Thursday, December 26, 2019

Rhode Island v. Innis Supreme Court Case, Arguments, Impact

In Rhode Island v. Innis (1980), the Supreme Court created the functionally equivalent standard for determining when police officers are interrogating a suspect. The Court ruled that an interrogation is not limited to direct questioning, but instead covers any actions that can be reasonably understood as coercive. Fast Facts: Rhode Island v. Innis Case Argued: October 30, 1979Decision Issued:  May 12,1980Petitioner:  Rhode IslandRespondent:  Thomas J. InnisKey Questions: What constitutes an interrogation under Miranda v. Arizona? Did police officers violate Innis right to remain silent when they expressed concerns about the location of a weapon while transporting Innis to the police station?Majority Decision: Justices Burger, Stewart, White, Blackmun, Powell, RehnquistDissenting: Justices Brennan, Marshall, StevensRuling:  Under precedent set in Miranda v. Arizona, coercive conduct could be functionally equivalent to an interrogation. Facts of the Case Four days after he went missing, police recovered the body of John Mulvaney, a Providence, Rhode Island, taxicab driver. He appeared to have died from a shotgun blast. A few days after uncovering the body in a shallow grave in Coventry, Rhode Island, police received a report of a robbery in which the assailant had used a sawed-off shotgun to threaten a taxicab driver. The driver identified his assailant twice at the police station using photos. Police began to search for the suspect. A patrolman spotted Thomas J. Innis at 4:30 a.m. The patrolman placed Innis under arrest, advising him of his Miranda rights. Innis was unarmed. A sergeant and captain arrived on the scene and again advised Innis of his rights. This time, Innis requested an attorney and the captain made it clear that the patrolmen accompanying Innis to the police station were not to question him. During the ride, two of the officers began to discuss concerns about gun safety. There was a school for children with disabilities in the neighborhood. The officers suggested that if a child found the discarded shotgun, they might injure themselves trying to play with it. Innis interrupted the conversation and told the officers where he had hidden the gun. During the search for the weapon, the officers again advised Innis of his rights. Innis said he understood his rights, but wanted to make sure that the gun was out of reach of children in the area. Constitutional Issues The Fifth Amendment ensures that an individual has the right to remain silent until they can speak with an attorney. Did the conversation between officers seated in the front of the car violate Innis Fifth Amendment right to remain silent? Did the officers interrogate Innis during the drive to the police station, despite Innis request for an attorney? Arguments Unlike some cases stemming from the Miranda v. Arizona decision, neither attorney argued that Innis was not properly advised of his rights. Neither attorney argued whether Innis was or was not in custody during transport to the police station. Instead, the attorney representing Innis argued that officers had violated Innis right to remain silent when they questioned him after  he asked for an attorney. The conversation about gun danger was a tactic used to get Innis to cooperate, the attorney argued. That tactic should be included within the Courts definition of an interrogation, according to the attorney. The government claimed that the conversation between officers did not concern Innis. They never prompted a response from Innis and did not explicitly question him during the ride. Information about where the shotgun was located was freely offered by Innis, the attorney argued. Majority Opinion Justice Potter Stewart delivered the 6-3 decision in favor of Rhode Island. The majority expanded the meaning of the word interrogation as it applies to Miranda warnings. In Miranda v. Arizona, the Court was concerned about the interrogation environment, an atmosphere created by actions that could exist outside of a police station. The case noted that there were many police tactics, such as psychological ploys and coached witnesses, that could violate a suspects rights but were not based on verbal communication with the suspect.   Justice Stewart wrote: That is to say, the term interrogation under Miranda refers not only to express questioning, but also to any words or actions on the part of the police (other than those normally attendant to arrest and custody) that the police should know are reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response from the suspect. The Court noted that, in Innis case, the conversation between patrolmen on the way to the police station was not functionally equivalent to an interrogation. The officers had no way of knowing their conversation would encourage a response from Innis, the Court found. Nothing in the record suggested that an appeal to the safety of children would coerce Innis into revealing the location of the weapon. Dissenting Opinion Justices John Marshall and William J. Brennan agreed with the way the majority defined the term interrogation but reached a different outcome in terms of Innis case. Justice Marshall argued that it would be difficult to find a more targeted appeal to someones conscience than the death of a helpless, handicapped little girl. The officers should have known that their conversation was going to have an emotional impact on the suspect, the justices argued. In a separate dissent, Justice John Paul Stevens argued for a different definition of interrogation. According to Justice Stevens, interrogation is any type of conduct that has the same purpose or effect as a direct statement. Impact The Supreme Court developed a standard for interrogation under Miranda that is still used today. The case added to jurisprudence expanding and clarifying key aspects of the landmark 1966 ruling. In Rhode Island v. Innis, the Court affirmed that Miranda v. Arizona was not written to solely safeguard suspects from direct questioning while waiting for an attorney, but other functionally equivalent acts of coercion as well. Sources Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291 (1980).Schutzman, Alan M. â€Å"Rhode Island v. Innis.† Hofstra Law Review, vol. 9, no. 2, 1981.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Essay on The Main Function of Cyber Security - 1068 Words

Operation Aurora Americans are becoming heavily dependent on modern day technology, which produce more vulnerability to cyber-attacks such as security breaches. Cyber security, also known as information technology security, is information security as applied to computers and computer networks. It is designed to protect networks, programs, computers and data from attacks. These attacks can lead to damages or unauthorized access to data. Computer security also includes protection from unplanned events and natural disasters. Cyber security main function is to guard computers, networks, programs and data from unintended or unauthorized access, change or destruction. Confidential information on computers is collected, processed, stored and data†¦show more content†¦If this is not possible due to legal laws Google acknowledged that it may leave China and close its Chinese offices. Google said it was reviewing its business in China. On the same day, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a brief statement condemning the attacks. Dmitri Alperovitch, Vice President of Threat Research at cyber security company McAfee, named the attack Operation Aurora. Research by McAfee Labs discovered that â€Å"Aurora† was part of the file path on the attacker’s machine that was included in two of the malware binaries McAfee said were associated with the attack. We believe the name was the internal name the attacker(s) gave to this operation, McAfee Chief Technology Officer George Kurtz stated. McAfee believed the prime objective was to gain access to and modify source code repositories at these high tech, security and defense contractor companies. Alperovitch said that they were the crown jewels of these companies and were wide open. Google stated that some of its intellectual property had been stolen. It believed that the attackers were concerned in accessing Gmail accounts of Chinese nonconformists. Two user accounts of Ai Weiwei had been attacked according to The Financial Times, with the contents read and copied. Also his bank accounts were investigated that revealed that he was under investigation for unspecified suspectedShow MoreRelatedAssessment Of Security Standard And Open Web Application Security Project1330 Words   |  6 PagesAssessment of Security Standard OWASP and UKCES University College University of Denver Medha Banda Final paper ICT 4845 Network Security with Lab Professor: Holger Weinhardt Table of contents: 1. Abstract 2. Introduction 3. The standard for OWASP 4. UCKES 5. Comparison between OWASP and UKCES 6. Conclusion 7. References ABSTRACT: The main intent of this paper is to discuss the applications that use the web to process the information and access, with the help of the standard protocolsRead MoreThreat Vectors For Cyber Security965 Words   |  4 PagesThreat Vectors There are three main areas identified as threat vectors for cyber security in relation to CIP: IT networks, insider threats, and equipment and software. Normally, ICS operate on an internal network, called OT (Operational Technology). Occasionally, this isolated network requires a connection to the organization’s corporate network (IT) for routine operation and management. As displayed in the Ukraine blackout, cyber threats infiltrate an organization’s IT systems in order to accessRead MoreThe Involvement Of The Cyber Attack1564 Words   |  7 Pagesrelying on the internet for business transactions. In the early weeks of spring, Estonia was hit by a series of politically motivated cyber-attacks. Numerous parties and organisation suffered different forms of denial of service. The main parties included the Estonian government agencies, schools, banks and Internet Service Providers. The motivation for the cyber attack was due to the fact that the Estonian government made the decision to move a Soviet memorial of World War II from its previousRead MoreThe Department Of Defense s Operational Risk Management Essay1590 Words   |  7 Pagescategory. Specifically, this paper will look into several phases of planning to include: continuity of operations; mission essential functions; planning development; and preparedness. Furthermore, it will look what types a factors should be looked at when making an organizations plans. In addition, this paper will look at mitigating risks, specifically cyber and physical risk mitigation and some of the different approaches risks can be mitigated. Finally, this paper will briefly look at theRead MoreEssay On Automatic Detection Of Cyber-Recruitment By Violent Extremists1363 Words   |  6 Pagesdetection of cyber-recruitment by violent extremists Introduction The main objective of this research is to present data and analytic methods for automatically identifying the recruitment activities of violent groups within extremist social media websites like face book, twitter, what sup and so on. There is no doubt that in today’s modern era the use of information and computer technology (internet) is rapidly increasing. Due to the unregulated nature of Internet Communication cyber communities becomeRead MoreCreating A New Cyber Force1182 Words   |  5 Pagesthe new weapons of conflict. With land, sea, air and space in the background, warfare has entered a fifth domain: cyber. In this position paper, using a pro and con format, the debate on whether or not the Department of Defense (DoD) should create a new, independent branch for cyber will be discussed. To do this, the following will examine both sides of debate by highlighting two main points: the elimination of duplication of effort and the intensive resources required to make the transition. FinallyRead MoreNational Infrastructure Protection Plan For Implementing National Preparedness1469 Words   |  6 Pagescompanies adhere to the rules and regulations set forth in enacted bills as well as employ security best practices to limit the risk of intrusion from cyber-attacks (Li et al., 2012). The federal agencies that have the greatest amount of oversite on the power gr id are the Department of Homeland Defense (DHS), The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Department of Homeland Security DHS is tasked with creating a national infrastructure protection plan for all criticalRead MoreStochastic Game Models Within Cyber Security- A Survey1651 Words   |  7 Pages Stochastic game models in cyber security- a survey Kandethody Ramachandran and Zheni Stefanova University of South Florida Department of Mathematics and Statistics Tampa, FL 33620-5700 Abstract The internet is an integral way of conducting daily business from government agencies to entertainers. Protection of attack, damage, or unauthorized access is necessary with the increase of mobile users, digital applications and data networks. A cyber-security problem can be viewed as a conflict-resolutionRead MoreUnited States Computer Emergency Readiness Team : Legal Regulations, Compliance And Investigation1267 Words   |  6 Pagesand Investigation Leela Kirtan Mahamkali Vinay Nimmala Tata Rao Nallani Akhilesh Nelki Neeraj Reddy Summer Main – Section 20 21 University of the Cumberlands Research and Report Writing June, 25rd, 2017 United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US- CERT): The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is Incharge of shielding our country’s crucial infrastructure from physical and cyber dangers. Of the varied kinds of infrastructure, cyberspace is crucial constituting the information regardingRead MorePresident Reagan Signed Into Law A National Security Decision Directive1344 Words   |  6 PagesOn September 17th, 1984 President Reagan signed into law a national security decision directive, NSDD-145, titled â€Å"National Policy on Telecommunications and Automated Information System Security†. Even at that time, the government officials understood that computers were susceptible to interception, unauthorized electronic access, and related form of technical espionage and exploitation. It was noted, that hostile agencies were â€Å"extensively† hacking into computers, and that terrorist groups and criminal

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Human Resource Management Business Service Sector

Question: Discuss about the Human Resource Management for Business Service Sector. Answer: Introduction: To introduce Human Resource Management in the Hospitality industry, it can be said that it is a general section off areas, within the service sector. This industry illustrates the uniform and superior quality of service to the clients. Hospitality industry incorporates planning of events, transportation, and several parts of the tourism sector, lodging, and much more. The hospitality industry shows the highest growth rate than any other industries. The hospitality industry is diverse in nature with unique responsibilities for the Human Resource Management. The dimensions of this industry are oriented towards the satisfaction of the guests. The products of the hospitality industry are perishable. It requires positive reputation to increase the market demand (Grosbois 2012). There are several issues which are shaping the workplace, like economic uncertainty, tight situations in the labour market, globalisation, and others. These have their effects on the workplace ethics, global practices, Human Resource disciplines, relation with the employees, and technological platforms. There were various challenges in these fields which were identified by the professionals. The assignment holds a critical analysis of these issues potential impact on the role of the Human Resource Management and how it changes the organizational goals and objectives. The details of the trends in the hospitality are discussed here with prescriptions for the issues which can be provided by the Human Resource Management (Bratton Gold, 2012). As argued by Jackson, Schuler, and Jiang (2014), the workplace in the hospitality industry is getting a new shape due to globalisation. People being able to travel around the world more freely increased the number of travelers. The international tourist arrivals were 674 million in the year 2000. This figure rose to 940 million in the year 2010. The income due to this increase has also increased largely. This industry has a lot to share to a countrys national income accounting. The problems can arise due to globalization are physical threats to the economy. The task for the Human Resource Management is to make sure that globalization is used as an active tool for the hospitality industry. The increased tourist arrivals can be used to flourish the hospitality sector of an economy. Investment in this area will attract more visitors. It is a part of the service industry. Thus, the quality of the service is also a vital attribute in a globalised market. Data Security is another big concern which affects both the employers and the employees. Breaching the data security of an economys hospitality industry can cause risks to the supply chain and policy projections. According to Stredwick (2013), this can increase workplace violence, social and in some extreme cases political instability. The place of business where an organization is working will be at severe risk which can cause physical insecurity or some other kinds of losses. Security breaches in the hospitality industry are critical. The managements have to prepare disaster plans to face these situations if the security gets breached. There can also be material breaches which result in deaths and injuries. The management is required to create securities such tight that it can help the economy to guard the industry. Due to constant evolving of cyber tools, breaching the security becomes easier if the security created becomes backdated. Hence, the security has to be updated with tim e. According to Hoque (2013), the hospitality industry is one of the most diverse regarding the guests and employee population. New cultural experiences are shared in this industry. Understanding different cultures and appreciation of the same is required in this sector to enhance interactions with the guests of diverse cultures, religions, races, genders, and others. Thus, training for this purpose is must to appreciate and accommodate people from different background. It enhances the delivery of proper ethical and satisfactory service. With more diversification, the number of people being employed in this industry is increasing rapidly. This way, hospitality industry gives strength to an economy. On the other hand, Storey (2014) stated that the tourists from the countries with stronger currency visiting a country with a weaker currency, thus, bring more income to the seconds economy. Discouraging discrimination and encouraging intercultural activities are required due to these reasons . Cultural, educational programs can be done to meet this problem. As discussed by Kehoe and Wright (2013), with the rise in the share of the hospitality industry in an economy, global competition is growing rapidly. To make the offerings more attractive to this industry, the quality of the services has to be more appealing towards the customers. Service is at the top of the requirement list of the guests. Without top quality service, the industry will lose its reputation, and it will give a bad blow to the earning capacity of an economy. It can be analyzed that the other industries which are benefited by the hospitality industry will also get affected by this. World class service providing thus is a necessity in the hospitality industry. Hotels, restaurants and other institutions representing the hospitality industry are increasing investments in increasing the value of the service they are providing. Customer satisfaction is directly linked to the financial outcomes in this industry. Retaining guests is a must to survive in this industry. The gove rnments of the countries with lower service quality thus need to see in to this matter. The need for skilled workers has risen in this industry since globalization. Attracting educated and skilled employees have become more difficult for the organizations operating in the hospitality industry. This situation needs the Human Resource Management to build an employer brand which can meet the criteria of this industry. A strong corporate social responsibility initiative has to be taken by this department. Global Relocations and immigration policies are thus coming up with the problems of the hospitality industry are unfolding. The competition for talent in this industry is influencing benefit strategies and changing compensation. The Human Resource Management has to make sure these problems are well addressed (Shaw, Park Kim, 2013). The technologies being used in this industry are changing every day. New talent networks, crowdsourcing, internal social networks increases the fluency in this industry. The market has been more transparent due to the heavy usage of social media. It makes managing a top quality virtual workforce necessary. The flexibility in the products and services are dependent on these networks. With the research and development going on, this industry will be more transparent in the future. The management can use this phenomenon. Social media can be utilized here to reach the customers and potential clients. An organization operating in the hospitality industry can use the social media to gauge the value of the service that is being provided to the customers. It can also be a platform for the organizations to interact with their loyal customers. Virtually all the available tourist services will include information from all over the globe. The globalization has ensured that a potential client can be from any part of the world. New technologies increase the marketing opportunities for an organization (Renwick, Redman Maguire, 2013). As stated by Oke (2016), political unrest causes an economy many problems. For example, it hits the tourism sector directly as the demand in the market dries up due to the security risks caused by the unrest. The hospitality industry in total gets an adverse effect due to political and economic disturbances. Hiring Human Resource individuals and their decisions become more expensive. The budgets get shortened due to these reasons for an organization. Economic insecurity is another kind of security breach risk for the hospitality industry. This might lead to a recession of an economy. People employed in this sector will get unemployed. The industries related to this sector will also receive the same outcome. Hence, this problem has to be addressed by the economy's stakeholders. They have to ensure such political or economic unrest are properly handled with predetermined strategies. Implementation of the strategies depends on the efficiency level of the management. Falling short in doi ng so will cause havoc both in the industry and the economy of a country. Increasing the territorial boundaries reduces the number of guests of an organization. According to Hendry (2012), Data-driven analysis is the new need in the hospitality industry. The Human Resource Management is in the stressed situation because of this demand. But, the Human Resource Management of the hospitality industry is not capable of analyzing "big data" to create strategies for every possible outcome of an investment or disinvestment. These analyses can be used to understand the situations of a market and predict a trend line. This analysis can prescribe policies that can be used to change the course of an economy. For this purpose, the organizations can introduce a professional who deals with the data. These professionals expertise and the Human Resource Managements strategies can be used together to analyze a market and strategies can be developed from the results that have been extracted from the data (Marler Fisher, 2013). The global population demographic is rapidly shifting. The population from the working age group is not the ones who use global hospitality. These people mainly use the services of the local organizations. Hence, the management has to keep this in mind while creating strategies for providing service. The management has to design the services such that they satisfy the needs of those who are global travelers, coming from the non-working group background (Kulik et al., 2014). The future trend of the hospitality industry needs more efficiency and ethical strategies. More eco-lodgings and environmental friendly institutions with quality services will only ensure consistent demand. Mega hotels, where all types of facilities are available will have the upper hand in this industry. These facilities might incorporate shops, casinos, theme parks, theaters, and many others. According to Mello (2014), usage of more advanced technologies creates more efficiency. It adds to the value to the services provided here. The services which will be set up using advanced technologies will have more potential to earn more. The experience of the employees is necessary for this industry. In future, the labour market of this industry will face more demand for skilled and experienced employees. This will increase the wage for the skilled labour. The technology and internet will receive more emphasis in this industry as the time will change. The social network will become the best distribution channel in this industry. Shortly the Human Resource department has to see to these matters and create strategies for the present situations and future needs by analyzing the markets and estimating several economic factors. To achieve organizational goals, the strategic role of the Human Resource Management will require driving the organizational performance to its competitive edge and beyond. This will incorporate a matching process in the globalised economy. Integrating several strategies to get the most efficient outcome which will create a positive value and win over the rivals are the requirements the management will face. The Human Resource Management is responsible for creating an organizational culture which will be based on several ethical and moral backgrounds (Alfes et al., 2013). The role of this management will be ensuring an organization to be competitive on a global basis. Improving the quality, customer-oriented service, and innovation defines the strategic path for the management. This will help the Human Resource Management and the organization to retain during the times of merging and acquisitions (Purce, 2014). Conclusion: The conclusion can be drawn from the assignment incorporates several issues. The globalization has caused an integration of several markets under hospitality industry. The trends that are affecting the hospitality industry are increased security concern, diversity in the workforce composition, importance of high quality services, new technologies, population dynamics, and the relationship between the values added to the services and their ethical background. Environment-friendly institutions will be required as they can increase the efficiency of the scarce resources and make availing the services cheap. The strategic role of Human Resource Management has been cleared and magnified with time and clear understandings of the needs of the hospitality industry. There is a lot of scope for the management to improve the security, technology, quality of services, and others to make this industry more profitable. The ethical and the environmental issues have to be addressed more delicately to create global quality service. References: Alfes, K., Shantz, A. D., Truss, C., Soane, E. C. (2013). The link between perceived human resource management practices, engagement and employee behaviour: a moderated mediation model. The international journal of human resource management, 24(2), 330-351. Bratton, J., Gold, J. (2012). Human resource management: theory and practice. Palgrave Macmillan. de Grosbois, D. (2012). Corporate social responsibility reporting by the global hotel industry: Commitment, initiatives and performance. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 31(3), 896-905. Hendry, C. (2012). Human resource management. Routledge. Hoque, K. (2013). Human resource management in the hotel industry: Strategy, innovation and performance. Routledge. Jackson, S. E., Schuler, R. S., Jiang, K. (2014). An aspirational framework for strategic human resource management. The Academy of Management Annals, 8(1), 1-56. Kehoe, R. R., Wright, P. M. (2013). The impact of high-performance human resource practices on employees attitudes and behaviors. Journal of management, 39(2), 366-391. Kulik, C. T., Ryan, S., Harper, S., George, G. (2014). Aging populations and management. Academy of Management Journal, 57(4), 929-935. Marler, J. H., Fisher, S. L. (2013). An evidence-based review of e-HRM and strategic human resource management. Human Resource Management Review, 23(1), 18-36. Mello, J. A. (2014). Strategic human resource management. Nelson Education. Oke, L. (2016). Human Resources Management. International Journal of Humanities and Cultural Studies (IJHCS)? ISSN 2356-5926, 1(4), 376-387. Purce, J. (2014). The impact of corporate strategy on human resource management. New Perspectives on Human Resource Management (Routledge Revivals), 67. Renwick, D. W., Redman, T., Maguire, S. (2013). Green human resource management: A review and research agenda. International Journal of Management Reviews, 15(1), 1-14. Shaw, J. D., Park, T. Y., Kim, E. (2013). A resource?based perspective on human capital losses, HRM investments, and organizational performance. Strategic management journal, 34(5), 572-589. Storey, J. (2014). New Perspectives on Human Resource Management (Routledge Revivals). Routledge. Stredwick, J. (2013). An introduction to human resource management. Routledge.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Stalin Essays - Communism In Russia, Old Bolsheviks,

Stalin Much like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin was one of the most ruthless and diabolical people in the history of the world. Hitler once said of Stalin, " He is a beast, but he's a beast on a grand scale who must command our unconditional respect. In his own way, he is a hell of a fellow!" (Stalin Breaker of Nations, p.xvi) What Hitler said of Stalin is only his opinion, and it is not a valid one at that. For you must consider the source, it takes a beast like Adolf Hitler to know a beast and Stalin was a horrible beast. He was also a murderer. Stalin abused his people when he starved them to death, and systematically murdered them. Stalin also abused his country by halting Russia's progress and economic growth. Stalin was a breaker of nations. Stalin first enter the Russian political system in the early nineteen teens. With the help form Lenin, Stalin proposed an answer to the National Question, which was self determination. Stalin's ruthlessness is first discovered by Lenin, when Stalin is sent to Georgia to convince the Georgia leader not to practice self determination. When the leader does not agree with what Stalin has to say, Stalin punches the man out and threaten to kill them all. Years after that incident Lenin end up dying and Stalin takes over as the leader of Russia. Because Trotsky was hated by many of the influential political figures in Russia, Stalin becomes the leader of Russia even after Lenin's dying last wishes. 1929 was the first of many years in which Stalin stunted Russia's growth. In that year the "Engineer Trials" were held. During these trials the Russian elite was brought forth by Stalin on the account of treason. Confessions by the elite which consisted of engineers, doctors, lawyers, teachers and clergy were extracted by many means including torture. After these trials were through thousands of the Russian elite were murdered, with their blood on Stalin's hands. These trails had a horrific effect on the progress of Russia, there was now nobody left to lead Russian into the future, and the few elite's that still remained in Russia lived in constant fear of their lives. Around 1932, Stalin had put his plan into action that was later called the Terror Famine. In the Terror Famine, Stalin started to order grain requisitions from the lower class in the Ukraine. Stalin used his army to retrieve the grain from the people, following the orders by Stalin, the army takes too much grain and causes a famine among the lower class. Stalin justified the taking of the grain by saying that it was just a way for the state to regulate the price of grain. By doing this Stalin ended up breaking the back of the Georgians and the Ukrainians. Knowingly, Stalin eliminated millions upon millions of Russian, between 30 and 50 million, in his attempt at an absolute totalitarian rule in Russia. By killing so many of the Russian's who were the ones which the economy was supported on, Stalin has broken the nation of the Ukraine. From around 1936 through 1938 Stalin extracted his Great Terror. The Great Terror consisted of many events including the Purge Trials and the Katyn Massacre. During the purge trials, Stalin once again haltered Russian progress. The Purge Trials eliminated many military officers and engineers. The numbers are not exact, but between 250,000 to 500,000 Russians died because of Stalin's orders. These trials caused mass paranoia of the elite's, afraid to make a difference, for if they did then they would ultimately end up dead. Stalin not only haltered the growth of his own country, but he haltered the growth of neighboring counties, on being Poland. In Poland during the Great Terror, Stalin ordered the Katyn Massacre to occur. The top 15,000 officers in the Polish army were rounded up and killed in the forests of Belarus. This was a deep wound, the stunted the Polish progress, since now there were would be no more experienced leaders in Poland's future, since Stalin killed most of their military elite. Once again Stalin had broken another nation. During all this time, Stalin was also methodically

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

How Small Business Drives US Economy

How Small Business Drives US Economy What really drives the U.S. economy? No, it is not war. In fact, it is small business firms with fewer than 500 employees that drives the U.S. economy by providing jobs for over half of the nations private workforce. In 2010, there were 27.9 million small businesses in the United States, compared to 18,500 larger firms with 500 employees or more, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. These and other statistics outlining small business contribution to the economy are contained in the Small Business Profiles for the States and Territories, 2005 Edition from the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA Office of Advocacy, the small business watchdog of the government, examines the role and status of small business in the economy and independently represents the views of small business to federal government agencies, Congress, and the President of the United States. It is the source for small business statistics presented in user-friendly formats and it funds research into small business issues. Small business drives the American economy, said Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist for the Office of Advocacy in a press release. Main Street provides the jobs and spurs our economic growth. American entrepreneurs are creative and productive, and these numbers prove it. Small Businesses Are Job Creators SBA Office of Advocacy-funded data and research shows that small businesses create more than half of the new private non-farm gross domestic product, and they create 60 to 80 percent of the net new jobs. Census Bureau data shows that in 2010, American small businesses accounted for: 99.7% of U.S. employer firms;64% of net new private-sector jobs;49.2%   of private-sector employment; and42.9% of private-sector payroll Leading the Way Out of the Recession Small businesses accounted for 64% of the net new jobs created between 1993 and 2011 (or 11.8 million of the 18.5 million net new jobs). During the recovery from the great recession, from mid-2009 to 2011, small firms led by the larger ones with 20-499 employees accounted for 67% of the net new jobs created nationwide. Do the Unemployed Become Self-Employed? During periods of high unemployment, like the U.S. suffered during the great recession, starting a small business can be just as hard, if not harder than finding a job. However, in March 2011, about 5.5% or nearly 1 million self-employed people – had been unemployed the previous year. This figure was up from March 2006 and March 2001, when it was 3.6% and 3.1%, respectively, according to the SBA. Small Businesses Are the Real Innovators Innovation – new ideas and product improvements – is generally measured by the number of patents issued to a firm. Among firms considered â€Å"high patenting† firms – those being granted 15 or more patents in a four-year period small businesses produce 16 times more patents per employee than large patenting firms, according to the SBA. In addition, SBA research also shows that increasing the number of employees correlates with increased innovation while increasing sales does not. Do Women, Minorities, and Veterans Own Small Businesses? In 2007, the nation’s 7.8 million women-owned small businesses averaged $130,000 each in receipts. Asian-owned businesses numbered 1.6 million in 2007 and have average receipts of $290,000. African-American-owned businesses numbered 1.9 million in 2007 and have average receipts of $50,000. Hispanic-American-owned businesses numbered 2.3 million in 2007 and have average receipts of $120,000. Native American/Islander-owned businesses numbered 0.3 million in 2007 and have average receipts of $120,000, according to the SBA. In addition, veteran-owned small businesses numbered 3.7 million in 2007, with average receipts of $450,000.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Free Essays on Gender Identity

This article is mainly about gender identity concerning adolescents. Most boys have a stereotype of playing sports such as baseball, football, and basketball. Playing with cars and army men is usually the expected behavior portrayed by boys. The boy in this article, at age four, loved to wear red, sparkly shoes. He also has fun playing with dolls. As Robert, the boy, advanced higher in school education, other students began to taunt him. The parents of Robert were advised to seek a psychologist about gender issues. For Robert’s sake, the parents looked against the advise because they thought Robert looked happy and anything else would make him feel abnormal. Starting around age five most kids have a sense of identification with their own sex. The kids who don’t go through it may be teased by peers and puzzled by parents. When the teasing starts many parents begin to realize there’s a problem. Not only Robert’s peers criticize him, but adults do as well. As kids get older their sense of emotion develops more. For boys who like doing things that people say are girlish, the situation becomes harder for them. This can drive a boy to become angry and violent at the world; Which is very disturbing. For instance, a boy in the article was constantly being teased while having games played on him. Then one day, out of anger he made a fake bomb threat on his home and blamed the kids who picked on him. All this criticism deprives people from being their own person. Changing schools can put parents into a financial problem as well. Switching from public to private schools can be extremely expensive, but some parents are forced to do so. Sometimes, parents ask themselves if they had done something to confuse their child. That’s a main question parents wonder about when their child doesn’t conform to gender stereotypes. A child psychologist says the parents shouldn’t feel guilty for a child’s likes and dislike... Free Essays on Gender Identity Free Essays on Gender Identity This article is mainly about gender identity concerning adolescents. Most boys have a stereotype of playing sports such as baseball, football, and basketball. Playing with cars and army men is usually the expected behavior portrayed by boys. The boy in this article, at age four, loved to wear red, sparkly shoes. He also has fun playing with dolls. As Robert, the boy, advanced higher in school education, other students began to taunt him. The parents of Robert were advised to seek a psychologist about gender issues. For Robert’s sake, the parents looked against the advise because they thought Robert looked happy and anything else would make him feel abnormal. Starting around age five most kids have a sense of identification with their own sex. The kids who don’t go through it may be teased by peers and puzzled by parents. When the teasing starts many parents begin to realize there’s a problem. Not only Robert’s peers criticize him, but adults do as well. As kids get older their sense of emotion develops more. For boys who like doing things that people say are girlish, the situation becomes harder for them. This can drive a boy to become angry and violent at the world; Which is very disturbing. For instance, a boy in the article was constantly being teased while having games played on him. Then one day, out of anger he made a fake bomb threat on his home and blamed the kids who picked on him. All this criticism deprives people from being their own person. Changing schools can put parents into a financial problem as well. Switching from public to private schools can be extremely expensive, but some parents are forced to do so. Sometimes, parents ask themselves if they had done something to confuse their child. That’s a main question parents wonder about when their child doesn’t conform to gender stereotypes. A child psychologist says the parents shouldn’t feel guilty for a child’s likes and dislike...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Potential careers Icome in crimianal justice positions Essay

Potential careers Icome in crimianal justice positions - Essay Example ("Criminal justice careers," 2013) No matter what you have interest in, be it science, psychology, or art there are careers within criminal justice that will put these skills or talents to use. Two fields’ specific careers that are both, in demand yet are quite different in their focuses and functions. The first is Animal Cruelty Investigator, which is a relatively new addition to the criminal justice training available in the United States. The second field is Crime Scene Investigator, or CSI, a title that is well known because of the success of the television series of the same name. Discussing the two will outline what makes each of these specialties important, relevant, and worthwhile career choices. In this age of illegal dog fighting rings, animal hoarders, and puppy mills Animal Cruelty Investigators are needed to protect and rescue animals within our communities. These investigators actively follow-up on animal abuse/cruelty reports, collect evidence for persecution of owners if warranted, and remove animals from obviously dangerous situations. This is an ideal career for people who have a love for animals, however, it, also, requires the ability to conduct and control oneself in all situations with the public. In other words, you cannot let your love and compassion for animals make you behave inappropriately and unprofessionally in the face of the harsh realities of animal neglect and abuse cases. If one is considering a career in this field then a background in law enforcement is helpful, but not always required. However, it is suggested that working or volunteering at the humane society, local animal shelter, or for a veterinarian would be beneficial.("Criminal justice ca reers," 2013) Crime Scene Investigators, often called forensic examiners, are responsible for evaluating existing evidence at a crime scene, the collecting, securing, packaging, and labeling properly of that evidence for later, further

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Summary of Molecule bonds, Amino and Nucleic Acids, Proteins Assignment

Summary of Molecule bonds, Amino and Nucleic Acids, Proteins - Assignment Example More generally, bonds may be intermolecular (between atoms in different molecules) or intra molecular (atom to atom bonds within the same molecule). Different theories (such as valence theory and molecular orbital theory) have been used to describe chemical bonds. They are viewed as being complementary with each theory best explaining certain aspects of the bonds. The use of these theories has led to the creation of different molecules through the various bonding processes. Additionally, there are means to visualize the bonding. One of the most popular bonding diagrams is the Lewis Dot Style. In this type of diagram, the chemical symbol of the atom is drawn with up to eight electrons drawn around it as dots (two on each side, top, and bottom). Bonds are displayed according to the arrangement of electrons being shared or attracted. 2. Amino and Nucleic Acids Amino acids are a class of chemicals that contain both an amine and a carboxyl (or carboxylic acid) group. All amino acids follo w a general chemical formula of H2NCHRCOOH, where â€Å"R† is used as a variable to refer to one of many possible side groups. These groups can be as small as one molecule but can also grow quite large. The name and functional of amino acids are closely related to the side group. Accordingly, an alternate name for the side group is functional group. All proteins are made from a chain of amino acids. The number of amino acids contained in the protein, as well as their order, is specific to that protein and results in the protein’s shape. A group of twenty amino acids are drawn from to make up all the proteins of the body. Along with amino acids, nucleic acids are a type of large molecule (macromolecule) that is extremely important for life to occur. All nucleic acids are made up of smaller structures called nucleotides (molecules with a nitrogen base, phosphate group, and a sugar group containing five carbons). The sequence of nucleotides will determine the type of nucl eic acid that is formed. Two of the most essential types of nucleic acids (as related to life) are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). These structures are responsible for containing and transcribing genetic information. This information is then used to instruct many processes within the body, including the construction of proteins. Amino and nucleic acids are robust in living creatures. Together they enable the transport, encoding, decoding, and execution of genetic processes. Certain kinds of each compound can be synthesized in the laboratory for research and various treatment purposes (both potential and realized). 3. Proteins Amino acids can form long chains known as polypeptides (partially named for the peptide bond that forms between amino acids) that can become proteins on their own or in combination with other polypeptides. Proteins are found in muscle and therefore the meat of many animals. These large molecules fill many important roles in the body, inc luding strengthening bones, acting as hormones, cellular structure, and as important participants in cellular signaling. Protein is an important part of the animal diet, as it is broken down and used to form other compounds such as the amino acids that make other proteins. Some

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Assignment Mulally Essay Example for Free

Assignment Mulally Essay Assignment # 3 ‘’ Alan Mulally, CEO, Ford Motor company â€Å" Leadership and organizational behavior- BUS 520 Abstract Leadership is guiding people towards productive results to achieve the goals of the organization. An effective leader has the ability to motivate and influence others. The following sources of power represent the engine of influence that they use effectively and ethically to achieve their goals, however, true leaders are supposed to make the employees work hard by giving their efforts and making sure that the goals and the mission of the organization are achieved. To be effective every leader should have the following competencies: Vision, Integrity, Honesty and Values Releasing Potential and Energy. The content of this paper is to outline the roles of leadership and how it affects organizational performance. It then discusses the role of Allan Mulally’s, CEO of Ford Motor Company, and leadership style. The paper also presents how mulally decision to set a goal has increased the company’s performance and mentioning how Allan Mulally’s openness has gained him trust and helped him to reach his goal. Alan Mulally moved to Ford in 2006. He had worked at Boeing since 1969. He had been chief engineer for development of the 777, and was later Vice President of Engineering for commercial aircraft. Mulally had no sales experience, and he wasnt a Detroit car man, â€Å"Much less a car man at all. He sold his Lexus after moving to Dearborn. Whats most impressive is Mulallys results oriented leadership style. His management is crisp and authoritative, although he defers to the firms design experts on the minutiae of the product lines. But on the big questions of the companys past mistakes and where its headed, Mulalley made key decisions that placed Ford in good stead. When mulally testified before Congress in December 2008, along with GMs Rick Wagoner and Chryslers Robert Nardelli, he announced that Ford would be able to survive the recession without a bailout. In 2006, Alan Mulally became the CEO of Ford. At the time, the company was relying heavily on their truck revenue and had several other lines that were not properly supported to earn the best revenue. Some of Mulally’s first decisions were to sell off some of their sub brands, namely Jaguar and Land Rover, and focus more on the small car lines that are becoming more popular with consumers. With a focus on the small cars, this would allow for the company to benefit from economies of scale and increase the profits from selling those cars. He also took out a $23 billion loan to help avoid needing the bailouts that would come 2 years later. Mulally threw away the politics involved in the vice president structure, forcing the weekly leadership meeting to be more about the success of the company than the squabbles of those leading it. He insisted that the vice presidents actually admit to their problems so they can be handled; having operations be labeled either green for going well, yellow for caution, and red for problems. The vice presidents were apprehensive of this at first, afraid to admit their problems and failures, but Mulally made it apparent he wanted to know these issues to resolve them, instead of to sweep them under the rug or assign blame. Finally, Mulally put forth a new mind set for the company; One Ford, involving a One Team, One Plan, One Goal setup. One Team focused on uniting the individual group in Ford into one cohesive team, each member helping out other members, no matter what project they are on or division they are in. One Plan was about restructuring to operate profitably, accelerate development to get new products that customers would want to buy out sooner, finance the plan, and work together as a team. Finally, One Goal was all about developing an exciting viable Ford with profitable growth. Mulally have a more hands on approach to leadership. He wants to know exactly where the company is and how they were going to get someplace better. This is shown with his color coded operations technique with the vice president meetings. His answers to problems weren’t just to shrug them off and go back to the status but rather how to proceed from where those problems brought them. Alan Mulally demonstrated organizational innovation; he used different methods of production and administration. Conveying his ideas and leadership, mulally exhibited his innovation that comprised the ideas from outside Ford in conjunction with those ideas from within Ford Motor Company. The message he portrays involves  planning initiation, execution, selection, and implementation of the objectives to achieve the goals set forth by his administration The success of an innovation is connected to a market forecast of customer needs and wants as well as effective management of the innovation  process. Concentrating on a fewer products to produce with a lot of improvement and service innovation involving the introduction of a new service that meet the customers’ expectations. He has high regard for executive management and maintains open communication. Mulally has an agenda to serve and satisfy not only customers, but employees as well, increase market share, increase profits, and communication is at the top. Alan Mulally has a proven effective leadership style. He is persistent with innovative  processes that address issues within the organization to ensure successful development. His management responsibilities include reducing the risk; managing the customer interface; training and managing staff performance; and engaging Ford’s executive team. Highlighting how successful his tactic can be Mulally has insured his reputation as one of industry’s great leaders; it is well worth paying attention to what he says and learn from his leadership skills. Any successful leader has to know the plan, and areas that need special attention. There are challenging times to be a leader whether it is a cultural crisis, financial crisis, or environmental crisis, but, if one can learn from the experience of a leader such as Alan Mulally, an organization will do just fine and be one of the respected models to follow and learn from.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Is Yellow Good? Essay -- Philosophy, Descartes

Can yellow be good? Can it be evil? Can it inherently be anything? As humans, we have only one way of coming to conclusions and that is through thought. As John Locke says, â€Å"External objects furnish the mind with the ideas of sensible qualities, which are all those different perceptions they produce in us; and the mind furnishes the understanding ideas of its own operations† (Locke 62). As we pass through our lives in society we assume so many things; things that have been accepted for years by those before us. In reality however, there is no constant, there is no guarantee, there are no universal morals or traits in the world around us. Everything around us is neither good nor bad, it simply is, and our projection of its nature is solely our doing. How do we even now know what yellow is? As humans, there is only one thing that we know with absolutely certainty. All other â€Å"facts† may be disputed; however the understanding that we as humans think must be true. Descartes, who began his search for reality with a completely open mind, a blank slate, said, â€Å"It was absolutely necessary that I, who thus thought, must be something; and when I observed that this truth, I think, therefore I am, was so certain and assured, that no reason for doubt, however extravagant, could be advanced by the skeptics to shake it† (Descartes 24). What Descartes claims is that all things in the world around us can be argued and debated as each person experiences them differently or sees them in a different light. Morals, the physical world around us, it is all a culmination of general agreement. Descartes believes that this does not lay the groundwork for factual information. â€Å"†¦Approval by the majority is no guarantee of the truth† (Descar... ...d comes to reflect on its own operations about the ideas gotten by sensation, and thereby stores itself with a new set of ideas, which I call ideas of reflection† (Locke 64). Therefore, the question of why men are so different is not a question of the individuals themselves, but more of their lives’ journeys and experiences. The very foundation of our identity and understanding is in our absorption of the raw world around us. At risk of sounding redundant, Descartes summarizes the notion that we are not solely ourselves but are influenced to follow different paths of thought and lifestyles when he states that â€Å"The diversity of our opinions, consequently, does not arise from some having a larger share of reason than others, but solely from this, that we conduct our thoughts along different ways, and do not fix our attention on the same objects† (Descartes 22).

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Aging & psychosocial

There are several challenges that are often associated with the process of aging. As enumerated by DeLaune and Ladner (2002), the most prominent of which is those which are classified under the broad categories of developmental, mental, physiological, and psychosocial challenges.First, developmental challenges include those which are related to several capabilities and skills that are developed through time (DeLaune & Ladner, 2002). Second, mental challenges include those which are related to their intellectual capacities where there are associations of mental disabilities for aged people (DeLaune & Ladner, 2002).Third, physiological changes include those which affect the physical and bodily functions of the aged where there are oftentimes aging people who have limited capabilities and due to their illnesses, can not do so much as they do before (DeLaune & Ladner, 2002).Within the realms of the challenges stated above, aging people also experience particular problems and this could l ikewise be classified under the categories mentioned above. Among the greatest difficulties of the elderly people include that of physical inability, psychological isolations, and discriminations.As for physical inability, this is sometimes caused by how their physical environments are built (Frank, Engelke, & Schmid, 2003). There are special needs that the elderly require to make their living easier and comfortable and the generic designs that are being placed nowadays including that of the public areas do not address all of these.Thus, they are further limited with regard to the physical activities that they could engage into. With regard to psychological isolations, there is a side of the picture that points towards the elderly people feeling a sense of isolation especially for those who are not living with their kin (Abbot & Payne, 1990).This is likewise true for those who are asked to live in homes for the aged where they are not able to interact with a lot of people. Lastly, t hat of discrimination stems from the perceptions of people that the elderly are â€Å"rigid, unhealthy, unhappy, and unemployable† (Newman & Grauerholz, 2002, p. 501).To a certain extent, it has been considered by Estes (1979) that the major difficulties that are faced by the elderly, for that of the geographical area of the United States are those which are brought about by the perceptions that are formed of them (as cited in Estes, 2001).It is considered by the author that what is known about the aged from the perceptions that are formed of them has affected them in such a way that problems have stemmed from these perceptions.The knowledge that is gathered about the elderly has created a box that has limited their potentials and has formed a particular web of conceptions that direct the image of the elderly people towards a particular direction (Estes, 2001). It is mentioned by the author that â€Å"in an important sense, then, the major problems faced by the elderly are t he ones we create for them† (as cited in Estes, 2001, p. 29).The clear emphasis of the author with regard to the relevance of the Likewise, it can be seen that the, indeed, the physical process of aging also affects the way elderly people interact for their everyday living.For example, it has been mentioned by Edelstein, Goodie, and Martin (2001) that the cardiovascular and respiratory system and the changes associated with it may have a considerable impact on the behavior of the adults together with their moral relationships.Likewise, there are also problems associated with the physical process that occurs especially so that their vision and hearing may be affected such that they have lower levels of capabilities as compared before when they are younger (Edelstein, Goodie, & Martin, 2001).It is not the process itself nor the outcomes for them but the experience that they associate with their external environment that leads them to consider these as their difficulties in life. Ageism, or age discrimination, is a concept which â€Å"is defined as a process of systematic stereotyping and discrimination against people because they are old, just as racism and sexism accomplish[es] this for skin color and gender† (E. Margolis, H. Margolis, Braun, 1995).As mentioned before, it also affects the way elderly go about their everyday living because there are certain perceptions and notions created of them that may be considered as stereotypes for them to live with. This means that the society has created an image which they have to live with.Likewise, the social institutions accept this as they are without prior consideration to the greater impact that it has over the elderly population. This particular set of stereotypes is evident in the age limit that is given for certain occupations.Where some are considered to be valid, some are purely stereotypes and should not be applied to all of the members of the elderly population.It can not be considered that the difficulties and challenges that are faced by the elderly population may be applied in a universal setting. The characteristic of universality is not applicable to a certain extent because there are still vulnerable groups that may be considered within the group of aging individuals.For example, it has been mentioned by Lustig (2000) that the â€Å"elderly poor women† are among those which experience vulnerability among the aged population (p. 119). This concern gives rise to the special needs that each of the vulnerable groups hold.Likewise, the differences in terms of culture also provide for the variations among the impact that they feel as a result of the challenges and problems drawn from those mentioned above, especially with that of access to social services such as health care (Breitung, 2002). There are differences with regard to the settings to which they have to live with and this produces a source of inequality where some cultures experience better access to socia l services than the rest.ReferencesAbbott, P. & Payne, G. (1990). New directions in the sociology of health. London: Routledge.Breitung, J. (2002). The eldercare sourcebook. NY: McGraw-Hill Professional.DeLaune, S. & Ladner, P. (2002). Fundamentals of nursing: standards and practice. NY: Thomson Delmar.Edelstein, B., Goodie, J. & Martin, R. (2001). Aging: Physiological and behavioral concomitants. In W. E. Craighead & C. Nemeroff, The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science. New York: John Wiley & Sons.Estes, C. (2001). Social policy and aging: A critical perspective. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.Frank, L., Engelke, P., & Schmid, T. (2003). Health and community design: The impact of the built environment on physical activity. Washington, D.C.: Island Press.Lustig, N. (2000). Social protection for equity and growth. Washington, DC: Inter-American Development Bank.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Characterization of Pheonix Jackson Essay

Eudora Welty, in her character Phoenix Jackson, creates humanity’s counterpart of the phoenix firebird from oriental tradition. Although Phoenix Jackson can not lay claim to the immortality manifested by consuming fiery rebirths (as does the mythological bird), she possesses a fiery spirit and is consumed by love for her grandchild. Ana4rzing the character of Phoenix is pleasurable because the characteristics of her â€Å"roundness† are primarily positive, static traits. She is tenacious, confident, wise, and resolute with a clear sense of purpose which guides her fearlessly toward her goal. One word can summarize Phoenix‑‑noble. Even in the one situation when the reader sees Phoenix being sly, her slyness is immediately forgivable. Her slyness is a minor negative characteristic in comparison to her innumerable positive ones and is not a conflicting quality. It is, instead, justifiable in light of the pureness of her motivation‑‑love. Ihe similarities of the phoenix bird and Phoenix Jackson are readily apparent in the author’s physical description of Phoenix; â€Å"†¦her head tied in a red rag,† â€Å"†¦a golden color ran underneath,† and â€Å"†¦a yellow burning under the dark†(457). Further confirming the parable between the woman and the bird is the cornme made by Phoenix at the spring, â€Å"Sweetgum makes the water sweet’ (459). (Sweet‑gum K supposedly, the firebird’s source of nourishment) Since it is obvious that Ms. Welty has made these comparisons, it is noteworthy that the phoenix, in addition to symbolizing immortality, is said to be a good and wonderful bird, possessing qualities not unlike the eagle’s: nobility and powers of endurance. Phoenix Jackson shares these same qualities. Phoenix Jackson is an old Negro woman (456). Being black and female in Natchez, Nfississippi, any time prior to 1963 was particularly treacherous. Since Phoenix refers to the â€Å"Surrender,† the reader knows that she lived during and after the Civil War. This fact confirms that society afforded her little respect. Indeed, the majority ofwhite people would have considered her little more than an animal. However, an investigation of Phoeribes interaction with other (obviously white) characters in the story proves that her noble character commands respect despite her age, race, and sex. For exam ­ple, when the hunter points his gun at her, Phoenix responds by standing firm and facing him straight on. The hunter’s respect is evident in this comment, ‘Well, Granny, you must be a hundred years old and scared of nothing’ (460). Fur ­thermore, when the elegant lady on the street stoops to tie Phoerlik’s shoes, the reader sees Phoenik’s commanding, noble character at work. In fact, it would appear that out of a crowd of people, Phoenix actually chooses this one particu ­lar woman to lace up her shoes: She paused quietly on the sidewalk where people were passing by. A lady came along in the crowd, carrying an armful of†¦presents; she gave off perfume like the red roses in hot summer, and Phoenix stopped her (460). Tradition says the phoenix bird has an affinity for frankin ­cense, aromatic gums, and spices. It is also worthwhile to note that the â€Å"nice lady,† as well as the hunter, initially responds to Phoenix In a negative, perhaps derogatory, way by calling her â€Å"Granny’ or â€Å"Grandma.† But in the final analysis, the lady is (at least momentarily) at Phoenix7s feet, and the hunter voices his admiration. Phoenix’s physical stature stands in sharp contrast to the enormity of her journey. Welty establishes in the first para ­graph that Phoenix is very old and small. Me fact that her walking could be aided and sustained by a thin, small cane made from an umbrella provides the reader with a graphic Illustration of her diminutive size. Her small size, of course, emphasizes, by contrast, Phoenixs giant‑sized determination and perseverance. Effects of old age, particularly poor eyesight, intensifies Phoenix’s dangerous trek. When the path runs up a hill, Phoenix says, â€Å"Seem like there is chains about my feet, time I get this far† (457). Poor vision is indicated throughout the story, for example, â€Å"Old eyes thought you was a pretty little green bush† (457). However, one uncanny incident occurs regarding PhoenbCs eyesight. She sees â€Å"†¦with her own eyes a flashing nickel fall out of the man’s pocket onto the ground† (459). This episode supports the parallel drawn between Phoenix and the firebird‑‑she exercises ‘bird‑like† vision. Perhaps she has long contemplated what she would do if she had a nickel or a dime.

Friday, November 8, 2019

3 Sentences with Disguised Subordinate Clauses

3 Sentences with Disguised Subordinate Clauses 3 Sentences with Disguised Subordinate Clauses 3 Sentences with Disguised Subordinate Clauses By Mark Nichol In each of the sentences below, a phrase that supports the main clause of the statement but should be distinct from it lacks an essential element that identifies it as a subordinate clause: a comma separating it from the main clause, thus obscuring the subordinate clause’s function. A discussion, followed by a revision, explains the solution to each sentence. 1. A hillside above the highway gave way showering the roadway with rocks. â€Å"Showering the roadway with rocks† is a subordinate clause describing the consequence of the hillside giving way, so the phrase should be set off from the main clause with a comma: â€Å"A hillside above the highway gave way, showering the roadway with rocks.† 2. The only way you survive is you continuously transform into something else. The transition from is to you seems awkward because there’s no grammatical continuity; in proper speech or writing, one simply does not use those two words consecutively. The solution? Because â€Å"The only way you survive is† is a subordinate clause, set it off from the main clause with a comma: â€Å"The only way you survive is, you continuously transform into something else.† Alternatively, insert the transitional pronoun that between the words, converting the subordinate clause into an integral part of the main (and only) clause: â€Å"The only way you survive is that you continuously transform into something else.† (Or revise the sentence to â€Å"The only way to survive is to continuously transform into something else.†) 3. Product defects that create a public health hazard will eventually be exposed to the light of day in the public arena and, when they are, the company pays the price. At first glance, this sentence may seem correct: An apparent parenthetical, â€Å"when they are,† is introduced into the sentence after the conjunction, seemingly modifying the phrase â€Å"the company pays the price.† But that concluding phrase is an independent clause- a grammatically complete statement that could stand on its own as a separate sentence- and â€Å"and when they are† is not a parenthetical, but a subordinate clause associated with it. Therefore, a comma should precede, not follow, the conjunction and, separating the two independent clauses. However, the second comma remains where it is to separate the clause subordinate to the second main clause: â€Å"Product defects that create a public health hazard will eventually be exposed to the light of day in the public arena, and when they are, the company pays the price.† (â€Å"When they are† may appear to serve both as a subordinate clause and as a parenthesis, but it is essential to the sentence, pertaining to the catalyst for the company’s comeuppance, so it cannot function in the latter role.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Synonyms for â€Å"Leader†Anyone vs. EveryonePeople vs. Persons

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

6 Most Incredible Female Book Characters

6 Most Incredible Female Book Characters International Womens Day is just around the corner, so weve decided to honor the women that many of us have admired for a long time female book characters that have influenced and inspired us in one way or another. Wonderfully powerful and incredibly brilliant, here they are in the infographic below from Jo March of Little Women to Dagny Taggart of Atlas Shrugged. Weve chosen the characters that resonate with us most, so wed love to hear which ones blow you away! Featured image credit: Photo by Jaap Buitendijk  © 2010 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. HARRY POTTER PUBLISHING RIGHTS (C) J.K.R. HARRY POTTER CHARACTERS, NAMES AND RELATED

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Critique Review of the Film The Pursuit of Happiness Movie

Critique of the Film The Pursuit of Happiness - Movie Review Example It goes to extra lengths to inspire its viewers even when it shows much of what happens when one does not have as opposed to how to get what everyone wants to have: that is moneyThe film has two key characters, Chris Gardner and his son. Chris Gardner is a character that goes to extra lengths to alleviate his family from poverty. He struggles so hard to make ends meet despite being evicted from the apartment (Muccino, 2006). Unlike the common conception where people struggle financially because they are school dropouts or drug addicts, Gardner is shown as a talented and bright young man who is unfortunate. Together with his son, they endure so many hardships including sleeping in shelters, subway, and hotel when he is lucky to get money during the day. From the look of how the characters dress, the film’s setting takes place at a time when America’s economy was under a recession. Research shows that the last few years of this century are not the worst hit by the economi c recession as compared to the early 1980s (Leonhardt, 2009). However, despite this, Gardner aims at showing the world that the poor do not need an army to fight poverty. All that a person needs are proper shoes as shown in several scenes and a positive attitude regardless of the problems at hand. As a viewer, it is also critical to note that Will Smith, who is Chris Gardner in the film, does an exceptional job at convincing viewers of the struggles that people face just to survive. There are not so many films that portray how people struggle financially and in relationships so convincingly. I believe that the film drives the point home allowing viewers to make note of its logos of the logic contained in its interesting display of characters’ behavior. Though Smith is only acting, this is a message that reminds all those who have the resources particularly the middle-income families that all this can go away.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Henry the VIII and the English Reformation Research Paper

Henry the VIII and the English Reformation - Research Paper Example Henry thus needed a male heir who could succeed him and help protect the English legacy from the potential enemies within Europe. The frustrations of Henry in his search for a male heir is a story worth telling due to a dramatic twist of events that finally led to major reformation in England and beyond. Henry was a man full of drama and he always ensured that he gets what he wanted and this is the reason why he broke from the Catholic Church to form the protestant church. The decisions Henry took in his quest for what he wants to have a lot of impact on the implications for English policy and the monarchy. About Henrys Life According to Knowles and Hadcock (1972), he was a young boy who would later become the king after the death of his father was born in 1491 as the second son and he became an heir to the throne in 1502. He was described as an intelligent boy and an athlete with a good understanding of French, Latin, Spanish and was a very religious man due to his upbringing as a s trong Catholic. He was a go getter who was extremely fond of hunting and never takes a diversion without tiring eight to ten horses. His scholarly interests included writing books and music and thus was accomplished a player of many instruments and a composer of various songs. About that time (1500AD) Enduring social order of the early modern church depended entirely on the production of male heirs in most of the cultural settings since most people do not believe in the leadership of a woman. In most cultural settings, women are forbidden from taking the crown and its thus required that the hair to the throne be a man. For some communities, lacking a surviving male heir is like inviting a curse, uncertainty, political disorder, and ultimately war that may lead to tremendous loss of lives. England learned the cost of women's leadership when an infant took the leadership in the year 1442 that eventually led to wars and the rise of the Tudor dynasty that destabilized their power system (MacCulloch, 2003). Most English people also feared giving power to women since they can be married to foregin land thus diluting the culture, heritage and the influence of their country. Divorce in the ancient Catholic Church was highly disregarded and it was unimaginable for ordinary people. Divorce could only be considered for the rich, powerful and the royal but only when sanctioned by the catholic pope himself and thus it was equally hard for everybody. Those who tried divorce without papal approval were highly trading on the dangerous path by inviting severe punishment and excommunication by the church (Knowles, 1979). The Catholic Church and its leadership faced a test of their time when the king himself needed a divorce, considering the power and authority he has over the land. The refusal to grant Henry permission to divorce his first wife who could not sire a man to be the heir of the throne made Henry break ranks with the Catholic Church (Knowles, 1979; Rex, 2006; Skidmo re, 2007). This marked the beginning of protestant churches and the split of the Catholic Church that used to be the sole church for the people of England. The rebellion of the pope was considered illegal and liturgical and thus was considered by most of the churchgoers as an invitation for a curse in England. The Catholic Chu

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Reaching Hapiness, My Holy Grail Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Reaching Hapiness, My Holy Grail - Essay Example This has highly motivated me to choose clinical social work as my career. I believe that my career will help change the lives of many community members because social work is a profession that presents humane and effective social services to groups, families, individuals, communities, and society to enhance and improve both the quality of life and social functioning (Zastrow 28). Having mention clinical social work as my career, this paper will analyze my goal as a clinical social worker, and its importance both to me, and society. What Motivated Me to Choose Clinical Social Work Due to the increasing mental and health risks due to lack of effective counseling in the society, I am, and I will continue putting more efforts to ensure I achieve my goal in the next seven years. Clinical Social Work involves giving help to: families, individuals, couples, and even undersized groups notice issue challenging them, and provision of specific strategies in improvement of their exceptional situ ations (Ritter, Halaevalu and Kiernan-Stern 106). By definition, clinical social work is referred as social work theory and treatment methods application, to prevent psychological problems, impairment, mental ailment, and emotional disorders and also, helping the physically disabled community members. My goal is; â€Å"I will be a Clinical Social Worker in the next seven years.† Since I was young, my dreams have been that one day I will pray for, and help many people in the world in most burning life issues. Many people in the community has been addicted to drugs. This has consequently caused thousands of deaths because of cancer diseases caused by smoking and alcohol taking. In my own opinion, if these people in the community can be counseled and youths well advised before starting abusing drugs, cases of deaths of cancer will cease. To get people under these cases helped, I consequently chose to work as a social work. This will indeed, create a community of healthy and God- fearing people. People will be healthy because when advised, psychological and mental problems are minimized. In addition, cancer cases will cease. In short, my interest in clinical social work developed because of my inner dream to help people get out of their undesirable situations. Significance of Clinical Social Work Social work involves a series of caring services like; advice and guidance, education, health, housing community regeneration and development, social care and offering care and other services among children and younger persons. The social workers play major roles in ensuring that the above are services are rendered to the community. Indeed thousands of people in different communities find themselves into difficult life situations, unable to work them out. Social workers therefore, get in to help the community in solving the problem. Since helping people has been my hobby, I did not hesitate in making a choice to join social work as my future career. Effective delive ry of these caring services to the community will therefore, mark the significance of clinical social work career. Clinical social worker helps to enhance and maintain the coping skills of the people they are rendering services to, within the context of one’s environment to achieve a living balance in case confronted by challenges (Ritter, Halaevalu and Kiernan-Stern 106). This means, social work professionals help people in the com

Monday, October 28, 2019

Two Views on Domesticity Essay Example for Free

Two Views on Domesticity Essay In Joan Williams book â€Å"Unbending Gender: Why Family and Work Conflict and What to Do About It†, she defines domesticity as â€Å"a gender system comprising most centrally of both the particular organization of market work and family work that arose around 1780, and the gender norms that justify, sustain, and reproduce that organization. † (1) Throughout the book, Williams seeks to redefine the very meaning of domesticity and how it affects both men and women. The author of the article â€Å"Gender, Status, and Feeling†, seeks to explain how men and women navigate their emotional minefields and why it affects their respective statuses in society. While Williams and the author of â€Å"Gender, Status, and Feeling† differ on the reasons why women are seen as being on a lower pedestal than men, they both agree that women do a good job of dealing the hand they are dealt, for the most part. It is obvious that Williams sympathy lies toward the female half of the population. In the introduction, Williams cites several statistics that shows the reader how women are victimized by the â€Å"ideal worker† norm. The author defines an ideal worker as someone who works forty hours a week year round. (2) She goes on to explain how this norm excludes most â€Å"mothers of childbearing age. †(2) One statistic cited states that â€Å" two-thirds (Williams emphasis) [of mothers] are not ideal workers even in the minimal sense of working full time full year. † (2) Another statistic cited states that 93 percent of mothers are excluded from jobs that require â€Å"extensive overtime. † (2) With sobering statistics like these, Williams tries to show that against towering odds, mothers of childbearing age arent able to compete in the market workplace with men. Williams unequivocally states that she wants to â€Å"democratize access to domesticity. † (174) She then goes on to state that â€Å"a restructuring of market work will give to working class women and women of color greater access to the parental care that remains a widespread social ideal. † (174) This is an interesting idea because earlier in the book, Williams ripped apart a womans book because the author made certain life and career choices that didnt seem palatable to Williams for some reason. Deborah Fallows, a successful linguist in her own right, went down to part time hours, then quit altogether, when her son was born. She wrote a book called A Mothers Work, which described the journey that she took from successful career woman to stay-at-home mom. For some reason, Williams doesnt believe Fallows would happily give up her career for her son and husband, a high powered White House aide. Williams states: â€Å"Thus Fallows presents (authors emphasis) her decision to stay home as a choice she made to improve her own emotional state She quit both to avoid negative feelings and to experience positive ones, as leaving gave her more time â€Å"to partake of the pleasures of [Tommys] company. † (19) Williams sees Fallows choice to stay home as a prime example of how domesticity saturates even the upper levels of society. Williams goes so far as to attack Fallows view on child care. On page 32, Williams wonders why Fallows would be against day care in general when her own experience was positive: â€Å"It is hard to see why the low quality of child care for the poor explains Fallows decision to stay home. † It seems as if Williams is having a really hard time trying to figure out why an upper class woman like Fallows would give up everything she was working for in order to stay home with her child. If staying at home with the kids is okay for poor and working class women, why isnt it okay for a woman like Fallows? On the surface, Williams seems to be fighting for women all across the economic spectrum. However, underneath lies a subtle streak of the same sort of classist attitudes that Williams pins on some feminists later on in her book. With Williams raging against the machine of domesticity, one would think that the author would lash out at the male half of the population. Surprisingly, she doesnt do this. Williams feels that men are also the victims of domesticitys ideas of the ideal worker as well as domesticitys view in other areas of society. For example, on page 3, Williams explains how women generally lose out when it comes to financial support after divorce: â€Å"Mothers marry, marginalize, and then divorce in a system that typically defines womens and childrens postdivorce entitlements in terms of their basic â€Å"needs†, while mens entitlements reflect the assumption (derived from domesticity) that they â€Å"own† their ideal-worker wage. † In this case, Williams chooses not to point the finger at an easy target (men). Instead, she blames a system that allows men to keep the vast majority of their earnings while â€Å"40 percent of divorced mothers live in poverty. † (3) Williams even blames domesticity for the lack of parenting prowess on the part of some men. Again, Williams cites some statistics that shows how domesticity changed attitudes on parenting: â€Å"One study estimated that an average American father spends twelve minutes a day in solo child care. Another reported that mothers spend about three times as much time as fathers in face-to-face interaction with their children. † (3) The author then gives a short history lesson on how exactly did domesticity changed the face of parenting for both men and women: child rearing was considered too important to be left to women, and child-rearing manuals addressed fathers. Men were actively involved, in part because market work and family work were not yet geographically separated, so that fathers generally worked closer to home than most do today In a society that viewed women as the â€Å"weaker vessel,† it made no sense to delegate childrens health, well-being, and eternal souls to the exclusive sphere of women. (3) It seems as if Williams is yearning for a simpler time when fathers could take off work for a few moments and read a story to his children. This isnt a perfect scenario. After all, women were seen as inferior second class citizens who werent capable of molding the minds of her children. What Williams is actually wishing for is a time where the ideas of domesticity didnt interfere with the way that fathers tended to their children. While Joan Williams is sounding a battle cry, the author of the article â€Å"Gender, Status, and Feeling† is blowing a whistle. In the article, the author attempts to explain not only how men and women handle their emotions, but how women use their emotions to navigate a society that still sees them as second class citizens. One thing that Williams and the author article would agree on is that the female half of the population is usually seen as an afterthought in our society. This point would be where the two authors viewpoints diverge. First, the author of the article argues that women use their emotions as a means to an end. In a society that doesnt value a lot of their contributions, some women have found other ways to survive: lacking other resources, women make a resource out of feeling and offer it to men as a gift in return for the more material resources they lack. For example, in 1980 only 6 percent of women but 50 percent of men earned over $15,000 a year. (GSF 163) From this passage, one can see that the author feels that women readily adapted to the hand they were dealt. The author doesnt even seem to think this is a bad thing. They see this manipulation of their emotional palette more as a means of survival. The author even theorizes as to why women are believed to have been born with what Williams calls an â€Å"ethic of care†: As for many others of lower status, it has been in the womans interest to be the better actor. As the psychologists would say, the techniques of deep acting have unusually high â€Å"secondary† gains. Yet these skills have long been mislabeled â€Å"natural†, a part of womens â€Å"being† rather than something of her own making. (GSF 167) Williams would disagree with part of this authors statement. While the author of the article and Williams both believe that the place of women in society is based on societal beliefs, Williams states in her book that the ideas that domesticity has planted is the sole reason for this. For example, on page 182, William says that â€Å" women need to be selfless only because they live in a system that marginalizes caregivers. † In other words, women have no choice but to be selfless caregivers. In her book, Williams does everything she can to fight the societal belief that all women are born with an ethic of care. The author of â€Å"Gender, Status, and Feeling†, however, not only thinks that women are born with this innate need to nurture, but that it comes in handy when women become mothers: â€Å" more women at all class levels do unpaid labor of a highly interpersonal sort. They nurture, manage and befriend children. More â€Å"adaptive† and â€Å"cooperative†, they address themselves better to the needs of those who are not yet able to adapt and cooperate much themselves. †(GSF 170) The author of the article uses the example of male and female flight attendants to illustrate how society views men and women in a position of authority. The author reported that when a female flight attendant makes a request of a passenger, the passengers would usually argue with them. When a male flight attendant was called over to help, the request was usually granted with no problem. Williams claims that most people arent able to help this phenomenon: â€Å"Thirty years of second-wave feminism have seen many accomplishments, but dislodging the ideology of domesticity is not one of them. Most people, feminists or not, believe some version of domesticitys descriptions of men and women. † (193) Williams and the author of â€Å"Gender, Status, and Feeling† would disagree about a lot of things. Williams is a head strong feminist whose goal is to change the core beliefs of society. The author of the article believes that women have used their emotional palettes to adapt to their marginalized role in society and doesnt say whether this survival tactic should be a thing of the past. One thing that is evident in both Williams book and the article is the belief that women throughout history have been resilient in working the hand they are dealt and will continue this tradition as long as society pushes their half to the outermost margins. Works Cited Williams, Joan. Unbending Gender: Why Family and Work Conflict and What to Do About It. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000 â€Å"Gender, Status, and Feeling† (article)

Friday, October 25, 2019

Free Essays - The Character Traits of Macbeth :: Macbeth essays

The Character Traits of Macbeth William Shakespeare's play Macbeth shows us that cheating will not get you were you want to go. Macbeth was written in the 16th century England during the Elizabethan period, because of this the story has a complex plot and many themes that the people in the Elizabethan period would enjoy. The character Macbeth has many traits that Shakespeare used to develop Macbeth throughout the play and even how the character Macbeth advances the theme of the play. Macbeth is put together with many character traits. He is a very complex character. In the beginning Macbeth was brave and loyal. He won the battle of Norway and became the Thane of Cawdor. For brave Macbeth disdainding fortune with his brandished steel which smoked with bloody execution( ACT1 SC2 LNS18-20). Macbeth is also a gullible man, when he runs into the witches he believes them when they say, all hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter(act1 sn2 line 50) . He is so gullible to what these witches said that he killed his best friend Banquo and nearly kills Banquo's son. Macbeth also was convinced by his wife to kill Duncan. Macbeth conscious becomes guilty after he kills Duncan when he said, will all great neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?(act2 sn2 lines 79-80). He is thinking that nothing can take back the murders he had committed. Throughout the play Shakespeare developed Macbeth into a cold and depressed man. In the beginning Shakespeare developed Macbeth into a brave and loyal man. After the witches tell him of the prophecies Macbeth was convinced by his wife to kill Duncan. After this Macbeth starts to lose it by going crazy by seeing 3 apparitions then a row of kings(p125 sn1 lines 77-140). Shakespeare has turned the character of Macbeth totally around. Toward the end of the play when Macbeth starts to get things together he learns that he is going to be invaded by Malcolm, Donnalban, and Macduff. His wife also commits suicide. After hearing this he starts to treat his servants cold heartedly and then said "She should have died hereafter. There would have been a time for such a word.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Concepts, Control and Choice Between the Matrix Trilogy and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

The human mind may be seen as a sophisticated computing machine which has for its object of thought that which we call reality. In a certain sense, scientific knowledge and technological developments continuously define and redefine our sense of what is real. Questions concerning reality are questions that are paradigmatically philosophical. A paradigmatically philosophical question is a question that is both familiar and strange. This familiarity and strangeness of reality manifests itself when we try to ask ourselves the question: What is reality? On a preliminary note, both The Matrix Trilogy and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave present us with fundamental questions concerning reality and knowledge. Moreover, both The Matrix and Plato present us with questions concerning a very important characterization of the human being: our capacity for choice which is built upon the concepts of rationality and autonomy. As rational and autonomous beings, we are responsible for the choices that we make. In 514a of Plato’s work called Republic, he offers the Allegory of the Cave as an analogy for the educational progress or enlightenment of the soul. In Plato’s theory of the Divided Line, he uses the sun as a metaphor for the Form of the Good, which for him, is the proper object of thought. It is important to note that Plato assigns an ontological status to the Forms. The Forms are real, so to speak. In the allegory of the cave, he uses a surrogate metaphor for the sun: the fire within the cave. The main thrust of the Allegory of the Cave is to contrast life within the cave with the life outside of it. The cave, in Plato’s work, is a prison wherein the individuals dwell in the world of semblances. Inside the cave, the prisoners only see shadows of objects produced by the light coming from the fire. Plato uses the object-image metaphor to illustrate this point. What we may thus infer is that knowledge and reality, in Plato’s account of them in the Allegory of the Cave, comes in degrees. Regarding this particular differentiation between object and image and the real from a mere semblance or copy, Cornford writes that Plato views â€Å"†¦a world of intelligible Forms separate from the things our senses perceive† (2). In effect, Plato envisions reality as that which is absolute and accessible only through thought in contrast with mere semblances or copies that we find in the sensible world. Whereas Plato considers reality as absolute, the Matrix Trilogy depicts not just a reality but ‘realities’ which overlap each other. Morpheus presents Neo with a dilemma when the latter has to make a choice between which pill to take. The evidence of the aforementioned necessity to choose is evident as Morpheus states that â€Å"no one can be told what the Matrix is (since its existence is something that one ought) to see for one’s self†. In this sense, the discovery of reality is to be understood as an act which involves the reacquisition of a new perspective in which one may understand reality per se. According to Irwin, the similitude of Plato’s conception of the Forms in relation to the conception of reality as presented within the aforementioned text is evident if one considers that â€Å"as with the Forms, it is not a literal ‘seeing’ (which is involved) but a direct knowing that brings understanding of the Matrix† (14). In the movie, the red pill stands for ‘truth’ which eventually allows Neo to see behind the deceiving reality produced by the matrix. In very important respects, the red pill also stands for the biblical interpretation associated with the Tree of Knowledge from the Garden of Eden. In the film, the red pill induced the discovery that the world in which Neo lives is not real but a mere virtual reality (Lloyd 32). The fact of the matter is that Neo’s body is stored in a body farm with his mind plugged into the matrix. It is not difficult to see the apparent similarity with this state of affairs with Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. In effect, we may say that Neo and the prisoners in the cave are in a state of illusion. Both Neo and the prisoners in the cave are presented with two options: to remain in the state of illusion or to liberate themselves from the virtual reality of the matrix or the shadows in the cave. The meaning of human life then, its purpose and moral integrity in a physical or bodily existence in the context of The Matrix is to be found in human beings’ opposition to the illusions produced by the Matrix or in a more academic terminology, ‘technological modernity’ and by restoring the natural world. In today’s world, there is a clamor for a paradigm shift in terms of adapting to the demands of modernity. Such a shift is considered by Beck as necessary when he writes that: A new kind of capitalism, a new kind of economy, a new kind of global order, a new kind of politics and law, a new kind of society and personal life are in the making which both separately and in context are clearly distinct from earlier phases of social evolution (81). In line with this, it is important to note Agent Smith’s initial explanation as to the creation of the Matrix. According to Agent Smith, the Matrix was â€Å"designed to be a perfect human world where none suffered†. The result of the design, however, remained as an ideal. Agent Smith noted that the reason for this lies in the imperfection of the programming language used to depict that perfect world. He notes, â€Å"I believe that as species human beings define their reality through misery and suffering. The perfect world was a dream that your primitive cerebrum kept trying to wake up from†. Questions concerning the meaning and purpose of human life are further explored on Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolution. They provide more complicated and dialectical approach of what it means for a human being to live in a technological world. The aforementioned complexity may be inferred from comparing the possibilities that are evident in the presentation of the worlds in the three movies. It is important to note that in the first movie, the matrix and the machine from which it gets its sustenance only seems to provide less complicated and normative possibilities evident in its ‘either-or’ presentation. It is at this particular aspect point where one may say that Reloaded and Revolution provide a more appropriate construal of the human condition. These two were able to explore not only the diametrically opposing views on technology and human society but also their complex interdependence. It is not difficult to see that the moral dilemma posed by Reloaded and Revolution then, is not simply to escape from our technological milieu, but to discover and rediscover what it is that enables us to be and to remain ‘human’ within such a world. Furthermore, the narrative suggests that the threat of a nihilistic instrumentalism is to be found, not simply in the external world of technological devices and systems prima facie, but in that moral and metaphysical trajectory underlying a mechanistic technoscience. The urgent task that it points to is thus to contest the nihilism of the Baconian dream and to recover those deeper sources that can sustain moral and spiritual experience and relationship even within a highly technologically advanced world. Another important aspect that ought to be given emphasis is the ‘divide’ existing behind those who know the truth [or reality] and those who do not know. Zion, the last bastion of humanity, represents that which is real. Why is it important to point out the so called divide? The answer is rather obvious. This particular aspect further generates systems of power and power relations. In a certain sense, it maintains political power. Whoever creates the divide, the fake choice, is placed at the point of authority and ultimate control. Withholding the knowledge of one world from another is simply a tool of this control – and the Plato’s Cave, so often referred to in discussions on The Matrix, does not necessarily have to refer to Zion alone. It represents any society where the knowledge is withheld from both sides of the divide, and where the self-examination of each group is discouraged of stepping over into examination of the whole system. Mindful of the points of convergence between the Matrix Trilogy and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave in terms of their themes and philosophical underpinnings, we may safely add that both of them employed, in one way or another, the use of myths and metaphors in terms accounting for the concept of reality. If we are to characterize the ancient mind, we may say that it thinks in terms of metaphors. Metaphorical thinking is still one of the ways in and through which we try to explain and appropriate for ourselves various phenomena. One may take the time to consider how, for instance, we used to explain to ourselves that ‘the universe is a machine’. This was the metaphor during the time of Leibniz which continued to flourish in the advent of scientific reductionism. There remains, however, a significant difference in the Matrix Trilogy and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. Whereas, the path to Zion, the representation of that which is real requires Neo and the others to rebel against the matrix for them to be able to liberate themselves, the path to Plato’s Form of the Good, that which is real, requires introspection and a life of contemplation. This is because Plato is primarily concerned with questions of ontology than questions of politics or even ethics. In the case of the Allegory of the Cave, Plato seeks to explain the nature of reality and knowledge. He is concerned with the liberation of the mind from ignorance and dogmatism. Human beings’ capacity for reason is what distinguishes them from other forms of life in the universe. Rationality is an excellence of the noble soul.