Bob Dylans Impact on Pop Culture - 1515 Words

POPULAR CULTURE ESSAY- BOB DYLAN Duluth Minnesota, May 24th 1941 Robert Allen Zimmerman (Bob Dylan) was born. 69 Years and over 45 albums later Bob Dylan has completely altered the face of popular music since his debut as a fresh faced folk singer in 1962. His early career forged him into an informal chronicler and then he later developed into an apparently reluctant figurehead of social unrest [Gray, 2006] and became a voice for a generation. His songs have been covered by many artists in a wide span of genres and he has remained a prominent and highly influential figure in the history of popular music over the past five decades. [Gates, David, 1997] In the early sixties, before Bob Dylan emerged, the concept of folk and rock fusing was†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Beatles shift towards more introspective songwriting in the 60’s would never have happened without him† [V.Bogdanov, 2002]. Artists such as John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Patti Smith, Joni Mitchell and Tom Waits all acknowledge the profound impact Dylan had on the industry and themselves as artists. â€Å"Bob Dylan, Ill never be Bob Dylan. Hes the master. If Id like to be anyone, its him. And hes a great writer, true to his music and done what he feels is the right thing to do for years and years and years. Hes great. Hes the one I look to†. [Neil Young, 2005]. Dylan encapsulated a generations hunger for change, challenged the social and political status quo but interestingly seemingly rejected this status after receiving the ‘Tom Paine Award’ from the National Emergency and Civil Li berties Committee he drunkenly questioned the role of the committee and claimed to see something of himself and everyone in JFK’s alleged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald [Andrew Loog Olham, 2005]. In 1965 The Byrds cover of his song Mr. Tambourine Man helped to propel not only The Byrds to super stardom but established the folk rock genre. [V.Bogdanov, 2002]. His verbal sophistication drew comparison to the romantic poets and much literary criticism artists still strive to attain today. His launch of Theme Time Radio Hour for XM Satellite Radio helped him to establishShow MoreRelatedBob Dylan: The Voice of a Generation Essay961 Words   |  4 Pagesthe fact that this country was engaged in a bloody stalemate in the jungles of Southeast Asia, but because we were gradually transforming into a new, better America back home. Because these tumultuous times were so important in shaping the country, Bob Dylan, a legendary songwriter, became the voice of an entire generation, and therefo re, an unlikely icon amidst the other titans of American history. Perhaps the most famous man ever born in frosty Minnesota, Robert Zimmerman came into this worldRead More Bob Dylan Essay3671 Words   |  15 PagesBob Dylan When I was fifteen and I heard Like a Rolling Stone, I heard a guy like Ive never heard before or since. A guy that had the guts to take on the whole world and make me feel like I had em too... - Bruce Springsteen The Grammy Awards ceremony in 1991 was not all that different from those which preceded it. A crowded auditorium littered with the beautiful people of Hollywood and the music industry once again gathered in Los Angeles to honor the years most popular recordingRead MoreBob Dylans Impact on Popular Music1013 Words   |  5 PagesBob Dylan is a man that needs no introduction, He was a poet with a guitar who brought poetic interest back to the younger generations. Born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24th 1941, no one saw him coming. Dylan started his music career upon dropping out of college and moving to New York, After reading his musical icon, Woody Guthries partially fictionalized autobiography, â€Å"Bound for Glory†, where he changed his name and began performing in Greenwich emulating his idol. He was given a 5 year contractRead MoreHow Media Has Shaped The Ages Through Music1273 Words   |  6 Pagesand significance of music in shaping the ages is primarily attributed to the fact that it represents more than entertainment as it has spoken for generations and exemplified belief systems. Generally, music has had a tremendous relationship to and impact on social movements in every decade from the 1960s through 2000-2010. Music has been used as a means of exemplifying the mood of the decade in terms of high profile events or movements that took place in the respective decade. Music through the Decades:Read MoreThe Evolution Of Folk Rock1543 Words   |  7 PagesFolk Rock, 1964-1967 Throughout the 1960’s Folk contributed to, and benefited from, the evolution of rock as a whole and eventually bolstered an American response to the British Invasion. Humble and politically potent, the early Folk discography of Bob Dylan gained favor with a maturing audience while laying the groundwork for Folk Rock as a distinct subgenre. Though mildly successful in his own right, his songwriting inspired numerous covers by myriad groups inside and outside the genre, and of theseRead MorePop Culture Has Influenced The American Way1043 Words   |  5 PagesPop culture has always influenced the American way. In fact, there is a saying that politics is downstream from culture. What this means is that laws, policies, and guidelines that the government enforces are all influenced by what is being said and done in pop culture. It may be hard to see this example today, but there were certain parts in time where this idea could be easily seen. One of these eras was the 1960s. The 1960s was filled with turbulence. This is because of all of the significantRead MoreMusic s Influence On America1467 Words   |  6 Pagesfavorite part of the class was learning about the history of American music and how it influenced culture. One could argue that culture affected music first, or vice versa. In my opinion, there are cases where both scenarios played out. In this paper, I will combine my thoughts with many of the details that we learned in class to show that sometimes music impacted culture first, and other times culture impacted music. Pre-1900’s It is difficult to talk about music in America without quickly summarizingRead More The Influence of Protest Music during the 1960’s And Beyond Essay examples3816 Words   |  16 Pagesa popular form of art known as protest music, which responded to the social turmoil of that era, from the civil rights movement to the war in Vietnam. A veritable pantheon of musicians, such as Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, Joan Baez, and Bob Dylan sang their songs to encourage union organizers to protest the inequities of their time, creating a diverse variety of popular protest music, which has reached out to the youthful generations everywhere demanding for a revolutionary change. TheRead More Black Music and the Civil Rights Movement Essay3856 Words   |  16 Pagesinto white mainstream pop culture almost overnight. The breakthrough of Elvis happening almost simultaneously with the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement was no accident. As any scholar of the humanities would tell yo u that often times after a great war there exists a time of enlightenment, prosperity and reformation. One such cultural revival took place in this nation after the closing of the Second World War. The progressive thought of the ‘50s nurtured new ideas and cultures including the CivilRead MoreMusic Is An Art, Music, And Music1494 Words   |  6 Pagesmessage to making a lasting impact on music and change music in the future. In this paper I will be talking about a few of those iconic artists, how they have been influenced by major social and cultural changes during their careers and how their music has reflected that. Throughout our history, politics and music have intermingled. Artists have used their power of fame to be the soundtrack for movements of change in our society. When I think about an artist who has made an impact on rock roll or music

Ninety-Five Theses Paper Free Essays

During the earlier years of Christianity, at a time when most Catholic leaders were focused on political values rather than spiritual values, people would pay money for indulgences in order to remove the temporal punishments attached to their sins. Michael Mullet’s non-fiction work Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses studies the roots of the Protestant Reformation by giving detailed background information on Martin Luther and how Luther contributed to a religious revolution which would change the way of Christian life. Martin Luther’s work allowed people to question their faith and gave people the courage to open their own churches even in the face of powerful Catholic leaders. We will write a custom essay sample on Ninety-Five Theses Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now By looking at how Luther interpreted ancient religious scriptures in order to understand God, we are able to see how he transformed into one of the greatest theologians in history and â€Å"broke the hold of the Catholic Church over Europe† (Mullet, 2003, p. 46) One of Luther’s first major steps into following his beliefs was defying his father’s ishes for his son to become a lawyer and instead Luther became an augustinian monk. Luther was not Just simply being rebellious, but rather was driven by spiritual turmoil when comprehending God and his teachings which led Luther to immerse himself in his studies regarding the sacred texts. Through years of internal conflict and searching for religious purpose Luther was able to reach enlightenment by interpreting God’s Judgment as something that should not be feared when faith alone is what brought you salvation. So when he witnessed papal indulgences he ungracefully nailed his 95 Theses to the door of a church arguing against the sales of indulgences which intimidated the church with bold statements that questioned their and God’s power. Martin Luther’s 95 Theses quickly grew into something more than Just a debate between powers and spread throughout Europe with the help of the printing press. The church was incapable of ignoring Luther’s sharp statements and it seemed Luther made no hesitation to push back against authority if he was given the chance. The papal authority could not allow Luther to continue threatening their standing in power and ultimately branded Luther as a heretic and banished him from the Holy Roman Empire. Luther was able to hide in a castle with the help of his friends and once in solitude he was able to translate the New Testament into German for the public to read and interpret on their own. Martin Luther’s courage to stand up against the Catholic church gave others the strength to choose and question religion, but peace among the new churches and the Catholic churches would not exist ithout the shed of blood and powerful claims. Martin Luther’s concept of God arose from his deep anxiety and is described by Michael Mullet in his book Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses as â€Å"sinners won acceptance from the God the Father – were ‘Justified’ – not actively, through their good deeds, but passively and simply by taitn r st na died on the Cross to save them† (p. 47). Luther gave us the power to break the holy chains binding people to their faith and explore a world without limitations. Dr. David Powlison – On Martin Luther’s first of the 95 Theses says that Martin Luther’s teachings can help us not only understand god but ourselves and others as well. The moment when a person truly reaches enlightenment is when he/she is able to grasp the realization that every single person in your life is real and alive as you are. That these people are not Just wondering faces but actual people like yourself with families and futures of their own. This sonder is what Martin Luther was trying to accomplish in his work along with sharing his interpretation of God’s sacred texts. How to cite Ninety-Five Theses Paper, Papers

Strategic Integrated Marketing Communications

Question: Discuss about the Strategic Integrated Marketing Communications. Answer: Introduction: Schwinn Bicycle Company was one of the earliest bicycle manufacturers in the world. It was incorporated by Ignaz Schwinn and his financial associate Adolph Arnold. After twenty years of its inception, the company became a leader in the industry owing to the technology and superior quality that they offered but the company was not able to grasp the changing demand of the consumers which was shifting from an ordinary cycle to a BMX and mountain bikes that resulted in decline of its sales. Furthermore, the tough competition from the competitors of Europe and Japan on technological front hampered the companys sales to a great extent and led them towards bankruptcy (Karwatka, 2014). Based on the case study of Schwinn, the following factors can be highlighted as lesson that other companies from various industries can avoid while operating and to sustain in the long run of their business: Consumer Behavior: Arnold, Schwinn and Company was a dominant player in the field of bicycle manufacturing. It achieved success through its product Sting-Ray which had some unique features like banana seat, high-rise handles, which was a huge hit in the early 1960s. The companys sales began to decline in the 1970s as the company was less focused on identifying the changing consumer behavior which was moving away from a normal bicycle to road racing and touring bicycles (Solomon, 2014). Lack of Research and Development: Moreover, the company did not emphasize on its research and development due to which it failed to develop products for the BMX market and it also overlooked the immensely growing mountain biking craze. Despite tough competition from the manufacturers of the Europe and Japan who consistently upgraded their technology and adopted new techniques through involvement in various professional bicycle races, Schwinn produced heavy and old-fashioned bicycles compared to the light-weight and trendy bicycles produced by other manufacturers (Christensen, 2013). Extensive Investment: Further, Schwinn chose China and Taiwan for producing bicycles at competitive prices. Despite the fact that the suppliers produced high quality products at competitive prices, some unfortunate sourcing choices resulted in supply deficit, furious retailers and diminishing customers base which further resulted in decline of its market share from 25% in 1950s to 5% in 1992 before it went bankrupt. Further the company infused substantial amount of investment for training its employees in China after introducing its own manufacturing practices, though it enabled them to achieve high quality at lower cost but they still failed to sustain in the long run and became less competitive (Karwatka, 2014). Following steps can be undertaken by the companies to strengthen their competitive position: Innovation: The companies that are facing similar situations like Schwinn should make substantial investment in its product innovation and develop products that could create a competitive advantage for the company (Tassey, 2012). Research and Development: In the current era, where technology is the main weapon to gain a competitive advantage, the companies should aim on improving its technological competence on a continuous basis to stay updated with the latest technology. Further, the companies should look out for new and innovative trends and more importantly they should patent their technology to protect it against piracy and plagiarism (Tassey, 2012). Pricing: The companies should aim at becoming a low-cost manufacturer, which would enable them to give a tough competition to small businesses and discourage competition by offering prices which the competitors might not be capable of matching. If the companies are able to maintain their quality while offering economical product, then it would strengthen the competitive advantage further (Hollensen, 2015). Understanding Consumer Behavior: Evaluating and analyzing consumer behavior on a continuous basis would help the companies in drawing a deep insight into the changing pattern in the needs and demands of the consumers and develop products that would meet their demands accordingly (Solomon, 2014). The international strategies and essential components of global strategy applied in the case study are discussed below: Outsourcing: The Schwinn Cycle Company went on to partner with low-cost manufacturers in the developing countries like Taiwan and China for due to the low wages of the labor. The company interviewed numerous prospective suppliers and secured the best into a long term agreement for manufacturing its products. The company then reconstructed its function to execute the final assembly and quality assessment in United States (Ivanov, Tsipoulanidis Schnberger, J. (2017). Local Manufacturing: The company soon started its own manufacturing plant in China. It implemented its own production techniques and trained its employees in China which helped them in achieving economies of scale and superior quality at comparatively lower price. The company continuously expanded its operations in China and very soon began to sell both high-end as well as low-end bicycles in the Chinese market. It also developed some cycles for the luxury segment which further helped the company to grow further (Ivanov, Tsipoulanidis Schnberger, J. (2017). Global Expansion: The company expanded its operations on a global level by setting up latest facilities in Brazil and Europe. It was done with the intention of meeting the growing demand for the cycles in the European countries as well as to give competition to the local manufacturers based in Europe and the Japanese manufacturers who sold their products in the European market. Initially the company was flourishing at very fast pace but suddenly it began to decline and lost its market share drastically. The decline in business was due to lack of research and development done by the company. The company rarely took into consideration the changing behavior of the consumers and the advanced technology used by the European and Japanese manufacturers gave the company a stiff competition on technological ground (Trapczynski Wrona, 2013).International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) can adopt the following strategies to differentiate its products from its competitors and position with core ba se consumer product companies: Focus on Core Values: The company should focus on its core value of producing scents by using organic substances instead of artificial or chemical based agents which would make the companys products stand out against its competitors(Kim Wang, 2014). Product Innovation: The company which gives a greater emphasis on product innovation is always ahead in the competition. When some additional functions or features are attached to particular product, the company can demand a higher price or can defend its current price. The company can add features to its existing product through its own product development unit or by giving permit to other company to add some features. Some companies consider product innovation as their core business strategy (Becerra, Santal Silva, 2013). Packaging: Sometimes, everything it takes to rejuvenate and differentiate a product from the competitors is by changing the product packaging. The company can look for innovative techniques to create an appealing product packaging that can easily attract the customers towards it. Niche Marketing: The company should aim to sell its products in the niche market. As the company specializes in manufacturing fragrances including colognes and perfumes for end consumers, it can target the group of people who are fond of such products (Chun, 2015). Competitive Pricing: The company should adopt a competitive pricing strategy to gain an upper hand over its closest competitors. For that the company needs to make an analysis on the cost of manufacturing its products, customer analysis, competitors analysis, market research as well as SWOT analysis. The price should be such that it recovers all the costs included in manufacturing, advertising, shipping and many others. Value Addition: One of the most important factors that all companies take into consideration while differentiating their products in the current price motivated and products/services market is value addition to the product or service on the offering. Assuming that the company aims to sell its product through it official website as online shopping is the latest norm, it can create a value addition to its product by availing free home delivery of the product, free gift coupons. Further, the company can offer distinctive incentive schemes like money back guarantee or free membership as the customers these days always look for little additional push towards buying a product (Stark, 2015). The company should definitely invest in marketing communication strategy that seeks to establish its identity among the consumers. Integrated marketing communication has become an integral part of every business. Companies that uses integrated marketing communications focuses on creating a uniform message through all channels it uses, which lowers the marketing cost of the company. Further, this kind of marketing strategy makes contact with greater mass of audience due to the multiplicity. Below are the numerous benefits that the company can derive by investing into marketing communication strategy: Competitive Advantage: The company that invests in integrated marketing communication has a competitive advantage over its competitors as the marketing communication strategy helps the company to advertise and promote its brand to a larger audience (Blakeman, 2014). Reduced Advertising and Marketing Costs: While a company invests in developing a marketing communication strategy, it also reduces it advertising and marketing costs as they aim to deliver a uniform message through all the channels they select for the communication. Greater Reach: Integrated marketing communication strategy gives the company an advantage of reaching to a greater audience. For example: the company has its own Youtube channel where it launches all its latest commercials, it would reach a greater audience due to wide coverage of the internet across the world. Further, the company can promote its products through various social networking and micro-blogging sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat (Castronovo Huang, 2012). Improved Public Relations: Integrated marketing communication strategy gives the companies to enhance their public relations and escalate its public image through continuous engagement with the customers through direct interactions. Creates Brand and Product Awareness: Marketing communication strategy helps a company helps in creating the brand and product awareness through various methods of marketing its products like direct selling, sales promotion, advertising (Percy, 2014). Boost Liking towards the Products: Marketing communication strategy helps in encouraging the targeted customers towards liking the products of the company over the competitors products. Product Trials: When a product is promoted through aggressive advertising and sales promotion, it encourages prospective new customers to try the products and thus the objective of attracting new customers is pursued by the company (Percy, 2014). Identify Consumer Behavior: Integrated marketing communication strategy not just helps the company in establishing its products in the market but it also helps in evaluating the changing behavior of the consumers and the changing pattern in the buying behavior of the consumers. Through assessment and analysis of consumer behavior, the company can develop products that would meet the changing demand of the existing customers as well as prospective new customers (Solomon, 2014). References Becerra, M., Santal, J., Silva, R. (2013). Being better vs. being different: Differentiation, competition, and pricing strategies in the Spanish hotel industry.Tourism Management,34, 71-79. Blakeman, R. (2014).Integrated marketing communication: creative strategy from idea to implementation. Rowman Littlefield. Castronovo, C., Huang, L. (2012). Social media in an alternative marketing communication model.Journal of Marketing Development and Competitiveness,6(1), 117. Christensen, C. (2013).The innovator's dilemma: when new technologies cause great firms to fail. Harvard Business Review Press. Chun, S. C. (2015). Niche Marketing.The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Consumption and Consumer Studies. Hollensen, S. (2015).Marketing management: A relationship approach. Pearson Education. Ivanov, D., Tsipoulanidis, A., Schnberger, J. (2017). Basics of Supply Chain and Operations Management. InGlobal Supply Chain and Operations Management(pp. 1-14). Springer International Publishing. Karwatka, D. (2014). Ignaz Schwinn and His Bicycle Company.Tech Directions,74(4), 10. Kim, M., Wang, I. K. (2014). Dynamic product differentiation strategies: An examination of the interplay of firm and industry characteristics.Technology Analysis Strategic Management,26(8), 959-983. Percy, L. (2014).Strategic integrated marketing communications. Routledge. Solomon, M. R. (2014).Consumer behavior: Buying, having, and being. Engelwood Cliffs, NJ: prentice Hall. Stark, J. (2015). Product lifecycle management. InProduct Lifecycle Management(pp. 1-29). Springer International Publishing. Tassey, G. (2012).Technology infrastructure and competitive position. Springer Science Business Media. Trapczynski, P., Wrona, T. (2013). From going international to being international-strategies for international competitiveness1.The Poznan University of Economics Review,13(1), 89.

Why The North Won The Civil War Essays (2763 words) -

Why the North won the Civil War "You Are Bound to Fail." Union officer William Tecumseh Sherman to a Southern friend: In all history, no nation of mere agriculturists ever made successful war against a nation of mechanics. . .. You are bound to fail. (Catton, Glory Road 241) The American antebellum South, though steeped in pride and raised in military tradition, was to be no match for the burgeoning superiority of the rapidly developing North in the coming Civil War. The lack of emphasis on manufacturing and commercial interest, stemming from the Southern desire to preserve their traditional agrarian society, surrendered to the North their ability to function independently, much less to wage war. It was neither Northern troops nor generals that won the Civil War, rather Northern guns and industry. From the onset of war, the Union had obvious advantages. Quite simply, the North had large amounts of just about everything that the South did not, boasting resources that the Confederacy had even no means of attaining (See Appendices, Brinkley et al. 415). Sheer manpower ratios were unbelievably one-sided, with only nine of the nation's 31 million inhabitants residing in the seceding states (Angle 7). The Union also had large amounts of land available for growing food crops which served the dual purpose of providing food for its hungry soldiers and money for its ever-growing industries. The South, on the other hand, devoted most of what arable land it had exclusively to its main cash crop: cotton (Catton, The Coming Fury 38). Raw materials were almost entirely concentrated in Northern mines and refining industries. Railroads and telegraph lines, the veritable lifelines of any army, traced paths all across the Northern countryside but left the South isolated, outdated, and starving (See Appendices). The final death knell for a modern South developed in the form of economic colonialism. The Confederates were all too willing to sell what little raw materials they possessed to Northern Industry for any profit they could get. Little did they know, "King Cotton" could buy them time, but not the war. The South had bartered something that perhaps it had not intended: its independence (Catton, Reflections 143). The North's ever-growing industry was an important supplement to its economical dominance of the South. Between the years of 1840 and 1860, American industry saw sharp and steady growth. In 1840 the total value of goods manufactured in the United States stood at $483 million, increasing over fourfold by 1860 to just under $2 billion, with the North taking the king's ransom (Brinkley et al. 312). The underlying reason behind this dramatic expansion can be traced directly to the American Industrial Revolution. Beginning in the early 1800s, traces of the industrial revolution in England began to bleed into several aspects of the American society. One of the first industries to see quick development was the textile industry, but, thanks to the British government, this development almost never came to pass. Years earlier, England's James Watt had developed the first successful steam engine. This invention, coupled with the birth of James Hargreaves' spinning jenny, completely revolutionized the British textile industry, and eventually made it the most profitable in the world ("Industrial Revolution"). The British government, parsimonious with its newfound knowledge of machinery, attempted to protect the nation's manufacturing preeminence by preventing the export of textile machinery and even the emigration of skilled mechanics. Despite valiant attempts at deterrence, though, many immigrants managed to make their way into the United States with the advanced knowledge of English technology, and they were anxious to acquaint America with the new machines (Furnas 303). And acquaint the Americans they did: more specifically, New England Americans. It was people like Samuel Slater who can be credited with beginning the revolution of the textile industry in America. A skilled mechanic in England, Slater spent long hours studying the schematics for the spinning jenny until finally he no longer needed them. He emigrated to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and there, together with a Quaker merchant by the name of Moses Brown, he built a spinning jenny from memory (Furnas 303). This meager mill would later become known as the first modern factory in America. It would also become known as the point at which the North began its economic domination of the Confederacy. Although slow to accept change, The South was not entirely unaffected by the onset of the Industrial Revolution. Another inventor by the name of Eli Whitney set out in 1793 to revolutionize the Southern cotton industry. Whitney was working as a tutor for a plantation owner in Georgia (he was also, ironically, born and raised in New England)

What Is Fiat Money

What Is Fiat Money Fiat money is a currency established as money by government law. The term is a derivation from a Latin word fiat (let it become) used in the sense of an order or decree. It differs from commodity money and representative money. Fiat money is a currency established as money by government law. The term a derivation from a Latin word fiat (let it become) used in the sense of an order or decree. It differs from commodity money and representative money. Commodity money is created from a good, often a precious metal such as gold or silver, which has uses other than as a medium of exchange, while representative money simply represents a claim on such a good. The simplest definition of fiat money is:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Money that exists because a government says so. MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO AROUND Historically, most money was based on some commodity such as gold, silver, or other important goods, and had a value which could be expressed in terms of some amount of that commodity. Fiat money, by comparison, has no intrinsic value; its value is based on faith in the issuing government. How Fiat Money Works Fiat money is essentially a form of credit. When a government declares a currency to be legal tender, that means it can be exchanged for goods or services equivalent to the value of the currency, and the credit comes in the form of the assurance to the seller of the goods or services that the currency can be exchanged for further goods or services. From a purely theoretical perspective, fiat money reverses the relationship of prices and currency value. With commodity-based currency, one unit of currency is equal to some quantity X of a backing commodity. The price of a cheeseburger (or other product or service) is an equivalent value of some quantity of the same commodity, expressed in terms of units of the currency: So in other words, $1 might be worth 1/1000 ounce of gold, and a cheeseburger – after the maker of the cheeseburger considers his costs to make it, the amount of profit he must make, and what he thinks his market will be willing to pay for it – might be worth 3/1000 of an ounce of gold, which makes the cheeseburger worth $3. The backing commodity is what actually serves as the money, with the coins or paper bills simply representing a sort of â€Å"IOU† for a particular amount of it. HOW TO SAVE MONEY IN COLLEGE? With fiat currency, there is no backing commodity to serve as a common frame of reference, so the value of the currency is expressed in terms of the goods and services purchased with it: This is fine, of course, as long as everyone agrees that the currency represents a certain value. When the cheeseburger maker is reasonably certain that the $3 he charges for it will cover the costs of its production plus provide him a profit, then $1 is worth one-third of a cheeseburger. In turn, his suppliers must be reasonably certain that what he pays for the bun, meat, cheese, condiments, and gas or electric needed to cook it will cover their costs plus a profit, and so on. If confidence in the assumed value of the currency is lost at some point in the whole complex value chain that exists between wheat seeds, cow embryos, and the customer standing at the fast-food counter, the fragile system begins to break down, which we usually experience as price inflation. Are There Any Advantages of Fiat Money? Fiat money is a Keynesian economic concept, so the debate among economists about whether or not it’s a good idea, unfortunately, has a distinctly unhelpful sectarian tone to it. From the purely Keynesian perspective, fiat money provides the government a means to control prices – and by extension, consumption and production – by controlling the money supply. The more money available, the less each unit of money is worth, so prices inflate; remove money from the system and the unit value decreases, thus deflating prices. This is the basic idea behind â€Å"quantitative easing†; the government prints more money to encourage lending by banks and spending by businesses and consumers. If done properly, injecting money into the financial system should hypothetically boost lending and spending enough to increase production, which compensates for the inflation in prices caused by the availability of more money. Commodity-backed currency, on the other hand, cannot be so easily managed because the amount of money is determined by the reserves of the backing commodity, usually gold, and by the price at which that commodity is being traded. Price inflation and deflation in a commodity-backed system are caused by fluctuations in the price of the commodity. For example, let’s say Country A has a reserve of one million ounces of gold and sets the value of its currency (the A$) at 1 A$ = 1/100 ounce of gold when the price of gold is 100 A$ per ounce. As the price of gold changes, the real value of the currency changes, resulting in inflation or deflation: The price of Gold Value of 1,000,000 oz. Gold Reserve Amount of Currency Value of 1 A$ Inflation/Deflation Rate 100 A$ 100 million A$ 100 million A$ 1 A$ +/- 0% 105 A$ 105 million A$ 100 million A$ 1.05 A$ -5% (deflation; 1.05 A$ worth of goods are worth only 1 A$) 98 A$ 98 million A$ 100 million A$ 0.98 A$ +2% (inflation; 1 A$ only buys 0.98 A$ worth of goods) The government can moderate inflation/deflation by either increasing or decreasing the money supply as needed to match the value of reserves, or by buying or selling the reserves themselves. Because of the value of commodities changes rather quickly, and because adjusting either the money supply or a number of reserves also affects the price of the commodity, managing prices in a commodity-backed currency system is much more difficult than it is in a fiat money system. The biggest problem with the Keynesian point of view towards fiat money is that the verdict of history is rather clear that fiat money systems are ultimately catastrophic. One of the earliest examples is the long collapse of Roman currency between 0 and 244 A.D., where â€Å"fiat money† took the form of progressively reduced proportions of silver in Roman denarii coins. In 11th-century China, a shortage of copper for coins led to the issuance of one of the world’s first paper currencies, which devalued quickly as more and more were issued (and in all likelihood, widely counterfeited). Three times in French history – after the death of Louis XIV in 1715, after the French Revolution in 1789, and during the Great Depression in the 1930’s – fiat currency was issued, rapidly over-supplied, and collapsed due to hyperinflation. Germany’s post-WW I Weimar Republic, the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, Mexico’s â€Å"Tequila Hangover† in 1994, the severe devaluation of the Russian ruble in 1998, the Argentine financial crisis of 1999-2002, and the almost unfathomable hyperinflation in Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe are also examples of financial calamities brought on, one way or another, by the use of fiat money.

5 Gore Movies That Are Not For The Weak Hearted

5 Gore Movies That Are Not For The Weak Hearted Sitting in a dark theatre with a big screen and great sound may not be always fun. How do you feel watching tongues slashed with surgical knives, the human stomach spilled wide open as if someone is demonstrating the human anatomy and eyeballs rolling out on the floor? The grotesque movies often portray the hidden beasts in humans. If you are weak hearted, watching bucketloads of blood may churn your stomach. Here are 5 films that can take you through gruesome gore rides. Evil Dead A ‘scarefest’ that centers around a terrifying trip undertaken by 5 friends who stumble upon the ‘Book of the Dead’ and play an audiotape of demon-summoning chants accidentally. The gore is painful to the eyes and it can make you cringe. This cult classic, originally made in 1983, was remade in 2013. Both the films were rated NC-17. Ichi The Killer The mayhem portrayed in the movie may be tough to deal with. This Japanese crime movie portrays a psychopath who is manipulated into killing rivals of Yakuza gang. The graphic depictions of cruelty and gore scenes led to this movie being banned in several countries. The director, Takashi Miike, looks out for opportunities to dish out manga-style violence and sexulaity be it Ichi masturbating watching a pimp assaulting a prostitute or Kakihara torturing Suzuki by suspending him from ceiling with giant hooks. Cannibal Holocaust This is a gruesome movie that depicts the concept of cannibalism. The plot is revolves around a lost film-making crew that are abused and murdered by the cannibal Yacumo tribes of the Amazons while shooting a documentary on them. But as the story progresses, the evil intentions of the film crew is surfaced which leave the viewers to think who the real cannibals are. The civilized crew members torture and abuse the natives just to get the perfect shot for their movie who in turn just fight back to protect themselves. This Italian flick was from the perspective of a man who was a part of the rescue team sent to retrieve the film crew and the lost camera footage. Hostel This horror trilogy is full of brutality and bloodshed. Though the characters are different but each part of the ‘Hostel’ trilogy revolves around slaying, killing and decapitating and are some of the scariest and goriest movies of all time. The first part is about two college students who are entrapped in a hostel and are preyed upon by â€Å"The Elite Hunting Club† that tortures and slays the tourists for rich elites. The second and third part of the series also gives vivid graphic description of torturing of the backpackers by the club and mere survival of one of the many personae. The movie series by Eli Roth had a good box office collection despite being opposed to theatrical release because of the violent scenes. Saw Though known as ‘torture porn’ by the critics the series of movies were a financial success in the box office. Saw is known to be the best of horror franchise consisting of eight feature films released every year on Friday before Halloweens, from 2004 to 2010. In Saw VII (2010), the scene where Lawrence saws off his foot using a chain cutting saw is disturbing and can give you nightmares. The story revolves around a man who sets up tests for his random victims to account the will of survival through physical and psychological torments. After separating from his wife and grieving over his dead unborn baby, John is detected to be suffering from inoperable cancer and is dying. So, he plays games with people invading both physical and emotional pain in them, without direct killing. He gives them a chance of survival and the one failing the test lose their lives. He cut-out a piece of flesh in the shape of a missing jigsaw piece from the dead victim, hence attaining the name ‘Jigsaw’. These are some of the all-time bests of movies in the ‘horror’ and ‘crime’ genre that can send a chill down your spines. So, watch them at your own risk!

Era of Totalitarianism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Era of Totalitarianism - Essay Example All these totalitarian regimes consequently took monumental toll, with millions of people perishing and suffering under the insistence of the political party in power to regulate and dictate all facets of economic, social and even spiritual aspects of human existence. The mobilizing power of the totalitarian regimes, their ability to foster mass movements was based on extreme interpretations of the ideologies of Marx and Nietzsche. Both Marx and Nietzsche lived during a time in the 19th century when science was on the rise and religion was on a decline as the guidepost in matters of human progress and direction. The inward aspects of human existence, the spiritual aspects were seemingly irrelevant with the unprecedented economic progress as can be seen in the West, that was albeit accompanied by the marginalization of certain sectors of society (the toiling, labor classes of Marx) as well as corruption and decadence (the nihilism, the weaknesses engendered by the Christian religion1) as observed by Nietzsche. Both philosophers stressed the ability of mankind to change their reality, Marx in his deterministic belief that the workers rise to power is inevitable and in Nietzsche's trumpeting of the morality of the master over the slave. The historical determinism of Marx and the infinite call to power of the individual with no boundaries in Nietzsche's ideas were potent brews that combined to foster the totalitar ian regimes of the 20th century. Marx, whose ideas led to left-wing totalitarianism turned Hegel's dialectics on its head, converting the latter's predominance of ideas over reality to that of the material determining ideas of reality. For Marx, man is determined by his material or economic needs, forming superstructure for which social, moral and spiritual norms are erected. If mankind could take control of his economic life, and revolutionize it so that the workers will own the fruits of their labor, then all the other aspects of life could be wiped out clean, with oppressive relations disappearing and the mankind living in communal bliss. Far from blissful, the followers of Marx took cue on the deterministic flavor of his ideology from which the communist party became rather an organ of repression of dissent and of oppression in the dogmatic insistence on the interpretation of what constitutes and what will constitute reality. Nietzsche's ideas on the will to power and master morality on the other hand, were the Nazis' ticket to avenge Germany's humiliation after World War I. Morally relativistic, Nietzsche on the one hand when seem in a good light enjoins man to freedom, the creation of what one sees as fit for his life, without the encumbrances of societal traditions. But if used by a group or party out for political power, it had the most fantastic consequences where a nation could be made to believe that one's race is superior and consequently others are inferior - with the resulting Holocaust that killed millions of Jews in the altar of Aryanism.

Film review of Lions for Lambs Movie Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Film of Lions for Lambs - Movie Review Example The movie, 'Lions for Lambs', starring Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep is a movie based on the deployment of the Army of United States in Afghanistan. The movie, apart from other things, talks about the strategy of war. The movie, most importantly, is a reflection on Ethics and Morality. This can be seen in many parts of the movie, in the form of situations, dialogues and characterization. Republican Senator Cruise calls in for journalist Streep, to cover his new war strategy on deploying the Army in Afghanistan, to keep the United States above Muslim upsurges. However, Meryl Streep, who has covered the Vietnamese war, is quite apprehensive about the information put forth by the Senator and refuses to cover the war announcement. This is one of the junctures, where a decision is made on the basis of ethics. The journalist certainly listens to the voice of her conscience and is guided by moral code, rather than the mere sensationalism of war. Two students from a California University decide to enroll themselves in the Army to fight the war for their country. This is because of their sheer responsibilities as citizens.

Converting Paper Records to a Computer Based Health Record Essay Example for Free

Converting Paper Records to a Computer Based Health Record Essay Traditional utilization of paper based medical records leads to the dispersion of clinical information as a result of the heterogeneous character of hospital systems. Due to this, the development of a clinical information system that can integrate hospital information as well as enable cooperation amongst legacy systems became a difficult task. System integration as well as the development of an efficient clinical information management system was thereby dependent upon the creation of conceptual and architectural tools that will enable such an integration. In line with this, many healthcare institutions are currently seeking to establish the integration of their workstations through the utilization of technological tools. Such tools are effective in the arrangement of clinical matters as well as in the arrangement of administrative and financial information. Clinical information systems are utilized by healthcare institutions in their integration of information. At this point, the utilization of electronic medical systems in healthcare delivery is evident in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Hong Kong, Canada, as well as Australia. The current shift from a human memory based paradigm to a technological paradigm can be traced to the recent emphasis given on health care quality improvement and cost reduction. In lieu of this, policymakers started to adopt health information technology such as the Electronic Medical Record (EMR). According to Tim Scott in Implementing an Electronic Medical Record System, most information regarding the use of EMR systems are derived from the Regenstrief Institute, Brigham and Womens Hospital, the Department of Veterans Affairs, LDS Hospital, and Kaiser Permanente. The information derived from the following medical institutions shows the following. First, success is dependent upon the organizational tools rather than on the type of technology used. Second, minimal changes were noted in terms of increase of quality and efficiency as a result of the system’s adaptation. Such findings thereby led to the slow adoption and implementation of EMR systems since majority of medical institutions as well as healthcare systems required the high verifiability of the systems utility. True enough, researches within these institutions also showed that EMR systems increase the quality of patient care as it decreases medical errors, however, the economic aspect regarding its use has not been well documented leaving most medical institutions adamant regarding its implementation. In lieu of this, the paper is divided into three parts. The first part will present the rationale behind the formation of the technology based medical paradigm. It will be formulated within the parameters of Thomas Kuhn’s conception of scientific revolutions. The second part present a discussion of the various EMR components and the problems encountered in its implementation at Kaiser. The last part, on the other hand, will concentrate on presenting possible solutions to the problems evident in the utilization of the EMR systems within the Kaiser program while giving specific emphasis on the role of the agent in successful implementation. Thomas Kuhn, in his work entitled The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, discusses the very nature and necessity of what he calls scientific revolutions. In this particular work, Kuhn sees an apparent parallelism between political revolutions on the one hand, and scientific revolutions on the other. Kuhn writes: â€Å"scientific revolutions†¦ (are) those non-cumulative developmental episodes in which an older paradigm is replaced in whole or in part by an incompatible new one† (2000, p. 50). On a preliminary note, paradigms are frameworks in and through which we approach phenomena, in general. They are models, so to speak. Naturally enough, different models employ different methodologies, different methodologies in turn, generate different types of knowledge, which, consequently, have different criteria of proof or validity. Scientific development, as Kuhn contends, may appropriately be characterized by paradigm shifts and this he calls scientific revolutions. It is important to note that scientific developments do not occur in a vacuum. For the aforementioned reason, there is a felt need to situate scientific developments in the historical context within which they are conceived, proposed and ultimately, institutionalized and integrated as part of society’s shared knowledge. This is to say that scientific revolutions are also proper objects of historical analysis and discourse in as much as political revolutions are. Kuhn contends that there is a parallelism between political and scientific revolutions. As pointed out earlier, it is important to note that he characterizes scientific revolutions as â€Å"those non-cumulative developmental episodes in which an older paradigm is replaced in whole or in part by an incompatible new one. † Kuhn’s characterization emphasizes two important points. First, â€Å"that there is a replacement of an old paradigm by a new one†. Second, â€Å"that the new paradigm is not merely something new; it is also incompatible with the old paradigm†. This is to say that the incompatibility or the irreconcilability of the new paradigm with the old paradigm serves as warrant for the necessity of such a revolution. Although there are significant differences in both scientific and political developments, Kuhn argues that one may be justified in using the notion of revolution as a metaphor for understanding them. He writes: Political revolutions are inaugurated by a growing sense, often restricted to a segment of the political community, that existing institutions have ceased adequately to meet the problems posed by the environment that they have in part created. In much the same way, scientific revolutions are inaugurated by a growing sense, again often restricted to a narrow subdivision of the scientific community that an existing paradigm has ceased to function adequately in the exploration of an aspect of nature to which that paradigm itself had previously led the way. (2000, p. 150) Kuhn’s parallelism is thus, founded on the idea that in both cases, a sense of malfunction (in our institutions as for the case of the political, and in our paradigms as for the case of the scientific) necessitates for the occurrence of a revolution. In relation to this, the shift from a human memory based paradigm to the technological paradigm may be likened to a revolutionary development within the field of medical data acquisition and retention. The difference between the human memory based paradigm as opposed to the technological paradigm stems from the ascription of greater subjectivity in relation to human memory based data as opposed to technologically maintained data. As was stated in the first part of the paper, the heterogeneous characteristic of medical institutions stems from the existence of various separate holistic systems within it. As a result of this, deriving and correlating clinical information becomes tedious. The main reason for this stems from human memory based paradigms utilization of paper based records which has a high probability of non-viability and unreliability. Examples of this are evident in evidence-based medicines non-adherence to the traditional methods of training and practice. Second, paper based records fall short of their original expectations. The objective of the healthcare record is to identify problems and to understand the impact of the illness on the individual thereby enabling the amelioration of the problem to the patients satisfaction, within the bounds of medical capabilities and society’s resource limitations(Simpson and Robinson, 2002, p. 115). The main limitation of the paper bound records, therefore, stem from their inability of being multiply accessible to members of society. On the other hand, Scott related the reasons for the development of a technology based paradigm with the high verifiability of the positive results of technologically determined medical care processes. According to Scott, new technologies make it possible to evaluate and intervene to improve care in ways not heretofore possible (2002, p. 2). In line with this, members of both the public and private sector lobby for the accessibility of technological improvements. For the members of the private sector, this is due to the inclusion of the medical industry within the business sphere. For the members of the public sector, on the hand, demands for greater accountability for health care stems from the prevailing belief that technological advancements must be made accessible to the general public. According to the IOM, information technologys role in the substantial improvement of the redesign of the healthcare system is important since it ensures the formation of a strong infrastructure in supporting efforts to reengineer care processes oordinate patient care across clinicians and settings and overtime, support multidisciplinary team functioning, and facilitate performance and outcome measurement for improvement and accountability (qtd in Scott, 2002, p. 4). The results of the success of the EMR are traceable to the developments within the field of e-Health. According to Silber, EMR serves as the fundamental building block for the development of va rious applications such as the use of ICT by the Primary Health Care Team. Others involve the use of ERM for validation of research or as an instrument in Continuing Medical Education. Information necessary for the functions ascribed above, in relation to the personal health record, are possible since the health record’s functionality enables the inclusion of the following: practitioner order entry, electronic patient record, document management, clinical decision support, administrative data, integrated communication support, as well as access to knowledge and resources. According to Raymonds and Dolds, the functions of each component are as follows. The electronic patient record presents the patients history. Document management, on the other hand contains the actions undertaken in relation to the patients diagnosis. Clinical decision support as compared to the later contains the alerts based on current data from the electronic medical record, evidence based practical guidelines or more complex artificial intelligence systems for diagnostic support†. Access to administrative related information such as admission and discharge are contained within the section encompassing administrative data. Integrated communication support however provides the tools for the facilitation of effective and efficient communication amongst members of the patients health team. The last part enables access to other sources of information regarding the patients condition (Scott, 2007, p. 4). The Kaiser Permanente EMR implementation presented one of the main problems in relation to the utilization of the components of the technologically based paradigm. It was recognized that the problems arose due to several factors which range from the software’s lack of efficiency up to the non adherence of specific qualities of the program with the social conditions in the region as well as the team’s lack of background in relation to the efficiency the program necessitates with regards to the division of the work flow as well as its dependence upon all the players within the medical institutions that the program was implemented. Scott however stated that what should be given credence with regards to the above failed project is not so much as the failure of the program but the possibilities it opened in relation to the creation and implementation of new EMR programs in the future. Scott states, success and failure are socially negotiable judgments, not static categories† (2007, p. 43). Hence if such is the case it is thereby possible to conceive of the problems noted by Hartswood et al (2003) in relation to the user-led characteristic of EMR. The social negotiability of judgments thereby ensures the possibility of reversals in judgments as soon as occasions arise wherein a perceived failure may be reconnected with an overall success. In line with this, the continuous developments within the various EMR systems produced and implemented within the country ensures the viability and possibility of a near success and perfection within the system which in a sense also ensures the possibility of another scientific revolution in the near future whose scope may extend beyond that of the technological sphere.

Free College Essays - Symbols of Her Crime in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

The Scarlet Letter - Two Symbols of Her Crime â€Å"It lies not in the pleasure of the magistrates to take off this badge,† calmly replied Hester. â€Å"Were I worthy to be quit of it, it would fall away of its own nature, or be transformed into something that should speak a different purport.† (163) Hester Prynne, the central character in the Scarlet Letter, realizes and accepts the consequences of the adulterous act she committed against her husband, Roger Chillingworth, as Hawthorne shows in this quotation. Hester, throughout the book, excludes and humbles herself because of her crime, rather than simply running away. At the same time, she advertises her sin through the brilliantly embroidered â€Å"A† and through her daughter, Pearl, born out of this sin. Hester realizes that she indeed sinned in committing adultery, and, being the strong individual that she is, accepts the consequences of her actions. In fact, much of the suffering incurred from Hester’s sin results from her own actions. She, by her own choice, wears humble, dismal clothes; she moves to the outskirts of her town, but refuses to run away to a place where no one knows of her crime; she excludes herself from society, while society does not always exclude her. Instead of escaping her crime, Hester embraces it. She declares, â€Å"It lies not in the pleasure of the magistrates to take off this badge... Were I worthy to be quit of it, it would fall away of its own nature, or be transformed into something that should speak a different purport,† realizing the crime she committed and the fairness of her punishment—the scarlet letter (163). Hester goes so far as to dwell upon the letter as a symbol of her guilt. The brilliant crimson â€Å"A† resides on her humbly clothed chest, making the letter stand out all the more; Pearl, the child of sin, runs beside her mother, dressed in spectacular clothing â€Å"abundantly embroidered with fantasies and flourishes of gold thread,† in effect, personifying that same symbol (102). In each case, Hester advertises the fact that she has sinned and that she is paying for her crime, again bring more suffering upon herself. And again, she accepts it. She realizes the letter should only be removed when she is no longer guilty of her crime. She knows, therefore, that day will never come. Society, however, thinks differently.

Angels Demons Chapter 51-54

51 BBC reporter Gunther Glick stared at the cell phone in his hand for ten seconds before he finally hung up. Chinita Macri studied him from the back of the van. â€Å"What happened? Who was that?† Glick turned, feeling like a child who had just received a Christmas gift he feared was not really for him. â€Å"I just got a tip. Something's going on inside the Vatican.† â€Å"It's called conclave,† Chinita said. â€Å"Helluva tip.† â€Å"No, something else.† Something big. He wondered if the story the caller had just told him could possibly be true. Glick felt ashamed when he realized he was praying it was. â€Å"What if I told you four cardinals have been kidnapped and are going to be murdered at different churches tonight.† â€Å"I'd say you're being hazed by someone at the office with a sick sense of humor.† â€Å"What if I told you we were going to be given the exact location of the first murder?† â€Å"I'd want to know who the hell you just talked to.† â€Å"He didn't say.† â€Å"Perhaps because he's full of shit?† Glick had come to expect Macri's cynicism, but what she was forgetting was that liars and lunatics had been Glick's business for almost a decade at the British Tattler. This caller had been neither. This man had been coldly sane. Logical. I will call you just before eight, the man had said, and tell you where the first killing will occur. The images you record will make you famous. When Glick had demanded why the caller was giving him this information, the answer had been as icy as the man's Mideastern accent. The media is the right arm of anarchy. â€Å"He told me something else too,† Glick said. â€Å"What? That Elvis Presley was just elected Pope?† â€Å"Dial into the BBC database, will you?† Glick's adrenaline was pumping now. â€Å"I want to see what other stories we've run on these guys.† â€Å"What guys?† â€Å"Indulge me.† Macri sighed and pulled up the connection to the BBC database. â€Å"This'll take a minute.† Glick's mind was swimming. â€Å"The caller was very intent to know if I had a cameraman.† â€Å"Videographer.† â€Å"And if we could transmit live.† â€Å"One point five three seven megahertz. What is this about?† The database beeped. â€Å"Okay, we're in. Who is it you're looking for?† Glick gave her the keyword. Macri turned and stared. â€Å"I sure as hell hope you're kidding.† 52 The internal organization of Archival Vault 10 was not as intuitive as Langdon had hoped, and the Diagramma manuscript did not appear to be located with other similar Galilean publications. Without access to the computerized Biblion and a reference locator, Langdon and Vittoria were stuck. â€Å"You're sure Diagramma is in here?† Vittoria asked. â€Å"Positive. It's a confirmed listing in both the Uficcio della Propaganda delle Fede – â€Å" â€Å"Fine. As long as you're sure.† She headed left, while he went right. Langdon began his manual search. He needed every bit of self-restraint not to stop and read every treasure he passed. The collection was staggering. The Assayer†¦ The Starry Messenger†¦ The Sunspot Letters†¦ Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina†¦ Apologia pro Galileo†¦ On and on. It was Vittoria who finally struck gold near the back of the vault. Her throaty voice called out, â€Å"Diagramma della Verita!† Langdon dashed through the crimson haze to join her. â€Å"Where?† Vittoria pointed, and Langdon immediately realized why they had not found it earlier. The manuscript was in a folio bin, not on the shelves. Folio bins were a common means of storing unbound pages. The label on the front of the container left no doubt about the contents. Diagramma Della Verita Galileo Galilei, 1639 Langdon dropped to his knees, his heart pounding. â€Å"Diagramma.† He gave her a grin. â€Å"Nice work. Help me pull out this bin.† Vittoria knelt beside him, and they heaved. The metal tray on which the bin was sitting rolled toward them on castors, revealing the top of the container. â€Å"No lock?† Vittoria said, sounding surprised at the simple latch. â€Å"Never. Documents sometimes need to be evacuated quickly. Floods and fires.† â€Å"So open it.† Langdon didn't need any encouragement. With his academic life's dream right in front of him and the thinning air in the chamber, he was in no mood to dawdle. He unsnapped the latch and lifted the lid. Inside, flat on the floor of the bin, lay a black, duck-cloth pouch. The cloth's breathability was critical to the preservation of its contents. Reaching in with both hands and keeping the pouch horizontal, Langdon lifted it out of the bin. â€Å"I expected a treasure chest,† Vittoria said. â€Å"Looks more like a pillowcase.† â€Å"Follow me,† he said. Holding the bag before him like a sacred offering, Langdon walked to the center of the vault where he found the customary glass-topped archival exam table. Although the central location was intended to minimize in-vault travel of documents, researchers appreciated the privacy the surrounding stacks afforded. Career-making discoveries were uncovered in the top vaults of the world, and most academics did not like rivals peering through the glass as they worked. Langdon lay the pouch on the table and unbuttoned the opening. Vittoria stood by. Rummaging through a tray of archivist tools, Langdon found the felt-pad pincers archivists called finger cymbals – oversized tweezers with flattened disks on each arm. As his excitement mounted, Langdon feared at any moment he might awake back in Cambridge with a pile of test papers to grade. Inhaling deeply, he opened the bag. Fingers trembling in their cotton gloves, he reached in with his tongs. â€Å"Relax,† Vittoria said. â€Å"It's paper, not plutonium.† Langdon slid the tongs around the stack of documents inside and was careful to apply even pressure. Then, rather than pulling out the documents, he held them in place while he slid off the bag – an archivist's procedure for minimizing torque on the artifact. Not until the bag was removed and Langdon had turned on the exam darklight beneath the table did he begin breathing again. Vittoria looked like a specter now, lit from below by the lamp beneath the glass. â€Å"Small sheets,† she said, her voice reverent. Langdon nodded. The stack of folios before them looked like loose pages from a small paperback novel. Langdon could see that the top sheet was an ornate pen and ink cover sheet with the title, the date, and Galileo's name in his own hand. In that instant, Langdon forgot the cramped quarters, forgot his exhaustion, forgot the horrifying situation that had brought him here. He simply stared in wonder. Close encounters with history always left Langdon numbed with reverence†¦ like seeing the brushstrokes on the Mona Lisa. The muted, yellow papyrus left no doubt in Langdon's mind as to its age and authenticity, but excluding the inevitable fading, the document was in superb condition. Slight bleaching of the pigment. Minor sundering and cohesion of the papyrus. But all in all†¦ in damn fine condition. He studied the ornate hand etching of the cover, his vision blurring in the lack of humidity. Vittoria was silent. â€Å"Hand me a spatula, please.† Langdon motioned beside Vittoria to a tray filled with stainless-steel archival tools. She handed it to him. Langdon took the tool in his hand. It was a good one. He ran his fingers across the face to remove any static charge and then, ever so carefully, slid the blade beneath the cover. Then, lifting the spatula, he turned over the cover sheet. The first page was written in longhand, the tiny, stylized calligraphy almost impossible to read. Langdon immediately noticed that there were no diagrams or numbers on the page. It was an essay. â€Å"Heliocentricity,† Vittoria said, translating the heading on folio one. She scanned the text. â€Å"Looks like Galileo renouncing the geocentric model once and for all. Ancient Italian, though, so no promises on the translation.† â€Å"Forget it,† Langdon said. â€Å"We're looking for math. The pure language.† He used the spatula tool to flip the next page. Another essay. No math or diagrams. Langdon's hands began to sweat inside his gloves. â€Å"Movement of the Planets,† Vittoria said, translating the title. Langdon frowned. On any other day, he would have been fascinated to read it; incredibly NASA's current model of planetary orbits, observed through high-powered telescopes, was supposedly almost identical to Galileo's original predictions. â€Å"No math,† Vittoria said. â€Å"He's talking about retrograde motions and elliptical orbits or something.† Elliptical orbits. Langdon recalled that much of Galileo's legal trouble had begun when he described planetary motion as elliptical. The Vatican exalted the perfection of the circle and insisted heavenly motion must be only circular. Galileo's Illuminati, however, saw perfection in the ellipse as well, revering the mathematical duality of its twin foci. The Illuminati's ellipse was prominent even today in modern Masonic tracing boards and footing inlays. â€Å"Next,† Vittoria said. Langdon flipped. â€Å"Lunar phases and tidal motion,† she said. â€Å"No numbers. No diagrams.† Langdon flipped again. Nothing. He kept flipping through a dozen or so pages. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. â€Å"I thought this guy was a mathematician,† Vittoria said. â€Å"This is all text.† Langdon felt the air in his lungs beginning to thin. His hopes were thinning too. The pile was waning. â€Å"Nothing here,† Vittoria said. â€Å"No math. A few dates, a few standard figures, but nothing that looks like it could be a clue.† Langdon flipped over the last folio and sighed. It, too, was an essay. â€Å"Short book,† Vittoria said, frowning. Langdon nodded. â€Å"Merda, as we say in Rome.† Shit is right, Langdon thought. His reflection in the glass seemed mocking, like the image staring back at him this morning from his bay window. An aging ghost. â€Å"There's got to be something,† he said, the hoarse desperation in his voice surprising him. â€Å"The segno is here somewhere. I know it!† â€Å"Maybe you were wrong about DIII?† Langdon turned and stared at her. â€Å"Okay,† she agreed, â€Å"DIII makes perfect sense. But maybe the clue isn't mathematical?† â€Å"Lingua pura. What else would it be?† â€Å"Art?† â€Å"Except there are no diagrams or pictures in the book.† â€Å"All I know is that lingua pura refers to something other than Italian. Math just seems logical.† â€Å"I agree.† Langdon refused to accept defeat so quickly. â€Å"The numbers must be written longhand. The math must be in words rather than equations.† â€Å"It'll take some time to read all the pages.† â€Å"Time's something we don't have. We'll have to split the work.† Langdon flipped the stack back over to the beginning. â€Å"I know enough Italian to spot numbers.† Using his spatula, he cut the stack like a deck of cards and lay the first half-dozen pages in front of Vittoria. â€Å"It's in here somewhere. I'm sure.† Vittoria reached down and flipped her first page by hand. â€Å"Spatula!† Langdon said, grabbing her an extra tool from the tray. â€Å"Use the spatula.† â€Å"I'm wearing gloves,† she grumbled. â€Å"How much damage could I cause?† â€Å"Just use it.† Vittoria picked up the spatula. â€Å"You feeling what I'm feeling?† â€Å"Tense?† â€Å"No. Short of breath.† Langdon was definitely starting to feel it too. The air was thinning faster than he had imagined. He knew they had to hurry. Archival conundrums were nothing new for him, but usually he had more than a few minutes to work them out. Without another word, Langdon bowed his head and began translating the first page in his stack. Show yourself, damn it! Show yourself! 53 Somewhere beneath Rome the dark figure prowled down a stone ramp into the underground tunnel. The ancient passageway was lit only by torches, making the air hot and thick. Up ahead the frightened voices of grown men called out in vain, echoing in the cramped spaces. As he rounded the corner he saw them, exactly as he had left them – four old men, terrified, sealed behind rusted iron bars in a stone cubicle. â€Å"Qui etes-vous?† one of the men demanded in French. â€Å"What do you want with us?† â€Å"Hilfe!† another said in German. â€Å"Let us go!† â€Å"Are you aware who we are?† one asked in English, his accent Spanish. â€Å"Silence,† the raspy voice commanded. There was a finality about the word. The fourth prisoner, an Italian, quiet and thoughtful, looked into the inky void of his captor's eyes and swore he saw hell itself. God help us, he thought. The killer checked his watch and then returned his gaze to the prisoners. â€Å"Now then,† he said. â€Å"Who will be first?† 54 Inside Archive Vault 10 Robert Langdon recited Italian numbers as he scanned the calligraphy before him. Mille†¦ centi†¦ uno, duo, tre†¦ cincuanta. I need a numerical reference! Anything, damnit! When he reached the end of his current folio, he lifted the spatula to flip the page. As he aligned the blade with the next page, he fumbled, having difficulty holding the tool steady. Minutes later, he looked down and realized he had abandoned his spatula and was turning pages by hand. Oops, he thought, feeling vaguely criminal. The lack of oxygen was affecting his inhibitions. Looks like I'll burn in archivist's hell. â€Å"About damn time,† Vittoria choked when she saw Langdon turning pages by hand. She dropped her spatula and followed suit. â€Å"Any luck?† Vittoria shook her head. â€Å"Nothing that looks purely mathematical. I'm skimming†¦ but none of this reads like a clue.† Langdon continued translating his folios with increasing difficulty. His Italian skills were rocky at best, and the tiny penmanship and archaic language was making it slow going. Vittoria reached the end of her stack before Langdon and looked disheartened as she flipped the pages back over. She hunkered down for another more intense inspection. When Langdon finished his final page, he cursed under his breath and looked over at Vittoria. She was scowling, squinting at something on one of her folios. â€Å"What is it?† he asked. Vittoria did not look up. â€Å"Did you have any footnotes on your pages?† â€Å"Not that I noticed. Why?† â€Å"This page has a footnote. It's obscured in a crease.† Langdon tried to see what she was looking at, but all he could make out was the page number in the upper right-hand corner of the sheet. Folio 5. It took a moment for the coincidence to register, and even when it did the connection seemed vague. Folio Five. Five, Pythagoras, pentagrams, Illuminati. Langdon wondered if the Illuminati would have chosen page five on which to hide their clue. Through the reddish fog surrounding them, Langdon sensed a tiny ray of hope. â€Å"Is the footnote mathematical?† Vittoria shook her head. â€Å"Text. One line. Very small printing. Almost illegible.† His hopes faded. â€Å"It's supposed to be math. Lingua pura.† â€Å"Yeah, I know.† She hesitated. â€Å"I think you'll want to hear this, though.† Langdon sensed excitement in her voice. â€Å"Go ahead.† Squinting at the folio, Vittoria read the line. â€Å"The path of light is laid, the sacred test.† The words were nothing like what Langdon had imagined. â€Å"I'm sorry?† Vittoria repeated the line. â€Å"The path of light is laid, the sacred test.† â€Å"Path of light?† Langdon felt his posture straightening. â€Å"That's what it says. Path of light.† As the words sank in, Langdon felt his delirium pierced by an instant of clarity. The path of light is laid, the sacred test. He had no idea how it helped them, but the line was as direct a reference to the Path of Illumination as he could imagine. Path of light. Sacred test. His head felt like an engine revving on bad fuel. â€Å"Are you sure of the translation?† Vittoria hesitated. â€Å"Actually†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She glanced over at him with a strange look. â€Å"It's not technically a translation. The line is written in English.† For an instant, Langdon thought the acoustics in the chamber had affected his hearing. â€Å"English?† Vittoria pushed the document over to him, and Langdon read the minuscule printing at the bottom of the page. â€Å"The path of light is laid, the sacred test. English? What is English doing in an Italian book?† Vittoria shrugged. She too was looking tipsy. â€Å"Maybe English is what they meant by the lingua pura? It's considered the international language of science. It's all we speak at CERN.† â€Å"But this was in the 1600s,† Langdon argued. â€Å"Nobody spoke English in Italy, not even – † He stopped short, realizing what he was about to say. â€Å"Not even†¦ the clergy.† Langdon's academic mind hummed in high gear. â€Å"In the 1600s,† he said, talking faster now, â€Å"English was one language the Vatican had not yet embraced. They dealt in Italian, Latin, German, even Spanish and French, but English was totally foreign inside the Vatican. They considered English a polluted, free-thinkers language for profane men like Chaucer and Shakespeare.† Langdon flashed suddenly on the Illuminati brands of Earth, Air, Fire, Water. The legend that the brands were in English now made a bizarre kind of sense. â€Å"So you're saying maybe Galileo considered English la lingua pura because it was the one language the Vatican did not control?† â€Å"Yes. Or maybe by putting the clue in English, Galileo was subtly restricting the readership away from the Vatican.† â€Å"But it's not even a clue,† Vittoria argued. â€Å"The path of light is laid, the sacred test? What the hell does that mean?† She's right, Langdon thought. The line didn't help in any way. But as he spoke the phrase again in his mind, a strange fact hit him. Now that's odd, he thought. What are the chances of that? â€Å"We need to get out of here,† Vittoria said, sounding hoarse. Langdon wasn't listening. The path of light is laid, the sacred test. â€Å"It's a damn line of iambic pentameter,† he said suddenly, counting the syllables again. â€Å"Five couplets of alternating stressed and unstressed syllables.† Vittoria looked lost. â€Å"Iambic who?† For an instant Langdon was back at Phillips Exeter Academy sitting in a Saturday morning English class. Hell on earth. The school baseball star, Peter Greer, was having trouble remembering the number of couplets necessary for a line of Shakespearean iambic pentameter. Their professor, an animated schoolmaster named Bissell, leapt onto the table and bellowed, â€Å"Penta-meter, Greer! Think of home plate! A penta-gon! Five sides! Penta! Penta! Penta! Jeeeesh!† Five couplets, Langdon thought. Each couplet, by definition, having two syllables. He could not believe in his entire career he had never made the connection. Iambic pentameter was a symmetrical meter based on the sacred Illuminati numbers of 5 and 2! You're reaching! Langdon told himself, trying to push it from his mind. A meaningless coincidence! But the thought stuck. Five†¦ for Pythagoras and the pentagram. Two†¦ for the duality of all things. A moment later, another realization sent a numbing sensation down his legs. Iambic pentameter, on account of its simplicity, was often called â€Å"pure verse† or â€Å"pure meter.† La lingua pura? Could this have been the pure language the Illuminati had been referring to? The path of light is laid, the sacred test†¦ â€Å"Uh oh,† Vittoria said. Langdon wheeled to see her rotating the folio upside down. He felt a knot in his gut. Not again. â€Å"There's no way that line is an ambigram!† â€Å"No, it's not an ambigram†¦ but it's†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She kept turning the document, 90 degrees at every turn. â€Å"It's what?† Vittoria looked up. â€Å"It's not the only line.† â€Å"There's another?† â€Å"There's a different line on every margin. Top, bottom, left, and right. I think it's a poem.† â€Å"Four lines?† Langdon bristled with excitement. Galileo was a poet? â€Å"Let me see!† Vittoria did not relinquish the page. She kept turning the page in quarter turns. â€Å"I didn't see the lines before because they're on the edges.† She cocked her head over the last line. â€Å"Huh. You know what? Galileo didn't even write this.† â€Å"What!† â€Å"The poem is signed John Milton.† â€Å"John Milton?† The influential English poet who wrote Paradise Lost was a contemporary of Galileo's and a savant who conspiracy buffs put at the top of their list of Illuminati suspects. Milton's alleged affiliation with Galileo's Illuminati was one legend Langdon suspected was true. Not only had Milton made a well-documented 1638 pilgrimage to Rome to â€Å"commune with enlightened men,† but he had held meetings with Galileo during the scientist's house arrest, meetings portrayed in many Renaissance paintings, including Annibale Gatti's famous Galileo and Milton, which hung even now in the IMSS Museum in Florence. â€Å"Milton knew Galileo, didn't he?† Vittoria said, finally pushing the folio over to Langdon. â€Å"Maybe he wrote the poem as a favor?† Langdon clenched his teeth as he took the sheathed document. Leaving it flat on the table, he read the line at the top. Then he rotated the page 90 degrees, reading the line in the right margin. Another twist, and he read the bottom. Another twist, the left. A final twist completed the circle. There were four lines in all. The first line Vittoria had found was actually the third line of the poem. Utterly agape, he read the four lines again, clockwise in sequence: top, right, bottom, left. When he was done, he exhaled. There was no doubt in his mind. â€Å"You found it, Ms. Vetra.† She smiled tightly. â€Å"Good, now can we get the hell out of here?† â€Å"I have to copy these lines down. I need to find a pencil and paper.† Vittoria shook her head. â€Å"Forget it, professor. No time to play scribe. Mickey's ticking.† She took the page from him and headed for the door. Langdon stood up. â€Å"You can't take that outside! It's a – â€Å" But Vittoria was already gone.

Reading Is Fundamental Essay

Reading is the foundation that a child’s ability to learn is built on. The fundamentals of all learning are based on reading. Research has proven time and time again that reading to your child, even as early as pregnancy and infancy, helps to spark their curiosity to learn to read. By reading aloud during pregnancy and infancy, the ground work is being laid in the development for a child’s love of reading (Promoting Literacy). To help children develop a love of reading start by having books all around. In the words of Dr. Seuss, â€Å"The more that your read, the more things you will know. The more you learn the more places you will go. † (Dr. Seuss). An early start with teaching the concept of page turning, observing pictures, and sequencing will feed little ones curiosity. You can further spark their imagination and creative thinking skills by sharing a picture book without words. Also, reading at bed time will also help small children learn that reading is a relaxing and comforting activity. As children get older we need to make sure we don’t always make reading feel as if it is a task, but rather enjoyable. The U. S. Department of Education found that, generally the more children read for fun the higher their reading scores are in school (U. S. Department of Education, 2007). The answer to how to help children develop a love of reading mainly lies in how we as adults encourage them. Most of a child’s early learning comes from copying what they see their parents do, so if children do not see their parents read then they are not going to be compelled to read themselves. There are so many ways we can nurture a love of reading with children that in turn will help them develop in so many different ways. We read for so many different reasons and it is important that we convey those differences to our children so they can maximize the benefits they get from their own reading. Without being surrounded by people who read then it will be difficult for a child to make that vital connection between reading and enjoyment, thus hindering the development of a love of reading. Children should know books are not just purely for pleasure, but can also be used for a source of information. Once able to read then a whole world of literature opens up and as long as people write and read what is written then books will continue to provide education, information, and pleasure for all who participate. Works Cited Dr. Seuss. â€Å"I Can Read With My Eyes Wide Shut. † www. goodreads. com. Promoting Literacy. â€Å"Bonding With Your Unborn Baby Through Books. † www. earlymoments. com. U. S. Department of Education, 2007. â€Å"Facts About Children’s Literacy. † www. neg. org.

How To Use Cuando in Spanish

How To Use Cuando in Spanish Cuando or its question form, cundo, is the Spanish word used most often for when. It can be used as an interrogative pronoun, subordinating conjunction, or preposition. Fortunately, its use is usually straightforward for Spanish students because as a pronoun or conjunction it is used in much the same way as the English word. Cundo in Questions In questions, cundo is always used with a verb in the indicative mood, the most common type. As in the final two examples, cundo can also be used in indirect questions.  ¿Cundo pasà ³ el cometa Halley por à ºltima vez? (When did Halleys comet last pass by?) ¿Cundo es Semana Santa en Espaà ±a este aà ±o? (When is Holy Week in Spain this year?) ¿Hasta cundo dura la ola de frà ­o? (How long will the cold wave last? Literally: Until when will the cold wave last?) ¿Cundo ganarà © la loterà ­a? (When will I win the lottery?)Quieren saber cundo voy a dar a luz. (They want  to know when Im going to give birth.)No entiendo cundo se usan las palabras por y para. (I dont understand when the words por and para are used.)No sabemos cundo aprendià ³ a atarse los zapatos. (We dont know when she learned to tie her shoes.) Note how cundo is spelled with an orthographic accent. The accent doesnt affect its pronunciation. Cuando as a Subordinator When cuando is used used to introduce a clause (a series of words that could be a sentence but form a longer phrase starting with cuando), either the indicative or subjunctive mood can be used in that clause. The choice of moods depends on whether the action of the verb has been completed. As a subordinating conjunction, cuando - usually translated as when or whenever - typically is followed by a verb in the indicative mood when that verb refers to something that has already occurred or is occurring in the present. The present includes referring to an event that has occurred and could continue to occur. Boldface verbs in these samples indicate the subordinate verb in the indicative mood: Recuerdo cuando llegaron mis padres. (I remember when my parents came.)La à ºltima vez fue cuando dos miembros del equipo fueron detenidos. (The last time was when two members of the team were arrested.)Ana cometià ³ dos errores cuando comprà ³ la bicicleta.  (Ana made two mistakes when she bought the bicycle.)No hay nada que hacer cuando la và ­ctima ya est muerta. (There is nothing to do when the victim is already dead.)Nadie me paga cuando estoy enfermo. (Nobody pays me when Im sick.)Come cuando tengas hambre, no sà ³lo cuando el reloj dice que es hora de comer. (Eat when you are hungry, not just when the clock says its time to eat.)Cuando vamos a la ciudad siempre es porque hay mil cosas que hacer allà ­. (When we go to the city it is always because there are a thousand  things to do there.) In contrast, the present-tense subjunctive mood typically follows cuando when verb referring to an action or state of being that has yet to occur. Note how use of the subjunctive isnt accompanied by a corresponding verb change in the English translation.  Boldfaced verbs here are in the subjunctive: Llegaremos cuando debamos y no antes. (We will arrive when we should and not before.)Mà ­rame a los ojos cuando hables.  (Look in my eyes when you speak.)Despià ©rtame cuando lleguen tus amigos. (Wake me up when your friends arrive.)Vamos a hacerlo cuando seamos capaces. (We are going to do it when we are capable.) ¿Quà © voy a hacer cuando està © viejo? (What am I going to do when I am old?)Cuando vayamos a la ciudad sea porque habrn mil cosas que hacer allà ­. (When we go to the city, it will be because there will be a thousand things to do there.) Cuando as a Preposition Although not particularly common, cuando also can be a preposition. In these instances, cuando means at the time of, although you may have to improvise with the translation rather than translating word for word. Voy a estar triste cuando insolvencia. (Ill be sad when an insolvency occurs.)No he pensado cà ³mo serà © cuando adulto. (I have not thought of how Ill be as an adult.)Apaga la llama cuando hervir. (Turn off the flame when boiling occurs.) Key Takeaways When cundo is used in a question to mean when, a written accent is used with the .Cuando (without a written accent) is frequently used to introduced a clause that can be in either the indicative or subjunctive mood.Unlike the English when, cuando is sometimes used as a preposition and cannot be translated directly.

Econ Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Econ - Essay Example ics.This approach assumes that when businesses fluctuate, then this is a clear interpretation of the fluctuation in the output’s growth rate instead of a change in the level of output. This statement implies that economics is a misery in that there is a very peculiar of interconnection of markets and they respond in a very surprising manner to the changes in preferences and resources. For example, if a reduction of a product occurs, the price of the commodity goes up and the consumers get an incentive to consume less of the commodity while the suppliers get an incentive to discover more. It is very surprising that increase in the price of one commodity can be the reason of another commodity’s price going up. Therefore, this approach in economics tends to let people understand the invisible side in economics in order to understand the economics world. Keynes a very popular economist stated that he would like to steer the economy while Hayek articulates that he would like to set the economy free. Keynes, had a very strong believe and supported that during the periods of depression or during recession in an economy, the government should spend during the depression period as a way to increase the aggregate demand and to lower the levels of unemployment. He believed that during the period of recession, the government should buy security bonds in order to reduce aggregate demand since this reduces the flow of money amongst the citizens. By doing this, Keynes felt that government spending is a good way of controlling the markets. Hayek, a fellow economist, criticized what Keynes argued that government spending should regulate the demand in the market by arguing that he preferred to set the market in the economy to operate freely. Hayek argued that the market should operate freely without any intervention and correct itself without intervention too. His argument was that intervention by either the government spending or the policies of the central bank in effort to

Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 7

Critique - Essay Example A well structured communication should use ethos, logos and pathos efficiently. Whereas many people use logos, ethos and pathos in their communication, they fail to make it clear to the audience where the idea comes from, what it brings, and what it means for the future. Just like Steve Jobs, a great talk need to show a contrasting comparison between the problem and proposed solution. Traditionally, talks and essays have been structured in terms of introduction, body, and conclusion. However, it seems that great communicators do not end up with a conclusion summing up the entire talk but rather end with a climax. Arguably, ending up with a climax in a talk makes the speech memorable for a long time. What comes out strikingly from great speakers is the additional ability to use visual aids and body language to put more vigor to their talk. Great motivational speakers are an inspiration for young people especially students who are looking forward to change the world. Indeed, having a life changing idea is only half of the equation, effectively communicating the idea is the other

Illegal immigrants who commited violent crimes and have U.S. Citizen Essay

Illegal immigrants who commited violent crimes and have U.S. Citizen - Essay Example America's â€Å"Birth Right citizenship† rule is protected by the Fourteenth Amendment and has turn illegal immigration not only into a gray area, but a sad one for those illegal immigrant status parents who are forcibly separated from their children who are then placed in the foster care system. From January to June of 2011, more than 46,000 parents with illegal immigrant status were deported by ICE with 21,860 parents asked to leave the country but leave their children as well. These parents are mostly illegals who have violent crime convictions as the government has chosen to concentrate on the the reasons for deportation rather than just simply basing the deportation on not having legal documents to be residing in the United States(Gonzales, â€Å"Report: 22% of Deportees Have U.S. Born Children†). One must point out that the Obama administration has been the most compassionate when addressing the issue of illegal immigrant parent status for the American born childr en. According to Gonzales (â€Å" â€Å"Report: 22% of Deportees Have U.S. Born Children†): ICE statistics show that 74% of the 46,486 parents of U.S.-citizen children deported had been convicted of crimes. Another 13% had been previously removed from the country, and 4% were fugitives — immigrants who failed to comply with deportation orders. As proven by the aforementioned statistics, selective deportation may be the key to controlling our illegal immigrant problem in terms of those having U.S. born children. It is an acknowledged fact that being born on U.S. soil does not automatically bestow citizenship on the parents of the child. But it does so for the child and by deporting the parents and keeping the child on U.S. soil, our government has a hand in one of the most inhuman and cruel acts that can be committed by an individual. That of separating a parent from a child and breaking up a family. Further complicating the situation, is the fact that the Fourteenth A mendment, which was drafted after the Civil War in order to ensure that the citizenship of freed slaves and their descendants would be protected. The â€Å"birth right† law has not seen even an iota of amending since it was conceived and thus serves the purpose of the illegal immigrants whose children are born in the United States. This is because the law was enacted during the time when the United States still had vast resources in terms of land, food, water, etc., and thus had unregulated immigration. Since our government has kept that law intact to this very day, then the government has no right to deport illegal immigrant status parents from the country (â€Å"Should Birth Right Citizenship Be Denied for U.S. Born Children of Illegal Immigrants?†). This unamendended law has become the basis of heartlessness within our government in terms of dealing with illegal immigrant status parents. In fact, it was U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif who said that the repo rt on the statistics pertaining to the illegal immigrant parent removals shows: â€Å"... the terrible toll our broken immigration system is taking on families...We can't continue to claim to value families while deporting parents in the tens of thousands.† (Gonzales, â€Å"Stats Detail Deportation of Parents†). The problems posed by the situation are clear to all those concerned. The real question is, â€Å"

Complexity Theory Dominates The Narrative In Strategy Today Essay

Complexity Theory Dominates The Narrative In Strategy Today - Essay Example Thus, it is clear that organisations cannot carry on with preset strategies, and instead has to keep tab of all the happenings in its external environment and accordingly come up with strategies and reorient its organizational processes. This form of strategic management, where the organisation will keep on initiating new strategies according to its external environment, only comes under the Complexity theory. This theory views organisation mainly as part of a collection of structures, in which the organization could share some or maximum properties with other composite and adaptive environmental systems or structures. As the organisations share properties with these environmental systems, they will be able to adapt to that environment, reorient its strategies accordingly and emerge successful. So, this paper will critically discuss the strategic management view that Complexity theory dominates the narrative in strategy today, by first providing the background of the Complexity theor y. Then, the paper will analyse with case examples how the theory is practiced in an organization and how the strategist or leader or manager will play a role in that practice. The paper will also provide counter perspectives, before drawing to a conclusion. When the Complexity theory is viewed from an overall perspective, or when one focuses on the science of complexity, it emerges that it is the study of an evolving and adapting order in an otherwise orderly systems. That is, certain action is carried out, or naturally carries out in a specific order, without changing of set patterns, for example, flocking and large scale migration of birds. However, even that set pattern have to be changed according to the constantly changing environment. So, the key is, the actions has to be operated at the vicinity of ‘edge’, without deeply getting involved in preset practices. That is, one has to be fully prepared for any changes that might occur in their action path, and so they should operate in that path of ‘prepared’ or ‘ready to adapt’ state. According to McElory (2000), the systems that operate in the vicinity of the edge or even chaos mainly exhibits strong bursts of creativity, thereby coming up with i nnovative behaviours and new patterns. These new patterns which enhances the ability of a system to â€Å"adapt successfully to its environment are stabilized and repeated† while those that performs below expectations and leads to failures â€Å"are rejected in favor of radically new ones, almost as if a cosmic game of trial-and-error were being played.† (McElory 2000, p.196). Many concepts of the Complexity theory got originated and were researched at the Sante Fe Institute, located in New Mexico, USA. The institute was found in 1984 by George A. Cowan as an independent research centre, where scientists from different disciplines including maths, physics, biology, information technology, psychology, physiology, etc, etc with their computing expertise, conducted â€Å"interdisciplinary work on the behaviour of complex adaptive systems†, coming up with various postulations of the Complexity theory. (Rosenhead 2008). The basic concept that resulted from this resea rch under the Complexity theory is that, any collection of components as well as systems will evolve as well as organize itself, on the basis of changes in its external environment. The application of this concept in the field of business started