Dostoevskys The Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment

God Answers the Questions Presented by Dostoevskys The Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment In Dostoevskys novels pain and some heavy burden of the inevitability of human suffering and helplessness form Russia. And he depicts it not with white gloves on, nor through the blisters of the peasant, but through people who are close to him and his realities: city people who either have faith, or secular humanists who are so remote from reality that even when they love humanity they despise humans because of their own inability to achieve or to create paradise on earth. His novels The Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment are best examples of the poisonous effect of such ideals on the common man. The rebellion of†¦show more content†¦That is not the love that is directed towards the humanity as a whole, but towards the individual: Strive to love your neighbor actively and indefatigably (II, 4). For Dostoevsky such love is a false one and he presents it through such characters as Rakitin, Perkhotin and even Luzhin: Consciousness of life is superior to life, knowledge of the laws of happiness is superior to happiness--that is what we must fight against. (The Dream of a Ridiculous Man , p. 382) One of greatest evils for Dostoevsky are the so-called liberals who love humanity more than an individual man. Yet he does not represent their behavior as genuinely evil . Their hate towards humanity arises exactly from the opposite: love. Secular humanists see so much evil, crime and inhumanity, they cannot stop it so they rebel. Ivan Karamazov and his rebellion are purely of that kind. He is not vile, he just cannot understand that there might be a solution for such suffering, especially in the case of children who are innocent in Christianity. That is why Ivan asks: Love life more than the meaning of it? (II, 3) Ivan as any average intellectual, wants to know. To know the meaning of life for him is more important than to actually do something about the human suffering. Ivan forgets that one human life is as important as the entire humanity. For him humanity is merely an abstraction which happen to be surrounding him.Show MoreRelatedFyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, Notes From The Underground, And The Idiot1713 Words   |  7 PagesFyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky was a Russian novelist and philosopher best known for his novels Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, Notes From the Underground, and The Idiot. He used his works to learn about the social customs and movements of nineteenth-century Russia, and also to explore himself and gain a deeper understanding of his life. Dostoevsky’s personal life experiences and the philosophical movements of his time influenced his works by shaping the subjects he discussed and theRead MoreCommon Themes in Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov2032 Words   |  8 Pages Russian author and philosopher, Fyodor Dostoevsky, was best known for his literary contributions between 1866 and 1880. Of his substantial work, Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, The Devils, and The Brothers Karamazov are the novels he remains most recognized for. In each of these novels, Dostoevsky examines and interprets several social, physical, mental, and emotional situations and conditions, which he believed to, influenced the nature of humanity. His theories concerning the causes and effectsRead More The Prostitute In Dostoevskys Crime and Punishment, Notes from Underground, and The Meek One1416 Words   |  6 PagesThe Prostitute In Dostoevskys Crime and Punishment, Notes from Underground, and The Meek One The prostitute is a curious fixture of Victorian era literature. In the works of William Thackeray and Samuel Richardson it was almost clichà © for the heroine to end up in a house of prostitution and then to transcend that situation in a show of proper Victorian morals. Having seen many young women forced by extreme poverty to take up the trade of a loose woman, Fyodor Dostoevsky, a petit-bourgeois fallenRead MoreAn Analysis Of Dostoevsky s The Brothers Karamazov 1344 Words   |  6 PagesPermission and Punishment In Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, Rakitin responds to a central question throughout the novel, â€Å"What is permitted?† when he proudly states to Dmitry that â€Å"An intelligent man can do anything he likes as long as he’s clever enough to get away with it† (788). While Rakitin has found his answer to this question, multiple characters in the novel are still stuck on that question. Throughout the novel, Dostoevsky seems to separate these characters into two groups: the charactersRead More Dostoevsky was an Anti-Semite2271 Words   |  10 Pageseverything he has written? This paper will address Dostoevskys anti-Semitism through an examination of Isay Fomitch Bumstein in The House of the Dead, the Messianic idea in The Devils, and the little demon in The Brothers Karamazov. Furthermore, this paper will question the moral implications of Dostoevskys Christian message given his anti-Semitic posture. It will suggest that while he was indeed an anti-Sem ite, one can continue to read Dostoevskys work without feeling that his message was a completeRead MoreLiterature and Politics the Impact of Dostoevsky9582 Words   |  39 PagesDOSTOEVSKY Dostoevsky and the Legend of the Grand Inquisitor, by Vasily Rozanov. Translated and with an Afterword by Spencer E. Roberts. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 1972. Pp. xi. 232. $12.50. Political Apocalypse. A Study of Dostoevskys Grand Inquisitor, by Ellis Sandoz. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1971, Pp. xviii. 263. $13.50.* ostoevskys great novels have spawned a vast library of critical 1/literature, a library which extends well beyond traditionalRead MoreEssay about Dostoevsky and Nietzsches Overman2123 Words   |  9 Pagesoverman is a moral agent, he is not an agent of an absolute morality for each action, but rather an agent which affirms a state of being as the ultimate state of being that a human can achieve.    Dostoevskys character Raskolnikov develops some very similar ideas in Crime and Punishment. Raskolnikov, a poor and starving former student, conceives of the idea to kill an old pawnbroker and steal her money. Raskolnikov reasons that, because the old pawnbroker is evil, he will actually be benefittingRead More Dostoevsky as Performer Essay4297 Words   |  18 Pagesthat beautiful language--freeflowing, emotionally charged, profoundly Russian and memorably expressive--in which, in time, his worldfamous books would be written (10). Joseph Frank attributes these storytellers tales of the saints with feeding Dostoevskys unshakable conviction that the soul of the Russian peasant was imbued with the Christian ethos of love and selfsacrifice (1976, 49). The Dostoevsky children were also entertained and educated with oral readings by their parents, especiallyRead More The Pathological Protagonist of Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground2598 Words   |  11 PagesThe Pathological Protagonist of Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground Dostoevsky’s vision of the world is violent and his characters tortured; it is no wonder that many have viewed his work as prophetic of the 20th century. However, though Dostoevsky, in his unflinching portrayal of depravity, gives the Devil some of his best arguments, the Gospel often triumphs. Ivan Karamazov is at least offered the possibility of repentance when kissed by his saintly brother Alyosha. Raskolnikov, the nihilisticRead MoreExistentialism vs Essentialism23287 Words   |  94 Pages------------------------------------------------- The gods had condemned  Sisyphus  to ceaselessly rolling a rock to the top of a mountain, whence the stone would fall back of its own weight. They had thought with some reason that there is no more dreadful punishment than futile and hopeless labor. If one believes  Homer, Sisyphus was the wisest and most prudent of mortals. According to another tradition, however, he was disposed to practice the profession of highwayman. I see no contradiction in this. Opinions

The Rio Olympics 2016 Free Essays

Maxwell Britton October 11, 2012 Anth 210 Writing Assignment 1 Olympics Games 2016 The excitement that the city of Rio experimented upon the announcement of hosting the 2016 Olympic games appears to have been short lived. The descent of excitement began once drug traffickers shot down a police helicopter. The government responded by heightening the crackdown on the city slums of the favelas. We will write a custom essay sample on The Rio Olympics 2016 or any similar topic only for you Order Now As a result many of the favelas in Rio are now under police control (Jazeera). The questions we are now asked is if the coming Olympics provided the motive for the increased importance that have been placed on controlling drug trafficking while also disguising as a strategy and justification to clean up the favelas of Rio? Or are the Olympics irrelevant and merely a beneficiary of the crackdown? It seems to me that the upcoming events in which the city of Rio have been presented with have become overwhelming. The Olympics are a very sacred event to host and having the honor to do such is a major responsibility (Watson). With this I do believe that the Olympics are the primary motive for the government’s actions. The Olympics routinely bring hundreds of thousands of tourists to the host city and this is something that the city of Rio wants to take advantage of in showing off their city to the world (Watson). This is why I believe the government has decided to intensify their police presence in the favelas as a tactic to clean up and make their city more appealing. The outcome of this has left thousands of individuals killed or imprisoned by the government. The favelas are where the majority of drug trafficking takes place as many times they are controlled and run by the gangs. As a solution the military police have gone in and taken over, resulting in thousands of deaths. It’s reported by the Human Rights Watch that the police of Rio and Sao Paolo have killed over 11,000 people since 2003. When a reporter discussed these findings by the Human Rights Watch with the head of Rio security; Jose Beltrame, the findings weren’t denied and instead attributed to the difficulties faced by the police of Rio. However, when asked about the Human Rights Activists who claim there are additional killings by the police he was quick to respond. According to Beltrame these reports are always similar and are preconceived opinions that are not based on reason, as they don’t understand the reality of Rio. The actuality, he explains, is there are areas in Rio that are dominated by criminal gangs equipped with assault rifles that the police are facing (Jazeera). Although it’s too difficult to determine which side is right, it is clear that too many lives are being taken. In conclusion I think it’s a positive thing for the city to put effort into controlling drug trafficking and also something that has been long due. However, it appears that many innocent individuals are being affected by these government actions and in some cases even been killed. I think the government needs to take a strong look at the approach they have taken and determine if this is benefiting their city in the long run or it is a short-term solution for the Olympics. Bibliography Jazeera, Al. â€Å"Rio: Olympic City. † Aljazeera . Fault Lines , 01/2010. Web. 12 Oct 2012. http://www. aljazeera. com/programmes/faultlines/2010/01/201019104335683915. html. Watson, Connie. â€Å"Can roughed-up Rio be ready for the 2016 Olympics?. † CBSnews. N. p. , 08/2012. Web. 12 Oct 2012. http://www. cbc. ca/news/world/story/2012/08/09/f-vp-watson-rio-olympics. html. How to cite The Rio Olympics 2016, Essay examples

Analysis of Situation in Hofstede’s Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Analysis of Situation in Hofstedes. Answer: Introduction: Culture can be defined as a collective phenomenon, which sets several unwritten norms with respect to which an individual of a specific group (ethnic or geographical) differ from another. Cultural aspects significantly decide the code of conduct of an individual, not only in his or her personal life but also in the work place. Individuals accustomed to one lifestyle pattern often face difficulties after moving to some other country, due to stark cultural differences (Minkov and Hofstede 2012). These problems are especially more serious in their work places, which may affect their work satisfaction as well as their career graph significantly. In this particular case, Lee has stayed in Australia for long to complete his high school studies, MBA and internship before moving back to Korea, his motherland, to work in an international food and beverage company (Yang et al. 2012). Being a resident of Australia for fifteen years, Lee faces several crisis in his new work place in the Korean e nvironment, much of which is attributed to the cultural differences between the two countries. The situation in the company, in which Lee works, can be explained in the following discussion, using Hofstedes Framework of cultural dimensions (Hofstede, Jonker and Verwaart 2012). Analysis of situation in Hofstedes Framework: The Hofstedes Framework is a theory of cultural dimensions, which tries to analyze the cross-cultural communications and cultural differences between countries in terms of multiple dimensions namely: a) Index of Power Distance- Higher value of this index indicates the existence of a steep hierarchical construct in that society whereas a lower value implies flatter power dynamics (Minkov and Hofstede 2012). b) Collectivism and Individualism- Collectivism is high in the societies, where, people tend to work together, in an integrated way to achieve collective goals. On the other hand, individualistic societies are characterized by individuals, more motivated towards achieving personal goals (Gorodnichenko and Roland 2012). c) Index of Uncertainty Avoidance- A society with ranking high in this index generally is characterized by more rigidity and less acceptance of non-convenient thoughts whereas the ones with low scores are more accepting and ambiguous (Yang 2012). d) Masculine and Feminine- A masculine society generally attaches heroism, material rewards and achievements with success whereas, those with more femininity, believes more in modesty and cooperation and has a special caring attitude towards the weak ones (Hofstede, Jonker and Verwaart 2012). e) Indulgence- A society allowing fulfillment of individual desires and ways of having fun and imposes less restraints on the individuals emotions. Conversely, their counterparts believe in restrictions and controls over ones emotions and lifestyles (Kohun, Bur?ik and Skovira 2012). Long Term Orientation - High scores indicates that the society values practical examples more than traditional norms (Taras, Steel and Kirkman 2012).] Korea, scoring high in the index of power distance than Australia, has a stiff hierarchical societal construct, both in personal and professional domains. Therefore, early departure of Lee (though he departed early only after competing all his tasks) was being seen as a rude approach towards his superiors (Geert-hofstede.com, 2017). On the other hand, the country believes more in collectivism than individualism, which implies that the efforts given by Lee in order to gain personal attention, and in order to stick out of the crowd was deemed as highly inappropriate and selfish behavior on his part, by his company. This may happen because being a Korean organization, the other employees and the company as a whole may believe in collective accolades and achieving together (Lee 2012). Lee likes to dye his hair and prefers casual clothing. This may not be an issue in Australia as it believes in indulgence and freedom of choosing ones lifestyle. However, Korea scoring strikingly low in the indulgence index, these indulgences on part of Lee may not be seen as an appropriate behavior by Lees company and his co-workers, thereby making him more distant from other employees. Korea scores significantly high in the Index of Uncertainty Avoidance, implying the society in general is not highly accepting or open towards new ideas or thoughts (Despotovic, Hutchings. and McPhail 2015). Therefore, Lees approach of suggesting new and innovative ideas for the betterment of the company, are heard by his superiors but are not implemented in reality, as the company may not be inviting new experimenting approaches and believes in following conventional guidelines towards the path of success (Mttnen 2014). Together, all these factors, as explained in terms of the Hofstedes Framework, may have contributed in creating a hostile environment for Lee in his new workplace situated in Korea. Possible Strategies that can be taken by Lee: The hostile environment and distant attitudes of the co-workers, faced by Lee in his new work place, are mainly the result of the massive cultural differences between Lee, who though Korean by birth, has stayed for long in Australia and the company in Korea where he is currently working (Lee 2012). His company and his co-workers are negatively interpreting many of his non-significant actions and behaviors. This in its turn is leaving a negative essence in his work life and work place. These problems can be mitigated by implementing several simple but clever strategies with significant implications and affect on his professional conduct and on his career graph in the long run. Few of these potential strategies are discussed below: a) Staying back in his office, even after his work has been done and leaving only after his superiors in the company have left, may portray respecting hierarchy and his seniors on part of Lee. This may create a positive impression about him in his company, thereby decreasing the hostility to some extent (Layous et al. 2013). b) Instead of trying to work alone and stick out of the crowd to gain personal appraisals, Lee can try to mix up with his co-workers and work collectively with them with the objective of taking his team as a whole towards more productivity. The sense of collectivism can make his colleagues feel less distant with him ad may help Lee in the long run by strengthening his base in the company (Despotovic, Hutchings. and McPhail 2015). c) A little adjustments and changes in his personal behavior, like not arriving at his work place in casuals or maintain a decent, formal appearance without striking dyes in his hair or other loud style statements will change Lees lifestyle significantly, but, will definitely create a positive perception about himself to his colleagues and company. Following a strictly formal and simple dress code may help in his image building in the Korean company (Mttnen 2014). d) Spending a considerable amount of time in Australia, Lee is accustomed in its culture of freethinking and an outward approach in expressing ones emotions and opinions. However, implementing the same approach in the Korean company can have negative implications and his outward approach may be perceived as his over-smartness. Lee can maintain a more reserved and introverted approach, especially while approaching his seniors, in order to make a positive impression about himself in the company (Despotovic, Hutchings. and McPhail 2015). Potential Strategies for the Korean Manager: In the above discussion, potential strategies of Lee, which can make his experience I the Korean work environment better, have been discussed in details. However, with globalization and new age competition, it is also necessary on part of the Manager of the company to create and maintain a more integrating and encouraging work environment for the employees, especially those accustomed to a more individualistic type of work culture, to maintain the talented labour force (Shore 2013). This initiative may prove beneficial for the employees as well as for the company as a whole in the long run: a) To stay in the competition and maintain a stable growth of the company, the Manager has to keep the talented workforce, even a few of them maybe of more individualistic nature. These employees generally tend to get motivated when their efforts and achievements are individually praised and materially rewarded (Gorodnichenko and Roland 2012). Material rewards, if given to a particular employee, may appear inappropriate in the eyes of his co-workers, who have been long accustomed to the collective work environment of Korea. However, praising verbally and recognizing an individuals efforts for the betterment of the company, will not appear strikingly out of norm on one hand and will encourage that person on the other hand (Geert-hofstede.com, 2017). b) Innovation is a key necessity for any company, in any part of the world, to sustain and experience increasing turnovers, in the contemporary competitive global business environment. Korea, being a high scorer in the Index of Uncertainty Avoidance, does not welcome new thoughts and ideas with much ease. This may adversely affect the growth of the Korean company in particular (Forbes.com, 2017). Incorporating innovative ideas from the talented and competitive work force may have two-way benefits; on one hand it may encourage the workers to e creative and innovative, thereby increasing their interests for working in the company and creating a competitive work environment. On other hand, incorporation of the potential innovative ideas may prove beneficial for the company by increasing its future prospects in the global atmosphere (Layous et al. 2013). c) Decreasing the stiffness in company hierarchy may enable the employees to approach the senior officials with new ideas, queries and problems if any. This may incorporate a sense of belonging and warmth among the employees thereby benefiting the company as a whole (Forbes.com, 2017). Conclusion: The above discussion elaborates the problems Lee faces in the Korean work environment due to a difference in the work cultures of Korea and Australia. To rule out the differences and create an integrated and satisfying work environment, it is necessary on part of Lee as well as the Manager of the company to design and incorporate several simple yet significant changes in their respective professional approaches and behaviors. This, if done diligently from both sides, can help in creating a symbiotic as well as competitive work environment, which may benefit both Lee and the company as a whole in the long run. References Despotovic, W.V., Hutchings, K. and McPhail, R., 2015. Cross?cultural self?preparation of Australian self?initiated expatriates for working and living in South Korea:Stumped like a bonsai: A show of what could have been.Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources,53(2), pp.241-259. Forbes.com (2017).Forbes Welcome. [online] Forbes.com. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kaviguppta/2016/06/12/south-koreas-economic-future-depends-on-this-bold-business-experiment/ [Accessed 17 Aug. 2017]. Geert-hofstede.com (2017). [online] Geert-hofstede.com. Available at: https://geert-hofstede.com/ [Accessed 17 Aug. 2017]. Gorodnichenko, Y. and Roland, G., 2012. Understanding the individualism-collectivism cleavage and its effects: Lessons from cultural psychology. InInstitutions and comparative economic development(pp. 213-236). Palgrave Macmillan UK. Hofstede, G.J., Jonker, C.M. and Verwaart, T., 2012. Cultural differentiation of negotiating agents.Group Decision and Negotiation,21(1), pp.79-98. Kohun, F.G., Bur?ik, V. and Skovira, R.J., 2012. Research into Hofstedes thesis. InKnowledge and Learning: Global Empowerment. Proceedings of the Management, Knowledge and Learning International Conference(pp. 989-997). Layous, K., Lee, H., Choi, I. and Lyubomirsky, S., 2013. Culture matters when designing a successful happiness-increasing activity: A comparison of the United States and South Korea.Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology,44(8), pp.1294-1303. Lee, C.Y., 2012. Korean culture and its influence on business practice in South Korea.Journal ofInternational Management Studies,7(2), pp.184-191. Mttnen, T., 2014. Efficien Cross-cultural Communication Between South Korea and Finland: Finnish Employee in a Korean Working Environment. Minkov, M. and Hofstede, G., 2012. Hofstedes fifth dimension: New evidence from the World Values Survey.Journal of cross-cultural psychology,43(1), pp.3-14. Shore, B., 2013. Improving Employee Retention in a South Korean High Growth Organization: Do Western Strategies Apply?.Journal of Global Business Issues,7(2), p.1. Taras, V., Steel, P. and Kirkman, B.L., 2012. Improving national cultural indices using a longitudinal meta-analysis of Hofstede's dimensions.Journal of World Business,47(3), pp.329-341. Yang, L.Q., Spector, P.E., Sanchez, J.I., Allen, T.D., Poelmans, S., Cooper, C.L., Lapierre, L.M., O'driscoll, M.P., Abarca, N., Alexandrova, M. and Antoniou, A.S., 2012. Individualismcollectivism as a moderator of the work demandsstrains relationship: A cross-level and cross-national examination.Journal of International Business Studies,43(4), pp.424-443.

The future success of students

The future success of students How would be perfect to change our education system and add one special thing into its structure: an education would be much useful if empathy were a necessary part of the whole system. In order to make prosocial behavior better or decrease a social aggression – the main tool is empathy. Some social theorists and experts see our world as a place where we cultivate enough empathy to see our Planet and its residents as one social important unit. There is also a suggestion that empathy might be very idealistic, especially in comparison to a model of modern schooling, where such things like character education and social emotional learning are not popular at all. Moreover, the followers of empathy in education believe that it is a good way to create for children a successful way into the future. That is also important for all parents to understand, how crucial the value for success can be for their kids. It is also worth mentioning that higher levels of empathy make students more productive in social environments, according to the latest research. The role of empathy in the education can be very useful and it can increase the academic success of many students around the world. There was a study, for secondary school students, showing a strong connection between empathy indicators in children and their average grade. In addition, empathy continues to make a great effect, especially on comprehension in reading and social studies. The final statement is telling us that the empathic children are better able to place themselves in the role of central characters portrayed in the fictional and historical readings. They are also able to share and experience their feelings better. The empathy factor in the education system can boost children in terms of social behavior and motivation. They are more concerned for and respectful of others, which is also making them more self-directing in order to avoid harmful actions or maintain higher results of ethical, social conduct. The Yale’s research found that empathy is focusing to increase the next abilities: perceiving, using, understanding and managing any emotions. Empathy and the Learning Process Including empathy in the learning process is very important factor for young students. Many scientists argue that empathy training can be very effective for schools. Among all types of empathy trainings available for schools, there are some ways to change these types to increase the atmosphere of communities or classrooms. The emotional world of children Children’s emotions are the most important players in terms of motivation or learning. The role of emotions is very helpful, since it can help many young students to eliminate distractions like anxiety, anger or fear. The focus on a child’s emotional world is a key element in Waldorf Education. In this case, children make a bigger progress in the learning process and achieve better results during the study. How to use Empathy properly Empathy can be used in the learning process by the help of using stories. Stories are very interesting for children, because there kids are encouraged to use their imagination and the ability to place themselves into these stories. That is why teachers can use story to foster empathy and help children adopt to their lessons. Using empathy can help students to understand their experiences or feelings. Empathy model and the success The relationships of students and a positive teacher is the most important factor to achieve the future success. In Waldorf Education, it is usual to use the mentioned factor. This essential form of empathy model can help children to understand the world within the classroom. In order to make a final statement, we can tell you that empathy is key of children’s success.

What Beleiving Evolution Means

What Beleiving Evolution Means Free Online Research Papers Knowledge of evolution can affect the way you view different areas of life, but it wasn’t always as widely accepted (even though it is still not entirely accepted). For the past sixty years, biological beliefs, such as evolution, have been hot topics from both a political and religious perspective. It has raised controversy in the religious world and has not made things easy in the political world. However radical these ideas used to seem, they are getting much more support in both the political and religious worlds. According to Biologists, there is no such thing a race. They believe that race from human to human (even organism to organism) does not exist. At first this is an interesting thought. People are generally raised to believe that there are different races in the world, while their origins are differing. This statement is slightly true, excluding the different races. Biologists refer to DNA to prove their point on this subject. The only differences between one â€Å"race† to another â€Å"race† are a few different genotypes and phenotypes. A genotype is a combination of genes, and a combination of genotypes will result in a Trait (a phenotype is any Trait). Between the differences in phenotypes (which could range anywhere from skin color to health issues) and the cultures in which one grows up in creates the different variety of humans in this world. However, different cultures have definitely had problems with the relatively new idea of evolution. Evolution, in comparison to religion, is a very new subject. There were a few scientists that were before their times and helped build the foundation of beliefs for evolution. However, evolution has only started to raise questions about the validity of the ideas and the controversial ideas behind it for about sixty years. When it came to the religion vs. science question for me, even when I was young, I always leaned toward science. Even though I was raised Jewish, had a Bar-Mitzvah and was part of a youth group for most of high school. All the proof I needed to start believing in science and more particularly evolution began with fossils. I thought they poked a huge hole in the religion idea being millions of years old, when the religious world is only 7,000 years or so old. Then the similarities between species, such as apes and humans, were too perfect to even consider another way. This drove me to believe that evolution was no accident. The truths behind evolution seem to be overwhelming, for me, and it would seem illogical to not include evolution as the main reason for why people are who they are. The knowledge of evolution has definitely influenced my perspective on the world both politically and religiously. Research Papers on What Beleiving Evolution MeansGenetic EngineeringCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyWhere Wild and West MeetHip-Hop is ArtThree Concepts of Psychodynamic19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeHonest Iagos Truth through Deception

Analyzing The General Public s Use Of The Internet Essay -- Addiction,

Voluntary questionnaires such as the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) that uses a 14 question Likert scale that accesses substances and pathological addiction symptoms geared toward internet compulsion. The Wolfling, Muller and Beutel’s assessment for Internet and Computer Game Addiction Scale (AICA-S) was initial used in clinical settings that become a self-reporting questionnaire. This study measures Internet usage by the age, applications visited, and frequency. (Kuss, Shorter, Rooij, Griffiths, Schoenmakers, 2013 ). Other research methods of testing have been done by patients seeking help with other pathological compulsive disorders. One such study that was used was the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale – 11 (BIS-11) was developed to measure personality and behaviors in impulsivity. Other tests such as the Go-Stop impulsivity paradigm is used to help with the classification of Internet addiction and the severity. This is a type of study that will use go and stop pro mpts and evaluations of people’s reaction to the prompts. The Young’s Internet Addiction test is another test that uses a ... ... middle of paper ... ...isorders with the ability to hide their true identity. The people who also do find that these attractions on the internet are also putting the family’s at risk. The compulsive gambler is putting his family at risk by financial drawbacks, as the person with an Internet porn addiction is isolating his real emotions away from his loved ones. Both of these addictions are treatable through clinical counseling, family counseling, individual counseling and group therapies. Conclusions of the a study that was conducted by Gunuc (2015) concluded that when people are withdrawing themselves from normal family functions and spending a large amounts of time on-line doing various things such as gaming, gambling, and social networking. There should be some form monitoring and evaluation of behavioral patterns that could prevent them from developing future addictions (Gunuc, 2015 )

IT 4076 Evaluation and Risk Assessment Research Paper

IT 4076 Evaluation and Risk Assessment - Research Paper Example All organizations are exposed to threats and vulnerabilities that have adversarial impacts on the companies’ operations. Information security professionals have the responsibility of helping the organizations’ management boards to comprehend and control these uncertainties. Threats Threats are the sources and means of particular types of attacks. Threat analysis enables information security experts to determine the most appropriate approaches of securing systems against systems attacks. Security professionals perform penetration-testing exercises to identify threat profiles, develop effective countermeasures against threats and mitigate all earlier signs of threats (Kaiya, Sakai, Ogata & Kaijiri, 2013). The primary focus of threat analysis should be on analyzing the resources of the attackers. It is crucial for all organizations to analyze threats to help them develop specific security policies, which they can implement together with policy priorities and comprehend imp lementation needs for securing organizational resources. Information security threats include accidental disclosure, alteration of software, electrical disruption, acts of nature, and telecommunication malfunction. Vulnerabilities Vulnerabilities are the security flaws that allow a threat attack to be successful in a system. Corporate organizations and private businesses should do vulnerability testing to resolve the vulnerabilities and provide data required to identify unexpected perils to information security. The management boards should realize that such vulnerabilities do not particularly belong to technology class, but also apply to social factors, for example, personal authentication and authorization policies. Vulnerability testing is of paramount importance in maintaining ongoing security and allows the professional responsible for security of the company’s resources to respond to new dangers as they arise (Kevin, Hackney & Edgar, 2010). Testing for vulnerabilities i s also invaluable in developing policy and technology and as part of the technology selection process. It is crucial for buyers to do effective vulnerability tests in order to select the right technology that can save time, money and other costs of business operations. My Encounter with an Information Security Threat I am the Managing Director a telecommunication company that offers postpaid communication services to the residents of Silicon Valley. Recently, I have realized that the costs of making calls were increasing abnormally among the callers. I communicated to my customers and requested from them some information concerning their communication expenditures. I found out that my customers were not really consuming these huge amounts of airtime to make calls. The information security professional made a follow-up and found out that there was massive phreaking and eavesdropping. Hackers were stealing services and using them while passing the costs of making calls to my customers . It was also found that these hackers had stolen credentials and contact information of my customers, which allowed them to control their voice calls, calling plans, billing information and call forwarding. Information is the cornerstone of the company, and its security is of paramount i

The Success of ALDI- An Environmental Analysis Essay

The Success of ALDI- An Environmental Analysis - Essay Example This report examines the strategies employed by Aldi that has inevitably contributed to its success to be the leading supermarket of choice in the United Kingdom and whether the external environment has influenced its growth as a ‘budget’ supermarket (Johnson & Scholes, 1999). Currently, Aldi has become the supermarket of choice for most shoppers in the United Kingdom that has immensely contributed to its profits shooting up almost 32 per cent year-on-year and its opening of the 500th store with fifty more set to be opened in the near future (Shooter, 2013). Almost one in three homes visit Aldi at least once a month and of these, one in five consumers belongs to the upper or middle-class showing how this supermarket chain has a competitive advantage as compared to its rivals. This store has put in place strategies to snatch customers from its competitors such as Sainsbury’s by introducing consumer-tailored goods and proclamations that almost half of its goods are produced in Britain by leading brands. However, the major success of Aldi can be put down to one factor which is the cost of its goods which are low achieved through cost-cutting by stocking and branding its own goods which means that they do not have to share profits with the brand manufa cturers. Just like any other business, Aldi is also affected by external influences in the running of its business affairs, which has an effect in its performance (Worthington and Britton, 2006).   As already stated half, the United Kingdom populace shop at Aldi for bargains with the supermarket set to be the sixth biggest supermarket in 2014 according to market research specialist Kantar. This is majorly due to the affordable price on the products Aldi sell as compared to the four leading stores as well as offering products of good quality just as is offered by its competitors making it have a competitive advantage in the market (Hawkes, 2013).

Child Development Observation Essay Example for Free

Child Development Observation Essay The setting of where I observed the baby was at my house in the family room. The family room can be pictured as a square. The door to enter the house is in one corner of the family room. To the left of the door there is a mirror on the wall and next to the mirror there is a single person couch. The color of the couch is brown. That sits in the corner adjacent to the corner where the door is. Then, there are the sliding doors to enter the patio and in the corner adjacent to the couch there is a big, black television. Next to the television, my baby’s pink Winnie the Pooh play yard. Next to that is her small pink and brown, vibrating bouncer. Then there’s the last corner of the room which opens to the bedrooms. This is the room where the observation took place. The baby I observed is my nephew, Gabriel. He is four months and three weeks old. He will turn five months on the 22nd of this month. He was wearing a blue jean overall with a brown onesie that has little puppies. He also had some soft tennis shoes on. They are white with a navy blue stripe on each side each shoe. He barely has any hair and he has no teeth. In twenty minutes, Gabriel was very active. I started observing as soon as he woke up from a nap. He began by stretching both of his legs straight out and his left arm stretched straight up towards his head and his right arm stretched up towards the sky. My boyfriend then picked him up and started talking to him. Gabriel started laughing and kicking his feet back and forth, starting with his right foot and continued by alternating each kick with the opposite foot. He stopped laughing and shoved both of his hands in his mouth. He made himself gag. He was then tickled again and started laughing. Again he began kicking his legs, left then right. He grabbed his face with his left hand. He started to get hungry. While his bottle was being prepared, he began sucking on his left hand and he began to make sucking noises. As my boyfriend got the bottle close to Gabriel’s face, his eyes popped open and he opened his mouth. While he ate, he moved his right hand over his face and made sucking and snorting noises. He was also just looking around while eating. He was about a quarter done with his bottle, when he stopped eating and started pushing. Both of his hands clasped together and he made a noise which let us know that he was pushing. All of a sudden, I heard him pass gas but it wasn’t just gas. The gas came with a little surprise. He kept his fists closed and kept pushing. He was pooping. Once he was done, he gave a big smile and started kicking his legs again. He also began sucking on his hands. My boyfriend laid him on the floor on top of his blue, fuzzy blanket. Gabriel began making cooing noises. As my boyfriend began taking off Gabriel’s clothes, he continued kicking and making cooing noises. As his diaper was coming undone, Gabriel started laughing. My boyfriend got a hold of his legs and took off his diaper. Gabriel just began sucking on his hands again. Gabriel’s mom saw him and took his hands out of his mouth. She gave him a pacifier. He began rubbing his eyes with both hands. He then began to cry. My boyfriend put his clothes back on and continued feeding him. Gabriel was lying with his feet dangling off of my boyfriend’s leg. His right arm was around my boyfriend’s back and his left arm was on his stomach. He was making a sucking sound and was opening and closing his eyes. Gabriel jumped when he heard a loud noise. He opened his eyes and his left arm went straight up into the air. He was calmed down and closed his eyes again. His left arm dangled to his side. He stayed like that until he finished eating. He was stood up straight and burped. He fell asleep and he was laid in my daughter’s play yard with his arms to the side and his legs spread apart.

Ecstasy :: essays research papers

Ecstasy is a very popular designer drug. It is said to give complete euphoria for up to 6 hours. It came around in the 80’s and is becoming more popular now. It’s real name is MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxy-N-Methylamphetamine). It is a dangerous high and is more popular with young people. In the following paragraphs are some information about the drug. Ecstasy is sold on the streets and is illegal as a schedule 1 drug, along with heroin and cocaine. It has many street names like beans, X, E, rolls, etc... Ecstasy can range anywhere from $5 to $25 and is usually a 100-150 mg pill. It’s known as the â€Å"love drug† because you are supposed to be very generous and friendly when on the drug. Effects generally happen within 20-40 minutes, when the user often experiences a brief "rush" of energy, usually described as mild but euphoric. After this rush, the high levels off to a peak which lasts 2-3 hours and is followed by a "coming down" sensation. MDMA exerts amphetamine-like effects which include dilated pupils, dry mouth and throat, tension in the lower jaw, grinding of the teeth, nystagmus (eye wiggles), sweating, or nausea and overall stimulation. These side effects are dose dependent and will vary depending on the health of the individual user. The following are some feelings or emotions the ecstasy user experiences: Entactogenesis ("touching within") This is a generalized feeling that all is right and good with the world. People on MDMA often describe feeling "at peace" or experiencing a generalized "happy" feeling. Also, common everyday things may seem to be abnormally beautiful or interesting. Empathogenesis Empathogenesis is a feeling of emotional closeness to others (and to one's self) coupled with a breakdown of personal communication barriers. People on MDMA report feeling much more at ease talking to others and that any hang-ups that one may have with regard to "opening up" to others may be reduced or even eliminated. An enhancement of the senses MDMA can significantly enhance (sometimes distort) the senses - touch, proprioception, vision, taste, smell. â€Å"Beaners† can sometimes be seen running their hands over differently textured objects repeatedly, tasting and smelling various foods/drinks. â€Å"Ecstasy. The perfect word. No other could have described what I was experiencing right then and there. Beyond words. The entire message was contained in a scream and the most intense smile my face had displayed in ages.

Deception Point Page 7

Gabrielle ran a hand through her straightened black hair. â€Å"I hear the White House campaign staff is as confused as we are. The President is offering no explanation for his vanishing act, and everyone over there is furious.† â€Å"Any theories?† Sexton asked. Gabrielle gazed at him over her scholarly glasses. â€Å"As it turns out, I got some interesting data this morning from a contact of mine in the White House.† Sexton recognized the look in her eyes. Gabrielle Ashe had scored some insider information again. Sexton wondered if she were giving some presidential aide backseat blow jobs in exchange for campaign secrets. Sexton didn't care†¦ so long as the information kept coming. â€Å"Rumor has it,† his assistant said, lowering her voice, â€Å"the President's strange behavior all started last week after an emergency private briefing with the administrator of NASA. Apparently the President emerged from the meeting looking dazed. He immediately cleared his schedule, and he's been in close contact with NASA ever since.† Sexton certainly liked the sound of that. â€Å"You think maybe NASA delivered some more bad news?† â€Å"Seems a logical explanation,† she said hopefully. â€Å"Although it would have to be pretty critical to make the President drop everything.† Sexton considered it. Obviously, whatever was going on with NASA had to be bad news. Otherwise the President would throw it in my face. Sexton had been pounding the President pretty hard on NASA funding lately. The space agency's recent string of failed missions and gargantuan budget overruns had earned NASA the dubious honor of becoming Sexton's unofficial poster child against big government overspending and inefficiency. Admittedly, attacking NASA – one of the most prominent symbols of American pride – was not the way most politicians would think of winning votes, but Sexton had a weapon few other politicians had – Gabrielle Ashe. And her impeccable instincts. The savvy young woman had come to Sexton's attention several months ago when she was working as a coordinator in Sexton's Washington campaign office. With Sexton trailing badly in the primary polls and his message of government overspending falling on deaf ears, Gabrielle Ashe wrote him a note suggesting a radical new campaign angle. She told the senator he should attack NASA's huge budget overruns and continued White House bailouts as the quintessential example of President Herney's careless overspending. â€Å"NASA is costing Americans a fortune,† Gabrielle wrote, including a list of financial figures, failures, and bailouts. â€Å"Voters have no idea. They would be horrified. I think you should make NASA a political issue.† Sexton groaned at her naivete. â€Å"Yeah, and while I'm at it, I'll rail against singing the national anthem at baseball games.† In the weeks that followed, Gabrielle continued to send information about NASA across the senator's desk. The more Sexton read, the more he realized this young Gabrielle Ashe had a point. Even by government agency standards, NASA was an astounding money pit – expensive, inefficient, and, in recent years, grossly incompetent. One afternoon Sexton was doing an on-air interview about education. The host was pressing Sexton about where he would find funding for his promised overhaul of public schools. In response, Sexton decided to test Gabrielle's NASA theory with a half-joking response. â€Å"Money for education?† he said. â€Å"Well, maybe I'll cut the space program in half. I figure if NASA can spend fifteen billion a year in space, I should be able to spend seven and a half billion on the kids here on earth.† In the transmission booth, Sexton's campaign managers gasped in horror at the careless remark. After all, entire campaigns had been sunk by far less than taking a potshot at NASA. Instantly, the phone lines at the radio station lit up. Sexton's campaign managers cringed; the space patriots were circling for the kill. Then something unexpected happened. â€Å"Fifteen billion a year?† the first caller said, sounding shocked. â€Å"With a B? Are you telling me that my son's math class is overcrowded because schools can't afford enough teachers, and NASA is spending fifteen billion dollars a year taking pictures of space dust?† â€Å"Um†¦ that's right,† Sexton said warily. â€Å"Absurd! Does the President have the power to do something about that?† â€Å"Absolutely,† Sexton replied, gaining confidence. â€Å"A President can veto the budget request of any agency he or she deems overfunded.† â€Å"Then you have my vote, Senator Sexton. Fifteen billion for space research, and our kids don't have teachers. It's outrageous! Good luck, sir. I hope you go all the way.† The next caller came on the line. â€Å"Senator, I just read that NASA's International Space Station is way overbudget and the President is thinking of giving NASA emergency funding to keep the project going. Is that true?† Sexton jumped at this one. â€Å"True!† He explained that the space station was originally proposed as a joint venture, with twelve countries sharing the costs. But after construction began, the station's budget spiraled wildly out of control, and many countries dropped out in disgust. Rather than scrapping the project, the President decided to cover everyone's expenses. â€Å"Our cost for the ISS project,† Sexton announced, â€Å"has risen from the proposed eight billion to a staggering one hundred billion dollars!† The caller sounded furious. â€Å"Why the hell doesn't the President pull the plug!† Sexton could have kissed the guy. â€Å"Damn good question. Unfortunately, one third of the building supplies are already in orbit, and the President spent your tax dollars putting them there, so pulling the plug would be admitting he made a multibillion-dollar blunder with your money.† The calls kept coming. For the first time, it seemed Americans were waking up to the idea that NASA was an option – not a national fixture. When the show was over, with the exception of a few NASA diehards calling in with poignant overtures about man's eternal quest for knowledge, the consensus was in: Sexton's campaign had stumbled onto the holy grail of campaigning – a new â€Å"hot button† – a yet untapped controversial issue that struck a nerve with voters. In the weeks that followed, Sexton trounced his opponents in five crucial primaries. He announced Gabrielle Ashe as his new personal campaign assistant, praising her for her work in bringing the NASA issue to the voters. With the wave of a hand, Sexton had made a young African-American woman a rising political star, and the issue of his racist and sexist voting record disappeared overnight. Now, as they sat together in the limousine, Sexton knew Gabrielle had yet again proven her worth. Her new information about last week's secret meeting between the NASA administrator and the President certainly suggested more NASA troubles were brewing – perhaps another country pulling funding from the space station. As the limousine passed the Washington Monument, Senator Sexton could not help but feel he had been anointed by destiny. 8 Despite having ascended to the most powerful political office in the world, President Zachary Herney was average in height, with a slender build and narrow shoulders. He had a freckled face, bifocals, and thinning black hair. His unimposing physique, however, stood in stark contrast to the almost princely love the man commanded from those who knew him. It was said that if you met Zach Herney once, you would walk to the ends of the earth for him. â€Å"So glad you could make it,† President Herney said, reaching out to shake Rachel's hand. His grasp was warm and sincere. Rachel fought the frog in her throat. â€Å"Of†¦ course, Mr. President. An honor to meet you.†

Information society Essay

Questions surrounding the nature and scope of the media’s impact upon society are intrinsically contentious; the wide variety of media on offer to the consumer creates a naturally eclectic set of norms and values from which individuals might draw conclusions. A cultural explanation, unlike Webster’s economic, occupational and spatial definitions of an information society (Webster) remains too esoteric to allow for detailed quantitative data to be collected. And whilst the qualitative data it inspires could be considered to have equal value, it is nevertheless more open to interpretation than its statistics-heavy brethren. So what is an information society? The idea should not be taken to its literal route, that technology has allowed free exchange of information on a scale unprecedented throughout t history is not in question. The concept of an information society stems from an idea that information is the commodity in so far as it transcends the limitations of more traditional commodities, such as oil or food. In an information society, information and wealth are seen as one and the same, with information acting as a societal nervous system from which all financial transactions react. Information in this social model is not limited to the economic, it is also a social resource one that reinforces and defines culture, particularly at a generic international level. The suggestion that this is indeed an information society does of course need some qualification, a simply blanket definition emphasising its importance in the modern age will not suffice. What is needed is a more in depth examination of the criteria used to define an information society. These definitions as defined by Webster are the economic, the technological, the occupational, the spatial and the cultural. How does the economic state of society support or refute the notion that this is indeed an information society? One does not have to wait over long before some major information company makes headline news with massively expensive acquisitions such as Google’s purchase of You Tube for $1. 6 billion last October (BBC). Such acquisitions support an economic variant of the debate that we are indeed living in an information age. With massive profit to be made, some of the largest companies in the world work almost exclusively in the province of information. However, as Salvaggio points out â€Å"Examining the economic structure alone, provides only a limited view of the social and cultural implications associated with information societies. † (Salvaggio) It could be argued that we are as much a pharmaceutical society as an information one since pharmaceutical companies have also encountered massive growth; the empirical evidence to support such a contention would be impressive. This is not to say that economic indicators should not be taken into account, they clearly allow us to measure the depth and velocity of the growth of information as a cultural force albeit one that cannot offer us definitive conclusions as to the nature of any technological society we might presuppose. If the economic evidence alone is insufficient to offer any definitive proof that this is indeed an information society then how might the technological fare? Does technology itself helps to define the world we live in? To be clear we must acknowledge that technology is important to this argument. As Webster points out, Commonsensicaly, these (technological) definitions of the information society do seem appropriate. After all, if it is possible to see a ‘series of inventions’ steam power, the internal combustion engine, electricity, the flying shuttle – as the key characteristic of the ‘industrial society’, then why not accept the virtuoso developments in ICT as evidence of a new type of society? Commonsense though such definitions might be, they still struggle to conclusively demonstrate that the existence and use of said technology denotes a de rigueur use within a society. By the turn on the 19th Century the steam engines that revolutionized industry were being used en mass but the Luddite passions of much of the lower classes suggested a strong current of resentment towards the new ‘society’; if this was the age of steam then it was also the age of political awareness, of Imperialism or any one of dozens of social revolutions that were occurring at this time. Thus the technological criteria suffer from one intrinsic weakness, that being that the use of technology is not necessarily a culture defining event. However, Webster is pointing to the ubiquitous use of certain technologies that in this instance are primarily designed to deliver information from consumer to consumer. It is the sheer scale of this usage that helps justify it’s inclusion as one of the five criteria defining an information society. Of the two remaining definitions the ‘occupational’ remains more easily understood. An ‘Agrarian’ society such as that which existed in Europe during the Middle-Ages was precisely that, the overwhelming majority of people within the society were subsistence farmers. In the modern period no one occupation dominates, information however permeates all levels of occupational society. Regardless of the specific occupational role, information plays a significant role, whether via the use of new technologies (such as the internet) or by economic infrastructures made possible by a culture of global information. Webster’s use of the spatial criteria suggests that the increased connectivity we as a society benefit from is in and of its self a method of defining this period as an information society. The rapid growth of and the increasing reliance on communication as a means of achieving goals, has major impacts on how things are done, how much time that projects take and so on and so forth. If a society can be defined on how it prioritizes its resources then we can see that the huge growth in information networks does indeed point to an information society.

How to Be Become a Rock Collector

How to Be Become a Rock Collector I like to collect rocks, and so do many other people I know. While you can purchase rock collecting starter kits, rock collecting is a great free activity. Its a fun excuse to go out into nature, many rock collectors like to travel to different places in order to collect different types of rocks. Some rock collectors like to learn all about the rocks they collect, while some base their collection on looks. What kind of collector are you? The Rock Collecting Types I think of a rock collector as someone who compiles rock and mineral specimens as an end in itself. Rock collectors come in a couple of  models: The rockhound is the most familiar: someone who enjoys hunting for unusual, rare or valuable minerals in organized group trips to mines. Rockhounds swap specimens with other collectors and may sell small amounts of material. Some tend to acquire piles of bulk rough that they may process later, but others may maintain exquisite cabinets of fine mounted minerals. They are hobbyists who may graduate to become dealers.The lapidary collects rocks to make things with them. I would include jewelers  in this category too: people who cut crystals and gemstones into jewelry making. They are hobbyists who may graduate to become artisans. That said, some people collect rocks as a means to an end. I dont call them rock collectors, although they certainly care about rocks: Geologists do study and collect rocks, but they arent rock collectors. Their collections have scientific or professional, not personal purposes.Mineral dealers arent rock collectors, even if they dig up their own material. Their collections are for sale, not for pleasure. Starting a Rock Collection You dont need to have been a coin (or stamp) collector to become a rock collector. But I was, and one personal rule I kept was to collect only rocks that Ive found myself. To me, the virtue in this is that Ive documented each stone and its context. It means that each of my stones is connected to an experience in the field. Each rock represents something I learned and stands as a reminder of somewhere Ive been. Building a Rock Collection My collection stays relatively small. Thats because Im a careful selector. You might call my practice, seeking a type specimen for each place I visit a single rock that displays the geological features of the site in miniature. There are other ways I can expand my collection as well. I could trade rocks with other collectors like many people do. But then I would need to take more rock back from my trips. This can have negative effects on the environment. Ive visited more than one outcrop that has been harvested out of existence, and I dont want to contribute to that problem. Besides, if no trading partner is interested the collecting has been a waste. In some locations, rock collecting is forbidden. Ive learned I can collect the forbidden or unfeasible, thanks to the camera. Photographing a rock and then leaving it behind allows me to collect without collecting. Photography protects the environment and gives me ample room at home to display the rocks I truly love. A word about the rock and mineral photos on the Web and on my site: Rock photos are generally good examples of the rock types youll see in the field. The same is not true for minerals, however. Mineral photos tend to favor spectacular specimens. I try as much as possible to avoid that approach in my mineral galleries because for me the point is to learn minerals from typical specimens, the way that students of rocks encounter them. Rock Collectors versus Mineral Collectors Rock collectors and mineral collectors are two different kinds of rockhound. Although both seek specimens that are good examples of their type, good rocks and good minerals never occur together. A good rock specimen contains all the right minerals in due proportion, but a good mineral specimen is always out of proportion for its rock type. Rock collectors are generally limited to whatever they can find or trade for because there is no market for rock specimens (except for educational starter collections). Little more is involved than trimming a hand specimen and recording where it was found. Mineral collectors, however, can shop for all kinds of rarities in rock shops and mineral shows; indeed, you can amass a great mineral collection without getting your hands dirty at all. And a major part of the hobby happens at home in the cleaning, mounting and displaying of mineral specimens.

Conference Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Conference Report - Essay Example Clint Eastwood, Fellow Researcher, Atlantic Marine Ecology Research Group, presented an interesting speech on "Implications of Global Warming for Marine Ecology" followed by the Asst. Prof. of Department of Oceanography, Texas University, Mr. Tony Adams' presentation of "Cleaning the Oil Spills in the Atlantic". The Conference concluded with thanks from Mr. Tim McKenney. Evaluations of the Research Presentations were analyzed to determine the constituents of an effective and ineffective presentation, and, to review and refine their presentation techniques. A 'Presentation Assessment Form' was prepared (Table A), to evaluate each speaker, and distributed to the audience prior to the commencement of the conference. Evaluation was done on a scale of 1 - 6, 1 being the 'Poorest' and 6 being the 'Excellent', on two aspects of each of the five competencies viz. 1) Content: Planning and Organization. 2) Topic Selection. 3) Quality of Content. 4) Style of Presentation 5) Use of Visual Aids and Tools. The feedback was collated and analyzed to determine the number of positive and negative comments and common themes related to ineffective or poor presentations. A total of 138 assessment forms for each speaker were analyzed, of which 66% remarked positive feedback and 'A' grade for Mr. Eastwood's for the 'Quality of Content' in presentation, as against 29% posi tive feedback 'A' for Mr. Tony Adams, with 'Style of Presentation', being given the most frequent negative grading 'C'. The assessment scheme was evolved after a careful consideration of some important competencies. Since effective presentation is "to present information in ways that influence peoples' attitudes and behaviour" (Verderber, 1997:6), 'Quality of Content' and 'Style of Presentation', were marked as two prime competencies. The importance of 'Para-linguistics' (Hayton, 2005), the non-verbal communication like eye contact, directing voice to all parts of the room etc, cannot be overemphasized. The audience also participated in the presentation, through "feedback on assessed work" which was "perhaps the most commonly mentioned" (Ramsden, 1992; Biggs, 1999) review tool. Additionally, audience participation has also been envisaged in a 'Question and Answer Session'. It was also meant to develop constructive critiquing techniques, by providing the opportunity to the audience to 'identify and assess the style of speech, evaluate the content, judging the weak and strong points of delivery, and be capable of offering quality feedback to the speaker' (Hooper, 2005). Thus developed, after much deliberation and thought, it was hoped that this scheme will affect "the deep processing results in well-structured learning outcomes" (Biggs, 1979; Marton and Saljo, 1976; Trigwell and Prosser, 1991; Watkins, 1983). An example of a Good Presentation: In this conference, Mr. Clint Eastwood's

Pros and Cons of the current Alcon IT management system Essay

Pros and Cons of the current Alcon IT management system - Essay Example Another major disadvantage of the management at Alcon is the autonomous operation of each of the business groups in the execution of their activities. They have adopted a culture of independent operation for each of the group and minimum cooperation among the groups. This leads to the independent execution of tasks from each group. Cooperation among different business groups in any organization helps in providing support and improves work handling. The position of Corporate Director of IT plays a vital role in the management hierarchy of the organization (Stair & Reynolds). Its long vacancy has affected the operation of the other groups below it in the hierarchy because they were operating without corporate governance. This put the organization at such a disadvantage that they had to create a new position to help with the situation. The decentralization of the management process can also play as a strength for the organization. This is in the sense that, with their own management of operations some groups will execute their operation better that others, hence singling out the poor performing branches. This can serve as a wakeup call for the improvement of the poor performing branches. The decentralization of operations also improves accountability in the dispensation and use of funds. With every branch allocated its own budget, accountability for the use of these funds in achieved more comprehensively The Alcan management also outsourced a lot of the work. This made then unaware of some of the workings and utilization of resources. The new enterprise architecture management system The vice president of Corporate Information Technology, Robert Ouellette had a vision of how he wanted to run the management at Alcan. After being brought on board, he performed an analysis and decided to come up with a new way of operation. His main target was to achieve cohesion and cooperation among the business groups. This was to be achieved at different levels. The new system, a lthough with advantages, did not come without a few setbacks. The main advantage of his system was development of better working relations among the departments. This helped improve work execution, although as a disadvantage, the lesser performing groups could easily go unnoticed, because their work seems complete. To tackle this, he made it a requirement, that in every team, the head of department and their officers were to report on the progress on their activities to higher management. This immensely improves accountability. The other major problem was the definition of roles in the management hierarchy. Due to unclear definition of roles, some activities were not properly executed. The advantage of Robert’s system is that, it clearly defines the roles of each position. Robert looked to reorganize the operations of the major braches in the organization. This was to be achieved by the implementation of the enterprise architecture. The architecture ideally centralizes operat ions and integrates the business activities of the organization with the IT infrastructure (Anderson). This greatly improves coordination among all the functions. This will lead to the creation of a centrally shared business center for the Information Systems within the organization. The disadvantage of this change is that implementation is mostly achieved at the management level; hence, the human resource at the