Throughout history, human beings have been motivated by...

Throughout history, human beings have been motivated by self-interest in order to overcome, succeed, and progress. This has happened so much so that some have argued that greed is an intrinsic part of human nature, and therefore establishing a society that goes against greed is utopian. Yet, rejecting human nature altogether is not a viable answer. Others contend that altruism and greed are equal and dual powers. In fact, history has shown that during the Great Depression it is the perpetuation of avarice that drives individuals to create a system that sinks thousands into poverty. In contrast, it is also the idea and action taken by individuals that prove the role of humans to help each other as a necessity. In The Grapes of Wrath,†¦show more content†¦The Joads, realizing their competitive environment as well as dwindling resources, participate in mutualism both within and beyond their family dynamic. For example, when landowners overload the pool of possible farm workers, they pit individual against individual, constructing an increasingly urgent struggle for existence. However, by the time they begin to move westward, â€Å"each member of the family grew into [their] proper place, grew into [their] duties; so that each member, old and young, had [their] place †¦ each member had [their] duty and went to it without instruction† (Steinbeck 195). The families who become one family know the value of laws to protect the unit, to protect the bonds that they form. The spontaneous order that develops in the novel demonstrates a natural survival strategy, a response recommending the merging of the individual into a greater whole. In short, the Joads realize that in such precarious times, the family consists of anyone who is in need versus the individualistic-minded thinking. Steinbeck explores the incorporation of individuals who normally compete for survival into a part of a larger, more viable whole. At first glance, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck would seem to have little in common with Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. However, Out of the Dust tells of the deep misgivings aboutShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Cormac Mccarthy s The Road 1492 Words   |  6 Pages The Earth is left devastated. For something as simple as food, most have turned to the only apparent natural resource left, other survivors. The Road shows it’s readers how people can truly behave through the various actions performed by the characters, whether good or bad. In a world without rules such as the one created in The Road, we should still be judged by our actions and adhere to some kind of positive moral order for the sake of the future of humanity. People respond differently toRead MoreHrm Strategy : A Case Study On Ikea1375 Words   |  6 Pageson IKEA 1. Introduction The human resource function has undergone throughout its history major transformations and evolutions. Concepts managements have given way to others as imposed by the globalization of markets and by a workforce more educated: more fluid and diverse. In this context of internationalization, companies are anxious to take their benefit so as to seek the most advantageous model management. United States speak of mobilizing and unifying model of human resources. Warner (2011) discussesRead MoreEssay Is Thucydides a Realist2624 Words   |  11 PagesThe human condition and its significance to International Relations have been in debate for centuries. Classical Realist thought has focused on the inherently aggressive and selfish nature of man and assumed that it is these qualities that ensure war and conflict are inevitable aspects of human society. Alternatively, neo-realism emphasises the system structure of international politics. R.J. 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Together, they live on a peach farm in South Carolina. Current Situation / Presenting Problem When Lily was four years old, she accidentally killed Deborah, her mother. Since then, the memory of Deborah haunts her while T. Ray remains resentful and bitterRead MoreMy Decision For Purse A Career Field Of Social Work Essay1903 Words   |  8 PagesSelf-Evaluation My decision to purse a career in the field of Social Work has been influenced by several factors, including my environment, culture, education, work history, and personal diversity. Growing up in a low-income community, my environment played an important role in introducing me to a variety of social problems, such as gang violence and drug abuse, at an early age. My environment motivated me to escape these social disadvantages by advancing my education and creating more opportunitiesRead MoreIntroduction Of L Oreal Company1709 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican – Maybelline, Kiehl’s, Soft sheen-Carson, NYX British – The Body Shop Italian – Giorgio Armani L’Oreal is a multinational conglomerate which has its operational presence in more than 130 countries. The various products they offer are being researched at their 6 worldwide research centers. The various kinds of products they offer range from skincare to colorants to make up to hair color and all other kinds of cosmetics. The success of L’Oreal greatly built by the management team stronglyRead MoreEssay about Personality Development of Joseph Paul Franklin1689 Words   |  7 Pagesthese mechanisms is that they are also neatly packed away in distinct definitions, all with two commonalities that hold the theory together: defense mechanisms are unconscious behaviors and they are the mind’s tool for falsifying reality in order to not have to face it head-on (2013). One might argue as a weakness of Freud’s work, however, that defense mechanisms need not be negative, though the majority of the time they are applied as such. For instance, the three levels of anxiety Freud arguedRead MoreSupporting Good Practice in Performance and Reward Management (3PRM)2227 Words   |  9 Pagesand process of performance review. 1.1 Performance management is a process that reviews each employee` work against organisation standards and requirements. Companies serve 1. Employee/employer decision making and their 2. employee`s development throughout performance management. Whenever this system used for decision making then the appraisal meetings and their information could be used for promotions, salary increase or reduction in force. This advanced tool that information can be also used forRead MoreRacism1883 Words   |  8 Pagesbut has, unfortunately, acquired â€Å"so many contradictory meanings that it takes on the aura of a myth,† it has become increasingly difficult to define . Although the term wasn’t officially featured in the Larousse Dictionary until 1932, racism had been a dark cloud hanging over the global horizon for centuries (de Benoist, 1999). Whenever there are people of different cultural and social characteristics introduced into the mix, a recipe for racism and the hostilities it generates is created. Because

Is Art For Me Essay - 1052 Words

Art, for me, is as much about context, message and story as it is about aesthetics. In a sense I believe that works of art that tend to depict social or political issues that are rooted in a particular culture are of high value. In this paper, I aim to introduce an artist whose works have been called obscure, deemed controversial and faced resistance by the society in which she produces her art. I will be comparing her works with several artists we have discussed and read about in the lectures. As a female born and raised in Turkey, I grew up in a society that has strong cultural taboos on nudity and images that depict sexuality in general. Just as the majority of the rest of world, the Turkish culture is based on the ideas of a patriarchal society. Words that we would hear so regularly, such as decency, shame and obscenity are all defined through the female experiences. The society has its own perceptions regarding how women should act or what they should do with their bodies. Although these stinging ideas are lessening, many women still get oppressed and struggle to find their place within the society and the world. Some brave artists are revolting against these systematic thoughts of oppression through their works. I discovered the contemporary Turkish artist, Sukran Moral’s works a few years ago. She’s an artist who addresses and questions the society’s structure and its treatment of women. As we were going through the chapter on Sexuality and Repro duction in the courseShow MoreRelatedArt Allows Me to Leave Reality Essay599 Words   |  3 PagesGood art allows me to flee the realms of reality. In my minds limitless consciousness, I can escape the mundanity of everyday life. It opens a door in my head to a world only limited by my imagination. I am no more a slave to gravity, chained down on the earth when I am reading. I can be a bird and soar high above the clouds, or be a fish and swim deep down in the darkest depths of the ocean. I am there, I am that person, and everything else around me regardless of what it is, fades away. SometimesRead MoreArt Reflection848 Words   |  4 Pagesalways been a huge fan of art class, and I have never despised a day of art class. I think of art class as a way to express creative freedom, discovering your unique art style, and to be with some of the most hard-working and encouraging people Ive ever met, even including the teacher. Art is so very important to me and I dont know what Id be d oing right now if it werent for the art. Ive created a bunch of art to help deal with a lot of things. Mainly saying that I love art. The first thingRead MoreFinding Oneself1248 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Finding my muse, finding myself It is through art, and through art only, that we can realize our perfection ---Oscar Wilde When I was a small child, I was extremely shy. I had to be coaxed to raise my voice in the presence of others. The only time I felt confident was when I was by myself with a handful of crayons in my hand, bent over a piece of paper. While all children love to create art, for me art was more than a way to pass the time. It was a form of self-expression. When I was happy, IRead MoreMy Definition Of Art : One Big Happy Community869 Words   |  4 Pagesit lay, isolated, taunting me. My hand reluctantly slithered into the mailbox, like a frightened snake. My head told me the letter would not change anything, but my heart knew what it wanted. Nerves caused me to nearly lose my mind, as well as my lunch. I sliced the envelope to reveal my fate as well as place in the art program. As my eyes skimmed the text, they grew wide, my heart inflated, and my adrenaline seemed to turn from a boil to a simmer. The news? I was an art major. I am able to do whatRead MoreArt And The Pursuit Of Art1329 Words   |  6 Pages Art has had a profound significance to me throughout my life. As a child, art was my retreat from the mundane of the world. I found a way of communicating the things I was feeling with others around me! It gave me different perspectives and ways of looking at events, emotions, and people. All of these perspectives helped shape me, made me contemplate the individual I wanted to be and how the world behaves. Art answered as many questions as it posed. It made life worth living. From that moment onRead MoreLiberal Arts Education : Becoming A Successful Consultant At Boston Consulting Group969 Words   |  4 PagesThe perception of Liberal Arts education has started to evolve over the years. Initially, Liberal Arts education was considered as a form of elitist education where nobles tried to expand on their knowledge on different topics rather than developing certain skills. However, as time is passing Liberal Arts education is becoming synonymous with personal development and critical thinking. While some people still believe that for a secure financial standing practical education such as going to a businessRead MoreMy Passion For Art701 Words   |  3 Pagesworld and encouraged me to be a brave girl. Then, I tried to paint some pictures from these stories. These involvements inspired my love of painting. Since then, the passion for art has continued to now. Therefore, experiences from my childhood have a deep impact on my personal values, which are adventure and learning. And my passion of art allowed me to develop more professional knowledge to be an arts manager. In my childhood, I looked at fairy tales and these stories inspired me to paint some picturesRead MoreEssay On Student Performance Activating Inside Out1637 Words   |  7 PagesStudent Performance Activating Inside Out.1977/2014 In the art museum the way I tried to see the art is to look at the art then I would read about the photo. Which I realized at is so much more difficult to understand than anything else or why, how, and where is this art piece and why the create it. Some of her art are Unique but some are just not unique or not interest, and basically more random. Of course some people love the art that I have no absolute connection to, which I find to be interestingRead MoreThe Space Of Which We View Art1189 Words   |  5 PagesThe Space in Which We View Art How do we view art? How does the space around the art affect how we feel and think about the art? Does it make a difference? Our surroundings are often very influential in the way we think and feel about events, people, and objects. A relaxed, warm summer evening with family can bring peaceful and positive thoughts, while a loud, crowded party with strangers can bring anxiety and uncomfortableness. Music, color, temperature, and the size of a space can all affect howRead MoreThe Philosophy Of Teaching And Art914 Words   |  4 Pagesa desired career option for myself, more importantly, being an art teacher. With anything, there are pros and cons to my predetermined thesis. I consider myself an artist before I see myself as a teacher, this may be one of the biggest faults in my career choice or one of my greatest advantages in the world of education. The balance between teaching and art may be a difficult obstacle to overcome. From my overwhelming love of the arts to my loathing of school standardization, teaching is a serious

School Management System Information education

School Management System Information education-related Essay Education system forms the backbone of every nation. As a matter of fact. A sound education system is a must to nurture young talents who in future will become global citizens and take their nation to new heights. In recent times, advanced technology is extensively being used to revolutionize school management by streamlining education-related processes. We have designed a Next Generation School Management Solution, Campuses, School Management Software from Enter Infected Pat. Ltd. Provides the following minimal general benefits to your school: Single point school management software ; Zero redundancy of data Tech savvy branding Student Registration, Administration, Fees management Attendance, Timetable Leave management Examination and Evaluation Bus Route, Fleet management Library Hostel management Timetables and substitute management Well established communication tool for smooth translator of Information Other salient features: Complete automation of operations Centrally stored information for easy management Efficient resource utilization ; Microscopic macroscopic data analysis views Trouble free data access with data security Quick report generation for management decisions Seamlessly integrated with various payment gateways. Financial / Implementation benefits of Campuses, School Management Software can be listed as below: Reliable secure software Low cost of ownership Customizable scalable as per your operations

The Dutch artist Maurits C. Escher Essay Example For Students

The Dutch artist Maurits C. Escher Essay The Dutch artist Maurits C. Escher (1898-1972) was a draftsman, book illustrator, tapestry designer, and muralist, but his primary work was as a printmaker. Born in Leeuwarden, Holland, the son of a civil engineer, Escher spent most of his childhood in Arnhem. Aspiring to be an architect, Escher enrolled in the School for Architecture and Decorative Arts in Harlem. While studying there from 1919 to 1922, his emphasis shifted from architecture to drawing and printmaking upon the encouragement of his teacher Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita. In 1924 Escher married Jetta Umiker, and the couple settled in Rome to raise a family. They resided in Italy until 1935, when growing political turmoil forced them to move first to Switzerland, then to Belgium. In 1941, with World War II under way and German troops occupying Brussels, Escher returned to Holland and settled in Baarn, where he lived and worked until shortly before his death. The main subjects of Eschers early art are Rome and the Italian countryside. We will write a custom essay on The Dutch artist Maurits C. Escher specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now While living in Italy from 1922 to 1935, he spent the spring and summer months traveling throughout the country to make drawings. Later, in his studio in Rome, Escher developed these into prints. Whether depicting the winding roads of the Italian countryside, the dense architecture of small hillside towns, or details of massive buildings in Rome, Escher often created enigmatic spatial effects by combining various often conflicting vantage points, for instance, looking up and down at the same time. He frequently made such effects more dramatic through his treatment of light, using vivid contrasts of black and white. After Escher left Italy in 1935, his interest shifted from landscape to something he described as mental imagery, often based on theoretical premises. The lavish tile work adorning the Moorish architecture suggested new directions in the use of color and the flattened patterning of interlocking forms. Replacing the abstract patterns of Moorish tiles with recognizable figures, in the late 1930s Escher developed the regular division of the plane. The artist also used this concept in creating his Metamorphosis prints. Starting in the 1920s, the idea of metamorphosis one shape or object turning into something completely different became one of Eschers favorite themes. After 1935, Escher also increasingly explored complex architectural mazes involving perspective games and the representation of impossible spaces. In 1934 he left Italy, spent two years in Switzerland and five years in Brussels before settling in Baarn (Holland) in 1941, where he died on march 27, 1972, at the age of 73 years. Many mathematical concepts play a role in Eschers later work the relation between a three-dimensional object and its depiction on a two-dimensional surface. M. C. Escher was a man who definitely was before his time. Some argue that he was a mathematician rather than an artist by the way he dissected the normal thinking on spatial relationships.

Lysistrata essays

Lysistrata essays Amidst the tone of war around us, and speak of possible defeat, the festival of Dionysos will be held the fall of this great year, 411 BCE. Many ideas of entertainment have been suggested, most of which plays from various credible playwrights. One that has caught my eye in many ways is a work by Aristophanes. It is titled Lysistrata, and is a comedy based on our current status of war. Now considering our present situation, this may seem like a ludicrous idea. The wrong choice of words in a public address can result in a revolt, let alone a play that will be seen by many more citizens than will a public speaking. Why choose such an idea? Well, there are many reasons, and I intend to explain them to you. First, the mentalities of most citizens are that of following the crowd. If small groups of people change their view of our status in activities of war, they will influence other people to change their minds, and so on. Slowly we will find that large areas of Athens will alter their opinions, not only because they feel that they are right, but also so that they may fit in with the majority, therefore spreading the idea of peace and retraction from fighting. Then if the decision is made to withdraw from battle, the public will agree rather than oppose the idea. Any government, let alone ours, far too seldom achieves such support by a city-states citizens. Second, the idea of the women of Athens assembling and planning out schemes on their own would cause alarm amongst the men of our society. Such is the idea of Lysistrata. The women of Athens, along with Sparta and other cities, band together and form a plot to stop the fighting among all of Greece. If an audience viewed this type of activity, perhaps they would fear the same happening in our own community. Imagine the reaction of those here and how they would act to prevent such an event. Why, our troops would be withdrawn almost immediately. Is it not more ...

Free sample - Analyzing Wal-Mart competition. translation missing

Analyzing Wal-Mart competition. Analyzing Wal-Mart competitionAnalyzing Wal-Mart competition and the development of a Wal-Mart drive through Wal-Mart Stores is the largest grocery store in the world. The company is based in America and has about 8500 retail outlets in about 15 countries (Wal-Mart 2010). The company has also established an online presence whereby customers can buy products online and get them delivered at their doorstep. Wal-Mart’s online presence has been relatively successful with about 1.7 billion annual online sales and is only second to Amazon in the online retail (Whittle, 2009). Wal-Mart competitors in the US include; Target, Meijer and Giant tiger among others (Jones, 2010). These companies have developed innovative methods, through which they compete against Wal-Mart.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Development of a Drive thru Wal-Mart in the past has tried to develop drive thru sale points in a bid to merge its physical and online businesses. Doing so meant that customers could order their products online and Instead of waiting for their delivery they could pick them physically from one of their chain store (Whittle, 2009).   This could be a very efficient way of shopping because the company would improve its supply chain system greatly. The system of serving customers at a drive thru should be very efficient. To avoid long waiting queues the system must be very efficient.   If items are ordered online then it makes the store much more efficient because at the drive through grocery store customers could have their orders completed easily.   However if items are to be ordered and provided at the store, then the   products provided must be few and must have a high demand. For instance 10 products of high demand could be provided at the drive through store whereby the customer is provided with the it em instantly at a given price. Wal-Mart does not need to construct new stores because it can create extensions to these stores so that the set-up costs of these stores is reduced A drive through store could improve the general efficiency of the store as well as gain more customers.

The Ideas of an Ideal Social Order and Separation of Power in the US Assignment

The Ideas of an Ideal Social Order and Separation of Power in the US - Assignment Example Linkage groups in the US House of Legislatures are responsible for keeping people on what is happening by giving them information and being involved. The initiator's intention was to enable Congress members to provide the connection between citizens and government. James Madison gives an explanation that public views are good when passed through a medium of a special body of citizens that can represent the interest of their country. The groups are of four types and are known as linkage institutions in the United States since they play a vital role in involving citizens to the government. These groups are not part of the government, but exclusive of them, the United States will not be able to maintain democracy. Examples of such ways by which American national government represent the interest of its citizen include Broad points of view represented by political parties that present people with alternative approaches on how the government is operated. By electing people to public offic e, each party seeks power so that its positions and values become public policy. Interest groups manage people with common welfare. They also influence government through citizen’s attitudes to support their points. They usually represent a closely related set of apprehensions. An important role played by the media is connecting people to the government. Most citizens find out about candidates for office, the burning issues of the day and also public official activities through, newspapers, radio, television and also the Internet.

Responsible tour operators are changing the way we travel to what Essay

Responsible tour operators are changing the way we travel to what extent can this be proved - Essay Example With the growing importance of the lifestyle market, tourism and travel create the desired lifestyle and personal enhancement rather than many other lifestyle products. Consequently, destination marketing organizations would have to reinvent themselves to create holiday experiences in relation to the changing requirements of customers. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which responsible tour operators are changing the way we travel. The Background to Tourists’ Orientation For Responsible Tourism Nearly twenty-five years ago, Krippendorf (1987) argued for responsible tourism, using the theory of Maslow’s pyramid of needs. He predicted that there would be an increase in â€Å"emancipated tourists†, who once their needs for physical sustenance through sleeping, eating and drinking were fulfilled in a recreational manner, they would seek emotional recreation by undertaking activities and experiences not available to them in e veryday life. Consequently, tourists would seek experiences of social contact with other people and â€Å"self realization through creative activities, knowledge and exploration† (Krippendorf 1999: 74). ... This trend is based on the larger shift in consumer preferences towards the purchase of green products which do not adversely affect the environment in their production processes, and ethically traded products based on fair trade practices and corporate social responsibility. Recent survey evidence (King 2002) confirms changes in consumer attitudes in the context of wider market trends towards more ethical consumerism in the United Kingdom. Campaigns undertaken by Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) and Tearfund helped to increase the orientation towards responsible and ethical tourism as a market segment. Responsible Tourism Responsible tourism involves a proactive approach by tourism industry partners to â€Å"developing, marketing and managing the tourism industry in a responsible manner so as to create a competitive advantage† (Pennington-Gray, Reisinger, Kim et al 2005: 266). Responsible tourism is a management strategy that includes planning, management, product development and marketing to bring about positive economic, social, cultural, and environmental effects. This type of tourism promotes responsibility to the environment through sustainable measures, as well as involving local communities in the tourism industry. Additionally, responsible tourism is focused on the safety and security of a visitor. Government agencies, employees of the tourism industry and those outside the industry, as well as members of the local communities together hold the responsibility. Besides environmental sustainability and the safety and security of visitors, other aspects include culturally responsible tourism which contributes to mutual understanding and respect

The Hands Of The Blacks Essay Example for Free

The Hands Of The Blacks Essay CAN‘T REMEMBER NOW HOW WE GOT ONTO THE SUBJECT, BUT ONE DAY TEACHER SAID THAT THE PALMS OF THE BLACK‘S HANDS WERE MUCH LIGHTER THAN THE REST OF THEIR BODIES BECAUSE ONLY FEW CENTURIES AGO THEY WALKED AROUND ON ALL FOURS, LIKE WILD ANIMALS, SO THEIR PALMS WEREN’T EXPOSED TO THE SUN, WHICH MADE THE REST OF THEIR BODIES DARKER AND DARKER. I THOUGHT OF THIS WHEN FATHER CRISTIANO TOLD US AFTER CATHECHISM THAT WE WERE ABSOLUTELY HOPELESS, AND THAT EVEN THE BLACKS WERE BETTER THAN US, AND HE WENT BACK TO THIS THINGS ABOUT THEIR HANDS BEING LIGHTER, AND SAID IT WAS LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS WENT ABOUT THEIR HANDS FOLDED TOGETHER, PRAYING IN SECRET. I THOUGHT THIS WAS SO FUNNY, THIS THING OF THE BLACK HANDS BEING SO LIGHTER, THAT YOU SHOULD SEE ME NOW- I DON‘T LET GO OF ANYONE, WHOEVER THEY ARE, UNTIL THEY TELL ME WHY THEY THINK THAT THE PALMS OF THE BLACK‘S HANDS ARE LIGHTER. DONA DORES, FOR INSTANCE TOLD ME THAT GOD MADE THEIR HANDS LIGHTER LIKE THAT SO THEY WOULDN’T DIRTY THE FOOD THAT THEY MADE FOR THEIR MASTERS, OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT THEY WERE ORDERED TO DO THAT HAD TO BE KEPT QUITE CLEAN. SENHOR ANTUNES, THE COCA COLA MAN, WHO ONLY COMES TO THE VILLAGE NOW AND AGAIN WHEN ALL THE COKES IN THE CANTINA HAVE BEEN SOLD, SAID TO ME THAT EVERYTHING I HAD BEEN TOLD WAS A LOT OF BALONEY. OF COURSE I DON‘T KNOW IF IT WAS REALLY, BUT HE ASSURED ME IT WAS. AFTER I SAID YES, ALL RIGHT, IT WAS BALONEY, THEN HE TOLD ME WHAT HE KNEW ABOUT THIS THINGS OF THE BLACK‘S HANDS. IT WAS LIKE THIS: -LONG AGO, MANY YEARS AGO, GOD, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE VIRGIN MARY, ST. PETER, MANY OTHER SAINTS, ALL THE ANGELS WERE IN HEAVEN THEN, AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAD DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN- THEY ALL HAD A MEETING AND DECIDED TO MAKE BLACKS. DO YOU KNOW HOW? THEY GOT HOLD OF SOME CLAY AND PRESSED IT INTO SOME SECOND- HAND MOULDS. AND TO BAKE THEM OF THE CREATURES, THEY TOOK THEM TO HEAVENLY KILNS. BECAUSE THEY WERE IN A HURRY AND THERE WAS NO ROOM NEXT TO THE 3RE, THEY HUNG THEM IN THE CHIMNEYS. SMOKE, SMOKE, SMOKE- AND THERE YOU HAVE THEM, BLACK AS COALS. AND NOW DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY THEIR HANDS STAYED WHITE? BECAUSE THEIR HANDS ARE TIED. WHEN HE HAD TOLD ME THIS SENHOR ANTUNES AND THE OTHER MEN WHO WERE AROUND US WERE VERY PLEASED AND THEN ALL BURST OUT LAUGHING. THAT VERY SAME DAY, SENHOR FRIAS CALLED ME AFTER SENHOR ANTUNES HAD GONE AWAY, AND TOLD ME EVERYTHING I HAD HEARD FROM THEM THERE HAD BEEN JUST PACK OF LIES. REALLY AND TRULY, WHAT HE KNEW ABOUT THE BLACK‘S HANDS WAS RIGHT, THAT GOD 3NISHED MAKING MEN AND TOLD THEM TO BATHE IN A LAKE IN HEAVEN. AFTER BATHING THE PEOPLE WERE NICE AND WHITE. THE BLACKS, WELL, THEY WERE MADE VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND AT THIS HOUR THE WATER IN THE LAKE WAS VERY COLD, SO THEY ONLY WET THE PALMS OF THEIR HANDS AND THE SOLES OF THEIR FEET BEFORE DRESSING AND COMING INTO THE WORLD. BUT I READ IN A BOOK THAT HAPPENED TO MENTION IT, THAT THE BLACK HANDS ARE LIGHTER LIKE THIS BECAUSE THEY SPENT THEIR LIVES BENT OVER, GATHERING THE WHITE COTTONS OF VIRGINIA AND I DON‘T KNOW WHERE ELSE. OF COURSE, DONA ESTIFANIA DID NOT AGREE WHEN I TOLD HER THIS. ACCORDING TO HER, IT‘S ONLY BECAUSE THEIR HANDS BECAME BLEACHED WITH ALL THAT WASHING. WELL, I DON‘T KNOW WHAT TO THINK ABOUT ALL THESE, BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT NO MATTER HOW CALLOUSED AND CRACKED THEY MAYBE, A BLACK‘S HAND ARE ALWAYS LIGHTER THAN ALL THE REST OF HIM. AND THAT‘S THAT! MY MOTHER IS THE ONLY ONE WHO MUST BE RIGHT ABOUT THIS QUESTION OF A BLACK‘S HANDS BEING LIGHTER THAN THE REST OF HIS BODY. ON THE DAY THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT, I WAS TELLING HER WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THE QUESTION, AND SHE JUST COULD NOT STOP LAUGHING. WHAT I THOUGHT WAS STRANGE WAS THAT SHE DID NOT TELL ME AT ONCE WHAT SHE THOUGHT ABOUT ALL THIS, AND SHE ONLY ANSWERED ME WHEN SHE WAS SURE THAT I WOULD NOT GET TIRED OF BOTHERING HER ABOUT IT. AND EVEN THEN SHE WAS CRYING AND CLUTCHING HERSELF AROUND THE STOMACH THAT HAD LAUGH SO MUCH THAT IT WAS QUITE UNBEARABLE. WHAT SHE SAID WAS MORE OR LESS THIS: ? GOD MADE BLACKS BECAUSE THEY HAD TO BE. THEY HAD TO BE, MY SON. HE THOUGHT THEY REALLY HAD TO BE†¦AFTERWARDS, HE REGRETTED HAVING MADE THEM BECAUSE OTHER MEN LAUGHED AT THEM AND TOOK THEM O9 TO THEIR HOMES AND PUT THEM TO SERVE AS SLAVES OR NOT MUCH BETTER. BUT BECAUSE HE COULD NOT MAKE THEM ALL BE WHITE, FOR THOSE WHO WERE USED TO SEEING BLACKS WOULD COMPLAIN, HE MADE IT SO THAT THE PALMS WOULD EXACTLY LIKE THE PALMS OF OTHER MEN. AND DO YOU KNOW WHY THAT WAS? OF COURSE, YOU DON‘T KNOW, AND IT‘S NOT SURPRISING, BECAUSE MANY, MANY PEOPLE DON‘T KNOW. WELL, LISTEN: IT WAS TO SHOW THAT WHAT MEN DO IS ONLY THE WORK OF MEN†¦THAT WHAT MEN DO IS DONE BY HANDS THAT ARE THE SAME HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO, IF THEY HAD ANY SENSE, WOULD KNOW THAT BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE THEY ARE MEN. HE MUST BE THINKING OF THIS WHEN HE MADE THE HANDS OF THE BLACKS BE THE SAME AS THE HANDS OF THOSE MEN WHO THANK GOD THEY ARE NOT BLACK! AFTER TELLING ME ALL THIS, MY MOTHER KISSED MY HANDS. AS I RAN O9 INTO THE YARD TO PLAY BALL, I THOUGHT THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN A PERSON CRY SO MUCH WHEN NOBODY HAD HIT THEM.

The Relationship Between Confucianism And Buddhism Essay -- Confuciani

â€Å"It is often said that, aside from the impact of Marxism on twentieth-century China, the only other time when the Chinese looked beyond their own borders for intellectual sustenance was during the period when Buddhism was absorbed from India† (LaFleur 23). Why did this religion appeal to the Chinese when they disregarded so many other external influences? After all, being tied to the rest of the world by the Silk Road meant they were constantly inundated with novel concepts from far and wide. The answer must lie in how Buddhism interacted with the other faiths already established in the country, namely Confucianism and Daoism (sometimes spelled Taoism). While at first glance it may appear that Confucian China would be the last place Buddhism would find a niche, it was in fact the combination of Confucianism and Daoism that laid a foundation at least slightly receptive toward this new faith from India. This paper will focus mainly on the interaction between Buddhism and C onfucianism. Buddhism made it to China over land in the first century C.E. from the northwest and by sea in the second century C.E. The main influence, however, came from the northwest via the Silk Road (Zuercher 415). In fact, Buddhism's main avenue of expansion was along trade routes throughout Asia. According to Jason Neelis, trade as a vehicle for the expansion of Buddhism is reflected in the fact that the religion spread in an irregular pattern unlike typical diffusion (Neelis 7). It was the Theravada branch in particular that has been associated with trade. Mahayana, on the other hand focused on the more settled, agricultural lifestyle. Ironically it is this branch that took hold in China. Once trade brought the religion within China’s bor... ...Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2012. Web. 6 October. 2012. LaFleur, William R. Buddhism: A Cultural Perspective. Ed. Robert S. Ellwood. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1988. Neelis, Jason. Early Buddhist Transmission and Trade Networks: Mobility and Exchange within and beyond the Northwestern Borderlands of South Asia. Leiden: Brill, 2011. Powers, John. Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism. 2nd ed. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion, 2007. Saunders, Kenneth J. â€Å"Buddhism in China – A Historical Sketch.† The Journal of Religion 3 (1923): 157-69. Shien, Gi-Ming. â€Å"The Epistemology of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.† Philosophy 28 (1953): 260-264. Zuercher, Erik. â€Å"Buddhism in China.† In The Encyclopedia of Religion, edited by Mircea Eliade, vol. 2, 414-21. New York: MacMillan, 1987.

The Gym

As I stroll up to the two giant doors I reach out and grasp one of the pairs of handles, my fingers smudging its shimmering, chrome profile. As I enter the gym, the smells of stale sweat and cleaner mingle with my nose, creating flashbacks of prior experiences. I flash my ID card to the employee working at the front desk and continue on through until I reach my ultimate destination; the basketball court.When I enter the court the first thing I notice are the baskets. They stand over the court like sentinels; opposing each other on opposite sides like guards on the border of North and South Korea. The padding on the backboards, now a bland blue from wear and tear, is falling apart like an old sofa, while the backboard itself, once crystal clear, is streaked with white blotches and scratches. The rims, connected to the backboard, are a rusty orange that blisters whoever is foolish enough to hand on it. While the baskets are needed to play the sport, the most important component of a ba sketball court is the floor.The basketball court’s floor is springy and seems to assist in your jumping ability. They are made of a hard wood that is a tinged yellow, similar in color to an old desk. When the floor is clean, you can nearly see your reflection, but don’t let its shiny surface fool you though; landing on it may prove to be more painful than you think. However, when the floor is dirty it is unforgiving; your shoes slip and slide across the surface, like a scene out of a comic book. Even though the floor of a basketball court is important, there is something else needed to play the sport.In order to play the sport of basketball you need, quite simply put, a basketball. Employees working in the front of the complex will provide you with a basketball, but you have to leave your ID card with them. The basketballs are made out of bright, orange leather that is firm, yet soft to the touch. They bounce easily, allowing you to perform whatever dribbling technique your heart desires. Every player handles a basketball differently though and there are many different types of players that play at the gym.The people that hoop at the gym can be put into different categories. Most players fall into the stereotypical role of the player that just plays for fun: he wears ankles socks and cheap shoes, and usually isn’t that great of a player. Other people include the buff guy that relies on his strength rather than his fundamentals, the shooter with his reliable ability to spread the floor with his range, the slasher who is able to get to the hoop and create open shots for the shooters, and finally the ballhawk who annoys you with his intense defense and his knack of getting loose balls. All of these people are different but they mesh because their strengths compliment other people’s weaknesses.Whenever I go to the gym all of the sights, smells, and sounds help create images in my head that make me want to go back again and again. But pr obably the most memorable experiences are leaving; my slow, fatigued steps finally leading myself back through the giant doors and out into the world.

Family and International Assignment Policy Essay

What Is Your Critical Evaluation of Colgate-Palmolive’s International Assignment Policy? What Are Its Strengths And Weaknesses? Colgate-Palmolive’s (C-P) international assignment policy was designed to standardize entitlements for the expatriate managers. It covered tax equalization, goods and services, housing, the actual move and settling in, sale or rental of the principle residence, relocation allowances, living expenses, education, vacation, leave, post allowance and smooth transitions (Rosenzweig, 1994). The assignment policy was progressive, permitting applicants a 5 day pre-acceptance tour. The language courses at the company’s expense were paramount. Overall, the company sought to address both the expatriate and his family’s quality of life. I subscribe to the motto: â€Å"a happy wife makes a happy life†, thus I would agree that the policy was comprehensive and supported the aforementioned and motto. Strengths included â€Å"financial parity† and the overall family and spouse assistance program. However, the greatest strength was C-P’s willingness to improve the policy and orientations based on surveys (Rosenzweig, 1994, p. 7). The only weakness I can surmise is that such a policy does not support a local indigenous applicant. What Should Colgate-Palmolive Do About the Growing Issue of Dual-Career Families? C-P has two courses of action (COA). Do not hire or address dual-career families or succumb and make the overseas assignments attractive to dual-career families. COA one would limit their candidate pool. One C-P human resource manager (HRM) stated: â€Å"the frequency of dual-career families among C-P’s young managers was a reflection of their high quality: ‘We tend to attract people who have been to graduate school and who often met their spouses at graduate school. Both spouses are educated professionals and both tend to want to pursue their careers’† (Rosenzweig, 1994, p. 9). Thus COA two would support a larger qualified candidate pool. However, there is a cost(s) associated. C-P discussed income replacement to offset the spouses lost income (Rosenzweig, 1994, p. 0), but was viewed to expensive. Others recommended C-P change the overseas perception, in lieu of a loss or sacrifice, a positive spin was placed on foreign employment. Personally, I would opt for COA one but with two additions. Transfer young single executives on shorter term assignments in support of saving costs and capitalize on modern technologies that did not exist at the time this article was published. Secure virtual training conference lines can be purchased for under $25,000 permitting daily interaction, meetings and mentoring between C-P headquarters and the expatriate manager. Lastly, C-P foreign employees may capitalize on the numerous web based social technologies such as Skype and Face Time that are now a staple communication platform. What Should an MNC Consider When Designing a Policy Regarding International Career Development? It is paramount that MNC focus on recruiting processes. A larger diverse, multi lingual applicant pool who have lived and been educated abroad would mitigate many of the culture shock experiences associated with overseas assignments. The policy development should incorporate local nationals employed by companies like C-P. In the US, we are familiar with the big Japanese motor companies like Toyota and Nissan, but we often overlook the other foreign owned companies like Pillsbury and CBS Records who employ thousands of US professionals. Ultimately, MNC must address the monetary compensation and quality of life for 2 potential candidates: host-country employees and home country employees (where the headquarters is located). Certainly, I am not naive to the fact that compensation is not easily addressed as it should conform to local laws and taxation (both host and home countries). What Should an Employee Consider When Deciding to Accept or Decline an International Assignment? How Does the Employee’s Current Career Stage Affect Such a Decision? As an active duty Soldier with family and prior overseas duty assignments, I have had given this question a great deal of thought. Certainly C-P’s policy covering areas such as tax equalization, goods and services, housing, the actual move and settling in, sale or rental of the principle residence, relocation allowances, living expenses, education, vacation, leave, post allowance and smooth transitions are important. Ultimately, it boils down to education, medical care, quality of life and face time with family. Dependent on one’s age and the age of your children, a support system for the spouse is paramount. Extended family is ideal if the expatriate will travel frequently, thus transcontinental travel, accessibility to international airports is important. Quality of education and backwards planning are important. The closer children get to high school and college age, the more important it is to be in the US with a stabilized duration of assignment.

buy custom Strategic Business Partner essay

buy custom Strategic Business Partner essay Case study for Reinventing IT as a Strategic Business Partner This paper will assess a case study for reinventing Information Technology (IT), as a strategic business partner. In particular, the paper will focus on three case study questions including: the political and business challenges, which are possible to take place due to the transformation of IT from a support activity to a partner role; implications of this shift for traditional IT staffs and educational institutions; and the extent to which IT is embedded in all activities of a firm. Certainly, information technology is meant to offer innovative solutions for solving business challenges. This implies that businesses should creatively make use of technology to generate products more effectively at low costs, increase sales, and profit margins. Besides, it implies making use of Information Technology to produce novel services and products, and novel business models. According to McNulty Kathleen, CIO at the Schwan Food Company, business should innovate and improve technology, transforming it from a support activity to a partner role (King, 2007). However, there are various political and business challenges, which are probable to take place due to this transformation. Various companies like Trans World Entertainment Corporation, E! Entertainment Television Inc, and Procter and Gamble Co. ae entirely modifying their Information Technology organizations, and all activities are up for drastic transformation, including IT job title and where and how IT is housed in their firms (King, 2007). Apparently, this may face resistance from the workers. This is referred to as change resistance. As stated in the case study, any considerable amount of change in a company calls for dramatic structural change or entirely modifying what the staffs do. For instance, when Hinkle became the CIO of Trans World, he abolished the analyst title and individuals in that role were shifted into the project management office (King, 2007). Obviously, the personnel cannot embrace this as most of them are used to their working culture, and thus may resist suc h a change. This as a result may affect the company negatively in terms of production, sales and profitability. Political challenges may encompass modification of traditional pattern of work, and matters regarding taxes and costs. This shift in the strategic outlook of IT has various implications for traditional IT workers and for the educational institutions that train them. Certainly, most organizations are highly adopting the new technology meaning that they are not making use of traditional technology. This means that such companies will only employ personnel with new technologies required to change the ways in which the organization works. Traditional IT workers will have to develop capability of learning all aspectts of the company including where IT subsists. The organization institutions which train them may suffer negatively as most people will prefer joining educational institutions training new technologies. However, they may make training practical and elaborate and center on amplifying managerial and technological skill of a person to ensure training becomes efficient in real work environments. Besides, such institutions should teach skills and organizational knowledge to be used in analyzing info rmation technology. Future IT individuals should have the capability of finding out creative strategies and ideas with an aim of growing and operating by making the effective employment of information technology. As stated in the case study, technology is employed in almost all activities performed by companies King, 2007). For instance, IT is employed in the production and sale of goods and in the creation of novel services and products. According to studies, most organizations have adopted IT in their activities as the same is linked to various benefits one of them being ensuring sustained competition and success of the companies. Therefore, it is true that is employed in almost everything performed by companies. One of the recent products generated through IT is Mobile cash by Kumari bank. The availability and idea of this service offered by the bank is entirely founded on Information Technology and clients may only make use of the service through mobile phones. Buy custom Strategic Business Partner essay

How to Easily Make Glow in the Dark Ice

How to Easily Make Glow in the Dark Ice Open up a bottle of tonic water, pour it into an ice cube tray, and stick it in the freezer. Tonic water glows vivid bright blue under a black light. The glow is activated by other sources of ultraviolet light, such as fluorescent lights or sunlight, though the glow wont appear as bright in part because the room wont be as dark. If you want to duplicate the effect in the photo, you need a black light somewhere in the room with the ice. Glowing Ice Flavor Tips Tonic water tastes vile, so heres a couple of tips for improving the flavor of the ice cubes. The first tip is to dilute the tonic water. If you mix the tonic water with normal water, your ice cubes will last longer (pure tonic water cubes melt fairly quickly) and wont taste as much like quinine (the ingredient responsible for the glow). Otherwise, you can cut it with lemonade or another sweet-sour drink that wont suffer from the bitter tang of the quinine. The second option is to put the ice into a drink where the flavor is desirable. The obvious choice would be to use the ice cubes in gin to make a gin and tonic. Non-alcoholic choices include fruit juice, Mountain Dewâ„ ¢, or Kool-Aidâ„ ¢. Dont worry about diminishing the glow from the ice. This photo is of tonic water ice and water. Types of Tonic Water The tonic water has to contain quinine. It doesnt make a difference whether you use diet or regular tonic water, be sure the label lists quinine. Some brands contain more flavoring than others, but I have had equally good luck with inexpensive store brands and premium brands. Another tip is to use clear plastic cups instead of glasses. Most plastic cups are brightly fluorescent under black light, so you get an added glow if you use them. You might want to take a mini-black light with you when you go shopping, to see what else will glow for you. You can make the ice into a glowing crystal ball to decorate punch bowls or look cool.

Main Functional Metrics Employed to Measure ShareHolder Value Essay

Main Functional Metrics Employed to Measure ShareHolder Value - Essay Example Many firms calculate the profitability in their own method of calculation where as investors take a different method to do the same, and it makes a hard time for the management of the firm to coordinate the results. An investor always focuses on the economic profits of the firm as well as looks at the extent of debt and equity that is invested in the business. Some of the important financial metrics employed to measure shareholder value are given below; 1. Shareholder Value Analysis (SVA) The shareholder value analysis (SVA) approach was developed by Alfred Rapport during 1980s and is used to estimate the value of the shareholders’ stake within a company or business unit which can also be adopted as the fundamental measure to formulate and evaluate strategic decisions (CIMA, 2004. p.10). The estimation of the value of a firm’s operations is usually carried out through the process of discounting anticipated future operating â€Å"free cash flows† at a suitable cos t of capital. Here, the free cash flow shows the cash flow derived from a business for a specified period, i.e. the cash flow before extracting any financial-related cash flows associated with share or debt. For the purpose of calculating the shareholder value, the value of â€Å"marketable securities and other investments† must be added to, and the value of debt must be subtracted from the business valuation (CIMA, 2004. p.10). The advantage of shareholder value analysis is that it can be used to value a business, and also to value alternative strategic decisions, by contrasting the pre- and post-strategy positions of the firm. Moreover, it is a simple most common method of calculation by considering the seven key value drivers, which can be broken down into comprehensive practical measures in order to encourage the managers to act on the ultimate objective of generating shareholder wealth. 2. Economic Profit (EV) Economic Profit (EP) is another method for evaluating the sha reholder value which is also known as â€Å"residual income† as a method of measuring divisional performance. It determines how well a firm is performing. The EP evaluates the surplus return gained by the business in a specific period after deducting all expenses, including the cost of using investor’s capital in the business (Encyclopedia of Business, 2011). The measure of net profit cannot be used for analysis even though the interest charged on debt capital is deducted, as its cost related with using equity funds is omitted. So many opt for the EP, arguing that net profit would be mislead and would erroneously exhibit a firm to be profitable based on net profit, where as the actual economic profit would describe it as economically unprofitable. We can state that economic profit is the variance between the return on capital and the cost of capital which can be computed using the following two methods: EP = Invested capital x (return on capital – WACC) EP = Ope rating profits after tax less capital charge 3. Economic Value Added (EVA) According to Bennet and Stewart (p.40, 2007), Economic Value Added is the financial performance evaluation method which is able to accurately capture the true economic profit of an organisation, and is the performance measure most directly associated with the creation of shareholder wealth over time. EVA is an evaluation of finding out

Exploring the Brain Responses Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Exploring the Brain Responses - Assignment Example The experimental study has the hypothesis of the inducement of either the rTMS or the stimulants triggering the dopamine production. In the two experiments, the brain is induced with rTMS for patients with depression and stimulants for the c-Fos experiment, which uses rats. Procedure outline of rTMS Eight Patients with depression was treated with rTMS, over the left prefrontal cortex on a daily basis. Each of them underwent neuropsychological test scores and PET scan before and after the rTMS treatment (Goldman et al. 1978). Procedure outline of c-Fos experiment Six rats was injected with cocaine and six with amphetamine. The rats were then killed, and the brain extracted. The brain was then preserved and treated with antibodies that recognize the c-Fos-positive cells. A special dye was then added to reveal the location of the c-Fos cells. The cells are counted easily since they are brown due to the dye. Q1a. The independent variable (IV), the conditions and the two dependent variabl es (DV) for this study First, the TMS experiment will be considered. The independent variable (IV) is the raclopride binding. This does not rely on the other variable, but it is rather depended on by the other variable. The conditions of the experiment rTMS are repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. There are four dependent variables that depend on the set conditions, which are R caudate, Laudate, R putamen, and L putamen. These will vary depending on the rTMS induced on the patient. In the second experiment (c-Fos), the Independent variable is c-positive cells, which are not necessarily dependant on the other variable set. The conditions are cocaine and the amphetamine. The independent variables are the nucleus accumbens from the sections of the rat’s brain (Goldman et al. 1978). Q1b. The study within a participant study explanation The study of rTMS involves the participation of several patients who are observed before and after the rTMS induction. A PET scanning is then done to establish the number of functional dopamine receptors using radioactive raclopride. The study is thus within a participant study where the data obtained is from the patient pairs under experiment. The participants involved are patients who are 8 rather than being a single patient. Since 2 pairs of participants had the same pre-rTMS test scores represented by a single point for each pair, the study is within a participant study. The c-Fos experiment study is also within a participant study. This is because the study experiment involved the participation of every group member. This means that obtaining the data of all the group members was essential. Q1c. The vital piece of statistical information missing from the study results obtained The essential piece of statistical information missing from the results presented here is a hypothesis. This is a vital tool in analyzing the data presented to either agree with the data or disagree. This tool would be critical in making c onclusions, like establishing the level of deviation from the expected results set on the hypothesis. This piece of information set as a hypothesis would act as the researchers’ guideline when they are setting the procedures. This tool is also helpful to a researcher in the field since it will define his research scope.

Obsessive compulsive disorder Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Obsessive compulsive disorder - Essay Example Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychological experience considered an Axis 1 mental illness in the DSM-IV-TR (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994). According to the DSM OCD is defined as either a person being obsessed with a topic or concept or compelled to think particular thoughts or to undertake particular actions. Obsessions can be defined as recurrent and persistent thoughts, images of impulses that are experienced during the OCD experience, and these are perceived as being intrusive and inappropriate and generally cause distress and or anxiety to the person experiencing them (March, 2006; Salkovskis et al., 2000; Wroe & Salkovskis, 2000). Common distressing thoughts, actions or verbalizations may be sexual in nature (10%), moral/religious/blasphemous (11%), aggressive (29%), contamination-disease (46%), or to do with symmetry and sequence (27%) (Matthews, Reynolds, & Derisley, 2006). These excessive thoughts, impulses and images are not just over stressing about day-to-day life, for as the person tries to suppress or dispel such thoughts, impulses or images or attempts to supplement them with other thoughts, images or actions, they cannot suppress or dispel their experience. ... nuously checking that a door is locked, or repetitive mental acts, such as praying or counting, results in the person feeling driven to undertake the behavior of thought according to a rigid set of rules (Rosack, 2004). The behaviors and mental acts prevent or reduce the anxiety and distress that is experienced, alternatively, the thoughts and behaviors may inhibit a dreaded event from occurring. Obsessions and compulsions cause significant distress, can take up much of the person's time during the day, and can dramatically interfere with their normal routine in everyday life, such as inhibiting them from carrying out their work role or attending to academic studies (Simonds, Thorpe, & Elliott, 2000). Experiences also negatively affect their ability to engage in social activities or to have fulfilling relationships. Additionally, if another Axis 1 mental illness is present then the content of the obsessions and or compulsions may not be restricted to it; for example, being preoccupied with food when an eating disorder is also present. Hollander, Cohen and Stein (2005) categorises one type of OCD experiences as repetitive behaviors that are driven by pleasure or arousal, such as pathological gambling, as the act of gambling involves risk and reward. In a study by Anholt and colleagues (2004) a comparison of the dysfunctional beliefs of those with diagnosed OCD and participants diagnosed as pathological gamblers or panic disorder, and a group of normal controls. Beliefs were measured using the Obsessive-Compulsive Beliefs Questionnaire-87 (OBQ-87). It was anticipated that the pathological gamblers would have similar cognitions to the OCD group; and have high levels of OCD symptoms. The results showed that the OCD group and the gambling group had similar OBQ-87 scores;

Sleep is a facilitator of information processing

Sleep is a facilitator of information processing The human body and mind are constantly subjected to stressors and new stimuli during the course of a day. Sleeping is crucial for coping with such as it nourishes the bodies need for physiological rest and repair after such stress, and also simultaneously facilitates crucial information processing in the mind. In fact, sleep is one of the most essential functions of the human body. The unconscious information processing that takes place during sleep plays a significant role in cognitive information processes such as memory and learning. Essentially, during sleep the mind integrates new information acquired during the previous day into memory and processes it by making necessary connections. The culmination point of these unconscious information processes seems to be in rapid eye movement sleep (REM-sleep) as brain activity is at its height during this phase of sleep. The activation during REM-sleep resembles that of a conscious state. Also, sleep research has shown that the majority of complex dreaming occurs during REM-sleep (Revonsuo, 1996, 277). However, the exact function of dreams is unknown. Even so, dreams are often a repetition of influential experiences and feelings from the previous day and therefore seem to be linked to information processing that takes place (Partinen, 2007, 18). Consequently, it would seem safe to conclude that REM-sleep has some role in unconscious information processing. Yet, there is a great amount of controversy within the scientific and psychological community regarding the role of REM-sleep in cognitive information processing. One view suggests that REM-sleep is merely a mechanism used by the brain to assist in recovery from sleep by retaining necessary activation levels in the central nervous system (Vertes, 2000, 876), whereas others find that REM-sleep is clearly connected to information processes such as learning, threat-response and problem solving. Hence, the focus of this essay is to investigate the relationship between REM-sleep and cognitive information processes. The research question of this essay is: To what extent does REM-sleep entail cognitive information processing? 1.1 Phases of sleep Sleep can be divided into REM-sleep and four phases of non-REM sleep (NREM). The first and second phases of NREM are the closest to a fully awake state, and the third and the fourth phases are the least conscious phases of deep sleep. It is hypothesised that NREM-sleep is in fact the restoring phase of sleep as metabolism is comparatively low in NREM-sleep in comparison to a conscious state (Revonsuo, 1996, 277). Interestingly, there is relatively little brain activation in NREM-sleep, actually sleep research has shown that there are often only simple dreamlike experiences in NREM-sleep and sometimes more complicated dream experiences. In fact, over half of the participants in dream researches, awoken in the deepest phases of NREM-sleep do not recall any dreams. Moreover, in between these phases of NREM-sleep there are several phases of REM-sleep. Brain activation in these phases resembles that of a conscious state i.e. high frequency beta and gamma waves similar to those found in a conscious state of mind are visible in EEG scans of sleep research participants during REM-phase sleep. Furthermore, participants woken from REM-sleep almost always recall event rich dreams (Revonsuo, 1996, 277). However, sleep research can only reach so far in terms of understanding the processing that takes place in sleep. Data is usually obtained through either physiological measurements or dream journals (Hobs on, 2002, 7). This significantly affects the depth of the scientific understanding that can be gained. As physiological measurements tend to be quite superficial, whereas journals are often either incomplete or lacking in objectivity. In any case, there seems to be a large amount of information processing that takes place unconsciously. The difference between NREM-sleep and REM-sleep can be attributed to the type of information processing that takes place. It is thought that NREM-sleep involves relatively passive encoding of memories from the hippocampus to long-term memory. On the contrary, REM-sleep is thought to involve processing of procedural and emotional memory, which shows in dream content and vibrancy (Partinen, 2007, 40). It might be the case that dreams are not present at all in deeper NREM-sleep as the brain activity is relatively low. Information processing Cognitive psychology focuses on understanding the how the mind processes information. Behaviourism Cognitive psychology is concerned with information processes in the mind such as memory, learning, problem solving, and perception (Bourne, 1986, 30). Even so, cognitive psychologists have only recently have come to accept the importance of unconscious processes, namely the importance of sleep time unconscious processes for cognitive information processing (Shevrin, 1996, 2). In reality, cognitive information processing takes a relatively long time. Essentially, for any new information to have an effect on the human mind the information needs to first be perceived by the sensory system; eyes, ears, or the skin. Some type of change has to be first registered and only then can any further information processing take place. This further processing can happen immediately, but it is more often than not the case that the stimulus is gone before any conclusions can be drawn (Bourne, 1986, 12). Therefore, memory plays a key role in information processing as we often have to rely on it to draw any conclusions. The multi-store memory model suggested by Atkinson and Shiffrin in 1968 gives a relatively accurate model of cognitive information processing. It suggests that memory can be split into three phases sensory, short-term memory, and long-term-memory. Information moves between the different types of memory through rehearsal and retrieval. However, the model has been subjected to critique over being too simplistic in terms of transfer between the different types of memory. In fact, the model relies solely on rehearsal as a means of transfer ignoring the importance of effort and strategies used by an individual (Hill, 2001, 106). In particular, the multi-store memory model works on the principal that information is processed as it is given attention to. Naturally, as new stimulus are constantly entering the mind and the sensory organs, while in a conscious state of mind, the mind can only give attention to so many things and is often preoccupied in the processing and storing of new more prominent information. Therefore, it would seem logical that as there is little time during the conscious period to process all the information entering the brain during the day, that is most information processing actually happens during some other time, namely during sleep. Theories of dream function Dream research is essential to the study of sleep time unconscious information processes as it provides a view into any processing that takes place during sleep. However, the exact function of dreams is difficult to determine. Some psychologists and the general public alike would like to think that dreams are meaningful in themselves. Conversely, the activation synthesis dream hypothesis suggests that dreams might just be derivatives of the neuron activation during sleep (Hobson, 2002, 71). Either way dreams appear to be of significance in terms of study of REM-sleep information processing, since dream-experiences are most common in REM-sleep (Revonsuo, 1996, 277). The psychoanalytic level of analysis is largely based around Freuds theory of personality and dream theory. The primary theory on dream function presented by Freud was that of wish fulfilment i.e. dreams are disguised expressions of unconscious desires and impulses (Tulonen, 2008, 56). However, Freuds theory is largely without empirical evidence as it is based on case studies that he conducted himself, in spite of this, his theory seems to suggest that dreams have a meaningful content and therefore there is some type of information processing that occurs during sleep. However, perhaps the most widely accepted theory is the reprogramming dream theory. The proposal made is that dreams are necessary for the brain to process new information and make necessary connections. The brain also works to remove any excess unnecessary information from memory during dreams (Tulonen, 2008, 55). This theory also supports the idea that there is information processing during sleep and more specifically during the REM-phase of sleep. Information processing during REM-sleep Learning processes in REM-sleep Learning is undoubtedly one of the most important cognitive information processes as it entails a number of other information processes e.g. perception, problem solving, and memory. Learning can take place through a number of pathways and constitute anything from a simple learned motor function to understanding of abstract scientific concepts. Therefore, a distinction should be made between repetitive learned motor function and information that is consciously and deliberately learned, understood, and stored in memory i.e. factual or semantic information. That is, procedural and declarative memory respectively. More in depth, learning is a compilation of different cognitive processes i.e. perception, memory, and problem solving. There are a number of models that conceptualise the learning process. For instance, David Kolbs experiential learning model identifies four stages of the learning cycle: concrete experimentation, reflection, abstract conceptualisation, and active experimentation. Concrete- and active experimentation involve learning from experience, whereas reflection and abstract conceptualisation involve inferring based on memory of past experience (Kolb in Sternberg, 2000, 227). The reprogramming theory of sleep suggests that different phases of sleep are of central importance for processing and interconnecting of memories i.e. reflection and abstract conceptualisation, and therefore achieving learning (Tulonen, 2008, 55). 2.1.1 Early brain development REM-sleep information processing is central to learning and development from the very onset of brain activity in a foetus. The human foetus spends around 16 hours a day in rapid-eye movement sleep. This is necessary for brain growth as REM-sleep involves high brain activity and continuous neuron stimulation creating new links in the cortex (Hobson, 2002, 76). Furthermore, a similar phenomenon is also present after birth, that is, the amount of REM sleep for an infant is unusually large; around 8 hours whereas by adulthood this declines to at most 2 hours per night (Partinen, 2007, 43). Majid Mirmiran conducted an experiment on the functional significance of REM-sleep in relation to infant rat development, which showed how essential REM-sleep is for early development. In the study infant rats were deprived of REM-sleep by interfering with monoamines in the brain from 1 week of age to 3 weeks of age. The rats were then tested as adults and compared with normal rats. Unsurprisingly the rats were severely affected and the findings showed that the deprived rats had hyperactivity, hyperanxiety, attentional distractability, reduced sexual performance, and reduced cerebral cortical size in comparison to control rats (Mirmiran, 1986, 283). Without a doubt the findings are limited in how much they can be generalized to human infants and foetuses. However, the same research could not have been carried out on human infants without raising serious ethical issues. In any case, the research clearly exemplifies the importance of REM-sleep for brain development in early life of a m ammal. 2.1.2 Memory consolidation Not only is REM-sleep necessary for infant development and learning, but its also essential in learning new skills regardless of age. For instance, visual recognition of different objects is a process that is learned from very early on in life. The importance of REM-sleep for forming procedural memories necessary for learning a visual recognition task is illustrated by a study conducted by Karni et al. on sleep deprivation. The study showed that performance in a given visual discrimination task improved significantly over a single night of sleep, whereas when participants were selectively deprived REM-sleep there was no significant performance gain. Moreover, when participants were deprived of NREM-sleep the performance gain remained unaffected (Karni, 1994, 679). The reliability of Karnis study is relatively high as it demonstrates that the given task is unaffected by NREM deprivation and will improve over a single nights sleep, whereas other studies are not as clear and may have been affected by the stressfulness of the sleep deprivation procedure. Furthermore, Stickgold et al. attained similar results in a more recent study on visual discrimination and REM-deprivation (Stickgold, 2000, 1237). In any case, sleep deprivation is a very stressful procedure and has a great impact on the validity of any research. However, REM-sleep seems to be clearly important for developing of procedural memory. The significance of REM-sleep for developing procedural memory and visual recognition skills may be one reason for unusually large amounts of REM-sleep in infancy. It may even be the case that without REM-sleep an infant may be unable to develop a consciousness and perceptual and motor skills. However, currently there is little evidence available for su ch. Conversely, there are several researches that refute the role of REM-sleep in procedural memory consolidation. For instance, a recent research conducted by Genzel et al. on REM-sleep and slow-wave NREM-sleep deprivation showed that neither procedural memory nor declarative memory seems to be affected by REM-sleep or deep NREM-sleep awakenings. However, the task used to test procedural memory was a motor task requiring finger tapping, whereas declarative memory was tested by recall of word lists. It may be possible that different types of memory are processed in different phases of sleeps. In fact, the conclusion reached by the researchers is that declarative memory consolidation takes place in stage two NREM-sleep and that simple motor tasks are processed in stage two NREM-sleep or require very little REM-sleep (Genzel, 2009, 302-304). However, the sample size was relatively small in this research (n=12) so further research is necessary to establish any firm conclusions on declarativ e memory consolidation. The role of sleep in declarative memory consolidation was first demonstrated by Jenkins and Dallenbach (1924). The participants of the experiment were asked to learn non-sense syllable lists after which they either went to sleep or continued awake. Recall was then tested at one hour intervals. When the results for the sleeping condition were compared with the waking condition it was found that after eight hours; 6 times more non-sense syllables were remembered in the sleeping condition (Jenkins in Bourne, 1986, 104). However, the sample consisted of only two participants so the findings are very limited in how much they can be generalised. Nevertheless, further research into the area has shown that at least some consolidation of declarative memories takes place in sleep, namely in phase slow wave NREM-sleep (Stickgold, 2005, 1275). However, REM-sleep seems to be of little importance to declarative memory consolidation. Cohen even (1979) went as far as to claim that the dreaming that takes place in REM-sleep interferes with memory consolidation (Cohen in Bourne, 1986, 105). However, the sleep phase in which memories are consolidated does not only depend on the type of memory i.e. declarative or procedural, but also it seems to be dependent on emotional content. As mentioned earlier, REM-sleep seems to be related to processing of emotional memories (Partinen, 2007, 40). That is, if a memory has emotional context then it is likely that it is processed in REM-sleep. For example, a study conducted by Wagner et al. gave clear empirical support for processing of emotional declarative memories in REM-sleep. The study showed that retention of emotional texts was significantly improved in comparison neutral texts over a period of late-night sleep. Similar effects were not found in early-night sleep, which consists mainly of NREM-sleep, whereas, in late night-sleep REM is predominant. In fact, earlier studies have shown that REM-sleep shows increased activation of the amygdala, which is associated with processing of emotional memories (Wagner, 2001, 112-113). Wha ts more, is that the study avoids adverse effects of deprivation and is therefore more reliable than studies conducted using sleep deprivation. In other words, REM-sleep is of some importance in terms of processing of emotional content even though other studies have shown that REM-sleep is not significantly involved in consolidation of non-emotional declarative memories. Creative problem solving in REM-sleep Problem solving in relation to REM-sleep, anagram problem solving Walker MP, Liston C, Hobson JA, Stickgold R. (2002). http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090608182421.htm creative problem solving enhanced by REM Dreams as information processing vessels Dreams are often considered to be deficient of cognitive activity; however, several studies have shown that this is not necessarily true. The threat simulation dream theory presented by Antti Revonsuo suggests that evolutionary success depends on successful threat response, which is rehearsed in the relative safety of dreams. Revonsuo suggests that the mind actively generates dreams, which are comprised of threatening events in different combinations. These dreams are often repeated over several nights in order to develop and maintain threat response capabilities (Revonsuo, 2000, 482). Empirical support for the threat simulation dream theory comes from dream content analysis studies. For instance, a study conducted by Valli et al. found that threatening events are overrepresented in dreams in comparison to actual number of threatening events experienced when awake. Also, the events experienced in dreams were often very realistic and focused on to the dream self i.e. the self is often actively engaged in combating these threatening events in the dreams (Valli, 2000, 491). Clearly, if dreams are merely a repercussion of neuron activation during REM-sleep, as suggested by the activation-synthesis hypothesis, then its quite likely that dream content would be disorganized and incoherent. Conversely, Vallis content analysis suggests that the mind actively engages in coherent rehearsal of threat response. However, the study was conducted by a dream journal method, where the participants record their own dreams after a night of sleep. This raises questions of validity and objectivity. Even so, the study not only indicates that there is clear support for Revonsuos threat simulation theory, but it also indicates that the mind processes information through dreams in REM-sleep. Furthermore, there is evidence that during dreams the mind engages actively engages in self-reflection i.e. becomes aware of ones own thoughts and actions. Research has shown this to be beneficial to mental health. For example, recently Kontkanen showed that dreaming is helpful in trauma coping for children. Kontkanen conducted a dream content analysis on traumatised Palestinian children aged 5-17 and children, of the same age, living in normal conditions. High levels of self-reflection and self-awareness were found to be beneficial to the mental health of the traumatised Palestinian children. In the control group high levels of self-reflection in dreams were found to be dysfunctional. However, several individual with high levels of self-reflection in the control group, conversely, showed symptoms of poor mental health. Consequently, Kontkanen suggests that self-reflection processing in dreams should increase and diminish according to need in order to maintain good mental health (Kon tkanen, 2000, 523-524). Surely, the dream journal method used in the study has its limitations and there is also doubt whether results gathered from children can be generalised to adults as such processing might also be attributed to development. Nevertheless, the study points at the necessity of dreams in cognitive information processing and mental health. Conclusions Draw conclusions based on presented evidence, on how necessary is REM-sleep for cognitive information processing.

Argument Evaluation :: essays research papers

By reading the articles, the debate questions addressed by both arguments are about the poly changes in national securities or homeland securities after the terrorist attack on Sept 11, 2001. The tragedy made all Americans afraid of their safety in flying an airplane and made them felt miserable when their friends had died on the attacked. It is very important that the US need to take measures to improve homeland securities to eliminate any possibilities from terrorist attack (terrorist threat) again. The US have employed extra security measures rather than sacrificing security of the people for some comfort and convenience. The viewpoint of the writer on John Ashcroft (Attorney General) is basically to point out on the Patriot Act that brought the latest law to prevent the terrorist. One of the Ashcroft opinion on this articles is â€Å"Once detained, these lawbreakers are accorded the rights to which they are entitled.† I think the INS plays an important role to conduct as a front line in the border that guard the US from the terrorist threat, but it might give an uncomfortable feeling for foreigner who has nothing to do with the terrorist activity. I have a friend who has a citizenship of Oman, but he is originally from India who immigrated to Oman when he was child. One of the times when he was returning back from vacation to enter the US he has a problem with the immigration due to his citizenship of Oman. Well this situation might happen to a lot for the people who come from Middle East countries who want to enter the US. Another statement that the writer mentioned is â€Å"To keep the publ ic informed, we have consistently released criminal documents and redacted Immigration and Naturalization Service document as they have been unsealed. We would violate our own creed, a pillar of justice, if we aside civil liberties in pursuit terrorist.† This statement concluded that any kind of possible actions will be taken by the authorities to avoid any threat from terrorist attacks. It might violate the civil liberties in order to get a full action against the terrorist threat. The writer view on Anthony D. Romeo, Executive Director of ACLU, was assurance that the Josh Ashcroft and President George W. Bush would not erode civil liberties in oppose to this crisis. One of the examples of that is when Romeo stated that â€Å"From establishing military tribunal without limiting judicial oversight, from expanding wiretapping authority while limiting judicial oversight, from.

The Correlation of Psychological Stress amd Human Body’s Response

This article looks at different ways, methods and ideologies to have to deal with stress on a daily basis. There continually is research being done to look at the effects of it as well as causes of it. The way it impacts a person†s health is the subject of many research endeavors. So a few suggestions were made and printed to help those on a daily basis. Scientists are studying the correlation between psychological stress and the human body†s immune response to come with a better management for certain diseases. The body responds to stress in the â€Å"fight or flight† syndrome. When such a time that the body can not adapt anymore to the numerous stressful events, diseases set in. Symptoms affecting the immune system, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels occur, which often lead to certain diseases. Adverse effects include behavioral problems, weight gain, among others. Researchers advocate that prolonged exposure to stress can lead to adverse physiological changes and that managing stress can help people lead longer, healthier lives. Know what â€Å"triggers† your anger by keeping a journal to record what is happening when you get angry. Recognize the humor in a situation, but make sure the laugh†s on you, not on the other person. Practice relaxation techniques and mediate or focus your thoughts on something pleasant. This article gave some interesting pieces of advice, some making your more aware of looking at different situations. Also helped me to see the number of pieces of research that is being done in the area of reducing stress, especially in those areas of society where the job you have may bring more than you can handle.

A Synopsis of the Movie I Not Stupid Too

FIRST PAPER REQUIREMENT Movie Analysis Prepared by: LEONILA C. MIRANDA 2011-79515 Title:I NOT STUPID TOO Director:Jack Neo Producer:Chan Pui Yin Seah Saw Yam Writer:Jack Neo Casts:Shawn Lee (Tom Yeo) [pic] Ashley Leong (Jerry Yeo) Joshua Ang (Chengcai Lim) Jack Neo (Mr. Yeo) Xiang Yun (Mrs. Yeo) Huang Yiliang (Mr. Lim) Studio:Media Corp Raintree Pictures Distributor:United International Pictures Release date:26 January 2006 Running time:124 minutes Country:SingaporeLanguage:English, Mandarin, Hokkien |I NOT | |STUPID | |TOO | | | | | |SUMMARY OF THE STORY |I Not Stupid too is a satirical comedy film focused on the theme of problems in educational system, generation gap, upshots of media and abusive use of technology as a form of escapism, juvenile delinquency and other related social issues. Throughout the film, you will tend to reflect with some scenarios which you will find tremendously familiar with our country’s pertinent issues which make it appears that we are not alon e with these pandemic diseases that inflict our contemporary society.It was written and directed by Jack Neo who is widely known for his films which he used to present annotations with the intention of addressing serious issues that matters and presenting it in a humorous and youthful perspective. â€Å"When was the last time someone praised you? When was the last time you praised someone? † – These are the questions posed at the beginning of the film which made me contemplate on myself for a while and somehow gave me a glimpse of what the movie is all about.The film is narrated and seen through the eyes of the eight year old Jerry Yeo; presenting the lives, struggles and adventures of him and his brother Tom Yeo and their friend Chengcai Lim. Jerry enjoys performing arts, while Tom excels in technological aspects and a talented writer and blogger. They come from a well heeled family with busy parents. On the other hand, Chengcai is physically active and an adept fight er. Unlike his friends, he comes from a working class background and was raised by his widowed ex-convict father.The story started with Tom, receiving a trophy for being a champion blogger. But instead of being proud of his son, Mrs. Yeo confronted him, saying that writing nonsense is not awesome. As Jerry narrated, â€Å"Grown-ups think that, by telling us a lot, they are communicating. Actually, they are running their own shows. † – their parents keep on blubbering too much and don’t care about their children’s feelings as long as they are able to say their pieces. At school, Jerry was chosen as the lead narrator for their school play and encouraged by his teacher to get his parents to attend.But he falters because he knows that his parents are very busy and view performances as just a waste of money and time. Aside from this, he got bullied by his classmates who made her kiss a girl and fallaciously made him believe that he might impregnate her as what they’ve seen from the television. This made him anxious and tried to ask from adults around him on how do babies come about but none of them bother and open enough to tell him the truth. Confuse of what to do, he bought pineapples for her based from what he heard that eating this will cause miscarriage.As a result, the girl was brought in the school clinic and their parents were then called. Because of this, Jerry’s parents had an argument which then resulted to what he termed as â€Å"cold war. † On Father’s day, Tom gave Mr. Yeo a razor, while Jerry gave him a drawing illustrating how he views his father absence because of being too busy with his work. Both gifts were not appreciated. During dinner, Tom’s cell phone rang and his parents reprimanded him when he got the call. But after several minutes, their cell phones rang and left the table to answer it, leaving their children eating on their own. And when Mr.Yeo lose his important files in his laptop which he will use for a business presentation at work, Tom managed to fix it before going to school. He then delivered it to his father hoping that he’ll be praised because of what he did. But instead of thanking him, Mr. Yeo scolded him for touching his things and not being in school. Mr. Lim on the other hand, loves Chengcai very much and doesn’t want him to end up loser like him who once thought of being a good fighter but broke his leg that’s why he don’t want his son to develop his fighting skills. He has gone to great lengths to ensure that his son will turn to be good and responsible.Alas, he doesn’t communicate well with his son and disciplined him by using physical violence and throwing verbal abuses at him. After their previous fight, he accidentally tore Chengcai’s bag when he tried to pull it. So, keeping in mind of his friend’s advice about how he should show his love to his son, he bought him a cheap bag and hesi tantly gave it. Chengcai refused to accept it especially when his father failed to explain the bag’s worth and value for giving it to him. Apart from their parents, Tom and Chengcai have also problems with their teacher, Mr. Fu, who often regard them as â€Å"rotten apples. He teaches them Chinese and even bought dictionaries for them to understand his lesson aside from giving remedial classes. But he doesn’t really connect with his students through his teaching strategies and frequently focus or attack his students’ flaws and weaknesses. During a spot check of cellular phones, Tom was caught possessing a pornographic VCD. As Mr. Fu tried to confiscate it, the students passed it on each other until he was able to get it. Chengcai made an impertinent remark which provoked his teacher to hurt him and eventually leads to an exchange that intensified physical fight.Consequently, their parents were called. They begged to the principal to forgive their children and e ven tried to bribe her with various offers. But the principal remained firm as what she believes, â€Å"Rules are rules! I have to go according to the law! † And so, Chengcai was expelled, while Tom received a public caning. After few days, video of the incident was uploaded and watched in the internet which then began to appear in the newspapers and television. The public caning and teacher’s violent action towards the students was questioned.The principal stood by the school rules, policies and corporal punishments which she believes and emphasized that caning is not just about pain, but the shame that the students will feel and will then made them afraid of doing it again. After the incident that led to various school controversies, Mr. Fu submitted a resignation letter which then refused by the principal and faculty to accept. Conversely, Tom and Chengcai got recruited by a street gang. Mr. Lim again talked to the principal to plea for his son but the latter remain ed firm in her decision. Thus, with the help of his friend, Mr.Lim tried to look for other schools in the country but none of them agreed to accept his son. On the other side, Mr. Yeo set a dinner with Tom to spend time with him and tried to somehow make a connection through uttering his son’s generation lingo and giving him a 3G phone. But just the same, he didn’t also win his son’s heart and respect. As part of their initiation, Tom and Chengcai were forced to steal by their senior gang members. However, they were caught by conmen who pretended to be police detectives and demanded them to pay $2000 within their given days or be arrested and jailed.Jerry on the other hand, stole a big amount of money which then found out by his parents. Mr. Yeo enraged and caned him but got embarrassed when Jerry told him the reason behind his action. He explained that he tried to save money and resorted to stealing just to earn $500 to buy an hour of his father’s time s o they will be able to attend in his school presentation. This made Mr. and Mrs. Yeo depressed and blamed their selves because of what their children has gone through as a result of their failures and shortcomings as parents.Moreover, this also brought them to reading Tom’s blogs which he uses as his outlet to vent all his hurts, frustrations and disappointments set off by his parents and teacher who always misunderstands and misjudges him. One of his blogs contains, â€Å"My mom? She oppresses me. Everything I do is never enough for her. When I was in secondary one, I took a wrong bus and got lost. I was terrified. I called Dad from a public phone. He said he was too busy to talk. It’s scary to be lost. I got home after night fall. Mom lashed at me without asking. Slowly, I came to realize that my house is just a place where I sleep.This family seems to have it all. Actually, it feels so empty. † Through these, Mr. & Mrs. Yeo came to realize how unappreciated a nd emptied their children feel as well as their deep disappointments about them. Incapable of raising the money asked from them by the conmen and being scared of being jailed, Tom and Chengcai opted to rob an old woman of her necklace. But as they ran off, they slowly realized that what they did was wrong. Being remorseful by their action, they decided to return the necklace. After learning about what they did, the people around attacked and chased them.Tom bumped into several bystanders and dropped his cell phone. Mr. Yeo was accidentally dialed and made him saw what was happening to his son. He then left his work presentation and went to the scene together with his family. He pleads the old woman to forgive his son and explained their realizations about how he came up with it as a result of their mistakes as parents. Fortunately, the old woman listened and understood what their family was going through and told the police that she just made a prank call. On the other side, Chengca i who was also chased, slammed into gangsters and got beaten up.Mr. Lim, who happens to be on the same area saw him and tried to help and protect his son. Unfortunately, he was accidentally pushed down the stairs and got critically injured. He was then rushed to the hospital, suffering from a serious head trauma. Mr. Lim’s friend told Chengcai about his father’s struggles and efforts just to save money for his studies, look for other school that will let him in and somehow fix their relationship. She than added, â€Å"He’s willing to give up his life for you. Your Dad loved you too much. But, he didn’t know how to show his love. †Being hammered by his conscience and realizing his faults as a son, he decided to go back to school and took the risk of begging the principal to accept him again. On his last agony, Mr. Lim requested to see the school principal. He openly voiced out his failures as a father and how he grew up in a violent environment wher e no one ever cared for him which in the long run caused him being naive on how to show and give love to others. Moreover, he told Chengcai to pursue his talent for fighting and how much he loves him. Sighting this, the principal’s heart melted and allowed Chengcai to return to school and gave him chance to prove his worth.Chengcai developed and enhanced his talent with the school’s support and became an internationally recognized martial artist. Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Yeo finally understood their children and managed to build up their communication and relationship with their children. They joyfully and proudly watched Jerry’s school concert and showed their full support to their talented son. The film ended with Jerry’s narration on how each of them found the key to win everyone’s heart by giving more encouragements and compliments. His last remarks avowed, â€Å"We learned that appreciation is a powerful force.This powerful force may result to the simplest words that you say or an action, or a simple expression. You never know, what you have changed. † |I NOT | |STUPID | |TOO | | | |conflicting / inconsistent beliefs, practices, views, principles, | |and/or philosophies that fall under the discourses on educational | |goals / contents and manner of teaching |The film tackled various areas – from bad parenting, up to juvenile delinquency, misuse of technology, effects of media and most especially, the problems encountered in the educational system. It provides us tough questions and paints a grim portrait of the increasingly problems and troubles of today’s youth in the society. The key point that Jack Neo tries to set forth in this motion picture is the generation gap, communication barriers and the irony in how acts of love and care by children, parents and educators wind up peeving each other.The love manifested by parents to children, children to parents and educators to students are undeniable a nd evidently viewed in the story but often disregarded by the receiving faction. These sentiments are actually true not only to Singapore, where the film was based, but also to the majority of fast paced countries – even in the developing countries similar to the Philippines. Parents’ failure to set off and build good relationship and communication with their children also of giving attention and appreciation is irrefutably the main reason of the problems facing our youths today.The movie clearly depicts how children feel muffled by their environment and often feels pressured by the adults who don’t bother to listen, instead, frequently criticized, judged and labeled them as hopeless and doomed to failure. And with parents who are way too busy to be involved in their children’s lives, but are disgusted if they don’t live up to their expectations, those youths are left with no one else to turn to – especially if they don’t even have or feel the support system from school, particularly their teachers, being their surrogate parents.In our country, being known and true to our values of having close family ties, the school plays a big role in developing our youths. Conflicting and inconsistent beliefs, practices, views, principles, and philosophies that fall under the discourses on educational goals and contents as well as manner of teaching are very apparent in the film. These has been one of the focal points that the movie wants to discuss and give consideration – the underlying problems both in the objective and subjective areas of the educational system.In the film, the lead character’s school is beset with incensed teachers who are extremely dedicated in their work, yet, exceedingly inadequate in imparting knowledge and learning. Jerry’s teacher for instance, she was not able to explain her answer in a proper way when asked by his student about where babies come from. She used other words in stead of the true terminologies in the process of reproduction in explaining. This just added confusion to the child and did not help him in dealing with the situation he was going through.He did not get any clarification to what he’s been curious at or help in solving his problem both in his family and teachers. Mr. Fu, on the other hand, characterized a Chinese teacher who can’t establish connection to his students. He developed this certain barrier between him and his students making it harder for him to establish a good teacher-student relationship. He uses a teacher-centered approach as his way of teaching. Yes, this approach focuses in the student achievements but teachers are driven to meet accountability standards and often sacrifice the ndividual needs of students just to be firm and guarantee that they will be able to meet those standards. More so, this environment only places the control of learning to the hands of the teacher where he makes connections by u sing his expertise in content knowledge. The effort to get to know his students, processing the learning, and identifying their needs are only secondary. Mr. Fu set this atmosphere of a traditional classroom where the student’s interaction is basically just responding to teacher-directed questions and lesson flow.He rarely gives chance to his students for them to construct their own learning. Mr. Fu has high hopes and expectations to his students. So to enhance their Chinese language skills, he bought dictionaries for each of them to be used in his class. But on the contrary, it didn’t serve its purpose because it was also written in Chinese characters, so the students were not able to understand its content. When he was called by the school principal about it, he was advised to somehow translate the Chinese words that he’s teaching and use in English sentences or examples so that the students will able to understand it.Aside from this, he was reminded to think forward and reflect why his students don’t show interest and fail in his subject. Because of not taking his student’s needs into consideration, he was not able to use appropriate materials and teaching strategies. As a result, he was not able to attain his learning objectives and reach his expectations from them. Apart from these, he also failed to teach and inculcate values to his students. As I quoted from his argument with Chengcai, the student told him, â€Å"If we were rotten apples, as our teacher, wouldn’t you be responsible? We often say that teachers should be a role model to his students. Mr. Fu frequently makes violent comments and utterances towards his students which made them hate him and lessen their respect to him. Instead of giving them praises and encouragements so as to develop their confidence and self-esteem, he keeps on criticizing and nagging them, pointing out their flaws and mistakes. Mr. Fu came also to the extent of hurting one of his students when the latter provoked him with harsh comments. He was questioned on as to what degree teachers should do to impose discipline to their students.This brings us to the issue of corporal punishment which was also supported by the school principal in the film. After the incident between Chengcai, Tom and Mr. Fu, she immediately decided to expel one of the students and give public caning as sanction to the other. As I’ve seen, the incident did not go through proper and deep investigation, considering that it involves a serious offense. The student’s sides and rights were not given attention. Then even right after she was able to watch the video containing the incident, she still stood to his decision.She even uttered that corporal punishment, particularly the public caning, does not only involves pain, but also the shame that the students will feel. And because of this, the child and other students will be reminded not to do offenses like those. The school prin cipal depicted a common characteristic of officials who relies on the typical phrase, â€Å"according to the law,† to avoid responsibility, thorough analyzation of the situations or problems at hand and giving of common sense solutions. Furthermore, the school principal was also questioned of not speaking in Chinese, while Mr.Fu was pushing his students to become excellent in that language. The film somehow wants to imply the importance of learning and using their own language. At least, the principal managed to explain why she has poor skills in speaking Chinese and that she’s willing to learn and improve. Aside from these, I also observed that the teachers don’t communicate with the parents in various matters about the student. For instance, Jerry’s teacher did not make it a pint to at least help the child in reminding and encouraging the student to make his parents attend the concert.Knowing that she always reminds Jerry about the concert tickers for h is parents, she should have thought that there’s a problem and she could make a way to communicate them, explain the importance of the performance to their child and encourage them to come. On the other side, Mr. Fu was not also able to communicate especially to those students who he observed to have difficulties and failing in his class. In this event, he could make an inquiry to the parents if the child has personal problems which hinder him n participating in the class or somehow suggest how he could help with the parents to work out on the child’s improvement. |I NOT | |STUPID | |TOO | |STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF CONFLICTING POSITIONS | |REQUISITES OF SUCCESSFUL | |TEACHING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL SITUATION | Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire. † ~ William Butler Yeats. † Formal education aims to cultivate the intellect, develop reasoning, inculcate moral and sound judgment, develop values and spirituality, and as sist individuals towards attaining full potential growth. All individuals can be taught, it’s how the teachers teach them. When we teach, we do not just teach the content, we teach students the content. Effective teaching involves organizing the learning objectives, assessments and instructional activities focusing on the student’s overall development.There are two contrasting viewpoints on how to properly instruct children in the classroom. In teacher-centered approach, the role of the teacher is to dispense knowledge and student’s role is to listen and memorize. While in student-centered or constructivist approach, the children are more in control of their learning. Is a teacher simply the dispenser of information or a facilitator of learning? Both approaches works best if we will blend it together. With these, teachers can promote higher order thinking skills and develop students holistically.If teachers will apply both of these methods, they will be able to achieve their learning objectives with the help of providing proper teaching strategies, techniques and materials. Moreover, teacher-student communication should also be developed because it will lead to good learning relationship and improvement. Making connection with the students will greatly help the teachers in identifying their individual and specific needs so as to be able to supply and provide appropriate teaching methods and approaches.Through this, educators will not only develop the child’s intellect but also inculcate values which will then complete their totality as a person. Student’s rights as learners and as person should be recognized and take into consideration. Using reinforcements will help in motivating and encouraging them to focus and develop interest in their studies. More so, they should be given proper guidance and counseling to help them in mental, emotional, social and spiritual adjustments and development as they go through the path towards becoming a productive and worthy individual.There’s an idiom that says, â€Å"the exception proves the rule. † This implies that the presence of an exemption applying to a specific case establishes that a general rule existed and that there’s always an exemption to the rule. Even if we have this rules like giving corporal punishment, as what the film showed, school officials should consider the specific consequences that it may resulted. Children cannot only be taught by scolding and hurting them. There are various ways that educators can do to impose and develop discipline among students.As part of the academe, we should be sensitive enough in molding the future generation. We should make decisions not only from the basis of the rules or laws but also taking into concern the responsible, moral and fair judgments, foreseeing its consequences and outcomes especially when our children’s future is at hand. An effective teaching and educational objective sho uld include the following ABCD approach: Audience, Behavior, Condition and Degree. The main focus of teaching is the audience which includes the learners.Identifying their needs and skills are the key of knowing what kind of methods or techniques that teachers can apply. Next is the behavior which involves the three learning domains – cognitive, affective and psychomotor. It should focus on developing student’s behavior in understanding, value clarification and performance. Meanwhile, condition connotes the learning environment and atmosphere that the teacher imposed which may motivate and encourage students to learn and improve oneself. Lastly, the degree which suggests the rocess of evaluating the student’s outcome and standard or criterion for judging the academic and behavioral performance of the learners. Teaching students is not an easy job to do. It should not end in the classroom. Teachers are considered as one of the most important agents of constructiv e change in society. With the proper knowledge, understanding, techniques, strategies and experiences in handling learners, we can be able to mold the hearts and minds of the youth who will become the future leaders and citizens of the country.