is where angels sang to him and he sat in Jesus’ lap. Todd and Sonja laugh it off, thinking Colton had imagined the whole thing. They continue to believe so, until he tells them exactly what they were soing, and where, during his surgery. He also offers more information, spread over the next years. Days, weeks, and months all came with new information. â€Å"Did you know that Jesus had a cousin? Jesus told me his cousin baptized him,† Colton informed his father one night. He tells his dad about a horse that he petted, God’s beautiful eyes and clothes, his crown, and God’s â€Å"markers,† nonchalantly one night, as if he were talking about what he ate for lunch. When Todd realizes that by â€Å"markers,† Colton means the nails in Jesus’ hands and feet, he knows that he can’t be making it up. Todd and Sonja are amazed at all the things he knows all of a sudden. The normal nights come often, but the talks about supernatural phenomenons become spaced out. Colton begins to talk about his Pop, who died before Colton was born. He also tells his dad that he knows that Jesus told him to be a pastor, and when he agreed, Jesus was very happy. He also told his mom that he knows he had another sister, but she died in her tummy. He tells her that she looks like Cassie and is dark headed, like Sonja. He also says that she didn’t have a name, because they hadn’t named her yet. When Sonja begins to freak out, Colton explains that she’s okay and that God adopted her. Colton also tells about God’s throne room, and makes one point in particular stand out: God loves the children! After Colby is born, they realize they have to hire a babysitter. They decide in a very mature for her age 8th grader, named Ali. All is well, until one night they come home to Ali crying. When Sonja asks her why, she says that Colton was crying and tells her why. Colton, after being put in bed, tells Ali that he misses his sister that died in mommy’s tummy. When he begins to cry, Ali holds him until he finally cries himself to sleep. This isn’t the only serious thing Colton says about Heaven. One night, while at home, he tells his dad that the angels have wings to fight off Satan. He tells him that there is going to be a battle, and that Todd will have to fight in it. He also tells that he sees the power God sends his dad during church, while he preaches. Todd and Sonja now believe Colton more and more by the passing day. 2007 is the first time that the Burpos told about Colton’s indifferent, to say the least, experience. Todd now found himself with more and more questions about Heaven and what his 4 year old saw. One woman, in tears, approaches and asks if Colton might have seen her stillborn baby in Heaven. He asks the woman that if she believes that God loves her as much as God loves him, and if he loves her living son as much as he loves his living son, then why wouldn’t he love her unborn child as much as his? At this moment, he knew that God had sent him the power to help that woman; the same power Colton had claimed to have seen God shoot down. Years have passed since Colton’s accident, but his story is and will be known for many more years to come. The amazing experiences that this family went through are truly touching, and this book portrays that beautifully. From cover to cover, it’s a book you will not want to put down. Colton’s story is amazing, and as the nurse once told Todd Burpo, â€Å"There has to be a God, because this is a miracle. †

Walt Whitman: Homoeroticism in Leaves of Grass Essay -- Poetry Analysi

Leaves of Grass is Walt Whitman’s life legacy and at the same time the most praised and condemned book of poetry. Although fearful of social scorn, there are several poems in Leaves of Grass that are more explicit in showing the homoerotic imagery, whereas there are several subtle – should I say â€Å"implicit† – images woven into the fabric of the book. It is not strange, then, that he created many different identities in order to remain safe. What Whitman faced in writing his poetry was the difficulty in describing and resonating manly and homosexual love. He was to find another voice of his, a rhetoric device, and his effort took two forms: simplified, and subverted word play. The first was to understand and render the experience in everyday terms, as in the poem Behold This Swarthy Face. Whitman puts emphasis on masculinity â€Å"in this swarthy face, these gray eyes† (149), and other words, too, are expressive enough to explain to the reader what kind of person is to be loved. What is not as subtle as in some other of Whitman’s poems is the idea in the second part of the poem: â€Å"And I on the crossing of the street or on the ship’s deck give a kiss in / return† (149) – the meeting of the two is to be recognized anywhere, be it on the street or on a ship's deck. When it comes to the second form, Davidson notices that â€Å"The other and far more prevalent form of presented homoerotic love was by means of terms of oppression, subversion† (54). Exemplar poem of this form is Not Heaving from My Ribb’d Breast Only. In it the lyrical subject is trapped in fears and must break out of suppression in order to be himself. In the end of the poem there is a sudden release: â€Å"O pulse of my life! / Need I that you exist and show yourself any more than in... ...d Bergman, David. Choosing Our Fathers: Gender and Identity in Whitman, Ashbery and Richard Howard. American Literary History 1.2 (1989): 383-403. JSTOR. Web. 29 March 2012. Davidson, Edward H.. The Presence of Walt Whitman. Journal of Aesthetic Education 17.4 (1983): 41-63. JSTOR. Web. 29 March 2012. Herrman, Steven B.. Walt Whitman and the Homoerotic Imagination. Jung Journal: Culture & Psyche 1.2 (2007): 16-47. JSTOR. Web. 29 March 2012. Maslan, Mark. Whitman and His Doubles: Division and Union in Leaves of Grass and Its Critics. American Literary History 6.1 (1994): 119-139. JSTOR. Web. 29 March 2012. Metzer, David. Reclaiming Walt: Marc Blitzstein’s Whitman Settings. Journal of the American Musicological Society 48.2 (1995): 240-271. JSTOR. Web. 29 March 2012. Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Pennsylvania: the Pennsylvania State University, 2007. Print.

Prostitution :: essays papers

Prostitution Prostitution is an issue which has caused controversy cross-culturally and historically and which has many individuals reexamining the logistics of it. If prostitution is decriminalized it will become economically profitable and feasible for not only the prostitutes, but also western society as a whole. Without the 20th century western laws, which force prostitution underground, the profession of prostitution could become a clean and safe occupation. Prostitution laws are unconstitutional and deny the prostitutes what the American constitution allows them. Prostitution is an illegal act in Canada and large portions of the United States which, if legalized, would protect and benefit 20th century western society. If sanctioned, prostitution will become economically lucrative for the governments involved. The colossal amount of money spent each year on prostitute prevention could be spent on more urgent issues, which is exactly wha the San Francisco Task Force on Prostitution found. The total costs accounted for in this report amounts to $7,634,750.00. Given the many areas in which we found that information is not available, or there are hidden costs, the over all expense to the taxpayer exceeds $7.6 million annually.1 The San Francisco Task Force is a group of researchers, police officers, members of the San Francisco community, government officials and prostitutes, who frequently meet to discuss the issues of prostitution and to try to come to some solution. Although they may not always agree, two issues they are in agreement about are that the $7.6 million dollars would be better spent elsewhere and that prostitution should be legalized.. Robert Noce of Manitoba city council wants reform of the Canadian Justice System and he would like to see prostitution become worthwhile to Canadian taxpayers. Quite frankly, for anyone to suggest to me a dating or escort agency is just offering companionship is being quite naive. Let's not try to bury our heads in the sand and pretend nothing else is going on. Instead of pretending these establishments don't exist let's instead be logical about this and try to use the profits that we could be making, in a wise and useful manner. I think that the highest paying customers for prostitution is us Canadians, in the money we put into fighting this futile cause.2 Instead of putting millions of dollars into stopping this consensual act, the money saved and made from the legalization of prostitution can be spent on fighting child prostitution and coerced prostitution. These two crimes are becoming rampant across North America, but lack of funds prevents a serious effort from being made to fight against them. If brothels and prostitutes were to be taxed like any other place of

Police Discretion Essay

Discretion is one of the tools used by police officers discretion that allows them to adapt to changing conditions in society. This vital aspect of his position helps the officer to fairly and equitably apply and enforce the laws he has sworn to uphold. Using Discretion At some point in their lives, everyone uses discretion at one time or another. In the case of the police officer, however, discretion is an invaluable skill used in the performance of every aspect of his job function. When an officer detains a person for any reason, he must be able to qualify and justify his reasoning for the stop. If he is unable to do so, he may find himself not only in an awkward situation legally, but potentially a life-threatening one. Officers use professional discretion in a myriad of ways, from the more mundane; pulling a vehicle over because an officer observed a motorist demonstrating suspicious behavior to entering a home without a warrant due to exigent circumstances. Either way, there must be a policy in effect to control arbitrary discretion. Discretion under Control Controlling discretion should start long before the hiring process begins. The most suitable method would be a double-pronged test. The first examination would be a formal, standardized, psychological test followed up with an oral review of specific situations that an officer might run across on a daily basis. Once a candidate is hired, role-playing would be the next logical avenue to follow to hone and maintain an officer’s abilities to handle a wide variety of situations. Another alternative for controlling discretion would be an agency’s use of mechanical devices to monitor common areas and generate automated enforcement documents. Photo radar, red light cameras and generalized video surveillance are three examples of such measures. This may be a viable option for satisfying the community and making sure that all laws are enforced free of bias or opinion. Using these methods, all applicable laws and policies are followed and discrimination is kept to a minimum. Full Enforcement: Smoke and Mirrors Society is under the impression that police officers are in compliance with the complete, unilateral enforcement of all laws. This mythical aspect of policing does more harm than good in most situations since this false impression can lead to feelings of discrimination or persecution. The reality of the situation is that police officers have considerable, although unofficial, latitude in their decision-making process for day-to-day operations. â€Å"Officers are paid to make specialized decisions through a prism of their training, experience and totality of the circumstances. (Petrocelli, 2007) Police officers are allowed to diverge from full enforcement for numerous reasons and in a wide variety of different manners. However, the law and departmental policy must set limits on the amount and extent of discretion on the part of the officers. To that end, a number of different scenarios can be examined and the implications of an officer’s judgment can be seen. Actions and Reactions Here are some examples of actions and reactions that can affect, or are the result, of an officer’s exercise of his discretion. When it comes to the use of force, the police must exercise caution. For instance, when an officer finds himself with a suspect that he is absolutely certain knows the whereabouts of a kidnapped child. After a bit of hard core interrogation the suspect is still unwilling to give the location of the child. In order to obtain a confession, the officer might feel he is justified in using a considerable amount of force in acquiring this information. However, case law states that this would be an unreasonable method of obtaining a confession, even if a child’s life was at stake. On the other hand, when exigent circumstances occur, a police officer is forced to use his discretion on the spot. A dispatched officer arrives at the scene of a homicide of a well-known resident. Repeated failed attempts to contact the victim’s spouse at his residence have created a sense of urgency among the officers to prevent any further unnecessary loss of life. In this case, entry into the residence without a warrant is justified. (Dempsey & Forst, 2005) This scenario leads us to another area of discretionary action: reasonable suspicion. If an officer observes a person who appears to be carrying a concealed weapon, he is completely within his authority to conduct a stop and frisk. However, the officer must have more than just a â€Å"gut feeling†, he must actually have some reason to believe that the person has a weapon (e. g. a large bulge in the back of the shirt, the grip of a pistol protruding from a belt, etc). The officer cannot just randomly stop a passer-by on the street and frisk them simply because he thinks he might have a weapon. One common misconception is that all arrests by police officers require that the suspect be advised of his or her Miranda rights. However, ‘Mirandizing’ a suspect is not always a mandatory procedure. For example, if a suspect has been arrested and charged with a crime but not read his Miranda rights, the only complication this causes for the police is that it precludes them from using anything the suspect says as evidence against him or her in court. It is conceivable that an officer has more than enough evidence to prove his case against the offender and it is reasonable for an officer to refrain from advising him or her of his rights in such a case. (Nolo, n. . ) However, should the police act on the information from non-Miranda statements or confession, any evidence found, is considered ‘fruit of the poisonous tree’ and is inadmissible in court. Lastly, the police can face the issue of denial of counsel. During a custodial detention interrogation, a suspect requests an attorney and the police inform the suspect that one will be provided. If the officer continues an adversarial conversation without the suspect’s legal counsel present, any information obtained in not admissible in court.  Furthermore, once a suspect has requested an attorney, the officer must immediately cease the interrogation or they are in violation of the suspect’s civil rights. Conclusion As we can see, the use of discretion on the part of the police is an integral part of their job. Without discretion, the police would have no choice but to enact a policy of full enforcement, which is likely to result in considerable distress among the communities. Control of discretionary behavior is vital, however, to ensure that discrimination is minimized and the law is appropriately enforced.

Teachers: Unsung Heroes of the World

DEDICATION * * * This reflection paper is dedicated to the unsung heroes of the world—TEACHERS; To all morally upright and just individuals whose sense of integrity and humility are rooted deeply within them; To Mr. Books who never fails to inspire me with his words and wisdom; To my parents and my mentor, EXPERIENCE, for making me understand at an early age the essentialities of life here on earth; And to my Creator, You are beyond the superlative degree of adjective. You are the Minerva and the hair of Samson in my life. You have always been there leading me along the path that I have chosen! I salute you all! – K. A. P. C. * * * Introduction The writing technique that I used in this paper was a little different than those that I have written before, specifically during my undergraduate studies. In here, I made use of chapters instead of uninterrupted, paragraph by paragraph account. The reason is as simple yet complicated as to how a raindrop is able to produce rainbow with different colors from a single beam of sunlight or how a prism bends white light into different colors. As to this paper, each chapter reflects the unforeseeable and offensive truths that The Story of Teddy Stoddard implies, which are often hard to swallow by many people maybe because of pride or blindness. These paper includes both reactions and reflections. Commonly as it has always been, the story of Teddy Stoddard was no different with a lot of movies that I have watched and stories that I have read and heard before—all of which had communicated the same genre as the former. It is but an ordinary ripped page, no rarity or unfathomable terminologies, existing behind the great literary masterpieces of the world. But with its simple approach and language to whomever the reader may be, paired with its emotional quality, is like one of my favorite movies—Titanic. I can watch it over and over and cry to my hearts’ content time and again. On a profound understanding of the story, I was able to nod my head as each word of the story mumbled deeply within me as if letting me know that there is more to teaching as there is more to life. The story does not only happen in real-life teaching where some teachers tend to act like Mrs. Thompson but as well as in many other fields of profession and even in congregation of ordinary people. Let me discuss first, in a broader perspective, the story’s implication to human and life before I discuss the minutest details of its implication to the teaching profession and to me as a teacher. Chapter 1 Myths of the World Ever wonder why the world is becoming evil? Or why in spite of many sound philosophies and theories of education the world continues to move forward to its downfall? Why almost all men, especially educated men, are more foolish than a beggar on the street? Simple. A beggar is the happiest man in the world when somebody drops a coin in front of him, but to a man who knows a thing, a coin will do him no good unless that coin happens to be gold. We only worry on things that concern us or have direct effects in our lives. Those that do not seem to matter in their diminutive, powerless forms are taken for granted—consider Teddy’s case for instance. Nero, Alexander the Great, Hitler, Stalin, Mao Tse Tung, Hussein, Bin Laden and many others who are like them—weren’t these men, who had been leaders of their own dominions, able to earn a degree in college? Unfortunately, none of them was able to show genuine compassion towards their subjects, was able to leave something behind that future generations can make use of. It is not very often that people thank Hitler or Hussein for what he did because not many are born with mental retardation. (But of course, Teddy’s gratefulness to Mrs. Thompson was a different matter. ) It is very obvious to notice that only a few people in the past —Jesus Christ, Mother Teresa, Ghandhi, Mandela, and others—were able to show what real compassion means. As for Einstein, he’s a genius. Yet there is a fine line between genius and insanity. Had he only made use of his common sense, world leaders of today will stop accusing each other on issues about the use of nuclear weapons. Einstein’s actions were enough proofs that, even to genius, common sense is not very common. Thus, our first myth is: Not everything that glitters is gold. 1 Even other metals or â€Å"rusty† metals can reflect light and can have shiny appearance if furnished well. What and whom am I talking about? Find it out The Story of Teddy Stoddard. When I heard the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death, I did not believe it in an instant. What if it were a mere propaganda of Obama’s administration? What if Bin Laden’s look-alike were the one who got killed? Or did he really have a look-alike? From the book that I find no time to finish reading, entitled The Road Less Traveled, Scott Peck discussed what he termed as scientific tunnel vision—that is, according to him, â€Å"patients [people] are able to see only a very narrow area directly in front of them. They cannot see anything to the left or to the right, above or below their narrow focus. † I would strongly agree that, too often, a lot of people in this world, including I, have this kind of vision. We find it too difficult to look beyond the surface of things. Our perception of the world is no more than skin deep or subjective like that of Mrs. Thompson’s. Thus, the second myth is to see is too believe. 2 We are realists or materialists most of the time in the sense that what we see is independent to what we think. An object continues to exist independently of the mind. Mrs. Thompson were aware of the presence of Teddy. He comes to school, takes exams, et cetera. Yet, Mrs. Thompson ignored to use her mental faculty to the most logical and sensible manner that she could to diagnose the problem of Teddy. It’s like when a man and a woman were seen by somebody moving out a motel. It is not hard to imagine what would immediately come in the mind of the observer. It is a prejudice akin to judging the book because of its worn-out cover. Having been explained that ‘seeing is believing’ is not always reliable, it is to be rejected. What we hear or see is not what we should always believe in. At times, we need to be idealists. There are times when we need to be rationalists, or skeptics or moralists, so on and so forth. There are even times when we need to be generalists. Remember this overused line: â€Å"Together we stand, divided we fall†? Adopting only one philosophy in life is discriminatory but it surely will lead us somewhere although our vision will be much like that of a tunnel. As for me, too much is enough. If these â€Å"too much† ideas being introduced to us at any given time anywhere in the world will solve human strife, it should have started a long time ago. Sadly, it did not. Sometimes, I feel disoriented into thinking how men, through the ages, are able to move forward, leaving the world behind at its deterioration. Or how a teacher is to be promoted whose responsibilities to his pupils he failed to accomplish. Nonetheless, everything comes and goes, and all that remain are unfinished businesses. At the end of the day, when exhaustion from every day work pays me a visit, I just sit and try to remember one thing that I learned from The Little Prince: â€Å"What is essential is ‘invisible’ to the eye. † It amazed me how Mrs. Thompson was able to realize her mistake and was able to understand the concept of â€Å"invisibility† on the latter part of the story. He that never changed any of his opinions never corrected any of his mistakes; and he who was never wise enough to find out any mistakes in himself will not be charitable enough to excuse what he reckons mistakes in others. † -Shakespeare- No matter how intelligent, how good, how rich or how respected a person is, it is an undeniable fact that he often commits false accusations and hypotheses. It’s our n ature as humans. Even philosophers and men of God cannot escape this inevitable â€Å"offense† because whatever their beliefs are, they too, commit mistakes. Luckily, we can bail out of this â€Å"offense† because of Alexander Pope who once wrote metaphorically, â€Å"To err is human. . . † but it didn’t just end there. He further added, â€Å"To forgive divine. † Thus, forgiveness itself cures mistakes. But there is an exemption: Laws are created because not every mistake can be excused by a simple sorry. Here comes the concept of pride. From this, the third myth arises: â€Å"Everybody can forgive†. Why is that? The sentence seems to be lacking. Nobody forgives unless he forgets. We will remain prisoners of our own hatred unless we forgive and forget. But doing both things is as hard as judging oneself. The good things about the story were Mrs. Thompson’s humility as a teacher to correct what she had done wrong and Teddy’s disregard of anger towards Mrs. Thompson. In all of these things that I have written, one thing in life, for sure, is universal that applies to all men: We see unrighteousness when we are right; we do not see righteousness when we are wrong and, there is no such thing as â€Å"between right and wrong†. It is a necessity , therefore, to evaluate ourselves continuously. It might appear as a science-related issue as to how Mrs. Thompson metamorphosed from unrighteousness to righteousness. An â€Å"ugly caterpillar† once she might had been, she later transformed into a â€Å"beautiful butterfly† who was able to touch the life of a unique wild flower named Teddy. Thus, we can never tell what type of impact we may have on another's life by our actions or lack of actions. Whatever and whoever we are, let us not stop remembering that the best gift we could give or receive is touching a life and making a difference on someone’s life. As Gandhi said: â€Å"We must become the change we want to see in the world. â€Å" So the last myth is: Butterflies are beautiful to look at especially on their colors. It’s a paradox. Why? Because a butterfly is a camouflage of a caterpillar that it once had been. A caterpillar can live without being a butterfly, but it is impossible that a butterfly will appear without being a caterpillar. The underlying fact about it is that it CHANGES—from ugliness to beauty (like Mrs. Thompson). Same principle applies to humans. But most of the time, the reverse happens. â€Å"Are we caterpillars who get fat by obtaining nourishment from leaves until they finally run out r are we butterflies who add beauty to flowers every time we perch on them? † -Kristel- Like a butterfly, each of us has/had bones in our closet and we act according to norms as a camouflage of our little â€Å"secrets†. True? Hell, right! Freud was a genius with his concept of id, ego and super ego! â€Å"All humans have behavioral problems. A person with behavioral problem is not normal. If you’re normal, then you’re not human. † (Kristel, 2011) Chapter II â€Å"What Does It Take To Be Human? † In light of my twenty-one years of existence, the world has shown and taught me so much that it can offer. Though most of the time, asking how and why things behave in ways I cannot understand is like dragging myself into a labyrinth. My own logic often convinces me that doing such a thing is just putting myself into a dilemma. People and books can give answers but their answers often lead to another chapter which makes it become very obvious that life really is an indecipherable puzzle. A lot of life’s opportunities, difficulties, persons who are dear to me have come and gone in my life—opportunities that caused me to have regrets, challenges that taught me the importance of humility and loved ones who made me cry. Through all of these I realized that whether we take life seriously or not, it has never been easy to take. Life is difficult and it will always be that way. But once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters. Life, aside from its being difficult, is finite as well. This is the greatest truth in the world. Because of this truth, we, humans, have tried everything to outdo earth’s rotation by shortening ten years of men’s consistent labor to its half. This was made possible because the birth of industrialization gave humans the need to invent. Destiny dictated our triumphs. But is it a triumph or a failure that the birth of machineries is able to overpower Time? The answer is evident. Because of our obsession to change the world, we forget to change our attitudes. I guess the reason why a lot of people, specifically people in the past who often â€Å"defy† and critique norms, die poorly and unlamented is not because their beliefs are right but because society’s attitude towards them and their attitudes towards society fail to have a point of tangency (like in Geometry) thereby they are excluded in the â€Å"system†. Human weakness is power and too often, as power strengthens esponsibility weakens (in Physics, it is termed as inverse proportionality). Spider Man said: â€Å"Great power comes great responsibility† but when one is greater than the other, there arises masters and slaves. After I read The Story of Teddy Stoddard, I came into deep deliberation of what it takes to be human and trust me, I do not know if people would agree, for we all have our own way of thinking, that to be human is to become conscious that we are not in power to rule but we are responsible to serve. This would be more realistic if action would speak louder than words. CHAPTER III What Does It Take To Be Teachers? First and foremost, teaching had never been in my list of one-of-many things that I dreamt of doing someday. Well, truthfully, I believe that none of them really have been brought into realization. My first love was architecture but my true love is writing. Life really is not everything. Things that we do not expect happen as if they were to tap our backs to say â€Å"Hey, learn from us! †. When I was just a little girl, though living was as tough as it is now, I was always wondering what I would be someday. First, I dreamed of becoming a teacher. I was in grade school then when I thought of it. My sister and I used to pretend that we were teachers. We used to write on a mini chalkboard that our mum bought for us using varied colors of chalk. I have always been the one pretending as teacher and she was my pupil. As years past, when I finally entered fifth grade, I thought of becoming a journalist instead. My classmates often think of becoming like that so I decided to do the same. The feeling was similar when at one time I terribly ached for sweet candy because my playmate happened to have one. Things happened too swiftly before I realized that I was already a high school student. A year before my senior year, I was so sure of taking architecture in college. I discovered that I have a talent in designing houses and decorating their interiors. It has always been my passion to draw houses and appreciate the beauty of them whenever I go to places. It was on my last year in high school when I wished of becoming a writer and at the same an architect, and a teacher, and . . . and . . . well, I wasn’t quite sure right on that very moment. I lost my momentum. Perhaps I have been so engrossed of thinking over what I would be like. It was like trying to become ten different persons all at once though I knew that I was just an average. I mean, I was just a nobody way back in high school and up until now. Thin. Pimpled face. Shy. Unpopular. Out-of-style. Hermit. And other disgusting adjectives that one would happily attach to my name. I found that my previous ‘detention centers’ were too tight and were ‘pains’ in my ass. College life was different. I found freedom, comfort, appreciation, and friendship. I have the difficulty liking my course because I was forced to take it. I mean, nobody forced me to. It was I, myself. During that time, I feel like there’s nothing else to choose from so I took it anyway. My parents were not able to send me to prestigious college or university in the city because of lack of money. Architecture was, thus, forgotten. But in spite of that, I was learning wonderful things each day in college. I was beginning to be comfortable with the new environment and the people around. But I still could not accept the fact that I would soon be graduating despising the course that I have taken. But, but . . . things really happen for a reason, you know. God has His way of sending blessings in disguise. Even though I failed to fulfill my greatest dream, I somehow feel that I am leading on the right track though too often a few destructions shake my momentum. Sometimes I think that God put me into this profession because He wants me to learn and unlearn things in life. Or why I took the life that a few people in the world would buy. Or why I am making life difficult when on the other side is a greener pasture to walk on. Mother understands me for the decision that I have made, though father is not as understanding as her. I know that deep within them they want to see in me the daughter that they wanted me to be —happy, the one that would take them out of poverty, earning a much higher salary, self confident, and candid. I do not know. All I know is that when we hold on to our principle, we will be like a tree fixed on the ground—full of nourishment to give away yet never moving forward up to its death. Up to this day, I as well do not know the reason why I teach until I read The Story of Teddy Stoddard. I admire Mrs. Thompson because she was able to make a big difference on Teddy’s life. Someday, I wish I could do the same thing not only by being a teacher but by being human on this planet that I am living in. Now that I’m in the teaching profession, I am beginning to realize what it’s like to be human and to be a teacher. Some people may raise their brows on us making us feel so sick, others may say bad things about us as if they had never been bad all their lives. As for me, humility really matters. Within the four months of being in my line of work, I can say that there is more to teaching than meets the eye. Teaching is difficult. So far, it is what I can say. Difficult to the point that aside from everyday teaching, I meet a lot of people with different personalities wherein sometimes a person who doesn’t know how to control emotions or does not comprehend right from wrong may probably just burst out. Thank God, I am learning a lot with people who are as imperfect as I am. (Am I this bad Sorry. Hehehe! Peace! I’m not just in good mood today. OOO) I guess you have heard someone said: â€Å"Politics is not dirty. The ones who make it dirty are the people involved in it. † Same thing happens in teaching even with Mother Earth, but I do not want to discuss it further. For crying out loud, I am too judgmental! Peace every one! I, too, make mistakes! A lot of moral lessons can be taken from the story. I am beginning to have an extraordinary motivation to write as many pages as I can though my time is running out (it’s not that I’m going to die soon . . . L. O. L! just busy). I believe that there are many Mrs. Thompson in the world who transformed from being caterpillars to being butterflies. Some may even remain as caterpillars. I, well, I do not know what I am. Sometimes I am a caterpillar, sometimes a butterfly. I cannot run away from being a caterpillar especially when anger hits me. Anger is a state of mind. How can I escape from anger without losing my mind? But I am the type of person who, most of the time, does not speak out what I want to say (In teaching, we must be careful with the command of language. Everyone has his own interpretations). As an escape, (heheh) I write everything down on a sheet of paper. At least, through it, there’s an indirect communication. I can even delete words that seem not quite good to the reader. It’s not because I want to please everybody because that is hypocrisy. It’s just that people will not be satisfied unless they have scrutinized every inch of us. If enough were not enough, trust me, scrutiny won’t end. (What am I doing right now? Am I not scrutinizing? L. O. L! OOO) From time to time, we must weigh things up. We are never always right neither always wrong. Acceptance is a key to a contented and harmonious living. The Story of Teddy Stoddard tackles the concept of acceptance. In connection to teaching, a lot of teachers say, and too often I try to agree, that once we are in the system, we have to face facts, to accept things as they are. No but’s, but that’s how the world works. Many people have tried to reverse its working, but they all ended being ridiculed and condemned. What’s the relevance of all these things that I’ve written into taking Master’s degree units? I do not know, but one thing for sure is I know: as I continue learning, I am ‘knowing more and more about less and less’. It’s a cliche, but literally cleared my mind up (deep sigh). . . Thanks be to God! You’re my everything! Chapter IV Insights Gained From Mrs. Thompson and Teddy: Relevance to My Growth as a Teacher and as a Person Today, teaching for me is perceived as art with passion. It has its intricacies that a truly devoted and passionate individual can only see. It is mastered so as to get the best out of the worst from the learner. It is not merely an act of inculcating ideas to young learners that may turn these young individuals to become mere copycats of the indoctrinator. Asking thought provoking questions elicits active and creative reasoning. Teaching is not telling the individual the what’s, the why’s, and the how’s of life. Teaching is just giving the learner facts that will guide him to find the answers for himself. â€Å"Teach with passion,† this I heard several times from a former teacher. Love to teach. Be passionate. Let the child feels you are a part of the process. With your guidance he will discover the facts of life. Be enthusiastic in teaching no matter how insignificant the topic may be. Passion and love for teaching make one an effective teacher. No amount of master’s degrees can equal a committed teacher who has loved to teach and has mastered the art of teaching. It is not in the amount of accolades or recognition a teacher received that define success. It is through the eyes of these young minds that benefited from your guidance. A tyrant teacher is remembered indifferently but a good teacher is admired forever. We pass this life only once. Leave an impact so others may continue the work started like what Mrs. Thompson did! Chapter V My Philosophy in Life My philosophy in life is simple: Life itself is a philosophy. Never take it easy. *** End â€Å"It is hard to fill a cup which is already full. † â€Å"A little learning is a dangerous thing: -Mother of Neyteri, Avatar- Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely sobers us again. † -Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism