An American ICON essays

An American ICON essays Sitting on the corner of 34th and 5th streets on about two acres of land sits one of mans greatest engineering feats, the granddaddy of all modern skyscrapers, the Empire State building. Standing 1453 feet tall and having 102 stories above the ground is the 102nd observatory, which gives us one of the most breath taking views in the world. As I was standing there I couldnt help from being over whelmed, by the fact that the building that I was standing in was over three times as old as me. The Empire State Building has become an icon for New York. When some one says New York, the first thing that I think of is the Empire State Building, one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. In 1955 the Empire State Building was named one of the Seven modern Wonders of the western hemisphere. It also became the eighth wonder of the modern world (New York City Insider). Excavation began on Jan. 22, 1930 of this building designed by Architects from Shreve, Lamb s flying (Empire State Building facts page). When I look back on this building I cant believe how they got this thing up so fast. The tools that they had back in the 30s arent even in the same ballpark as the tools that we have today and yet it stands still today as one of the worlds tallest buildings. If you were to ask me back then how high we would be by the year 2000 I would have probably said at least 250 stories and yet we arent anywhere near that mark. The Empire State Building was completed in 410 days this was including Sundays and holidays in all it took about 7,000,000 man-hours to build this massive building. The expected cost of the Empire State Building was estimated to be about $50,000,000 but thanks to the depression it only cost $24,718,000, which...

Talking Up Sales

Talking Up Sales Talking Up Sales Talking Up Sales By Guest Author This is a guest post by Lorraine Mace. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. Anyone with a book to promote is constantly on the lookout for new ways to get the message across to the widest possible audience. So what do you do when you’ve sent review copies to everyone you can think of, attended book fairs, set up author signings and promotions anywhere some kind soul would give you an inch of space, joined websites, commented on the blogs of others and generally covered every aspect of self-promotion? Do you relax, pat yourself on the back and raise a glass to a job well done? No, because there is another avenue you might have overlooked. In the words of an old song: â€Å"Say it really loud, say it really clear, on the radio.† Many an author who has appeared on national radio and/or television began their media trail on local radio. So how do you get your voice (and details of your book) heard? Local radio is precisely what it says – the radio for and about local newsworthy people. Before making contact with the station, sit down with a sheet of paper and list all the reasons your story (not necessarily your book) would be of interest to their listeners. That’s what they need to know. They won’t care about you as an author, they won’t care too much about your book either, but if you are able to tell them something their listeners would find fascinating, the chances are high that they will invite you onto the show. Take a reminder sheet of the things you want to say when you are on the air. This is essential because the time will pass so quickly that you may find the interview is over before you’ve done more than mention your book’s title. Talk about your current book Say why it’s unique Say where it is available Say where you will be conducting book signings Plug your blog and/or website Mention any other books you have written or are currently writing Once you know you are going to be interviewed, do the rounds of all the book outlets covered by the station and arrange signings, preferably for a day shortly after the interview. You’ll be amazed at how accommodating book stores will be if they know the event will receive media coverage. The next step is to contact your local newspaper, or newspapers if you live in an area where there is more than one. Write out a news item detailing who you are, when you will be on the radio as well as when and where you will be signing books. Make the piece interesting, not just a plug for your book. Editors aren’t likely to print something that is purely self-promotional, but if you jazz it up so that their readers would find it fascinating, they are more likely to use it. And if you’ve done all of that successfully, is it then time to sit back and raise that glass? Sorry, no. There is still one other radio avenue to explore and that is online radio. I was interviewed for Blogtalk Radio by Maggie Ball of the Compulsive Reader. Maggie lives in Australia, I live in France, we communicated through Skype and the interview promoting The Greatest Moving Abroad Tips in the World went live around the world on the Internet. How successful was it? Let’s just say a month after the event my website is still receiving visitors from places as diverse as Uruguay, India and South Africa. English speaking writers in overseas countries bought the book through Amazon. They would never have heard of it without that interview. Lorraine Mace is a columnist with Writing Magazine (UK) and has had her work published in five countries. Winner of the Petra Kenney International Poetry Award (comic verse category), she writes fiction for the women’s magazine market and is a writing competition judge. Lorraine, a tutor for Writers Bureau, is the author of The Greatest Moving Abroad Tips in the World (Oct 2008) and co-author, with Maureen Vincent-Northam, of The Writer’s ABC Checklist (Accent Press, Jan 2010). Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Signs and Symbols You Should KnowHang, Hung, Hanged7 Proofreading Steps

5 health indicators and analysis - Research Paper

5 health indicators and analysis - - Research Paper Example Five health indicators from three different countries will be analyzed to reveal three-income stratifications high, medium, and low income. The five health indicators are the following; death rate, Infant mortality rate, Life expectancy at birth years, literacy and HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate. The countries are Switzerland, Mexico, and Somalia, which were selected to illustrate the disparity existing because of their income status. Death rate can be describe as the average number of deaths in a year per 1000 population and indicates the current mortality impact on population growth. Per Index Mundi, the death rate in Mexico is 4.9/1000 population at midyear, followed by Switzerland at 8.8, and Somalia at 14.55 (Index Mundi, 2011). The most probable causes of this 14.55 high incidence of death in Somalia can be attributed to lack of sanitation, poor access to medical services, and poor diet. On the other hand, the low death rate seen in Mexico can be associated with proper sanitation, easy access to advance medical care, and healthy feeding habits. The lowest infant mortality rate of the three countries stands at 4.03/1000 births followed by Mexico’s 16.77, and the highest being Somalias 103.72 (Central Intelligence Agency, n.d b). The comparison of the infancy mortality rate between the three countries raises concern, as the number of fatalities among infants in Somalia is alarming. This demonstrates the need for Mexico and Somalia to invest in more in infant and maternal health, and run programs such as vaccination to aid in reducing infant mortality. The average years lived by a group of individuals born in the same year describes the life expectancy at birth, in which Switzerland’s is relatively high. Since Switzerland is considered a higher income country, they can invest more preventive on health care and health education, which improves the life expectancy of the

Online shopping Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Online shopping - Research Paper Example The internet is the driving force behind online shopping because it makes transactions between different parties possible. Online shopping has positive impacts towards customers as it makes shopping fast. It has negative impacts on small businesses that have to compete against wholesalers and big retailers. Security standards used in online shopping are well-established. The security standards make it possible for payments to be done using credit cards. The card’s details are encrypted then sent over a layer that is secure over the Internet. The large number of sellers and buyers going online is an enough testimony about the safety and acceptance of online shopping. Consumers do not opt for online shopping because of low prices. Though lowest price can be a motivation for online shoppers, other factors other factors are still important. Online shopping offers better services than visiting stores. Most e-retailers offer free shipping that customer’s value the most (Thau). Many shoppers do not say low prices are their primary attraction and motivation for doing shopping over the internet. This statement was proved by a study done by Simon-Kucher & Partners, a worldwide consultancy firm that counts and records retailers among its clients. The firm did a survey over 1000 consumers. The consultancy firm warns retailers against making lowering prices. The firm says that the retailers who will lower their prices to attract and keep customers will have to undergo long term negative impacts because of that (Thau). Although it might sound unappealing, the retailers who invest in infrastructure will get long-term customer loyalty. This was concluded by Susan Lee, a partner who conducts Simon-Kucher’s retail and consumer goods in northern parts of America. Retailers only need to study and look at recent strategies employed by the nation’s biggest brick-and-mortar retailer. The

What Guides Ethical Decision Making Essay Example for Free

What Guides Ethical Decision Making Essay A processor manufacturing company who are currently facing financial troubles completed an order about three months ago for newly designed high-powered processors that are smaller than and four times as powerful as its predecessor. These processors are to be placed into cutting edge cellular phones by a leading cellular phone manufacturer whose release date is a mere month away. A design inconsistency was recently discovered that essentially meant that the processors would work but would be no more powerful than its predecessor in certain conditions. A flaw that would only to be discerned when extraordinary load was placed on the device component whilst it was exposed to ambient temperatures of over 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The company’s CEO is now faced with the difficult decision of either doing nothing or replacing all the processors. Doing nothing, allows the company to keep its doors open, grants access to potential future earnings and saves the jobs of over 1000 employees. A decision that clearly seeks to ensure the common good of the company by giving them the ability to remain competitive while remaining silent on an issue that poses substantial risks to the cellular phone manufacturers earnings and reputation. The alternative, replacing all the processors would undoubtedly ensure that the processors function as advertised, but doing so would be at a significant cost to the company and may likely result in massive downsizing or the company’s declaration of insolvency. Though this option speaks positively to the moral character of the company, it may also lead to the company’s demise and leave over 1000 employees jobless. Both decisions, in light of the situation presented, may be considered to be ethical. A predicament which may undoubtedly lead a person to question how does one choose between several ethical options and more importantly what exactly guides this choice. The answer to these questions can be found in a branch of philosophy called theoretical ethics. Theoretical ethics is the rational reflection on what is right, what is wrong, what is just, what is unjust, what is good, and what is bad in terms of human behaviour according to [https://www.boundless.com/marketing /textbooks/boundless-marketing-textbook/social-responsibility-ethics-in-marketing-16/ethics-an-overview-101/definition-  of-ethics-498-8310/]. This branch of philosophy is exercised via the application the application of ethical theory. Ethical theories are those that represent the grand ideas which guide ethical principles and systematically attempt to answer the fundamental practical ethical questions [Ethical Theories http://www.medindia.net/education/familymedicine/biomedical-ethics-theories.htm#ixzz3H84Tlgi3] Ethical theories can be categorized according to how they justify ethical judgments [https://ethics.journalism.wisc.edu/resources/ethics-in-a-nutshell/#theoretical ] and as such the particular ethical theory utilized can influence the decision made. This essay will therefore seek to examine the concepts of the common good and moral character and fundamental human virtue, their supportive ethical theories and explain how they are applied to making ethical decisions in businesses. Common Good Also referred to as the human good, public good or commonweal, the concept of the common good is one that has evolved over time. As human society developed, so too did the concept, as articulated by the philosophers of the day. Originating with the Greek Philosopher Aristotle who, on the topic wrote â€Å"Every skill and every enquiry, and similarly every action and rational choice, is thought to aim at some good; and so the good has been aptly described as that at which everything aims†. He went on to reason that â€Å"since political science employs the other sciences, and also lays down the laws about what we should do and refrain from, its end will include the ends of the others, and will therefore be the human good.† http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/samples/cam032/99036947.pdf . Aristotle firstly explained his idea of the good, which according to his writings can then be understood to mean the purpose, reason, desire or benefit of things and actions. The idea of the good sets the premise for understanding the human good, the good that yields the most benefit to human existence. The human good, in Aristotle’s view, was the science of politics since it was the science charged with managing all other sciences and their respective ends for a single purpose; the betterment of the polity. The underlying premise of Aristotle’s definition of the common good is utility. It involves a multiplicity of agents working towards a single shared purpose that would  satisfy or be of benefit to all involved. This single purpose, shared by many, for the benefit of many is therefore what is understood to be the common good; a concept that shares an ideal that is similar to utilitarian theory as developed by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mills. UTILITARIANISM AND THE COMMON GOOD The basic premise of utilitarianism is the achievement of happiness for the greatest sum of people [ethics in action Domenec Mele]. This principle places the interest of the many over the interest of the few and as such the rightness or wrongness of an act is based only on the perceived or expected outcomes of that act as it relates to the utility obtained. http://caae.phil.cmu.edu/cavalier/80130/part2/sect9.html Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mills were the main proponents of this ideology, and though they had differing views on which outcome of act (happiness vs. pleasure) was worth measuring in order to determine the rightness or wrongness of an act they both held that human wellbeing was salient. http://caae.phil.cmu.edu/cavalier/80130/part2/sect9.html Utilitarianism can be considered to be an ethical theory. It represents a grand idea; achievement of maximum utility for most, and at the same time, assesses the rightness or wrongness of an action through the lenses of this idea. The utilitarian principle can therefore be used to ethically guide or judge the ethicality of decisions and actions. Utilitarianism as an ethical theory acts in pursuance to the common good https://philosophynow.org/issues/64/Presidential_Decision-Making_Utilitarianism_vs_Duty_Ethics . As previously expressed, a single purpose, shared by many, for the benefit of many is therefore what is understood to be the common good. This concept is similar to utilitarianism as is evident by the mutual aim of achieving maximum utility for many. As such, decisions and actions resulting from utilitarian theory are made based on the consequences of those decision and actions, and how they affect majority with an aim to always increase utility. Utilitarianism as a theory may then be seen as the tool through which the common good may be achieved. https://philosophynow.org/issues/64/Presidential_Decision-Making_Utilitarianism_vs_Duty_Ethics COMMON GOOD OF BUSINESSES The theories of the common good and utilitarianism although initially conceptualized on a societal scale are also applicable to smaller groups that occur within society. Both concepts are formulated purely on the idea that it is best to achieve utility for the majority of stakeholders and as such the size of the group is not an important attribute for consideration when applying these ideas. Utilitarian as a theory and the common good as a concept can therefore be viewed as reducible and as such be applied to virtually any group in society including a business. The common good of a business is to seek particular goods through its activities http://www.iese.edu/es/files/Paper_Antonio%20Argando%C3%B1a_tcm5-36013.pdf . These goods are extrinsic, intrinsic and transcendent in nature and are used to provide utility to stakeholders by satisfying their needs http://www.iese.edu/research/pdfs/DI-0777-E.pdf . These goods are interdependent of each other, but through their collective contributions, work towards the achievement of the vision and mission of a business. The vision and mission of a business may then be considered to be that business’s common good [domenec mele bookl]. Interestingly however, a business seeking its own common good also works towards the common good of society [domenec mele bookl]. As suggested by Adam Smith’s metaphor of the invisible hand, a business in pursuit of its own interests tends to also promote the good of society as a whole [domenec mele bookl]. Therefore the activities of a business: 1. creating added economic value with justice and distributing it with equity 2. supplying useful goods and services efficiently and fairly 3. providing jobs, opportunities and organizational conditions in accordance with human dignity and human rights 4. Promoting the necessary relationships between the firm and its constitutive stakeholders, fostering rec iprocity, collaboration and cooperation among them 5. Striving for the continuity and sustainability of the firm and 6. being a good corporate citizen  may be viewed as contributing to not only its own common good but also to the common good of society. [domenec mele bookl] COMMON GOOD DECISION MAKING IN A BUSINESS A common good decision in a business is any decision that is pursuant its own common good and, at the same time, is aimed at achieving maximum utility for  the majority of stakeholders. This type of decision making applies a mission driven approach to corporate governance where the organization is seen as one entity that achieves multiple ends. In applying this approach the corporate governing body weighs the positive and negative consequences of an action with an aim towards increasing overall utility for the many with the business’s vision and mission as its main goal [domenec mele]. It would then stand to reason that a common good business decision would be any decision that is utilitarian in nature, which is also in accordance with any of the 6 mentioned activities of a business. Common good business decisions are made through the application of utilitarian theory. Utilitarian theory provides a straightforward method for making decisions that would provide the greatest benefits and the least harm to the business. To arrive at such a decision, one must firstly identify the each of the various options that can be chosen http://www.sme.ie/articles/business_ethics/thinking_ethically.pdf . After the options are identified, the foreseeable benefits and harms that may result from each option are determined http://www.sme.ie/articles/business_ethics/thinking_ethically.pdf . Lastly, one compares the options and chooses the option that provides the greatest benefits and the least amount of harm to the business http://www.sme.ie/articles/business_ethics/thinking_ethically.pdf . In the utilitarian view, an option chosen via this ethical theory is considered to be morally right http://www.sme.ie/articles/business_ethics/thinking_ethically.pdf and is therefore ethical. This decision making process may be likened to the cost benefit analysis, a commonly used business decision making tool. Although one may arrive at ethical decisions through the application of utilitarian theory, there are several disadvantages of using this ethical theory. Utilitarianism suggests that the decision maker assigns values to benefits and harms and subsequently compares these benefits and harms, this makes the utilitarian decision making process highly subjective http://www.sme.ie/articles/business_ethics/thinking_ethically.pdf . Predicting all the consequences of an action is difficult and as such it is possible that consequences which may cause great benefit or harm to the business are not factored into the decision making process. This method also, ignores the concept of justice and as such may cause several  particular groups to be repeatedly disadvantaged for the betterment of the organization. Because of the critiques of this ethical theory it can be reasoned tha t it is best used in situations that are amoral or situations where the rightness or wrongness of a decision is not in question. An example or an ideal amoral situation is a situation where all the available options are moral. The application of this ethical approach in such situations removes the need for the consideration of justice and therefore addresses a major flaw of the utilitarian process. MORAL CHARACTER AND FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN VIRTUES Another concept that informs ethical decision making is moral character and fundamental human virtues. The idea of Moral character and virtues has always been a prominent topic of philosophical discussion among ancient philosophers. The foundation of these discussions was centralized in the goodness of humans and in particular, trying to discern what makes a person good http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-character/ . As such, a person’s character became the logical starting point in the resolution of this issue http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-character/#WhyChaMat . One’s traits and actions is what determines one’s character. Character, which is understood to mean the assemblage of qualities that distinguishes one individual from another http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-character/#WhyChaMat is comprised of the relatively stable traits or behaviours that a person consistently exhibits. Although all of these traits are not moral nature, they may have a significant impact on a person’s moral characterhttp://www.iep.utm.edu/moral-ch/#SH1a . A person’s Moral Character is influenced by moral character traits and practical wisdom. A moral character trait is a disposition of character for which a person is morally responsible or is deserving of the resultant reactive attitudes. http://www.iep.utm.edu/moral-ch/#SH1a. Virtues, traits that are deserving of positive reactive attitudes such as praise or gratitude and vices, traits that are deserving of negative reactive attitudes, when combined with proper reasoning about the matter at hand, collectively inform moral character http://www.iep.utm.edu/moral-ch/#SH1a. In other words; virtues, vices and by extension moral character is not only influenced by the disposition of  character, but also by practical wisdom. http://www.iep.utm.edu/moral-ch/#SH1a Practical wisdom is an intellectual virtue that is required for the development of virtues of character. This intellectual virtue is acquired through learning general rules and practice. Throughout the course of one’ s life, we encounter situations that require reasoning to determine what actions are appropriate. It is through these experiences that practical wisdom is developed. Practical wisdom, when combined with â€Å"proper habits† fuels the development of virtues such as justice, courage and temperance. [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-ethics/] Justice, courage and temperance are virtues which provide us with the interior strength to act well [domenec mele]. Justice governs relationships and it regulates one’s inclination to possess, to share and to give whilst, courage, the virtue of preserving or pursuing what is good despite the obstacles, regulates one’s inclination to overcome the obstacles to doing â€Å"good†. Lastly temperance regulates one’s inclination towards pleasure and is that virtue which provides self-mastery and avoidance of immoderate attachments [domenec mele]. These virtues each have common characteristics of providing a self-regulatory feature and encouraging behaviours that are in keeping with human excellence. As such, these virtues are considered to be fundamental [domenec mele]. FUNDAMENTAL VIRTUES AND DEONTOLOGY The theory of deontology states we are morally obligated to act in accordance with a certain set of principles and rules regardless of outcome. Deontological theories holds that some acts are always wrong, even if the act leads to an admirable outcome and as such, in deontology the morality of an action is judged without regard for the outcome of that action. Deontology is based on the view of the human being having the unique capacity for rationality and it is exactly this ability that requires human beings to act in accordance with moral law or duty. http://sevenpillarsinstitute.org/morality-101/kantian-duty-based-deontological-ethics In the deontological view, morality and moral character is primarily a function of acting in accordance with duties or obligations, regardless of the consequences of acting in accordance with those duties http://www.iep.utm.edu/moral-ch/ . Deontological theory goes on to apply  this categorical imperative to making all decision â€Å"Act only on that maxim whereby thou canst at the same time will that it should become a universal law† http://caae.phil.cmu.edu/Cavalier/80130/part2/sect8.html . This categorical imperative is Kant’s only guideline to making decisions. Simply explained it states that one should decide on an action only if they agree that everyone else should perform that action in all the time. To be able to act in accordance with duty, fundamental virtues are required. Duties may be either perfect (precise, specifiable and enforceable) or imperfect (unspecific and unenforceable) in nature. Perfect duties require that one forgoes certain actions in order to be able to act in accordance with such a duty. Imperfect duties on the other hand, are duties to adopt certain ends and because of its unenforceable nature require self-mastery and strength of will. Continence therefore becomes a necessity for acting in accordance with duty. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-character/#Kan Continence or self-control requires the exercise of virtues, namely those of practical wisdom, temperance, courage and justice. http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.7.vii.html MORAL CHARACTER OF COMPANIES The ideas of moral character and fundamental virtues, though originally conceptualized to examine the ‘goodness’ of a person, can also be expanded to analyse the moral character of groups particularly businesses. Moral character is assessed as previously indicated by evaluating a person’s commitment to virtues or exercise of duty. The same method of assessment can be applied to a business. The moral character of a company may be determined through its duty based activities. The perfect duties of a company are those to which it is legally obligated whereas its imperfect duties deals are those where the company isn’t legally obligated but are duty bond to adopt particular ends. As such, the company’s adherence to the laws of the land, how the company treats with contractual agreements, examination of the company’s ethical policy or code and review of the company’s decision to ensure that they are in accordance with the company’s duties are the factors that influence the moral character of a company.

Nettie Stevens :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nettie Stevens   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nettie Maria Stevens was born in 1861 in Cavendish,Vermont. She was an American biologist and geneticist, whose research proved that chromosomes determine the sex of an organism. She completed in only two years the four-year course at Westfield Normal School in Massachusetts. Nettie graduated with the highest academic scores in her class. She recieved her B.A. in 1899 and her M.A. in 1900 at Stanford.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nettie studied Tenebrio molitor beetles and found that unfertilized eggs in female beetles always contain an X chromosome. Sperm from male beetles contain either an X chromosome or a Y chromosome. She found that eggs fertilized by sperm carrying the X chromosome produce female beetles. The combination of egg and Y-chromosome sperm produce male beetles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Edmund Beecher Wilson, a biologist from Columbia University in New York City, made this same discovery at about the same time as Nettie. Nettie also established that chromosomes exist as paired structures in body cells.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nettie Stevens was not credited very well for her discovery. Instead, someone else was given the credit even though Nettie had done all of the work.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nettie gained notoriety after her death in 1912, from Thomas Hunt Morgan. He stated:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Modern cytological work involves an intricacy of detail, the significance of which can be appreciated by the specialist alone; but Miss Stevens had a shre in a discovery of importance, and her name will be remembered for this, when the minutiae of detailed investigations that she carried out have become incorporated in the general body of the subject.

Into the Wild Essay

In writing â€Å"Into the Wild,† Krakauer’s intention was to uncover the facts (or at least get as close to the facts as possible) surrounding Christopher McCandless’ journey â€Å"into the wild. † Krakauer discusses and presents theories and explanations about McCandless’ reasons for going off into a potentially fatal journey, and also presents investigations into how McCandless came to such a state in his life. Krakauer gives us some idea of the direct cause of McCandless’ death, and his reasons for doing what he did. Krakauer aims to give readers with invaluable insight into the mind of McCandless—how McCandless came about the idea of going to the Alaskan wilderness, what his motivations were, how he planned and managed to survive the grueling trek, and most importantly, â€Å"why? † The author seeks to understand what happened to McCandless in the wild, and to explain why someone so full of promise, who seems to have such an ideal life and much of all that he could ask for, could do what McCandless did. However, Krakauer does not presume to be certain about McCandless reasons, but he presents some very good explanations and allows us to understand McCandless’ mind even more. By revealing many things about the reasons behind McCandless’ death, Krakauer shows us that McCandless was far more than a simple and reckless fool who wasted his life. McCandless, who was an intelligent young man, went off into the Alaskan woods to â€Å"find himself† and to reunite with nature. He was heavily influenced by the literature he had read, to such an extent that he became, most of all, a man in search of himself and of a purpose in life. In order to really â€Å"find† himself, he felt it necessary to cut all ties from society, from his family, and reinvent himself as Alexander Supertramp, thus cutting his ties with his old identity. Whether or not he found what he was looking for in the wild is open to speculation, however Krakauer describes McCandless’s psychological terrain by including anecdotes and quotations from people who were in a similar state of mind as McCandless, as well as drawing parallels with his own life as a mountaineer and adventurer. Each chapter presents different tales from others who have been in the same road as McCandless, people who have also sought the solitude of the wild. Krakauer also interviewed people who have come in contact with McCandless during his journey. By the end of â€Å"Into the Wild,† the readers gains significant understanding of McCandless’ personality. Whether McCandless was brave or foolish, his journey of self-discovery is something that almost everyone can relate with and understand on some level. However, while the book is accessible to anyone who could have some interest in the controversial life and death of Christopher McCandless, it is most geared towards those who have sentiments similar to those that McCandless held regarding society, nature, and how to live. â€Å"Into the Wild† helps us understand McCandless’ character, although by the end of the book, it is still up to the reader to decide if McCandless was â€Å"right† or â€Å"wrong† in having done what he did – whether he was courageoeus or merely foolish.

Houshold Gods

â€Å"Their life gave our lives meaning, but broken homes will not set again. Their parting was our dissolution, they will never know their household gods are slain. † An intense end to Philip Hobsbaum’s poem ‘Household gods’ which presents the life of a broken home after the people that lived there have parted and left. Through the use of personification, rhyme, punctuation and diction, these small speeches convey the idea of a once happy and lively household now lost and the mournful end it faces.Philip Hobsbaum’s design of structure, punctuation and rhyme establish the furniture’s’ personified being. The poem is divided into nine stanzas, each consist of four lines enclosed by quotation marks to show a different speaker in each stanza. In the first, eighth, and ninth stanza the second and fourth lines rhyme, and these stanzas are spoken by the gods as a group. In stanzas two to seven, they speak as individuals, the first and third li nes rhyme as well as the second and fourth.This personification of the gods allow them to identify with the reader at a more personal level and be able to connect with him, The first stanza is spoken by the entire household, describing its role in observing the breaking of the lives of this couple â€Å"I saw them. I was there. † The author introduces the poem with a gloomy heavy tone, relying on words such as â€Å"breaking,† â€Å"distraught,† and â€Å"despair. † The couples’ breakup is â€Å"mirrored† by the household and foreshadows their future departure. The second and third stanzas are from an individual point of view, they represent some of the couple’s possessions recollecting their joyful past.At first, what seems to be a musical instrument belonging to the woman grieves its disuse, stating that it has â€Å"so long been silent† and it laments over the days when her â€Å"long fingers once caressed [it]. † It also introduces a passionate part of the couple’s relationship previously as it asks: â€Å"was that how at one time she touched him? † The third stanza introduces male’s possession as it recalls a happy past when â€Å"his lips on mine†¦warmed my clay. † This god is most likely a mug that the occupant used, and now he describes the â€Å"kiss† that he used to receive as â€Å"broken and swept away. These missing parts of the house are what take its life away; music brings joy to a home, and coffee in the morning is an indicator of life. The couple’s relationship can be related to the cup, as it was once warm full of embraces and kisses ‘in the morning or in darkness’, and now it is broken and being â€Å"swept away† as it ends. A rug mentions its experience next; it describes the past state of the couple as it used to serve ‘their steady feet,’ but now their steps are ‘tentative’ as they b ecome more reluctant to come across each other.In the past there was a sense of life to the house, but now the carpet feels sorrowful as it becomes a â€Å"street for strangers† as it is no longer able to recognize the transformed couple. It expresses its dismay in the last line which does not flow with the previous stanza to show its feeling of worthlessness and abandonment; it used to serve this couple but now it is merely â€Å"jute and wool† at the front of the house. The god in the fourth stanza, a room or the house also reflects on its abandoned state.It describes the time when they cared for it and made it â€Å"in terms of their vision†, however, the state that the room is in at this point shows neglect and deterioration as the â€Å"walls are pealing. † The house relates to the rug, as it also begins to feel useless after his â€Å"occupants have fled. † The sixth and seventh stanzas describe the final scene that this house lives. The sixt h stanza is spoken by a clock, which ironically speaks of time which does not repeat itself, unlike her hands. It also speaks about â€Å"the climactial moment† which has passed and will never reoccur again, no matter â€Å"whoever will come. This may refer to the house, which has reached an optimum point, and is now falling and could never be restored. The clock tries to â€Å"cough a final chime† but it so badly neglected that it couldn’t â€Å"henceforth [it is] dumb†. The seventh stanza is very similar to the first, except that it is being spoken from an individual point of view. A mirror is speaking about how it â€Å"mirrored their coming here† and is now watching them leave; it is only concerned about â€Å"their outer semblance† since it only deals with superficial aspects of people.The repetition of this stanza serves as closure to the relationship of this couple and their departure, leaving the house for destruction and decay. The final two stanzas are spoken by the gods as a whole, describing the death of the gods as life leaves the house for good. The eighth stanza describes the image of the house: ‘without a purpose,’ ‘chairs not to be sat on,’ ‘the books are stacked’. The author uses a metaphor in the last line ‘a house grown cold’ to emphasize the death of the house, similar to the way a human corpse becomes after all life has disappeared from it and it slowly starts decaying.The final stanza shows the reader that these gods cannot live without the presence of occupants, â€Å"their life gave ours meaning. † Yet there is no possible way for the return of these gods as â€Å"broken homes will not set again†, the concluding presence of the gods is set in the last line â€Å"they will never know their household gods are slain† in order to show the oblivious manner of the couple who will never know of the suffering that those around th em went through, and they will never learn of their death.In this poem, Philip Hobsbaum integrates emotions with household objects in order to allow the reader to relate to a broken household. The author shows the strong consequences that are caused by a broken home, and the need for a strong relationship to maintain it. Hobsbaum seeks to show the readers that a broken home causes such powerful destruction, such as the death of gods, in order to motivate couples to maintain strong relationships, for their farewells are able to create irreversible damage. Houshold Gods â€Å"Their life gave our lives meaning, but broken homes will not set again. Their parting was our dissolution, they will never know their household gods are slain. † An intense end to Philip Hobsbaum’s poem ‘Household gods’ which presents the life of a broken home after the people that lived there have parted and left. Through the use of personification, rhyme, punctuation and diction, these small speeches convey the idea of a once happy and lively household now lost and the mournful end it faces.Philip Hobsbaum’s design of structure, punctuation and rhyme establish the furniture’s’ personified being. The poem is divided into nine stanzas, each consist of four lines enclosed by quotation marks to show a different speaker in each stanza. In the first, eighth, and ninth stanza the second and fourth lines rhyme, and these stanzas are spoken by the gods as a group. In stanzas two to seven, they speak as individuals, the first and third li nes rhyme as well as the second and fourth.This personification of the gods allow them to identify with the reader at a more personal level and be able to connect with him, The first stanza is spoken by the entire household, describing its role in observing the breaking of the lives of this couple â€Å"I saw them. I was there. † The author introduces the poem with a gloomy heavy tone, relying on words such as â€Å"breaking,† â€Å"distraught,† and â€Å"despair. † The couples’ breakup is â€Å"mirrored† by the household and foreshadows their future departure. The second and third stanzas are from an individual point of view, they represent some of the couple’s possessions recollecting their joyful past.At first, what seems to be a musical instrument belonging to the woman grieves its disuse, stating that it has â€Å"so long been silent† and it laments over the days when her â€Å"long fingers once caressed [it]. † It also introduces a passionate part of the couple’s relationship previously as it asks: â€Å"was that how at one time she touched him? † The third stanza introduces male’s possession as it recalls a happy past when â€Å"his lips on mine†¦warmed my clay. † This god is most likely a mug that the occupant used, and now he describes the â€Å"kiss† that he used to receive as â€Å"broken and swept away. These missing parts of the house are what take its life away; music brings joy to a home, and coffee in the morning is an indicator of life. The couple’s relationship can be related to the cup, as it was once warm full of embraces and kisses ‘in the morning or in darkness’, and now it is broken and being â€Å"swept away† as it ends. A rug mentions its experience next; it describes the past state of the couple as it used to serve ‘their steady feet,’ but now their steps are ‘tentative’ as they b ecome more reluctant to come across each other.In the past there was a sense of life to the house, but now the carpet feels sorrowful as it becomes a â€Å"street for strangers† as it is no longer able to recognize the transformed couple. It expresses its dismay in the last line which does not flow with the previous stanza to show its feeling of worthlessness and abandonment; it used to serve this couple but now it is merely â€Å"jute and wool† at the front of the house. The god in the fourth stanza, a room or the house also reflects on its abandoned state.It describes the time when they cared for it and made it â€Å"in terms of their vision†, however, the state that the room is in at this point shows neglect and deterioration as the â€Å"walls are pealing. † The house relates to the rug, as it also begins to feel useless after his â€Å"occupants have fled. † The sixth and seventh stanzas describe the final scene that this house lives. The sixt h stanza is spoken by a clock, which ironically speaks of time which does not repeat itself, unlike her hands. It also speaks about â€Å"the climactial moment† which has passed and will never reoccur again, no matter â€Å"whoever will come. This may refer to the house, which has reached an optimum point, and is now falling and could never be restored. The clock tries to â€Å"cough a final chime† but it so badly neglected that it couldn’t â€Å"henceforth [it is] dumb†. The seventh stanza is very similar to the first, except that it is being spoken from an individual point of view. A mirror is speaking about how it â€Å"mirrored their coming here† and is now watching them leave; it is only concerned about â€Å"their outer semblance† since it only deals with superficial aspects of people.The repetition of this stanza serves as closure to the relationship of this couple and their departure, leaving the house for destruction and decay. The final two stanzas are spoken by the gods as a whole, describing the death of the gods as life leaves the house for good. The eighth stanza describes the image of the house: ‘without a purpose,’ ‘chairs not to be sat on,’ ‘the books are stacked’. The author uses a metaphor in the last line ‘a house grown cold’ to emphasize the death of the house, similar to the way a human corpse becomes after all life has disappeared from it and it slowly starts decaying.The final stanza shows the reader that these gods cannot live without the presence of occupants, â€Å"their life gave ours meaning. † Yet there is no possible way for the return of these gods as â€Å"broken homes will not set again†, the concluding presence of the gods is set in the last line â€Å"they will never know their household gods are slain† in order to show the oblivious manner of the couple who will never know of the suffering that those around th em went through, and they will never learn of their death.In this poem, Philip Hobsbaum integrates emotions with household objects in order to allow the reader to relate to a broken household. The author shows the strong consequences that are caused by a broken home, and the need for a strong relationship to maintain it. Hobsbaum seeks to show the readers that a broken home causes such powerful destruction, such as the death of gods, in order to motivate couples to maintain strong relationships, for their farewells are able to create irreversible damage.

Patronage and corruption in Elizabethan government Essays

Patronage and corruption in Elizabethan government Essays Patronage and corruption in Elizabethan government Paper Patronage and corruption in Elizabethan government Paper The English government in the 16th century lead and promoted by Queen Elizabeth operated with a system of political patronage and grants of monopoly. These methods were used to organize the governing class as the Queen lacked a civil service, local officials and an army which would allow her to enforce her will; thus Elizabeth had to reward the governing class for her to secure the throne. However, it can be argued that the system was both corrupted and inefficient; many believe Elizabeths regime was marked with cheating, bribery and unjust practices and that it did not operate effectively. On the other hand, it was argued that the system was indeed one of high quality by standards of the historical age; especially when compared to other Western European countries at the time. We also shouldnt judge the operation of Elizabethans government by our modern standards. Source B is a letter dated back in 1595 from the Dean of Durham to Lord Burghley thanking him for his promotion to bishopric. The letter is filled with flattering and obsequious language such as descriptions of Burghley being an especial patron to see, and that he now pleased God and Her Majesty with the extraordinary furtherance. Such a use of language suggests some degree of corruption as the Dean of Durham only got the position because of his pleasing attitude to Lord Burghley and that he isnt the best man for the job. There is also potential for inefficiency as Dean of Durham might not be a good bishop but only one which sucks up to Lord Burghley. Furthermore, the Dean of Durham said he is unworthy of the job; this shows that even he himself does not believe he will do a good job or he is trying to flatter Burghley by degrading himself. The Dean of Durham is also offering to repay his promotion by presenting your Lordship with a hundred pounds in gold. This suggests corruption as the Dean of Durham is paying to buy the position and he only got the promotion because of his wealth; not ability. It shows that the system is inefficient as it allows such actions. Surely, if the Dean of Durham felt that he deserves the position; there will be no need for the gold. On the other hand, the arguments above can be countered. Firstly, the letter is of a friendly and excited tone thus we can see that the two men share a good relationship; which means they will work well together. The Dean of Durham also looks as if he is passionate and ready for the position suggesting he will be efficient with doing his job. As for the giving of the gold; there is no evidence stating Lord Burghley ever asked for and accepted the gold; therefore it is not corruption as there has been no deal between the two prior the promotion. From my knowledge of language, formality and customs of the 16th century, the flattering language can simply be seen as a sign of appreciation and is no more than politeness. The gold giving is no more than a custom of thanking for the promotion; thus, corruption did not occur. I also understand that Lord Burghley was a honest, trusted and highly respected figure and is arguably Elizabeths favorite; thus there is no need and no reason for him to be bribed with a hundred pound of gold. Source C criticizes Elizabethans government for showing certain defects, referring to the system being faulty in that it hands too much power to too few. Wallace MacCaffrey also suggests that the system lacked adequate safeguards which shows that there is little order putting the question of efficiency into doubt. As a result, Lord Burghley had to ceaselessly supervise to stop the worst abuses. This suggests that politicians were corrupted as they lacked self discipline; more worrying, protection waned with the ageing statesmans health and strength. The fact that the system was so dependent on one man shows inefficiency; there is also potential for corruption once Lord Burghley retires. The competition was also too small again suggesting inefficiency due to the lack of participation leading to the limitation of ideas. The governing class tried to increase incomes by any means by exploiting his opportunities. This suggests that the system is inefficient in the first place in that it allows people to abuse it; it also shows that the governing class wasnt accountable or responsible for their actions therefore allowing them to be corrupted. To add to this, I also know that the system at the time was largely based on patronage, meaning if one wanted to rise up the political ladder; one had to do so through some degree of favoritism and corruption. This shows that the system was inefficient and promoted corruption. Reckless competition was also present; this may lead to inefficiency in governing. Giving an example outside the source, the rivalry between Burghley and Leicester in 1570s is a demonstration that aggressive competition was present from the very top of the government. Another example would be the power struggle between Robert Cecil and the Earl of Essex in 1590s which immensely threatened government stability and underlined the systems inefficiency. Quoting historian Keith Randall there was a never ending process of competitive jockeying for position going on. The fact that there were black markets where political influence was brought and sold shows corruptions was present. This is because the inefficient system allowed power to be distributed to the hands of the rich and therefore was not equal. I can further back this point by bringing in my knowledge on the power of politicians at the time. Politicians then had the right to prosecute those who had infringed some act of parliament and they could keep a portion of the fine. Politicians might prosecute simply for the money and that the justice system could be brought off by the wealthy; showing elements of legalized robbery as historian Randell suggests. Furthermore, the courts language was in Norman Court French making law inaccessible and obscure to the general public proving that the justice system was inefficient and unfair that the majority couldnt read the law. This lead to corruption as only the rich and the elite could understand it. Lastly, the writer of Source C states the poverty of the Crown lead to unwise concessions such as grants of monopoly. Elizabeth was inefficient as she only looked at short term benefits whilst ignoring the long term consequences. From my own knowledge, I know that the 1590s to the early 1600s was not a good time for many of the English population. They had just suffered from three consecutive bad harvests and poverty was rife. What monopolies will do is allow prices to be pushed up immensely, leading to inflation. Surely, an efficient governing body will try to lower prices instead of increasing them. At the end of Source C it states that Englishmen were turning away from their bad old habits of conspiracy and treason. However, from my knowledge I can counter the statement by brining in the Earl of Essex who was involved with conspiracies to overthrow Elizabeths regime after he lost his patent on sweet wines in 1600; he was later on executed for treason. This shows that the system of government was corrupted as men like the Earl of Essex placed personal wealth above the country. However, there are arguments that disagree with Elizabeths system of government as being both corrupted and inefficient. First of all, we can see from Source C that Burghley staved off the worst abuses. He continuously and constantly supervised the system of political patronage showing that effective methods were imposed which efficiently prevented corruption. Furthermore, the argument that the Crown made unwise concessions can be countered by stating that the she had to fix short term and immediate challenges first before looking into the long term; this is supported by the fact that Parliament made it hard for Elizabeth to have financial access therefore she did not really have a choice. Also, the idea of handing out monopolies was one which was financially efficient for Elizabeth; as Source C says it offered an increase in income for no outlay. The writer Wallace MacCaffery concludes that high praise must be given for the transformation of Englands politics and that a new political order has been established. This implies that the government was much less corrupt and much more efficient then before; highlighting the improvement and progress of the systems of government as a whole. This can be backed up with some of my own knowledge of the successes of the period. First of all, population doubled in the 16th century therefore Elizabeth entered a period of hardship to lead. Her regime successfully imposed a long lasting and effective means of poor relief which helped ease poverty. Furthermore, social stability was generally enjoyed so as religious and political steadiness. It is also worth noting that under Elizabeths government the Spanish Armada was successfully defeated. It is therefore argued that none of the above accomplishments could have been present without a corruption-free and efficient system of government. Furthermore, although there were individuals like the Earl of Essex; there were many men who served in the genuine interest of their country. The 1800 unpaid volunteers as Justices of Peace was an example; they had to do a lot of traveling and it was an effort consuming position and there was little or no financial gain. Apart from the ideas from the sources, there was a very important element which formed the systems of government. This was the position of the throne and her prerogative powers which helped secure efficiency and solidarity of the country. Elizabeth held on to the powers to call, prorogue and dissolve Parliament, declare war and make peace, appoint and dismiss ministers and judges, determining monarchs marriage and naming a successor. Elizabeth was also careful in not handing too much power away to Privy Council; she would not interfere with the daily running of it so it could run efficiently, however whenever it came to important decisions about the country the Queen would make sure she makes the final call. This made the decision making process efficient as there was only one person making the decisions and disputes were prevented. Furthermore, potential cases of corruption were dismissed as the Queen makes the final decisions so there is no use buying off politicians or advisors. Corruption and inefficiency is also relative to the peoples expectation of government. I know that in the 16th century, the government did not intervene nearly as much as governments do now with social or economical problems. The government was simply expected to keep the realm safe and secure, to help in disasters and to run the finance of the crown and country; it must be said that Elizabeths government did a reasonable job in those areas. To conclude, I cannot agree with the statement that the Elizabethan systems of government were both corrupt and inefficient for three reasons. Firstly, we must understand that 16th century Britain has a very different political structure as to the one we currently have. There were no democratic features such as elections, political parties or the media. This meant that the nature of politics was inevitable to that of favorism you had to get on someones good side if you wanted to excel and advance. Indeed, this would now be what we call corruption, however, back in the time it accepted as standard practices and was part of the social norm. Secondly, the prerogative powers of the Queen provided the system with both fairness and efficiency. Indeed, we will call Elizabeths position as a dictator nowadays but back in the time, a solid leader who held the powers to make the final calls to the most important issues was very much needed. Thirdly, the successes of the period cannot be ignored. Elizabeths regime did have its glorious days such as defeating the Spanish Armada. But most importantly it was the long term stability which citizens enjoyed under Elizabeths government. In contrast to other Western European countries at the time, Britain had excellent social, political and religious stability which is a testimony of the success of a fair, just and efficient system of government.

Alkali Metals - Properties of Element Groups

Alkali Metals - Properties of Element Groups Learn about the properties of the alkali metals, one of the element groups: Location of the Alkali Metals on the Periodic Table The alkali metals are the elements located in Group IA of the periodic table. The alkali metals are lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium. Alkali Metal Properties The alkali metals exhibit many of the physical properties common to metals, although their densities are lower than those of other metals. Alkali metals have one electron in their outer shell, which is loosely bound. This gives them the largest atomic radii of the elements in their respective periods. Their low ionization energies result in their metallic properties and high reactivities. An alkali metal can easily lose its valence electron to form the univalent cation. Alkali metals have low electronegativities. They react readily with nonmetals, particularly halogens. Summary of Common Properties Lower densities than other metalsOne loosely bound valence electronLargest atomic radii in their periodsLow ionization energiesLow electronegativitiesHighly reactive Metals  |  Nonmetals  |  Metalloids  |  Alkali Metals  |  Alkaline Earths  |  Transition Metals  |  Halogens  |  Noble Gases  |  Rare Earths  |  Lanthanides  |  Actinides

Reflection paper 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Reflection paper 3 - Essay Example It therefore believed the majority of people in the society are not actually what they seem to be from their external observations. The presenter on this subject is so brave to come out in public and ascertain to the society her sexual orientation. Her ability to come forward and inform her family of who she really was is an act of brevity and truthfulness that is not easy to find even among the religious persons. The pain she underwent both physically being seeing her family suffering several losses coupled with emotional pain of having to wait for a while before declaring her sexual orientation if commendable. She was able to overcome the pain of isolation from her sisters for a while as the mother was still figuring out how to deal with her situation. Despite her mothers reluctance to accept her fully she managed to strike a common balance in their relationship and managed to complete her studies, and she got a job at the college. Concerns of homosexual persons in the society are something that has not been received well in the society as a whole. Majority of people in the society still need a lot of civic education in order to understand that these are normal people just like them with different feelings as human beings. Homosexuals must be treated with respect and care just like any other person since they are valuable members of the society just like everyone else. The presenter depicts to us a background that is so telling about the mentally ill people. His presentation is a clear indication that these people need help more than anything else. Without proper understanding of their conditions, they would easily drift off and die suicidal deaths. He portrays the sufferings his mother went through when that condition the unfortunate fate that caught up with him as he was growing up. He is exemplary in his ability to have overcome the odds especially from the first