The Return: Nightfall Chapter 13

Much later that night, Elena couldn't sleep. She didn't want to be hemmed in inside the Tall Room, she said. Secretly, Stefan worried that she wanted to go outside and track the malach that had attacked the car. But he didn't think she was able to lie, now, and she kept bumping against the shut window, chiming to him that she just wanted air. Outside air. â€Å"We should put some clothes on you.† But Elena was bewildered – and stubborn.It's Night†¦. This is my Night Gown, she said.You didn't like my Day Gown. Then she bumped the window again. Her â€Å"Day Gown† had been his blue shirt, which, belted, made a sort of very short chemise on her, coming to the middle of her thighs. Right now what she wanted fit in with his own desires so completely that he felt†¦a bit guilty over the prospect. But he allowed himself to be persuaded. They drifted, hand in hand, Elena like a ghost or angel in her white nightgown, Stefan all in black, feeling himself almost disappear where the trees obscured the moonlight. Somehow they ended up in the Old Wood, where skeletons of trees mixed with the living branches. Stefan stretched his newly improved senses to the widest but could only find the normal inhabitants of the forest, slowly and hesitantly returning after being frightened off by Damon's lash of Power. Hedgehogs. Deer. Dog-foxes, and one poor vixen with twin kits, who hadn't been able to run because of her children. Birds. All the animals that helped to make the forest the wondrous place it was. Nothing that felt like malach or seemed as if it could do any harm. He began to wonder if Damon had simply invented the creature that influenced him. Damon was a tremendously convincing liar. He was telling the truth, Elena chimed.But either it's invisible or it's gone now. Because of you. Your Power. He looked at her and found her looking at him with a mixture of pride and another emotion that was easily identified – but startling to see out of doors. She tilted her face up, its classic lines pure and pale in the moonlight. Her cheeks were rose pink with blushing, and her lips were slightly pursed. Oh†¦hell, Stefan thought wildly. â€Å"After all you've been through,† he began, and made his first mistake. He took hold of her arms. There, some sort of synergy between his Power and hers started to bring them, in a very slow spiral, upward. And he could feel the warmth of her. The sweet softness of her body. She still was waiting, eyes closed, for her kiss. We can start all over again,she suggested hopefully. And that was true enough. He wanted to give back to her the feelings she had given to him in his room. He wanted to hold her hard; he wanted to kiss her until she trembled. He wanted to make her melt and swoon with it. He could do it, too. Not just because you learned a thing or two about women when you were a vampire, but because he knew Elena. They were really one at heart, one soul. Please?Elena chimed. But she was so young now, so vulnerable in her pure white nightgown, with her creamy skin flushing pink in anticipation. It couldn't be right to take advantage of someone like that. Elena opened her violet-blue eyes, silvered by the moonlight, and looked right at him. Do you want†¦She said it with sobriety in the mouth but mischief in her eyes†¦.to see how many times you can make me say please? God, no. But that sounded so grown-up that Stefan helplessly took her into his arms. He kissed the top of her silky head. He kissed downward from there, only avoiding the little rosebud mouth that was still puckered in lonely supplication.I love you. I love you. He found that he was almost crushing her ribs and tried to let go, but Elena held on as tightly as she could, holding his arms to her. Do you want – the chime was the same, innocent and ingenuous – to see how many times I can make yousay please? Stefan stared at her for a moment. Then, with a sort of wildness in his heart, he fell on the little rosebud mouth and kissed it breathless, kissed it until he himself was so dizzy that he had to let her go, just an inch or two. Then he looked into her eyes again. A person could lose themselves in eyes like that, could fall forever into their starry violet depths. He wanted to. But more than that, he wanted something else. â€Å"I want to kiss you,† he whispered, right at the portal of her right ear, nipping it. Yes.She was definite about that. â€Å"Until you faint in my arms.† He felt the shiver go through her body. He saw the violet eyes go misty, half closing. But to his surprise he got back an immediate, if slightly breathless, â€Å"Yes,† from Elena out loud. And so he did. Just short of swooning, with little shivers going through her, and little cries that he tried to stop with his own mouth, he kissed her. And then, because it was Time, and because the shivers were starting to have a painful edge to them, and Elena's breath was coming so quick and hard when he let her breathe that he really was afraid that she might pass out, he solemnly used his own fingernail to open a vein in his neck for her. And Elena, who once had been only human, and would have been horrified by the idea of drinking another person's blood, clasped herself to him with a small choked sound of joy. And then he could feel her mouth warm, warm against the flesh of his neck, and he felt her shudder hard, and he felt the heady sensation of having his blood drawn out by the one he loved. He wanted to pour his entire being out in front of Elena, to give her everything that he was, or ever would be. And he knew that this was the way she had felt, letting him drink her blood. That was the sacred bond they shared. It made him feel that they had been lovers since the beginning of the universe, since the very first dawning of the very first star out of the darkness. It was something very primitive, and very deeply ingrained in him. When he first felt the flow of blood into her mouth, he had to stifle a cry against her hair. And then he was whispering to her, fierce, involuntary things about how he loved her and how they could never be parted, and endearments and absurdities wrenched from him in a dozen different languages. And then there were no more words, only feelings. And so they slowly spiraled up in the moonlight, the white nightgown sometimes wrapping itself around his black-clad legs, until they reached the top of the trees, living and standing but dead. It was a very solemn, very private ceremony of their own, and they were far too lost in joy to look out for any danger. But Stefan had already checked for that, and he knew that Elena had, too. There was no danger; there was only the two of them, drifting and bobbing with the moon shining down like a benediction. One of the most useful things Damon had learned lately – more useful than flying, although that had been something of a kick – was to shield his presence absolutely. He had to drop all his barriers, of course. They would show up even in a casual scan. But that didn't matter, because if no one could see him, no one could find him. And therefore he was safe. Q.E.D. But tonight, after walking out of the boardinghouse, he had gone out to the Old Wood to find himself a tree to sulk in. It wasn't that he minded what human trash thought of him, he thought venomously. It would be like worrying what a chicken thought of him just before he wrung its neck. And, of all things he caredleast about, his brother's opinion was number one. But Elena had been there. And even if she had understood – had made efforts to get the others to understand – it was just too humiliating, being thrown out in front of her. And so he had retired, he thought bitterly, into the only retreat he could call home. Although that was a little ridiculous, since he could have spent the night in Fell's Church's best hotel (its only hotel) or with any number of sweet young girls who might invite a weary traveler in for a drink†¦of water. A wave of Power to put the parents to sleep, and he could have had shelter, as well as a warm and willing snack, until morning. But he was in a vicious mood, and he just wanted to be alone. He was a little afraid to hunt. He wouldn't be able to control himself with a panicked animal in his present state of mind. All he could think of was ripping and tearing and making somebody very, very unhappy. The animals were coming back, though, he noticed, careful to use only ordinary senses and nothing that would betray his presence. The night of horror was over for them, and they tended to have very short memories. Then, just as he had been reclining on a branch, wishing that Mutt, at least, had sustained some sort of painful and lasting injury,they had appeared. Out of nowhere, seemingly. Stefan and Elena, hand in hand, floating like a pair of happy wingd Shakespearean lovers, as if the forest wastheir home. He hadn't been able to believe it at first. And then, just as he was about to call down thunder and sarcasm on them, they had started their love scene. Right in front of his eyes. Even floating up to his level, as if to rub it in. They'd begun kissing and caressing and†¦more. They'd made an unwilling voyeur out of him, although he'd become more angry and less unwilling as time passed and their caresses had become more passionate. He'd had to grind his teeth, when Stefan had offered Elena his blood. Had wanted to scream that there had been a time when this girl had been his for the taking, when he could have drained her dry and she would have died happily in his arms, when she had obeyed the sound of his voice instinctively and the taste of his blood would make her reach heaven in his arms. As she obviously was in Stefan's. That had been the worst. He'd had to dig his nails into his palms when Elena had wrapped herself around Stefan like a long, graceful snake and had fastened her mouth against his neck, as Stefan's face had tipped toward the sky, with his eyes shut. For the love of all the demons in hell, why couldn't they just get done with it? Thatwas when he noticed that he wasn't alone in his well-chosen, commodious tree. There was someone else there, sitting calmly right beside him on the big branch. They must have appeared while he was engrossed in the love scene and his own fury, but still, that made them very, very good. No one had snuck up on him like that in over two centuries. Three, perhaps. The shock of it had sent him tumbling off the branch – without turning on his vampire ability to float. A long lean arm reached out to catch him, to haul him to safety, and Damon found himself gazing into a pair of laughing golden eyes. Who thehellare you? he sent. He didn't worry about it being picked up by the lovers in the moonlight. Nothing short of a dragon or an atomic bomb would catch their attention now. I'm the hell Shinichi,the other boy replied. His hair was the strangest Damon had seen in a while. It was smooth and shiny and black everywhere except for a fringe of uneven dark red at the tips. The bangs he tossed carelessly out of his eyes ended in crimson and so did the little wisps all round his collar – for he wore it slightly long. It looked as if tongues of dancing, flaring flame were licking at the ends of it, and gave singular emphasis to his answer:I'm the hell Shinichi. If anyone could pass as a devil come up straight from Hell, this boy could. On the other hand, his eyes were the pure golden eyes of an angel.Most people just call me Shinichi alone , he added soberly to Damon, letting those eyes crinkle a little to show that it was a joke.Now you know my name. Who are you? Damon simply looked at him in silence.

Political philosophy Essay

KNOWLEDGE IS FORMED AND ACQUIRED IN THE COURSE OF OUR LIFE THOUGH COGNITION AND IT IS NOT INBORN AND DEVELOPS FROM OUR OWN IGNORANCE. JOHN LOCKE COMPARED IT WITH TABULA RASA OR SOME SORT OF A BLANK SHEET UPON WHICH NOTHING IS WRITTEN. THESE ARE DATA OR IMAGES OF THE OBJECT WHICH STIMULATED OUR SENSE-ORGANS-SIGHT, HEARING, TOUCH, TASTE AND SMELL ARE, IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING, RAW-MATERIALS WHICH OUR BRAIN FORMS, THROUGH ABSTRACTION, INTO CONCEPTS OR IDEAS, AND WHICH WE EXPRESS IN SIGNS OR LANGUAGE. THERE ARE TWO OBSTACLES TO COGNITION THE BIASES WHICH BECLOUD THE HUMAN MIND AS â€Å"IDOLS† AND THE ERRORS IN REASONING. WHICH ARE THE SO CALLED FALLACIES. REASONING IS A MEANS FOR ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE BUT IF IT IS FALLACIOUS IT CANNOT YIELD BUT DECEPTION. MOREOVER THERE ARE THREE THEORIES OF KNOWLEDGE NAMELY; EMPIRICISM, RATIONALISM AND INTUITIONISM. IN EMPIRICISM, KNOWLEDGE COMES FROM EXPERIENCE AND EXPERIENCE IS A SENSE OF PERCEPTION WHICH MAY BE UNDERSTOOD AS DIRECT OBSERVATION BY THE SENSES OR INDIRECT BY USING INSTRUMENT OR BY EXPERIMENTATION. EMPIRICISM TEACHES THAT WHAT WE SEE, HEAR, TOUCH, OR SMELL, IS ALL THAT WE CAN KNOW. OUTSTANDING EXPONENTS OF EMPIRICISM WERE JOHN LOCKE, GEORGE BERKELEY. DAVID HUME AND THE SO-CALLED LINGUISTIC PHILOSOPHERS. RATIONALISM MAINTAINS THAT REASON IS THE SOURCE AND TEST OF KNOWLEDGE AND NOT SENSE-PERCEPTION. KNOWLEDGE CONSISTS OF CONCEPTS WHICH GENERALIZE ABOUT THE NATURE OF REALITY SO THAT IT HAS A UNIVERSAL AND PERMANENT CHARACTER. IT IS THE REASON OR THE INTELLECT WHICH â€Å"MANUFACTURES† THE DATA INTO CONCEPTS, JUDGMENTS AND LAWS, AND THAT IS HOW OUR KNOWLEDGE IS FORMED. WHAT WE KNOW IS â€Å"WHAT WE HAVE THOUGHT OUT†, OR WHAT REASON HAS â€Å"ABSTRACTED† FROM THE DATA OF SENSE PERCEPTION. THE KNOWN DEFENDERS ARE PARMENIDES, PLATO OF ANCIENT GREECE, DESCARTES AND HEGEL OF THE. MODERN WORLD. THE THIRD THEORY WHICH IS INTUITIONISM CLAIMS THAT THE SENSES CAN ONLY MIRROR THE APPEARANCE OF THINGS HENCE WHAT WE CALL SENSE-DATA, CANNOT TELL US WHAT THINGS ARE IN THEMSELVES. BUT THROUGH INTUITION, WE CAN HAVE â€Å"A FEEL† OF WHAT LIES BEYOND THE PHENOMENA CAPTURED BY OUR SENSES AND TRANSFORMED BY REASON INTO CONCEPTUAL SYMBOLS. INTUITION â€Å"INTUERE†. (TO LOOK INTO) IS A DIRECT APPREHENSION OF KNOWLEDGE WHICH IS NOT THE RESULT OF CONSCIOUS REASONING OR IMMEDIATE PERCEPTION. ADD THE FACTS THAT THERE ARE TWO METHODS OF INTELLECTUAL INQUIRY, FIRST IS THE  INTUITION THAT GRASPS THE ESSENTIAL NATURE OF REALITY AND â€Å"TIME† AND THE SECOND IS ANALYSIS WHICH IS THE STABILITY AND PREDICTABILITY, BUT OFFERS ONLY â€Å"A PHOTOGRAPH† OR â€Å"A SNAPSHOT† OF WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY A DYNAMIC, ACTIVE WORLD THE ONLY WAY TO BRIDGE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE â€Å"OBJECT KNOWN† AND â€Å"THE KNOWER†, WE MUST USE â€Å"INTELLECTUAL SYMPATHY† THAT EXPERIENCES BEING AS A WHOLE, AS â€Å"A DYNAMIC CONTINUUM†. LASTLY, THERE ARE DIFFERENT NOTIONS OF TRUTH NAMELY THE CORRESPONDENCE THEORY, COHERENCE THEORY, PRAGMATIC THEORY AND THE MARXIST THEORY. EDUCATION: THE WORD EDUCATION COMES FROM THE LATIN VERB â€Å"EDUCERE† (TO LEAD) OR FROM  Ã¢â‚¬Å"EDUCARE† (DRAW OUT). EDUCATION IS THE ART OF LEADING OR GUIDING A PERSON TO SOCIAL CULTURE SO THAT BY EXPOSING HIM TO ITS COMPLEXITIES AND HE MAY ACTUALIZE HIS Introduction to Philosophy POTENTIALITIES. EVERY PERSON, REGARDLESS OF RACE, GENDER OR CLASS HAS A DORMANT POWER WHICH IF DRAWN OUT OR DEVELOPED COULD EQUIP THE INDIVIDUAL TO FILL A VARIETY OF ROLES IN SOCIETY. EDUCATION AND TRAINING IS OF DIFFERENT MEANING. EDUCATION HAS TO DO WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE PERSONALITY WHILE TRAINING DEALS WITH THE GAINING AND ACHIEVING OF SKILLS. THERE ARE AIMS OF EDUCATION; FIRST IS TO PREPARE  THE YOUNG FOR â€Å"CITIZENSHIP†-THE SUBTLE MEANS OF PROVIDING THE STATE IN ALONG RUN WITH FUTURE LEADERS AND FOLLOWERS WHO WOULD PUT INTEREST OF THE STATE AND NATION ABOVE SELF. SECOND AIM IS TO DEVELOP THE INDIVIDUAL â€Å"AS A MAN†- ENABLE THE INDIVIDUAL TO REALIZE HIS POTENTIAL POWERS AS A HUMAN BEING SO HE COULD BE FREE IN OUTLINING HIS OWN DESTINY. THIRD, IT SHOULD AIM TO PRESERVE THE PREVAILING SOCIAL SYSTEM BY WAY OF TRANSMITTING THE IDEAS, THE BELIEFS, THE VALUES AND THE PRACTICES OF SOCIETY. FOURTH, IT AIMS TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION AND IT MUST FOSTER  A NEW CONSCIOUSNESS THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE PEOPLES DREAM AND STRUGGLE FOR A MORE JUST, HUMAINE AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. FIFTH, IT SHOULD PREPARE US FOR ETERNAL LIFE IN A PARADISE TO COME AND LASTLY IT SHOULD AIM TO COMPREHENSIVELY PREPARE US TO BE A â€Å"WORKER† OR TO BE â€Å"A CITIZEN AND TO BE â€Å"A PERSON.   EDUCATION HAS AN IDEOLOGICAL CHARACTER. TO LITTLE, INDEED, DOES THE SCHOOL GOING TO PUBLIC SUSPECT THAT EDUCATION AS A SOCIAL INSTITUTION CAN BE MANIPULATED BY VESTED GROUPS FOR THEIR OWN POLITICAL INTERESTS. TO SOME PEOPLE WHOSE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL FORTUNES ARE ENTRENCHED THAT EDUCATION IS USED TO  PROMOTE SOCIAL CONFORMITY AND AGREEMENT. TO OTHERS WHO HAVE NOTHING BUT THEIR STATE OF DEPRIVATION AND UNCERTAINTIES, EDUCATION CAN EMPOWER THEM TO STRUGGLE FOR SOCIAL CHARGE. POLITICS: POLITICS IS A STRATEGY TO MAINTAIN ORDER AND COOPERATION AMONG PEOPLE OR INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERING NEEDS AND IDEALS IN LIFE, OR FOR REVOLVING CONFLICT WITHIN THE GROUP WHETHER THIS BE A FAMILY, A TRIBE, A VILLAGE OR A NATION-STATE. IT MAY BE UNDERSTOOD AS A CONTROL OVER THE SITUATION SO THAT DIFFERENCES ARE RESOLVED AND PREVENTED. THERE ARE TWO MAIN APPROACHES TO POLITICS NAMELY; POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE. POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY HAS A SPECULATIVE AND NORMATIVE CHARACTER BECAUSE IT DEALS WITH THE QUESTION OF WHAT IS POLITICS â€Å"OUGHT TO BE† OR WHAT IT SHOULD BE WHILE POLITICAL SCIENCE IS EMPIRICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE IN NATURE BECAUSE ITS MAIN CONCERN IS THE ANALYSIS AND DEFINITION OF THE STATE AND ITS INSTRUMENTALITIES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THEIR FUNCTIONS. POLITICS IS THE SCIENCE AND ART OF GOVERNING SOCIETY IN THE PURSUIT OF COMMON GOOD THEN ITS CONCRETIZATION IS THE GOVERNMENT WHOSE AIM IS THE PEOPLE AND THE SECURITY AND WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE. FORTHETHREEGREATPHILOSOPHERSNAMELY;CONFUCIUS,PLATOANDNICCOLO MACHIAVELLI TO BE GOOD RESPONSIBLE POLITICAL LEADERS OF STATE THERE ARE VERY ESSENTIAL QUALITIES TO BE CONSIDERED. FOR CONFUCIUS, POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IS NOT FOR THE COMFORT AND ENJOYMENT OF THE RULERS, NOR ARE THEY SIMPLY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND ORDER, BUT FOR â€Å"THE HAPPINESS AND ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE PEOPLE†. HE ALSO PRESCRIBED THAT THOSE WHO ASPIRE TO LEAD THE PEOPLE MUST POSSESS THE VIRTUES OF HUMAN-HEARTEDNESS, RRIGHTEOUSNESS, PPROPRIETY AND Introduction to Philosophy WISDOM. FOR PLATO, A PERSON’S LIFE IS ORDERLY OR â€Å"JUST† WHEN HIS REASON CONTROLS THE EMOTION AND TEMPERS THE APPETITES. THE THREE KINDS OF PEOPLE SHOULD POSSESS THREE ELEMENTS IN MAN. A RULER SHOULD EMBRACE REASON, THE SOLDIERS OR WARRIORS SHOULD DEAL WITH THEIR EMOTION AND THE ARTISANS OR ORDINARY PEOPLE SHOULD CONTROL THEIR APPETITES. ALL CITIZENS MUST UNDERGO RIGID PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL TRAINING. PLATO’S PHILOSOPHY ON EDUCATION WAS ONE OF SO CALLED SELECTION & ELIMINATION. NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI WROTE A BOOK ENTITLED, â€Å"THE PRINCE â€Å"POLITICS, AS AN EXERCISE OF POWER, SHOULD BE DIVORCED FROM MORALITY AND RELIGION. POLITICS HAS NO MORALITY; IT IS A NAKED POWER OF â€Å"EXPEDIENCY†. OR HIM AN EFFECTIVE LEADER IS BOTH  A FOX AND A LION, BOTH A MAN AND A BEAST AND BOTH GREAT PRETENDER OR GREAT DISSEMBLER. B. Analysis (Critique) KNOWLEDGE: THESEARCHFORKNOWLEDGEISANEVER-ENDINGADVENTURE LIKEWE’VESEENIN MOVIES AND PLAYS. THE WHOLE OF REALITY IS TOO VAST THAT WE CAN KNOW ONLY TOO LITTLE OF IT IN OUR SHORT LIFE-TIME; HENCE, IT WOULD BE THE HEIGHT OF INNOCENCE TO NARROW OUR PRESENT KNOWLEDGE, UNLESS WE CHOOSE TO CLOSE OUR MIND TO OTHER POSSIBILITIES. OUR KNOWLEDGE IS A PRODUCT OF ALL OUR ABILITIES, SENSATION, REASON AND INTUITION. AND O AGREE WITH THE SAYING THAT â€Å"KNOWLEDGE IS POWER†, A POWER TO RECREATE THE  WORLD, A POWER TO CONSTRUCT A BETTER SOCIETY WHERE ALL MEN AND WOMEN COULD LIVE WITH DIGNITY, FREEDOM AND PEACE. I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS MORE TO KNOW SINCE IT IS DYNAMIC AND TOO ENORMOUS. WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE THE GUTS, THE PASSION AND THE LOVE TO LEARN AND TO CONTINUE SEARCHING AND BUILDING ON THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE. NO DOUBT, KNOWLEDGE ADDS COLOR AND RELATIVE CHARACTER TO MAKE OUR LIFE WORTH LIVING AND SPENDING. OUR KNOWLEDGE SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTED NOR DISTORTED BY OUR OWN COGNITION. WE SHOULD KEEP IN MIND TO ALWAYS USE REASONING SINCE IT IS ACQUIRING  KNOWLEDGE NOT JUST BASING IT TO WHAT WE PERCEIVE. YES, WE CAN CONSTRUCT KNOWLEDGE BY OUR SENSES TO EVERY SITUATION WE’RE EXPERIENCING YET WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE RATIONAL. KNOW THE REASON TO EVERY DETAIL NOT TO JUSTIFY THINGS BUT RATHER TO BE REASONABLE IN JUDGING AND JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS. KNOWLEDGE IS A STUFF OF REALITY; IT IS A WAY OF TRUTH AND NOT A WAY OF SEEMING OR GIVING OPINION. ALSO THE ONLY THING WE SHOULD NOT DOUBT IS THAT WE ALWAYS IN PARTICULAR SITUATION DOUBT. DON’T BE AFRAID TO DOUBT OR TO QUESTION THINGS BECAUSE IT IS A WAY OF ACQUIRING AND GAINING ALL WE NEED TO KNOW. ON THE OTHER HAND WE COULD STILL OBTAIN KNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS NOT THE SENSES, NOR REASON CAN PROVIDE ADEQUATE UNDERSTANDING OF REALITY BUT THE SO CALLED INTUITION. KNOWLEDGE IS AN INTERCONNECTED CHAIN WHEREIN THERE IS AN AGREEMENT WITH ONE SET OF KNOWLEDGE WITH ANOTHER SET OF IT. IT IS A CYCLE WITH NO BEGINNING AND ENDING. THE MORE WE BECOME CURIOUS THE MORE WE QUESTION AND THE MORE WE SEEK FOR THE ANSWER. WE ALWAYS HAVE THE PRIVILEGED TO OPEN OUR CLOSE UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD AND WE ARE FREE TO EXPLORE ITS LIMITATION AND BOUNDARY. WE ALWAYS HAVE THE KEY TO KNOW THE SECRETS OF THE REAL MEANING AND  Introduction to Philosophy VALUE OF LIFE. WE SHOULD NOT STOP TRAVELLING THE BEAUTIFUL AND COLOURFUL JOURNEY OF OUR EXISTENCE AND DON’T STOP TO STRIVE AND TO GAIN THE PERFECT AND UNDYING KNOWLEDGE. EDUCATION: SINCE WE ARE SEARCHING FOR KNOWLEDGE, HAVING AN EDUCATION IS OF GREAT HELP. IT IS A VITAL INSTRUMENT TO EXPLORE OUR LIMITATION AND TO GO BEYOND THE HORIZON. HAVING AN EDUCATION IS LIKE SEEING A RAINBOW AFTER A RAIN SHOWER; IT ADDS COLOR AND MEANING AFTER THE SUDDEN DARKNESS. WE SHOULD NOT JUST BE TRAINED, WE MUST BE EDUCATED. BEING EDUCATION FOR ME IS OPENING THE WINDOWS OF OUR MIND AND SOUL. WE SHOULD PUT EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND, TO COMPREHEND, AND TO BE SENSITIVE TO IDEAS, ASPIRATIONS AND INTEREST TO WHICH WE MIGHT OTHERWISE BE INDIFFERENT TO EACH OTHER. WE SHOULD NOT JUST BE CONTENTED JUST TO BE TRAINED BECAUSE IT SIMPLY MEANS WE JUST WANT TO IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING WITHOUT DEEPENED UNDERSTANDING, WIDENED SYMPATHY OR HEIGHTENED ASPIRATIONS FOR IT. THERE SHOULD BE A COMMON AGREEMENT ON WHAT IS EDUCATION SHOULD AIM AND DEFINE THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION WITH NO BIAS AND FAIR CHANCES TO PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT SOCIAL POSITIONS AND SHOULD NOT BE IN HARMONY WITH THEIR FUNDAMENTAL INTERESTS. IT WOULD BE AN ILLUSION TO EXPECT THE PREVAILING EDUCATION TO BE TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE AND LIBERATING BECAUSE OF TODAY’S INEQUALITY ESPECIALLY IN SOCIAL STATUS ASPECTS THUS THERE IS A NEED TO RE-INVENT EDUCATION SO THAT IT WILL FOSTER A NEW AWARENESS AND PERSPECTIVE THAT IS SUPPORTIVE AND REFLECTIVE TO OUR ASPIRATIONS AND STRUGGLE FOR SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION. POLITICS: EDUCATION HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES IS AFFECTED BY MANY FACTORS SUCH AS THE KIND OF POLITICS WE HAVE. I DO BELIEVE THAT POLITICS SHOULD FUNCTION AND AIMS TO GO AFTER THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE AND NOTHING ELSE BUT THE SECURITY AND NEEDS OF  PEOPLE. POLITICS IS BOTH A FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS POWER YET WHEN USED IN A WRONG WAY OR BECOME A PURSUIT AND CHASE OF PERSONAL INTERESTS COULD BE ABUSED. POLITICS IS NOT JUST A SYSTEM ITSELF BUT A SYSTEM OF IDEAS WITH MISSION AND FUNCTIONS. IN SPITE OF THE CURRENT SITUATION IN OUR COUNTRY WE COULD STILL PURSUE A FAIR, JUST, HONEST AND RESPONSIBLE POLITICAL SYSTEM. WE COULD STILL MAKE A CHANGE. ASIDE FROM BEING A GOOD AND RELIABLE FOLLOWER WE COULD CHOOSE AND ELECT GOOD AND RIGHT POLITICAL LEADERS ESPECIALLY WITH OUR DEMOCRATIC TYPE OF SYSTEM. WE  NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO DESIGNATE THE FIT AND APPROPRIATE RULER WITH THEIR BEST QUALITY AND CHARACTER. WE SHOULD CAREFULLY ANALYSE AND EVALUATE A POLITICAL RULER WHO HAS THE INTEREST IN SERVING THE PEOPLE WITH SINCERITY AND SHOULD NOT JUST MAINTAIN HIMSELF OR HERSELF IN POWER. C. Contextualization KNOWLEDGE: Introduction to Philosophy FILIPINO IS A KNOWLEDGE SEEKER AND SO EXPLORATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO NOURISH AND DEVELOP THEIR LEARNING AND ABILITIES. WE HAVE SO MANY PROUD KABABAYAN WHO ARE SO PASSIONATE AND DETERMINE IN ACQUIRING SUCH KNOWLEDGE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. SOME OF US EVEN TRY TO GO TO OTHER COUNTRY FOR THEIR SEARCH FOR KNOWLEDGE. WE ARE NOT CONTENTED WITH JUST HAVING A KNOWLEDGE THAT IS ALREADY IN FRONT OF US. WE USUALLY GET OUT OF THE BOX AND GO BEYOND THE HORIZON. AND BECAUSE OF THIS PERSEVERANCE, MANY FILIPINOS FROM DIFFERENT FIELD BECOME SUCCESSFUL AND FAMOUS. MANY JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES BECOME OPEN TO FILIPINOS BECAUSE OF THEIR ABILITY AND PASSION TO LEARN. EDUCATION: PUBERTY BECOMES A BARRIER TO ATTAIN THE GOAL OF HAVING A BETTER EDUCATION. NOWADAYS, AS YOU LOOK WITH THE STATUS OF OUR COUNTRY, PHILIPPINES I MUST SAY THAT  WE OUR STRUGGLING ESPECIALLY THE UNFORTUNATE INDIVIDUAL TO GET SUCH APPROPRIATE AND GOOD QUALITY OF EDUCATION. IN OUR COUNTRY; LIVING STATUS AFFECTS A LOT IN MAINTAINING A GOOD QUALITY OF EDUCATION. THERE ARE SO MANY FAMILIES WHO BATTLE FOR FINANCING THE OTHER EXPENSES OF THEIR CHILD LIKE PROJECT AND DAILY TRANSPORTATION AND FOOD ALLOWANCE. FOR AN UNDERPRIVILEGED FAMILY WITH INCOME THAT IS NOT ENOUGH WITH THEIR DAILY CONSUMPTION, HAVING A BUDGET FOR EDUCATION COULD BE A LEAST PRIORITY. MANY OF THE YOUTH TODAY EVEN THEY WANT TO CONTINUE THEIR COLLEGE JUST COULD NOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO WORK TO SUPPORT  AND PROVIDE FINANCIALLY FOR THEIR FAMILY. ALSO IT IS COMMON, IN SOME FAR BARRIOS MANY FILIPINO CHILDREN BEFORE THEY COULD REACH THE NEAREST SCHOOL FROM THEIR HOUSE THEY NEED TO STRUGGLE AND WALK ON RIVERS AND EVEN SOME SLOPPY MOUNTAIN BEFORE THEY CAN GET THERE. IN SPITE THEIR DEDICATION TO BE EDUCATED, SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GOOD LEARNING FACILITIES AND MATERIALS IS NOT ENOUGH TP ACCOMMODATES LARGE POPULATION IN OUR COUNTRY. ALSO CORRUPTION IS ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS WHY NUMBER OF FILIPINO IS UNABLE TO AVAIL THEIR RIGHTS TO BE EDUCATED. INSTEAD OF FINANCING THE EDUCATION SECTOR, THE MONEY OF FILIPINOS GOES  TO THE POCKET OF THOSE WHO ARE GREED AND SELFISH OFFICIALS. NO DOUBT, PHILIPPINES IS A RICH COUNTRY WITH ITS SPLENDID NATURAL RESOURCES YET OUR MONEY COULD NOT EVEN FINANCIALLY PROVIDE AND GIVE STABLE WORKS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO THOSE WHO NEED JOBS. POLITICS: IT BEEN AN ORDINARY SCENARIO DURING ELECTION THAT THERE ARE SO MANY UNNECESSARY ACTIONS TOOK PLACE LIKE VOTE BUYING, BALLOT RESULT CHEATING, KILLING OF POLITICAL RIVALRY, AND THE LIKES JUST FOR THOSE SELF-CENTRED ASPIRANT OFFICIALS TO WIN THE SAID ELECTION. AND EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION, DURING THEIR SERVING YEARS SO  MANY VOID PRACTICE IS BEEN HAPPENING. CORRUPTION IS ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES. MANY ELECTED POLITICAL OFFICIALS ABUSE THE POWER GIVEN TO THEM FOR THEIR OWN INTERESTS. TODAY’S ISSUE IS WHAT THEY CALLED PORK BARREL SCANDAL WHEREIN THE BUDGET ALLOTTED AND GIVEN TO POLITICAL OFFICIAL FOR THEIR PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT SHOULD AND MUST HELP FILIPINO GOES TO POCKET OF JUST SOME PEOPLE. FINGER POINTING AND HAND WASHING THAT THEY DON’T USE ANY OF THE PUBLIC MONEY FOR THEIR OWN WELFARE IS STILL ON INVESTIGATION AND NOT YET ANSWERED. Introduction to Philosophy  INSTITUTIONALIZING IS ALSO HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY AND THE MOST AFFECTED ARE THE PUBLIC ESPECIALLY THE POOR. IT IS ALSO COMMON IN OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM HAVING A FAMILY DYNASTY WHEREIN THE POWER IN MANY PLACES IS JUST IN THE HAND OF ONE FAMILY. EVEN WE ALREADY HAVE AUTOMATED KIND OF ELECTION SYSTEM, WE STILL STRUGGLE TO HAVE THE FAIR AND JUST POLITICAL SYSTEM WE ARE LOOKING AND HOPING TO ACHIEVE. LASTLY, WE FILIPINOS STILL ELECTING WRONG PUBLIC SERVANT. WE ARE STILL BLIND WITH THEIR LOOKS, WHETHER THEY ARE CELEBRITIES OR IF EVEN THEY TEND TO FINISH THEIR EDUCATION AND WITH THEIR FLOWERING PROMISES AND WORDS. WE NEVER REALLY PRACTICE A CRITICAL JUDGEMENT TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT AND THE GOOD STATE RULER. D. Evaluation 1. SUBJECT THE SUBJECT PHILOSOPHY REALLY HELPED ME TO BE OPEN-MINDED AND CRITICALLY INCLINED WITH EVERYTHING AROUND ME. WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS WE STILL NEED TO KNOW AND ACQUIRE YET PHILOSOPHY SERVES AS AN ASSISTING TOOL TO REALLY KNOW THE MEANING OF OUR OWN EXISTENCE AND THE REAL MEANING OF OUR LIFE AND ITS PURPOSE. MY CLOSED WORLD BECOMES EXPOSED WITH WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING. 2. PROF SIR RODERICK CENTENO IS A VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, RESPECTED AND FULL OF SENSE KIND OF PROFESSOR IN PHILOSOPHY. WE REALLY ENJOYED LISTENING TO HIS LECTURES ABOUT PHILOSOPHY. IT SO REFRESHING THAT WHILE LEARNING WE’VE ABLE TO HAVE FUN AND ENJOY EVERY LEARNING AND DISCUSSION. THE REPORTING IS A GOOD WAY FOR US STUDENT TO EXPRESS OUR PERSPECTIVES AND OPINIONS ON THINGS. IT HELPS TO BOOST OUR INTEREST AND AWARENESS ON THE THINGS THAT BEFORE WE REALLY DON’T HAVE CARE AND IS NONE OF OUR BUSINESS. THE REFLECTION WRITING ACTIVITIES IS A USEFUL FOR US TO HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS TO EVERY ISSUE AND DECISIONS. AND I OBSERVED THAT SIR GIVES IMPORTANCE IN MANAGING HIS AND OUR TIME. Introduction to Philosophy.

Discuss the connection between religion and culture. How closely are Essay

Discuss the connection between religion and culture. How closely are they tied together in the West as compared to other parts of the world, particularly the Mi - Essay Example In addition, religion has always been an important constituent of culture. Society has always affected how groups of people interrelate with each other and is always evident in daily relations. It is more evident when different cultures based on different religions intermingle. Different cultures mix differently – they may easily mix or they may be highly contrasting. Man’s faith is as old as humankind itself and because of this; religion has a large probably of being able to influence people into its sets of beliefs and principles and thus, a change in its culture. By definition, a religion is composed of a series of beliefs and practices that is essentially residing in a community that involves people adhering to a set of beliefs and rituals of study of ancestral facts and coincidentally cultural traditions. In this kind of situation, religion by far mainly affects how people interact with each other. Over a long period of time, the people’s writings, history, and mythology, as well as mystic experience are moulded or affected by religion. In addition, religion also refers to both an individual’s practice as it is related to his/her communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from a common belief. Religion is often described as a communal system wherein people focus their beliefs and adhere on a single system of thought, unseen entity, a person, or an object. These elements in turn are considered to be supernatural or either extraordinary, sacred or divine to the group, and can be consider as the ultimate truth (Fletcher, 1994). This will be in turn, moral codes, practices, values, institutions, tradition, rituals, and scriptures are then converted into cultures as these practices or rituals are practiced in a daily core belief. It has also even been considered that religion is considered as a way of life for people. Already there are hints that religion plays a strong role in

Corporate Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Corporate Finance - Essay Example I agree to this because diversification spreads the risk over the different types of assets. Given the fact that the two assets are uncorrelated to each other, it would be rational to invest in both assets. The higher risk of asset S will be compensated with the less risky return of asset B. 2. I totally disagree to the statement; it is quite opposite of the fact that there is a direct relationship between correlation of the portfolio assets and its risk. The higher the correlation between the portfolio assets, the more chances will be that the downside movement of one asset will accompany the same in the other and thus the investment will turned to be the worst. Thus, a rational investor should invest in uncorrelated or atleast less correlated assets in order to reduce the overall risk of the portfolio (Ross et. al, 2013). 3. I agree to this argument. Since the expected return of portfolio is the weighted average of the expected returns of the individual assets, it must lie in betwe en the range of these two individual expected returns. . However, the standard deviation of the return on portfolio doesn’t need to be in b/w the individual standard deviations of the two assets, especially when the stocks are uncorrelated, because the standard deviation of a portfolio is not just the weighted average of individual standard deviations but is computed using the standard deviation formula to the return on portfolio assets rather than just the returns for one asset... al, 2013). 4. I agree to this statement. When capital market consists of all risky assets, a rational investor should hold large number of assets in portfolio in order to diversify risks to a large extent. Risk diversified over the large number of stocks will tend to reduce the portfolio risk more significantly because a large portfolio tends to behave more like the market portfolio which compensates unsystematic risks (Ross et. al, 2013). 5. I agree to this statement. The variance of the return on a portfolio is function of both the component variances of the individual assets as well as co-variances among the assets’ returns (Ross et. al, 2013). That is, even if the individual variances of the assets are very low though their returns are highly correlated, the portfolio will be highly volatile and risky and there won’t be any advantage of such diversification. 6. I disagree. Although increasing the number of assets reduces the variance of portfolio return because of d iversification, the reduction in risk occurs at a diminishing rate (not at a constant rate) with the increase in number of assets in the portfolio. It is even said that to attain the maximum benefits of diversification, 10-15 assets are enough for a portfolio since this amount of diversified assets can resemble the market portfolio. Adding more assets won’t contribute to any further reduction in the portfolio risk. So, the variance will be more or less same but won’t be zero even when N is very large. Also, it’s not just the added number of assets which reduces the portfolio variance but the correlation between the assets does that too. Theoretically, a mix of negatively and positively correlated assets or a mix of uncorrelated

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Summary - Essay Example Reverse mortgages have drastically grown if to compare it with the 1990s. This is explained by the fact that for most American citizens, home is the most valuable asset. The reverse mortgages are convenient as they do not suggest the borrower should pay anything until the house is sold or the borrower dies. In addition, owners of homes are able to take cash out of homes to add to their retirement income. Homeowners who borrowed this way are obliged to pay property taxes and pay for homeowners’ insurance while they have the loan. The amount of people who borrow in a lump sum has risen and equals 70 per cent now. So, people risk being short of cash when they have health problems in case they took the money without really needing it. Many people borrow because they are misled by false marketing information that features celebrities and supports advertising with false claims that reverse mortgaging is a kind of government benefit. Reference Wyatt, E. (2012). Report Highlights a Ri se in Reverse Mortgages. The New York Times June 28, 2012. ... While the real course of action in the issue of Supreme Court’s decision regarding individual mandate in relation to the healthcare bill is still unknown and hard to predict, numerous bettors suggest the Supreme Court overturn the mandate when voting. This trend which has been supported by as many as 74 per cent of Intrade bettors is the opposite to the earlier one, which could be observed before oral arguments on the issue in March (Silver, 2012). Such huge shift in sentiment is evidently unjustified since the value of the information owned by traders is rather debatable. Indeed, oral arguments have certain power for predictions, thus, power is limited besides the evidence is ambiguous. Roughly chances are balanced, while the questions posed by individual justices are indicative of possible overturn of the mandate. Another possible way out of this situation is that the Supreme Court will not decide to rule on the mandate. However, it is hard to read the Supreme Court. Referen ce Silver, N. (2012). Overconfidence Suggested in Supreme Court Predictions. The New York Times June 27, 2012. Retrieved on July 4, 2012 from http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/overconfidence-suggested-in- supreme-court-predictions/?scp=3&sq=market%20forecasting&st=Search. Linear Programming: Summary #3 â€Å"Big A.T. & T. Computer for Complexities† The problem of linear programming application to the sphere of big business is discussed below. The article shows how back in 1988, first successful attempts to use complex algorithms to solve business problems were made. Today the use of software is an indispensable part of any business, even the smallest one. A new powerful computer system was announced to be about to enter the U.S. market by the American Telephone and Telegraph

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 6

Marketing - Essay Example Table of Contents Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 Types of Websites 6 Comparison between B2B & C2C websites 8 Recommendation for improvements 12 Conclusion 13 Reference 14 Introduction In the year 1990 commercialization f the web began with the introduction of linking websites and the information by Tim Berners-Lee’s. With the advancement in the technological field more innovative approach came into play with the innovation of new hyper text transfer protocol (HTML). New browser was developed by the developers of them the most prominent one becomes Internet Explorer from Microsoft Corporation which gained popularity amongst the users. The major factor behind the rapid growth of the Web technology is due to the fall in price of computers and interest rate of the bank which increases the ownership of computers to great extent amongst the people. Different types of websites came into existence and increased at lightning speed from 19,000 websites to 176M websites just within a period of 18 years from 1990’s to 2008. With time and technological inventions better understanding of the web techniques and developers helped in better communication and user friendly design which created more attractiveness for the websites for different companies. ... E-commerce was introduced into web and companies carry out their business over internet for a better reach to the customer resulting in huge growth from $27M in the year 2000 to $ 139M in 2008. Figure 1: E-commerce retail sales growth 2000-2008 (Source: Cengage Learning, n.d.) This report is mainly concerned with the analysis of two kinds of websites one is Business to Business website (http://australia.cat.com/) and the other one is Consumer to Consumer website (eBay.com.au). Both these websites are based at Australia and the companies are operating their business in two different ways with the help of technologies which is needed to be evaluated in this project. Types of Websites While developing a website one of the foremost requirements for the company is to understand the types of business in which the company operates in. With proper understanding of the business process the website development team can implement the strategies and design the website for better grip in the mark et. Complying with the business model is very essential for a sustainable growth in the market for the company. For operating business online e-Commerce business model is the major tool for the companies to reach to the customers in a more convenient manner. E-Commerce technology can be implemented on several ways in different types of websites according to the business process and the product offering of the company. The different types of websites can be as follows- Business to Business (B2B) When the e-commerce transaction is taking place in between two business units and the buying and selling of goods and services are carried out for manufacturing and producing new products. In business to business process the raw

How to be a good parent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

How to be a good parent - Essay Example The research paper consists of the children that are in between 2 to 16 years. In this age, considerable changes occur in children because this is the age in which developments is in ongoing position. Then parents have to be conscious while behaving wrongly in front of the children because they are in learning position (Fontenelle, 2011). Each and every behavior effects on their mental and physical development. Parents have to be conscious while talking with the neighbors, friends and any other person in front of the children because children learn most of the behaviors from the parents. Parents should maintain stable behavior with the children. Too much leniency and strictness spoil the child’s mental health, and he or she cannot be a strong person in the future life. Parents should be concerned in the activities of their children so that they know the behavioral changes and the reasons of these changes. In this way, parents can easily solve the problems of children (Steinber g, 2004). Parents should know the children’s liking and disliking such as what sport they like, what television show they want to watch, who are their friends and why do they like them. Through the strong connection, they can know mostly about the children. Parent should tell the children what is right and what is wrong, what is good and bad for them. Parents should tell them the limits so that in the future they will become responsible and self reliant (Hawkins, 1972). Mostly young and inexperienced parents do not know the behavioral changes of the children because they are inexperienced. According to the writers, young parents need assistance for knowing these changes so that their children will become confident and self reliant in their lives. Parents should observe the children’s behavior and attitude keenly so that they can know their children's behavioral changes. In this way, they can easily know the problems that children are facing in the life. Parents should have a friendly attitude with children so that they feel protective and comfortable in their parents company. In this way, whenever child faces some problem, he or she firstly will tell their problem to their parents. In this way, they will secure from crucial issues. The parents who created a comfortable environment between children and themselves, these children will become more confident and self reliant (Kerr, M., & Stattin, 2000). The children who have confidence take more accurate decisions in the future for themselves. Parents have to be conscious while selecting their name. In that way, the child will become more confident and self reliant. Name is the first and most valuable gift that parents give to their children. Name is the identity of the children. This identity he has to use in his or her whole life. That is why parents should be more conscious in the selection of name. Writer tells name should be in the way that the person can carry in the whole life. Names should no t be look like the name of child and any elderly person. The name of the child gives him or her confidence to become more socialized and confident in the future. Second and most important thing he told is that love is the most important thing for the children’s confidence and maturity. The more you provide love to your children, the more they will become more confident in making important decisions in life. Good name gives

Freedom and my story Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Freedom and my story - Essay Example When I am here in America, I can leave my house at anytime I wish to attend my friends’ functions and other events since the country does not restrict me from doing so at any time I wish to. However, back in my country, I cannot enjoy similar freedom since my country forbids people especially women from moving around freely because of societal beliefs that are connected to the main religion; Islam. When attending my friends’ parties, we listen and dance to music since I like dancing so much. The people in U.S enjoy many forms of freedom most of which are not available in Saudi Arabia. While anyone in U.S can play and listen to any form of music that they please, my home country forbids that under religious beliefs. When I am in America, I have the freedom to listen to any music as well as dance to it at any place without any form of restrictions. This is not possible in my home country because music is seen as a way of distracting the country’s highly religious population. In fact, when I go to a mall in Saudi Arabia for shopping, I cannot enjoy listening to music while shopping since it is forbidden. Meanwhile, when doing my shopping here in U.S, which I frequently do when accompanied by my friends, I enjoy listening to cool music. I enjoy this freedom because my shopping experience becomes more enjoyable. In America, I can take any course without restrictions w hereas my home country prohibits learning music in public schools making it very hard for my friends who love music to study it. For this reason, some of my friends come to America to pursue their careers in music. Personally, I am a social person. I socialize with different types of people when in school and when doing my day-to-day activities. When I am in U.S, I enjoy the freedom of socializing with different types people, as it is my nature to interact with people. Going back to my home country, this is virtually impossible especially when in a public

Marketing Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Marketing Plan - Essay Example Supplementing it will be rice and salad. Juices will also be served but this will also be squeezed in front of the customer and fulfill our health proposition. The total estimated cost of setting up the restaurant is estimated to be $70, 000. The selection of the products served by us is justified by many reasons. First and foremost is the inclusion of chicken in the eating menu of most of the people. This will give is an instant head-start because chicken preparations are liked by almost every single person. Secondly, from health and nutrition point of view, juices will also attract people. In a nutshell, chicken and juice will serve as a short-meal combination which can satisfy short span hunger and can be eaten before proper meals. Initially price will be set lower to attract customers and develop confidence in them of our food and service quality at reasonable prices. It will also be set keeping in mind what other restaurants serving the same item are charging for it. But we will fix the rate at slightly low. Place selected for the business is Downtown San Francisco where tourists come from all over the world and the place welcomes people from diverse culture. Because chicken is an item liked by almost all cultures and traditions, this place offers the most advantageous position to locate our business. Promotion strategies of our business will include radio announcements, pamphlet distribution, hoardings, newspaper advertisements and word-of-mouth publicity. Initially, discounts will be provided on family orders and inviting friends. We will also try to gain contracts at major shops and tourist destinations for serving our juices there. Later on when the business catches up, loyalty cards and rewards will be given to regular customers to retain them and get positive feedbacks and publicity. Our primary target market will be tourists who try each and every item selling at the place they visit.

Diabetes Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Diabetes - Research Paper Example The research paper shows the prevalence of the disease. It gives information on the age group; race, ethnicity, body size and sex that have high chances of are getting diabetes mellitus. The paper also highlights on some minor causes of diabetes mellitus, and the severe complications resulted from the disease if it is not diagnosed at an early stage. Diabetes mellitus known as diabetes is the number of chronically metabolic diseases that are identified by rise in glucose levels in the blood; scientifically know as hyperglycemia (Chandalia at al., 2012). It may occur due to the pancreas producing inadequate amount of insulin, defect in insulin action, or both. It is considered to be the seventh cause of death in United States. The food we consume is catalyzed to glucose which is utilized by the body to provide energy. Hormone insulin, which is synthesized by the beta cells of the pancreas, regulates sugar levels in the blood. According to LeRoith et al. (2004), this is achieved by assisting the glucose in circulating blood to enter the body cells (p.225). Once the glucose has entered the body cells it is used to synthesize energy that is used in all body functions. Long term hyperglycemia result to ailments of the coronary artery, increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as strokes, heart attack, angina and heart failur e and causes diseases associated with peripheral arteries (macro vascular) and also micro vascular complications in patients. In some cases, it also results in lower limb amputation. The data received for statistics of the number of US residents that were diagnosed by diabetes and prediabetes in 2010 was derived by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Patient Information Reporting System (NPIRS) and the United States renal data system of the national institute of health. The number of residential Americans aged 20 and above was 25.6 million which is

Madness through king lear Essay Example for Free

Madness through king lear Essay In the 17th Century, madness was still a relatively new concept. Many people believed it was due to a person being possessed, which resulted in madness often being linked back to black magic and witchcraft. In context, the public would frequently visit Bedlam Hospital to enjoy the spectacle of a madmans behaviour thus, Renaissance dramatists typically used mad scenes for a comical effect. In spite of this, Shakespeare seems intent on a serious, if not slightly disturbing, portrayal of madness in King Lear. Throughout the play King Lear, we bear witness to Lears gradual and possibly inevitable descent into madness. As early as Act I Scene 1 we, as the audience, observe early signs of the kings insanity, albeit political at this point, we are alarmed at Lears decision to break up his state. Especially through the means he wishes to do so, his love-test is foolish and egotistical, as is his desire to be treated as an important, royal personage after he has given away his kingdom. It is fair to say that all through Act I Scene 1 Lear shows many times that he most concerned with appearances. Seemingly his love-test is going to plan, as Goneril and Regan extravagantly pledge their love and allegiance to their father, this is until Cordelia refuses to comply with Lears love-test, answering I love your Majesty according to my bond, no more, no less. simply meaning that Cordelia loves her father as a daughter should. Lear, in his blissful ignorance, cannot see past Goneril and Regans elaborate speeches and instead feels humiliated by his youngest daughters unadorned answer. As a result, he disowns her and banishes her, Cordelia then departs to France. We can see Lear is already losing control as he goes to strike his faithful advisor Kent and banishes him also, all because Kent questioned the Lears actions. As a consequence of Lears vituperative temper and his irrational, insane, actions he leaves himself powerless and at the mercy of his two eldest daughters, with neither his loyal advisor nor his devoted youngest daughter to protect him from what is to proceed. As the play progresses, we can see that the kings identity is gradually becoming unbeknown to him when he asks the question Who is there that can tell me who I am? 1, we can see that Lear is slowly losing his wits. Lears speeches become increasingly disjointed as he becomes more distressed, hinting at the madness that will overtake him later in the play. He is becoming progressively isolated due to his fragile mental state, thus, through Lear the idea of madness could be seen as being presented as vulnerability. In Act II, Lears changes of moods and tones indicate his escalating mental instability. His foolishness persists as he insists he will stay with the daughter that allows him to keep the most knights; there is desperation in his confrontation with his dog-hearted daughters. Eventually, the beleaguered kings rages become signs of impotence, not authority, emphasising the fact that the patriarchs insanity has left him powerless and increasingly vulnerable. When the storm starts we recognise that Lears fear that he would go mad, first voiced in Act I Scene 4, has been realised. The storm serves as a metaphor for Lears and Englands plight, his speeches establish and reflect properties of the storm. Through the storm, Lears madness is presented as destructive as his speeches are full of anger and distress, as the mad king moves swiftly from one topic to another. The violence of the imagery that the king employs reflects his state of mind. It is easy to see how Lears insanity could be viewed as destructive; he has caused his kingdoms predicament through his rash actions at the beginning of the play, he has divided his family through his egotism and in his mad rages he often behaves like a scorned child using invective language. However, all this considered, Shakespeare also presents Lears madness as pitiful. Due to his madness Lear confronts his failings: as a father and a ruler. He shows compassion to the characters that have helped him i. e. the Fool, Kent/Caious and Poor Tom. Even when Lear starts to regain his wits, we sympathise with the king as with his new clarity of vision brings with it distress and much regret. These are not the facts that make us truly pity Lear; it is the reality that wisdom came too late. Jesters were often kept by the monarch to provide witty analysis of contemporary behaviour and to remind the sovereign of his humanity; Lears Fool certainly fulfils these functions for his master. At first glance, the Fools professional madness is rendered as comical, his seemingly asinine jests often lighten the tone and provide some much needed moments of relief, the Fools flippant remark about Poor Toms clothing is a good example of him lightening the tone of a distressing scene. However, through the Fools professional insanity Shakespeare presents a hidden wisdom. Lears Fool is all-licensed which essentially means that the Fool is licensed to say things to his superior that anybody else would be punished for. Taking this, and the fact that Lear and his Fool seem to have a very close relationship (the Fool calling Lear nuncle and Lear calling the Fool boy), throughout the time the Fool exists in the play he is able to counsel Lear. The Fools sarcastic jesting is blunt and hard hitting. Almost as soon as the Fool enters in the play he harps on Lears folly, this is apparent when the king asks Dost thou call me fool, boy? to which the Fool replies All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born with2. Through the Fools madness he serves to push Lear towards the truth about his daughters this is evident when he warns Lear that Regan will side with Goneril, Shalt see thy other daughter will use kindly; for though shes as like this crabs like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell3. And again when he hints at the dangerous situation Lear has put himself in by reversing the natural order, making his daughters his mother, The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long that it had it head bit off by it young4 this is clearly warning the king that his daughters will turn against him. Furthermore, the Fool also tries to open the kings eyes so that he can see these truths on his own, Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise5, as well as have some insight as to why these events are occurring. The third character in question is that of Edgar / Poor Tom. Edgar, Gloucesters legitimate son, is introduced as being a passive, credulous dupe upon whom Edmunds6 devious practices ride easy. We are only given a succinct introduction of Edgar before Shakespeare haves him disguise himself as Poor Tom. In the days of Shakespeare, Bedlam hospital housed the mentally ill. When they were released Bedlam inmates were allowed to go begging for survival; this is what Edgar has been reduced to by his gullible father and his brothers trickery. My face Ill grime with filth, blanket my loins. Elf all my hairs in knots, and with presented nakedness outface the winds and persecutions of the sky7 the fact that Edgar has to disguise himself as a Bedlam beggar, wandering the countryside in nothing but a loin cloth in order to preserve his life, presents to us his vulnerability and the sheer desperation of his feigned madness. Initially, Edgar is presented as a seemingly lucid character yet, as the plot unfolds we see he has many purposes within the play. Shakespeare uses Edgars alias Poor Tom to provide some comical relief as the plot thickens as some of his antics and ramblings can prove to be amusing gibberish. However, in contrast, Poor Toms erratic breathless craziness in Act III Scene iv increases the pathos infinitely. A prime example of this would be when he (Edgar / Poor Tom) says that a foul fiend laid knives under his pillow and halters in this pew, set ratsbane by his porridge, indicating towards suicide, this speech reflects Edgars fragile state of mind and, although fake, his madness is distressing to the audience. We are reminded of Edgars humanity in Act III Scene vi (the mock trail scene) as he listens to Lears lunatic agony, his act as Poor Tom momentarily breaks down at Bless thy five wits this in turn is another moment in which Edgars caricature increases the pathos of a scene. Furthermore, I feel that Shakespeare is using Edgar / Poor Toms situation to mirror Lears. Similarly to the besieged king, Edgar is now reliant on charity and he has also had his world and expectations turned upside down. Edgars assumed madness indicates towards Lears eventual submission to complete insanity in Act III, through Poor Tom we glimpse what Lear will be reduced to. Madness is portrayed in different ways through these characters: professional, feigned and genuine insanity. Nonetheless, the idea of madness is presented as purposeful, almost like a journey, for all three of the characters in question. Edgars pilgrimage through his contrived madness serves the obvious purpose of preserving his life. The preservation of Edgars life enables him to guide his father but ultimately through his madness his valour is awakened allowing him to play the role of avenger at the end of the play. However, Edgars madness also serves a purpose to the principle protagonist, Lear, as it is noticeable that on the heath Edgars presence as his caricature Poor Tom aids Lear, as through interactions with Poor Tom the kings humanity and understanding increase. The Fools professional jesting provides some much needed moments of relief. In spite of his comic role, the Fools main purpose within King Lear is to, in essence, be Lears conscience. In other words, he bestows the king with truth and reason throughout the turbulent situations that occur during his, the Fools, time in the play. Due to the fact that he is all-licensed, and also has a close relationship with the king, he can inform and criticise Lear for his mistakes without being punished for it, this permits him to counsel Lear. Lear eventually gains the insight he needs to perceive his daughters and society for what it really is, insincere and immoral. The Fools abrupt disappearance signifies that Lear has gained all the understanding he needs to distinguish between and reality. Therefore, the Fool is no longer needed: his purpose has been fulfilled. Unlike Edgar or the Fool, Lears madness is not an imminent occurrence, it develops throughout the play. The insanity of the king is unequivocally ironic, in his apparent sanity he was introduced to be conceited and imprudent, yet when he is mad he becomes a more humble, compassionate and attractive character. At the beginning of the play Lear acts exceptionally irrational and cannot see the verity of his superficial values but as a result of his madness he demonstrates an increasingly sincere, tolerant side to his nature. Attributable to his intensifying humility he is able to recognise his wrong doings as a leader and a father thus, the kings madness redeems him as he learns the value of true emotion and is able to consider the sufferings of those close to him. Consequently, this enables Lear to reconcile with his beloved daughter Cordelia. In conclusion, the madness of King Lear is deeply distressing, it develops from and points back to the kings instability.

Funding For Space Exploration Philosophy Essay

Funding For Space Exploration Philosophy Essay July 20, 1969, Commander Neil Armstrong takes the first steps on the moon. All it took was 170 billion dollars in todays money to put a man on the moon. Mankind does not need to explore further than the moon. Neil Armstrong once said This is one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. Forget giant leaps for mankind, NASA is a giant machine for spending money. This fact is backed up by the humiliating failure of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory, a $278 million package which blasted off from Vandenberg air force (DeGroot 2). Considering the debt that America struggles with in right now, NASA and space exploration is not the main priority. The United States government uses an excess of funds to explore outer space in an attempt to find other forms of intelligent life, they use too much tax money that can be put to better use, and many of the astronauts are at risk due to human spaceflight. A large portion of tax-payer money goes to NASA so that they can attempt to explore the unknown of space. Much of the money that NASA wastes on space exploration could be put to a much better and productive use. The United States government needs to focus on recovering their own planet before they discover others. Money that goes to NASA causes the national debt to increase. Instead, that money should go towards paying off the debt, or even fixing problems with unemployment. Back in the 1960s, when planning to put the first man on the moon, 58% of Americans opposed spending the estimated $40 billion or an average of about $225 per person required to send a person to the moon. Only a third supported the plan (Nasa Funding n.pag.). Many of the United States citizens opposed the plan because they knew that it should not be our main priority and it is a very large amount of money. The citizens were knowledgeable of how all of that money could benefit the country. In 2004, President Bus h presented Congress with a $2.4 trillion budget blueprint for the 2005 fiscal year (Nasa Funding n.pag.). The budget for the 2005 year is an extreme amount and there is to explore the depth of space when humans barely know their own planet. A vast amount of the Earth remains undiscovered which gives no reason to worry about space. Given the knowledge that humans have, there could exist absolutely nothing in space besides rocks and meteors. Earth is possible the only planet that sustains intelligent life. Scientists have searched the vast emptiness of space since the first moon landing in the 1960s. Although, in 40 years of searching, we have detected no such signal. In 1967, we thought we had one, but that turned out to be the entirely natural signal of a pulsar (Murray 2). Assume that NASAs scientists continue searching and finally reach their goal of discovering intelligent life 200 years into the future. More than $8 trillion will have gone toward that goal judging by the drasti c increases of NASAs annual budget from the years 2003 to 2009 (Returning to the moon n.pag.). However, intelligent life may not even exist on other planets, so all the hard work and money will go to waste if NASA does not find any aliens. In December of 1993, NASA embarrassingly sent astronauts into orbit to repair the Hubble, which cost taxpayers and extra $629 million. Due to this incident, NASA was put to blame for their incompetence and using billions in federal funds without accountability (Nasa Funding n.pag.). NASA has the ability to just soak up federal funds and tax money to fix their mindless mistakes. The plans of the space program to send men into space may endanger their well-being. Earth is a perfect habitat for mankind, which gives humans no reason to leave. Margaret Haerens writes, Animals never leave a comfortable habitat for a harsh one, unless they are forced to (Haerens 2). Haerens compares the astronauts to animals and how the astronauts should not leave Earth when they are perfectly find where they are. Space can kill humans very rapidly without a spacesuit. Astronauts willingly put themselves into space where they know if anything goes wrong they will die instantly. Haerens also writes that, Our vertebrate ancestors did not come ashore hundreds of millions of years ago because they decided to boldly go where no fish had gone before (Haerens 2). The author says that the race to the moon and outer space is foolish and just because an area has never been explored does not mean that someone should explore the area, which relates back to how in nature, animals never leave a favorable environment for a poor one. The fact that the presence in space negatively affects the human body reinforces why humans should not leave Earth. Scientists have discovered that prolonged weightlessness does terrible things to the bones and circulatory system. If God wanted us to live in outer space, we wouldnt have balancing systems in our inner ears (Haerens 2). Humans have evolved and adapted to live on Earth, if humans were meant to live in space, they would have adapted to suit the harsh conditions of space. Iain Murray writes that alien life is completely unknown to the human race and humans have no idea what aliens are capable of. Aliens could have the potential to completely wipe humans off the face of the earth (Murray 1). If aliens actually exist, no one knows what they have the ability to do. They could be very powerful and dominate humans and imperialize the planet, Earth. Although, aliens may be able to assist humans with space travel if we ever encounter them. However, there are many reasons that support space exploration, such as the risk of mass extinction that happens on Earth forcing humans to migrate to other planets. In the case of a mass extinction, humans must find a plan B in order to survive. Haerens talks about the possibility that the human race has to move from Earth to avoid a mass extinction. Possibly, in 500 million years, the sun may slowly boil the oceans and incinerate the Earth. Natural disasters are not the only possibility for a mass extinction, other epidemics such as climate change and overpopulation can also cause mass extinctions. Haerens also writes that the chances of an epidemic of such colossal size that it can cause a mass extinction are pretty low. However, an asteroid of sufficient size could cause the extinction of humans as it did the dinosaurs (Haerens 3). Earth may soon become over populated with humans; therefore, the human race must find other planets to make sure that mankind will live on. Jerry DeGr oot notes that Stephen Hawking has argued about how the human race must colonize other planets to ensure mankinds long-term survival. The Earth is indeed doomed, but where will all the civilians go? When comparing Mars to Antarctica, Antarctica seems like a paradise (DeGroot 2). It seems logical to desire to colonize other planets since if the human race becomes extinct, all of mans achievements and accomplishments over time would be gone. Space travel has a high chance of happening, humans will eventually learn to harness the energy of space as the cavemen learned how to harness the energy of fire. Enthusiastic supporters of the space exploration argue that exploring outer space is the next step in human evolution. Scientists believe that the colonization of other planets, beginning with the moon, should become a long-term human goal. Scientist also argue that colonizing the moon helps humans learn how to live on Mars by learning how to live with conditions of the moon first (Retur ning to the Moon n.pag.). One day a devastating event will happen to the Earth and change the course of life and only space colonization can save it. Although space exploration can greatly benefit the progression of mankind, it depletes a large part Americas resources and funds. Instead of humans trying to find intelligent life, they should leave them to find us. The billions of dollars that are used each year to fund space exploration could greatly improve everyday life on planet Earth. The American government funds NASA with a plethora of money in order for them to discover the unknown of the universe and much of the funds comes from tax-payers. Also, the astronauts are exposed to the outside threats of space which put them in dangerous situations. Perhaps, one day, once Earth has achieved a utopic state, humans can fund a space program that will discover extraterrestrial beings.

Types of Life Insurance: Advantages and Disadvantages

Types of Life Insurance: Advantages and Disadvantages Overview Life insurance is one of the most popular types of insurance that people purchase. Life insurance is basically insurance that you purchase and will pay money to your beneficiaries if you die. One of the main reasons why people purchase life insurance is to protect their family financially. Life insurance will help pay for burial costs, debt, mortgages, and any other income losses that will occur if someone dies. Life insurance is paid for just like automotive insurance is. It can be paid by a monthly, quarterly, or annually premium for as long as the policy goes for (Types of Insurance Policies, 2011). There are several different types of life insurance policies that people can purchase that will best suit their needs. The main types are term life insurance, whole life insurance, variable life insurance, and universal life insurance. In this research paper, I will explain the advantages, disadvantages, time lengths, and how each of the types of life insurance fit different people. It is very important to understand how these insurance companies calculate premiums for different people. Their main goal is to assess the risk of someone dying during the policy. Just like other types of insurance, the more risk you have, the higher your premium will be. Some of the factors that are used to determine premiums are gender, age, occupation, height, weight, medical history, lifestyle, and if you smoke (Types of Insurance Policies, 2011). Recently I had to do a project in class where you had to find different premiums on life insurance. Some other things that I was asked were if I recently had any DUIs, if any relatives have died before the age of 60, if I have recently been hospitalized, and if any diseases run in my family. All of these factors do give the insurance companies a better understanding of someones risk, but it is nearly impossible to be able to determine the chances of someone passing away. It is also difficult to estimate the cost of each of the different types of life insurance because it is different for every individual. Term life insurance is very affordable, and that is why it is growing in popularity. Term life insurance is basically a life insurance policy that covers a person if they die during the length of their insurance. Term life insurance policies can be anywhere from 1 to 30 years. These policies are known as temporary because once the policies are over, you are no longer covered. For example, if you purchase a 10 year term life insurance policy, and you die the year after your policy expires, your beneficiaries wont receive any money. This also means that if you stop paying your premiums, you will no longer be covered. There are many different reasons how people decided on how long they want their life insurance policy to cover their family. A lot people that purchase term life insurance decide to make their contract until they retire. Another popular way people decide on their term is to remain covered until their children have turned 18. This is a very smart way to insure that your children will be financially protected until they are adults (Life Insurance Wiz, 2006). Another good reason to purchase term life insurance is if you are involved in risky or potentially fatal activities. Even though these factors will increase your premium, it is still worth it in case something terrible happens. The cost of term life insurance all depends on a persons risk and the length of the policy. There are several different types of term life insurance, and it is important to know the differences when selecting the best type. Annual renewable term life insurance means that each year a person may renew their term life insurance. However, each year you renew your term life insurance, the premium will go up in cost because of your age. Renewable term life insurance means that after your specific term is up, you are allowed sign a new term life insurance contract. Level premium term insurance means that your premium will not change throughout the length of the contract. This type of term insurance is good because as you get older, you dont have to pay more money for your life insurance. Convertible term insurance means that you are allowed to convert your term insurance into another type of life insurance, like universal or whole life (Life Insurance Wiz, 2006). There are advantages and disadvantages to term life insurance. Some advantages are that you get to choose how long you want to be covered for, most policies can be changed or renewed to other policies, and your beneficiaries are paid a specific amount upon your death which is decided when you start your policy. Some disadvantages are that if you pass away after your term life insurance policy, no benefits are giving to your family, and it doesnt offer as much protection as other life insurance policies offer (Life Insurance Wiz, 2006). Whole Life Insurance Whole life insurance is exactly what it sounds like, a life insurance policy that last for someones whole life. Upon death, the beneficiary receives the value of the account. Whole life insurance is also known as permanent life insurance. The main difference between whole life and term life is that whole life insurance grows in value over time. Whole life insurance is similar to a retirement account where you are putting money toward the future, except in this case it is toward your death. An interesting fact about whole life insurance is that you can actually borrow money out of your account, which you cannot do with term insurance (Life Insurance Wiz, 2006). To be able to borrow money out of your account, there must be a set minimum of money already invested into the account. Most whole life insurance policies mature when a person turns 100 years old, so if that person is still alive they will receive the face value of their account (My Life Insured, 2007). The main reason why peop le choose whole life insurance over term life insurance is because they want to be insured for the rest of their life. For this reason, whole life insurance is more expensive than term insurance. There are several different types of whole life insurance. Non participating whole life insurance means that you do not receive dividends for your policy. On the other hand, participating whole life insurance means that you do receive dividends. Level premium whole life insurance is just like level term insurance, where you pay the same premium throughout the length of the policy. Purchasing a life insurance policy with a fixed premium is a great choice because once you retire, you wouldnt want your premium to increase every year due to the loss in income. Single premium whole life insurance is a policy where you pay a large sum of money in the begging of your policy, which than eliminates having to pay premiums. This type of policy is not very popular due to the reason that you would need a lot of money up front. Intermediate whole life insurance means that your premiums change over time depending on your status (New York State Insurance Department, 2011). In the past couple years, a significant amount of people lost their homes because of adjustable mortgages, so I think that this type of whole life insurance is not a good choice. Some advantages of Whole life insurance are that they are usually fixed premiums, the beneficiaries will receive money whenever the policy holder dies, there are tax benefits, and most of the money will be returned if the policy is cancelled. The money that accumulates in your policy is tax free, which attracts a lot of people to purchase a whole life insurance policy over a term life insurance policy. Some disadvantages of whole life insurance is that it is costly compared to term insurance, and it is much more complicated than term life insurance (New York State Insurance Department, 2011). If you are interested in purchases a whole life insurance policy, it is important to know which type it is so you know you will be able to afford it for the rest of your life. Universal Life Insurance Universal life insurance is very similar to whole life insurance. A universal life insurance policy will cover someone for their whole life, so it is also considered a permanent life insurance policy. Universal life insurance policies also grow in cash over time, which is tax deferred. The interest rates increase and decrease like the money market, so there is a chance to make a lot of money in this type of life insurance (My Life Insured, 2007). The main advantage that universal life insurance has over whole life insurance is that there is more flexibility in the policy. The cash value and the death benefits parts of your policy are broken up, so a person can decide how much of their money will go in each part (Life Insurance Wiz, 2006). The policy holder can also increase and decrease their premium depending on their situation. However, the insurance companies do have a target premium, so if you pay less than it, you may be penalized (Life Insurance Wiz, 2006). This type of life in surance policy would be best for someone who wanted to be covered for the rest of their life, and would want to be able to adjust their policy to be suit their needs. Advantages of Universal life insurance are it is the most flexible, you are able to take out loans, you can adjust your premiums due to your situation, and the cash you earn in interest can be used toward your payments. Some disadvantages are that your cash value isnt guaranteed like it is with whole life insurance and it more costly than term and universal life insurance policies (Life Insurance Info, 2011). Variable Life Insurance Variable life insurance is also considered a permanent type of life insurance. It is considered a pure investment policy because the insured has completed control of how their money is invested (My Life Insured, 2007). They can decide to invest their cash account into bonds, stocks, or any other money market funds (My Life Insured, 2007). For this reason, variable life insurance is the most risky out of all the types of life insurance. If a person makes poor investment choices, they risk losing a substantial amount of their money. On the other hand, if good investments are made, the policy holder can receive a significant profit. Due to the risk of this type of life insurance, it is the most expensive one. This type of life insurance policy is only a good choice for people that understand the money market, and will remain active in watching their investments.

The Experimental Film, Fallen Angels Essay -- Movie Film Essays

The Experimental Film, Fallen Angels This experimental film makes use of a variety of camera shots to create a unique story that is at times funny, at times violent, and at times sad. It follows a man and a woman who are business partners; he is a hit man and she tells him the target. They are attracted to each other, but he does not want to start a relationship for fear it will destroy their business relationship. He finds another girl and in the end decides to end the business relationship because his partner can not get over him. He does, however, agree to one more job, where he ends up getting killed by his target. There is also a parallel story of a young man who earns money by annoying people and his relationship with his father and the girl he likes. He helps this girl look for the woman her boyfriend is cheating on her with and then the girl goes back to her boyfriend. In the end he meets the girl whose partner died and they ride off â€Å"into the sunset† on his motorcycle. Although there are two separate storylines that converge in the end, the story seems like it’s prett...

Herodotus Essay -- Essays Papers

Herodotus As Herodotus develops his History he diverges from the main aspect of his narrative many times throughout the text. Many wonder why Herodotus diverges from the main point by introducing minor characters who do not seem relevant to the central theme. Some consider this method of narrative confusing and pointless but I believe that Herodotus has a purpose for including these minor figures and that these characters help express Herodotus ideology towards proper moral and political systems. These minor figures are developed and manipulated by Herodotus in order to express his ideas and he is able to accomplish this because these characters are flexible in the sense that the readers (and listeners) do not have a predisposition when introduced to these characters. By closely analyzing the minor characters throughout book seven we realize Herodotus’ purpose behind the inclusion of these characters is to demonstrate his beliefs on the proper morals people should exhibit and to show how Tyranny is a poor form of government. As the History unfolds Herodotus diverges from the central idea by introducing characters which do not seem to correspond with that central theme. These diverges serve instruct the reader as to Herodotus’ view on moral issues. Herodotus expresses his view on the way death should be perceived by society through the words of Artabanus. Xerxes represents the common perception of death when he is admiring the vastness of his army and begins to weep because he realizes that they will all be gone in short span of time. Artabanus tells Xerxes â€Å"Life is gives us greater occasion for pity that this. Short as his life is, no man is happy†¦but many times, to wish himself dead rather alive (Artabanus 7.46).† Herodotus is explaining through these words that death should not be seen in a negative view because life brings man so much troubles and anguish that he desires for death to come upon him. Artabanus tells us of these troubles when he says â€Å"For there are calamities that meet him and diseases that derange him, so that they make this life†¦seem long (Artabanus 7.46).† Even though people may agree with Xerxes actions that death should be pitied but Herodotus does show that life brings tragedy to man and that death may act as an escape from these tragedies. We are able to see the way proper behavior should be display... ...the second is that they will challenge you to battle, even though all the other Greek were on your side (Demaratus 7.102).† Xerxes can not believe that the Spartans would fight against such odds but Demaratus explains that they fight for a greater cause then the Persians. He tells Xerxes â€Å"They have as the despot over them Law, and the fear him more then your men fear you (Demaratus 7.104).† Herodotus is demonstrating that individuals under the rule of democracy are more content then individuals under Tyranny because they fight more valiantly for their government. Herodotus uses the introduction of characters to diverge from the central idea of his theme and he uses this technique to demonstrate his views on moral and political topics. These controversial topics come up while he is unfolding his History and he uses these characters to express his own opinion on these subjects. An example of Herodotus’ confronts moral subjects during his narration when he talks about death, yielding to ones pride, and honorable fighting. He also uses these characters to show that Tyranny is not a good form of government. Bibliography: Herodotus Translated by David Green

Shakespeare And Frost - Masters Of Their Trade :: essays research papers

"The art of the poet is to explore the very questions of human existence". The art of poetry is a deep and involved process, which when used properly to infer an existentialist message, can turn lines of ink into a work of art. Major and famous authors of times past and present have frequently, and continue to deal with these issues of human existence. Two of these masters, William Shakespeare and Robert Frost are examples of writers who have made the step from poetry to works of art. This is shown in Frost’s On a Tree Fallen Across the Road and in Shakespeare’s Sonnet No. 30 where major existentialist and metaphysical themes are dealt with. Frost’s On a Tree Fallen Across the Road, includes major metaphysical and existentialist themes that are clearly portrayed by the poet, Frost, in a story about travellers who’s journey has been bared by a hurdle, represented by a fallen tree. "The tree the tempest with a crash of wood, Thrown down in front of us is not to bar Our passage to our journeys end for good." The first three lines of this stanza already expose this existentialist message. When read literally we see a group of travellers whose passage has been impeded by a tree which has fallen across the path of these travellers, however when we read deeper into the passage we find Frost referring to "Our journey", a term commonly used in existential writing as a description of life, and the tree a representation of the problems or hurdles faced in life. In his poetry Frost commonly refers to life as "his journey" and in this instance Frost has written about the unexpected challenges, distractions and hurdles thrown into life, which can side track or take our minds of the "journey" at hand. Frost continues his existentialist theme by going on to say: "We will not be put off our final goal We have it hidden in us to obtain." Frost believes that every individual has the ability to reach the goals they have set while on their "journey", and every person needs to have goals set, otherwise their would be no need to partake this journey, therefore answering this question "why are we here", and along with his use of natural imagery, simple language and symbolism Frost is able to deal with the major existentialist question and concepts. Shakespeare And Frost - Masters Of Their Trade :: essays research papers "The art of the poet is to explore the very questions of human existence". The art of poetry is a deep and involved process, which when used properly to infer an existentialist message, can turn lines of ink into a work of art. Major and famous authors of times past and present have frequently, and continue to deal with these issues of human existence. Two of these masters, William Shakespeare and Robert Frost are examples of writers who have made the step from poetry to works of art. This is shown in Frost’s On a Tree Fallen Across the Road and in Shakespeare’s Sonnet No. 30 where major existentialist and metaphysical themes are dealt with. Frost’s On a Tree Fallen Across the Road, includes major metaphysical and existentialist themes that are clearly portrayed by the poet, Frost, in a story about travellers who’s journey has been bared by a hurdle, represented by a fallen tree. "The tree the tempest with a crash of wood, Thrown down in front of us is not to bar Our passage to our journeys end for good." The first three lines of this stanza already expose this existentialist message. When read literally we see a group of travellers whose passage has been impeded by a tree which has fallen across the path of these travellers, however when we read deeper into the passage we find Frost referring to "Our journey", a term commonly used in existential writing as a description of life, and the tree a representation of the problems or hurdles faced in life. In his poetry Frost commonly refers to life as "his journey" and in this instance Frost has written about the unexpected challenges, distractions and hurdles thrown into life, which can side track or take our minds of the "journey" at hand. Frost continues his existentialist theme by going on to say: "We will not be put off our final goal We have it hidden in us to obtain." Frost believes that every individual has the ability to reach the goals they have set while on their "journey", and every person needs to have goals set, otherwise their would be no need to partake this journey, therefore answering this question "why are we here", and along with his use of natural imagery, simple language and symbolism Frost is able to deal with the major existentialist question and concepts.

Eth 125 Syllabus Course

College of Humanities ETH/125 Version 6 Cultural Diversity Copyright  © 2010, 2009, 2007 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description This course is designed to educate students about issues of race and ethnicity by presenting historical and modern perspectives on diversity in the United States, and by providing tools necessary to promote a respectful and inclusive society. Students will complete several activities that allow them to examine their own values in relation to the values of various other racial and ethnic communities. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: †¢University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. †¢Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Schaefer, R, T. 2006). Racial and ethnic groups (10th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Associate Level Writing Style Handbook, available online at https://ecampus. phoenix. edu/secure/aapd/CWE/pdfs/Associate_level_writing_style_handbook. pdf All electronic materials are available on the student website. Week One: Race and Ethnicity: Key Conce pts Details Due Points Objectives 1. Recognize key terms and sociological concepts related to race and ethnicity. 2. Describe subordinate group creation and consequences. Course Preparation Read the course description and objectives. Read the instructor’s biography and post your own. Reading Read Appendix A. Reading Read Ch. 1 of Racial and Ethnic Groups. CheckPoint Defining Race and Ethnicity Write a 200- to 300-word summary that answers the following questions: †¢What do the terms race and ethnicity mean to you? †¢Why are these concepts important to United States society? Tuesday 15 CheckPoint The Sociology of Race and Ethnicity Resource: Ch. 1 of Racial and Ethnic Groups Utilize Appendix B to match key terms with their correct descriptions. Post the completed Appendix B as an attachment. Thursday 15 Assignment Journal Entry of a Subordinate Group Member Resources: Ch. 1 of Racial and Ethnic Groups and the U. S. Census Bureau American Fact Finder website athttp://factfinder. census. gov Select one of the following subordinate groups from Ch. 1 of the text. Because the chapter does not list all subordinate groups, you may select any other group that has a documented history in the United States. †¢Subordinate Groups: Native Americans, African Americans, Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, Arab Americans, Filipino Americans, Korean Americans, Vietnamese Americans, Asian Indians, Hawaiians, Irish Americans, Polish Americans, Norwegian Americans, Jewish Americans, Cuban Americans, Mexican Americans, and Puerto Ricans. Identify and describe which, if any, of the following creation and consequence situations the group has faced: †¢Creation: migration, annexation, or colonization †¢Consequences: extermination, expulsion, secession, segregation, fusion, or assimilation Write a fictional, first-person account of the creation and consequence situations of a subordinate group in the United States in the form of a 700- to 1,050-word journal entry. Describe, as if you were a member of that subordinate group, where the group originated, how it came to the United States, and one or two locations in the United States where members of your group live. Be creative in your fictional descriptions, and accurate with your facts. Research your text, the Internet, or the University Library for information about your chosen group. Of particular usefulness is the People section of the U. S. Census Bureau American Fact Finder website athttp://factfinder. census. gov Cite your sources consistent with APA guidelines. Post your journal entry as an attachment. Sunday 100 Week Two: Recognizing and Overcoming Prejudice Details Due Points Objectives 1. Recognize how people are impacted by stereotypes. 2. Prescribe methods for strengthening modern efforts to reduce prejudice. 3. Recognize difficulties in analyzing prejudice. Reading Read Ch. 2 of Racial and Ethnic Groups. Reading Read Ch. 3 of Racial and Ethnic Groups. Reading Read Ch. 4 of Racial and Ethnic Groups. Participation Participate in class discussion. 4 days/wk 10 Discussion Questions Respond to weekly discussion questions. Tue/Thur 10 CheckPoint Implicit Association Test Complete the Harvard-Hosted Implicit Association Test (IAT) using the following instructions. The test should take about 10 minutes to complete. †¢Navigate to the Project Implicit ® home page at https://implicit. harvard. edu/implicit/ and clickDemonstration. At the IAT home page, click on the Go to the Demonstration Tests link. †¢At the Measure Your Attitudes page, find and click on the I wish to proceed link. †¢You will be prompted to select a test. Take one of the following IAT tests: ?Race IAT ?Arab-Muslim IAT ?Native IAT ?Asian IAT ?Skin-tone IAT Post a 200- to 300-word summary that answers all of the follow ing questions: †¢What was the result of your IAT? Do you think that the test produced valid results in your case? †¢In your opinion, is it difficult to accurately measure prejudice? Why or why not? †¢Describe other measurements sociologists utilize to calculate prejudice. Friday 30 Week Three: Countering Discrimination, Immigration in the United States Details Due Points Objectives 1. Recognize sources of discrimination in your environment. 2. Describe your personal cultural background. 3. Associate being an immigrant to the United States with its inherent challenges. CheckPoint Modern Challenges in Immigration Resources: Ch. 4 of Racial and Ethnic Groups and the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website atwww. uscis. gov Browse through the USCIS website, paying special attention to immigration forms, fees, fingerprinting, services, and benefits. Select an immigrant group from Ch. 4 of the text. Imagine yourself as a current member of your selected group, and consider the following question: Would I want to immigrate to the United States, and why? Think about what opinion you would have of the immigration process, including naturalization, the costs, fingerprinting, and so forth. Consider whether the process would seem easy or difficult for you as an immigrant. After you have thought about your answers, proceed to the next step of this CheckPoint. Post a 200- to 300-word summary that answers all of the following questions: Should United States government policy favor certain kinds of immigrants? †¢Should citizenship preference be given to the neediest applicants? The most talented? The most oppressed? The richest? †¢Should applications from certain countries be given priority? (Feltey, 2006, p. 11) Thursday 30 Assignment Ethnic Groups and Discrimination Resources: Racial and Ethnic Groups, the Internet, and the Univ ersity Library Select an ethnic group to which you belong. If you identify with more than one group, choose the group with which you most identify or about which you would like to learn more. Write a 700- to 1,050-word essay in which you answer the following questions: †¢Conduct research to determine if the group colonized or if it immigrated to the United States. Did the group face prejudice, segregation, racism, or any combination of the three? If so, how and why? Include your research findings in your essay. You may search through chapters of the text as part of your research. †¢Was this group affected by any of the following forms of discrimination, or did it participate in any of the following forms of discrimination? If so, describe: ?Dual labor market Environmental justice issues ?Affirmative action ?Redlining ?Double jeopardy ?Institutional discrimination ?Reverse discrimination ?Glass ceiling, glass walls, or glass escalator †¢Do you culturally identify more with the ethnic group you examined, with United States mainstream culture, or with both equally? Format your essay consistent with APA guidelines. Post your paper as an attachment. Sunday 100 W eek Four: African American Group Progress, Modern African American Dynamics Details Due Points Objectives 1. Describe the effects of slavery on modern America. . Associate African American leaders and groups with their successes of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. 3. Weigh persisting social inequities endured by African Americans. Reading Read Ch. 7 of Racial and Ethnic Groups. Reading Read Ch. 8 of Racial and Ethnic Groups. Reading Read Ch. 11 of Racial and Ethnic Groups. Participation Participate in class discussion. 4 days/wk 10 Discussion Questions Respond to weekly discussion questions. Tue/Thur 10 CheckPoint Leaders and Legislation of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements Research Ch. of the text and Appendix C to identify events and leaders of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements and their contributions to their respective causes. Complete both Parts I and II of Appendix C. Post the completed Appendix C as an attachment. Friday 30 Week Five: Muslim and A rab Americans Details Due Points Objectives 1. Describe the impact of Orientalism on Muslim and Arab Americans. 2. Identify causes of prejudice and discrimination against Muslim and Arab Americans. 3. Compare and contrast United States-centric views of Muslim and Arab Americans with United States-centric views of Christian Americans. CheckPoint Characteristics of Orientalism, Prejudice, and Discrimination Resource: Appendix D Post a 200- to 300-word response in which you complete the following: †¢Explain the difference between Muslims and Arabs. †¢According to research and news reports within the past 2 years, what are some of the changes the United States has made to policies concerning the treatment of Muslim and Arabic members of society? †¢List two to three characteristics of Orientalism. How may Orientalism and prejudice contribute to hate crimes against these groups? †¢What may individuals do to promote tolerance and reduce prejudice in their towns and cities? For ideas, visit the Teaching Tolerance website at http://www. tolerance. org, and the Southern Poverty Law Center website at http://www. splcenter. org. Thursday 30 Assignment United States-Centric Views Comparison Provide a copy of Appendix D to a friend or family member and ask that person to complete the table contained therein. In doing so, your chosen participant will consider what he or she thinks are the common United States-centric viewpoints on Muslim and Arab American and Christian American groups. Ask your participant to return their completed appendix at least 1 day before this assignment is due. Complete a duplicate copy of Appendix D, following the same directions as your participant. Write a 350- to 500-word summary in which you compare and contrast your participant’s answers with your own answers, and address the following questions: †¢How are your table answers similar? How are they different? †¢Do either tables list descriptors in the Both Groups category? Describe. †¢From either or both tables, name one or two descriptors that you think represent true facts about each group and one or two descriptors that you think are false. †¢How do you think an average American’s perceptions of each group are created? Post your summary and both completed copies of Appendix D as Microsoft ® Word attachments in your Assignments Section. Sunday 100 Week Six: Native American Cultures Details Due Points Objectives 1. Evaluate the overall effectiveness of Native American organizations in the advancement of their people’s needs. 2. Recognize how key policies shape the relationship between tribal Native Americans and the federal government. 3. Differentiate among causes of tribal poverty and prosperity. 4. Describe levels of Native American assimilation within mainstream society. Reading Read Ch. 6 of Racial and Ethnic Groups. Reading Read Ch. 9 of Racial and Ethnic Groups. Reading Read Ch. 10 of Racial and Ethnic Groups. Participation Participate in class discussion. 4 days/wk 10 Discussion Questions Respond to weekly discussion questions. Tue/Thur 10 CheckPoint Legislation Legacy Resources: National Congress of American Indians websitehttp://www. ncai. org and the Indian Country Today website athttp://www. indiancountry. com Post a 200- to 300-word summary of a current issue between Native Americans and the federal government. Identify the legislation that you think is linked to the issue, and explain why you think there is a connection. Consult the National Congress of American Indians website, the Indian Country Today newspaper, or another online source for examples of pertinent issues. Friday 30 Week Seven: Hispanic American Diversity Details Due Points Objectives 1. Describe cultural interests important to modern Hispanic Americans. 2. Give examples of diversity among Hispanic American groups. CheckPoint The Official Language Movement Resources: Racial and Ethnic Groups, the Internet, and the University Library Investigate the official language movement, which is an important Hispanic American cultural interest, described on pp. 243–244 of the text by researching bilingualism in education and politics in the United States. Find four to six credible websites or articles that support, oppose, or present information about bilingualism in education or politics. Most sources will focus exclusively on either topic of education or politics; therefore, try to find at least two sources per topic. Write one paragraph about each source, summarizing the main points presented. Provide APA-formatted reference citations. Submit all of your summaries in a 200- to 300-word post. Thursday 30 Assignment Hispanic American Diversity Resources: Racial and Ethnic Groups, the University Library, and the Internet Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word research paper in which you identify the linguistic, political, social, economic, religious, and familial conventions or statuses of four Hispanic groups living in the United States. Your paper must address Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and two groups of your choice from Ch. 9 of the text. Dedicate an equal portion of your paper to each Hispanic group. Conclude your essay by summarizing major differences and commonalties apparent among the groups. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Post your paper as an attachment. Sunday 100 Week Eight: Asian American Relations Details Due Points Objectives 1. Recognize the cultural makeup of Asian American and Asian Pacific Islander minority groups present in United States society. 2. Compare and contrast the cultural experiences of Chinese and Japanese Americans. Reading Read Ch. 12 of Racial and Ethnic Groups. Reading Read Ch. 13 of Racial and Ethnic Groups. Participation Participate in class discussion. 4 days/wk 10 Discussion Questions Respond to weekly discussion questions. Tue/Thur 10 CheckPoint Asian Americans According to the U. S. Census Bureau Complete the matrix in Appendix E using information from the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month press release located under the Materials tab on the student website. Post the completed Appendix E as an attachment. Friday 30 Week Nine: Core Concept Application Details Due Points Objectives 1. Describe the effects of the expansion of race and ethnicity on United States society. Capstone CheckPoint Write a 200- to 300-word summary that answers all of the following questions: †¢What information about race and ethnicity in the United States has helped you better understand or relate to specific minority groups? †¢Have you learned something new about your own cultural history? †¢Trends in immigration will continue to shape the face of the United States. What will this face look like in the year 2050? †¢How might the country best prepare for the changing race and ethnicity of its current and future citizens? Thurs. 30 Final Project Race and Your Community Resource: Appendix A. Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word autobiographical research paper that analyzes the influences of race as it relates to your community. In your paper, write your first-person account of how human interactions in your community have been racialized. For the community, you may consider relations within your neighborhood, local government, service groups, clubs, schools, workplace, or any environment of which you are a part. Answer the following questions and provide examples: †¢Do members of your community look like you? In what ways do they look the same or different? How do leaders within your community treat people who are like you? How do they treat people who are different? †¢How do other members of your community treat people who are like you? How do they treat people who are different? †¢Do your texts or work manuals contain information by or about people like you? †¢Do the local media represent people like you? If so, in what ways? †¢What are some similariti es and differences between you and the people who are in leadership positions in your community? Do you think minority group interests are represented within your community? If you could resolve any inequities within your community, what would you change? How and why? †¢Which main concepts from the text relate to race? Apply some of these concepts to your project. Include the following elements in your paper: †¢The thesis addresses racial issues in your local community. †¢The content is comprehensive and accurate. †¢The paper itself draws on your personal experiences with and opinions about cultural diversity in your community. †¢Three sources are used, and one source is a community member, leader, or representative from a local community organization. The paper is written in first-person point of view, with an autobiographical approach. †¢Text concepts are applied to your observations. †¢Assignment questions are answered. †¢The paper includes perspectives from supporting sources. †¢The conclusion is logical, flows from the body of the paper, and reviews the major points. †¢Paragraph transitions are present. †¢The tone is appropriate. †¢Sentences are well-constructed. †¢The paper, title page, and references follow APA guidelines. †¢Rules of grammar, usage, and punctuation are followed. †¢Spelling is correct. Post your completed research as an attachment. Sunday 250 Copyright University of Phoenix ® is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft ®, Windows ®, and Windows NT ® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. 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