Is Media Globalization a Form of Cultural Imperialism Essay

Is Media Globalization a Form of Cultural Imperialism - Essay Example This wide spread of its globalization has come up because of innovation and development of advanced information communication technology. Furthermore, globalization of media has facilitated all other forms of globalization in the world owing to the fact that multi-national media is very fundamental in global industries. Many individuals especially in the western countries believe in enjoying the positive impacts of media globalization without fearing or avoiding the media negative results which may include violation of freedom to speech. International communication has been made cheap through Media globalization and availability of advanced communication. This enable people have video conversation with their own who might be miles away. It helps business people be informed on the current status on the stock market via cell phones. This helps in good use of funds, time and power. Internet as another development in media has positively encouraged development in the world health sector. In the event of critical illness, a doctor can transmit an X-ray or MRI through another one at a far country thus offering better solution. A client is thus able to get it effectively and efficiently saving many lives. More advances are being made in media technology such as compression technology to enable easier and good transfers of CAT scans via the Internet for patients to access efficient assistant from all skilled professionals globally. Additionally via the worldwide web, a lot of information has been made readily available to all hence need to be informed in the right way. Homogenization and hybridization are two major types concerning that unify global culture. Homogenization equates globalization with depletion of... This essay approves that media is currently available and to the reach by people which is contrary totally different from previous status. An example is given of increased competition in the open market which has lowered content diversity. This is observed to standardize a profit as the organizations compete for more audience. Similarly, news stations have taken followed the profit formula hence lower quality of journalistic content bringing a very confusing situation hence global poor understanding of news resulting from personalized media content. Owing to the fact that advertising is great source of finance in media it is right to argue that media never choose the important products to advertise as their motive is profit maximization. This global media ignorance of the public interest does not result from changes of one’s standards in professional journalism. Also it never results from more public need for less irrelevant and evil information. The media is thus to lower public demand and esteem as they broadcast according to their satisfaction. This report makes a conclusion that since media has great societal influence it is good to regulate it more for nothing can stop media globalization. It will keep non influencing impact people behavior. Therefore, it is advisable for governments to ensure media freedom but set rules that will favor protection of people culture and good character as well. Therefore, it is right to argue the fact that medial globalization is source of cultural imperialism.

Realist style Essay Example for Free

Realist style Essay The winning spirit of our modern painting derives from Courbet. He was the individualist with strong elbows (George W. Chrystal, 1908). Courbet began the pragmatist movement when he exhibited his own paintings. By 1850 Romantic painting had become remarkably affluent. Courbets painting based around what he witnessed at the funeral of his grand uncle became the first masterwork in the Realist style. People were uninterested with romantic and classical paintings. There was a strong desire among many people for a unique painting, which sensibly portrayed the real world. When Courbet attended the funeral of his great uncle at Ornans, He was inspired and later painted the massive canvas, Burial at Ornans. It was one of the exceptional subjects in art illustrates an event with funerals. For his painting, he picked people as a model who had been to the funeral and created the new style. It leaves an impression of realistic style at the people of Ornans (Rubin 1997). People have mostly negative ambience with death and dying. Gustave Courbet’s underlying principle behind creation of such realistic painting is to utilize artistic talent as a way toward self-awareness and to transform the customs, the ideas. Courbet did not want to commune any religious message with his work. Courbet viewed this work as not just a funeral for his uncle, but in authentic truth a funeral for romanticism as a style (Rubin, 1977). Courbet’s paintings are generally viewed as realist one, increasingly concentrating on innocuous landscapes and seascapes for a bourgeois clientele. He had become extremely prominent during 1870 for his unique work. He captured middleclass marketplace by producing his painting on large scale. Forgers also started flooding the market with fake ones. In the United States, Courbets art was exhibited more than a dozen times by the mid-1870. The results were mixed: sometimes he churned it out; sometimes he didnt (New York Times). Courbet pushed towards a realistic style and created different, rare look as compared to other paintings in general like classical or romantic. Gustave Courbet painted in a way, which allowed artists to paint the world around them as they saw it, rather than making it complicated to understand. Courbet established the right of the artist to be contemporary and unconventional, to be free from the need of adding an elevating sentiment or an imposed message to the representation of realism (Nochlin 1976). Courbets painting of a young man and an old man breaking stones was a work of pragmatism which still had a trace of romanticism. He depicted the idea and the event without romanticizing it, just showing the workers engaged in their daily activity (Kleiner 2001). I am above all a total realist, he confessed on one of his many proclamations (Arthur C. Danto, 1989). Work- cited 1) Arthur C. Danto; Courbet; Magazine Title: The Nation. Volume: 248. Issue: 3. Publication Date: January 23, 1989. Page Number: 97. 2) George W. Chrystal, Julius Meier-Graefe, Florence Simmonds; Modern Art: Being a Contribution to a New System of Aesthetics. Publisher: G. P. Putnams Sons. Place of Publication: New York. Publication Year: 1908. Page Number: 219. 3) Kleiner, F. et al; Gardner’s Art Through the Ages. Eleventh Edition. Harcourt, Inc. , Orlando, Florida; 2001. 4) Nochlin, L. Gustave Courbet: A Study of Style and Society. Garland Publishing Inc. , New York; 1976. 5) Rubin, J. Courbet. Phaidon Press, London. 1997.

Analysis of major characters in 1984 Essay -- essays research papers

Analysis of Major Characters John - Although Bernard Marx <javascript:CharacterWindow('http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/bravenew/terms/char_2.html', '0b1405ef1f', 500);> is the primary character in Brave New World up until his visit with Lenina <javascript:CharacterWindow('http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/bravenew/terms/char_4.html', '55db940fc2', 500);> to the Reservation, after that point he fades into the background and John becomes the central protagonist. John first enters the story as he expresses an interest in participating in the Indian religious ritual from which Bernard and Lenina recoil. John's desire first marks him as an outsider among the Indians, since he is not allowed to participate in their ritual. It also demonstrates the huge cultural divide between him and World State society, since Bernard and Lenina see the tribal ritual as disgusting. John becomes the central character of the novel because, rejected both by the "savage" Indian culture and the "civilized" World S tate culture, he is the ultimate outsider. As an outsider, John takes his values from a more than 900-year-old author, William Shakespeare. John's extensive knowledge of Shakespeare's works serves him in several important ways: it enables him to verbalize his own complex emotions and reactions, it provides him with a framework from which to criticize World State values, and it provides him with language that allows him to hold his own against the formidable rhetorical skill of Mustapha Mond during their confrontation. On the other hand, John's insistence on viewing the world through Shakespearean eyes sometimes blinds him to the reality of other characters, notably Lenina, who, in his mind, is alternately a heroine and a "strumpet," neither of which label is quite appropriate to her.) Shakespeare embodies all of the human and humanitarian values that have been abandoned in the World State. John's rejection of the shallow happiness of the World State, his inability to reconcile his love and lust for Lenina, and even his eventual suicide all reflect themes from Shakespeare. He is himself a Shakespearean character in a world where any poetry that does not sell a product is prohibited. John's naà ¯ve optimism about the World State, expressed in the words from The Tempest that constitute the novel's title, is crushed when he comes into direct co... ...ention of mothers, fathers, and marriage-concepts that are vulgar and ridiculous in the World State. The conversations between Helmholtz illustrate that even the most reflective and intelligent World State member is defined by the culture in which he has been raised. Mustapha Mond - Mustapha Mond is the most powerful and intelligent proponent of the World State. Early in the novel, it is his voice that explains the history of the World State and the philosophy upon which it is based. Later in the novel it is his debate with John that lays out the fundamental difference in values between World State society and the kind of society represented in Shakespeare's plays. Mustapha Mond is a paradoxical figure. He reads Shakespeare and the Bible and he used to be an independent-minded scientist, but he also censors new ideas and controls a totalitarian state. For Mond, humankind's ultimate goals are stability and happiness, as opposed to emotions, human relations, and individual expression. By combining a firm commitment to the values of the World State with a nuanced understanding of its history and function, Mustapha Mond presents a formidable opponent for John, Bernard and Helmholtz.

Cognitive Appraisal and/or Personality Traits

Suggested APA style reference: Li, M. (2009, March). Cognitive appraisal and/or personality traits: Enhancing active coping in two types of stressful situations. Paper based on a program presented at the American Counseling Association Annual Conference and Exposition, Charlotte, NC. Cognitive Appraisal and/or Personality Traits: Enhancing Active Coping in Two Types of Stressful Situations Paper based on a program presented at the 2009 American Counseling Association Annual Conference and Exposition, March 22, Charlotte, North Carolina Ming-hui Li Ming-hui Li, EdD, LPC, LMHC, is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Services and Counseling at St. John’s University, Queens, NY. His areas of specialty include stress-coping and resilience development. College students frequently experience stressful situations (Dungan, 2002; Li, 2006). Some college students actively cope with stressful situations while others become victims of the situations. The researcher has been interested in exploring factors that lead college students to actively cope with stressful situations. Enhancing these factors may facilitate college students to employ active coping. The term active coping in the study refers to people’s coping responses that are characterized by solving problems, seeking social support, and non-avoidance. The purpose of this study was to explore effective predictors of active coping in two major types of stressful situations among college students: relation and work. Results of this study may provide information for counselors to help students adapt better to college life by enhancing specific factors in different stressful situations. Theoretical Framework Researchers have not reached an agreement on the nature of coping. For example, process-oriented researchers (e. g. , Albinson & Petrie, 2003; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Olff, Langeland & Gersons, 2005) proposed that cognitive appraisal determines the responses individuals adopt to cope with stressful situations. In contrast, diathesis-oriented researchers (e. g. , Abela & Skitch, 2007; Li & Yuan, 2003; Wagner, Chaney, Hommel, Andrews, & Jarvis, 2007) suggested that a match between personality traits and stress types decides coping responses. The present study explored the extent to which a combination of these two theoretical approaches can determine college students’ employment of active coping. Process-oriented researchers (e. g. , Albinson & Petrie, 2003; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Olff, Langeland & Gersons, 2005) proposed that coping is a process (instead of a mere trait) in which personal factors, such as beliefs, and environmental factors, such as novelty, work together to affect coping responses through cognitive appraisal. These researchers argued that personality traits and environment are insufficient to determine coping responses. Cognitive appraisal, they believe, is what determines individuals’ coping responses. From their perspective, coping responses can be decided only after individuals have cognitively considered (a) how their lives are influenced by the situation and (a) what they can do to deal with the situation. In contrast, diathesis-oriented researchers (e. g. , Abela & Skitch, 2007; Li & Yuan, 2003; Wagner, Chaney, Hommel, Andrews, & Jarvis, 2007) advocate that individuals’ personality traits influence coping responses in specific contexts. They argued that personality traits influence coping responses most in stressful situations that are closely related to those traits. For example, individuals’ self-efficacy (a task-related trait) has great influence on their coping responses to task-related stressful situations, such as looking for a part-time job. In contrast, individuals’ secure attachment (a relation-related trait) is powerful in influencing coping responses to relation-related stressful situations, such as getting along with new roommates. Both approaches have been supported by previous studies. However, little attention has been drawn to the possibility of combining the two approaches. The present study addressed this possibility. The study was aimed to explore the extent to which a combination of these two theoretical approaches influences people to actively cope with stressful situations. Cognitive appraisal and three traits (self-efficacy, secure attachment, and resilience) were included in the combined model. According to the process-oriented approach, cognitive appraisal was expected to predict active coping across the two stressful situations. Based on the diathesis-oriented approach, self-efficacy was expected to predict active coping in work-related stressful situations such as looking for a part-time job; and secure attachment was expected to predict active coping in relation-related situations such as getting along with new roommates. In addition, the researcher hypothesized that resilience can predict active coping in both relation-related and work-related stressful situations because this trait reflects individuals’ general ability to moderate the negative effects of stress (Benetti & Kambouropoulos, 2006). Cognitive appraisal, self-efficacy, secure attachment, and resilience were applied to predict active coping in two types of stressful situations (relation, work), in order to detect the effectiveness of the combined model. The two hypotheses tested in the study were: Hypothesis 1: In relation-related situations, secure attachment, cognitive appraisal, and resilience can effectively predict active coping. Hypothesis 2: In work-related situations, self-efficacy, cognitive appraisal, and resilience can effectively predict active coping. Methods Participants were 126 students recruited from a college in Taiwan. Their age ranged from 18 to 23 years old. The mean age of this sample was 19. 6. Participants were categorized into two groups—a relation group and a work group, based on their self-reported stressful situations. The numbers of participants in groups of relation and work were 76 and 50, respectively. The researcher administered a questionnaire to participants when they were waiting for a class. Participants signed informed consent forms before they responded to the questionnaire. Data was collected using a questionnaire containing the Resilience Scale (Wagnild & Young, 1993), the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (Collins, 1996), the Coping Strategy Indicator (Amirkhan, 1990), the Chinese Adaptation of General Self-Efficacy Scale (Zhang & Schwarzer, 1995), and category I (cognitive appraisal) of the Student-Life Stress Inventory (Gadzella, 1991). All of the instruments have been used to study college students and have demonstrated adequate validity (construct or concurrent validity) and reliability (Cronbach’s coefficient alpha range from . 6 to . 93). All of the instruments except the Chinese adaptation of General Self-Efficacy Scale were translated by the researcher from English into Chinese. Two bilingual Psychology professors and four bilingual doctoral students examined the translated instruments. A bilingual undergraduate student, who was blind to the original English instruments, back-translated the Chinese versions into English. The original instr uments and the back-translated instruments were very close in meaning, indicating correct language transference. Internal consistency estimates of reliability (Cronbach’s coefficient alpha) were computed for each of the instruments used in this study. The values for coefficient alpha were . 89, . 90, . 75, . 87, and . 81 for the Student-Life Stress Inventory (SSI), the Resilience Scale (RS), the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (AAS-Revised), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSS), and the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI), respectively. The alpha values for the three sub-scales of the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI) were . 86 (problem-solving), . 88 (seeking social-support), and . 68 (avoidance). In addition, the alpha value for the category I (cognitive appraisal) of the Student-Life Stress Inventory (Gadzella, 1991) was . 84. The research design of this study was a correlational design with four independent (predictor) variables and one dependent variable. The four independent variables were cognitive appraisal, resilience, secure attachment, and self-efficacy. The dependent variable was active coping. This research design consisted of two separate multiple regression procedures that were used to test the proposed model in two types of stressful situations. Data Analysis and Results The data were analyzed by using SPSS 14. 0. Two procedures of multiple regression were applied to test the two hypotheses. The step-wise method was used because the available literature does not provide direction as to how the variables in this study should be entered into a multiple regression equation. By using the step-wise method, the researcher allowed the computer to select the model with the best statistical â€Å"fit. † Correlations among predictor variables and between predictor variables and the dependent variable were examined in order to meet the requirements of multiple regression. The outlier was removed so it did not impact the accuracy of data analysis. The criterion used to screen outliers were (a) a Cook’s distance greater than 1, and (b) a standardized residual greater than 3. Hypothesis 1 was supported while Hypothesis 2 was not supported. Results showed that (a) cognitive appraisal and resilience can predict active coping in stressful situations associated with relation, and (b) secure attachment can predict active coping in work-related stressful situations. Tables I and II showed the results. Table I. Summary of Regression Analyses of Resilience, Secure Attachment, and Self-Efficacy Predicting Active Coping in Relation-Related Stressful Situations ____________________________________________________________ _____ Variable B ? R[pic]Change p ____________________________________________________________ ______ Resilience . 13 . 29 . 09 . 00 Cognition – 2. 56 – 4. . 18 . 001 ____________________________________________________________ ______ Table II. Summary of Regression Analyses of Resilience, Secure Attachment, and Self-Efficacy Predicting Active Coping in Work-Related Stressful Situations ____________________________________________________________ _____ Variable B ? R[pic]Change p ____________________________________________________________ ______ Secure Attachment . 50 . 1 . 17 . 003 ____________________________________________________________ ______ Discussion The study was aimed to test the effectiveness of the model combining two approaches to coping. Results i ndicated that this model is effective in stressful situations associated with relation. In stressful situations associated with relation, individuals who less engage in cognitive appraisal (i. e. , lower levels of cognitive appraisal) and are able to moderate the negative effects of stress (i. . , higher levels of trait resilience) tend to actively cope with the situations. This finding is consistent with Kulenovic and Busko’s (2006) finding that cognitive appraisal and personality trait simultaneously influence individuals’ coping responses to stressful situations. It seems that when people are in the initial stage of coping with a relation-related stressful situation, the less they evaluate the situation and the stronger their trait resilience becomes, the more likely they can cope with the situation actively. A possible explanation of the finding that cognitive appraisal and trait resilience simultaneously influence individual’s coping response to relational stressful situations is that cognitive appraisal leads people to respond to situational factors such as how the romantic relationship ended and who wanted to end the relationship (Bouchard, Guillemette, & Landry-Leger, 2004) while trait resilience directs people to respond to any situation that causes stress such as breaking-up with a boy/girl friend and losing a job (Li, 2008). In work-related situations, those who hold positive attitude toward social interactions (i. e. , high levels of secure attachment) tend to actively cope with work-related situations. It seems that when individuals are in the initial stage of coping with a work-related stressful situation, the more they believe they can get along well with people in the workplace, the more they become willing to take action to deal with the situation. Conclusion While re searchers have proposed different theoretical approaches to explain coping, no adequate efforts have been made to test the possibility of combining different approaches. This study addresses this issue by combining two existing approaches into one model and tests the effectiveness of the model. Results of the study not only expand our knowledge about coping but also provide useful information for counselors to help clients deal with stressful situations. When clients are in the initial stages of coping with relation-related stressful situations, counselors can help the clients by engaging them in reflection of their previous positive coping experiences rather than urging them to cognitively appraise the situations. When clients are in the initial stage of coping with work-related stressful situations, counselors can help the clients by enhancing their person skills. References Abela, J. R. Z. ; Skitch, S. A. (2007). Dysfunctional attitudes, self-esteem, and hassles: Cognitive vulnerability to depression in children of affectively ill parents. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45, 1127-1140. Albinson, C. B. , & Petrie, T. A. (2003). Cognitive appraisals, stress, and coping: preinjury and postinjury factors influencing psychological adjustment to sport injury. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 12, 306-322. Amirkhan, J. H. (1990). A factor analytically derived measure of coping: The coping Strategy indicator. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 1066-1074. Benetti, C. , &; Kambouropoulos, N. (2006). Affect-regulated indirect effects of trait anxiety and trait resilience on self-esteem. Personality and Individual Differences, 41, 341-352. Bouchard, G. , Guillemette, A. , & Landry-Leger, N. (2004). Situational and dispositional coping: An examination of theire relation to personality, cognitive appraisals, and psychological distress. European Journal of Personality, 18, 221-238. Collins, N. L. (1996). Working models of attachment: Implications for explanation, emotion, and behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71, 810-832. Dungan, D. E. (2002). Five days of stress and coping in the lives of college students. (Doctoral dissertation, Texas Tech University, 2002). Dissertation Abstract International, 62 (10-B), 4827. Gadzella, B. M. (1991). Student-life Stress Inventory. Library of Congress, Copyright. Kulenovic, A. & Busko, V. (2006); Structural equation analyses of personality, appraisals, and coping relationships. Review of Psychology, 13, 103-112. Lazarus, R. S. , & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer. Li, M. H. (2006). Stress, traits of resilience, secure attachment, and self-efficacy as predictors of active coping among Taiwanese students (China). (Doctoral dissertation, Texas Tech University, 2006). Dissertation Abstracts International, 67(4-A),1233. Li, M. H. (2008). Relationships among stress coping, secure attachment, and the trait of resilience among Taiwanese college students. College Student Journal, 42, 312- 325. Li, X. , & Yuan (2003). The relationship between junior middle school students’ diathesis, and life stress with mental health. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 11, 287-288. Olff, M. , Langeland, W. , & Gersons, B. P. R. (2005). Effects of appraisal and coping on the neuroendocrine response to extreme stress. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 29, 457-467. Wagner, J. Chaney, J. , Hommel, K. , Andrews, N. , & Jarvis, J. (2007). A cognitive diathesis-stress model of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents with juvenile rheumatic disease. Children's Health Care, 36, 45-62. Wagnild, G. M. , & Young, H. M. (1993). Development and psychometric evaluation of The resilience scale. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 1, 165-178. Zhang, J. X. , & Schwarzer, R. (1995). Measuring optimistic self-beliefs: A Chinese adaptatio n of the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Psychologia, 38 (3), 174-181.

Development of the Constitutional Position of Caesar Augustus Essay

In 31BC Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian had emerged victorious from the cival wars unmatched in auctoritas and dignitas. By laying down his quasi-legal triumviral powers, he sought to establish his dominance over Rome under the pretext of restoring the Republic and in a manner which respected mos mairum, ancestoral customs. The mistakes of his father would not be repeated and he ensured the range of powers gradually bestowed upon him that provided his constitutional legality, were those offered by the Senate and People of Rome. In 27BC, shortly after his return back to Rome, Octavian laid aside his unprecedented and extraordinary triumvirate powers and as Bradely states wanted to â€Å"have his powers granted to him constitutionally†. In what must have been a staged political play, the Senate denied Octavian’s resignation into private life and instead referred upon him numerous powers. Continues civil war had rid pro-republican support within the Senate, and as Octavian was left without a rival, the Senate had no other course of action but to extend his powers. As Tacitus says â€Å"they [the Senate] preferred the safety of the present to the dangerous past†. Known as the first settlement he was awarded the name ‘Augustus’ and the title of princeps inter pares, the first man amongst equals in the new Republic. Additionally, by senatorial degree, his consulship was renewed yearly, but more importantly he was given imperium proconsulare over the provinces of Gual, Spain, Egypt and Syria, controlling the bulk of Rome’s legions, all under the auspice of his legates comprising of his friends and family. This, in essence was Augustus’ true source of power. He may have claimed to be equal to the other Senators, however this was only to maintain the ‘forma’ of the Republic while changing its ‘anima’, spirit. By keeping the Senate unarmed there was no possibility for new rivals to appear allowing him to constitutionally define his power without recourse for other despotic actions. Like Solon had when reforming the constitution of Athens, Augustus left Rome to allow his position and the new power status quo to settle. In 23BC the conspiracy of Murena and Caepio, prompted Augustus to rethink his constitutional position within the ancestral customs he wanted to observe. The monopolisation of the consulship angered many of the nobiles who were denied access to what was still the highest position within the state. His resignation of the consulship, which he held successively since 33, led to the second settlement. The Senate, of course, compensated for his loss of powers. They decreed his proconsular imperium as ‘maius’, greater, meaning he â€Å"had the first word in his provinces and the last in others†. Additionally he was granted tribunicia potestas, and despite the discrepancies by ancient historians, it seems by 23 it was annual and perpetual. However the seniority of a tribune within senatorial ranking, as Brunt and Moore state, was â€Å"very low† and as a subsidiary right Augustus was granted ‘ius primae relationis’, so to place first motions in Senate meetings. Not that by now it mattered, his ultimate and unmatched auctoritas was enough to weild his powers over Roman politics. Instead, Augustus provided the perception of legality†¦.. in order to avoid the rank of despotism Julius Caesar flagrantly displayed. And legality was essential to the thinking of Roman nobiles so to avoid the perception of tyrant Rome so despised. By 19BC his constitutional powers were complete. However in truth, by 23BC, the powers granted to Augustus were superfluous to his true position in the State, that is they were not reflective of the power that he yielded over Rome. His unmatched actoritas, ultimate patronage of Italy after the ‘oath of allegiance’, and unrivaled military monopoly over the legions, provided the necessary power to define his constitutional position, which was, unquestionably, complete domination over the Roman State.

Religion in the 1960 Presidential Election essays

Religion in the 1960 Presidential Election essays Religion in the 1960 Presidential Election In the year of 1960 many political issues were arising. One political issue in particular was the presidential election. Kennedy running against Nixon, and Catholicism was the biggest concern about Kennedy. The Catholicism concern ranged from power with the church, money in the church, and the over all out comes of the election. The Presidential Election in the 1960s was one not to be forgotten, Kennedy vs. Nixon. Many factors laid in the 1960 election for John F. Kennedy, concerning Catholicism. Many of the Americans voters were concerned with the fact that Kenney being a Roman Catholic. Not only was that a big concern in the election, but the voters were a little more concern with the fact of the church having any influence in Kennedys decision making. They, American voters, were very concerned with Kennedy siding with the Vaticans. This was a major concern, America was having to deal with a Roman Catholic running for president that was very much liked by many of the American voters in that day. A Roman Catholic president would be under extreme pressure by the hierarchy of his church, said Dr. Peale, a supporter of Nixon, from the September 1960 edition of the Biloxi Post Newspaper. But on the other hand, there were many people that wanted him as president, especially the Catholics. Although, it may see m a big disadvantage for Kennedy, it was more of advantage. Then there were people that really did not care they just wanted a good strong leading man that would carry the country in to victory for every event that would come up. So Although, Kennedy was feeling that being a catholic was putting a disadvantage gains his campaign. So he did what any respectful man would do, he went on a Televised show, and told the people of America, that the church and the state were going to be separated if he were to become elected as the president of America. He also ...

The eNotes Blog 5 Hilarious High School MusicVideos

5 Hilarious High School MusicVideos Anything can happen when you give  some teachers and their students jammin tunes and a camera. Check out some of our favorite funny high school music videos. 1. Teachers from Markham District High School in Markham, Ontario  perform their own music video to  Good Time  by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepson. 2. Theatre Arts Teacher Scot Pankey and his students at A. Maceo Smith New Tech High School in Dallas, TX dance to  Bruno Mars  Uptown Funk. 3. These kids at Westerville South High School in Westerville, OH show us how to dougie factor. 4.  Matt Glendinning, head of Moses Brown School in Providence,  RI, gave the ultimate snow day announcement set to  Let it Go  from Disneys  Frozen. 5. Teachers at Culpeper County High School  in Culpeper, Virginia show off their choreography to popular songs such as  Thrift Shop,  Suit Tie, and  Radioactive. Have a favorite we didnt feature? Let us know in the comments. And stay tuned for a solo teacher dance compilation, and a teacher prank compilation!

The Function and Location of the Brainstem

The Function and Location of the Brainstem The brainstem is the region of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord. It consists of the midbrain, medulla oblongata, and the pons. Motor and sensory neurons travel through the brainstem allowing for the relay of signals between the brain and the spinal cord. Most  cranial nerves  are found in the brainstem. The brainstem coordinates motor control signals sent from the ​brain to the body. This brain region also controls life supporting autonomic functions of the peripheral nervous system. The fourth cerebral ventricle is located in the brainstem, posterior to the pons and medulla oblongata. This  cerebrospinal fluid-filled ventricle is continuous with the cerebral aqueduct and the central canal of the spinal cord. Function In addition to linking the cerebrum and spinal cord, the brainstem also connects the cerebrum with the cerebellum. The cerebellum is important for regulating functions such as movement coordination, balance, equilibrium, and muscle tone. It is positioned above the brainstem and beneath the occipital lobes of the cerebral cortex. Nerve tracts traveling through the brainstem relay signals from the cerebellum to areas of the cerebral cortex that are involved in motor control. This allows for the coordination of fine motor movements needed for activities such as walking or playing video games. The brainstem also controls several important functions of the body including: AlertnessArousalBreathingBlood pressure controlDigestionHeart rateOther autonomic functionsRelays information between the peripheral nerves and spinal cord to the upper parts of the brain Location Directionally, the brainstem is located at the juncture of the cerebrum and the spinal column. It is anterior to the cerebellum. Brainstem Structures The brainstem is composed of the midbrain and portions of the hindbrain, specifically the pons and medulla. A major function of the midbrain is to connect the three major brain divisions: forebrain, midbrain, and  hindbrain. Major structures of the midbrain include the tectum and cerebral peduncle. The tectum is composed of rounded bulges of brain matter that are involved in visual and auditory reflexes. The cerebral peduncle consists of large bundles of nerve fiber tracts that connect the forebrain to the hindbrain. The hindbrain is composed of two subregions known as the metencephalon and myelencephalon. The metencephalon is composed of the pons and cerebellum. The pons assists in the regulation  of breathing, as well as states of sleep and arousal. The cerebellum relays information between muscles and the  brain. The myelencephalon consists of the medulla oblongata and functions to connect the spinal cord with higher brain regions. The medulla also helps to regulate autonomic functions, such as breathing and blood pressure. Brainstem Injury Injury to the brainstem caused by trauma or stroke can lead to difficulties with mobility and movement coordination. Activities such as walking, writing, and eating become difficult and the individual may require life-long treatment. Stroke that occurs in the brainstem causes the destruction of brain tissue that is needed for the direction of vital body functions such as respiration, heart rhythm, and swallowing. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted, most commonly by a blood clot. When the brainstem is damaged, signals between the brain and the rest of the body are disrupted. Brainstem stroke can cause problems with breathing, heart rate, hearing, and speech. It may also cause paralysis of the arms and legs, as well as numbness in the body or on one side of the body. Sources Murphy, Andrew. Brainstem. Dr. Jeremy Jones, Radiopaedia, 2005. Pietrangelo, Ann. Brain Stem Stroke. Healthline, May 23, 2018.

2nd Amendment to the Constitution Research Paper

2nd Amendment to the Constitution - Research Paper Example With due regard on the issue, the discussion henceforth intends to briefly discuss about the Second Amendment enacted in the US Constitution taking into account the various controversial arguments related to the enactment.. With this concern, the discussion will also be focused on highlighting certain recent relevant court cases with respect to the issue. The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the US can be considered as one of the major controversial enactments in the history of the nation. The amendment was initially approved on 15th of December 1791which preserves the right of the US people to bear weapons irrespective of their military identification owing to their need for self-protection, defence and security in their residences. Since then, the amendment has been one of the most controversial issues in the civil legislation of the US. Recently, in the year 2008 the amendment was again questioned under the circumstances presented in the District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008). The civil court therefore had to rule out that the second amendment made in the Bill of Rights violated certain protection acts already enforced within the nation. However, owing to the circumstances of the criminal offence and the purpose of the second amendment, the court approved the decree that the enactment preserves an individualâ⠂¬â„¢s right to acquire a weapon or gun (Pollock 375). Although similar instances had been witnessed throughout the 19th century, no particular amendments were intended with concern to the policy measures enacted in accordance to the Second Amendment. The Supreme Court of the US stated that the Second Amendment does not block the regulation of the State with regard to possess firearms. For instance, as per the United States v. Cruikshank, 92 U.S. 542, 553 (1875), it was ruled by the Court that the Second Amendment restricts the control and power of the federal government in delivering adequate

Organizational Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Organizational Ethics - Essay Example Businesses that operate ethically are assumed to have a lot of gains but it is not as simple as it sounds especially in an ever increasingly competitive environment. The leader has to make sure all the stockholder’s interests are taken care of and at the same time ensure all laws are adhered to and also act according to moral principles. The problem is; does the leader do what is right according to his or her opinion or what is right according to the moral standards of society? Sometimes these two views conflict and the leader have to make this important decision. This becomes more complex as the company becomes global due to diversity of cultures. Morality according to Fieser and Moseley (2012) guides what is permitted and what is not or what is â€Å"right† and what is â€Å"wrong†. However, it all depends on what moral theory one is applying. Understanding business ethics is important and as such this paper will focus on how various companies solve their ethic al dilemmas. This will be accomplished by using an example of a profit organization (Google) and a non-profit organization (United Service Organizations). First, the paper will give the profiles of both companies and the ethical issues they faced or are currently facing. Secondly, personal reflections on the ethical actions taken by the companies will be evaluated. This will be followed by a critique of these actions taken based on philosophical theories. Lastly, a brief summary of the main issues will be given. Company Profile: Google Google Inc is a global leader in the technology sector specializing in the search engine industry. It was founded and incorporated in 1998 by Larry Page and his co-founder Sergy Brin. It is a profit making organization whose mission is â€Å"to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful† (Google.com, 2013). It operates more than 70 offices situated in more than 60 countries and an employee base of more than 30,000 employees worldwide. Its headquarters are situated in Mountain View, California with various branches in the US, Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe, Latin America, United Arab Emirates, and Canada. It is a global company that offers services to both people and businesses. It is involved in offering search services, advertising, and cloud computing for businesses by offering products such as AdWords, AdSense, Google maps, blog searches, Gmail, scholarly papers, books, mobile content, chrome and translation. It started as a small company in a garage but through the years it has developed to become a dominant player in the search engine industry. This is through its aggressive acquisition strategy and new product developments (Google.com, 2013). The company derives its revenue mainly from advertising, websites, and hardware products. All these revenues are acquired through hard work as entailed in the company’s value statement â€Å"don’t be evil† (Google.co m). It has been experiencing a revenue and profit growth over the years as shown in the table 1 below. USD 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total Revenue 23650.56 29321.00 37905.00 50175.00 Gross profit 14806.45 18904.00 24717.00 29670.00 Table 1: Annual Data extracted from Google financial Reports. Most of this revenue comes from advertising and it is far above its competitors in the same industry such as Microsoft, eBay, Face Book, and Apple. Its sales growth of 15.48% year on year is above competitor’s average revenue growth of 6.45% according to CSIMarket (2013). The revenue growth of the various companies year on year is: Google 15.48%; Apple Inc 0.86%; eBay 14.1 %; Microsoft 10.17% and Yahoo Inc -5.22%. From these statistics, it is evident that

The Relationship of Employee Motivation, Overall Satisfaction, and Thesis

The Relationship of Employee Motivation, Overall Satisfaction, and Turnover Intent among Petrochemical Companies in Saudi Arabia - Thesis Example The present study set out to determine which motivational factors influence the overall satisfaction of employees working in Saudi Arabia. The literature review comprised of relevant papers, seminal papers unpublished texts written by known authors and published texts books, which help to strengthen the issues raised. Questionnaires were developed and administered. Thesis use a quantitative research approach, specifically utilizing a survey in gathering primary data for ascertaining the motivators of employees working in petrochemical companies in Saudi Arabia. The thesis incorporated a study that was conducted on 152 employees from different petrochemical companies in Saudi Arabia to find out the most motivational tools preferred by workers and the types of problems commonly being experienced by the employees in the organization. In the thesis, hypotheses were formulated and tested. The analysis from the empirical findings showed that the intrinsic factors which predicted the overall satisfaction of these workers include ability utilization, achievement, activity, independence, and social status. Additionally, it was found that the extrinsic factors which predicted overall satisfaction are co-workers and compensation. Thesis confirms that effectively motivating employees can greatly help in achieving short and long-term goals of a company and employee motivation is a vital factor and is crucial to good organizational management. A satisfied employee is more committed and loyal to a company, thus motivational factors can also influence organizational commitment and reduce turnover rates among petrochemical companies in Saudi Arabia.... Thesis use a quantitative research approach, specifically utilizing a survey in gathering primary data for ascertaining the motivators of employees working in petrochemical companies in Saudi Arabia. The thesis incorporated a study that was conducted on 152 employees from different petrochemical companies in Saudi Arabia to find out the most motivational tools preferred by workers and the types of problems commonly being experienced by the employees in the organization. In the thesis, hypotheses were formulated and tested. The analysis from the empirical findings showed that the intrinsic factors which predicted the overall satisfaction of these workers include ability utilization, achievement, activity, independence, and social status. Additionally, it was found that the extrinsic factors which predicted overall satisfaction are co-workers and compensation. Thesis confirms that effectively motivating employees can greatly help in achieving short and long-term goals of a company and employee motivation is a vital factor and is crucial to good organizational management. A satisfied employee is more committed and loyal to a company, thus motivational factors can also influence organizational commitment and reduce turnover rates among petrochemical companies in Saudi Arabia. Finally managers play an important role in motivating employees and making sure that they are happy, and motivating employees is one of the most enduring and difficult challenges of a manager. Since motivation affects and influences employees variably, the study has provided specific input for petrochemical companies, as regards which factors they should focus on to encourage overall satisfaction and preclude the resignation of their employees. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My gratitude first goes to the

Resource Environment - need in 12 hours Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Resource Environment - need in 12 hours - Essay Example The environment is the primary source of life and energy that allows all living things to exist, thus, it is important to consider whether innovations, technology and developments will damage or harm the ecosystem. Determining the environmental implications of using alternative fuel sources will enable the government and the concerned groups to understand and analyze how it should be used, or if it should be used at all or it is needed to find other alternative sources. Biofuel comes from living, renewable sources, such as corn and palm oil as opposed to fossil fuel, which comes from fossilized remains of plants and animals. In contrast to biofuel, fossil fuel is considered as non-renewable because of the nature of its existence. It is expected, then, that fossil fuel supply will be depleted depending on the rate of the human consumption of such fuel source. Right now, the main alternative source of fuel is the fossil fuel. Because of the abundance of the fossilized remains of plants and animals, fossil fuel is easy to find though it is non-renewable and considered as a limited resource (Richards, p.134). Because of this, biofuel has been discovered and there is a debate in its use as an alternative to fuel source. The main argument of biofuel proponents is the impact of fossil fuel against the environment in contrast with the environmental-friendly components and use of biofuel. Biofuel claims that there is no carbon dioxide release when it is produced because of the photosythetic process of the plants as opposed to fossil fuel production (Pimentel, p.479). This is partly true, however, carbon dioxide is observed to be released during biomass production and its conversion to fuel (Pimentel, p.479). This is an important factor when looking at the environmental impact of a fuel source since cardon dioxide has an effect in climate change, ecological disturbance and potential damage on humans and animals. This proves that biofuel is not at all

Compare and Contrast Oedipus the King and Death of a salesman Essay

Compare and Contrast Oedipus the King and Death of a salesman - Essay Example Both plays have got ends that have got tragedies that are followed by accidents. For instance the act of putting the queen to death looks like just a mere twist of fate but it is in fact a catastrophic act that is faced by Oedipus in future. Wily’s death is a tragedy whereas his son’s failure to embark on business is a catastrophe (Cohen, 2003).Both plays draw the concentration of the audience in appreciating the manner in which human behavior can have profound emotions on a person. Oedipus after discovering the truth blinds himself, whereas Willy maintains that his son must become a businessperson even after finding out that his son is not interested in business at all. In both plays, the key characters are portrayed as having heroic qualities. Oedipus is a hero in his own right and there is no doubting that. This becomes evident and clear when he refuses to be victimized at all and instead chooses to remain totally loyal to Thebes people.Willy on other side kills himself for the noble cause of making sure his family is develops. In both plays, the key protagonists are tragic heroes. Both plays represent cultures and lifestyles settings that are completely different. Death of salesman represents a present day tragedy whereas Oedipus represents an old heroic tragedy.Willy’s story is about present day activities like insurance and sales, unlike the story of Oedipus which is told in a traditional setting. In Oedipus, the main protagonist is the king who is painted as a very confident, however the feeling that he portrays of himself to the audience about the real self is quite different. Oedipus on other hand is so full of himself and feels outstandingly perfect(Cohen,2003).Although Willy looks like he was treading on the right course in his activities just the way Oedipus did, he does not live to face the outcomes of his activities like Oedipus. While

Metaphors We Live By George Lakoff and Mark Johnson Essay

Metaphors We Live By George Lakoff and Mark Johnson - Essay Example The book has been most illuminating in its exposition of role of linguistic in the life of man. The various aspect of human life incorporates ideas and concepts that are instinctively used in relation to our interaction with other people. Arguments, love, work paradigm etc are intrinsic part of life and social construction on these areas by different people varies vastly. Indeed, arguments are often perceived and compared to war primarily because they are designed to be won over by one party! Arguments are war and ideas are indefensible show that words like war and indefensible are used to convey strong feelings of competition and winning. The authors justifiably argue that while people in general are against war but the very concept of winning is ingrained within human psyche that is expressed through words. We are often prone to use language that best conform to our mental state at that time. If we are agitated or angry, we use words that may convey violence! The book has delved in to the wider implication and role of linguistic in the daily life of man. It has confirmed that communication is an important medium of expressing and explaining facts through words that could convey many things and therefore is used colloquially to emphasize a point of view.

Compare and Contrast Oedipus the King and Death of a salesman Essay

Compare and Contrast Oedipus the King and Death of a salesman - Essay Example Both plays have got ends that have got tragedies that are followed by accidents. For instance the act of putting the queen to death looks like just a mere twist of fate but it is in fact a catastrophic act that is faced by Oedipus in future. Wily’s death is a tragedy whereas his son’s failure to embark on business is a catastrophe (Cohen, 2003).Both plays draw the concentration of the audience in appreciating the manner in which human behavior can have profound emotions on a person. Oedipus after discovering the truth blinds himself, whereas Willy maintains that his son must become a businessperson even after finding out that his son is not interested in business at all. In both plays, the key characters are portrayed as having heroic qualities. Oedipus is a hero in his own right and there is no doubting that. This becomes evident and clear when he refuses to be victimized at all and instead chooses to remain totally loyal to Thebes people.Willy on other side kills himself for the noble cause of making sure his family is develops. In both plays, the key protagonists are tragic heroes. Both plays represent cultures and lifestyles settings that are completely different. Death of salesman represents a present day tragedy whereas Oedipus represents an old heroic tragedy.Willy’s story is about present day activities like insurance and sales, unlike the story of Oedipus which is told in a traditional setting. In Oedipus, the main protagonist is the king who is painted as a very confident, however the feeling that he portrays of himself to the audience about the real self is quite different. Oedipus on other hand is so full of himself and feels outstandingly perfect(Cohen,2003).Although Willy looks like he was treading on the right course in his activities just the way Oedipus did, he does not live to face the outcomes of his activities like Oedipus. While

Case Note for RvR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Case Note for RvR - Essay Example t could constitute â€Å"unlawful sexual intercourse†, as defined under Section 1(1) of the Sexual Offences Act of 1956 (4) The wife’s marital consent to intercourse had not been revoked, either by a Court order or by an agreement between the parties. As a result, the question that arose in these circumstances was whether, despite her refusal to consent, the wife could have been held to have consented by the fact of the marriage. 4. The trial judge’s directions to the Jury stated that there appeared to be ample grounds to indicate that consent to sexual intercourse had been withdrawn by an agreement between the parties. Firstly, the parties were not cohabiting. Secondly, the husband’s act in phoning his wife and telling her he intended to see about a divorce constituted implicit consent. On this basis, the prosecution could prove a charge of rape or attempted rape against the husband. 5. The first fact is not material to the disputed issue of rape. The second fact, i.e, defendant had mentioned his intent to seek a divorce, is a relevant and material fact, because it revokes by implied mutual agreement, the consent to sexual intercourse that is imposed by marriage and spelt out under Hale’s common law rule. Hence, it establishes that the husband’s act constituted rape. It also establishes that he is not eligible for immunity under Hale’s rule. The third fact is also material and relevant, because it establishes the second ground of bodily assault. 6. The marital exemption itself refers to the common law rule wherein upon marriage, an assumption is made that the wife consents to sexual intercourse with her husband. This presumption may however be rebutted by evidence that the wife did not in fact, consent. To enforce this rebuttal, some exceptions have been established, when a wife can say no, such as when her health is in danger or when the man’s actions constitute assault. These and other exceptions have been spelt out by case precedent

They left all the weak ones here Essay Example for Free

They left all the weak ones here Essay Due to George thinking that Lennie may embarrass him, Lennie is in Crooks room. Slim an George an everbody [went into town]. George says I gotta stay here an not get in no trouble. I seen your light. This implies that George was telling Lennie to stay at the ranch. Presumably, George had Lennie to do this as he wanted some time away from George. As Lennie did not ask for a proper reason, and obeyed George, he simply stayed at the ranch. This shows that Lennie lacks the mental strength to question George, and the will to defy George and socialise with fellow ranch workers. In 1930s America, laws were set by the government which discriminated against coloured people, and there were laws which would now be considered racist and against the US Constitution. Crooks is not allowed in the bunk house because of this racism. [Im not wanted] Cause Im black. They play cards in there, but I cant play because Im black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me. Crooks is not allowed in the bunk house solely because of his colour, which is why he lives in a house in the barn. Although he shows anger when speaking to Lennie, he doesnt stand up to anyone who is strong enough to have it backfire. This shows both Lennie and Crooks are week and are discriminated against, as Crooks soon realises. Crooks uses the companionship between George and Lennie as an example of his weakness as he is black. Spose you didnt have nobody. Spose you couldnt go into the bunk house and play rummy cause you was black. Howd you like that? This shows that Crooks has a pretty sombre and pessimistic attitude on life, and is jealous of the way that Lennie has a companion. It also shows that Lennie is angry and upset about the prejudice agenda that the USA had at that time. At that time in America, white people generally were de facto superior to black people. Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it aint even funny. When Curleys wife, who is white, says this, it shows that she was using her position as a white woman to stop Crooks from talking back to her, and slowly but surely make him feel diminished. When she says that she can have him strung up on a tree, it refers to lynching him and hanging him from a tree, which was rather common in the Southern United States in the 1930s. The use of the word nigger, which is a taboo word nowadays, shows that Curleys wife has the superiority to use that word in a derogatory manner. This also brings up the theme of racism, which is a recurring theme of Of Mice and Men. When Curleys wife made the racist retort, Crooks ego seemed to grow smaller and smaller. Crooks had reduced himself to nothing. There was no personality, no ego nothing to arouse either like or dislike. He said, Yes, maam, and his voice was toneless. This shows that in the toughest of times, Crooks is unable to fight back. It also shows another side of Crooks, that he is a sensitive and submissive man, contrasting with the side that we saw in the first part of the chapter where he seemed a confident man who can sometimes be a bully. This also shows that, in the 1930s, although black people were given the constitutional rights to defend themselves (in a court, although they did too have the right to bear arms for defence), white people frequently hung black people without a fair trial. Although it was becoming less frequent it still occurred, especially in the Southern United States, where California (the place in which the book is situated) is in. Crooks had been shaken by Curleys wife statement, which he regarded of as true. Candy said, That bitch didnt ought to of said that to you. It wasnt nothing, Crooks said dully. You guys comin in an settin made me forget. What she says is true. Although only a threat (albeit a very harsh one) Crooks knows that it is ultimately true. The way that Crooks said it can also be noted. He said it dully, which can be noted that he was upset by the statement, even if he has probably heard it before. Curley seems to strive to be treated normally, but eventually realises that in the end, because he is black, and because he is a cripple, he will probably never be treated well by anyone, and will have to have it tough until he dies, or, which is sadly a concept, is killed.

Essay --

Phillips, of the Netherlands and Matsushita, of Japan are both companies that focus on electrical technology. With their prominence being located in the consumer electronics industry, it is important to note that the world as a whole is moving towards a more technological focus. As the world is moving in the direction of a more technological society with the consumer electronics industry growing, it was suitable for both Phillips and Matsushita to expand their horizons and operate internationally. The growing demand of technology requires a need for companies to operate on a global scale. Moreover, companies also find foreign operation as a means of cutting costs while still producing quality products through the use of outsourcing. The ultimate financial goes is to meet the needs of a market and generate a profitable turn in the process, which is accessible through foreign commerce. Were both Phillips and Matsushita to decide to stay local, they would quickly lose profit to a large r corporation that is driving to meet the global needs of its consumers and eventually be bought out or simply go bankrupt. Phillips built its success on a worldwide portfolio of responsive national organizations. The company chose to utilize a localization strategy. This means that they focused on altering the properties and characteristics of their product’s to suit the foreign market’s language, political, legal, and cultural differences. In order to concentrate on local responses, they used highly self-sufficient national organizations but further on adopted a strategy of having each singular product be limited to one specialized division. Matsushita on the other hand, built its success on its centralized, highly efficient operations in Japan. Un... ...al for the companies to have all of their resources be independent, rather than relying on other aid through outsourcing. Ultimately, each of these corporations within the consumer electronics industry have come a long way. They have survived in a business society that has readily evolved and moved towards a whole new era of technology. It is still imperative that corporations do business internationally on a global scale in order to better meet the need of consumers within their industry. However, the ways of doing this have altered with a number of strategic possibilities. Phillips and Matsushita each incorporated a different strategy from one another, with each seeing its profits and downfalls. As the economy and industry have evolved, so must Phillips and Matsushita in order to maintain a stance of being a power player within the consumer electronics industry.

Personal Narrative - Finding Truth in Prayer :: Personal Narrative

Personal Narrative- Finding Truth in Prayer Glory, God stared me in the face. A man, my savior stood at the curtain. â€Å"Are you planning to pray?† he inquired. I blinked twice, â€Å"Um... yes?† Praying isn’t my ‘thing,’ but I figured â€Å"When in Vatican City...† I stepped past the man and into Enlightenment. Behind the curtain a room heavy with relics awaited. People stood, sat in the corners; heads down and hands clasped the room was immobile. Satan himself could not stir a soul. I took my place in the pew furthest from the front in a dark corner. Mindlessly I closed my eyes, hands and tilted my head. â€Å"Ask God for three things† my stepmother whispered in my ear. I opened my eyes. The room was remarkably bright. Angels flew above my head. How could I have never noticed before? And the altar before me rang with a holy, resonant sound. And this sound, this deep hum filled my mind, almost deafening any insecurities that I could ever find. This projection left me feeling whole, left me feeling safe and secure. I was ready, I closed my eyes. Just like Robert Frost’s â€Å"Mending Wall.† It occurred to me that when you wall something out (God), you’re also walling something in (the very glimmer that one day I’d have faith). I chose to break down that wall. But what to ask for? Here I am in what has to be one of the holiest places I will ever encounter and I’m gearing to pray. I don’t pray. What do I want? â€Å"Truth.† I heard myself whisper. Yes, the word flowed right out of me. An eternal flame had been lit, and I felt remarkably warm. I could not contain myself, I continued to whisper â€Å"I want to find the truth. Any and all truth, and somehow find its’ beauty.† Sure it wasn’t exactly three things that I had asked from him, but I figured if I put this one on hold, he’d be sure to listen another day. Bombarded, my mind filled with a million thoughts and ideas. I felt like I could see through any problem solely because I’m meant to. I knew what I wanted - the mere idea swallowed me. There is truth, and a faith that will liberate me. And my job, my mission is find it’s beauty. To chisel away the inconsistencies and fallacies of life until I’m left with nothing polished or refined, only the raw truth.

Violent Films and Links to Aggression

Social psychology theorizes that prolonged exposure to television and films is having a very noticeable effect on the generations of people growing up in front of the television.   Conrad Kottak expresses this point with reference to the post-modern classroom: research conducted into American classrooms since the 1950’s has helped Kottak conclude that students who have grown up with the television and films have learned to duplicate the behaviours learned in front of the TV in other areas of their lives.Students in successive generations in the American classroom have begun to treat their classes and professors the same way they do their television, with none of the traditional sense of respect (Spradley and McCurdy 2000).Studies of Japanese television show a similar story when it comes to the relationship between exposure to film and behaviour in society.   The television series Selfish Women portrays the lives of several successful business women in Japan; the title is m eant as a reference to how such woman are perceived in real life.Van Esterik, Van Esterik and Miller believe that this television show has picked up on a small trend in non-traditional Japanese households and that after airing it has begun to influence a wider range of women and other viewers who are mimicking behaviours learned from the program (2001).In Social Psychology, the authors suggest that like the cases in Japan and the American classroom, violent films are having an impact on the behaviours of people all over the world (Brehn, Kassim and Fein 2005).   So is there a real correlation between exposure to violence on television and in films and aggression in people?Barker and Petley believe that this is indeed the case, and argue that it is very important for viewers, especially children, to understand that the story portrayed on film is simply fiction; when no real connection is made with real life they believe that viewers are far less likely to actually carry over the vi olence from a movie into their own lives (Barker and Petley 2001).In Ill Effects: The Media/Violence Debate (Ibid.) the text relates to the relationship between violence in all media forms and aggression in people.   With focus on film violence, what is the proof of such a correlation? Adolescence, a Sociological Approach explains it in terms of comprehensive study results.When compared with a control group of adults, another group of those who have viewed on average more violent television and movies were twice as likely to act in an aggression fashion when provoked (Sebald 1968).There is a very real connection between viewing violence on screen and acting it out in real life, and Sebald suggests that this is because an adult who is exposed to such media images will lose the natural inhibition to overcome violent tendencies.   In seeing these acts of violence on screen with little or no consequence, children grow to believe that this is how the real world perceives violence: as necessary, inconsequential and even ‘cool’.Social psychological theory like this penetrates other fields of study as well as sociology or psychology since people are increasingly concerned with the levels of violence found both in movies and out on the streets of the world.Researchers have worked to prove a link between the two but struggle when it comes to thinking of comprehensive solutions to the rising violence issues.   Does the solution simply lie in the removal of violent images from movies?   Garry (1993) doesn’t think it is as simple as this.The problem with trying to censor violent images on television and in films is that there is no controlling where the censorship ends.   What is to stop censors from targeting true images on news reports or documentaries, something that is already happening on some networks?Garry suggests that this is a superficial attitude, and while it might seem the easy solution to concerned citizens, researchers need to l ook deeper to find the real issues surrounding the spreading violence in society.   Garry points out how the Western value of free speech is always the first to be called into question when it comes to issues like violence, ethics and morality.While violence in movies does have an indisputable link to aggression in adults, people are forgetting that the people affected by these images negatively are not actually the ones who created it.   What societal issues led the writers and producers of violent films to express themselves in this way?Researchers like Garry wonder if it is due to an early oppression of character in the previous generations and in fact nothing primarily to do with film at all.   If you delve further into the societal issues like oppression, child abuse, broken families, poverty and poor education, it is possible that these are the real causes of violence in film, and subsequently, higher instances of violence and aggression in individuals who are exposed to these media images.While statistics do correlate aggression to violence in film, these studies are merely scratching the surface of the entire problem.ReferencesBarker, M, and Petley, J (eds.), 2001, Ill Effects: The Media/Violence Debate, Routledge, New York.Brehm, S, Kassin, S & fein, S, 2005, Social Psychology, Houghton Mifflin.Garry, Patrick, 1993, An American Paradox: Censorship in a Nation of Free Speech, Praeger Publishers, Westport, CT.Miller, B; Van Esterik, P; Van Esterik, J 2001, Cultural Anthropology, Canadian Edition, Allyn and Bacon, Toronto.Sebald, Hans, Adolescence: A Sociological Analysis, 1968,   Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York.

Prison Classification

Inmates first experience usually occurs in a classification or reception center, where they are given a battery of psychological and intelligence tests and are evaluated on the basis of their background, offense history, personality, and treatment needs. Some states have instituted rigorous classification instruments designed to maximize the effectiveness of placements, thereby cutting down on the cost of incarceration. Prison classification is a method of assessing inmate risks that balances the security needs of the institution with treatment needs the individual. Effective classification can reduce prison infractions and create a safer environment of both inmates and staff. External classification places an inmate at a custody level that will determine where he or she will be housed, internal classification determines the cell or housing unit, as well as the facility programs to which the prisoner will be assigned. External classification systems are now being used in all Federal and state prison systems in the United States. Internal classification systems focus on those decisions that are made for the incoming prison population. Georgia Department of Corrections has a special prison called Jackson diagnostic center. Georgia Diagnostic and classification prison is a Georgia Department of Corrections prison for men in unincorporated Butts County, Georgia, near Jackson. The prison holds the state execution chamber. The prison, the largest in the state, consists of eight cell blocks containing both double-bunked and single-bunked cells. The prison conducts diagnostic processing for the state correctional system, houses male offenders under death sentence, and carries out state ordered executions by lethal injection. The prison complex also contains a special management unit that houses some of the most aggressive and dangerous prisoners in the correctional system. The Georgia Diagnostic and classification prison serves as a central hub where sentenced felons begin the process of being admitted into the Georgia state correctional system. Many county jails are paid by the state to house the sentenced felons until space becomes available in the prison system. Based on published research statistics by the Georgia Department of Corrections, inmates who are being diagnosed and classified undergo a battery of tests and diagnostic questionnaires. Tests and diagnostic notions include: the culture fair IQtest; Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT) (reading, math and spelling); scope of substance abuse (summary, detailed report); latest mental health treatment; PULHESDWIT medical scale; criminality, alcoholism, and/or drug abuse in immediate family; one or both parents absent during childhood; manipulative or assaultive tendency diagnostics; and criminal report with prior incarcerations and a full account of all previous and current offenses.

Scarlett Letter Sin Essay

The Different Shades of Sins An Irish Proverb states â€Å"All Sins cast long shadows. † Throughout the novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne viewed the sins as a spectrum of many colors. The novel revolves around Hester Prynne, who is convicted of adultery in colonial Salem by the Puritan society. For her punishment, she is condemned to wear the red scarlet letter â€Å"A† on her chest as a permanent sign of her sin.Exposing to sin and the temptation of its concealment in capricious degrees, Nathaniel Hawthorne demonstrated the different shades of sins through the actions of several main characters, Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth. In the beginning of the book, we learn Hester Prynne committed the sin of adultery. Although meant to crush Hester’s spirit, she is proud of her sin and becomes a strong, tough minded character. While the author Hawthorne has Puritan heritage, he portrays Hester as one of the most â€Å"able† of people in Salem because she confessed her sin.While the religious and high ranking citizens of Salem continue to ridicule her for being and adulteress, â€Å"many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification† (168). The product of this sin was Hester’s daughter Pearl. Unlike the way of the Puritans, Hester creates â€Å"beauty, shining through the gorgeous robes† (87) of Pearl, and thus Pearl stands out in crowds. To Hester, her sin was marrying someone she did not love, Roger Chillingworth. In the eyes of Hester and Dimmesdale, they are not â€Å"the worst sinners in the world.There is one worse than even the polluted priest! That old man's revenge has been blacker than my sin. He has violated, in cold blood, the sanctity of a human heart. Thou and I, Hester, never did so! † (225) Going against the heart is the greatest sin possible to Hester and Dimmesdale and their â€Å"sin† was between two people who truly loved e ach other. Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is the father of Pearl and the one who committed the sin of adultery with Hester. As a man of high power in Salem, he does not confess the sin and the mental guilt would slowly kill him.Eventually, â€Å"his moral force was abased into more than childish weakness† (105) Through the ability Hester has shown and the miserable state of Dimmesdale, Hawthorne shows the power of confessing a sin. In an attempt to escape for their pasts, Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale plan to leave Salem. However, Roger Chillingworth, Hester’s legal husband, also catches a ride on the same boat. Returning to Salem, Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl go the scaffold, the place where Hester is originally condemned. In his dieing moments, Dimmesdale confesses his sin in front of the townspeople while also revealing a self inflicted â€Å"A† on his chest.Of all the sinners, Roger Chillingworth was the biggest. First, his sin of marrying a younger women and s ending her over sees causes the adultery claim. When he arrives in Salem and learns of this, he commits his biggest sin†¦ violating the human heart. Rather than Hester’s adultery being her sin, Hawthorne goes against Puritan values by making violating the heart Hester’s true sin. At first, Chillingworth asks Hester to â€Å"speak out the name of thy fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer! † (56) When she refuses, Chillingworth becomes an evil man, becoming uglier by the day.This shows that an unconfessed sin will kill you. Eventually, he becomes aware of the adultery with Hester and becomes Dimmesdale’s â€Å"leech. † After Dimmesdale dies, Chillingworth dies because he has no reason to live anymore. Based on Puritan beliefs, sin is an inescapable aspect of life. Hawthorne shows that Dimmesdale and Chillingworth both die because of their hidden sin. Contrary to this Hester, who confessed, lives a long, happy life. Since sin is inescapable, the only way to make up for it is by confessing or else the sin swill shadow you forever.

Strategic management (Visionmission Statment) Essay

Strategic management (Visionmission Statment) - Essay Example "A mission statement has long been argued to lead to better performance by aiding strategy formulation and implementation. Empirical evidence to support this argument is however lacking in the literature. This has led to a considerable waning of managerial confidence in mission statements in recent years" (Sidhu 2003). Mission statements are exactly what they sound like: missions that tell what a company is doing. When companies carefully define what they are doing and how they are going to get there, they simply perform better than other companies that compete within their industry. Also essential to success is the development of a company's vision statement, upon which the company's mission statement is based. The vision simply entails what a company wishes to become in the future. An example of a vision could include a new online dollar store wishing to take over a certain percentage of the market share in its industry (Heathfield 2007). According to Heathfield, "A vision is a statement about what your organization wants to become. It should resonate with all members of the organization and help them feel proud, excited, and part of something much bigger than themselves. A vision should stretch the organization's capabilities and image of itself. It gives shape and direction to the organization's future. Visions range in length from a couple of words to several pages. I recommend shorter vision statements because people will tend to remember their shorter organizational vision" (2007). Heathfield offers two examples of vision statements in her article on the topic. The first one is from Westin Hotels and states, "Year after year, Westin and its people will be regarded as the best and most sought after hotel and resort management group in North America." The second is from the HR Association of Greater Detroit and States, "To be recognized and respected as one of the premier associations of HR Professionals" (2007). The Piercy and Morgan Models According to Piercy and Morgan, all mission statements should reflect four key concepts. The first is organizational philosophy and refers to what a company's management desires the company to accomplish and represent. The second is product market domain, which details where and how the company will operate. The third is organizational key values, which define the behavior and skills of company employees and representatives. The last is critical success factors, which define what strengths a company must possess in order to be successful in their particular industry (Piercy and Morgan 1994). Using the aforementioned concepts, Piercy and Morgan developed four models that assist in formulation of a company's mission statement. Each of these models has its own advantages and disadvantages. The different types of mission statements that they defined were global mission, organizational mission, market mission, and no mission (Piercy and Morgan 1994). Each type of mission statement is different in at least one key way. Global missions take both internal and external factors into mind and is all-encompassing of the concepts on which the four models are based. "An organizational mission' is one that emphasizes internal values only, such as organizational beliefs and philosophy. A 'market mission' is one which focuses on the definition of the market and critical success factors in the market place. A statement that does not define internal

Educational Trends Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Educational Trends Education - Research Paper Example In such an immersive computing environment, where notebooks and pens are replaced with smart phones, iPods and laptops this era of pervasive education technology, is marked with revolutionary educational trends. The development and rising popularity of social networking and micro-blogging sites has upped the ante, making access to information just a click away. Such trends within the domains of primary and secondary education, has significant implications on the manner in which such education is imparted across the globe (Leu, 2001; Gilster, 1997). This paper, on â€Å"Educational tends† aims to discuss both the current as well as future trends in education, and the use of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) within classrooms and its likely impact in shaping, nurturing and developing the knowledge and cognitive learning abilities of students over the years. Historical Background: ICT in Classrooms The twentieth century was swept away by technological makeover, and c omputers entered the classrooms as educators realized its power and impact as an effective teaching aid (Dwyer et al., 1991). However, during this era, computers were merely used as a data management tool for tracking grades, attendance and reviewing test results. Moreover the ratio of computers per student was low. During the mid 20th century, this highly rigid approach towards computer usage changed significantly from predominantly conventional behavioral attitudes to a more constructivist approach (Anderson, Speck, 2001). Current trends: Overview The 21st century classrooms have had a drastic makeover from that compared to the 20th century classroom, in the sense that it has now become more interactive as opposed to passive learning, and includes the addition of various gadgets which are incorporated on a large scale across various schools. The technological tools in used in the past were mostly passive in nature which involved little or no interaction from the students, and were limited to just listening, watching, or at the most, taking notes. However, the tools used today include greater participation from the students via the use of interactive media where they are encouraged to make presentations and communicate and share their experiences via blogs and vlogs (Smolin, Lawless, 2003). Figure 1: Instructional technologies timeline from the year 1900 - 2004 Source: Whelan (2005) Pp.14 The use of interactive whiteboards has drastically increased and remains one of the most popular tools of teaching across American classrooms. Furthermore gadgets such as PDAs and hand-helds are also being used primarily for middle school and high-school students. Also, there are various online resources which offer interactive learning to students by way of games, puzzles and quizzes which help them in understanding key concepts in a fun entertaining and engaging way. Future trends: The conventional definitions of schools as buildings made of bricks and walls are likely to change to 'nerve centers' virtual space occupied by e-teachers and e-learners, connected by technology. The role of teachers in such a space is likely to expand from merely the providers of education to that of information and knowledge generators. Until recently, students were accustomed to access education through schools, but the

Strategic HRD and HRM Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Strategic HRD and HRM - Assignment Example Each cupboard is unique and requires flexibility and an attention to detail within the manufacturing process to suit client's customization needs. Company delivers bespoke fume-cupboards to customers' gate but does not get involved in its installation. The Company consists of 220 personnel, 175 of them work on manufacturing process-the core process. Balance of 45 personnel work in the sales department, design department and the support function. Support functions include payroll, accounts, HRM, and administration. HRD problem as identified in company structure appears to be the fact that HRM function is small and inadequately staffed within the company. Further evidence in the case reveals that this function is not able to achieve its objectives to a very large extent. Similarly sales and design departments appear to be under Staffed.The Company has core operations in the manufacturing process in which 80% of employees are deployed. It comprises of several functional sections like th e sheet metal cutting and folding for the cupboards, protective coating application, initial assembly, plumbing, and electrical sections. The first HRD/Organizational problem identified in core operations appears to be loose span of supervisory control over laborers. Assuming 4 supervisors per functional section, we have about 20 supervisors in 5 sections and 155 laborers under such supervisors. Each supervisor on an average has about 8 laborers under him. Second problem relates to very high labor turnover on manufacturing shop floor. This disturbs the supervisor span of control further which is already high at 8 laborers and possibly obstructs the product customization process leading to defectives and quality deficiencies. Moreover quality control function at the company is very weak too. Orders schedules are not adhered to and orders are not built as per customer specifications. In fact that there is no separate quality function in the factory, and there is a general apathy about the quality of the product produced. Apathy is also evident in the untidy workplaces. The production process does not seem to be efficient and has not been reviewed for several years. The only quality checking that is done is the check of the final product against the original specification, and the standard of skills available within the company do not match the high level of product specification required to ensure custom quality. As a result orders are sent to customers despite errors of the manufacturing process that have been logged on final inspection, in order to meet delivery dates. This involves the company in having to rectify problems once the cupboard has been either delivered or installed, and attracts additional unnecessary costs that are borne by the FumeGo.Design function, within the core manufacturing operations, is understaffed and has weak organizational linkages resulting in poor intra organizational communications. The designers do not liaise at all with manufa cturing for ensuring adherence to product design. The design section is finicky about costly perfect solutions rather than value engineering. They often add some otherwise redundant aesthetic

Meditation One and Two by Descartes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Meditation One and Two by Descartes - Essay Example In Meditation 1, he doubts his knowledge for the reason that he might be dreaming (Med1&2, n.p.). He tells of the danger of confusing dreams from reality especially because of the fact that we are very much convinced that whatever is happening in our dreams, no matter how far they are from reality is the truth. This is a very similar principle derived from the concept of the movie â€Å"Inception† which implies that the beginning of what a man will consider true is when he or she is fully awake. But the question is, how will you distinguish being awake in reality or being in a waking dream? Lastly, Descartes questions his knowledge because of the fact that evil is all around us, constantly causing us a slanted view of truth. That is why we all need to be governed by law and not rely on our morals and free will because with the influence of evil, we can have our own versions of the good and bad and rationalize them to fit our selfish interests. However, in Meditation 2, Descartes brings himself out of his doubts because of the fact that he is a being made up of not only of a body but also of a mind, therefore he is a thinking being. Though his concept of knowledge could be marred by the limitations of his senses, dreams, and the influence of evil, he still can go beyond all three because of his mind or his ability to think. In line with this, he claims that mind can be better known than the body for the reason that the body could be easily deformed, perished, or seeped out of its strength with the influence of evil or is just part of the man’s mortal nature but the mind is something that is strong enough to filter the knowledge that is not only based on senses but also derived with prudence.

Research Paper Tax Questions Problems Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Tax Questions Problems - Research Paper Example Partnership X reports in response to question 3b that B owns, directly or indirectly, 75 percent of the profit, loss, or capital of partnership X. B owns 50 percent indirectly through entity T and 25 percent indirectly through family attribution from A. (IRS 2010) By allowing Thetribe to contribute 100% of the investment amount to IBS, and IBS was required to distribute 50% of the investment amount to Edwardian within 60 days of the contribution the income of both IBS and Edwardian could mitigate the income earned. b. What would be the tax consequences if Edwardian choose option one? Edwardian would receive 20% as income to report during the 2010 tax year. Despite the 40% IBS received, Edwardian would not have to report that income. IBS would have to report that as income. f. Partnership X reports in response to question 3b that A owns, directly or indirectly, 75 percent of the profit, loss, or capital of partnership X. A owns 25 percent indirectly through entities W and Y and owns 50 percent indirectly through family attribution from B. Partnership X reports in response to question 3b that B owns, directly or indirectly, 75 percent of the profit, loss, or capital of partnership X. B owns 50 percent indirectly through entity T and 25 percent indirectly through family attribution from A. (IRS 2010) g. What would be the tax consequences if Edwardian choose option three? There would be no tax consequences for Edwardian, but no profit either if the shares were bought from Lupus, Vampir and Sapiens directly. Edwardian would still have interest in IBS, but the income would not come from the direct sale. k. Partnership X reports in response to question 3b that A owns, directly or indirectly, 75 percent of the profit, loss, or capital of partnership X. A owns 25 percent indirectly through entities W and Y and owns 50 percent indirectly through family attribution from B. Partnership X reports in response

Globalization and Industrialized Countries Essay Example for Free

Globalization and Industrialized Countries Essay As globalization ‘can be seen as being a condition resulting from a long history of international exploration, invasion and colonization, fuelled by economic, military, religious and political interests, and enabled through enormous developments in transport and communications technologies’ (Evans 1997:12). The industrialized environment has transformed drastically since the advent of globalization. Industrialized countries have undertaken extreme restructuring by modifying their means of communication and synchronization of work activities. Globalization has made it promise for companies to work on a real-time basis, whereby products and services are conveyed to the right place at the right time. Since then, globalization and information technology has propagated and has undergone significant improvements. Costs have sustained to decline as these new technologies have emerged. A business not supported by a network of computer systems (primary information technology) is more or less destined to fail, since it will be incapable to compete efficiently in todays complex and dynamic environment (Aiki S. 1991). Companies are not the only ones who have gained from advances in modern information technology. Consumers and interest groups have created strategic alliances and now capable to coordinate their activities as well as exchange ideas and thoughts through a number of database and network systems (Collins J. C. , and J. I. Porras. 1991). For instance, owners of personal computers can subscribe to a computer network and without difficulty retrieve information on the products and corporations on line. Such information can also without problems be transmitted to other users. This huge use of technology by both consumers and companies affects, but the way business is run today. These consumer strategic alliances know no geographical limitations; oftentimes, they are global in nature, particularly among the industrialized nations. As companies can get in enormous profits from the better coordination, greater product elasticity, improved quality, leaner production, and more time-based competitiveness that information technology offers, they also facades the threat that can come from these consumers strategic alliances. For instance, corporations can no longer ignore consumer demands for constant product quality, reliability and respect for the environment, or timely delivery of services. As we move toward more and more advanced technologies, the labor force must be retrained. This training must not only expose workers to the technical matters adjoining the new process but also to the new focus of the organization. They have to be made responsive of the importance of advanced technology in improving work methods and in remaining competitive. Employee compulsion to the new process is imperative. Globalization by itself adds little or no value to an organization. There should be organizational as well as employee dedication to exploit the technology to the maximum (Scott, A. 1996). For instance, with ever-increasing use of computer-integrated manufacturing systems, and the stream of technical documentation that accompanies it, employees have to be skilled of recognizing the critical information at the right time. Once that information is recognized and properly interpreted, there must be an organizational dedication to use the information to make better decisions. Without this potential, the organization cannot take advantage from new technologies. Human resources’ management, therefore, will persist to be a critical factor in the survival of any organization (Schlossberg H. 1992). We sum up the influence of globalization on human resources as follows: †¢ Information technology transforms the mode of communication and work processes. †¢ Custom or standardized operations are replaced with skilled and multi-skilled workers. An extremely trained labor force is desired to manage information technology. †¢ Worker motivation and satisfaction might improve since workers are no longer restricted to routine operations, enjoy management powers, and can contribute to developments in their work processes. (Waters, M. 1995) Globalization also has an impact on the organization itself, as follows: †¢ Organizational reformation is required. This reformation makes the organization flat. Decision-making powers are decentralized. †¢ Communications are better and the organization is capable to make timely responses to its environment. †¢ Introduction of new products and services is improved and varieties of products can be efficiently introduced and marketed by the organization. †¢ The organization is competent to improve its efficiency, quality, and competitiveness. (Scott, A. 1997) Todays advanced technology can, conversely, easily become a basic technology. A rapid increase of new technologies also brings rapid obsolescence of earlier technologies. Policies concerning technology must not be static; they must keep evolving. Stalk (1988) points out that competitive advantage is a persistently moving target . . . The best competitors, the most thriving ones, know how to keep moving and always stay on the cutting edge. Competitiveness A company should be able to evaluate potential new technologies quickly. The goal must be to remain competitive, and effective management of technology is a vital step in achieving this. With an increased focus on customer satisfaction, technology is a decisive means for achieving customer satisfaction. Browning (1990) notes that a learning organization uses technology incessantly to refresh its knowledge of its customers’ wants and to work out new ways of satisfying them. This commitment to be a learning organization needs vast resources, however. For example, Browning also points out that building a learning organization necessitates new skills, clever people and capable machines. Noticeably, technology and human resources should be used together for the organization to stay competitive (Cunningham, S. and Jacka, E. 1996). Barabba and Zaltman (1991) note that hearing the accent of the market and making constructive use of it with respect to the voice of the firm is a learning progression. Essentially, the voice of the market has to be interpreted into facts and tasks that will lead to suitable products or services to satisfy customer needs. This is related to the application of quality function deployment, whereby the organization expands its strategic plans to assure customer needs. Thus, a learning organization should also be a caring organization. As a caring organization, its major objective is to please its stock or stakeholders, its customers, and employees, and also to be collectively responsible. The traditional organization, with the focus on satisfying stockholders alone, is varying to this new form, with a sophisticated stakeholder group (Petrella, R. 1999). Thus, globalization and human resources’ management are recognized as key variables that facilitate an organization to improve its productivity, quality, and competitiveness. A critical constituent is the information technology, which offers both opportunities and challenges. The organization should show understanding to its environment via its policies, and be learning and caring organization, as time and reliability influence competitiveness. Finally, organizations should innovate and constantly move to achieve new targets, particularly in view of todays rapidly developing new technologies (Shields, R. 1997).