Wednesday, November 27, 2019

A Girl Like I

A Girl Like I A Girl Like I A Girl Like I By Maeve Maddox A reader writes I know you have written on this issue before, but I see the problem has arisen even in your latest message. You say  For those of you who, like me, hadn’t heard of SI symbols, you’ll find a list here.    Like me   My husband and I have been arguing over the use of me and/or I daily. I would say like me, and he says, like I. I have a sinking feeling he is grammatically correct.   Answer please? I wish all grammar questions were as easy to answer as this one. Its never, ever correct to say like I. In Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Marilyn Monroe plays a blonde bimbo (what else?)   One of her conversational character tags is like I? When the movie came out in 1953, the audience was expected to laugh when she said it. Like is a preposition. Prepositions ALWAYS take an object. The object form of I is me. Im sorry to learn that even one person thinks that like I is a grammatical possibility in standard English. The incorrect use of I in compound objects after the preposition to has been around for some time now. For example: They were very kind to Michelle and I. Putting anothers name in front of the pronoun does not change the fact that to is a preposition and requires an object form: They were very kind to Michelle and me. I hope that this incorrect use of I after like doesnt make the strides in popular speech that it has after transitive verbs. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Program vs. Programme"Wracking" or "Racking" Your Brain?7 Other Types of Pronouns

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Oedipus the King essays

Oedipus the King essays Every mans life is destined. Some men are told and some are left to discover on their own. Oedipus was one of the few who was told and he took it upon himself to take his fate into his own hands. In the gods eyes, this was a major attack upon them, and justifiably so. In Oedipus the King, Sophocles justifies the gods actions by dramatizing the effects of Oedipus choices to avoid his god-given predestined fate. Once Oedipus made the decision to avoid his fate, the gods then decided to punish him for his disrespect by altering his fate to a much more painful and miserable existence. The gods made a lot of prophecies that led to the Oedipuss downfall. All of these doings by the gods is what changed his fate. The gods, for instance, sent down the sphinx, and guided Oedipus to answer the riddle correctly. Just as they steered Teiresias away from the correct answer to the riddle or the ability to detect the killer. Apollo was the one to set this whole disaster up by telling Oedipus to find the killer. These are the cruel acts of the gods, who are punishing Oedipus for his attempt to escape his fate in the first place. This just goes to show that the gods are ones to be respected and theyre there to almost keep a certain order about things. The real tragedy in the play is the harsh reality that Oedipus comes to learn after this long journey that has ended with pain and suffering. I believe that once Oedipus decided to try and escape the fate that has already been laid out for him, the gods decided to make an example out of him. There are certain choices that in everyone must make sooner or later in their life that will alter their existence forever. This just happened to be the time for Oedipus to make that decision. His problems with knowledge also aided in his poor decision. Those who think that they know everything or too much usually are the ones who do not know enough or have ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Current applications of nanotechnology in medicine and its future Essay

Current applications of nanotechnology in medicine and its future potential - Essay Example This implies that nanotechnologies are increasingly finding real world utilization. Stephen conceives nanotechnology as having the potential to greatly influence many fields including the pharmaceutical industry; this is also true according to AAAS, which argues that the science in the area of nanotechnologies ‘is exploding’. In that respect, this implies that there is massive advancements being witnessed in the field of nanotechnologies in general and there even greater potential for innovative applications of nanotechnologies both in the near and distant futures. Bhushan predicts that nanotechnology promises to impact the economy and society in general, more than even information and semiconductor technologies, or cellular and molecular biology ever did. The same position is taken by AAAS, which narrows further to particular applications and argues that â€Å"the science of extremely small materials’ is going to yield great benefits especially in cancer diagnos tics, imaging, as well as treatment that would finally bring about the era of personalized medicine. Similarly, Bhushan highlights the specific areas that are set to benefit intensively from the applications of nanotechnology including materials and manufacturing, Nano-electronics, medicine, healthcare, energy, biotechnology as well as information technology and national security.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Hamlet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 16

Hamlet - Essay Example â€Å"The Murder of Gonzago† is a play directed by Hamlet as he learns from the ghost that this was his uncle Claudius who killed Hamlet’s father in order to become a king. It is aimed at replicating the events which, as Hamlet suspects, happened in reality and led to the death of his father. Subsequently, the logic behind showing this play is to reveal the guilt of Claudius by showing him circumstances that are expected to cause a particular reaction from the man: â€Å"To catch the consciousness of the king.† (Act II, Scene II) In this way, the suspense is created. As a result, Hamlet confirms his doubts and realizes that his father was killed by the new king. In this way, the plot gets its logical development and approaches to the climax. Apart from serving as a catalyst for the plot development, inclusion of the play into the play can serve the purpose of reinforcing the theme of pretending and lack of certainty, which is one of the essential themes of the given play. Throughout the play, Hamlet and Claudius are playing their roles (Hamlet acts insane and Claudius – honest and innocent) instead of being what they really are. At the same time, it is not clear whether Gertrude was loyal to her husband and whether she knew about the plans of Claudius. Furthermore, Hamlet is not sure whether the ghost he saw was saying the truth: â€Å"The spirit I have seen may be a devil.† (Act II, Scene II) Similarly, actors in â€Å"The Murder of Gonzago† are playing their roles and highlight the motif of theatricality of the life. The play within the play becomes a reflection of the real life in which people act as actors. The following can also hint on the attempts of Shakespeare to assert the importance of art and power of theatre as a whole. For instance, in Hamlet, the play within the play not only exposes the truth, but gives the prince the power and passion to revenge. In other words, actors on the stage provoke actions and make one reflect on the past and predict

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Dangers and response Essay Example for Free

Dangers and response Essay This sense of differing power in differing scales is reinforced when Rosenberg identifies himself with the wasps situation, sensing his own vulnerabilities as he lives in an alien and gigantic universe. The poetical voice may have absolute power over the wasps; but the poet is only a small part of a gigantic reality; something inherently vulnerable to danger. The poet belays to a reality which he is just as alien to as the wasp is to the mailbox; and the poet , too, has his fragile cradle on the edge of danger. The poet might feel to be the master of his domain- but, as earlier discussed, it is a weakened domain and it is a place where the poet is very vulnerable. The metaphor has this idea of danger inherent as the home is on the edge- almost as If it is on the brink of collapse over a recipe into an unknown abyss of danger. The use of setting and scale creates the message for the reader that mastery of a domicile does not translate into invulnerability. Within this pessimism, however, there is a strand of optimism, almost urging the reader to recognise this reality but to accept it and live within it. The idea that the wasps were not stopped by the sore displeasure of the US Mail is an example. The sore displeasure could both be from the aggravation of the wasps, or, indeed, from the soreness of being stung. There is a sense that the wasps ay know that they are overmatched; indeed, that they can only cause displeasure which seems to suggest only an aggravation is testament to this. Uet the wasps continue; they may understand their vulnerability but they do not surrender. There is from this image a recognition of humanitys situation; that whilst mankind, too, may be fundamentally vulnerable, there is still the basic stubbornness to continue. This strand of hope continues throughout the poem. The wasps may know their vulnerabilities; yet still they are savagely a-hum. The onomatopoeic quality of a-hum gives almost an indifference to this metaphor; the wasps may be overmatched, but they continue their existence. Their strength within their nest is highlighted through the adverb savagely tends to describe powerful violence, which is often equated with strength. The wasps recognise their weakness but continue; they do not bother to attend to the danger that they are in. The sense of indifference and nonchalance of this image that seems more to mortal danger is the final recognition of this hope. Recognise the vulnerabilities, but continue; and the poet identifies within the wasps a human response to the danger. Understand the danger, but do not let it define a life. By the end, the poet has recognised this connection between the reality of the wasps and humans that extends beyond our inherent weaknesses. Thus, The Wasps Nest is a poem that explores the conflict between strength and weakness using the realities, dangers and response of wasps as a microcosm for the human world. It is a poem of contrast and illusion, where apparent strength becomes weakness. But is it also a very human poem. It studies the mirage of strength that we portray around ourselves and sees within this image the fragilities of man. It is a poem of our lives and reality within Rosenbergs words. It is a poem of the human condition that illuminates ourselves and with which Rosenberg shows a profound truth of our existence.

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Deception and Destruction of Purity in The Italian Essays -- Itali

The Deception and Destruction of Purity in The Italian Purity in the Gothic genre can be perceived from so many points of view. It involves sex, beauty, perception, and people's position in society. "The Italian" has many characters that behold either one or more of these traits. In this paper, we will explore how Ann Radcliffe uses purity and the deception and destruction of it to enhance her character's role in the Gothic genre. "The sweetness and fine expression of her voice attracted his attention to her figure, which had a distinguished air of delicacy and grace; but her face was concealed in her veil. (page 5)" From the very beginning of the book, Radcliffe lets us know that beauty and attraction will play an intricate part in the development of the story. But she also lets us know that it will not be an open perception, she hints toward an element of intrigue combined with the person's role that they play within society. Through the entire book, we find that Vivaldi is obsessed with the beauty of Ellena. Ellena appears to be so perfect and pure, Vivaldi can not help but to fall in love with her. Here sex and beauty themselves end up being the instigators of deception and destruction. As Vivaldi tries to get closer to Ellena, she seems to withdraw more and more into hiding. This creates an air of intrigue that makes Ellena more than irresistible to Vivaldi. This curiosity and intrigue that perplexes Vivaldi only becomes greater when he meets a mysterious monk on the road to Ellena's house. The monk warns Vivladi that he needs to stop his pursuit of Ellena and then he mysteriously disappears. So Vivaldi's intrigue that ends up being so deceptive and destructive, now exists on two levels with Ellena and the mon... ...as as deceptive and destructive as they come. For one, she held Ellena prisoner for frivolous reasons. Two, she tried to force Ellena to take the vows of a nun. I also believed that Olivia was deceptive, she tricked the Abbess and helped Ellena escape. So you see, you can not always trust the stereotypes of society, because even the most sanctimonious and respectable people can be the masters of art in deception and destruction of what is right, good, and pure. All five elements of purity in the Gothic genre have been deceived and destroyed in more ways than one. So whatever ideas of purity that anybody had before reading Ann Radcliffe's "The Italian," they are now completely altered and set in an entirely different genre. Do not always believe what you hear or see because you never know what deceptive or destructive element might be lurking around the corner.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Advance Strategic Planning

Advanced Strategic Planning was written by Aubrey Malphurs and was first published in 1999 with the over-all purpose of providing the church and its leadership a good strategic planning process that will help it them move from a stage of stagnant growth to a period of change and revitalization.   The book offers a nine-step strategic thinking and acting models and diagrams that help illustrate concepts.   The updated edition of the book has put emphasis on disciple making.Malphurs, who has authored many books on church leadership and strategy, is a professor of Pastoral Ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary. He specializes in teaching pastors how to think strategically and move their congregation to growth and accomplishment of goals.He is also the president of the Malphurs Group, a consulting organization which provides training and consultation services for churches that sees the need for help in the area of church growth.Malphurs started the book by stating that almost all institutions today, such as churches, go through a sigmoid or S-curve pattern of growth or life cycle, in which a church begins and experiences rapid growth in all areas, achieves a point a comfort zone of routines and programs, and later on declines and eventually dies.Malphurs, in his book, perceives the S-curve life cycle pattern as a problem besetting most churches by stating that:â€Å"The message or lesson of the sigmoid curve is that all good things (and even some bad things) end†¦ Even brand-new institutions and organizations such as a church will, in time, plateau and then die. No matter what institution it is, organizational â€Å"dry rot† sets in.   The institution becomes brittle, ceases to function, and expires† (Malphurs 2005, 11).Given the abovementioned problem Malphurs argues that as soon as the church feels that it now reached the point of staggering growth and plateau, it should in a way re-invent itself through careful planning and adoption of new set of core values (whenever necessary) in order to propel it back to a period of significant growth.This will mean reviewing and restructuring the various aspects of church life such as its core values, personnel, congregation, prevailing culture, finances, community where it is interacting, among others, through a strategic planning process.A handful of suggestions on how to carry out the conduct of this strategic planning was provided lengthily and was discussed in an almost detailed manner by Malphurs.StrengthsDrawing from a wealth of experience as a pastor, professor and consultant, Malphurs have provided significant and doable ways of carrying out the strategic revitalization process.   Perhaps using his personal experience of leading a church, he was able to address a lot of pitfalls and traps that a pastor and church leader should avoid in strategic planning.His experience and love for the ministry and church transcends all throughout the book, making a pastor or a leader, whose church is going through a period of plateau in terms of growth, reading the book feel that the book was written specifically for him and his flock.   Malphurs has a heart for the local church.   The strategic planning is simply his response to the problem that he perceives. [1]It was also made clear in the book that the pastor or church leaders can’t do the process and implement changes alone, every member of the congregation must be informed properly for them to be involved in all facets of the process.   The need to effectively communicate the vision was emphasized and strongly recommended. Malphurs writes:If you conduct secret meetings and fail to communicate in general what happens in those meetings, you will not be able to lead the congregation because they will no trust you (63).An unwavering support on the ongoing strategic planning process will only come from a church member who clearly understands the what and why’s of his/her churchâ€℠¢s call for a strategic planning.Although the book is in fact a â€Å"how-to† sort of manual, Malphurs succeeded in finding a biblical basis for the conduct of the strategic planning.   This makes the book grounded on the godly and biblical principles of leadership.An obvious strength of the book is the manner it challenged church pastors and leaders to think critically regarding its mission, vision, values, and congregational structure. Provoking questions are injected throughout the book to guide its readers in propelling the church in a certain direction that will eventually lead to the realization of their mission and vision.Malphurs is very strong in recommending the necessity of adopting a mission and vision statements in churches. To further guide his readers, Malphurs also made a clear distinction between values, missions, and functions.Armed with the understanding that churches will definitely look different in varying contexts, he stresses the value of injecting p rofessionalism and excellence in all ministry undertakings which is and should be a characteristic of any church desiring to grow.David Murrow also sees this need when he wrote, â€Å"Men appreciate excellence†¦Excellent doesn’t mean slick, canned or superficial. It simply means everything done well (Col. 3:23).†[2]Malphurs also tediously provided helpful tools and sample evaluation forms that will help a church start the strategic planning process.   He make sure that churches who will decide to embark in the strategic planning process already have the tools, which can be modified if they opt to, to keep the process going and evaluated.WeaknessesAlthough well-written, the book still has some few unhelpful aspects and needs thoughtful consideration from a critical reader.Malphurs have excellently provided a book for strategic thinking pastors but have missed out those who are implementers and dreamers in nature, reality will tell us that there are pastors who se e that their calling evolves on activities such as teaching, preaching, evangelism, visitation, etc.Strategic planning is not an exciting and needed activity for pastors and leaders who fall under these characteristics, for them church growth and dynamism depends on going out and reaching the unreached.Another important concern that Malphurs alluded is the average period of time it will take for the whole process of defining the church’s mission, discovering their values, catching the vision, and actually coming up with a plan will be done.He noted that it could take five (5) years just to get everybody on board. Unfortunately, nowadays,   a pastoral longevity in a certain church is only 3 to 4 years.   George Barna stated: â€Å"The average tenure of a pastor in Protestant churches has declined to just 4 years—even though studies consistently show that pastors experience their most productive and influential ministry in years 5 through 14 of their pastorate.† [3]The book also failed in considering the value of preaching the Word of God, reaching out the lost, and healthy fellowship among members of the congregation, in spurring growth in the church.The â€Å"Readiness for Change† inventory contains factors necessary for organizational change, but it is interesting to note that Malphurs have missed to include prayer. For any change to take place in a church, the leaders and members of the church should devote time in praying.ConclusionOverall much is to be commended in Malphurs’ book. It is a very practical book.   The strengths of the book outweigh the weaknesses.   The weaknesses stated should not detract a one from reading the book.Although there are some suggestions made by Malphurs that in one way or another is not supported biblically, such as not putting older men and women in the leadership as opposed to the scripture’s advice to have the older men and women teaching the younger ones, the book still off ers sound and helpful principles of strategically leading and managing a church.The objectives set by Malphurs in writing the book are achieved, he perceived a problem, and he has provided in great detail a solution to the problem. He has skillfully presented a sys aforementioned, his wealth of experience have made every argument he presented convincing and worth trying for.The book is a valuable reading and tool for young, soon-to-be pastors, pastors, elders, church staff members, and lay leaders, or for anyone who is in one way or another involved in church leadership.However, a word of caution, one should be very careful in accepting that the book is the cure-all answer to the problems besetting the churches today.   It is a guide, a good and helpful guide, but it doesn’t contain all the answers to church issues and problems.   Pastors and leaders of the church should still bear in mind what is stated Proverbs 16:9 says â€Å"The mind of man plans his way; But the LOR D directs his steps.†Ã‚   The Lord is still the sovereign one, if it is His Will it will definitely happen. [1]. Owen Strachan,   Reviews: Advanced Strategic Planning by Aubrey Malphurs, (9Marks Reviews , 2008) [article available online], www.alliance.net, date accessed July 21, 2009 [2]. David Murrow, How Women Help Men Find God, (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2008) [3].   George Barna, The Second Coming of the Church, (Nashville: Word Publishing, 1998), 5. Advance Strategic Planning Advanced Strategic Planning was written by Aubrey Malphurs and was first published in 1999 with the over-all purpose of providing the church and its leadership a good strategic planning process that will help it them move from a stage of stagnant growth to a period of change and revitalization.   The book offers a nine-step strategic thinking and acting models and diagrams that help illustrate concepts.   The updated edition of the book has put emphasis on disciple making.Malphurs, who has authored many books on church leadership and strategy, is a professor of Pastoral Ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary. He specializes in teaching pastors how to think strategically and move their congregation to growth and accomplishment of goals.He is also the president of the Malphurs Group, a consulting organization which provides training and consultation services for churches that sees the need for help in the area of church growth.Malphurs started the book by stating that almost all institutions today, such as churches, go through a sigmoid or S-curve pattern of growth or life cycle, in which a church begins and experiences rapid growth in all areas, achieves a point a comfort zone of routines and programs, and later on declines and eventually dies.Malphurs, in his book, perceives the S-curve life cycle pattern as a problem besetting most churches by stating that:â€Å"The message or lesson of the sigmoid curve is that all good things (and even some bad things) end†¦ Even brand-new institutions and organizations such as a church will, in time, plateau and then die. No matter what institution it is, organizational â€Å"dry rot† sets in.   The institution becomes brittle, ceases to function, and expires† (Malphurs 2005, 11).Given the abovementioned problem Malphurs argues that as soon as the church feels that it now reached the point of staggering growth and plateau, it should in a way re-invent itself through careful planning and adoption of new set of core values (whenever necessary) in order to propel it back to a period of significant growth.This will mean reviewing and restructuring the various aspects of church life such as its core values, personnel, congregation, prevailing culture, finances, community where it is interacting, among others, through a strategic planning process.A handful of suggestions on how to carry out the conduct of this strategic planning was provided lengthily and was discussed in an almost detailed manner by Malphurs.StrengthsDrawing from a wealth of experience as a pastor, professor and consultant, Malphurs have provided significant and doable ways of carrying out the strategic revitalization process.   Perhaps using his personal experience of leading a church, he was able to address a lot of pitfalls and traps that a pastor and church leader should avoid in strategic planning.His experience and love for the ministry and church transcends all throughout the book, making a pastor or a leader, whose church is going through a period of plateau in terms of growth, reading the book feel that the book was written specifically for him and his flock.   Malphurs has a heart for the local church.   The strategic planning is simply his response to the problem that he perceives. [1]It was also made clear in the book that the pastor or church leaders can’t do the process and implement changes alone, every member of the congregation must be informed properly for them to be involved in all facets of the process.   The need to effectively communicate the vision was emphasized and strongly recommended. Malphurs writes:If you conduct secret meetings and fail to communicate in general what happens in those meetings, you will not be able to lead the congregation because they will no trust you (63).An unwavering support on the ongoing strategic planning process will only come from a church member who clearly understands the what and why’s of his/her churchâ€℠¢s call for a strategic planning.Although the book is in fact a â€Å"how-to† sort of manual, Malphurs succeeded in finding a biblical basis for the conduct of the strategic planning.   This makes the book grounded on the godly and biblical principles of leadership.An obvious strength of the book is the manner it challenged church pastors and leaders to think critically regarding its mission, vision, values, and congregational structure. Provoking questions are injected throughout the book to guide its readers in propelling the church in a certain direction that will eventually lead to the realization of their mission and vision.Malphurs is very strong in recommending the necessity of adopting a mission and vision statements in churches. To further guide his readers, Malphurs also made a clear distinction between values, missions, and functions.Armed with the understanding that churches will definitely look different in varying contexts, he stresses the value of injecting p rofessionalism and excellence in all ministry undertakings which is and should be a characteristic of any church desiring to grow.David Murrow also sees this need when he wrote, â€Å"Men appreciate excellence†¦Excellent doesn’t mean slick, canned or superficial. It simply means everything done well (Col. 3:23).†[2]Malphurs also tediously provided helpful tools and sample evaluation forms that will help a church start the strategic planning process.   He make sure that churches who will decide to embark in the strategic planning process already have the tools, which can be modified if they opt to, to keep the process going and evaluated.WeaknessesAlthough well-written, the book still has some few unhelpful aspects and needs thoughtful consideration from a critical reader.Malphurs have excellently provided a book for strategic thinking pastors but have missed out those who are implementers and dreamers in nature, reality will tell us that there are pastors who se e that their calling evolves on activities such as teaching, preaching, evangelism, visitation, etc.Strategic planning is not an exciting and needed activity for pastors and leaders who fall under these characteristics, for them church growth and dynamism depends on going out and reaching the unreached.Another important concern that Malphurs alluded is the average period of time it will take for the whole process of defining the church’s mission, discovering their values, catching the vision, and actually coming up with a plan will be done.He noted that it could take five (5) years just to get everybody on board. Unfortunately, nowadays,   a pastoral longevity in a certain church is only 3 to 4 years.   George Barna stated: â€Å"The average tenure of a pastor in Protestant churches has declined to just 4 years—even though studies consistently show that pastors experience their most productive and influential ministry in years 5 through 14 of their pastorate.† [3]The book also failed in considering the value of preaching the Word of God, reaching out the lost, and healthy fellowship among members of the congregation, in spurring growth in the church.The â€Å"Readiness for Change† inventory contains factors necessary for organizational change, but it is interesting to note that Malphurs have missed to include prayer. For any change to take place in a church, the leaders and members of the church should devote time in praying.ConclusionOverall much is to be commended in Malphurs’ book. It is a very practical book.   The strengths of the book outweigh the weaknesses.   The weaknesses stated should not detract a one from reading the book.Although there are some suggestions made by Malphurs that in one way or another is not supported biblically, such as not putting older men and women in the leadership as opposed to the scripture’s advice to have the older men and women teaching the younger ones, the book still off ers sound and helpful principles of strategically leading and managing a church.The objectives set by Malphurs in writing the book are achieved, he perceived a problem, and he has provided in great detail a solution to the problem. He has skillfully presented a sys aforementioned, his wealth of experience have made every argument he presented convincing and worth trying for.The book is a valuable reading and tool for young, soon-to-be pastors, pastors, elders, church staff members, and lay leaders, or for anyone who is in one way or another involved in church leadership.However, a word of caution, one should be very careful in accepting that the book is the cure-all answer to the problems besetting the churches today.   It is a guide, a good and helpful guide, but it doesn’t contain all the answers to church issues and problems.   Pastors and leaders of the church should still bear in mind what is stated Proverbs 16:9 says â€Å"The mind of man plans his way; But the LOR D directs his steps.†Ã‚   The Lord is still the sovereign one, if it is His Will it will definitely happen. [1]. Owen Strachan,   Reviews: Advanced Strategic Planning by Aubrey Malphurs, (9Marks Reviews , 2008) [article available online], www.alliance.net, date accessed July 21, 2009 [2]. David Murrow, How Women Help Men Find God, (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2008) [3].   George Barna, The Second Coming of the Church, (Nashville: Word Publishing, 1998), 5.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Compare and contrast two views of how social order Essay

â€Å"Whoever controls the media controls the mind† (Jim Morrison 1943-1971).excellent quote i had forgotten that one To establish a view on how social order is produced, in this essay the main focus will be on two researcher’s arguments both on social disorder specifically in regard to the influence of the mass media. Sociologist Stanley Cohen (1973) suggests that the media depiction of antisocial behaviour helps to construct what he labels ‘folk devils’. Whilst social scientists Stuart Hall et al (1978) argued that the mediation of disorderly behaviour led to the belief that society was in a ‘crisis’. By using my own examples and illustrations I will compare and contrast these two theories and furthermore for differentiation include a more present-day theory on social disorder through Huesmann et al 2003. Thereby through an examination of mediation (media spin) on disorderly behaviour attempt to define how one part of social order is produced in public spaces. Good clear introduction Sociologist Stanley Cohen’s theory on ‘folk devils’ which he first observed during the 1960’s media portrayal of Mods and Rockers (Making Social lives ,p378) gives an interesting oblique view on how social order is maintained, as according to is theory certain members of the public are classified as outsiders and treat like scapegoats. describe the theory a little bit here The evidence for this can be found as far back as ancient Greece Aristotle’s ‘unruly youths’ (Brake, 1980, p.1) Along with â€Å"fears of skilled pickpockets progressing to become burglars in the sixteenth century† (Shore, 2000, p. 21) and as near to our times is the example of Gypsy travellers who are and have been given the dubious pleasure of being one of the â€Å"carriers† of social evil and disorder of our days. Good use of examples This Sun headline (March 2005) on the right is just one of the many stereotypical images of gy psies, blown out of all proportion by mass media mediation and an example of that which is coined by Cohen as generating moral panic that is irrational and creates a situation â€Å"where people are both terrified and outraged† (Cohen, Making Social lives,p378). This use of inflammatory rhetoric with regards to gypsies is still being currently employed today as a Sun reporter reports he â€Å"found a community  brimming with fear and anger – and villagers hell-bent on getting rid of them (Sun May 2011). These headlines from the mass media (public space) with regard to gypsies whom historically have many times been the focal point of European society’s ills and represented as’ folk devils’ very good The media campaigns of hostility against these ‘folk devils’ have not only produced moral panic â€Å"a pattern of behaviour, group of people or a condition becomes defined as a threat to society, its values and its interests† (Making Social lives, p371). This on-going mass media campaign against gypsies resulted in change the nation’s politics and laws to re-address social order. Such, as under sections 77-80 of the 1994 Act, [local authorities may direct persons who are unlawfully residin g in vehicles on land in their own area to leave.] This an attempt to renew social order with regards to gypsies and thus allaying public fear.very good The media also played a significant role in sociologists Stuart Hall’s and co-authors (Policing the Crisis (1978) theory. Hall believed that the issue of crime was instrumental in controlling society and that the media constructions â€Å"contributed to a widespread belief that there was a crisis in society† (Making (Social lives, p378). As an illustration of some of the biased press coverage of street crime is a picture portrayed by this Sun image (Dec 2010) Hall surmises that this is how the media wishes to portray these issues to the public, as a rise in crime and disorder which can and should be treat by the government with greater policing measures and laws, which Hall terms the beginning of a â€Å"Law and Order Society† (Social lives, p378). He goes on to infer that media spin is used to distort and divert public attention from the clear problems of social injustice and inequality and that this aids government on social order policies. Evidence for this Law and Order society can be found with the introduction of the SUS (Stop and Search) powers that were used at their height when 1000 youths were stopped and searched in 5 days in what the police called â€Å"Operation Swamp†(bbc. Home, 25th Nov. 1981).well researched This resulted in the escalation of confrontation between the community and the police due to the locals perceiving an inequality and persecution of young blacks and this sparked off the Brixton race riots (1981). The outcome culminated in the renewal of social order with the abolition of the SUS law (1981). However they returned in another form due to 9/11 and 7/7 attacks to combat terrorism in 2007. To  compare and contrast Cohen and Halls views on mass media mediation and how the social order is m aintained through public spaces it will be shown by examining that they have differences and similarities. Where both Cohen and Hall agree with regard to their theories on the issue of mediation (public spaces) is that they both believe that the focus of the mass media places spin on how social and criminal deviants (muggers) are portrayed. Also they both rely on labels to support their social disorder theories i.e. folk devil and muggers and furthermore characterising them as stereotypes. Moreover they continue to agree that the media exaggerates and amplifies and create’ scapegoats’ whose behaviours good example of compare and contrast are demonised with resulting effect on social order of creating ‘moral panic’ on the one hand and a sense of ‘crisis in society’ on the other. Where they greatly disagree is on the root causes of moral panics and social crisis in that Cohen with very little supporting evidence, believed cultural anxiety was to blame (Making Social Lives, Table 1, p383,). Whilst Hall thought that the blame led elsewhere with his inference to social inequality and racism and that the media served the state in diverting attention away from these genuine social problems (ibid).good In contrast to both Cohen and Hall’s views on the mediation of ‘social disorder’ and the foundation of their theories on moral panic and society in crisis there is a view that has an alternative reason as to why and how the media can play a significant role in shaping social order in public spaces. This alternative view comes from the analysis of a longitudinal study (Making Social Lives, p381) by Huesmann et al on media effects, and in particularly how Huesmann and his team found a correlation between 557 children and the watching of violence on TV and a subsequent increase in propensity for aggressive behaviour in 398 of these same studied people. Therefore Huesmann et al. (2003) reached the conclusion on disorderly behaviour that there is a direct effect of media portrayal of violence. From this you can argue that in Huesmann’s view, media and mediation through public space in this case TV. can have a major negative role in the shaping of social order in society, by desensitising and normalising disorderly behaviour. Although there is no real causation evidence for these claims in Huesmann’s study and that the conclusion drawn on the media impact of television violence a chimera of other social factors very good expand on this a little. Thereby through  the examination of Cohen/Halls theories on mediation (media spin) on disorderly behaviour the following can be gleaned with regard to how one part of social order is produced in public spaces. Established norms of behaviour are created and exist in society supported by mass media and this sometimes leads to an increase in social pressure which is built up with a resulting increase in policing and law legislation (SUS laws). These societal norms are reinforced by media scapegoating of social and criminal deviants, Cohen’s ‘folk devils’ and Halls ‘muggers’. Although there are others (Huesmann et al) who believe that the shaping of social order in society is more directly influenced by TV violence alone. The methodology utilised in this essay was to shed light on the making of social order in public spaces through looking at two main theories on disorderly behaviour. And it has highlighted in my view that quite possibly genuine social problems and solutions are obscured by mediation resulting in legislation that deals with only the symptoms not the causes â€Å"The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power, because they control the minds of the masses† (Malcolm X (1925-1965). Bibliography Cohen, S. (1973) Folk Devils and Moral Panics, London, Paladin. Hall, S., Critcher, C., Jefferson, T., Clarke, J. and Roberts, B. (1978) Policing the Crisis: Mugging, the State, and Law and Order, London and Basingstoke, Macmillan. Huesmann, R., Moise-Titus, J., Pdolski, C-L. And Eron, L. (2003) ‘Longitudinal relations between children’s exposure to TV violence and their aggressive and violent behaviour in young adulthood: 1977–1992’, Developmental Psychology, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 201–23. Google Image, News.bbc.co.uk, accessed 24th /26th May 2011 Google Image, Enemiesofreason.co.uk accessed 25th May 2011 Jim Morrison (1943 – July 3, 1971) brainyquote.com accessed 20th may 2011 Malcolm X (1925-1965) thinkexist.com accessed 20th may 2011 Shore, H. (2000) ‘The idea of juvenile crime in 19th-century England’, History Today, vol. 50, no.6,pp. 21–7;

Friday, November 8, 2019

political themes and film essays

political themes and film essays The Godfathers Michael Corleone and King Henry V of Henry V seemingly have nothing to do with each other to the ordinary viewer. However, if one looks deeply into the themes and the messages behind these two classic and wonderfully composed pieces of entertainment, it can be seen that the two main characters actually have more in common than not. To begin with, both of these men found themselves in a position of important leadership; whether he really wanted to be or not. However, one fact remains to pose a rather significant difference between the figureheads. It can be recalled that Henry V wanted to stake his claim at the throne of France and was willing to fight for it, yet Michael Corleone found himself as the Don of the Corleone family after a near fatal incident which almost took the life of the original Don, Vito. Also, Henry had three of his subjects, Cambridge, Grey and Scroop, whom he somewhat trusted, want to assassinate him in order to receive monetary compensation from France; Michael didnt have any hits out on his life once he was made. Michael Corleone, son of the powerful Don Vito Corleone of one of the five head Mafia families in New York, was always the good son. He was the war hero, the military officer, the educated one who didnt want to participate in the racket; the quiet rebel. Michael can be called the quiet rebel because he decided to deviate from the illegal family business, the mob. However, when it came down to it, Michaels core family values shown through: loyalty to the family-always. Henry V, on the other hand, was a raucous youth who caroused around carelessly and irresponsibly who grew into a just and strong Christian leader. When it was time for Henry to take the throne and become King, however he may have gotten to that position aside, he anted up and took responsibility and manifested loyalty for his people. The theme that ...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Electoral College Pros and Cons

Electoral College Pros and Cons The Electoral College system, long a source of controversy, came under especially heavy criticism after the 2016 presidential election when Republican Donald Trump lost the nationwide popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton by over 2.8 million votes but won the Electoral College- and thus the presidency- by 74 electoral votes. Electoral College Pros and Cons Pros:Gives the smaller states an equal voice.Prevents disputed outcomes ensuring a peaceful transition of powerReduces the costs of national presidential campaigns.Cons:Can disregard the will of the majority.Gives too few states too much electoral power.Reduces voter participation by creating a â€Å"my vote doesn’t matter† feeling. By its very nature, the Electoral College system is confusing. When you vote for a presidential candidate, you are actually voting for a group of electors from your state who have all â€Å"pledged† to vote for your candidate. Each state is allowed one elector for each of its Representatives and Senators in Congress. There are currently 538 electors, and to be elected, a candidate must get the votes of at least 270 electors. The Obsolescence Debate The Electoral College system was established by Article II of the U.S. Constitution in 1788. The Founding Fathers chose it as a compromise between allowing Congress to choose the president and having the president elected directly by the popular vote of the people. The Founders believed that most common citizens of the day were poorly educated and uninformed on political issues. Consequently, they decided that using the â€Å"proxy† votes of the well-informed electors would lessen the risk of â€Å"tyranny of the majority,† in which the voices of the minority are drowned out by those of the masses. Additionally, the Founders reasoned that the system would prevent states with larger populations from having an unequal influence on the election. Critics, however, argue that Founder’s reasoning is no longer relevant as today’s voters are better-educated and have virtually unlimited access to information and to the candidates’ stances on the issues. In addition, while the Founders considered the electors as being â€Å"free from any sinister bias† in 1788, electors today are selected by the political parties and are usually â€Å"pledged† to vote for the party’s candidate regardless of their own beliefs. Today, opinions on the future of the Electoral College range from protecting it as the basis of American democracy to abolishing it completely as an ineffective and obsolete system that may not accurately reflect the will of the people. What are some of the main advantages and disadvantages of the Electoral College? Advantages of the Electoral College   Promotes fair regional representation: The Electoral College gives the small states an equal voice. If the president was elected by the popular vote alone, candidates would mold their platforms to cater to the more populous states. Candidates would have no desire to consider, for example, the needs of farmers in Iowa or commercial fishermen in Maine.Provides a clean-cut outcome: Thanks to the Electoral College, presidential elections usually come to a clear and undisputed end. There is no need for wildly expensive nationwide vote recounts. If a state has significant voting irregularities, that state alone can do a recount. In addition, the fact that a candidate must gain the support of voters in several different geographic regions promotes the national cohesion needed to ensure a peaceful transfer of power.Makes campaigns less costly: Candidates rarely spend much time- or money- campaigning in states that traditionally vote for their party’s candidates. For example, Democrats rarely campaign in liberal-leaning California, just as Republicans tend to skip the more conservative Texas. Abolishing the Electoral College could make America’s many campaign financing problems even worse.  Ã‚   Disadvantages of the Electoral College   Can override the popular vote: In five presidential elections so far- 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000, and 2016- a candidate lost the nationwide popular vote but was elected president by winning the Electoral College vote. This potential to override the â€Å"will of the majority† is often cited as the main reason to abolish the Electoral College.Gives the swing states too much power: The needs and issues of voters in the 14 swing states- those that have historically voted for both Republican and Democratic presidential candidates- get a higher level of consideration than voters in other states. The candidates rarely visit the predictable non-swing states, like Texas or California. Voters in the non-swing states will see fewer campaign ads and be polled for their opinions less often voters in the swing states. As a result, the swing states, which may not necessarily represent the entire nation, hold too much electoral power.Makes people feel their vote doesn’t matter: Under the Electoral College system, while it counts, not every vote â€Å"matters.† For example, a Democrat’s vote in liberal-leaning California has far less effect on the election’s final outcome that it would in one of the less predictable swing states like Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio. The resulting lack of interest in non-swing states contributes to America’s traditionally low voter turnout rate. The Bottom Line Abolishing the Electoral College would require a constitutional amendment, a lengthy and often unsuccessful process. However, there are proposals to â€Å"reform† the Electoral College without abolishing it. One such movement, the National Popular Vote plan would ensure that the winner of the popular vote would also win at least enough Electoral College votes to be elected president. Another movement is attempting to convince states to split their electoral vote based on the percentage of the state’s popular vote for each candidate. Eliminating the winner-take-all requirement of the Electoral College at the state level would lessen the tendency for the swing states to dominate the electoral process. Sources and Further Reference â€Å"From Bullets to Ballots: The Election of 1800 and the First Peaceful Transfer of Political Power.† TeachingAmericanHistory.org.Hamilton, Alexander. â€Å".†The Federalist Papers: No. 68 (The Mode of Electing the President) congress.gov, Mar. 14, 1788Meko, Tim. â€Å".†How Trump won the presidency with razor-thin margins in swing states Washington Post (Nov. 11, 2016).

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Organizational stakeholders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Organizational stakeholders - Essay Example Home Depot being a company running on such a large scale has a great responsibility towards its stakeholders. Home Depots major stakeholders include its board of directors and shareholders/investors, the customers, employees and the suppliers. Bob Nardelli, the former chairman and chief executive of Home Depot contributed greatly towards the success and expansion of the organization. Nardelli was a true leader and followed an autocratic approach. However, along with the positive changes that Nardelli brought with him, he also made some mistakes that greatly affective various stakeholders of the company. Nardelli was considered to have an arrogant and authoritative approach which was a cause for alienation of many stakeholders. Nardellis attempt on cutting down labor costs by hiring more part-time workers as compared to full-time lead to the loss of good workforce. This also lowered the morale of the existing workers. Another one of his errors was the cut back of inventory budget which left the stores undersupplied and the customers dissatisfied. Nardellis attempt of increasing profit margin through demanding lower prices from suppliers led to the loss of significant vendors as they were not satisfied with the price offerings. Most importantly, Nardellis hefty pay was a great source of concern to shareholders and corporate governance groups and was prone to a lot criticism. Under the chairmanship of Nardelli, shareholders were not given the rights that they were entitled to and were not given an opportunity to speak up. This shareholders matter led to the arousal of Nardellis credib ility issues which made the investors lose trust in him and his management (Waters, 2007). This was one of the biggest set backs for him as the shareholders tend to hold immense influence on the organization. The present chairman and CEO of Home Depot is Frank Blake. Many

Friday, November 1, 2019

Sales Operations and Planning Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Sales Operations and Planning - Assignment Example The sales team will support the promotion mix through demonstrating professional understanding of the product. Their customer-centered attitude is expected to generate satisfaction and the confidence to buy the products among customers (Belch & Belch, 2006). Their appearance through dressing in branded T-shirts and caps will be significant in promoting the product as well as the company’s presence in the UK. The salespeople will offer essential advice to customers regarding the application of products to ensure that they derive maximum utility. The job descriptions of salespeople and their remuneration plans also need to reflect the corporate objectives. This alignment is a significant step aimed at maintaining the financial well-being of the company. It motivates the sales team to engage in activities that enhance corporate objectives by avoiding sever connections between what the organization is trying to accomplish and the aims of the sales team. If the alignment is not est ablished, there is a likelihood of the sales people overemphasizing on certain products or activities that they associate with maximal gains in terms of compensation while disregarding others (Stone & Jacobs, 2001). This may negatively influence the company’s market expansion especially in the efforts for new product launch as salespeople focus much of their energies on the already established products in the market and fewer efforts to the slow-moving and less known products.Â