Monday, September 30, 2019

Murdering of Innocents

Chapter Two begins with the introduction of Thomas Gradgrind, â€Å"a man of realitiesSfacts and calculations. † He always introduces himself as Mr. Gradgrind and spends his time in constant cogitation. He is the Speaker, previously unnamed and he now takes it as his duty to educate the children (â€Å"little pitchers before him†). He identifies a student, called Girl number twenty, who replies that her name is Sissy Jupe. Gradgrind corrects her that her name is Cecilia regardless of what her father calls her. Jupe's father is involved in a horse-riding circus and this is not respectable†¹in Gradgrind's opinion. He advises Cecilia to refer to her father as a â€Å"farrier† (the person who shoes a horse) or perhaps, a â€Å"veterinary surgeon. † The lesson continues with Gradgrind's command: â€Å"Give me your definition of a horse. † While Girl number twenty knows what a horse is, she is unable to define one. Another child in the class, a boy called Bitzer, easily defines the animal by means of biological classifications (quadruped, graminivorous, etc. ). After this, the third gentleman steps forward. He is a government officer as well as a famous boxer and he is known for his alert belligerence. His job is to remove â€Å"fancy† and â€Å"imagination† from the minds of the children. They learn that it is nonsense to decorate a room with representations of horses because horses do not walk up and down the sides of rooms in reality. Sissy Jupe is a slow learner, among the group of stragglers who admit that they would dare to carpet a room with representations of flowers because she is â€Å"fond† of them. Sissy is taught that she must not â€Å"fancy† and that she is â€Å"to be in all things regulated and governed by fact. † After the gentleman finishes his speech, the schoolteacher, Mr. M'Choakumchild, begins his instruction. He has been trained in a schoolteacher-factory and has been conditioned to be dry, inflexible and uninspiring†¹but full of hard facts. His primary job in these preparatory lessons is to find â€Å"Fancy† in the minds of the children and eradicate it. Analysis: â€Å"Murdering the Innocents† replaces the suspense of the previous chapter by establishing names and identities for the previously anonymous social roles that were presented earlier. As is to be expected from Dickens, the names of the characters are emblematic of their personality; usually, Dickens' haracters can be described as innocent, villainous or unaware of the moral dilemmas of the story that surrounds them. The characters' names are almost always an immediate indication of where the character fits on Dickens' moral spectrum. Thomas Gradgrind, â€Å"a man of realities† is a hard educator who grinds his students through a factory-like process, hoping to produce graduates (grads). Additionally, Gradgrind is a â€Å"doubting Thomas†Ã¢â‚¬ ¹much like the Biblical apostle who resisted belief in the resurrection, this Thomas urges that students depend exclusively upon the evidence in sight. He dismisses faith, fancy, belief, emotion and trust at once. Mr. M'Choakumchild is plainly villainous and he resembles the sort of fantastic ogres he'd prefer students took no stock in. Cecilia (Sissy) Jupe is unlike the other characters in almost every possible way. While there are other female students, she is the only female identified thus far in the novel. Unlike the boy â€Å"Bitzer† (who has the name of a horse), Sissy has a nickname and at least in this chapter, she is the lone embodiment of â€Å"fancy† at the same time that she is the single female presented as a contrast to the row of hardened mathematical men. Her character is, of course, a romanticized figure. Despite the political critique of Dickens' simplification and over-idealization of females and children (and girls, especially), Cecilia's character does have some depth that allows her development later in the novel. Her last name, â€Å"Jupe,† comes from the French word for â€Å"skirts† and her first name, Cecilia, represents the sainted patroness of music. Especially as she is a member of a traveling circus, we can expect Cecilia to represent â€Å"Art† and â€Å"Fancy† in contrast to M'Choakumchild, one of 141 schoolmasters who â€Å"had been lately turned at the same time, in the same factory, on the same principles, like so many pianoforte legs. Besides the allusion to St. Cecilia, Dickens alludes to Morgiana, a character in the classic story † Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves†Ã¢â‚¬ ¹one of the Arabian Nights tales. The reader should always note the irony in Dickens' allusions: while Dickens' characters argue against fanciful literature, Dickens' is relying upon it to compose his story. In this case, Dickens' simile presents M'Choakumchild's search for â€Å"the robber Fancy† in terms of Morgiana's searching for (and hiding of) the thieves in â€Å"Ali Baba. The metaphor of the children as eager â€Å"vessels† is made explicit when the â€Å"vessels† before M'Choakumchild become the â€Å"jars† before Morgiana. And the motif of robbers and villains is finalized when we remember that Ali Baba and the forty thieves were more hero than criminal. M'Choakumchild is labeled â€Å"gentleman† but his intention to seek and destroy â€Å"the robber Fancy lurking within† makes â€Å"the robber Fancy† (childish imagination) a more noble personification. Instead, the teachers are the ones who seem criminal. The most important allusion of the chapter is the title: â€Å"Murdering the Innocents. † The reader should expect Dickens work to be full of Biblical and Christian allusions as he is writing to a largely sentimental popular audience. While the reference may be more inaccessible, erudite or unrecognizable for modern young readers, Dickens' 1854 British audience immediately saw the reference to King Herod. Soon after the birth of Christ, Herod fears for his throne and has all of the male babies in Bethlehem executed (in the hopes of murdering the Christ child). In literary circles, the phrase â€Å"murder of the innocents† is exclusively used to describe this Biblical story. While the students are not literally danger (M'Choakumchild), their childish imagination has been targeted for annihilation. This completes the archetype of youth vs. age, and foreshadows that whoever is being targeted and singled out (Cecilia Jupe and her imagination) will ultimately escape this tyrant, but other innocents will be less fortunate (Bitzer). But we might expect as much from the same author who had written A Christmas Carol a decade before. The major theme of the chapter can be easily inferred from Dickens' description of Cecilia in the classroom. The â€Å"horses† and carpeted â€Å"flowers† are all double symbols of her femininity and youth, but most important, Cecilia represents Art in opposition to mechanization. Dickens is not arguing against education, science or progress. He is arguing against a mode of factory-style, mind-numbing, grad-grinding production that takes the fun out of life. But even worse than the loss of â€Å"fun† or â€Å"leisure,† Dickens is arguing that art requires an inquisitive and desiring mind. Especially as Dickens is known to have read and enjoyed Arabian Nights in his youth, we can see a bit of autobiography in his tender treatment of Cecilia†¹perhaps if he had come under a Mr. M'Choakumchild, he would have proved incapable of becoming an artist. The life of modern mankind is presented very negatively and ignorantly by Matthew Arnold in the poem Dover Beach by the fact that religious faith evanesce with the Industrial Revolution. Arnold creates the image of the dark future for the people without unwavering faith or religion. Modern men are bastardised with the thought that new the Industrial Revolution will give them advantage over nature. This thought of gaining superiority made humans arrogant by which this appearance is broken by the reality of nature’s dominance. People also seem ignorant with the wishful thought. These pebbles which ‘the waves draw back, and fling’ are completely powerless and are thrown around by the waves that move these â€Å"pebbles† at ease. Arnold uses pebbles as a metaphor for humans to show the inferiority in comparison to nature. The ignorance of humans is emphasised by the historical allusion to Peloponnesian War. In the dark, soldiers could not differentiate between their own army and the opponents; and so they killed their own soldiers. This is used by the poet to show the stupidity of modern man throwing away the religion which was everything to people before the Industrial Revolution; something to believe and rely on when people prayed. However, this old belief is thrown away and Arnold sees it as a very naive decision. The Industrial Revolution gave the source of arrogance and confidence which took place among the Western countries. This revolution was revolutionary itself; humans could mass produce, with improved quality, and at ease. These machineries became the limbs of human society. What came with the industrial revolution was the idea of realism. People could nearly produce goods to near-original standards, all thanks to improved technologies and science, and hence began to doubt the existence of God and supernatural beings. Realism contrasts the theology which is all about belief without questioning that God exists; and people believed it before the times of the machineries. It gave people hope and modesty under the mighty existence of God. However both hope and modesty disappeared with the Industrial Revolution which Arnold laments for. Bitterness is suggested when Arnold exclaims ‘Ah, love’ to show that in this changing world, one can only rely on the partner, and be trustful and true. Sarcasm is used to describe the modern world as a ‘land of dreams’ as there is no more hope for the world, as there is no more faith. As the poem proceeds, the transition of mood is noticeable as the grief of the loss of faith extends to a sense of resignation towards the end and having a sarcastic, sour approach to the ssue. The ‘tremulous cadence slow’ helps to convey the gradual process of the wane of doctrine which adds to the idea that the change of people’s lives is almost unnoticeable. This gradual process hurts Arnold because people are caught unaware of the changes taking place and so do not think it is particularly wrong and sinful. Arnold presents his sorrow with the historical al lusion to Sophocles who, was a Greek playwright, had heard the sound of waves crashing as the ‘eternal note of sadness’. The ‘sadness’ of the mankind turning away from religious beliefs is a parallel to the ‘melancholy†¦ withdrawing roar†¦retreating’ of the waves. Before the development of science and technology, people had truly believed in the religion and thought that they were in total control of god. The metaphor ‘Sea of Faith’ which presents the religious faith people have, used to be ‘full and round Earth’s shore’ but now is ‘retreating†¦ down the vast edges’ which shows the decreasing religious beliefs. Arnold points out that, without faith, humans are ‘naked’ and have no protection and defence which reflects the vulnerability of man and their lives. With carefully chosen words, Arnold presents the uncertainty of the future of humans. The new industrialised world seems â€Å"so various, so beautiful, so new† but it is again a mere appearance. The reality is that this mechanic, stiff world will have â€Å"neither joy, nor love, nor light† because this mechanics cannot feel love, hence no joy, and no vision as humans need love and the warm characteristics of humanity. It is thus deducible that the future will have no â€Å"certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain† which are the essentialities of humans. Humans can only survive the harsh world when everybody believes and trusts each other, and this will be broken with the introduction of industrialisation. This change of the world will bring â€Å"confused alarms on struggle and flight† which creates an imagery of a â€Å"darkling plain†; a dark vision for humans. Furthermore, the â€Å"turbid† ebb and flow shows the cloudy, uncertain future of ‘ebb and flow’ which is the repetitive cycles of nature. Can humans only survive when they make harmony with the nature, and to go against the natural cycles can only mean extinction of humans. The ‘cliffs’ of England ‘gleams’ and ‘glimmers’; gleams and glimmers have a sense of shakiness, precariousness and unknown which echoes the uncertain modern man. Also the alliteration of ‘g’ and ‘m’ creates a stuttering tone which adds to the idea of uncertainty. This imagery portrays the withering away of cliffs as a decline of religious beliefs and whatsmore, deterioration of the Earth itself as humans exploit resources out of the Earth which the modern development enabled men to do. The flaws of modernism and realism are expressed in this poem. The flow of the poem is cut off by uses of caesura which is a parallel to the imperfect modern world. Arnold gives a hint that modernization of the world will have some flaws which will inevitably bring loss of faith and result in loss of equilibrium. In science, there is no hope; everything is measured out and exact. Hence in the modern world reality there can be no hope as it looks vain. Again, Arnold sympathises with the loss of hope in reality. In a different sense, the calm, naturalistic description of a beach at night in the first stanza is the appearance which contrasts to the reality that is sad, unhopeful, ‘retreating’ and ‘tremulous’. Human beings are inferior over nature and the spiritual beliefs as to an extent that people cannot control anything. The abandonment of the doctrine of religion with the help of the Industrial Revolution is only a vain act against the power overwhelming nature. Religion and faith should remain in humanity and ignoring it should result in the uncertainty and vulnerability of modern man.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

How to Establish Relationships with Adults

How to establish relationships with adults Establishing relationships with adults use the same basic skills, wither it is a friend or colleague. The main difference establishing a friendship with an adult and a colleague is how much formality and professionalization is used. Professional Colleagues. * Formal vocabulary – You speak in a professional manner, using correct pronunciation and clearly. * Know colleagues title – Use their correct titles e. g. Mr, Mrs, Professor, Doctor etc. * Keep personal issues away – Do not bring into work your home issues, or let them distract you from work. Trust, Reliability and Initiative – When working closely with someone, you have to be able to trust that person to be able to carry out instructions correctly, know they will be in and on time, for work and know that they can handle situations on their own or have some input towards a common goal. Also not having to be told all the time what needs to be done next etc. * A pproachable, Helpful and Assertive – Always be friendly and helpful, this way your colleague feels they can come up to you and ask for help etc. without feeling they are putting on you, as you are both working as a team. You must also be assertive, this does not mean attitude, lack of respect or rude but putting your opinion across on ideas or views. * No Attitude or Undermining – In a professional setting you DO NOT give a colleague any attitude or undermine him or her. This not only makes you look unprofessional but also lets everybody else know that there are issues and affects their work. If there are issues, you can ask the colleague for a quiet chat privately and put your opinions across politely and respectably. Body language & Humour – Your body language speaks volumes to other colleagues before you have said a word, so keep yourself happy, smiles, confident and available. If your body language is good, you will be more approachable, accepted and liked. Humour is a good thing but you must always make sure it is acceptable for the situation and is not personal towards colleagues. * Confidential – A colleague must be able to tell you things of importance regarding work or a person and know that you will keep it confidential, without fear of it leaving the setting in which it applies. Dress code – How you dress reflects a lot on you, make sure you are dressed appropriately for the setting, with no miniskirts or very low cut tops etc. You should always be clean and presentable to be able to carry out your tasks in a professional manner. These are especially important guidelines to follow when working within a classroom setting with a teacher every day; you will build a lasting relationship built on mutual respect and trust. In addition, the pupils will see you both work as a team and friendly, which will better their experience in the classroom and their education. How to deal with disagreements Between you and other adults: If you do have a disagreement, it needs to be approached with respect and sensitivity to each other’s feelings as quickly as possible to prevent any further deterioration of the situation. * Making sure a disagreement has occurred – I would ask to have a private conversation with the other adult to check I have not just misunderstood what they have said or asked. * Communication & Respect – Make sure you listen to others opinions and views, without interjecting or talking over; this will only escalate the situation. Also, expect the same respect back. Discuss the issues calmly and fairly. See if any agreement can come from conversation or common ground. * Mediation – If the disagreement cannot be resolved between ourselves, a third party can try to mediate between us. Who is not involved in the initial disagreement and is neutral. * Apologises – Always be ready to say sorry, if needed and be genuine. Also, accept any apologies given. Do not hold grudges or carry it on after it has been resolved. Between you and children or young people: You should never be drawn into a disagreement with a child or young person, if the child or young person is trying to do this, you will have to manage the situation in a number of ways: * Find out what the problem is – Depending on age, lower yourself to their eye level and either repeat or request an instruction, ask them if they understood. If they reply yes, ask what is the problem? * Tone of voice – Keep your tone of voice calm and clear but firm. * Defiant child / young person – DO NOT get annoyed, ask another member of staff to help with situation, give the child a time out ( depending on age, will deter the time out given e. . corner or classroom or out of classroom etc. ) * Distraction – You can sometimes distract the child from what is annoying them to help stop the disagreement. * Show example – Show the child/ young person what you expect by either a demonstration from yourself or another pupil in the class, this will show them you are re asonable in your request etc. * Be genuine – A child or young person will know if you are not and will continue to try to draw you into disagreements. Aggression – If a child is being aggressive, it will depends on the depth of the aggression e. g. strength, anger or even special needs will determine how it is dealt with. Mild aggression can be handled with talking and listening to the pupil, taking the child away to calm down and from what is causing them to get aggressive. Stronger aggression will need extra staff to help and can either restrain the child, then remove or in some cases remove the rest of the pupils from the class until the pupil has calmed down. Personality clash – Sometimes it can be just down to personality clash that you may have a pupil that draws you into disagreements, If this is the case, you must try not to show this towards the pupil but they will towards you. You must remain professional at all times. If you are helping the pupil on a one to one, maybe ask to be moved to another child as the pupils education will suffer if they are more interested in having disagreements with you. NEVER tell the pupil this is why you are being moved and do not make them feel bad for the clash, it happens. Apologies – NEVER be afraid to say sorry to a pupil if you are wrong and say it meaningfully, the pupil will know if you are being honest. All of the above are ways to deal with a disagreement with a child or young person; any disagreement has to be dealt with accordingly with their age and extent of disagreement. Never feel you have to deal with it all by yourself, if extra help is wanted, ask for it as it may calm the situation down a lot quicker and easier.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

The work and biography of Leonardo Davinci Essay

The work and biography of Leonardo Davinci - Essay Example Later on, da Vinci moved back to stay with his father’s new family where he did not face condemnation but a warm welcome. He spent his earlier years at Vinci on his father’s family estate. His uncle was a great influence during this time of his life. His uncle loved nature. This influenced da Vinci’s paintings and other works later in life (Byfield 52). He was so fascinated by the beauty of nature in his original home (Tuscany) that he opted to learn all about nature and its workings. Copying nature, controlling it or learning from it was a motivation in Leonardo’s inventions. Leonardo’s true potential was a result of his driven and positive attitude with his limitless energy originating from his inner insight to complete his goals. When he was young, his cleverness made it easy for him to grasp arithmetic and music. With a natural talent for singing, he hired a tutor to learn the lyre and further develop that skill. He went on to become a painting novice under the tutelage of Andrea Del Verrocchio who was a skilled artisan, artist, sculptor, goldsmith and painter. He implemented the science he learned on the paintings he made. He sketched and studied rock formations fossils and caves. His brilliance was also seen in creating things like diving suits, helicopter and submarines during his period as an apprentice (Spielvogel 20). After completing his education, he lived with Andrea del Verrocchio helping him in his works until 1478 when he became completely independent. His first renowned and commissioned work was done around this time. This was the work he did for Scopeto monastery based in San Donato in Florence namely the Adoration of the Magi. However, he never completed this work because his love for Milan made him leave to go and work as a painter, engineer and sculptor for the Sforza ruling dynasty. While there, his jobs were diverse ranging from artillery designing, to river

Friday, September 27, 2019

The Basque Conflict Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Basque Conflict - Research Paper Example Many of the Basque separatists were of the opinion that the only way they could achieve self-determination was by seceding from the two nations and forming an independent Basque state. Owing to the fact that succession was not welcomed by either the French or Spanish government, the revolutionists resorted to the only means the believed would push their point across and this was violent rebellion. Background In summary, the Basque separationist movement embodied the desire of the people to achieve a greater independence, nonetheless, the concept of what independence was varied among different groups, some wanted complete autonomy from Spain and France, believing that owing to the historical richness of their culture and the difference from Spain, the should form their own country. This was justified by the fact that the Basque region is one of the richest in Spain in terms or mineral resources, seaports and businesses such as banks and other industries and some of the inhabitants fel t that denationalizing was the most economically viable option.2 The movement begun as an idea and a political notion shared by a few but gradually developed into a far-reaching sentiment shared by millions of the inhabitants of the Basque region. ... The Basque movement first emerged as the 19th century ended, after the death of the leader Sabina de Arana Goiri they were granted full autonomy by the republican government and this freedom lasted until the end of the civil war.3 The republican government was overthrown by the Franco regime and this new regime negated many of the gains the Basque had made in self-determination previously. To make them pay for their support for the fallen republican government Franco committed many atrocities in his attempt to repudiate their independence, one of the most brutal of this was the Guernica bombing. In April 1937, he ordered the bombing of Guernica a thriving Basque town killing approximately 1000 people; this was the first manifestation of Franco’s hatred for the Basque people but far from the last. Cultural political repression From this incidence of Guernica bombing, must ask what the reaction of the international community was? To what was a clearly inhumane and unwarranted ma ss murder of innocents simply so that Franco could make his point? However, there was a lot of tension in the international scene as countries weaved alliances in preparation for the impeding war and although there were widespread recriminations no action was taken against Franco and this emboldened his diabolic actions. He continued to oppress them in a plethora of ways, he took away their freedom and even went as far as criminalizing their culture and language, and he was thus effectively stripping them of their freedom of expression speech and even conscience. Hundreds of Basque intellectuals and politicians were imprisoned and tortured under Franco’s orders because of their ideals on

Thursday, September 26, 2019

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

Nursing - Essay Example Notably, nurses should clearly understand the procedure in which information is processed in the health care organization through getting training in the field of informatics. According to the tertiary education systems, an individual can obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing after a four-year period of study. After completing this program, they undertake the NCLEX-RN test. When they successfully complete this licensure examination, then they are identified as a registered nurse. After obtaining the degree in nursing, they are also required to have a similar degree in computer science or informatics which takes a period of at least three years. When they are through with the Master’s degree in informatics, then, they are identified as informatics nurses. In conclusion, this discipline is regarded as one of the most recent in the nursing profession. There are various issues that are more emphasized than others in this discipline. For example, the staff members are mainly involved in the implementation of plans that are aimed at digitizing patient records. This means that the staff members are supposed to analyze the efficiency of the computing methods. Furthermore, the informatics nurses can also take part in advertising and demonstrating of computerized systems in health care institutions. The informatics nurses are mainly involved in the programming aspects of the health care organization. For instance, the staff members can integrate their ideas to develop a program for nurses.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Networking Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Networking - Term Paper Example Statistics show that the Internet usage has more than doubled over the last five years. However, research indicates that a majority of Internet users tend to assume that the transfer of data on the Internet is safe, reliable and is not at risk of forgery or hacking. Yang et al. (2012) argues that most Internet processes and services depend on data relayed by the Domain Name System (DNS) through excellent functioning and accurate mapping of domain names that can be understood easily using the IP addresses. Nevertheless, the DNS, which is mainly relied on for this function, does not provide any content protection. This implies that data remains unsecured against any manipulation when being relayed or while in the servers and caches. As a result, identification and avoidance of forged data becomes impossible. It is at this point that the Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) becomes useful. DNSSEC, according to Yang et al. (2012) is a technology developed for the purposes of p rotecting data against attacks by digital ‘signing’ so as to provide assurance of its validity to the user. It authenticates the source data by ensuring that the path between the DNS servers and the validating DNS client are secured. The technology has proved remarkably effective in protecting Internet data from forgery, something that DNS has failed to provide. This paper will start by describing the DNSSEC technology in light of what it means and how it works. This will be followed by a SWOT analysis of the technology. The paper will then evaluate the current ethical and legal issues surrounding DNSSEC technology. The essay will also explore the improvements that have occurred over the last two years to DNSSEC technology and provide a suggestion on the improvements warranted on its current usage. Finally, the paper will predict the future role of DNSSEC for both personal and commercial use. It is an acknowledged fact that the Internet has revolutionized the world. Cur rently most parts of the world have Internet connectivity including the remotest regions, thanks to the recent technological advancements, according to Osterweil et al. (2011). Normally, for one to reach another person on the Internet, he, or she must type the recipient’s address on the computer or Internet-enabled phones. The address is usually unique to the individual, making it easy for computers to find each other. The unique identifiers are normally coordinated worldwide using the ICANN. Coordination of the identifiers is very crucial because, without it, the entire world would have a single global Internet, suggests Osterweil et al. (2011). When typing an address, it must first be translated into several systems before the final connection can be established. The translation of the address is performed by the DNS, which does the work of translating addresses such as www.google.com into Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. After the completion of the translation, ICANN then ensures that the addressing system is coordinated so as to ensure peculiarity of addresses. However, recent findings showed that DNS is extremely vulnerable and allows attackers to forge this process of searching for someone or site on the Internet using their address. The attacks are mainly committed in order to take charge of the session such as directing the user to the hijacker’s own deceptive website for a password and account collection. The vulnerability of the DNS has prompted the establishment of the DNSSEC

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Mini-Project Assignment 2 Customer Relationship Management and Essay

Mini-Project Assignment 2 Customer Relationship Management and E-Commerce Strategies - Essay Example The e-commerce components, meanwhile, are seen as effective in extending the relationship experience from the physical stores to the web, complete with orders and payments processing. These latter components too, can be seen from the overarching perspective of the websites executing on good strategies for managing customer relationships (Google, 2013; Google; 2013b; Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, 2004; Starbucks Corporation, 2013). II. Introduction The discussion here centers on comparing and contrasting the major activities focusing on the customers of both Starbucks and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters within their respective websites. This is done in light of how those customer-focused online activities are backed by information technology, and in light of being able to identify the e-commerce applications as well as the CRM strategies that work well for both sites (Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, 2004; Starbucks Corporation, 2013). III. ... That countries foot print for Starbucks is complemented by a large number of stores, totaling more than 18,000, with about half owned by the company and half being franchises. Looking at the financials, both have managed to do well over the recent years, but over a longer-term horizon of five years, one can see that Green Mountain Coffee Roasters’ share prices have been on a rollercoaster ride, while Starbucks’ share price has steadily improved over that period. Starbucks also has a market capitalization that is six times that of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (Google, 2013; Google; 2013b; Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, 2004; Starbucks Corporation, 2013). IV. Comparison and Contrast Looking at the two sites at their Home Pages, one can see that there is a decidedly product focus for the two websites, with some highlighted products being front and center in large images in the two sites. The exception is that in the case of Starbucks, there are links to engage the custo mer or visitor to the site on Facebook, Twitter, and what Starbucks calls My Starbucks Idea, which is a kind of forum where customers can share their ideas for products and experiences, and talk to other customers. Here we see a major set of customer interaction activities that, in comparison to Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, is more robust and also front and center together with the products. Green Mountain Coffee in contrast has a more prominent focus on products on their Home Page, with no links for social media and forums present except for a provision for signing up to an email list. The social media interactions and the forum interactions provided by Starbucks can be considered

Monday, September 23, 2019

Accelerated Growth Strategy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Accelerated Growth Strategy - Research Paper Example According to Delforce, Dickson and Hogan (2005), â€Å"Australia’s agriculture and food industry is undergoing a period of rapid change. The industry makes a major contribution to the Australian economy but is particularly important to rural and regional economies. Accordingly, many food producers and processors are keen to understand the changes that are occurring now and where the Australian food industry is heading†. Supermarket stores, in order to be competitive, must offer products/ services at discounted price to become cost leaders in the marketplace. The business operations must focus on offering quality products to customers at competitive prices. Aldi, being a giant supermarket chain based on Australia, has found this change and they have tried to change their strategies accordingly.   Consumer research on multifunctional products has, by far, explained the consumer reactions to products, with complex features that are difficult to use. However, it is found that in some markets, consumer opts for products with multiple, yet simple essential features. In case of products sold by supermarkets, the consumers show highly habitual buying behavior in their choices. The habitual buying behavior expressed by the customers often ends in rational irrespective choices. They can be influenced by buying behavior of other potential consumers too. Thus, consumers often focus solely on the price aspect of the product offerings due to lack of differentiation present in the service offerings. Marketing in discount superstores involves different operations that include labeling, packaging, pricing and point of purchase advertising.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Pluralism Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Pluralism - Coursework Example In the framework of this view we can see that in the world there are those who will have the light of the gospel, and those who will not; "Existing Light" View. This one implies that those who respond positively to the light will have be able to get the salvation without further light; "Greater Light" View. Here it is asserted that ‘those who respond to the light, will be given greater light’; "Later Light" View. Here it is said that the chance to hear the gospel and respond for or against Jesus will be certainly given to those who have never heard of Christ at the Second Advent or after death. The self-assessment of the Christianity, in context of pluralism varied from insisting on its exclusivity to the recognition of the other religions - and is still not fully defined. Many Christians insist that life in Christ leads to the life in the world of future, while all other religious with their pluralism reflect different ways of the human attempts to get the Gospel Truth within the framework of

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Love and sex in Geoge Orwells novel 1984 Essay Example for Free

Love and sex in Geoge Orwells novel 1984 Essay George Orwells novel 1984 explores intimate human relationships in a bleak futuristic society as experienced by protagonist Winston Smith. Since there are few bonds stronger than those developed from loving relationships among family, friends, and lovers, the only entity acceptable to love in Oceania is the face of the Party, Big Brother. This restriction is necessary to achieving complete power and control over its citizens, as the Party must dissolve all loyalties derived through love, sex, and family and redirect them upon itself. By destroying trust the Party has cut the links between child and parent, and between man and man, and between man and woman(220). To train the citizens of Oceania for complete submission and devotion to Big Brother and the Party the family bond has been completely devalued, as No one dares trust a wife or a child or a friend any longer.(220) The Junior Spies are an organization in which children have become the police and denouncers of their parents in the name of Big Brother. By this means, the Party has managed to wedge itself between one of the most powerful instinctual bonds to turn parental devotion into fear and children into faithful machines of the Party as an extension of the Thought Police. Parsons remark In fact Im proud of her. It shows I brought her up in the right spirit, anyway(193) in response to his daughters betrayal, clearly portrays the Partys influence in the family institution. Not only does the daughter value the Partys approval more than her fathers life, but also Parsons appropriate response is to be grateful for the betrayal and to those who enforce it. The betrayal of the family bond is a common theme in 1984. Orwell illustrates how weak that loyalty has become with the skull-faced mans desperate begging to watch his wife and childrens throats be slit as an alternative to the Ministry of Loves room 101 with a complete lack of private loyalties(136). Winstons memories of his mothers love in a time when there were still privacy, love, and friendship, and when the members of a family stood by one another without needing to know the reason(28) confront his suspicions that to remain human, one was not loyal to a party or a country or an idea, they were loyal to one another(136). Technically, consorting with prostitutes is forbidden, but it seems to be tacitly encouraged just the same, as a means of relieving natural tensions. The more serious crime involves relations between Party members. The Party does not wish to allow the development of loyalties to any other acts or persons than itself, so it tends to deny permission of marriage to couples who appear attracted to one another, and it campaigns actively against sex as anything other than a slightly disagreeable duty whose sole purpose is propagation of the species. The Party feeds off the hysteria produced from sexual privation, as it is conveniently transformed into war fever and leader worship(110). Through its control of marriages and sexual mores, the Party resembles a conservative religious institution. By attempting to control peoples loyalties and loves, and redirect those towards itself, the Party posits itself as the end and the ultimate salvation. Katharine even calls sex our duty to the Party, and it is a weekly ritual almost like a martyrdom, in which both she and Winston are uncomfortable but must suffer through it anyway. Clearly, Winstons desire to have a woman of his own with whom sex could be pleasurable is yet another instance of his heretical tendencies. It does not seem something that he has experienced yet, since his encounter with the prostitute was somehow dirtying in every sense. His desire to evoke desire is itself thoughtcrime, and part of his overall rebellion against the world he lives in. . The Junior Anti-Sex League is one of the propaganda organizations used to control desire and teach sexual orthodoxy. The Partys sexual puritanism is due to the fact that the sex instinct creates a world of its own(110) and is therefore out of the Partys control and must be destroyed; The sex instinct will be eradicated. Procreation will be an annual formality like the renewal of a ration card. We shall abolish the orgasm(220). The sex instinct is dangerous to the Party and makes a direct, intimate connection between chastity and political orthodoxy(111). Sex is an act of outright rebellion, as all enjoyable sex must be in a society where the act is  supposed to be free of pleasure. In this sense Winstons affair with Julia is a political act against the Party, which is part of the attraction. Perhaps the greatest crime they commit is declaring love for someone as an individual, someone who is separate from the Party. Love, the clear anti-thesis to everything the Party stands for, has heavily ironic meaning in 1984. The language along with the emotion is manipulated by the Party to gain control of the people. The Ministry of Love, for example, concerns itself with torture, and the destruction of the individual is referred to as love for Big Brother. Winston battles to discover his humanity by equating the ability to feel love with the essence of being human. Winston progresses from seeing Julia as an outlet for his political unorthodoxy and his sexual energy, to seeing her as a companion, linked to him in a marriage of love. As long as Winston loves Julia, and what she represents to him, he is able to believe in himself and his humanity enough to hate Big Brother. Once he betrays that love, he violates his own humanity and can no longer love another human; All you care about is yourself(240). The Party, through Winstons betrayal of Julia, has cut another link to loyalty derived by love and redirected it upon itself. Winston is left a shell of a man having won the victory over himself and learned to love Big Brother (245). The goal of the Party is to wipe out the individual; There will be no loyalty, except loyalty toward the Party. There will be no love, except the love of Big Brother.(220) In 1984 Orwell warns about the future of man who is doomed to lose his individualness without love and loyalty. Family, sex, and love are the anchors that hold the emotions of human essence to our individual selves, resulting in Ownlife.

Friday, September 20, 2019

The Power Struggles In Scrubs English Literature Essay

The Power Struggles In Scrubs English Literature Essay Comedies have a special intricate way of presenting power struggles in the most comical form possible. They manufacture laughter from the simplest stereotypes of cultures, politics, and societies by using pun, wit, sarcasm, satire, parody, slapstick, farce, and scatology in order to cope with issues we face everyday. Power struggles deal with class, ethnicity, gender, and many others themes that offer issues that tend to be taboo. Hence, these themes are incorporated into comedies in hopes that they will somehow gradually mend the problems our society seems to ignore. The popular syndicated comedy, Scrubs, is the epitome of a comedy that introduces power struggles in a comical form. Scrubs follows the lives of Doctor John J.D. Dorian, Doctor Elliot Reid, and Doctor Christopher Turk and elaborates on the dilemmas they face at their workplace, Sacred Heart Hospital. Dorian, Reid, and Turk try to cope with several issues that are presented on every episode, but struggle with their indiv idual obstacles. In Scrubs, Dorian struggles to be recognized as a doctor, Reid struggles to be accepted as a women and an equal, and Turk struggles to be accepted as a surgeon. Second, Doctor Elliot Reid is another doctor that struggles to be respected as a woman and an equal. In contrast to Dorian, who struggles for recognition, Reid deals with the disrespected from patients and colleagues for being a woman doctor. Reid believed that becoming a doctor meant that she would receive the respect all male doctors acquire. Instead she is looked down upon for being a woman and is not trusted as a professional. She enters the doors of Sacred Heart Hospital ready to be accepted as a doctor, but is received as an immature doctor from females and a piece of ass from the males. For example, in an episode, Carla, a nurse, confronts Reid and explains to her that, You are nothing, but an immature doctor that cries when thing get tough. Moreover, her male coworkers repeatedly sexually harass her. It seems that there is no room for a female doctor in Sacred Heart Hospital and the only resort would be to be a nurse. Reid is not content with her treatment and resorts to cons tant crying. Her sobs adds to the negative perception people have about her. Even though she wants to be respected as a woman and an equal she wants, above all, to receive respect from Doctor Bob Kelso. Her main objective is to be accepted by Doctor Bob Kelso who has respect for no one especially Doctor Reid. Doctor Bob Kelso is a grumpy old man, who loves to humiliate and mistreat his whole staff. He is the Chief of Medicine in Sacred Hear Hospital and loves to abuse his power. Doctor Reid comes to Doctor Bob Kelso for advice and recognition, but she is pushed away by Kelsos negative and degrading comments. For example, Doctor Reid explains her accomplishments to Doctor Kelso, but responds with sarcasm, Great job sugar cakes, keep up the great work, now get out of my face. A few times she tries to stand up to Doctor Bob Kelso, but finds herself fearing him more than believing in herself. Their encounters are presented on every episode and represent the struggles women have in male dominated professions. Despite the fact that she hates her treatment, she is determined to do the best she can as a doctor. Furthermore, while Reid faces unequal treatment other doctors struggle to just be accepted. Finally, Doctor Christopher Turk struggles to be accepted as a surgeon and wishes not to be seen as a black surgeon. All his life he was seen as the over achiever due to his skin color, but was sick of hearing positive comments because he knew it was his skin that surprised everyone. No one expected a black individual to become a professional, especially a surgeon. Turk always faced people that treated him with respect, not because of his profession, but because of being a black surgeon. His colleagues view him as someone especial who fought against the odds to be someone respectful. He understands that society is full of ignorant people, but never expected that his workplace be infected with them. He carries himself highly and lets no one degrade him in any form. He is a strong believer of equality and wishes everyone can see pass colors and only see great people with dreams. For example, an episode introduced Turk as a hero after he saved the life of a reported. The media showered him with praise, depicting him as a great hero, but Sacred Heart Hospital saw him as a black hero. He was pictured with words such as Sacred Heart is DOWN for the People, and other black slang. Turk noticed that he was not being recognized and praised for being a surgeon, but celebrated for being a black surgeon. His own employer did not see him as an important asset to the hospital, but as promoter for its own benefit. He spoke to Doctor Bob Kelso regarding this issue, but he refused to cooperate. At the end Doctor Kelso agreed to drop all advertisements after constant struggle with Turk. Up to this point Turk still struggles to be accepted as a surgeon. In conclusion, in Scrubs, Dorian struggles to be recognized as a doctor, Reid struggles to be accepted as a women and an equal, and Turk struggles to be accepted as a surgeon. Each doctor had his or her own power struggle to deal with. They all have serious obstacles they have to face and comedy exhibits these issues as a means to cope with them. Comedies represent real life and real issues; their main objective is to help individuals cope with them with laughter and content. They use different tactics to approach each issue and present them in the most hilarious form. Power struggles tend to be part of everyones life, but everything seems to be easier with a smile on a face.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Teotihuacan Essay -- essays papers

Teotihuacan The ancient world of Mesoamerica entered a long period of change that soon led to the development a mammoth city that would serve as a regional center for more than 600 years. Beginning in about 1000 B.C. the majority of the people in the Valley of Mexico relocated to one of two primary sites, that of Cuicuilco in the southwest corner and Teotihuacan in the northeast. By about 300 B.C., Cuicuilco dominated the region, but its heyday would soon diminish. (Sabloff 2000, p 60) For the next two hundred years the dominion would begin to shift towards the side of Teotihuacan, a city that would undergo rapid growth never seen before on such a large scale. This was in part due to final demise of Cuicuilco influence from the eruption of Xitli in 50B.C. (Weaver 1981, p 104) This smothered their fields and soon thereafter swallowed the entire site. This was catastrophic because it destroyed their means of survival by wiping out agricultural land, which not only served as a source of subsistence but also as an economic base. Eventually the entire city was covered over, thus ending its years of prestige and aiding the development of its major rival. (Sabloff 2000, p 61) This event transformed Teotihuacan into the central city of the region, and soon masses began to flood in. Within a very short period the population was believed to consist of between 80-90% of the total population of the Valley of Mexico. This fluxuated but by the time of Christ, many were moving into the area again and soon began the construction of this great city. (Weaver 1981, p 189) The reasons for this immigration are unknown but surveys have proven that the city was populated as the countryside was depopulated. This resettlement policy, whether forced or 'encouraged', soon provided the state with enough manpower to bring this center into it excellence. This let the state relocate some of the residents onto the most productive agricultural lands to provide a subsistence base for the community. (Sabloff 1981, p 221) The political advantage of this widespread influence if quite apparent. This would permit the state to have direct control over the urban population as well as those it chose to send out to work in best agricultural lands. Also, most important, this control minimized the threats to the state by eliminating any other strong centers that may rise up against it. The... ...interesting finds, but these were primarily skeletal remains of fish, dogs, deer, waterfowl, and rabbit. The fish bones suggest that these people were exploiting the lakes to the south, as well as the remains of the fowl and turtles. The excavations also uncovered many remains within numerous compounds that suggest a commercial relation as well. One of the most significant was that it had a nearby source of obsidian. (Sabloff 1997, p62) This volcanic rock, found only in the highland areas containing volcanoes, was used primarily to make tools and weapons. This was very valuable at the time and control over the sources would provide great power and source of a valuable trade item. There are two main kinds of obsidian, gray and green. Of the studies preformed on artifacts through modern techniques like trace analysis, numerous sources have been identified in Guatemala and Mexico. The gray was more common and came from more than 15 identified sources. Green obsidian was found to have only one source, Pachuca, Hidalgo, making it much more desirable and proved to be a sign of higher status individuals. (Weaver 1981, p 205) Bibliography: (Weaver 1981, p 205)(Sabloff 1997, p62)

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Atheists are also Gods Instruments Verse Analysis :: essays research papers

Atheists are God's instruments, and not only them, but everything as well. Note what the Apostle Paul has written in the Bible: "For he saith unto Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.' So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, 'Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the Earth.' Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth." Romans 9:15-18. There are other verses, but for now let us evaluate the above passage from the King James Version: 1. God has mercy on those whom He wants to have mercy on. He has compassion/love on those whom He wants to love. 2. Man can try to do something, but it is God who has made the decisions and it is God who pre-destinated all things. 3. God pre-destined all things of what will happen to them. 4. The Egyptian Pharaoh was created for God's purposes. The purposes were: God showed His power and God's name was declared throughout all the Earth. 5. Pharaoh probably did not know God's true intentions. Even if Pharaoh knew what it was, he was still unable to resist what has been pre-destined by the Creator. Let us take a closer look at what happened in the book of Exodus: "And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the Lord had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them, as the Lord has said. And the Lord said unto Moses, 'Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.'" Exodus 7:10-14. 1. Pharaoh saw the power of the Lord, and refused to submit even when Aaron's rod swallowed the magician's rods. 2. God himself hardened the heart of Pharaoh. See also Exodus 8:15 and other verses which show that Pharaoh's heart was hardened.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

How Media Actually Affects the Culture of the Human Society Today Essay

Introduction The contemporary problem of a society which has a democratic and liberal political setting alongside a free market economic system or any society which gears towards such characterizations remains to be one that involves what contemporary political thinkers and scholars refer to as the notion of the plurality of values. Isaiah Berlin, for instance, considers what he called values pluralism as an inevitable consequence of the processes of democratization and liberalization. For the sake of clarity, it is but proper to lay down at the onset, what the task of this paper is. This paper’s task remains two-fold; first it seeks to explicate Thomas Frank’s views in his essay entitled, Why Johnny Can’t Dissent from the book, Commodify Your Dissent, and second, it aims to give substantive criticisms to Frank’s views and comment on how media and advertising have caused business culture and counterculture to become, essentially, one and the same; primarily answering the question â€Å"in what sense may they be considered as one and the same?† Relating the Thoughts of Frank with the Theories of Selznick Understanding the business industries today, it should occur to everyone that the said field of concern actually notes the impact of business upon the culture of the society today. Good manners involve showing consideration for the feelings of others, according them respect, treating them as we would like for them to treat us. Many have noted, however, that manners themselves have undergone a breakdown. Indeed, courtesy becomes one of the most wanted character among people which proves that the society lacks so much manners an is still lacking some as the years pass by. Certainly the idea of being polite have been used by many personalities in the human community today to conceal the real score behind politics and its connection with selfishness, hence making the society more prone to demands of fine manner which even people in authority fail to show. Children as young as five years of age are increasingly belligerent, disrespectful of other children’s property, lacking in respect for adults, and using obscene language. Most teachers surveyed feel that parents are spoiling their children and that this is the root cause of the increase in unsocial behavior. At one point, it could be said that the issue of display of fine manners starts decaying within the four walls of the homes where individual characters are developed within a person. Many factors concerning a child’s development have been causing social chaos as the children of certain generation grow to take over the society. As result the characters once set in a child to be right and acceptable causes problems to the society as they grow older. True, in many cases, the homes which are supposed to be the modeling clay of a person’s being becomes highly incapable of doing its part in making a better society for the future. Instead, divorces and other family failures present in the society today drives the very idea of the mistaken identity of the ‘wrong’ to become accepted in the human community.   The used to be ‘fine atmosphere’ of parks and playgrounds is now replaced with the view of groups of children ages nine to thirteen gathered in gangs and not by playmates. Even the children’s views of ‘fun’ have now changed to violence and authority. Certainly, world reports are mostly making much clear points on showing that the world’s moral belief and application is already falling off from the supposed needed application for the social development and peace to be highly implemented. Regarding these issues of moral-lack, Philip Selznick has produced a written repot on the needs of having moral standards back in the human society today. In the paragraphs to follow, the beliefs of the said author regarding the said issue shall be tackled and discussed for closer evaluation. Sociology and the Perfect Society   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The present human condition is dealing with so much problems and issues involving human morality. The values of moral, which are obviously lacking on the present human society is quite an obvious dilemma in the present system of things in the human community. Hence, it is necessary for the present human generation to recognize the need of bringing back morals in the society to be able to save the present generation from perishing in a moral basis. According to Selznick, â€Å"Morality is made for humans and not humans for morality† (Selznick, 12), this means that morality is a provision for the human generation and not a responsibility. In this regard, it is important for all humans that everyone recognizes the value of morals at all times. However, this truth has never been totally effective with the human generations that passed the world history. In many points of history, the human civilization has posted so much violence and disrespect for life. This is the exact opposite of what is morally accepted in the society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this manner, it is indeed a factor of consideration that morals are also affected buy the different organizations that humans form in the society. Indeed, it is true, that by the existence of an influential environment, morals get so twisted and are thus mixed up with immoral beliefs. As Selznick says: â€Å"when it comes to bureaucracies, whatever their dysfunctions, hold open the possibility of overcoming local obligations in favor of more universalistic claims† (Selznick, 14). In this regard, it could be noticed that Selznick strongly points out that as an individual develops, the society goes with the development as well. However, since the individual population of today’s society seems to develop to a more negatively enhanced improvement, the society too becomes more negatively rooted as the years tend to pass. The Elements of a Perfect Community   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to Selznick, the real definition behind a society that is perfectly designed for living is based upon morals. He adds in his written work that â€Å"definitions in social theory should be weak, inclusive and relatively uncontroversial†, in this way, morals are preserved and the established by humans themselves do not intercept in the implication of what is morally accepted in the human community.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   He also adds that to be able to attain a perfectly created society, there are seven essential elements that should be considered. The seven elements are as follows: Historicity This defines the strong foundation of any community based upon the past of a certain group of society. The foundation of morals, which are already accepted in the said society, would be the basis of what is morally right. However, since time changes, morals too either develop or in some ways decrease in its strength through the test of time. Identity A society is indeed known through its identity of moral difference against other social groups. The way they are accepting morals usually differs from how others tend to accept morality as a part of their daily living. In this regard, the different societies are considered different form each one because of their own carried identity. Mutuality It is very important that everyone accept the moral standards set up for their own community. This way the social standards of morality could be considered highly practical and effective for everyone. This means that everybody within a society has mutual understanding and acceptance of what is considered righteous. Plurality The majority that accepts the moral values that are standardized for social reference is very important. The more there are who accepts the values to be morally righteous, the more effective the said principles are for everyone. Autonomy Everybody is bound to do what is right; they are bound to do what is accordingly acceptable with the set principles of morals within the society they are living in. However, it should still be recognized that every person has their own will, their own capability of deciding. This means that to be able to do what is right, a person must also consult his own thoughts and beliefs regarding what should be considered moral, basing from their own individual foundation of knowing what is right and wrong. Participation As earlier said, participation of the majority with regards to the acceptance of moral principles in the entire population of the society is an important factor of making or creating a perfect society. Integration Being able to integrate with the acceptable moral principles of the society is indeed an important part of making a completely peacefully interconnected society. Certainly, this means that being socially integrated within the community through moral principles is a basis of a perfect community. (Source: Selznick, Philip. (1994). The Moral Commonwealth: Social Theory and the Promise of Community (Centennial Books). University of California Press; Reprint edition.)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   These factors of a community makes it possible for the entire population to realize their worth in the society. Being able to fully grasp the importance of being a part of the developments in a community indeed makes a person’s view of life and worth of living a more improved factor of his life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is evident that Selznick wants to point out the importance of one’s satisfaction with his life and his worth to the society. This moves an individual to fully grasp the importance of his presence and the worth of his life to others, thus making a positive move to be able to do so, helps that person to become more righteous and positively inclined when it comes to the display of his manners.    As an overall view, Selznick’s theory with regards to a perfect society is indeed an epitome of social utopia derived from individual developments. The fact that as the basic sector of the community, the individual’s growth determines the society’s growth as well, Selznick points out that to have a perfect community, a person must not only realize his worth as an individual but as a part of a big society which needs his presence to grow in becoming more developed and socially mannered.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Being a member of a community leaves a person certain responsibilities of being a continuous contributor towards the good of every one involved within the society as well. Constant observance of the moral values in the society is an important factor of creating a perfect kind of community, which makes it more livable for most of the population in the society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For these moments, it is important to reconsider morals to bring back the peaceful situations of a utopian model of a society. Although the world today has a hard time implementing the social principles of what is morally acceptable, the theories and elements of a perfect community as mentioned by Selznick is still indeed an effective way of implementing peace in a certain society; and thus if implemented, a society borne to peace and security is not far from being developed. However hard to apply the changes may be, it could still be expected that with ample effort, the aims of a perfect community could be achieved. These views of the said theorist has been further enhanced and introduced for social understanding. Likely, the understanding of such balance that makes a clear connection between media and popular culture is the main feature of Thomas Frank’s views.   Primarily, the focus of the discussion shall be centered upon the understanding of media and its implications with the social culture that is obviously one of the essential factors of a utopian society. Understanding Thomas Frank’s Views In this regard, with the aim of pursuing the understanding upon the views of Thomas Frank, the discussion in this paper shall then be stressed on the direct effects of the assumptions of the said expert with regards media and human culture. Adorno and Horkheimer, for instance, view commercialism, the weapon of capitalism in and through which it is possible to transform a society into a mediocre herd which prefers popular culture’s logic of style and false notions of values such as â€Å"individuality† over more pure expressions of truth, as the culprit for the erosion not only of societal values but also of culture. As they see it, commercialism made possible the existence of the â€Å"deceived masses† (133). The deception of the masses is a phenomenon that is worth the time to evaluate. How is this phenomenon possible? It is at this point that media and advertising steps into the scene. In Legal Philosophy, fundamental rights are those rights that are inalienable to human persons. An example of this kind of right is the right of free speech. The state’s recognition that free speech is a fundamental right that ought to be granted to individuals or citizens of a free democracy has crucial implications on the current problems of any state claiming to be â€Å"democratic†. For one, free speech, by virtue of being a fundamental right, paves the way for differing ideas, worldviews and values. In a liberal and democratic political setting, this is actually healthy. Ideally, it ensures that decisions are arrived at through proper deliberation. By proper deliberation, we refer to different ideas being examined critically through rational discourse. However, there had been considerably significant drawbacks to the recognition of free speech as a fundamental right and these drawbacks involve among many other things the core notions of social obligation and social responsibility that the press or the media ought to be mindful of in terms of proliferating false notions and values through the mechanism of advertising. Naturally, societies which adhere to the tenets of liberalism and democracy will be flooded by too many ideas, worldviews and values. This is an accurate characterization of current liberal and democratic societies. Capitalism, in itself, has a commercial mechanism which Barthes calls â€Å"censorship by repletion† (185). Commercialism thus, produces confusion and perhaps, intellectual anarchy, by flooding too many false notions as exemplified in the slogans that capitalists use to market their products. In a certain sense, the rise of commercialism endangers the very fabric of society; society’s cultural, historical and intellectual heritage. Eventually, marketing and advertising were able to replace political discourse. People, oftentimes readily accept the truthfulness of advertisements. They rarely take the time to think for themselves the truthfulness of slogans and advertisements on the television and the Internet. Such a setting of course, poses serious threats not only on the individual but more importantly, to the whole of society. We seem to forget that we have an important epistemic obligation, that is, not to accept the truth of a belief or a statement unless we have sufficient evidence for it. Undeniably, popular culture affects how the current generation thinks and reasons. To a certain extent, popular culture predisposes and moulds our children to behave and more importantly, to think in such and such ways. Culture, being a way of life, is a social phenomenon; it is the society which creates culture. It is the society which creates certain patterns of living, as argued by some social theorists. The idea is that it is ultimately, the people who draft their culture and their history. This idea is however, threatened by commercialism and capitalism. Vein Lasn adds up to this idea: â€Å"Culture isn’t created from the bottom up by the people anymore – it’s fed to us top-down by corporations† (189). What Van Lasn is pointing out is the fact that the market is too powerful a force that dictates culture. In Frank’s view, the corporate world feeds on the masses’ desire to individuality. The capitalists exploit this desire to be different, to be unique, or to stand out by linking the notion of individuality with a certain product that they sell on the market. The commercial mechanism of capitalism is, as stated earlier in the discussion, is the media through advertising. Businesses make extensive use of media and advertising to get the attention of the consumers. Capitalism, through media and advertising commodifies values such as individuality. By linking the false notion of individuality to a certain commodity, consumers think that they are unique, that they are different. A deeper analysis however reveals that the aforementioned claim to individuality is nothing but an illusion; a figment of the mind manufactured and institutionalized by capitalists. It is not only the case that it is manufactured and institutionalized; it is also sold to the consumers. Frank offers a metaphor: â€Å"The race track, the plane on which all individuals race for stardom, is run by those who create and instill conformity. The harder one tries to rebel, the deeper they play into the new consumer hip world, thus defeating their original goal entirely†. At this point, it would be discussed how media and advertising marketed the idea of rebellion and how the subversive youth counterculture became, in itself, an affirmation not of individuality but of conformity. The quoted statement above from the last paragraph of Frank’s essay raises considerably significant issues that need to be dealt with accordingly. As Frank sees it, the race for individuality is a race that can never be won. The problem, as he sees it, is the fact that the â€Å"race track† or the playing field is in itself, owned by those who create and instill conformity – the capitalists. In addition to this, the aforementioned race cannot be won simply because it is the capitalist who dictates the rules. As a matter of fact, they do so because they are the ones who create the rules. So, following Frank’s reasoning in his metaphor, it is indeed the case that no matter how one tries to rebel, one inevitably gets caught up, entangled with the webs of commercialism and capitalism. The goal to be non-conformists is in vain. Why is this so? As Frank sees it, the current youth counterculture and its attempt to rebel involves a contradiction at its very core. Frank argues that â€Å"consumerism is no longer about conforming but about difference† (113). How did this happen? In the preceding discussions, consumerism is associated with conformity but why is it that Frank now claims that it is about difference? For him, the answer is simple. The youth counterculture rebels through material means like fashion and clothing or cars. The idea of individuality, the idea of being unique or different is limited to the shallow definition that the youth appropriates for itself. Consumerism is no longer about conforming but about difference, as Frank claims, since individuals are desperately trying not to conform but by trying not to conform, they end up conforming. Indeed, conforming and not-conforming becomes one and the same since they all play by the rules of the game; and the rules of the game as stated earlier, are created and thereby, controlled by the capitalists. Frank also makes mention of how the television makes significant contributions to the deception of the masses. It makes them believe that they are in control of themselves and their lives. On a superficial level, one may think that one is free in choosing the kind of television shows that he or she may choose according to the dictates of his or her will. The problem is however, much more complex and to think in the way described above is an oversimplification of the problem. It simply misses the point, so to speak. For even the shows on the television are dictated by the â€Å"fad†, by what is considered hip during a particular point in time. As Frank states: â€Å"hip is their official ideology† (121). Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Certainly, manners have already become a lesser element that is concentrated upon by the society today. Likely, the aim of being industrially known throughout the world has made the present society lesser concerned about morals, for as long as they are able to persuade the society to take consideration in giving attention to their product offerings no matter what it takes. Confidently, many people are able to live their lives even though they are considering less focus upon the morals that they are implying upon in the growth of the entire society. In this manner, they are then having a hard time relating the present situation of the society with the idealism of a modern social utopia as per suggested by Selznick. Obviously, Thomas Frank actually explains that this particular factor in the society has already been lost by the human generation as they began embracing the trends of industrialization thus jumping into the band wagon of popular culture and modern commercialism along the way.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Obviously,   as the years has passed the human generations that are existing at present, the idealism of a modern social utopia has been lost to the aims of gaining much profit for a more economically progressive society. Understandably, the measure of the possibility of making a more socially moral community of humans in the world today becomes more and more involved with the influential factors that hold the key towards the believed progression that has been longed for by the human society. Through the use of media and advertising, the morals of the humanity actually begins to fade as it embraces the effects of globalization that also consequently subject major moral rules to jeopardy for the sake of continuing the advancements of the society that is highly wanted by the entire human generation today. References: Adorno and Horkheimer. The Dialectic of the Enlightenment. Herder and Herder, c. 1972. Barthes, R. Image, Music, Text. Hill, c. 1977. Frank, Thomas. â€Å"Why Johnny Can’t Dissent.† Commodify Your Dissent: Salvos from The Baffler. W. W. Norton & Company; 1st ed., c. 1997. The Conquest of Cool: Business Culture, Counterculture, and the Rise of Hip   Ã‚  Consumerism. University of Chicago Press, c. 1997. Lasn, K. Culture Jam: The Uncooling of America. Eagle Brook, c. 1999. Levinson, Sanford. Our Undemocratic Constitution: Where the Constitution Goes Wrong And   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  How We the People Can Correct It. Oxford University Press, c. 2006. Sunstein, Cass. Why Societies Need Dissent. Harvard University Press, c. 2003. Selznick, Philip. (1994). The Moral Commonwealth: Social Theory and the Promise of Community (Centennial Books). University of California Press; Reprint edition.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Living and Learning: the Right to Salvation (the Scarlet Letter)

The Scarlet Letter is a novel about love and jealousy, sin and shame, passion and compassion. It is a tale of a woman named Hester Prynne, who engaged in adultery with the town minister, and as a result, bore permanent consequences from this sin throughout the remainder of their lives. While Minister Dimmesdale denied this sin and expressed his regret through shows of self-abuse and crippling guilt, Hester embraced her sins as past experience and learned from them in order to find her own identity. While the entire novel is rich with allegory and imagery, the conclusion to be drawn is this: Free will is God’s indispensable gift to humanity, and we must allow ourselves to be open to salvation in light of the choices we make. This theme is expressed through the necessity of sin to find knowledge, Hester’s embracing of the scarlet letter, the difference in the quality of life between Hester and Dimmesdale based on their coping mechanisms, and the very being of Hester and Dimmesdale’s daughter, Pearl. As stated, a major theme in the novel is that of free will and necessary acceptance of the consequences of one’s decision. Hester and Dimmesdale’s situation is comparable to that of Adam and Eve. Like Adam and Eve, the characters in the novel are made aware of their humanness through sin, that is, the realization that free will separates them from other creatures. Once expelled from society, or in Adam and Eve’s case, the Garden of Eden, they are forced to toil and procreate, the tasks that seem to define the human condition. The story of Hester and Dimmesdale recalls the story of Adam and Eve because, in both cases, sin results in expulsion and suffering. However, most significantly, it also results in knowledge. The knowledge of what it means to be human. The scarlet letter was intended by the Puritan elders to be a mark of sinfulness, and therefore, shame. However, for Hester, the scarlet letter is â€Å"her passport into regions where other women dared not tread†, leading her to â€Å"speculate† about what she had always known and explore her inner self more â€Å"boldly† than anyone else in New England. As for Dimmesdale, the â€Å"burden† of his sin gives him â€Å"sympathies so intimate with the sinful brotherhood of mankind, so that his heart vibrates in unison with theirs. † His most articulate, powerful sermons were derived from the sense of empathy ained from experience. Hester and Dimmesdale contemplate their own sinfulness constantly, and try to repent it with the way they live their lives afterward. The Puritan elders, on the other hand, insist on seeing sinful experiences as a mere obstacle on the path to heaven. Hence, they view life on earth as insignificant, and sin as a threat to the community that should be severely punished and suppressed. While they punish Hester and Dimmesdale, their Puritan society is stagnant, while Hester and Dimmesdale's experience shows that imperfection and life experience are not evil. They are necessary to personal growth and true, deep understanding of others. Hester realizes and expresses that sin is forgivable, and at times necessary, to achieve a true personal identity in earthly life. After Hester is publicly shamed and forced by her society to wear the scarlet letter as a badge of humiliation, she is unwilling to pick up and leave the town. Although she is free to leave the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and doing so would allow her to remove the scarlet letter and live a life of quiet obscurity, she is unwilling to flee her â€Å"burden†. Hester even reacts with disappointment when Chillingworth tells her that the town fathers are considering allowing her to remove the letter. Hester's behavior is a result of her desire to find her own identity rather than to allow others to determine it for her. To her, running away or removing the letter would be an acknowledgment of society's power over her. She does not believe that the letter is a mark of shame and it is not something from which she desires to escape. She does not regret her action simply because she is told she should. Hester stays, refiguring the scarlet letter as a symbol of her own experiences and character. Her past sin is a part of who she is, and in her view, to pretend that it never happened would mean denying a part of her. Thus, Hester openly integrates her past sin into her life. Much unlike Hester, Dimmesdale is scared and ashamed of his past. His attempts to hide what he has done result in his life being a great deal unhappier than that of Hester, who is very candid about her past sins. This is a result of Dimmesdale’s struggles against a socially determined identity. Being that he is the minister of the community, he is often seen as more of a symbol than human being. With the exception of Chillingworth, those around the minister ignore his obvious anguish, instead interpreting it as a sign of holiness. Unfortunately, Dimmesdale never fully recognizes the truth of what Hester has known all along. Individuality and strength are gained by quiet self-assertion and not a rejection of one's construed identity. Pearl is the lovechild of Hester and Dimmesdale, the mark of their sin. In the novel, Pearl is predominantly a symbol. This symbolic role can be seen in her name. A pearl is the most perfect, innocent jewel. It is polished and defined in its shell by the roughness of the sand around her, and eventually will be released from the shell to become a beautiful, unique piece of jewellery. Throughout most of the novel she is quite young, and speaks relatively little. Her most significant contribution to the plot is the reaction she provokes in the other characters in the novel. She asks them blunt, direct questions and shows how ridiculous the denial, prejudice, and misdirection of the adult world really are. In the novel, Pearl is portrayed to be much more perceptive and honest than adults in the novel, despite (or due to) her youthful tactlessness. Pearl makes the readers and characters constantly aware of her mother's scarlet letter, and therefore, of the society that produced it. To Pearl, the scarlet letter is such a part of Hester that she does not recognize her without it. Pearl's innocent comments about the letter are surprisingly insightful, and raise significant questions about its meaning. Similarly, she inquires about the relationships between those around her [most importantly, the relationship between Hester and Dimmesdale] and offers her perceptive opinions of them. Pearl seems to be the only character to openly criticize Dimmesdale's refusal to simply admit to his adultery and move on. Once her father's identity is revealed, Pearl is no longer needed in this symbolic role. When Dimmesdale dies, she becomes a full human being, leaving behind her childhood naivety. Throughout the novel, the characters’ levels of contentedness are almost always inversely proportionate to their denial of their sins and themselves. God does not expect humans to be perfect. He is willing to forgive so long as we are ready to be forgiven. Hester and Pearl realize and acknowledge their imperfections, and revel in the knowledge that â€Å"perfection† leads to inertness, much like that of their Puritan society. Consequently, they live much better lives than that of Dimmesdale, who steadfastly denies his imperfections and spends incredible amounts of time punishing himself instead of getting on with his life. In light of the choices we make, we are always open to salvation. The only thing that can stop us is ourselves.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Bioportal Ch. 2 Study Guide

1. Polar molecules A. have bonds with an unequal distribution of electric charge. B. must form ions in water solution. C. have bonds with an equal distribution of electrical charge. D. have bonds with an overall negative charge. E. have bonds with an overall positive charge. Correct See Section 2. 2: How Do Atoms Bond to Form Molecules? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:A Your Response:A 2. Hydrocarbons are _______ and _______, whereas salts are _______ and _______. A. nonpolar; hydrophobic; polar; hydrophilic B. nonpolar; hydrophilic; polar; hydrophobic C. polar; hydrophilic; nonpolar; hydrophobic D. polar; hydrophobic; nonpolar ; hydrophilic E. None of the above Correct See Section 2. 2: How Do Atoms Bond to Form Molecules? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:A Your Response:A 3. The pH of coffee is close to 5 and that of pure water is 7. This means that A. coffee is more basic than water. B. water is more acidic than coffee. C. the H+ concentration of coffee is seven-fifths that of water. D. the H+ concentration of water is one-one hundredth that of coffee. E. the H+ concentration of water is one-hundred times that of coffee. Correct See Section 2. 4: What Makes Water So Important for Life? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:D Your Response:D 4. Which of the following statements best describes the difference between an element and a molecule? A. An element is composed of atoms; a molecule is not. B. An element is composed of only one kind of atom; molecules can be composed of more than one kind of atom. C. An element is unstable; molecules are stable. D. Elements always have lower atomic weights than molecules. E. Elements exist in nature only as parts of molecules. Correct See Section 2. 1: How Does Atomic Structure Explain the Properties of Matter? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:B Your Response:B 5. Solid salt, NaCl, is neutral. When dissolved in water, NaCl A. remains as NaCl (does not dissociate). B. dissociates to form Na– and Cl+. C. dissociates to form Na+ and Cl– ions that do not interact with water molecules. D. dissociates to form Na+ and Cl– ions that interact with water molecules. E. does not dissociate, but interacts with water molecules. Correct See Section 2. 2: How Do Atoms Bond to Form Molecules? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:D Your Response:D 6. Why is the pH of a 0. 1 M solution of acetic acid in water higher than that of a 0. 1 M solution of HCl in water? A. HCl is a weaker acid than acetic acid. B. The acetic acid does not fully ionize in water, but HCl does. C. HCl does not fully ionize in water, but acetic acid does. D. Acetic acid is a better buffer than HCl. E. Acetate (ionized acetic acid) is a strong base. Correct See Section 2. 4: What Makes Water So Important for Life? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:B Your Response:B 7. The reactivity of an atom arises from the A. energy difference between the s and p orbitals. B. potential energy of the outermost shell. C. average distance of the outermost shell from the nucleus. D. um of the potential energies of all electron shells. E. existence of unpaired electrons in the outermost shell. Correct See Section 2. 2: How Do Atoms Bond to Form Molecules? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:E Your Response:E 8. Covalent bond formation depends on the ability of atoms to A. share electrons with other atoms. B. donate electrons to other atoms. C. receive electrons from other atoms. D. Both a and b E. All of the above Correct See Section 2. 2: How Do Atoms Bond to Form Molecules? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:A Your Response:A 9. Which of the following structures molecules is incorrect? A. CH3—NH3 B. CH2=CH2 C. CH3—NH2 D. CH3—NH3+ E. CH3—CH3 Correct See Section 2. 3: How Do Atoms Change Partners in Chemical Reactions? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:A Your Response:A 10. What property of water contributes most to the ability of fish in lakes to survive very cold winters? A. Water is cohesive. B. Water has a high heat capacity. C. Frozen water is more dense than liquid water. D. Frozen water is less dense than liquid water. E. Water forms hydrogen bonds. Correct See Section 2. 4: What Makes Water So Important for Life? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:D Your Response:D 1. Water is essential to life. Which of the following physical properties of water affect(s) life in some beneficial way? A. Cohesiveness B. High heat capacity C. High heat of vaporization D. Ice is less dense than liquid water E. All of the above Correct See Section 2. 4: What Makes Water So Important for Life? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:E Your Response:E 12. Which o f the following interactions between atoms is the strongest? A. Hydrophobic B. Ionic C. Covalent D. van der Waals E. Hydrogen bonds Correct See Section 2. 2: How Do Atoms Bond to Form Molecules? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:C Your Response:C 13. Given that Avagadro's number is 6. 02 ? 1023, how many molecules of KCl would there be in 10–13 liter of a 1 M KCl solution? A. 6. 02 ? 1036 B. 6. 02 ? 1010 C. 6. 02 ? 10–10 D. 6. 02 ? 103 E. 6. 02 ? 1013 Correct See Section 2. 4: What Makes Water So Important for Life? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:B Your Response:B 14. For a covalent bond to be polar, the two atoms that form the bond must have A. differing atomic weights. B. differing numbers of neutrons. C. differing melting points. D. differing electronegativities. E. similar electronegativities. Correct See Section 2. 2: How Do Atoms Bond to Form Molecules? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:D Your Response:D 15. Which of the following statements about chemical reactions is false? A. They occur when atoms combine or change their bonding partners. B. Energy may be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. C. Reactions may go to completion. D. Changes in forms of energy may accompany chemical reactions. E. The products of a chemical reaction are formed from the reactants. Correct See Section 2. 3: How Do Atoms Change Partners in Chemical Reactions? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:B Your Response:B 16. Propane (CH3—CH2—CH3), is considered a nonpolar molecule because A. it does not contain oxygen. B. carbon and hydrogen have similar electronegativities. C. it is a gas. D. it is flammable. E. it forms hydrogen bonds. Correct See Section 2. 2: How Do Atoms Bond to Form Molecules? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:B Your Response:B 17. Isotopes of an element A. are always unstable and radioactive. B. have different numbers of protons. C. have the same atomic weight. D. have different numbers of neutrons. E. have different numbers of electrons. Correct See Section 2. : How Does Atomic Structure Explain the Properties of Matter? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:D Your Response:D 18. An element that contains ten protons and ten electrons is likely to A. form covalent bonds with another element. B. form ionic bonds with another element. C. be chemically inert (stable). D. be radioactive. E. be toxic. Correct See Section 2. 2: How Do Atoms Bond to Form Molec ules? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:C Your Response:C 19. Rank the elements carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and phosphorus (P) in decreasing order of the number of covalent bonds they usually form. A. C ; P ; N ; O ; H B. P ; O ; C ; N ; H C. P ; C ; N ; O ; H D. P ; C ; O ; N ; H E. P ; C ; O ; H ; N Correct See Section 2. 2: How Do Atoms Bond to Form Molecules? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:C Your Response:C 20. The molecular weight of acetic acid is 60. How many grams of acetic acid would be required to prepare 10 ml of a 0. 001 M (1. 0 mM) solution? A. 6. 0 B. 0. 6 C. 0. 0006 D. 0. 06 E. 0. 006 Correct See Section 2. 4: What Makes Water So Important for Life? Points Earned:1/1 Correct Answer:C Your Response:C

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Foreigners Essay Essay

Is Paia a better choice for Luba than Lachance? Luba Dominescu, the only girl of the Dominescu family, plays an important role in the novel â€Å"Foreigners†. After going through a hard time with her family in Canada, the country they have just immigrated to, Luba becomes more mature and her feminine charm gradually shows up. Paia Manescu and Lachance are two boys who fall in love with this young lady and they compete with each other to win her heart. Although the blue-eyed boy, Lachance, seems to be more attractive to Luba, Paia’s love for Luba has lasted for a long time and their families fully support their marriage. They also have more things in common to promote their relationship, such as language and culture. Furthermore, Paia can be both a nice husband and a wonderful son to help the Dominescu family out of difficulties. Therefore, Paia is a better choice for Luba than Lachance. First of all, Paia makes a better mate for Luba because Luba’s parents, Stefan Dominescu and Sofie Dominescu, have been really good friends with Paia’s parents since they were in their old country Romania. In these two families, â€Å"It had always seemed clear to everyone that Luba would marry Paia† (155). As soon as the second time Lachance visits the Domincescu to court Luba, Stefan along with Luba purposely visits Paia’s family to tell them that it is necessary now for Paia to propose to Luba if he wants to marry her. This example shows that Luba’s parents wish their daughter to choose Paia instead of Lachance and there is no doubt that a life of marriage with parents’ blessing and full support will be happier. In addition, for Luba herself, she has known Paia since they were little children and â€Å"he had cared her for such a long time† (158). However, Paia is just a boy she knows from school only a few months ago. Compared with Lachance’s unfamiliar and sudden affection, Paia’s love is obviously more reliable and sincere. Another advantage Paia has is that he comes from the same country as Luba, in other words, â€Å"he was one of her people, spoke the same language, played the same music† (158). As a mew immigrant, Luba apparently can not speak English exactly the correct way so that if she marries an English boy like Lachance, she may have difficulties communicating with her husband and it greatly increases the possibility of misunderstanding and arguments between the couple. Besides language, things such as traditions, eating habits, belief and music are also important factors that can influence a relationship. For instance, when Lachance plays music at Luba’s home, â€Å"the tunes sounded strangely to the Romanians’ ears† (155). However, since Paia grows up in the same culture as Luba, there are no cultural differences and communication barrier between he and Luba and it is a lot easier to maintain and improve their relationship. Not only can Paia be a better husband, but he also becomes a more helpful son of the Dominescu family. After Luba marries Paia, they will live in the same house with Sofie and Stefan and stay with Luba’s family rather than follow Lachance to join his father and have â€Å"a more unsettled life† (158). In this way, Luba is able to continue to take care of her little brother and â€Å"Paia would work with tata, helping with everything† (158), which means Paia can share the heavy burden of supporting the whole family that has placed on Stefan’s shoulder since they moved to Canada. These two aspects shows that Paia both brings more family happiness to Luba and helps the Dominescu family gradually get out of difficult circumstance. In conclusion, marrying Paia is obvious a better choice for Luba. He cares for Luba for a longer time than Lachance, has more support from their parents and he shares the same culture and speaks the same language as Luba. Also, he can take care of Luba, as well as her family. Although Luba has difficulties choosing her husband between two gentlemen who are both charming and attractive, it is still lucky for her to have the freedom to decide her own marriage.

Literary Devices in Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin

In Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin, Compare and Contrast is shown throughout the novel. Baldwin had shown that there are characters that have similar situations, but other who contrast among themselves. For example, Florence and Elizabeth are similar because of their situations, while Florence and Gabriel clash because of their attitude and beliefs. Another example of compare and contrast is Frank and Richard being similar in nature, but Esther and Deborah being pictures of contrast.Florence and Elizabeth are both unfortunate women who don’t get the love that they deserve and both have the happiness taken away from them due to their last husbands. In Florence’s past, she sacrifices her childhood and youth to take care of her younger brother, Gabriel, and by doing her homework. She also neglects her education so she would send Gabriel to school and help her mother at home. When her mother falls ill, she takes the burden of attending to her sick mother and wor king to earn a living. For all Florence has done, her mother and Gabriel both take her for granted and they both fail to acknowledge her worth.Also when Florence leaves her home to preserve her chastity, her brother and mother both take it amiss. In New York, Florence meets a man, named Frank, who promises to provide her love and security. Frank does love her, but he doesn’t take the time to take care of her needs. He spends all of his money and leaves her to fend for herself and the house. When Florence tries to explain and show Frank his responsibilities in the house, she fails, and is soon forced to show Frank the door. Florence is unsuccessful when it comes to love and marriage. When she needs company and comfort, she is denied and left alone to have a lonely and miserable life.Elizabeth has the same situation. In her childhood, after her mother passed away, he is taken from her father by her aunt. During her youth, she falls in love with a man named Richard and plans to live with him in a strange city. Later on she becomes pregnant with his child out of wedlock and refrains herself from telling Richard about it. In this process, she suffers the consequences from her foolishness. Richard gets framed for a crime he didn’t commit, and is severely punished. Richard soon commits suicide and leaves Elizabeth when he can’t take the insults any longer. Elizabeth loses the man she loves and is left to raise the child by  herself.She’s punished for loving Richard and is left to struggle in the cruel world. Later in life, she meets Gabriel and falls in love with him. She believes that he is loving and caring, but after their marriage, she learns that Gabriel can be prejudice. She feels helpless against his violent behavior and resigns herself to the situation. For all she has done in their home, Gabriel hasn’t said one kind or loving word towards her. Once again, the man that she loved hasn’t provided her with the security and peace she needs. She is unlucky as Florence and is betrayed by life.Frank and Richard are both weak characters who yield to the pleasures in life. They are insecure Negroes and feel threatened by the power of the Whites and soon finds a route to escape their fears. Frank loves Florence and promises to respect her and secure her but soon forgets his responsibilities when money gets involved. He apologizes, but only to commit his mistake again, failing to provide security and harmony to her in their marriage. When Florence tells him to leave the house out of disgust, he leaves and lives with another woman, instead of trying to improve himself and to correct his life.