Kant and the Simpson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Kant and the Simpson - Essay Example The fulfillment of our desires is easier than the fulfillment of our goals. The Simpsons often emphasize the clash among the goals and wishes. A lot of episodes tell us that the Simpsons are better. In â€Å"dumbbell indemnity†, Homer is shown to have the ability to rationalize his desires while consulting moral duties. He is asked by his friend Moe to destroy his car so that Moe can get the insurance. Homer consults his conscience and decides to do it. This teaches us how not to act. In â€Å"war of Simpsons† when Homer deliberately hurts his wife, due to which she takes him to a marriage counseling session at cat fish lake, he is persuaded by the thought of General Sherman, a fish, to go fishing but in the end he renounces fame for family and frees the fish. In this way he prefers moral deeds on his desires. Flanders was also at the counseling session because his wife had underlined in his bible. As opposite to Moe, Flanders had no personal wants. In â€Å"Viva Ned Flanders†, Flanders hires Homer to teach him how to live and that gives a disastrous Drunken Double Marriage in Las Vegas. Homer has a desire for his personal life while Flanders is deep into m orality. Bart is a devilish boy just like his father. In â€Å"Bart’s girlfriend†, Bart is in love with the minister’s daughter, Jessica. Adversely, Jessica is only interested in him because she sees him as his partner in the theft from the collection basket. When she steals from the basket, Bart tries to convince her that it is wrong but instead he gets caught which makes him to return to his cunning. In another episode â€Å"Bart the mother†, Bart incidentally kills a mother bird but feels so guilty that he decides to take care of the orphan eggs which, unfortunately come out to be banned bird eating lizards. Although this was wrong but he gets fame because of it as they started eating the pigeons and the harvest was saved. Lisa, Bart’s sister tries to change his mind but he was too devious to listen to anyone. In â€Å"Reality Bites† Marge took up a job as an estate agent as a career to prove her values and abilities to herself and to sto p being taken granted by her family. The trouble is Marge sincerely wants to help her customers and is prepared to sacrifice her own interests for the sake of her perceived duty and she sticks to honesty in selling houses rather than falsehoods. But by the end of the story she learns that she can still do her duty for duty’s sake and still achieve her personal goals. No matter what others say but telling the truth do not always hurt. Lisa is a girl with a strong sense of moral duty. She can not tolerate things which are against proper ethical behavior and when ever she takes a stand for principles she has to suffer and she is forced to turn a blind eye towards it. In â€Å"Lisa stands up for principle† Lisa, while having a lamb chop in her meal, identifies that it is wrong to slaughter a defenseless animal. While fighting for her principles Lisa ruined homer’s barbecue party and is being shunned by her family. She then found refuge in the house of a Hindu store owner, Apu, where she met a new vegetarian family Paul and Linda. She finally thought that her ideas will be respected here but the mild reply which she got from Apu when she said that people can eat cheese made her realize that she was being arrogant and hard on many people. This accident created a mild and bearable sense of morality in Lisa. In â€Å"Lisa isolation† Lisa insisted on being enrolled in a military school with her brother Bart. As the first girl in the school Lisa felt very isolated even her brother

Parkinsons term paper Essay Example for Free

Parkinsons term paper Essay Parkinsons disease is characterized as a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system which is understood to persist and continually worsen over time. It is the second most common neurological disorder. Parkinson’s disease affects approximately one million people within the United States. This disorder progresses slowly and is unique in the sense that Parkinson’s disease can be caused by genetics among other things. Parkinson’s disease is well known for its characteristic tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with speech in the patients it affects. Parkinson’s disease is caused by diminishment of the substantia nigra in the tegmentum which controls motor functions within the body. This disease is classified as a basil ganglionic disorder which causes a breakdown of dopamineric neurons in the substancia nigra, located in the midbrain. The substancia nigra is composed of neuromelanin which pigments the substancia nigra and gives it its darker characteristic. The neuromelanin also connects to the motor cortex which is responsible for one’s motor control and balance. The chemical dopamine is created in the substantia nigra. The basil ganglia receives inputs from the motor cortex, the association cortex, and the substancia nigra. The basil ganglia then sends messages to the motor cortex by way of the thalamus. With Parkinson’s disease, the nigral neurons are damaged, which causes the neuromelanin to be free to move into the adjacent tissue where it is phagocytosed and moved away by macrophages. This degenerative process not only destroys the process of creating dopamine, but it also causes the pigmentation of the substancia nigra to change and become lighter in appearance. The lack of dopamine-related input from the substantia nigra negatively changes the equilibrium of the output from the basil ganglia to the motor cortex. This alteration in the equilibrium then causes the symptoms related to Parkinson’s disease. The d irect cause of Parkinson’s disease remains a medical mystery, but many factors can participate in determining whether one is susceptible to developing Parkinson’s disease in  the future. The exposure to specific toxins in the environment and various environmental factors has the possibility of playing a role in those who were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Another possible cause of Parkinson’s disease is the role of one’s genetics. It is found that certain mutations can give rise to Parkinson’s disease, although this is uncommon. The brains of patients with Parkinson’s disease change as the disease progresses. Lewy bodies are microscopic markers that characterize the presence of Parkinson’s disease within a patient. They are abnormal microscopic protein deposits that form in the brain and play a role in disrupting the brain’s normal functions. This disruption causes deterioration. Lewy bodies contain A-synuclein which is a protein that cells cannot break down. Early indicators of Parkinson’s disease include tremors or shaking which can reside in one’s finger, thumb, hand, lip, or chin, though shaking is normal after extensive physical activity, injury, or may be due to medications. If one’s handwriting begins to appear smaller over a short period of time, it could be a warning sign of Parkinson’s although one should not base their self-diagnosis upon handwriting, for handwriting can change as one advances in age, but this happens over time and not suddenly. A loss of smell in specific foods can be an indicator, but a loss of smell can also be related to the possession of the common cold or the flu. Another early sign may be sudden movements while sleeping such as falling out of the bed or kicking and punching. It is important to understand that people on occasion may experience difficulty sleeping. Chronic stiffness can be a sign, but this symptom can also be caused by an injury or arthritis. If one is experiencing constipation on a daily basis, this can be considered a sign of Parkinson’s disease, although a lack of fiber in one’s diet or medications can determine the moving of one’s bowels. Having recently possessed a soft o r low voice is an indicator unless one has a chest cold or other virus. If one has the appearance of a masked face, a blank stare that persists, or undergoes a long duration of time without the action of blinking, these may be precursors to having Parkinson’s disease. Feeling dizzy or fainting can be signs of low blood pressure and may be connected to Parkinson’s disease along with the inability to stand up straight. There are many Parkinson’s-related symptoms that are known today. The most obvious of symptoms is a resting tremor. A shaking, or tremor, normally starts in one’s  limb, and it is often located on a hand or fingers. This resting tremor usually stops when the patient is voluntarily moving the limb affected by the tremor. A â€Å"pill-rolling† tremor is common and is characterized by one rolling one’s thumb and forefinger. These tremors can be noticed when the limb is even at a relaxed state. Due to the tremors and inability to control certain motor functions, writing can become difficult for patient s with Parkinson’s disease. It is noted that when writing, those effected with Parkinson’s disease posses handwriting that is characteristically small. Bradykinesia, or a slowing of movement, can be present. Parkinson’s disease has the ability to cause one to move slower which can make simple every-day tasks a challenge. With bradykinesia, one’s steps may become smaller in distance when being mobile, and one’s feet may begin to drag when walking. Excessive muscle tone or hypertonia may be prevalent in patients with Parkinson’s disease and will manifest itself as stiffness or rigidness which causes pain and a loss in one’s range of motion. Parkinson’s disease patients may experience posture impairment and balance, for a patient’s posture can become stooped, and balance can be lost. Patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease may experience a loss in their autonomic functions which include and are not limited to smiling, swinging one’s arms while walking, and blinking. This loss in autonomic function caused a select number of patients to stop using their hands while speaki ng in normal conversations. Speech changes can affect those living with Parkinson’s disease. One may speak out of rhythm in such a way that it may sound soft, quick, hesitant, monotone or slurred. Diagnosing Parkinson’s disease is not a simple process, for a test for Parkinson’s disease does not yet exist. In order to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a neurologist must first obtain a detailed medical history of the patient being diagnosed, a review of the patient’s signs and symptoms, a physical examination, and a neurological examination. Tests to exclude other conditions may be ordered to ensure proper diagnosis of the disorder. Once a patient has undergone sufficient testing and examining, the doctor may prescribe the patient the medication carbidopa-levodopa, which is a Parkinson’s disease medicine. If the patient improves considerably while on the medication, this often confirms a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.  There exists a wide-range of treatments for patients that suffer from Parkinson’s disease from drug treatments to surgical treatments. The pharmacologic approach for those with Parkinson’s disease aims to increase the lack of dopamine in the patient’s basil ganglia. L-dopa or Levodopa is a drug that can cross the blood-brain barrier. The brain can convert this drug to dopamine. Carbidopa can also be prescribed to patients afflicted with Parkinson’s disease. Carbidopa is a decarboxylase inhibitor and, when taken with levodopa, can aid levodopa from converting to dopamine outside of the brain. The combination of medications allows for more levodopa to reach the brain which ultimately increases the brain’s supply of dopamine. These two medications decrease the side effects which are caused by an increased amount of dopamine outside of the brain. They reduce the supply of â€Å"free† dopamine from residing outside of the brain. An excess of dopamine outside of the brain could result in low blood pressure, vomiting, and nausea. Other medications include dopamine agonists which directly stimulate nerve receptors inside of the brain which are usually stimulated by dopamine. In contrast to the medication levodopa, dopamine agonists do not convert into dopamine but rather behave like dopamine. Dopamine agonists are utilized in patients that are in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease and may be added to a treatment plan along with levodopa in the later stages of Parkinson’s disease. It may also be added when levodopa alone cannot sufficiently manage the patient’s symptoms or when the patient has severe motor fluctuations. Side effects associated with levodopa-carbidopa include dizziness upon rising, confusion, nausea, movement disorders, and hallucinations. Side effects commonly associated with dopamine agonists are vomiting, nausea, and orthostatic hypotension. Surgical treatment options are available for those who suffer from Parkinson’s. These surgical treatments are intended to control symptoms related to Parkinson’s disease patients who do not positively respond to medications. One of the surgical treatments crea tes a lesion in specific portions of the thalamus within the midbrain which become overactive in Parkinson’s disease. A reversible procedure that can be used on patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease is deep brain stimulation, or DBS. With this procedure, electrodes are implanted into exact locations. These locations are treated then with pulses of electrical currents. Why deep brain stimulation works is unknown. Medical  experts believe that the current could be activating, affecting, or inhibiting synaptic transmission onto neurons in the vicinity of the electrodes. The future prospects for a cure for Parkinson’s disease are promising, for the medical community has begun to identify the genetic causes linked to Parkinson’s disease. This allows the medical community to expand animal models of Parkinson’s disease. These will be highly useful in the process of understanding the pathogenesis of the disease and will be useful in further testing the neuroprotective therapies which can potentially aid in the fight against the progression of Parkinson’s disease. A different potential approach in the future would be to engage in the replacement of lost neurons via transplantation, which would be highly difficult and tedious. Overall, Parkinson’s disease is well on the way to being better understood and through this und erstanding scientists will be able to directly identify the source of this disease and eventually find a method that directly cures this disease. References Etiology. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster. Retrieved March 13,2014, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/etiology Welcome to the Purdue OWL. (n.d.). Purdue OWL: APA Formatting and Style Guide. Retrieved March 13, 2014, from https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01 Parkinson’s: Symptoms Types. (n.d.). WebMD. Retrieved March 13, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/guide/parkinsons-symptons-types Parkinson’s disease. (n.d.). Complications. Retrieved March 13, 2014, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/basics/complications/con-20028488 Parkinson’s Disease. (n.d.). Parkinson’s Disease. Retrieved March 13, 2014, from http:// courses.washington.edu/conj/bess/parkinsons.html Nisipeanu, P. (n.d.). Parkinson’s Disease: Diagnosis and Clinical Management. Adverse Effects of Dopamine Agonists. Retrieved March 13, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nih.gov/books/NBK27800/ Levodopa Medicines for Parkinsonâ€℠¢s Disease. (n.d.). WebMD. Retrieved March 13, 2014, from http:// www.wbmd.com/parkinsons-disease/levodopa-medications-for-parkinsons-disease Dopamine Agonists for Parkinson’s Disease. (n.d.). WebMD. Retrieved March 13, 2014, from

Ms Simulation Reflective Report Marketing Essay

Ms Simulation Reflective Report Marketing Essay Motor vehicle industry is growing industries in the world. Demand for vehicles is so high globally which makes the industry to be innovative and creative to meet the changing needs and wants of the people. Our company was among other StratSim companies formed for the purpose of simulation within the Vehicle manufacturing industries. Our firm was firm D with the vehicles ranging from Economic (Delite), Family (Defy) and Truck (Dusty) for the value seekers, family oriented and singles within the given regions. 2.0 OUR COMPANY MISSION AND VISION STATEMENT As our initial budget, market position and cash flow was similar to other Stratsim firms and therefore our mission is to increase sales and provide the customers with the safety and quality standard vehicles to gain highest returns while at the same time remaining low cost producers in comparison to our competitors. Our vision is to make available the vehicles which our customers require in the best and affordable prices and standards. 3.0 EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL ANALYSIS Internal and external analysis is when different factors are analysed from within the firm and around the competitors and industry as a whole to give the precise position of the firm and its performance standards. 3.1 PESTEL Political: As this was a simulation and not the real world firm there were no many implications on political instabilities within the region. In the real world though there are government instabilities which can hinder the operations of the firm such as change in government, introduction of new legislations, Ethical requirements by government etc. Economical: In Period one the economy and gas prices were stable suitable for the greater sales. The industry expenditure was also flat to $1,505 million. In the period 5 the economy grew better than expected which gave rise to the vehicle sales. However crude oil prices had gone high by the end of the period 4. Initially was $3 p/gal and then forecasted to rise to $4.90 by period 6. This was a concern for the coming periods as inflation seemed to be ranging from 2% to 2.5%. Industry marketing expenditure also increased by $ 206 million to $1,977 million and GDP rose to 2.5% by period 5 while initially was 1.0%. Social: Highest class is the family segment with the sales units (000) 4,706 out of which our firm had 12.3% share by period 5 which was a decrease as initial share was 14.3%. The second value seekers who mostly go for economic vehicles to with the total sales 1,327,000 and we hold the share of 10.9% by period 5. And the singles segment was mainly aimed for the trucks and their total sales 1,233,000 out of which we hold 11.9%. Our concerned were the value seekers, families and singles and not segments like high income earners and enterprisers. Technological: In the simulation game the technology was limited to development centres, interior, styling, safety and quality. Cargo space, braking system, reliability and durability of the vehicles are the main technically concentrated areas. In todays vehicle industry aspects such as noise, speed, digital dashboards, stylish folding seats and other features are emphasized. With the simulation the maximum feasible for the development centres was 5 and ours was 2, while interior maximum was 11 and out of which our firm was having 4, styling maximum was 12 and we were rating to 6, safety was 11 and we were rated 5 and quality was maximum 12 out of which we rated 6. Environmental: This was not a major concern though lead free vehicles with minimum noise structure are preferred. Vehicles with good fuel consumption are opted by majority of the customers and therefore help in preserving our environment. Legal: Laws on labour, vehicle manufacturing, registration and many others normally affect the vehicle industries but in the case of simulation this was not a concern though it was believed that the firm is in compliance with all the necessary legal requirements such as safety, quality, ethics etc. PORTERS FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Porter 5 forces are used to determine the intensity of the competition and evaluate the actual position that the firm is holding. Summary of the Five Forces: Bargaining power of suppliers Bargaining power of customers Threat of substitute Threat of new entrants Competition within/rivalry HIGH 7 firms competing head to head within the industry HIGH As there are 7 firms in total within the industry depending upon the same supplier MODERATE Motor bikes, Bicycles or use of public transport LOW As high investments required, customers buying power and high technological cost HIGH As there are 7 firms within the industry serving the same segments e.g. family, economic and truck Threat of New Entrants: is low due to high investments requirement, high customer buying power and high technological cost incurred to establish and maintain the firm. Though in the simulation the threat is low as the appointed firms are the only ones competing. This leads to growth as managers can concentrate on available competition therefore make more strategic decisions. Threat of Substitutes: this is moderate as due to high traffic jams, pollution and environmental awareness many of the people opt for motor bikes, bicycles or using public transport instead of owning a vehicle. But most of our sales were basing on the family vehicles which means family people would of course still prefer having a convenience means of transport for the whole family and also those who need to carry bulky goods would rather have a truck or spacious vehicle then using the alternatives. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: is high though it is not specified within the simulation but is evident as 7 firms depend on the minimum number of suppliers and therefore this gives the upper hand to the supplier to bargain a good deal out of their buyers. This restricts the managements decision to be cost effective as manufacturing cost is increased with the suppliers bargaining power. Bargaining Power of Buyers: is high as there are 7 firms producing similar vehicles with very less differentiated features if any in the same segments of economy, family and truck therefore giving the buyers more choices to select from before buying the vehicles. This is good in a way management can be innovative to bring out best vehicles to offer to buyers but also restricts on the price bases as customers have the upper hand. Rivalry/competition: is high as there are 7 firms competing head to head to gain higher market share and returns and therefore gives an intensified competition to all the firms. This is healthy to some point as it gives the challenge to managers but it is a threat as when firm fails to provide better and reasonable vehicles compared to the rivals. SWOT ANALYSIS SWOT ANALYSIS helps the firm analyse its internal as well as external capabilities. Whereby strengths and weaknesses are internal, opportunity and threats are external. A firm is required to identify its strengths to overcome its weaknesses and capture opportunities and minimise threat. INTERNAL EXTERNAL Strength Weakness Opportunity Threat Ability to manage debts -cash flow management -positive income -Poor cost management -Low capabilities in terms of development centers Growing economy Emerging market 4M Increase Fuel prices Increased inflation Intensive competition Strength: The ability to manage debts and have a slight increase from period 1 to period 5 by $1,125. Our cash flow management was good as we had enough money in circulation and in the firm to carry out operations smoothly unlike other firms who had gone negative in the cash flow. (Appendix 1 2). We are among the 2nd firm that managed to keep their income levels positive unlike others who went negative. (See appendix 3) Weakness: Our main weakness was our cost management. Our sales were increasing by period 5 they reached $15, 54.8 an increase of $550.5 since period 2 but our costs were also increasing and therefore reducing our net income which came to $38.7 in period 5 while it was $ 587.1 in period 2. (Appendix 4) Opportunity: the growing economy and emerging new market 4m as per the research was the opportunity towards the firm. (Appendix 5) All we needed to do was utilize our strength to minimize our weakness and capture this appealing opportunity before our competitors do. Threat: Increasing prices of crude oil and increase in inflation percent is the main concern for the firm. Competition is also fierce from the financial summary of the overall industry we are placed at 2nd last position in terms of value market share which we hold 11.4% of the total market. (Appendix 3) STRATEGIC DECISIONS A strategy is the action plan for of the organisation to achieve organisation goals and gain competitive advantage over the rivals and achieve maximum returns for the stakeholders. BASIC STRATEGY APPLIED: The firm was in a similar situation as its competitors when the simulation started and therefore our first strategy was to increase our technological capabilities in order to differentiate our vehicles from those of the competitors. We also aimed at increasing sales as our mission explains and therefore we increased our budget for product marketing by $2 million initially. As we were not familiar with the outcome, yet we had achieved greatly by increased return on sales from 3.4% to 3.9% and increased return on assets by 6.4% to 8.2%. Later we increased on promotions and advertising as we believed that its the only way to position our product in the mind of the customers in order to increase sales. Later on we decided to upgrade our vehicles according to quality and safety requirements to all of our vehicles but that did not give the kind of returns we were hoping for. We also increased our plant capacity by 300(000s) in order to facilitate better manufacturing. We also increased our inventory as we were running short to the demand; we had also increased awareness in south and west regions where we saw we were lacking back in terms of sales units. We had also increased our relationship with underperforming dealers by increasing their discount from 8% to 9% so that they are motivated to sale more of our vehicles in their perspective regions. We had also increased the budget for the training and developing our dealers to be able to understand our vehicles better so that they can believe in our product and sale more. FUTURE STRATEGY: We still continue to emphasise our future strategies to such that will enable us to increase our sales volume and give us the highest returns. We intend to take advantage of the new market that is identified by the market research (Appendix 5). This will be achieved by being more innovative and customer oriented so that we serve our customers with what they require. We also intend to increase our technological capabilities as technology is dynamic and therefore all efforts will be made to keep up with the changing technology to give our customers the most stylish, safe, spacious and most of all quality vehicles. This would be value for their money. 5.0 EXPERIENCES AND LEARNING The simulation was a great learning experience. It increased my knowledge obtained from academic teachings and gave me ability to use them to the real world scenario. We had planed our team in such a way that one member logs in with his user name and password and feeds the decisions for the period, though the decisions were discussed and come to conclusion by all of the team members this enabled us to divide our work and come up with final decision which boosted our knowledge base to the great extent. The following are among the few of what I had experienced during the simulation exercise: The ability to make decision on various aspects of the business such as marketing, manufacturing, technological etc. How to grow as a firm and sustain the growth with the resources available Learnt how to analyse different internal and external factors affecting the firm and know where our firm stands in the industry (Bench Marking) Monitor inventory turnover period and re-stock when necessary. Experienced the competition and discover ways to overcome. Learned how to forecast future sales, identify opportunities and establish good relationship with dealers. Learned how important marketing and promotion is for the growth of the sales and overall business and also to position our products in the minds of targeted customers. Learnt to be customer oriented and understand their needs and produce according to their requirements. (Segmenting and targeting) Learnt how to manage costs and overall cash flow. Last but not the least the major learning and experience was the team work was essential in any business and decision making. Organising team work and group discussions were among the major experiences of simulation. CONCLUSION In conclusion I can say firm D has performed reasonably well compared to the situation and experience team members had. Though our sales didnt increase to our expectations but yet we had maintained the positive income unlike other firms who had gone negative on cash flows as well as incomes. We could have done better with better decision making in aspects such as new product development to give our customers customised vehicle, more emphasis could have been made to our product upgrade and manufacturing in order to meet the growing demand especially for the family segment as it is the growing in demand vehicle in the industry. All in all it was a good attempt in my view and even better learning experience for all our group members which not only increased our academic knowledge and gave us good real life decision making experience but it also increased our social interactions within the group which in itself is a learning achievement.

Paris During the Terror Essay -- Papers Paris France Terror Essays Pap

Paris During the Terror This document in its original form as a speech is an unpublished document. However, because it has been translated and printed as a part of a book, it is now a published document. As a source for study, it has several strengths. Firstly, it is now a part of a recognized historical document. Secondly, it fulfills the criteria of being a relevant document because of the author’s proximity to the Paris Terror. It also provides good clues about the view points (however biased) of Jacques Roux and others like him living in Paris at that time. On the other hand, while this speech’s translation into English will ensure it reaches a wider audience, important nuances of the French language may have been lost in the crossover. As a result, significant connotations gained from a choice of French words may no longer be obvious and this may even affect the amount of unwitting testimony one might have been able to extract from it. Another weakness this speech will have is its bias. It is very obvious that Jacques Roux is passionate about the role of the government in the persecution of his people. The reader is presented with one side of the struggle without being aware of whether the government was in fact guilty of what it is charged with. The foot notes are also open to interpretation. How sure can the reader be of the accuracy of the information? While reading Jacques Roux’s speech, it may be difficult to decipher certain terms, one of which is the sans culottes. If one investigates, one will be faced with the task of interpreting which version was meant and used by Roux. In order to truly underst... ... by law’, merchants and traders should bear some moral responsibility towards the poverty stricken citizens of Paris. Although much of what Roux says can be checked against other documents of the era, his speech would be of significant use to a historian as except for the translation to English, it has not been manipulated in terms of personal interpretations or open to discussion. It is mainly for this reason that for a historian, Jacques Roux’s speech is a minefield of information about the personal struggles of a Parisian living during the Terror. Bibliography An Introduction to the Humanities. History, Classicism and Revolution. Block 3. Open University Press.1997 An Introduction to the Humanities. Resource Book 2. Open University Press. 1997 www.library.ttu.edu/ul/subjects/humanities/history/

Breakfast Eating Habits †UK †April 2014 Report by Researchmoz Essay

Operators could look to marketing to reposition breakfast as a way to connect people or to offer a bit of me-time before tackling the day, reminding consumers that, for example, a bowl of porridge or a crumpet with butter is worth savouring. Full Report With TOC @ http://www. researchmoz. us/breakfast-eating-habits-uk-april-2014-report. html Table of Content Introduction Definition Abbreviations Executive Summary. The market Figure 1: UK retail value sales of selected breakfast foods, 2008-18 Market factors Rise in consumer expenditure and confidence Sugar is an ongoing concern Demographic changes are set to impact the breakfast market Companies, brands and innovation Hot cereals see biggest growth in NPD Figure 2: Share of new product launches in typical breakfast food markets, by sub-category, 2011-13 The consumer Almost all adults eat breakfast at home, more than half doing so every day Figure 3: Frequency of eating breakfast, by location, February 2014 Breakfast cereals are most popular at home, hot rolls/sandwiches when out of home Figure 4: Types of breakfast foods eaten at home and out of home, February 2014 Ease of preparation is most important when eating breakfast at home Figure 5: Factors influencing choice of breakfast products at home and out of home, February 2014 Three in 10 tend to eat breakfast with others, while the same number enjoy taking their time Figure 6: Attitudes towards breakfast, February 2014 What we think All Latest Market Research Report @ http://www. researchmoz. us/latest-report. html For More Information Kindly Contact: Email: sales@researchmoz. us WebSite:http://www. researchmoz. us/ Blog: http://industryresearchnews. blogspot. com.

Automatic Renewal Clauses: The Case between Letisha and Sudson Washer and Dryer

This paper examines a contract between Letisha and Sudson Washer and Dryer that contains an automatic renewal clause. The potential defenses for Letisha if Sudson sues her for breach of contract are presented. The defenses for Sudson that support the automatic renewal clause are also discussed. The ethical issues of using an automatic renewal clause and the actions of the Sudson Washer and Dryer representative when signing the contract are also examined. Section 2A of the Uniform Commercial Code and how it applies to this case is presented. There are also government and private entities that Letisha can complain to about the business practices of Sudson. Finally, the paper concludes with the potential outcome of the case if Sudson sues Letisha for breach of contract.Automatic Renewal Clauses: The Case between Letisha and Sudson Washer and Dryer Letisha signed a lease with a Sudson Washer and Dryer Representative that allowed her to lease a washer and dryer from the company for five y ears. At the end of the lease agreement, Letisha called to cancel, and found out that her lease agreement had been extended for three five year terms. Letisha was unaware that the contract had an automatic renewal clause.The Uniform Commercial Code section 2A defines a lease agreement, and it also explains how lessees and lessors are protected. Using Section 2A and state laws, there may be defenses for Letisha if she decides to breach the contract and Sudson sues her. There may also be government agencies Letisha can bring her grievances to about Sudson’s use of automatic renewal clauses. There are also defenses for Sudson to support the enforcement of the automatic clause, even if the use of an automatic renewal clause may be unethical. This case is an example of the importance of reading a contract before signing it.Defenses for LetishaDepending on the state where Letisha lives, there could be a multitude of defenses available to her regarding the automatic renewal. In some states, the lessor is required to send a reminder to the lessee of the automatic renewal (Davidson et al., 2009). In New York, for example, the lessor is required to send written reminders of the automatic renewal at least 15 days before the contract renews (Dutton, 2011). Since Letisha received no prior notification besides the information in the contract; she may be able to use that fact in her defense.In Illinois, the automatic renewal policy must be conspicuous (Dutton, 2011). There is no uniform requirement for conspicuousness, but the Uniform Commercial Code states that capital letters and bold face print should be used. It is apparent in Letisha’s case, that the automatic renewal clause with Sudson was not conspicuous, which may be grounds for a defense.In Wisconsin, laws regarding the automatic renewal clause were passed saying that the lessee must be informed about the clause before the contract is signed (Dutton, 2011). The salesman did not inform Letisha of the cl ause, and while it is her responsibility to read the contract, she may have grounds for a defense in some states. Some states would also allow a defense on the grounds that the automatic renewal length is too extensive. Most standard form contracts are held if the automatic renewal is for five years or less (Kirschenbaum, 2013). It would be up to Letisha to either research the legislation in her state regarding automatic renewal contracts, or to hire an attorney to do so, in order to find if she has grounds for a defense against Sudson.Defenses for Sudson Washer and DryerThough there are provisions in many states regarding automatic renewal clauses, if Sudson followed the stipulations in their state, they would have a legal argument supporting the enforcement of the clause. In the case of Tidwell v. Pritchett-Moore, Inc. & Tim Rutledge, the Alabama Supreme Court found that automatic renewal clauses are enforceable if the provision is clear in the contract (Tidwell 2008). It is not t he fault of the company, if the lessee signed the contract without reading it fully and failed to give notice of cancellation before the deadline.If the clause is stated clearly, then it is likely that it will be enforced by the courts. For example, in the case of Winthrop Resources Corporation v. Spearhead System Consultants, the court found that because intentions to terminate the  contract were not made clear before the time allotted in the contract, the renewal of the contract was enforceable (Huddleson, Graynor, Flick, & Whelan, 2003).Ethical IssuesWhile Sudson’s automatic renewal clause may be upheld, there are ethical issues of the company using such a practice. First, many courts have had the opinion that parties should be notified when the lease is up for renewal (Leitess, Ihne, & Goldberg, 2005). It is unlikely that the client would remember about the clause five years later, and the company should be willing to make a courtesy call in order to keep customers happ y. Also, all parts of the contract should have been discussed before signing.Not informing the client of the automatic renewal policy does not reflect well on Sudson Washer and Dryer Service. The National Association of Equipment Leasing Brokers states in their code of ethics that leasing companies should remain honest and professional in all business transactions (â€Å"NAELB,† 2013). In this case, not discussing all parts of the contract before allowing the client to sign is neither honest nor professional. U.C.C Section 2AThe Uniform Commercial Code Article 2A governs the leases of goods, and it provides basic contract rules regarding leases. The U.C.C. defines a lease as transfer of goods by a lessor to a lessee for a set amount of time in exchange for payment (â€Å"U.C.C.,† 2002). Using this definition, the U.C.C. Article 2A can be applied to the agreement between Letisha and Sudson Washer and Dryer Service. Sudson leased the equipment to Letisha in return for mo nthly payments.The company is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the washer and dryer because they hold the title to the machine. Letisha is required to make payments to Sudson in order to fulfill her part of the lease agreement. Article 2A not only lists the necessities to make a lease agreement legal, but it also lists the rights of both lessee and lessor regarding the lease agreement.Complaints to Government EntitiesOne entity that Letisha may complain to is the Better Business Bureau. The BBB will look into any complaint that does not involve the workplace, discrimination, health services, legal services, or cases in litigation (â€Å"What complaints,† 2013). A complaint through the BBB will be sent to the business for resolution. Though the business may choose to stand behind their agreement, a complaint will be lodged against the company. Another option for Letisha is the Bureau of Consumer Protection under the Federal Trade Commission.The purpose of the Bure au of Consumer Protection is to protect consumers from unfair or deceptive business practices (Rich, 2013). If the automatic renewal clause is found to be unfair or deceptive, then the company may be sued by the Bureau of Consumer Protection. Letisha can complain to these entities about Sudson’s automatic renewal clause, but it is the agency’s discretion whether the clause is unfair or not.Outcome of Legal ProceedingsIf Sudson sues Letisha for breach of contract, it is likely that Sudson will win the case. The U.C.C. Section 2A-301 states a lease contract is enforceable according to the terms agreed to by both parties (â€Å"U.C.C.,† 2002). Since Letisha and the Sudson representative signed the contract, both parties agreed to the terms within the contract. It is unlikely that the court will favor Letisha because the automatic renewal clause was not pointed out to her. It is the lessee’s responsibility to read the contract and understand all parts. The ag reement clearly stated the time limit on cancelling the lease, and Letisha failed to meet those requirements.ConclusionIn order to avoid issues like Letisha’s with Sudson, it would be advisable for parties to go through the contract together. Lessees may even want to hire an attorney to explain any part of a contract that is not easily understood. By taking the time to read the entire contract before signing, lessees are protecting their interests. Automatic renewal clauses are losing their popularity, but they are still used, especially in leases between businesses. Businesses may want to consider other avenues to keep customers, but if they are going to use automatic renewal clauses, it will keep customers happy if they are informed of such a clause before it is too late to cancel the lease agreement.

Eulogy Examples and Definition

Eulogy Examples and Definition From the Greek word, praise, a eulogy is a formal expression of praise for someone who has recently died. Although eulogies are traditionally regarded as a form of epideictic rhetoric, on occasion they may also serve a deliberative function.   Examples of a Eulogy It is hard to eulogize any manto capture in words, not just the facts and the dates that make a life, but the essential truth of a person: their private joys and sorrows, the quiet moments and unique qualities that illuminate someone’s soul. (President Barack Obama, speech at the memorial service for former South African president Nelson Mandela, December 10, 2013) Ted Kennedys Eulogy for His Brother Robert My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it. Those of us who loved him and who take him to his rest today, pray that what he was to us and what he wished for others will some day come to pass for all the world. As he said many times, in many parts of this nation, to those he touched and who sought to touch him: Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not. (Edward Kennedy, service for Robert Kennedy, June 8, 1968) Deliberative Eulogies In their discussion of generic hybrids, [K.M.] Jamieson and [K.K.] Campbell ([Quarterly Journal of Speech,] 1982) focused on the introduction of deliberative appeals in a ceremonial eulogya deliberative eulogy. Such hybrids, they suggested, are most common in the cases of well-known public figures but are not necessarily restricted to these cases. When a small child falls victim to gang violence, the priest or minister may use the occasion of the funeral eulogy to encourage public policy changes designed to stem the tide of urban decay. Eulogies also may be fused with other genres. (James Jasinski, Sourcebook on Rhetoric. Sage, 2001) Dr. Kings Eulogy for the Victims of the Birmingham Church Bombing This afternoon we gather in the quiet of this sanctuary to pay our last tribute of respect to these beautiful children of God. They entered the stage of history just a few years ago, and in the brief years that they were privileged to act on this mortal stage, they played their parts exceedingly well. Now the curtain falls; they move through the exit; the drama of their earthly life comes to a close. They are now committed back to that eternity from which they came. These children- unoffending, innocent, and beautiful- were the victims of one of the most vicious and tragic crimes ever perpetrated against humanity. . . . And yet they died nobly. They are the martyred heroines of a holy crusade for freedom and human dignity. And so this afternoon in a real sense they have something to say to each of us in their death. They have something to say to every minister of the gospel who has remained silent behind the safe security of stained-glass windows. They have something to say to every politician who has fed his constituents with the stale bread of hatred and the spoiled meat of racism. They have something to say to a federal government that has compromised with the undemocratic practices of southern Dixiecrats and the blatant hypocrisy of right-wing northern Republicans. They have something to say to every Negro who has passively accepted the evil system of segregation and who has stood on the sidelines in a mighty struggle for justice. They say to each of us, black and white alike, that we must substitute courage for caution. They say to us that we must be concerned not merely about who murdered them , but about the system, the way of life, the philosophy which produced the murderers. Their death says to us that we must work passionately and unrelentingly for the realization of the American dream. . . .(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., from his eulogy for the young victims of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, Sep. 18, 1963) Using Humor: John Cleeses Eulogy for Graham Chapman Graham Chapman, the co-author of the Parrot Sketch, is no more. He has ceased to be. Bereft of life, he rests in peace. Hes kicked the bucket, hopped the twig, bit the dust, snuffed it, breathed his last, and gone to meet the great Head of Light Entertainment in the sky. And I guess that were all thinking how sad it is that a man of such talent, of such capability for kindness, of such unusual intelligence, should now so suddenly be spirited away at the age of only 48, before hed achieved many of the things of which he was capable, and before hed had enough fun. Well, I feel that I should say: nonsense. Good riddance to him, the freeloading bastard, I hope he fries. And the reason I feel I should say this is he would never forgive me if I didnt, if I threw away this glorious opportunity to shock you all on his behalf. Anything for him but mindless good taste. (John Cleese, Dec. 6, 1989) Jack Handeys Eulogy for Himself We are gathered here, way far in the future, for the funeral of Jack Handey, the world’s oldest man. He died suddenly in bed, according to his wife, Miss France. No one is really sure how old Jack was, but some think he may have been born as long ago as the twentieth century. He passed away after a long, courageous battle with honky-tonkin’ and alley-cattin’. . . As hard as it is to believe, he never sold a single painting during his lifetime, or even painted one. Some of the greatest advances in architecture, medicine, and theatre were not opposed by him, and he did little to sabotage them. . . . Generous even with his organs, he has asked that his eyes be donated to a blind person. Also his glasses. His skeleton, equipped with a spring that will suddenly propel it to a full standing position, will be used to educate kindergartners. . . . So let us celebrate his death, and not mourn. However, those who appear to be a little too happy will be asked to leave. (Jack Handey, How I Want to Be Remembered. The New Yorker, March 31, 2008)

Cryptid

Cryptid Cryptid Cryptid By Maeve Maddox The lovely word cryptid came to my attention in reference to the ivory-billed woodpecker. One of these birds, long believed to be extinct, was sighted in eastern Arkansas in 2004. As no subsequent sightings have been reported, the survival of the species is still disputed. Cryptid is of recent coinage, suggested in 1983 by J. E. Wall in a publication of the International Society of Cryptozoology, as a word â€Å"to replace sensational and often misleading terms like monster.† Note: The Google Ngram Viewer shows use of cryptid as early as 1963, but the appearance in the ISC newsletter is most likely the cause of the word’s meteoric rise from 1990 to the present. Cryptozoology may be a pseudoscience, but the word cryptid is a useful addition to the English vocabulary, joining other English words that derive from Greek kryptos, â€Å"hidden†: crypt (1583) An underground cell, chamber, or vault; especially, one used as a burial place and typically lying beneath a church. cryptogram (1827) A piece of cryptographic writing; anything written in code or cipher. cryptology (1844) The science, study, or practice of encrypting and decrypting information. cryptonym (1862)   A pseudonym or code name; esp. one given to a spy or to a clandestine operation. crypsis (1956) Cryptic coloration or behavior that enables an animal to conceal its presence. Cryptozoology (1968) The study of unknown, legendary, or extinct animals whose existence or survival to the present day is disputed or unsubstantiated. Cryptids more sensational than the ivory-billed woodpecker include the following: Abominable Snowman Big Foot chupacabra Fouke Monster Kelpie Water horse Loch Ness monster Mermaids Sea serpents Sewer alligators For a lengthy list of cryptids, see the Wikipedia article. 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 Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Bare or Bear With Me?What to Do When Words Appear Twice in a Row5 Keys to Better Sentence Flow

Faith in ourselves Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Faith in ourselves - Essay Example To be able to get enlightened, disciplined pursuit of truth is necessary. Salzberg talks about how her own spiritual journey was marked by phases of doubt and confusion. Indeed, it is these challenges which make knowledge concrete, pulling away from its conceptual abstractions. In her own case, she encountered confusion whether to follow the Burmese or the Tibetan tradition of spiritual contemplation. She states that such challenges are a rite of passage for entering a higher realm of consciousness. Even when it comes to techniques of meditation there are numerous methods. As far as spiritual awakening is concerned there is no one text-book method to follow. Spiritual progress is a personal journey and it is achieved through the individual’s own striving. Salzberg contends that although Buddhist teachers can offer guidance, the ‘truth’ cannot be revealed through instruction. Salzberg cites her own experiences as an abused child to explain how Buddhist philosophy c an come to aid. Having been abandoned and abused by her parents at a very young age, Salzberg was yet able to overcome such trauma. It was purely as a result of Vipassana meditation, that she successfully conquered her past. What more, the example of her life is in itself an inspiration for many of us with similar childhoods. Salzberg forewarns that though the fruits of meditation are undeniable, attaining them requires lots of patience and persistence. Buddhism does not offer any quick-fix solutions but instead takes the seeker through trials and tribulations. It is only those with conviction and faith that come through this arduous journey. Salzberg implores us to take up this challenge, for the fruits it bears are invaluable. I personally subscribe to what Salzberg has said in her book. Although I am not a Buddhist, I am able to see the value of Buddhist contemplative practices, especially meditation, for healthy living. It should be remembered that most modern illnesses are stress related.

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 86

Summary - Essay Example Therefore, President John Tyler who supported seizure was defeated by congressional northern and some member of the south (Kubiaks 1). The other obstacle to seizure was Mexico insistence that Texas was part of its territory. Upon nomination of James K. Polk, there was the restoration of the annexation call. He asserted all the Oren territory belonged to the American people. He convinced the northern that annexation would be beneficial to them all. After the election, the boundary that existed between Washington state and British Columbia was recognized (Kubiaks 1). This was done without war, and hence the northerners were convinced that this policy cared more about southern expansion at the expense of north (Kubiaks 1). However, Polk did not surrender to Mexican demand. This led to war, and he ended up winning all the territory he had offered to purchase from the Mexican. During the war, he sent troops into the disputed area of Rio Grande (Kubiaks 1). The Mexican at the same time sen t troops that led to skirmishes of 1846. America suffered a numbered of causalities, and this forced congress declaration of war. The war was fought from three different fronts. This led to Mexico losing Texas, California, New Mexico, and some parts of Northern Mexico (Kubiaks 1). The Mexican government was ineffective, and the command was divided while American had better arms with complete command. After this war, there was signing of the treaty of Hildago in 1848 (Kubiaks 1). In this treaty, Texas was ceded, California, and New Mexico to United States (Kubiaks 1). The united stats agreed to pay $15 million. The present day Texas was born. The joining of Texas had a noticeable impact on the southwest development. There was a steady increase in the number of migrants. There was also an influx of educated artisans and businesspersons. With such influx, there was established

Google Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Google - Assignment Example Google has grown to attract large numbers of users who access the internet daily. The company has been selling text based ads that incorporates search keywords. This has been one of their largest income earners over the past decade. (Google Incorporation, 2014). Larry and Brin obtained their first capital in form of a donation from Andy Bechtolsheim, A Partner at Sun Microsystems. Google has over the past years gained a large pool of capital. Selling its first shares in 2004 where 19,605,052 shares were sold at $85 per share. Google is now operating in different countries of the world and worked with many corporations such as NASA, AOL, and News Corp’s. Google has become part of the largest providers of social media platforms. In corporation with mobile companies, it created the Mobi. top level. This is an area for mobile internet that allows mobile users to access the internet through their phones for quick communication. Most of the scholars have come up with lots of work done on business strategy but most of them have not withstood the test of time. Many people are well familiar with Mintzberg and Water’s strategy of 1985. Mintzberg is one of the best strategic thinkers. In collaboration with James Waters they both developed a model that showed how strategy is developed and how it is ultimately delivered. In their model, strategy delivery is made up of two sides. The deliberate strategy which includes what the organization desires to do and the emergent strategy which indicates what happened during the process (Mintzberg, 2010). The model looks like this; Google incorporation has been one of the company’s in the world that is utilizing this model in connecting up with entrepreneurs and coming up with the latest inventories in the world of technology in order to meet their customers’ demands. Google being one the most important and the largest search engines in the world must ensure that combines with the

Discussions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 12

Discussions - Essay Example This creates a company that focuses on standards with rigid controlled process and the best practices that are closely supervised. The main advantage associated with the bureaucratic structure of an organization is the fact that decision-making takes a shorter time as less people who take part in this activity and this makes sure that work is completed in an efficient manner and on time. In contrast, bureaucratic structures may have a discouraging effect to creativity as well as innovation in the entire organization, as it is difficult for a single person in the organization to come up with all the strategic ideas that are required in a large company. Information systems are computer systems that provide the management and other employees within the company with latest information in terms of the performance of the organization such as the prevailing inventory and sales (Jawadekar, 2013). It is usually connected to a computer network that is developed through linking various computers to allow sharing of data as well as resources. These systems are intended to collect, transmit, store and retrieve as well as display the information that is utilized by several process in the organization. The systems that are supposed to serve general and foreseeable management practices are also referred to as management information systems. An example of a report that is generated by this system is the information that contained in yearly reports developed for the stakeholders of organizations. Staffing professionals include staffing managers in the human resource department who are responsible for all the areas that are linked to the staffing requirements of the company(Strayer, 2005). These professionals must be able to recruit when they find the applicants who are appropriately qualified while being able to deal with the hiring and retaining of the already hired employees. For a company to be successful, staffing is not enough, as the human resource

Dubai Financial Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Dubai Financial Market - Essay Example Dubai Financial Market (DFM) is one of the few stock exchanges of UAE which was established as a public institution on March 26, 2000 (Dubai Financial Market, 2013a). It has its own independent body which was formed as a result of a resolution passed by the Ministry of Economy (MOE) number 14 2000 (Dubai Financial Market, 2013a). It operates as secondary market responsible for trading of securities, bonds, units of investment fund, any other financial instrument which is issued by the public joint stock companies, Federal government or any other local government & public institutions of the country. DFM was established as a joint stock company with a paid up capital 8 billion Dirham with a par value of 1.6 per share. The first IPO by DFM had resulted in more than 8 billion Dirham. The main objective of DFM is to make it a world class market place and provide the stakeholders with innovative facilities in trading, settlement, depositary of securities and clearing in an efficient metho d. Some of the important market values of DFM are efficiency, transparency, innovation, confidentiality and integrity. The existence of a strong investment market in UAE has attracted several potential investors and is considered as one of the most potential investment hubs of the world. As per a survey conducted by the Economic Department of Dubai 28 percent of the surveyed respondents had claimed Dubai to the most lucrative investment destinations of the world (DED, 2012). Mission and Objectives of DFM The mission and the objective of DFM are to create a fair, transparent and efficient liquid market for smooth trading purposes. It helps in provident various investment opportunities through optimum utilization of resources. The management of DFM provides opportunities for investment purposes in securities markets which would serve for the best interest of the Dubai economy. It also helps in facilitating liquidation of funds invested in securities markets which ensures the smooth interaction between demand and supply by developing principles of fair dealing. One of the main objectives is to arrange for transfer of ownership of securities through deposit, transfer and clearing center within an integrated system which enables fast and correct transfer of ownership of shares. Operations of DFM DFM was initially operated by the government of UAE however, in the year 2006 DFM had turned into a public joint stock company through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) which led to sale of 20 perc ent of the shares to the public and the remaining 80 percent were subscribed by Bourse Dubai. Figure 2: Organizational Hierarchy of DFM (Source: Dubai Financial Market, 2013c) Registrar of Listed Public Shareholding Company The registrar of the issuer company are an essential element of the securities market and the first necessary step for the investor is to submit the

ACADEMIC CULTURE & VALUES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ACADEMIC CULTURE & VALUES - Essay Example In as much as it remains a common language among various countries English has various advantages and disadvantages. English taking on the role of world language has various advantages, to start with is the uniformity is accords to reference. It is language, which maintains its originality due to stringent rules guiding its usage ( Ammon 2003, p 63). Recently the Australia based organizations acquired it to facilitate free trade among the 13 member countries. English further ensures a free communication among member countries across borders, as it remains a simple language to learn and consequently, a global language known by many people. Technological advancements in the current world get help from English as a world language. Computer advancement for instance has programme software’s in English as other languages seem are difficult to understand and learn. This makes English the only language, which can be beneficial to the whole world and accepted by every country. In as much as English is not a common language for everybody using the internet it has remained a common and unifying language to all people. Further English has an advantage of taking the worlds language from the context that all world media fraternities apart from internet use English. This includes world television networks including CNN and Aljazira. In addition, other field such as medication prints instructions through English as well as giving medication guidelines using English. In the field of business, English still forms a key communication medium at air traffic controls including airports and airplanes. This makes English an international language with many advantages as it forms a common medium of communication (Kirkpatrick 2007, p 16). Apart from facilitating communication around the world, English has done a lot of harm to the world. To start with is the fact that it has made other languages disappear and

Discussions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 12

Discussions - Essay Example This creates a company that focuses on standards with rigid controlled process and the best practices that are closely supervised. The main advantage associated with the bureaucratic structure of an organization is the fact that decision-making takes a shorter time as less people who take part in this activity and this makes sure that work is completed in an efficient manner and on time. In contrast, bureaucratic structures may have a discouraging effect to creativity as well as innovation in the entire organization, as it is difficult for a single person in the organization to come up with all the strategic ideas that are required in a large company. Information systems are computer systems that provide the management and other employees within the company with latest information in terms of the performance of the organization such as the prevailing inventory and sales (Jawadekar, 2013). It is usually connected to a computer network that is developed through linking various computers to allow sharing of data as well as resources. These systems are intended to collect, transmit, store and retrieve as well as display the information that is utilized by several process in the organization. The systems that are supposed to serve general and foreseeable management practices are also referred to as management information systems. An example of a report that is generated by this system is the information that contained in yearly reports developed for the stakeholders of organizations. Staffing professionals include staffing managers in the human resource department who are responsible for all the areas that are linked to the staffing requirements of the company(Strayer, 2005). These professionals must be able to recruit when they find the applicants who are appropriately qualified while being able to deal with the hiring and retaining of the already hired employees. For a company to be successful, staffing is not enough, as the human resource

ACADEMIC CULTURE & VALUES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ACADEMIC CULTURE & VALUES - Essay Example In as much as it remains a common language among various countries English has various advantages and disadvantages. English taking on the role of world language has various advantages, to start with is the uniformity is accords to reference. It is language, which maintains its originality due to stringent rules guiding its usage ( Ammon 2003, p 63). Recently the Australia based organizations acquired it to facilitate free trade among the 13 member countries. English further ensures a free communication among member countries across borders, as it remains a simple language to learn and consequently, a global language known by many people. Technological advancements in the current world get help from English as a world language. Computer advancement for instance has programme software’s in English as other languages seem are difficult to understand and learn. This makes English the only language, which can be beneficial to the whole world and accepted by every country. In as much as English is not a common language for everybody using the internet it has remained a common and unifying language to all people. Further English has an advantage of taking the worlds language from the context that all world media fraternities apart from internet use English. This includes world television networks including CNN and Aljazira. In addition, other field such as medication prints instructions through English as well as giving medication guidelines using English. In the field of business, English still forms a key communication medium at air traffic controls including airports and airplanes. This makes English an international language with many advantages as it forms a common medium of communication (Kirkpatrick 2007, p 16). Apart from facilitating communication around the world, English has done a lot of harm to the world. To start with is the fact that it has made other languages disappear and

Comparison between Utilitarianism and Idealism Essay Example for Free

Comparison between Utilitarianism and Idealism Essay The two theories that will be compared and contrasted in this essay are Platos Idealism and Mill Benthams Utilitarianism. I chose these two theories because, to me, they are the ones that seem to be the most realistic and interesting. The way to get from the level of the is to the level of the ought of the Philosophers in these theories are the two bests. In this essay, it will be shown that the two theories are not so different in their relation between the level of the is and the level of the ought; it will be shown that Idealism would be a better theory for a society with highly intellectual people, and that a combination of these theory would be the best way for our society to evolve from the level of the is to the level of the ought. Platos way to go from the is to the ought is socratic questioning. He says that we should question ourselves on whether the moral views we have are ideal or not. He also says that the way of looking at things we have is wrong because all men are not the same, and so they do not have the same opinion of things. Part of his theory says that to get to true virtue (ideal moral views) we have to trim down all the false moral views we have and get to the basic, timeless, and unchanging patterns of the Good. With those ideal moral views we would be able to mirror the Good. Examples of false ideal moral views for Plato are seeking for selfish pleasures such as food, sex, and power. For Utilitarians, the way to get from the level of the is to the level of the ought is to reward or sanction a person for his or her actions. In Utilitarism people should choose actions that are the most utile for them but also for society. In other words they should choose the most pleasant and less painful actions and consequences for the greatest number of people. The degree of utility (degree of pleasure) is determined by what is called felicific calculus. This pleasure calculator is composed of different criterions that caracterise the pleasure provided by a certain action. They are intensity, duration, certainty, proximity, fecundity, and purity. These caracteristics of pleasure are calculated for ones self and for the population that his or her action concerns. If an action is said to have a fairly good utility to one but a very big disutility to society, it is said to be an immoral action. In that sense selfish pleasures are immoral. In these two theories, the socratic questioning and the felicific calculus almost play the same role in the way that the result (chosen action) should be the same if one is calculating the utility or one is referring to socratic questioning to take a decision. The socratic questioning of Idealism brings the person at the door of the right moral views by trimming all the layers of appearances and opinions over a concept. Even if one is not seeking those ideal moral views the felicific calculus should take one to the same ideal moral views if it is well performed. In that sense these two theories are the same because they give the same final result. But one of the theories seems harder to realize because everyone has to go through a long process that not every individual wants to perform or is able to perform. This theory is Idealism. On the other hand, in Utilitarianism a scale can be made out to lead people in the right way (and that scale is in fact present in our society). These theories are different in the sense that Utilirianism is easier for a society to perform well. To give rewards and punishments, society needs an authority outside the person who acts; this is why there are governements, theocracies and social opinions to guide people. Utilirianism is the most realistic because people do not have to think about what is right or wrong, they only have to follow the guides (rewards/sanctions). The society we live in is clearly Utilitarian. The many rewards (salary, respect, etc. ) and sanctions (prison, school failure, etc. ) reveal it. Everything works in function of rewards and sanctions. It implies that we only have to follow the rules given and no sanctions should be given to us. If our society was Idealist, it would imply that we would have to think and do the socratic questioning at each dilemma we have. This is impossible because not everybody is intelligent enough to do so, and most of the people would not be willing to go through that process. There is a danger in having a Utilirianism society. We just have to think of the United-States with the war they made to Irak. I believe that the population of that country trusted the felicific calculus scale (which was written by the governement) too much, because most of the population (of the USA, of course ) believed that war in Irak was a good thing. In that case the scale of that population was wrong because it did not care enough about what Irakians really wanted. If that dilemma had been well calculated, I am sure that they would let Irakians rebuild their country all alone and stop occupying the country. An Idealist society would take the time and think about that situation. They would have come to the conclusion that this war was not fair and they would have wanted to wait for real proofs of the presence of massive destruction arms before bombarding Irak. Another problem that Utilitarianism has raised is the sexual inequality. I believe that the situation we are in is caused by an error in the scale of the felicific calculus. The authority in place decided very long ago that women were inferior, and then nobody really thinked about it (or had the courage to change things) until the first feminists movements. With an Idealistic society that problem would never had occurred because Idealists always ask themselves if what they do is right. They would have understood long ago that this situation is completelly wrong. The best way to go from the level of the is to the level of the ought in our society would be to combine these two theories. First, Idealism should be used by a group of intellectuals to create a scale that would be used in felicific calculus. Then, felicific calculus should be used by the population. The scale from the felicific calculus should be adjusted as time goes on so that it evolves well with the new technological, economical and historical facts. But this is only an utopic idea because nobody would be able to create and maintain a fair felicific calculus scale since nobody can totally get to the basic principles of morality.

Calvinism Was Founded By John Calvin Religion Essay

Calvinism Was Founded By John Calvin Religion Essay Calvinism was founded by a man named John Calvin (Theopedia, par. 1). John Calvin was born on July 10, 1509 in France and died on May 27, 1564 at the age of 54 (Rieske, par. 1). John Calvin was brought up Roman Catholic by his mother, Jeanne Le Franc (Rieske, par. 1). John Calvins father, Gerard, was an attorney, raised by seafaring men (Rieske, par. 1). At the age of eighteen, Johns education process was complete (Rieske, par. 2). After John Calvins education and studies were complete, John became a humanist and a reformer, instead of following Roman Catholicism (Rieske, par. 2). To know about a religion or a denomination, one should study also about the founder and the background to his or her life, so that we can know where they came from and where the process of their doctrine beliefs came from. The five main points to Calvinism are: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election (Predestination), Limited Atonement, Irrisistable Grace, and also the Perseverance of the Saints (Humphreys, par. 13). The First of the five points of Calvinism is Total Depravity (Calvinism, par. 4). Every man deserves Hell and is worthless without the presence of God in their lives (Calvinism, par. 4). Adam and Eve and everyone after them were censured by a just God because of original sin (Calvinism, par. 4). The second point is Unconditional Election or Predestination (Humphreys, par. 13). God felt sorry for mankind and sent Jesus to save some sinners, but not all (Calvinism, par. 5). These are known as the Elect and their fate was decided by God before they were born (Calvinism, par. 5). This is not a matter of choice, for the person, but a decision of God (Calvinism, par. 5). Calvinist seem to determine among themselves who is likely to be elected by a persons behavior (Calvinism, par. 6). The points of Limited Atonement and Irrisistable Grace fall with this as well (Humphreys, par. 14-18). The point of Perseverance of the Saints means that once God saves someone, they will always be saved (Humphreys, par. 19). Calvinism teaches that believers dont need priests (Calvinism, par. 8). Calvinists observe both communion and baptism (Calvinism, par. 8). Our God does not need to check the time for anything because He knows when, where, and how everything will happen (Theopedia, par. 5). God keeps himself hidden from non-believers but reveals Himself to those who already know Him, or will know Him (Theopedia, par.5). In the later history of Calvinism, people have modified John Calvins teachings to serve their own purposes and the beliefs of the Reformed Tradition of Protestant Christianity, which Calvinism was the most prominent in (Theopedia, par. 5). When Calvinism first started it suddenly became very popular all around the world (Calvinism, par. 3). John Calvin and many more of his co-pastors were originally from France but left because of their religion, so they moved to Geneva which became a trading city of about 10,000 people (Grell, par. 8). The Old Testament is mainly where Calvin got his inspirations from (Grell, par. 10). Calvinism is not comprehensible without remembering the persecution of Christians (Grell, par. 10). Som e people thought that the idea of Predestination produced anxiety from asceticism and capitalism (German, par. 11). Calvinism was a large part of the Great Awakening Movement in American History, which influenced American culture and disinterested benevolence (German, par. 4). People could give to others without sacrifice (German, par. 4). Jonathan Edwards was the main teacher of this view (German, par. 4). It also included caring for the needs of the many instead of the individual (German, par. 6). Calvinists share many beliefs with Baptists, but they hold some beliefs that we do not share (Humphreys, par. 2). God determines all things in detail, including who will, and who will not be saved (Humphreys, par. 2). Most of the founders of the Southern Baptist Convention were Calvinists, but today most Southern Baptists are not (Humphreys, par. 7). Calvinists believe that mankind is completely corrupt (Theopedia, par. 6). Calvinists also teach that Christ died for a lot of people, but not for everyone (Theopedia, par. 8). Calvinists differed from Lutheranism in that Luther taught a salvation based on faith of the individual and disputed Calvins idea of Predestination (Calvinism, par. 9). However, they do share a belief that we can depend on Gods word (Calvinism, par. 9). In his song, Wholly Yours, David Crowder sings I am full of earth/You are heavens worth/I am stained with dirt/Prone to depravity (Van Biema, par. 1). Songs like this are becoming more and more popular as Calvinism makes a comeback (Burek, par. 6). This comeback challenges Prosperity Gospel that has been so popular in recent years by renewing a focus on God first (Burek, par. 6). More than ten percent of Southern Baptist pastors call themselves Calvinists (Burek, par. 7). Calvinist pastors like John Piper and Mark Dever are at the forefront of the movement, which is especially with young professional people (Burek, par. 8). They point to John Calvin as one of the minds that created our modern culture and the culture of America in general (Burek, par. 18). American ideals of democracy, our open market economy, and equal opportunity all came from John Calvin (Burek, par. 18). The New Calvinism is an effort to put focus back on God and off of ourself (Burek, par. 28). These young people have grown up in an immoral culture and want more than a God who will just be their buddy (Van Biema, par. 5). They want a God who is God (Van Biema, par. 5). They want a God who is bigger and better than they are (Burek, par. 36). These people would rebuke the idea that the Jesus wants to be our friend approach (Burek, par. 13). On the surface, one would think that Calvinism would not be accepted in todays culture (Burek, par. 20). Much of Christianity today concerns a Prosperity Gospel that is centered around the individual (Burek, par. 20). Consider a recent Barna Group survey to determine how many Americans believe that the Bible is completely true, and in salvation by works and not grace (Burek, par. 21). Only nine percent of people surveyed, believed in salvation by grace and among eighteen to twenty-three year olds, it was less than one percent (Burek, par. 22). Many Christians say that they pick and choose from their churchs teachings what they themselves want to believe (Burek, par. 23). This by necessity seems to reveal the need for people to believe that God is God and that He is over everything (Burek, par. 28). They need to know not that man can be improved, but that God is praised (Burek, par. 28). John Calvins teachings had wide exceptance over his lifetime and the centuries to come (Bouwsma, par. 3). People from every cultural background and economic status, were drawn to Calvinism (Bouwsma, par. 3). Calvinisms attraction then, as it is now, comes from how it seemingly explains social problems existing in culture and how it encourages its followers to do good works in Christs name (Bouwsma, par. 3). Calvinism is expertly illustrated in the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes (Fact-Index, par. 4). In fact, the character Calvin is named for John Calvin, and the character Hobbes is named after Thomas Hobbes, who was a seventeenth century philosopher who had what the strips creator called a dim view of human nature (Fact-Index, par. 4). Their witty banter satirizes Calvinisms world view in a fresh and appealing way (Fact-Index, par. 3). The strip, and the teachings of pastors such as John Piper, have wide appeal to people who are searching for meaning in todays world (Burek, par. 8). I t is important that one would show grace towards those that do not agree with ones doctrinal views, but that one would teach and share that the salvation God offers is for everyone, not just Calvins chosen elect.

Comparing Platos Allegory of the Cave and Maimonides Limits of Mans

Plato's Allegory of the Cave and Maimonides' Limits of Man's Intellect      Ã‚   Enlightenment is the key subject of both Plato's "Allegory" and Moses Maimonides' "Limits of Man's Intellect." To them, obtaining knowledge is life's most significant objective. Plato stresses "the Good" while Maimonides encourages "Perfection" as the aim of this objective. While both authors share compatible thoughts toward the subject of enlightenment, there are key differences between "the Good" and "Perfection" that should be duly noted.    In Plato's "Allegory" we see mankind in a state of imprisonment. What they consider reality is merely shadows that are cast on a cavern wall. This can be linked to Maimonide's essay in that he views man's youth as a kind of imprisonment when it comes to obtaining abstract knowledge. He says it is important to initiate the young and teach them according to their ability to comprehend (296). This I feel is an initial starting point, a state of beginnings similar to man being shackled by the limits of its intellect at youth. In the "Allegory of ...

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Money can’t buy happiness. Or can it? In the modern society that we live in nowadays, the theory of consumerism and a person’s happiness, or quality of life, are inseparable, especially in Canada. So much that consumerism seems to be dominating every aspect of our Canadian lifestyle, even the aspects that weren’t by the slightest amount affected by the behavior of consumers ten years ago. Consumerism is a theory that greatly contributes to the enriched quality of life that Canadians enjoy. This economic theory allows for consumer behavior to be central to economic decision-making, higher employment rates to be established, and to initiate a significant increase in globalization. Consumerism is defined as linking prosperity to consumer demand and making consumer behavior central to economic decision-making. This means that we, as consumers, have the ability to influence the quality of life, citizenship, and identity of ourselves and the people around us. Based on our values and beliefs about our identity, health and safety, employment, the environment, and product marketing, we can have our say about a certain product by influencing the demand of it. This can be accomplished by deciding whether or not we want to purchase that product. However, the degree of influence can by greatly augmented by use of boycotts, when a group of consumers choose not to buy or use a product or service to bring about change. We can use this strategy to substantially draw the attention of the targeted company and push them to consider the demand of us consumers and change their actions accordingly. For example, in the year of 2007, the Animal Rights Group initiated a boycott towa rds several cosmetic companies to stop the testing of cosmetics on animals... ...e goods that are shipped out of our ports to countries all around the world. The interrelation of consumerism and globalization helps to create a global bond that most Canadians would be distressed to live without. Consumerism has proven to be central to today’s society and economy. Its promotion of consumers’ interests allows us, as consumers, to manipulate different aspects of the world’s businesses and markets. The chain effect of consumerism is a big factor in maintaining Canada’s employment rate, and increasing each person’s financial status. Globalization and its connection with consumerism works to bond people of all different origins, and spread the world’s markets. Consumerism proves to be a major component of today’s society, enhancing quality of life for Canadians. It could even be thought of as a culture that we all live upon, that links us together.

Blue Ocean Strategy Paper Essay

There has been a lot of discussion and consideration when it comes to the red or blue ocean approach to marketing strategies for businesses both already established and newly founded. Red oceans refer to the known market space – all the industries in existence today. In red oceans, industry boundaries are clearly delineated and accepted, and the competitive rules of the game are known. Companies try to outperform their rivals to grab a greater share of existing demand, usually through marginal changes in offering level and price. As the market space gets crowded, prospects for profits and growth are reduced products become commodities, and cut-throat competition turns the red ocean bloody. On the other hand, the blue ocean approach uses a strategy to create new demand. Therefore, under the reconstructionist view, attention shifts from supply to demand, from a focus on competition to a focus on value innovation―that is, the creation of innovative value that will unlock new demand. With this new focus in mind, it is possible to systematically look across established boundaries of competition and reconstruct existing elements in different markets to create all new market space. (Kim, 2005) Blue Ocean Strategy & Importance Competing in overcrowded industries is no way to sustain high performance. The real opportunity is to create blue oceans of uncontested market space, making the competition irrelevant. A blue ocean strategic move can create brand equity that lasts for decades. A blue ocean is created in the region where a company’s actions favorably affect both its cost structure and its value proposition to buyers. Cost savings are made from eliminating and reducing the factors an industry competes on. Buyer value is lifted by raising and creating elements the industry has never offered. Over time, costs are reduced further as scale economies kick in, due to the high sales volumes that superior value, without the competition generates. Blue Ocean Move The blue ocean strategy is one of the latest business ideas in the world. Even though it was created recently, it immediately gained recognition among experts, and presidents and directors of many companies. Blue ocean strategy is a strategy that differs significantly from most business strategies. Blue ocean, denotes all the industries not in existence today—the unknown market space, where there is no current competition. In blue oceans, demand is created rather than fought over. There is opportunity for growth that is both profitable and rapid. Blue ocean is an analogy to describe the wider, deeper potential of market space that is not yet explored. EBay would be a good example of blue ocean strategy. EBay was the first of its kind to initiate a service of online auctions reaching an enormous target market that had never been targeted before in this manner by offering an online auctioning service to customers from the convenience of their homes. Alternative Red Ocean Move Red oceans are all the industries in existence today—the known market space. In the red oceans, industry boundaries are defined and accepted, and the competitive rules of the game are known. Here companies try to outperform their rivals to grab a greater share of product or service demand. Red ocean strategy is designed to gain the greatest possible number of customers and to sell as many of their products. Companies that select this strategy do not create a new service without competition, they advertise their products in every way possible. The fight between competing companies is constant. Some of these companies are trying to create exclusive product lines to increase the range of their brand but never consider stepping outside of their comfort zone and bringing a new strategy to the table by creating a service that has not yet been marketed in order to increase profit without the worries of competition. An example of a company that uses the red ocean strategy would be Nik e. Nike jumped into the market ready to compete amongst already existing competitors not on a mission to create a service that was without competition. Once Nike was in the market and above its competition, it could now venture into other ocean strategies to continue to be innovative, creative, and provide a service to their current market as well as look for services to uncharted markets. Red Ocean  Pros: If you are a successful company like Nike, you are already at the top of the chain and your services are still continuously sought after; so providing a new service that doesn’t currently exists doesn’t necessary mean profit and sustainability. Nike wasn’t the first athletic shoe provider. There was competition that existed before Nike became known. Nike was able to enter a market using the red ocean strategy approach and add creativity and innovation to an athletic industry that was already established and climb to the top without the blue ocean approach. Red Ocean Cons: As the market space gets crowded, prospects for profits and growth are reduced. Products become commodities or niche, and cutthroat competition turns the red ocean bloody. Hence, the term red oceans. The red ocean, players want to produce products and provide services cheaper and better than the competition but that doesn’t always mean the product they offer are in-fact better than products of their competitors. Conclusion A company must master its traditional markets using conventional strategic planning tools. It will always be a competitive advantage to successfully incorporate the red ocean approach and beating the competition. Red oceans will always matter and will always be a fact of business life. Businesses that tend to only focus on the red ocean approach must accept the key constraining factors – limited terrain and the need to beat an enemy in order to succeed – and to deny the distinctive strength of the business world: the capacity to create a new service and gain a new market space that is uncontested. In order to sustain high performance, companies must create their own blue oceans, and make the competition irrelevant! Even though the blue ocean strategy is uncharted territory, and no measurements or feedback exists, it can be considered a risky approach that’s why many businesses today, get in business using one approach and sustain business or rebrand their business with the implementation of both strategic approaches. (Kim, 2005) References Blue Ocean Strategy. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.blueoceanstrategy.comKim, W. C. (2005). BLUE OCEAN STRATEGY. Retrieved from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/cwe/citation_generator/web_01_01.asp

Johnny Depp †A Philosopher Among Actors Essay

â€Å"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.† In simple terms, this quote is referring to those who do not conform to the standards placed on them by their culture or subculture. In Hollywood, the way one becomes an A-List actor is by conforming to the Hollywood system: take the roles that provide the largest paychecks. Ben Affleck did not become a superstar celebrity by following his passion; Reindeer Games and Gigli are perfect examples of that. However, there is one actor who has consistently chosen his own roles, much to the dismay of his agent, based solely on his interest in the character he will portray. This actor has never taken a role that he did not feel passionate about, regardless of the flack he received from critics or the general public, and he is now one of Hollywood’s finest. Johnny Depp stands out from the crowd because rather than conforming to the Hollywood standard he has become an A-List actor by following his own muse, or walking â€Å"to the beat of a different drummer.† A perfect example of Johnny Depp’s passion for his work is his starring role in the movie, â€Å"Ed Wood,† about Ed Wood, a filmmaker best known for making bad movies. It sounds ironic, but Johnny was insistent that this was a great movie. Despite, at the height of his career, being told that making this movie would ruin his professional image, he pursued the role. The movie was made, and it went on to win an Academy Award. Another example of Johnny Depp’s dedication is the movie â€Å"Once Upon A Time In Mexico† filmed in the heat of the summer of 2002. Because he wanted this role, Johnny agreed to film for seven consecutive days at 12-16 hours per day! A typical A-List actor will, under no circumstances, work for more than 8 hours per shooting day. Other movies that Depp was warned not to do, which went on to become successful were: â€Å"Edward Scissorhands,† â€Å"Dead Man,† â€Å"What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,† and â€Å"Pirates of the Caribbean,† for which he is nominated for Best Actor at the Academy Awards this year. Johnny Depp is renowned for his choice of movie roles. He does not simply work for the paycheck; he is truly pursuing his passion, and he has done it  quite successfully. Roger Ebert, a well-known film critic, has called Depp â€Å"a modern Thoreau – a philosopher among actors.† At the 76th Annual Academy Awards, Johnny Depp was recognized specifically for his success in taking part in only films that he truly wanted to be a part of. Considering the standards that the industry places on actors, the fact that Johnny Depp has not sold out and taken a role simply for the money, is an admirable quality. If everyone possessed such commitment in their work, and more so, such conviction, life would be much more enjoyable to live.

A Comparison of Themes in The Matrix and Allegory of the Cave

A Comparison of Themes in The Matrix and Allegory of the Cave One of the major themes that is noticeable in the Matrix is â€Å"being as such†. When considering the Matrix, Neo lives in complete delusion, a prisoner of artificial intelligence with no real control or perception of reality. He believes he is living in the city, enjoying hot weather when in reality his brain is in a body being tracked and controlled by machines thousands of years later than the time he thinks he exists. The plotline can be directly referenced to the old philosophical argument â€Å"Brain in a vat†. This argument simply asserts that if scientists were to insert a brain into a jar, and add stimulating chemicals that cause the brain to function as normal, the brain and its thoughts would exist and flourish as if it were in a body. The brain could have experiences, relationships, and form normal the normal scenarios of living in a body which ignites the question: What is reality? The brain will be the brain (being as such), it is not more complex than simply â€Å"being†. I relate this concept to the phrase â€Å"believing is not seeing â€Å" as what we percieve and believe is all that exists is not always the true reality of what actually exists. In Plato’s Allegory of the cave, this concept is addressed in a unique manner. The men that have been imprisoned in the cave do not know of the world outside of the cave. They know that they exist, and they can see only what is infront of them. As â€Å"shadows† pass by them in their travels from behind as well as infront of them they hear their voices yet they cannot differentiate or even understand that the voices are actually coming from behind them as well, rather than just the figures that are visible. They are not able to imagine or aknowledge what they do not knows exist as they are conditioned to focus on the present: â€Å"And suppose their prison had an echo from the wall facing them? When one of the people crossing behind them spoke, they could only suppose that the sound came from the shadow passing before their eyes. No doubt† (Plato 9) He also mentions the fire that burns behind them, which emits the light that the prisoners are naturally conditioned to. They have not seen brighter light before, and dont even consider its existence. It would difficult to aknowledge that their perception was so blurred to the actual reality of life if someone were to tell them. Plato proves this when he mentions that if the prisoners were to be unchained and forced to turn around and experience the intensity of the true light of the fire, it would cause them pain and perplexion and dilute their understanding of what is real; although it is right infront of their eyes: â€Å"He would need, then, to grow accustomed before he could see things in that upper world† (Plato). The prisoner is more inclined to return to the way he faced before as what is natural easier to distinguish for him. Another metaphysical theme in both the Matrix and in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave is wisdom. Wisdom is built through knowledge and experience. I remember that I am here not because of the path that lies before me but because of the path that lies behind me†(Morpheus in The Matrix Reloaded) When Neo sees the world for the first time in the Matrix, it is difficult for him to believe as well as percieve. Everything that he thought was reality was no longer relevant to actuality. He uses his own experience and the knowledge he gained from it to wake up the rest of humanity from the dream they are percieving as their reality. This theme in the matrix forms a direct analogy to the wisdom displayed in Platos allegory of the Cave when the prisoner is released from the cave and is blinded by the sun upon leaving. The light is so much stronger and larger than the only light that he ever knew to exist that his eyes physically could not handle it, causing him to be temorarily blinded. He must adjust and experience the light in order to observe the rest of the world that it illimunates. Once his eyes adjust, he immediately wants to return to the cave to tell the others about reality just as Neo did in the Matrix. Overall, comparing both of these storires sheds a brilliant light upon what is reality and really influences me to stay â€Å"present†. What struck me the most is the â€Å"Brain in a Vat† concept in the matrix as well as in Platos Allegory of the Cave. Much exists beyond what we can see as well as imagine, and to understand what exists beyond we must develop wisdom using our experience as well as our intelligence.