Trolley problem and Utilitarianism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Trolley problem and Utilitarianism - Essay Example If consequences are all that matter then the Trolley Problem won’t matter much to a utilitarian, but, few would argue that it raises some serious difficulties with the said moral philosophy. 2) The Trolley Problem presents a utilitarian with a predicament. A train is coming; its current course is going to kill four hapless workers. You, the utilitarian, have the power to flick a switch that will save the four men, but you will as a result kill some other worker as the train will be diverted to his track. Most utilitarian thinkers would not have a problem with doing this. One life is worth sacrificing for four; the end justifies the means-consequences are all that matter, after all. But, if there wasn’t a switch, and instead a very large man, large enough to stop the train, was standing over a bridge in front of the workers, would you be prepared to push him in front of the train to save the four of them? If consequences are all that matter, then this is exactly what the utilitarian would have to do: commit murder. 3) John Stuart Mill’s utilitarianism posits that the right action is that action which generates or leads to the most utility or happiness (utilitarianism.com). He begins though by stating that whatever action that is proved to be good, must be proved to be good by its ability to achieve something that is good in itself (utilitarianism.com). ... He argues that human rights are protected through a judicial system only as a means of securing happiness (utilitarianism.com). Happiness is the primary pursuit of man, and the principle of utility is, by definition, the most direct path to it. To Mills the utility principle is a natural social sentiment between humans and that human society would bond and benefit greatly from embedding utilitarianism into it foundations (utilitarianism.com). The responsibility of an individual in this kind of society is to make as much utility for as many people as possible even if that means sacrificing or endangering themselves for the good of others (utilitarianism.com). Any one person is not allowed to value his happiness over the happiness of others. 4) There are several difficulties with utilitarianism. Most importantly, it places too much emphasis on the consequences of actions. If we were to make all of our decisions based on our expected outcomes of events, how are we to feel about those de cisions if we are so often wrong in our predictions? This point is intended to raise doubt; simple doubt in the primary means of divining decision-making for the utilitarian. Furthermore, the Trolley Problem would make even the most hard-nosed kind of utilitarian reconsider their position, because it takes their principle of utility to a point where it condones murder. Most people would have serious trouble pushing a large man to his death to stop a train from killing four other people. What this says is that humans have some other moral codes or ideas about common decency that is disagreeable to strict utilitarianism. So thinking only in consequences might not be the answer for every occasion; we have to temper the principle with other ethics. There is another weakness

The Utilities Of Apollo 11

The Utilities Of Apollo 11 The Apollo 11 mission played an important role in the shaping of science and technology and it stands as a testament to mankinds ability to achieve greatness in spite of seemingly overwhelming challenges and obstacles. The Apollo 11 moon landing was a significant event that showed what humanity could accomplish. The success of Apollo 11 came at a time when American society was in crisis. Some people argue that this achievement of landing on the moon was mainly to beat the Russians to it in the space race and how the achievement was born out of hatred and distrust. This is not necessarily true, a growing fear of adjusting to a world in which United States technology and leadership was perceived as second best. This fear helped to fuel this great achievement. The Apollo 11 mission had a profound impact in the advancement of science and technology and the evolution of space exploration. Its clear that Apollo 11 was the crown of American space technology and is a major accomplishment in the history of space exploration. The Apollo project was a series of missions designed to land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth. Although earlier Apollo missions did achieve some success the grand achievement of a manned landing on the moon was Apollo 11. The following timeline for Apollo 11 was taken from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center courtesy of Dr. David R. Williams: The liftoff of Apollo 11 happened on the morning of July 16, 1969. Apollo 11 was manned by a three man crew composing of Neil Armstrong, Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin and Michael Collins. On July 20, 1969 after a trip of four days Apollo 11 arrived at the moon. At 4:18pm EDT the lunar module containing Neil Armstrong and Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin touched down on the moon. Aldrin in communications to Earth stated à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the eagle has landed (Aldrin, 1969). At 10:56pm EDT Neil Armstrong emerged from the lunar module and became the first human to set foot on the moon. Armstrong summed it up by saying Thats one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind (Armstrong, 1969). On July 21, 1969 Apollo 11 departed from the moon after spending 22 hours there. On July 24, 1969 Apollo 11 splashed down returning the three astronauts safely to Earth. (Williams, 2005). Millions of people around the world watched this historic event happen on live television and listened to it via radio broadcasts. With the success of Apollo 11 Kennedys great vision became a reality and it was giant step in progress for humankind. The Apollo 11 mission has directly affected society with the notion of space exploration and it had a profound effect on the future of space exploration. It all started on May 25, 1961 during the height of the space race, President John F. Kennedys bold statement to Congress on urgent special needs was one that captivated the nation and set the events that followed in motion: First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him back safely to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish (Kennedy, 1961). This speech made by Kennedy in 1961 was the stuff of legends and ignited the dream of space exploration. Kennedy would further elaborate on this and offered the reason and explanation for such an undertaking during a speech he made at Rice University about the nations space effort on September 12, 1962: We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too (Kennedy, 1962). This speech spoke to the hearts of the American people and was one of the finest speeches made by Kennedy to rally the support of the American public in favor of space exploration. Both of these speeches were a great boost to the American space program and the push for space exploration. At the time of these speeches NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration had not placed a man in orbit around the Earth, let alone the moon. Nonetheless NASA engineers and scientists rose to challenge. The past successes of the Mercury and Gemini programs guided by Kennedys grand vision helped to develop the missions for the Apollo program and in the ultimate goal of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely back to Earth. While the Apollo program was during the Cold War with its political and rhetoric fears and concerns it was also a push to explore space and how that success was vital for America. The May 25, 1961 Kennedy speech was reinforced by the October 13, 1961 speech at the American Rocket Society by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. Johnson stated: If I could get one message to you it would be this: The future of this country and the welfare of the free world depend upon our success in space. There is no room in this country for any but a fully cooperative, urgently motivated all-out effort toward space leadership. No one person, no one company, no one Government agency, has a monopoly on the competence, the missions, or the requirements for the space program. It is and it must continue to be national job (Johnson, 1961). This speech by Johnson clearly expressed the outlook the United States had on space exploration and it would do whatever it took to be successful and how important that success was. All three of these speeches helped the development of Americas space program and space exploration in general. The first two speeches made by Kennedy were to inspire the American public on this grand enterprise and how the exploration of space was necessary for America. The speech by Johnson was aimed at how important success was in this endeavor for America and how American leadership in space was necessary for the future of America. The Apollo program and most noticeably Apollo 11 is a living testament to the triumph of human engineering in overcoming enormous challenges in spite of overwhelming odds. When Kennedy made the bold statement of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth in 1961 none of the technology and hardware or the workforce needed to achieve this goal existed. An article in the July 2009 issue of Mechanical Engineering, Burton Dicht stated In all, more than 400,000 engineers, scientists, and technicians working for more than 20,000 companies and universities contributed to Apollos Success (Dicht, 29). This massive collaborative undertaking was unheard of at the time and showed what can be accomplished by working together. The Apollo 11 mission united the people working on it with a common goal and belief that America would achieve it first. During the 1960s engineers and scientists were in great demand to overcome the vast engineering difficulties in the race to get into space . An article in the September 2005 issue of Mechanical Engineering, John Varrasi says At no other time were engineers prouder of their work, contributions, and professional and civic responsibilities. Each successive space mission was an achievement for engineering, for the nation, and for mankind (Varrasi, 46). The 1960s were the glory days for engineering with almost unlimited recourses and funding all geared toward the exploration of space. In many ways the engineers and scientists were heroes in their own right for making the success of Apollo 11 a reality. With the limited computer power at the time some things could not be done by computer and had to be done by other means. Nick Smith in the July 2009 issue of Engineering Technology talks with Buzz Aldrin about the Apollo program, he quotes Aldrin as saying, We chose to use humans to aid things like re-entry, final closure breaking and docking maneuvers. We made use of humans, rather than try to automate everything and I thin k we made wise decisions when exploring how to do these things (Aldrin, 77). This was a wise decision as the computing power at the time was still in its intimacy and wasnt efficient in doing certain mechanical calculations or to make the needed corrective changes that arose in solving them. Apollo 11 was a great collaborative feat of human engineering and coordination and the success of Apollo 11 proved that American scientific and technological power would remain supreme in the area of space exploration. Public coverage of the American space program through the press and television provided a great boost of support and enthusiasm that helped to retain national interest in the space program. Michael Beschloss in the book Spaceflight and the Myth of Presidential Leadership writes, public interest in space science, rocket technology, and detailed knowledge regarding space exploration had exploded. This, captured the American imagination, made them strongly support the space program because it promised the chance to establish American superiority in space (Beschloss 63). All of this led to strengthen the influence the space program had on the American people and helped to combat the fears the public had that America would lose the resulting space race. The space race has been called many of things and some would dismiss it as commonplace of the Cold War era, in all reality it was just a heated rivalry between two opposing nations that played on political fears. Space and ultimately the m oon was the battleground for this rivalry as each side strove to achieve superiority. For America the political goal was to prove to the world that American technology and leadership were superior. An article in the July 2009 issue of Engineering Technology, Piers Bizony writes Neither Russia nor America at the time would have reached for space, let alone the moon, if that prize hadnt beguiled the many millions of ordinary people they were trying to impress with their propaganda campaigns (Bizony, 22). While this is one view of how the space program was seen it is true to a sense; the growing fear of adjusting to a world in which American technology and leadership came to be thought of as second best was seen as a real threat. If the Soviet Union could solidify its superiority in outer space, it would strengthen its influence and hold on the people of the world. This would have profound diplomatic and commercial consequences for America and the American way of life (Oberg, 2009). T his never happened, Apollo 11 succeeded in its mission of putting American astronauts on the moon and by doing so also succeeded in its purpose. Winning the race to the moon gave the American people a great sense of confidence and pride not to mention a sense of direction that America would lead the world in the exploration of space. This success of Apollo 11 came at a time when American society was in crisis and that success helped to sustain the nation through the turbulent years of internal turmoil that followed. Mark Albrecht, former Executive Security of the National Space Council in his book, Falling Back to Earth comments on Apollo 11, he writes, It was an achievement that won the admiration of nations and fueled innovation (Albrecht, 58). He further elaborates on this in a 2011 Washington Times article he stated: Since 1960, Americas space program has been the crown jewel and Exhibit A of American exceptionalism. It has been a symbol of our spirit, ingenuity and technological prowess. It has fueled and sustained an economic expansion unparalleled in history and has powered the most awesome and unrivaled global military capability since the Roman Empire (Albrecht, 2011). The statement made by Albrecht clearly expresses how important the space program was during the 1960s and how its success changed the future of America and humanity forever. While many have identified the moon landing as the crowning achievement of civilization, it is also a great technological feat and as such has had an impact on culture. In the book Societal Impact of Spaceflight, Andrew Chaikin wrote the cultural impact of Apollo has been multifaceted. It was an event of international importance and yet it touched countless lives on an intensely personal level (Chaikin, 53). This touching of lives caused by Apollo was a turning point in the history of space exploration. It helped to boost commercial and economic growth. It helped to further education in the advancement of science, math and engineering. It also changed or altered worldwide views of how we see ourselves and how we perceive our place in the universe. For some of the American public the moon landing was a contradiction. Darren Jorgensen, Discipline Chair of Visual Arts for the School of Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts of the University of Australia wrote an article in the 2009 is sue of Sociological Review, he wrote Rather than an heroic victory for the American way of life, the broadcast represented the kinds of disorientation and self-doubt that this society was experiencing during the 1960s (Jorgensen, 178). These feelings of alienation and self-doubt by the public were not surprising, at the time of the moon landing America was in turmoil and many questioned or opposed Apollo saying the cost for it could be better spent elsewhere and was out of tune with the urgent needs of Earth (Chaikin, Societal Impact of Spaceflight, 56). Apollo was a unique point in American history it undoubtedly had a profound effect on culture that pushed into the political and social aspects as well. The political and technological circumstances of the 1960s and the national priority of space exploration were all key elements in the success of putting an American man on the moon. This kind of culture shaping event would probably not be seen again as the next decade had its own p roblems to deal with, least of all the Vietnam War and the priorities shifted as the time changed. John Logsdon, former director of the space policy institute and current member of the NASA Advisory council wrote in his book John F. Kennedy and the Race to the Moon, he wrote In undertaking the lunar landing program, John Kennedy linked the politics of the moment with the dreams of centuries and the aspirations of the nation (Logsdon, 4). The Apollo project was the means for America to achieve its prestige in the space race and in the Cold War and its effect would be long lasting on culture and humanity. The Apollo mission unfired the American public in a way that gave them something they could be proud of. It was a great voyage of discovery and with coverage of the event provided by television, it gave the public the chance to follow along with and in a sense partake in the event. At the time nothing of the sort had ever been done, the implications and the outcome of the event had a huge impact and changed the culture of America and the world. The Apollo 11 moon landing was a groundbreaking event that changed the world. It is a living testament to mankinds ability to achieve greatness in spite of enormous odds and challenges. It showed what America could accomplish when united and working towards a common goal. While it was a race for superiority in the resulting space race, it also played a key role in the shaping of science and technology. The Apollo 11 mission proved Americas capability to advance science and technology. The nation was left in awe by the achievements made by the aerospace industry during the 1960s and ultimately the moon landing. Apollo brought about technological advances in computer circuitry and engineering along with numerous innovations that have improved our understanding of space and that has affected modern society immensely. Apollo 11 and the moon landing event was a vast and cultural shaping force that undeniably inspired how science and the future evolve. Works Citied Albrecht, M. (2011). Americas space rash is crashing. Washington Times. July 6, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2012, from http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/6/americas-space-program-is-crashing/ Albrecht, M. (2011). Falling Back to Earth: A First Hand Account of the Great Space Race and the End of the Cold War. San Mateo, CA: New Media Books. Beschloss, M. (1997). Spaceflight and the Myth of Presidential Leadership. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. Bizony, P. (2009, July). The great uncertainty of Apollo. Engineering Technology, 4(12). 20-23. Retrieved October 5, 2012, from Academic Search Complete database. (doi:10.1049/et.2009.1201). Dicht, B. (2009). The most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked.. Mechanical Engineering, 131(7), 28-35. Retrieved October 6, 2012, from Academic Search Complete database. Dick, S. and Launius, R., ed. (2007). Societal Impact of Spaceflight. Washington, DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Johnson, L. B. Aeronautical and Astronautical Events of October-December 1961. Report to the Committee on Science and Aeronautics. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved on October 7, 2012, from http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/Timeline/1961-4.html. Jorgensen, D. (2009). Middle America, the moon, the sublime and the uncanny. Sociological Review, 57. 178-189. Retrieved October 6, 2012, from Academic Search Complete database. (doi: 10.1111/j.1467-954X.2009.01824.x) Kennedy, J. F. Special Message to the Congress on Urgent National Needs, May 25, 1961. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. Retrieved on October 7, 2012, from http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=8151. Kennedy, J. F. Address at Rice University on the Nations Space Effort, September 12, 1962. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved on October 7, 2012, from http://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Ready-Reference/JFK-Speeches/Address-at-Rice- University-on-the-Nations-Space-Effort-September-12-1962.aspx. Logsdon, J. M. (2010). John f. Kennedy and the race to the moon. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Oberg, James. (2009). The secret formula for going to the moon. NBC News website. July 14, 2009. Retrieved October 6, 2012, from h ttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5380736/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/secret- formula-going-moon/ Smith, N. and Schuster, A. (2009, July). Out of this world. Engineering Technology, 4(12). 20-23. Retrieved October 5, 2012, from Academic Search Complete database. (doi:10.1049/et.2009.1201). Varrasi, J. (2005). Reach for the Sky. Mechanical Engineering, 127(9), 44-46. Retrieved from academic Search Complete database. Williams, D. (2005). 25th anniversary of Apollo 11: 1969 1994. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. May 24, 2005. Retrieved October 7, 2012, from http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo11.html.

My Philosophy about Child Development Essay -- Education Children Deve

My Philosophy about Child Development Works Cited Missing A child's development affects how they learn. All children don't fit the norms of development but not all children should be looked down on because of this. The development of the body and mind leads to the development of skills a child learns in life. Teachers need to help the child expand their skills and the knowledge to do the skills well. "Virtually everything a young child does is affected if physical development is delayed" (Charlesworth, 2000). Adults and teachers need to do everything possible to keep physical development from being delayed. Adults can provide children with opportunities to help them in development. By the age of three a child's brain is three quarters of its adult size. From infancy to the age of two development is very rapid (Santrock, 1996). For this reason it is essential for the child to be able to explore their world around them. By exploring children will increase their knowledge and understanding of the world. A child must have physical development before motor development can occur (Charlesworth, 2000). According to Piaget infants acquire knowledge from their environment. Through sight, smell, hearing, and touch this is accomplished. Adults are responsible for seeing that the children have a chance to explore to acquire the knowledge. A child must be physically able to do the work that is required to keep up with the other students. Many chil...

Catharsis in As You Like It Essay

Literature is meant to teach. Its purpose is to shed light upon the soul and offer up the best and worst of humanity. All the stories we read, all the characters we relate to and begin to understand, they all have a tale to tell and a lesson to be learned. This is precisely what makes literature so vital to the human spirit. It is here that we enter the world of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It , a story set in a fantastical forest. As we follow the true love of Orlando and Rosalind and the brotherly betrayal by Oliver and Duke Frederick, readers begin to have a spiritual renewal, a cleansing of their spirit, while observing the conflicts that take place. As You Like It is a play where characters seek out truth and simplicity in the Forest of Arden, a mystical place that offers a chance for time to stop and the mind to mend. We come to believe, through the text, that there is an element of evil, but that it only exists in the court and society outside the forest. William Shakespeare involves â€Å"his characters in issues and events which force decisions literally touching the emotional strings of tragedy† (Champion 447) but without the death, destruction, and despair typical of that genre. The characters are safe to experience a new type of living while in the confines and safety of the wood and hopefully restore a balance they all so dearly strive for. The concept of catharsis was first discussed by Aristotle in his treatise Poetics , which was primarily a work on the aesthetics of poetry. He believed that â€Å"the poet’s aim is to produce pleasure in the spectator by eliciting from the representation the emotions of pity (for others) and fear (for oneself)† (â€Å"oetics†). He was in firm disagreement with his teacher Plato on the validity of catharsis, believing that the purging of emotions is beneficial. Although most readers associate catharsis with tragedy, especially works like Macbeth and King Lear , it is easily found in Shakespeare’s comedies. William Thompson, in his essay â€Å"Freedom and Comedy†, explains the differences between these two genres: â€Å"Comedy offers a way out, a rebirth; tragedy also offers a way out, but it is a way through evil, through death. Comedy avoids evil; tragedy confronts it† (216). Tragedy is a necessary element in a comedy; without out it there would be no conflict, thus no harmonious resolution for the end of the play. The moral lessons are not always as clear in As You Like It , as compared with the tragedies, but the same cathartic process takes place nevertheless. It is precisely through the mishaps and misfortunes of comedic characters, and the optimistic end they all experience, that gives the reader a â€Å"purification of †¦ emotions by vicarious experience† (â€Å"Catharsis†). The themes and actions of As You Like It reinforce, in a cathartic process, that evil, hate, and wrong-doing can be overcome with love, simplicity, and the generous nature of the human spirit. HBO’s As You Like It A fine example of the night and day relationship between brothers, and the spiritual renewal with both character and audience, is exemplified with the Dukes. At the beginning of the play the reader is informed that Duke Senior, the rightful ruler, has been usurped by his brother, Duke Frederick, and banished to the woods. Charles, a wrestler within the court, says that Duke Senior has â€Å"many young men flock to him every day and / fleet the time carelessly, as they did in the golden / world† (13; I. i. 116-118). We are given a comparison between the evils represented within the new court and the timelessness of the Forest. Duke Frederick, the usurper, continues his path of paranoia and wickedness when accusing his niece, Rosalind, of being her father’s spy. He commands: â€Å"Mistress, dispatch you with your safest haste, / and get you from our court† (37; I. iii. 40-41). Frederick not only wants his wronged niece out of court for fear of spying, but also because Rosalind is pitied by the people, and is a constant reminder of Frederick’s actions against his beloved brother. He rightfully wants to lead without his â€Å"good† brother overshadowing him in his subject’s eyes. All of the action up to this point is showing conflict and tragedy to the audience in preparation for the happy resolution of these events, giving a realistic depth to the problems faced, and allowing the audience to relate on a personal level. On the other hand, in the forest, Duke Senior is happy and content. He opens Act Two with a rousing speech championing simplicity and joy: Now, my co-mates and brothers in exile, Hath not old custom made this life for sweet Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods More free from peril than the envious court? Here we feel not the penalty of Adam, (49; II. i. 1-5) How striking it is that after being overthrown and having his life shattered, Duke Senior finds joy, happiness, and freedom within the Forest of Arden – that the â€Å"penalty of Adam† does not touch him there. It gives hope to the readers – which changes in circumstances, that evil done by intimates, can still transform into something more valuable. To be cliche, yet appropriate, as one door closes, another opens. William Thompson theorizes that â€Å"comedy is a play about freedom, a play in which evil is mastered† (218). Here is the first instance of comedic catharsis, of evil being faced head on and destroyed – it is the spiritual renewal of Duke Senior’s soul after seemingly tragic events that would and does break other men. Another instance of the cathartic elements between brotherly conflicts occurs with Oliver and Orlando. The play opens with Orlando bemoaning his current affairs to his faithful family servant – â€Å"He [Oliver] keeps me rustically at home †¦ for call you / that keeping for a gentlemen of my birth that / differs not from the stalling of an ox† (7;I. i. 6-9). He is angered by the Elizabethan tradition that gives the eldest son the whole inheritance, and offers nothing to the siblings. While speaking with Oliver, during a physical altercation, Orlando accuses: My father charged you in his will to give me good education. You have trained me like a peasant, obscuring and hiding from me all gentlemanlike qualities (11; I. i. 65-69) Orlando simply wants to feel worthy of others, to have the confidence and ability of interacting at the upper echelons of society, something that a great majority of reader’s relate to. Themes of insecurity echo throughout the character arc of Orlando. Larry Champion explains that â€Å"the comic experience is frequently one of self revelation† (429) which can not occur until the brothers find themselves in the safety of the Forest. Oliver is commanded to enter the forest and find his brother, one who he tried to kill and admittedly one who he has â€Å"never loved my brother in my life† (91; III. 1. 13-14). With both brothers in the forest the concept of healing enters the audience’s mind, who understands that all will have to be well in the end, for this is still a comedy in nature. Oliver, while sleeping in the woods, is threatened by a snake and lioness. Orlando comes upon the scene and â€Å"twice did he turn his back and purposed so, / but kindness, nobler ever than revenge / †¦ made him give battle to the lioness† (165; IV. iii. 134-137). Oliver continues the tale saying that â€Å"When from the first to last betwixt us two / Tears our recountments hand most kindly bathed† (165; IV. iii. 148-149). The brothers have reconciled in the face of danger, their angers forced upon the beast within the magical forest. The healing in the play must cure the brothers de Boys for this comedy to make sense. If it did not, then Orlando and Oliver would simply be shallow impersonations of Edmund and Edgar from King Lear , offering little hope, little renewal to the audience, who would no doubt see pieces of themselves and their kin in Orlando and Oliver. It is the revelation of how the conflicts resolve themselves that offer up the cathartic healing. Perhaps the most optimistic cathartic elements of As You Like It occur during Orlando’s quest for â€Å"worthiness† of Rosalind. There first meeting offers hope against the backdrop of a courtly wrestling match. Orlando is fighting to save his honor and win from his brother the right to be educated as a gentleman, for he is very aware of his status. After winning the match Rosalind gives Orlando a token of her love, â€Å"Wear this for me – one out of suits with fortune, / That could give more but that her hand lacks / means† (32; I. ii. 244-245) for which Orlando is unable to respond. He is not, in his own mind, educated and worthy of her. This predicament will cause distress and drive the comedy in the following scenes, for â€Å"the comic hero recognizes a restraint upon his freedom, but he is no reforming philosopher †¦ and the closest evil †¦ is his own impotent and limited body† (Thompson 219). The reader is now set upon a course where the progress and growth of Orlando, as a worthy man, will meet head on with his true love in Rosalind. Deeper into the play we find Orlando caring for his elderly manservant Adam. They are fleeing the wrath of Oliver, in an unknown forest, hungry and tired. Orlando comes upon Duke Senior, and his men, brandishing a sword, commanding â€Å"Forbear, and eat no more† (79; II. vii. 92). Adam is dying of hunger and Orlando is desperate, he explains that â€Å"The thorny point / Of bare distress hath ta’en from me the show / Of smooth civility† (79; II. vii. 99-101). Orlando can not contemplate a world where this show of force would be inappropriate – he is in survival mode, having released his primal nature in the woods. Duke Senior, being entirely at ease in the magical forest, speaks lainly: â€Å"Your gentleness shall force / More that your force move us to gentleness† (79; II. vii. 107-108) and asks Orlando to â€Å"sit down and feed, and welcome to our table† (79; II. vii. 110). His lack of worldly knowledge coupled with the devastating effect of betrayal from his kin, leads Orlando to a world that he believes is savage, dark, and treacherous. What we all hope for is the shedding of his guard an d the reconciliation with Rosalind in true love giving the audience and reader a strong sense of faith. His acceptance of Duke Senior’s kindness is a first step to renewing a new faith in man. It is through the next three acts that the reader will watch the growth of Orlando. From his interactions with Jaques, to the practice wooing of â€Å"Ganymede†, Orlando gains the confidence needed to properly wed Rosalind. The audience finds this story of true love inspiring, proving that gentleness and persistence will be rewarded. By the end of Act Five all conflict has been resolved. The Dukes are reconciled, with Frederick entering the wood to find a religious monk. Oliver is married to Cecilia, being a changed man, and the better for it. The two young lovers Phebe and Silvious are forever wed, although immature in love. And of course Orlando, through his trials and tribulations, becomes worthy of Rosalind’s hand. Although we know that comedies end with happiness and we expect no sharp plot deviations, it is within the journey a character takes, and the manner in which adversity is handled, that a catharsis takes place. We are left with lessons learned, stored in the collective memory bank of experience what may ensue when you take, or don’t take, action. Put simply, catharsis is the emotional understanding of what may transpire at any given moment. Through the vicarious experience with a character, the shared feeling of their passion and pain, we are given the opportunity for growth without any of the real world consequences that may follow – this is the benefit, genius, and grace of a cathartic moment with literature.

Iom Report Essay

In November of 2010, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) delivered a report, â€Å" The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health†. The report looked in depth about the role that nurses should play in a changing healthcare system. The report explains about changes in the health care system and how the nurses should play a role in this transformation. The transformation mainly focuses on three aspects : education, practice and leadership. Since the healthcare system is advancing every day, it requires the nurses to become more advanced to meet the demands of the healthcare. The impact of the IOM report on nursing education is very significant. According to the article, â€Å"The IOM Advocates for Higher Education†, The report contains three key messages related to nursing. Part 1 of this series looked at IOM recommendations for transforming nursing practice. The second key message put forth by the IOM’s report on the future of nursing says that, â€Å"nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression† The IOM believes that nurses must go for higher levels of education in order to reach the demands of the healthcare system. According to the IOM, the main reason why a higher level of education is necessary for nurses is because since the hospital care is becoming more complex, nurses must be able to make critical decisions. Nurses should gain more knowledge about the public health, geriatrics, leadership skills, improvements within the system, research and the health policy. Due to changes made in nursing overtime, the need for more changes in nursing practice is becoming more and more crucial. As stated in the IOM report, â€Å"†¦the changing landscape of the health care system and the changing profile of the population require that the system undergo a fundamental shift to provide patient-centered care; deliver more primary as opposed to specialty care; deliver more care in the community rather than the acute care setting; provide seamless care; enable all health professionals to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and competencies; and foster interprofessional collaboration. Achieving such a shift will enable the health care system to provide higher-quality care, reduce errors, and increase safety. Providing care in this way and in these areas taps traditional strengths of the nursing profession† (IOM report, pg 86-87). Transforming nursing practice will be an advantage in the future. It will improve quality and promote health care. The major intention included in this transformation is to provide patient care in all aspects. The transformation mainly focuses on primary care. Nurse practitioners , physicians, and physicians assistants provide the most care in this area. â€Å"Primary care brings promotion and prevention, cure and care together in a safe, effective and socially productive way at the interface between the population and the health system. The features of health care that are essential in ensuring improved health and social outcomes are person-centeredness, comprehensiveness and integration, and continuity care, with a regular entry into the health system, so that it becomes possible to build an enduring relationship of trust between people and their health care providers† (World Health Organization (WHO) Annual Report 2008). From reading the report, I can understand how interdisciplinary partnerships are very significant in providing care in our health system. In the psychiatric unit where I work, we are involved in the daily socio-economic realities of our patient’s lives. We make sure at all the times that the patients are provided care and we pay close attention to their well being. The IOM’s report has made me realize the importance of obtaining leadership qualities. I will expand my practice and pursue more leadership roles in an interdisciplinary healthcare team. This report has also made me to commit myself to a lifelong learning process. I will pursue advanced education and seek for higher levels of training and education. The IOM report gives a great emphasis in the need for leadership and how it is a vital quality for the transformation. Key Message #3 challenges the nurses to display partnership with other physicians and health professionals in healthcare. As written in the IOM report, â€Å"Strong leadership is critical if the vision of a transformed health care system is to be realized. Yet not all nurses begin their career with thoughts of becoming a leader. The nursing profession must produce leaders throughout the health care system, from the bedside to the boardroom, who can serve as full partners with other health professionals and be accountable for their own contributions to delivering high-quality care while working collaboratively with leaders from other health professions†(IOM report, pg 221). Nurses should develop a style of leadership in which they have to work health and collaborate with others. The IOM report calls for nurses to become effective leaders and to apply their leadership skills in their practice of nursing. As leaders, nurses should be able to manage staff and work system in order to meet the needs of the patients. Nurses must be able to make decisions quickly, communicate effectively, and cooperate with other nurses in the team. The IOM report of 2010 explains a lot about the future of nursing. It states in the report that the nurses need more training and education, opportunities to assume leadership roles and to change their ways of practice to meet the demands of the changing health care system. The report tells us that nurses should explore more about the challenges and opportunities in the profession of nursing. Nurses should pursue higher education in order to give quality and safety care to the patients. The patient’s satisfaction is the most important factor in nursing practice.

Gabriel Gracia Marquez Thesis Essay Example

Gabriel Gracia Marquez Thesis Essay Example Gabriel Gracia Marquez Thesis Paper Gabriel Gracia Marquez Thesis Paper Essay Topic: Chronicle Of a Death foretold Chronicle of a Life Foretold Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s writing has been described as â€Å"richly composed worlds of imagination, reflecting the continents of life and its conflicts† (Nobelprize. org). He was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1982 for his novel One Hundred Years of Solitude which explores the genre of magical realism. Marquez’s William Faulkner-esque style combines narrative talent with the mastery of the literary mode, stream of consciousness. His international appeal and success come from his ability to lead readers to a place where the improbable and the truth converge, two ingredients which make up his novel Chronicle of a Death Foretold. Marquez uses a â€Å"pseudo-journalistic reconstruction† in Chronicle of a Death Foretold to portray the importance of honor through the strict, ritualistic tradition of a Latin American community in the 1950s. This reconstruction is a narrative device that often drifts in and out of fantasy, demonstrated when the author starts off with â€Å"on the day they were going to kill him, Santiago Nasar got up at five-thirty in the morning† (pg. of Chronicle). Death plays a key role in his stories which revolve around the deceased or the soon deceased and involves all characters. The novel surrounds Angela Vicario, a newly married young women found on her wedding night not to be a virgin. In order to repair the family’s reputation, her two brothers set out to kill their s ister’s perpetrator. The boys’ murderous plot is gradually revealed to the whole town, but the villagers choose to ignore it. The fact that death becomes a reasonable punishment for the crime of taking a girl’s virginity embodies the importance of honor and just how vital it is to keep intact. : None of the town’s people ever question any action that is taken in order to preserve someone’s honor. Marquez explores the psyche of an isolated society in a time of chaos when ritual is the only familiar habit. The author’s own background serves as an undertone to much of his writing. He derives large aspects such as the setting of the novel from his own upbringing. Marquez, born in 1928 in a small town in northern Colombia (Nobelprize. org), grew up in an era where family tradition and revolutionary new ideas were booming. The motif that women married for convenience rather than love is conveyed as: â€Å"the brothers were brought up to be men. The girls were brought up to be married. Any man would be happy with her daughters because they’ve been raised to suffer. † (pg. 31 of Chronicle). The location of the novel is never revealed, however it is described as being between the mountains and the Caribbean sea in northern Colombia, precisely where Marquez grew up. Characters in his novel also reflect the people who surrounded him during his childhood like his grandfather, a pensioned colonel who founght in the Spainish civil war. Don Lazaro Aponte, a character found in Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a colonel from the academy, â€Å"making use of his good retirement† (pg. 9 of Chronicle). It is obvious that Marquez’s rich Colombian culture can be seen throughout. Like most of the Latin American writers, Garcia Marquez is against oppression and is passionate on the side of the poor and the weak. He’s active as a journalist raising awareness of problems in the Latin community. His writing is acclaimed for being reminiscient of Spanish folk culture and oral-story-telling which also intertwines European modernism. Gabriel Garcia Marquez is so universally appealing because of his work’s multifaceted combination of the world’s rich culture.

The Basics of Conducting Interviews for News Stories

The Basics of Conducting Interviews for News Stories Conducting interviews for news stories is an important skill for any journalist. A â€Å"source† - anyone a journalist interviews - can provide elements that are vital to any news story: Basic factual informationPerspective and context on the topic being discussedDirect quotesIdeas on how to approach the storyNames of other people to interview Things You’ll Need A thin reporter’s spiral notebook (can be purchased at most office supply stores)Several pens and a pencil if it’s winter (pens freeze in cold weather)A tape recorder or digital voice recorder (optional)A video camera for interviews you plan to webcast Preparing for the Interview Research: Do as much research as possible. If you’re going to interview, say, a cardiologist about heart attacks, read up and make sure you understand terms such as â€Å"cardiac arrest.† A well-prepared reporter inspires confidence in the source.Developing Questions: Once you’ve thoroughly researched your topic, prepare a list of questions to ask. That will help you remember all the points you want to cover. Keys to a Successful Interview Establish a Rapport: When starting out, don’t abruptly launch into your questions. Chitchat a little first. Compliment your source on her office, or comment on the weather. This puts your source at ease.Keep It Natural: An interview can be uncomfortable, so keep things natural. Instead of mechanically reading out your list of questions, weave your queries naturally into the flow of the conversation. Also, maintain eye contact as much as possible. Nothing is more unnerving to a source than a reporter who never looks up from his notebook.Be Open: Don’t be so focused on getting through your list of questions that you miss something interesting. For instance, if you’re interviewing the cardiologist and she mentions a new heart-health study that’s coming out, ask about it. This may take your interview in an unexpected - but newsworthy - direction.Maintain Control: Be open, but don’t waste your time. If your source starts to ramble on about things that a re of no use to you, politely - but firmly - steer the conversation back to the topic at hand. Wrapping Up: At the end of the interview, ask your source if there’s anything important that you hadn’t asked about. Double-check the meanings of any terms they used that you’re unsure about. And always ask if there are other people they recommend that you speak with. Notes About Note-Taking Beginning reporters often freak out when they realize they can’t possibly write down everything the source is saying, word-for-word. Don’t sweat it. Experienced reporters learn to take down just the stuff they know they’ll use, and ignore the rest. This takes practice, but the more interviews you do, the easier it gets. Recording an interview is fine in certain circumstances, but always get permission from your source to do so. The rules regarding taping a source can be tricky. According to Poynter.org, recording phone conversations is legal in all 50 states. Federal law allows you to record a phone conversation with the consent of only one person involved in the conversation - meaning that only the reporter is required to know that the conversation is being taped. However, at least 12 states require varying degrees of consent from those being recorded in phone interviews, so its best to check the laws in your own state. Also, your newspaper or website may have its own rules about taping.   Transcribing interviews involves listening to the taped interview and typing out virtually everything thats said. This is fine if youre doing an article with an extended deadline, such as a feature story. But its too time-consuming for breaking news. So if you’re on a tight deadline, stick to note-taking. Always take written notes, even if you’re using a recorder. Every reporter has a story about the time they thought they were recording an interview, only to get back to the newsroom to discover that the machine’s batteries were dead.

What a Fulgurite Is and How To Make One

What a Fulgurite Is and How To Make One The word fulgurite comes from the Latin word  fulgur, which means thunderbolt.  A fulgurite or petrified lightning  is a glass tube formed when electricity strikes sand. Usually, fulgurites are hollow, with a rough exterior and smooth interior. Lightning from thunderstorms makes most fulgurites, but they also form from atomic blasts, meteor strikes and from man-made high voltage devices falling onto the ground. Fulgurite Chemistry Fulgurites typically form in sand, which is mostly silicon dioxide. The melted sand forms a glass that is called lechatelierite. Lechatelierite is an amorphous material that is considered to be a mineraloid, similar to obsidian. Fulgurites come in a range of colors, including translucent white, tan, black and green. The coloration comes from impurities in the sand. Make a Fulgurite - Safe Method Fulgurites occur naturally, but there are a couple of ways you can make petrified lightning yourself.  Dont put yourself at risk of a lightning strike! The best way to make a fulgurite is to be safely indoors when its stormy outside. Check the weather forecast to find out when lightning activity is expected. Radar is good or refers to special maps for your area that record lightning strikes. You must complete preparation for a fulgurite several hours (or longer) before the storm arrives.Drive a lightning rod or length of rebar into the sand about 12 inches to 18 inches and extending up into the air. You can set up colored sand or some granular mineral besides quartz sand if you prefer. There is no guarantee lightning will strike your lightning rod, but you improve your chances if you select an open area where the metal is higher than the surroundings. Choose an area far from people, animals or structures.When lightning approaches, be far away from your fulgurite project! Do not check on whether you make a fulgurite until several hours after the storm has passed.The rod and sand will be extremely hot after a lightning strike. Use care when checking for a fulgurite so that you dont burn yourself. Fulgurites are fra gile, so dig around it to expose it before removing it from the surrounding sand. Rinse excess sand with running water. Rocket Fulgurites You can go the Ben Franklin route making a fulgurite by drawing the lightning down to a bucket of sand. This method involves launching a D model rocket toward a thunderhead that is estimated to be due to discharge. A spool of thin copper wire connects the bucket to the rocket. While said to be quite successful, this method is extraordinarily dangerous because the lightning doesnt just follow the wire back to the bucket. It additionally follows the wire and the area around it back to the trigger used to launch the rocket... and you! Simulated Lightning Fulgurites A safer, though someone expensive method, is to use an xfmr or transformer to force man-made lightning into silica or another oxide. This technique fuses the sand into lechatelierite, although it is much more difficult to achieve the branched effect seen in natural fulgurites.

ACCOUNTING CASE STUDY- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ACCOUNTING - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - Case Study Example Since CCL is an existing client for GE Capital, it should approve the loan at a lower interest rate of 4% and, on the other hand, extend the loan payment period to ten years. By doing this, it will achieve their strategy of keeping existing customers. The CCL financial statements indicate that it generates sufficient cash flow of a net earnings of $97.120 that is able to finance the interest payment of the new loan on a monthly basis. On the other hand, the CCL debt to equity ratio will not exceed 4: 1 when the new loan is included as required by CEF (Dirubbo). Loan disapproval to CCL: Disapproving loan to CCL will not favor the company’s strategy of keeping existing customers. In case the company loses CCL, It will have to find a new client to replace, and this requires the company to incur some costs hence not economical in the end. Hence, the cost of replacing existing clients could enable the company to find and win new businesses. The cost of losing existing clients as compared to finding new ones outweighs in the end. Therefore, to minimize the impact of losing CCL as well as the extra costs of finding new businesses, the company should approve the loan (Plumlee et al.). Short-term plan: The loan approval for $ 306, 000 to CCL to finance the trucking contract between Ford and the supplier is recommendable. The company should reduce the rate of interest from five percent to four percent and extend the period of payment to ten years. This will reduce the monthly payments facilitating provision of monthly reports of financial activities of CCL for the first year of loan repayments. The implementation of the loan approval on an immediate time is required since CCL meets the company’s requirements. This will motivate CCL to continue being clients and even attracting new businesses as well. Medium Term Plan: After the first year, the payments are separated to quarterly submission until the first loan of $ 36,000 is financed within the period of 8 years

Develop an ethical framework for the assessment of the country's Assignment

Develop an ethical framework for the assessment of the country's foreign poilcy - Assignment Example It further suggests changes to the U.S international system as such (Amstutz, C6) First element, is the sovereignty, and independence, of the nation if necessary, by forceful self-defense. A state is obliged, among other things, not to associate, in way of military attack, pollution, unauthorized invasion that will undermine the residents. In such an event a nations ethics are put in question. For instance, the international criminal court is always ethical, by avoiding arrest of criminals unless permitted by the government (Shapcott, C6) Secondly, the element is the scale of adherence to international agreements made with other nations. Although limited by the available systems, a state is able to perform critical legal functions that ensure its survival as a legal entity in interstate relations and therefore acting contrary to the agreement and treaties by states. For instance, Iran was sanctioned for illicit nuclear activity by the U.S (Valls, C1). Third, element is the grade and stage of decentralization of governance by a state. This is in respect to international states political and trade blocks. In ethical association among states parties, the respective foreign policies should be designed with enduring feature in the international decentralization system and stick to the central institutions of legislative standards while ensuring they are implemented (Amstutz, C2). China, for instance, has avoided interfering with local politics whenever they do a project in Kenya. This is thought to be ethical In conclusion, ethical behavior is key in our social lives. A nation’s foreign policy will determine its ethical behavior. For instance, it is important to mention that, the U.S should cease political, military, legislative and economic prejudice and abide to the sets standards for the conduct of governments international system (Valls

TOXICOLOGY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

TOXICOLOGY - Essay Example These compounds are notorious for their health hazards. Most of the health effects are due to inhibition of cholinesterases (Kamanyire and Karalliedde, 2004). Other than this, inhibition of other enzymes and individual susceptibility also play a role. The compounds are highly lipid-soluble and can be absorbed from any route like skin, conjunctiva, mucus membranes, gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tract. The onset of illness, severity and duration of each phase of illness depends not only on the type of the OP compounds to which the individual has been exposed to, but also the dosage of exposure, route of exposure, characteristics of the cholinesterase enzyme, rate of metabolism in the body and the physico-chemical properties of the compound. Cholinesterase plays an important role in the cell-to-cell communication and is present in several parts of the body like blood, nerves, neuromuscular tissue and glandular tissues. Inactivation of acetyl cholinesterase causes accumulation of acetyl choline in ganglia and synapses leading to various clinical problems (Kamanyire and Karalliedde, 2004). Exposure to these OP compounds leads to triphasic illness in human beings. The first phase is the cholinergic phase. In most of the exposed individuals, only the cholinergic phase may be observed. This is followed by an intermediate phase in 20 percent of the cases, followed by a final phase. The initial 2 phases are associated with mortality and morbidity, while the final phase is not associated with mortality and may not be preceded by the initial 2 phases (Kamanyire and Karalliedde, 2004). In the acute cholinergic phase, accumulation of acetyl choline in the muscarinic sites leads to bronchoconstriction, increased bronchial secretions, increased gastrointestinal motility, vomiting, bradycardia and blurring of vision due to miosis. Accumulation in nicotinic sites like the neuromuscular junction results in flaccid

Juvenile Serial Killers Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Juvenile Serial Killers - Research Paper Example Juvenile serial killers have become an occurrence in everyday contemporary life to such an extent that many in society have come to attempt to discover the origins of their behavior and what can be done to ensure that these occurrences do not happen again (Korbin, 2001). A number of juvenile serial killers have gained prominence in the media over the last few decades and it is these who will be studied to find out what they did to deserve their reputations as well as to find out where they ended up once they were caught, tried, and sentenced. One of the most notable juvenile serial killers in the modern age is Harvey Robinson, who raped and killed a number of women throughout his career as a serial killer. Robinson was a teenager who was well liked by all of those people who knew him and it was said that he was a young man who had everything going for him (Ramsland, 2012). In 1993, at the age of seventeen and over a span of one year, he was able to attack five women, three of whom he killed in cold blood. He was caught when a woman who he attempted to kill did not die and he was forced to escape because of the intervention of the woman’s neighbor. This led Robinson to the belief that the woman had identified him; hardening his decision to kill her before she could identify him. However, in anticipation of his return, the police asked the woman to be their bait and when he did indeed return, the police were able to capture him and put his into custody. During his trial, his defense team attempted to portray him as a young man who was mentally unstable hence deserving of leniency, especially considering the fact that when he committed the murders, he was still a minor (Schwartz, 2013). However, the jury and the judge took the side of the police and the evidence that they had provided proving that the Robinson in the court did not display any of the

Is the Law Relating to the Offence of Dissemination of Terrorist Essay

Is the Law Relating to the Offence of Dissemination of Terrorist Publications in Need of Reform - Essay Example Recently, the UK government had problems in complying with provisions of the European Convention of Human rights in respect to its terrorism laws1. One measure in UK’s terrorism law is the pre-charge detention of terrorist suspects for up to twenty eight days without taking appearing in court. The British government intention to amend this law in 2008 and extend it to 42 days was unsuccessful. The government met resistance from civil right groups and parliamentarians who were against such measures since they saw it as an abuse of fundamental rights of individuals. The committee on human rights gave a conclusion that such measures were a breach of the right of liberty as in article five of the European Courts of Human Rights and derogation was necessary for the measure to be lawful2. Legal experts’ opinion was that the pre-charge detention for 42 days is disproportionate and European human rights laws do not provide legal framework for arbitrary arrests and detentions. R eaction from the British government was an explanation that the forty two day period was compatible with the ECHR. The European laws do not set a specific time period for which a person can be detained without appearing in court. ... However, this made the Blaire’s government to be in conflict with parliament resulting in the defeat of the 90 day period proposed by Tony Blaire to a 28 day period3. The premier criticized parliament and the labour MPs who came against him. Defeat of Tony Blaire’s government concerning this anti-terrorism bill brought a debate on whether Mr Blaire was an independent premier or a lame duck that was unable to mobilize his party to support such a crucial bill. Basing on this, likely changes in the bill will have a political effect in the sense that parliament might opt to refuse the changes or support the changes. The media is likely play a role in discussing such issues, with either providing a critique of the said legislation or supporting the legislation on condition that they do not breach the individual rights of people. Changes in the terrorism act of 2006 are likely to affect fundamental human rights and freedom which include4, right to freedom of movement, right t o privacy, right to non-discriminative policies, right to a remedy for breach of human rights, right to fair trial and freedom of expression. These rights are under protection of European Courts of Human Rights5 and the government of UK has committed itself to uphold them. Concerning these fundamental human rights, changes in terrorism act of 2006 will create new detention and questioning powers for security agencies in the UK, they will give the Attorney General new powers to proscribe terrorist organisations and will create new criminal offences and means of controlling people’s movements and activities. For instance, changes in terrorism law regarding attendance at a place formerly in use of terrorism activity, the

Spring Framework with MVC web applications Essay

Spring Framework with MVC web applications - Essay Example It simplifies Java development through four key strategies This is the framework for the programmer or the developer who wants to develop Java application using Plain Old Java Objects (POJOs) and then non-invasively apply enterprise services (Johnson, et al., 2011). Simply put, it is a one-stop-shop solution for developers of enterprise applications. The Spring framework has several features that are categories into modules. The diagram shown illustrates the key features of Spring. This framework avoids the clutter and gives you the ability to use only what you need. The core features of Spring framework are able to support declarative transaction management, remote access to the application logic through web services, and other main options for data persisting. Spring offers fully featured MVC framework and enables the programmer to transparently integrate AOP. Its key design is non-intrusiveness, which is no dependency on the framework. When a programmer talks about Spring, dependency injection and inversion control should echo. Dependency control makes the Spring framework more popular because it allows individuals and institutions to build robust, dependable applications that are easy to maintain. Spring addresses the main problems of J2EE regarding web application development, Enterprise Java beans, Database access (JDBC, ORM), transaction management and Remote access. The primary purpose is to reduce dependencies and even introduce negative dependencies. Spring is largely built around dependency injection and aspect oriented programming (AOP). During runtime, dependencies are injected thereby preventing hard-coded object creation and object lookup. It enables loose coupling and helps the developer to write effective unit tests. As a programmer, the Spring framework does need you to implement interfaces or extend classes. Instead, it allows the developer to focus on the actual app because the framework covers these

Is the Law Relating to the Offence of Dissemination of Terrorist Essay

Is the Law Relating to the Offence of Dissemination of Terrorist Publications in Need of Reform - Essay Example Recently, the UK government had problems in complying with provisions of the European Convention of Human rights in respect to its terrorism laws1. One measure in UK’s terrorism law is the pre-charge detention of terrorist suspects for up to twenty eight days without taking appearing in court. The British government intention to amend this law in 2008 and extend it to 42 days was unsuccessful. The government met resistance from civil right groups and parliamentarians who were against such measures since they saw it as an abuse of fundamental rights of individuals. The committee on human rights gave a conclusion that such measures were a breach of the right of liberty as in article five of the European Courts of Human Rights and derogation was necessary for the measure to be lawful2. Legal experts’ opinion was that the pre-charge detention for 42 days is disproportionate and European human rights laws do not provide legal framework for arbitrary arrests and detentions. R eaction from the British government was an explanation that the forty two day period was compatible with the ECHR. The European laws do not set a specific time period for which a person can be detained without appearing in court. ... However, this made the Blaire’s government to be in conflict with parliament resulting in the defeat of the 90 day period proposed by Tony Blaire to a 28 day period3. The premier criticized parliament and the labour MPs who came against him. Defeat of Tony Blaire’s government concerning this anti-terrorism bill brought a debate on whether Mr Blaire was an independent premier or a lame duck that was unable to mobilize his party to support such a crucial bill. Basing on this, likely changes in the bill will have a political effect in the sense that parliament might opt to refuse the changes or support the changes. The media is likely play a role in discussing such issues, with either providing a critique of the said legislation or supporting the legislation on condition that they do not breach the individual rights of people. Changes in the terrorism act of 2006 are likely to affect fundamental human rights and freedom which include4, right to freedom of movement, right t o privacy, right to non-discriminative policies, right to a remedy for breach of human rights, right to fair trial and freedom of expression. These rights are under protection of European Courts of Human Rights5 and the government of UK has committed itself to uphold them. Concerning these fundamental human rights, changes in terrorism act of 2006 will create new detention and questioning powers for security agencies in the UK, they will give the Attorney General new powers to proscribe terrorist organisations and will create new criminal offences and means of controlling people’s movements and activities. For instance, changes in terrorism law regarding attendance at a place formerly in use of terrorism activity, the

Indigenous Studies The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada Essay - 1

Indigenous Studies The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada - Essay Example Modern democratic society aspires to render equitable justice at all times. However, this might not be possible all the time due to certain constraints which impinge on the delivery of just and equitable laws. The implementation of justice or equity can be haphazard, biased, prejudiced and discriminatory whenever democratic ideals are compromised. Democracy is supposed to be the rule by the majority but on the reverse side of this principle, the minority in a society can be subjected to various forms of injustice. The lack of justice can happen despite the best intentions because people can subvert the legal system to their own hidden agenda or interests. Injustice happens everywhere but it has become more widespread and rampant due to a dwindling of resources. When people compete for scarce natural resources and other necessities in life, it is inevitable conflicts will occur. When this happens, it is those in minority groups who will suffer because their democratic space and political rights are violated in favor of the greater majority. As they say, democracy is a form of oppression. It is the tyranny of the majority on the minority who are outvoted in any democratic electoral exercise and often marginalized. The United Nations has taken cognizance of the fact that certain groups are at risk for marginalization in society. These groups include people belonging to an ethnic minority, those in the female gender, the weak and the old, the very young, the uneducated, and other people who by their various or unique circumstance happen not to belong to the dominant majority group. In these instances, it is supposed to be the duty of the sate to afford them protection by the passage of appropriate laws and the full implementation of these laws for their benefit and survival. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has been

Gothic Architecture and Renaissance Architecture Comparison

Gothic Architecture and Renaissance Architecture Comparison Introduction Gothic architecture and Renaissance architecture are both the comprehensive expression of culture in their own times. Gothic architecture started in 12th-century France and lasted for 4 centuries, into the 16th. After that, renaissance architecture took the place of Gothic architecture from 15 century until 17 century from Florence, Italy. Different time-backgrounds, social cultures, religious believes and different aesthetical standards from origins are the main reasons that formed these two polarity architectural style, Gothic and Renaissance. They represent their time and nation, becoming a specific language. In this essay, I will study and compare two finest works from each era, Amiens Cathedral and Florence Cathedral, trying to find out the contrast of these two architecture styles through the angle of historical evolution on European architecture. Time background and characteristics of Gothic architecture Gothic architecture evolved from Romanesque architecture and then flourished during the high and late medieval period. Gothic started from the 12th century France and it spreaded to the entire Europe, especially south and middle Europes architecture are deeply influenced. Europe was divided into a multitude of city states and kingdoms at the end of the 12th century. Throughout Europe archived its heyday because of the rapid growth in trade and the development of artisan industry, and an associated growth in towns (Banister, 1975 John 1950). Because of Germany and the Lowlands were in comparative peace, emerged lots of large flourishing towns. With the purpose of competition with other towns, or united for mutual weal, citizens had very high enthusiasm to built religious buildings. Those buildings were importance to these towns, represented wealth and pride. At that time, religious architectures like churches, cathedrals, abbeys were not only used as unalloyed religious architecture, they became the central of civic lives, became as halls, Hanseatic Leagues, even markets or theaters. Not only the religious architectures, many castles, universities, municipal halls were built in gothic style and remained till today. Few of domestic houses were gothic s tyle. In the other word, gothic architecture embodies the power of the rulers of the day. Gothic architecture is the zenith of European medieval architecture. No matter the engineering technologies or the means of artistic expression both achieved an unprecedented level, and hence came the golden time of European religious architecture. Churches buildings are the most elegant and superb workmanship of construction among all gothic buildings. Amiens cathedral is the most typical gothic architecture; we can almost find all of the gothic architecture Characteristics in this building. Amiens cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral. It is located in Amiens, the chief city of Picardy, north of Paris. It is the tallest complete cathedral in France, with the nave high 42.30 m, and it has the greatest interior volume, estimated at 200,000 m ³ (Wikipedia, 2009). It is said that it can contain all citizens in Amiens city at that time and more than sufficient (Baidu, 2009). Characteristics of Amiens cathedral Gothic art not only can been shown on the gothic religious buildings, but also painting, sculpture and crafts. A lot of sculpture, reliefs and illuminated entrances of the cathedral, let the gothic church buildings becoming art galleries. These sculptures and paintings break out of the range of religion and restrict, emphasize portray of characters, novelty seeking for accurate human histology. It presents a new thought, a brand new art creations tend was increasing through these gothic arts in church buildings, and it might lead to the renaissance art. (Huihua, 2004) The Western portals of the Amiens cathedral have a lot of outstanding elegant art works. Especially their elaborate sculpture, featuring a gallery of locally-important saints and large eschatological scenes are justly famous. In the book Mr Standfast, John Buchan has his character Richard Hannay describe the Amiens cathedral as being the noblest church that the hand of man ever built for God.( John,1960) Material Gothic architectures have no strict restraint on the chosen of material. Mainly French gothic churches employed limestone as the material. In England, Germany and Italy, heavy materials such as marble, sandstone, brick and stone are also be used. Amiens cathedral, just like the mostly French churches use limestone as material. Amiens cathedral have a very standardized gothic churchs Latin cross or cruciform plan. The long nave makes the body of the cathedral. Beyond a transverse arm called the transept, there is an extension which may be called the choir, chancel or presbytery. In other gothic churches architectures, there are several variations on the plan because of the regional reasons. Gothic architecture made a breakthrough of Romanesque style, using sprightly ogival or pointed arch, forceful spires and lots of narrow long windows instead of heavy shape, stability and semicircle arch,emphasis gothic churches verticality. These characteristics application, aimed to create a powerful impression on the approaching people, indicating the might of God and the might of the institution that it represents. Like other French cathedrals, Amiens cathedral is emphasis its height, both real and proportional. The 42.30 m height nave is even considerably taller than the width. On the interior of the Amiens cathedral, there is no break of the vertical lines. 126 giant pillars rise up from the floor straight to the ceiling, and meet the ribs of the vault. The walls and long narrow windows are all follow the rule of verticality. Through these methods, it leads peoples sight up to the high, create an impression of pious and transcendence of god, and the dream of heaven. The treatment of vertical elements in gallery and window tracery of mostly French and perpendicular period of English gothic churches shows a strongly unifying feature that counteracts the horizontal divisions of the interior structure. (Wim, 1985) Rose windows are applied widely in the design of gothic churches. In Amiens cathedral, rose windows can be found above the entrance and transept. This is the rose window above the west entrance of the Amiens cathedral. In Amiens cathedral, brick or stone is not the main part of the walls, but colored glasses, which tells many stories of gods, in order to educate people who cannot read at that time. All the rose windows and long narrow windows are using stained glass. The big contrast of dark walls and bright gorgeous windows gives a mysterious feeling. The flying buttress is a crucial element or characteristic contributing to the larruping looking of Gothic cathedrals. The flying buttress was used as a structure element, supporting the walls vertically. But in some gothic architecture, it comes to become a kind of decoration of building. The flying buttress outside the clerestory walls, decreasing the solidity of structure virtually, made the cathedra looked as being suspended from heaven. Furth more, it also played a role to balance the network of interior vaults ribs to give the same impression of a tent-like canopy over the congregation (www.wikipdia.com, 2009). In Art Through the Ages, authors describe the flying buttress as like slender extended fingers holding up the walls.( TANSEV. R , KLEINER. F. S CROIX. H, 1995) The ribbed vault is another importance characteristic of gothic architecture. The ribbed vault is made by combining three separate but connected arches. These are the transverse arches that span the ends of the vault, the lateral or longitudinal arches that span the length or sides of the vault, and the two diagonal arches that reach from corner to corner.(Parry. S) This simple construction dominated the medieval construction because of it is simply constructed, strong and flexible. Time background and characteristics of renaissance architecture The renaissance architecture appeared from the 15th century Florence, Italy, and then it spread to other European countries like France, Germany, England, Russia and elsewhere quickly, and formed regional renaissance architecture styles. At the end of the 14th century, the bud of capitalism in Europe. With its development, people in that era changed their attitude and requirement of art. Renaissance is a Political and cultural movement, which aim to bury the darkness rule of religious class in medieval in Europe. The newly emergent bourgeoisie against feudal aristocracy, and at the same time, they also fight with religious forces. In their mind, the though the medieval culture as historical regression, they describe the era as dark and barbarous time. Classic Greece and Rome culture was highly praised as luciferous and well- developed culture. From then on, the whole Europe went into the renaissance. In brief, we can find that, both the gothic and renaissance architecture, the style of architecture changed and fit the rulers taste, as a result, influence on the architecture style of that age. Because of the change of ruler, lots of commercial buildings like town halls, theaters, palaces and domestic buildings all built in renaissance style, not only the religious churches. St. Peters Basilica St Peters basilica can be though as one of the most outstanding religious renaissance buildings. St. Peters Basilica is located within the Vatican City. St. Peters Basilica can hold 60,000 people inside of it, been considered as the church with the largest interior of any Christian church in the world. It has a very high status of Christian churches, and it is regarded as one of the holiest Christian sites. The St. Peters basilica was described as holding a unique position in the Christian world(Lees-milne. J, 1967, p. 12.) and as the greatest of all churches of Christendom by Fletcher (FLETCHER .B, 1996, p. 719). It is the most prominent building inside the Vatican City. Its dome is an outstanding symbolic feature of the Rome skyline. It covers 2.3 hectares with a capacity of over 60,000 people. Characteristics of St Peters basilica Gothic architecture emphasizes its verticality. But renaissance architects paid lots of attention on symmetry, proportion and geometry of buildings. The faà §ade is 114.69 meters wide and 45.55 meters high .Not as the Amiens cathedral using pointed arch, spires and lots of narrow long windows to increase the visual verticality feeling, the St Peters basilica been put emphasis on its horizontality, symmetrical around its vertical axis. Its faà §ades is surmounted by a pediment and organized by a system of pilasters, arches and entablatures (www.Wikipedia.com). The columns and windows show a progression towards the center. You can also find fancy sculptures of gods at the top of the basilica. Compare to Amiens cathedrals intricate decoration, colourful west entrance and a good many sculptures on the surface of the cathedral, the St Peters basilicas appearance seems more maestoso and laconic. Material As the same reason as the architect of Amiens cathedral, the architect chose to use massive white travertine stone as the building material for the sake of highlight the solemn and saintly of the basilica. For gothic architectures, stones and glasses are the only used materials. For the St Peters basilica, brick masonry is used for the domes as well. Some other renaissance churches, timber and brick are also be used for domes. The St Peters Basilica took almost 120 years to finish. Lots of architects and artists worked together to join the design of the basilica, and made great contribution. So we can say that, the St Peters basilica is an aggregation of greatest renaissance architects and artists brightness. Donato Bramante was the first architect start the rebuilt of the St Peters basilica. Photo 11 is the plan that Bramante designed, which followed the renaissance thought, applying an enormous Greek cross with a dome in the middle, inspired by that of the huge circular Roman temple, the Pantheon. But he did not blindly follow the classic style. Bramante employed four large piers to support the basilica. Latter Bramante was replaced with Giuliano da Sangallo, Fra Giocondo and Raphael. The concept of the 4 piers remained unchanged. In Raphaels design, he added a row of complex apsidal chapels off the aisles on either side. He also reduced the size of towers to define the squareness of the exterior walls. And the semi-circular apses more clearly defined by encircling each with an ambulatory (Wikipedia). It cannot deny that Michelangelo made greatest contribution to the design of the basilica. The building remained now was built base on his design, although in his design he reconsidered the obvious plans and made some improvements. Michelangelo replaced every corner of the Raphaels plan with small vestries to blur the definition of the geometry. Columns and pilasters are the most obvious element of renaissance architecture, they are also an embodiment of the renaissance though, which is the classic columns and pilasters presents the harmony and senses of ancient Greece though. The whole series of columns and pilasters were continued to use by renaissance architecture. People tried to understand ancient Greeks understand of human body. So the base of the column was regarded as humans foot, the main body as the body, and the capital as humans head. A giant order of pilasters set at slightly different angles to each other was employed on the surface of the exterior walls of St Peters basilica. They do not like columns have supportive function, they are purely decoration purpose. Columns were used inside of the building. As introduced the basilica is supported by 4 piers, the columns take the role of decoration in this case. Semi- circular arch, which was shunned by gothic architecture represent its value on renaissance architecture. They are used in arcades, supported on piers or columns with capitals. In my point of view, the pointed arch in Amiens cathedral gives a mysterious impression, but on the other hand, the renaissance semi-circular arch accidently gives people a shock of god. And the vaults without ribs continue follow the semi-circular or segmental shape. All the vaults are on a square plan, unlike the vault of Amiens cathedral, which is rectangular. The dome of St Peters basilica is the tallest point of the Vatican City. The basilica becomes the landmark of the Vatican city of the day, the conspicuous dome made the most significant contribution to this result. Qua the tallest one among all renaissance domes, the domes height is as tall as 136.57 meters, accounting from the floor to the silver cross on the top of the dome. Its internal diameter, slightly smaller than Pantheon of Ancient Rome and Florence Cathedral, is 41.47 meters. I thing Michelangelo Buonarrotis dome is another engineering success after the Florence cathedral. The dome is constructed similar as the dome of Florence cathedral, which has two shells, but the St Peters outer shell has 16 strong stone ribs, as twice of the Florence cathedral. The 16 pairs of 15 meters height columns visually buttress each of the ribs, but actually they are redundant in structure of the dome. There are some openings along bottom edge of the dome, which subdued light up the elegant painting inside of the dome. Openings on the top of dome let bright sunlight goes straight into the interior of the basilica, light up the interior room naturally. Furthermore, the strong sunlight contrasts with the shading space, creating a saintly feeling. As the same as mostly gothic architecture, the ceiling of Amiens cathedral is left open. The interior aesthetics rely on light and shade contrast by the effect of colourful windows. The St Peters basilica is comprehensive decorated. Roofs are fitted with coffered ceilings, which are painted. Not only the ceiling, but also inside of domes are painted by famous renaissance artists. Fancy sculptures can be seen on every surface of piers, including some Michelangelos masterworks. Conclusion After all, the thought of the society limited the architecture style of the day. So gothic architecture and renaissance architecture were both influenced by the particular politic, economy, culture and art of the time. After all, all architecture styles centered around the rulers taste, and then influenced all the building style of that era. From here we see that architecture, as the symbol of the age, also can presents the characteristics of the society. Therefore, in order to satisfied the need of new social, political and culture, architecture form changing along with the time. On the other hand, the development of engineering techniques and material gave a solid support for the development of new architecture. Bibliography Banister FLETCHER, A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method, June 1975 John HARVEY, The Gothic World, 1100-1600: A Survey of Architecture and Art, 1950 Amiens Cathedral, from Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiens_Cathedral, modified on 24 December 2009 Amiens cathedral, http://baike.baidu.com/view/426548.htm, modified on 27 December 2009 John BUCHAN, Mr Standfast. London: Penguin Books, 1960 Huihua HUANG, the difference characteristics between gothic architecture and renaissance architecture, 2004 Wim SWAAN, The Gothic Cathedral,1985 Flying buttress, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_buttress, 2009 Richard TANSEV , Fred S. KLEINER, Horst De LA CROIX, Gardners Art Through the Ages, 1995, http://www.tudorhistory.org/glossaries/f/flying_buttress.html Stan PARRY, the key elements of gothic architecture , http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Arts/Architec/MiddleAgesArchitectural/GothicArchitecture/KeyElementsGothicArchitecture/KeyElementsGothicArchitecture.htm Claims made that the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro in Africa is larger appear to be spurious, as the measurements include a rectorate, a villa and probably the forecourt. Its capacity is 18,000 people against St. Peters 60,000. Its dome, based on that of St. Peters, is lower but carries a taller cross, and thus claims to be the tallest domed church. James Lees-Milne describes St Peters Basilica as a church with a unique position in the Christian world in Lees-Milne 1967, p. 12. Banister FLETCHER, the renowned architectural historian calls it The greatest of all churches of Christendom in Fletcher 1996, p. 719. Wikipedia, Renaissance architecture, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_architecture,2009 Wikipedia, St. Peters Basilica,2009

Knowledge Essay -- essays research papers

Knowledge   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Knowledge can be interpreted in many different ways. Some may see knowledge as learned education. Others may see education as intelligence. None of these perspectives of knowledge are right or wrong. Every person is entitled to their own definition, source, and use of knowledge in their lives. I view knowledge as the wisdom and insight that one may acquire over time, by personal experiences and influences in life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Most of the basic knowledge acquired by people starting at a young age is in school. As young children, we learn elementary facts such as our numbers and the alphabet. The older we become, the more facts we are taught, and the more complex these facts become. The knowledge one may learn in school is what I think of as worldly knowledge that will get people into the colleges and jobs that they may desire. The people that are abundant in educational knowledge are the people who dominate our economy and run our country. Certainly, this is one of the more important types of knowledge there are and definitely one that we could not do without, but it is not quite as important as some of the others. Education is vital in life, but mere facts cannot aid in the solution to all problems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another source of knowledge is entertainment, such as in television, movies, books, or even music. Certain types of entertainment can even be education. For example, television shows such as â€Å"20/20† or â€Å"DateLine† are both very informative shows, but interesting e...

Problems with Internet Cafes and Online Games in Taiwan :: Computers

Problems with Internet Cafes and Online Games in Taiwan Asian countries have never been unfamiliar with gaming software. From the very beginning when Japanese companies developed various game councils, Asian countries, such as Hong Kong and Taiwan, became large markets for computer and video games. In addition to the spread of gaming system technology in Asia, countries like Taiwan, China, and South Korea that have abundant labor resources have developed sufficient, but inexpensive computer components and software in recent decades. Online games have existed in Asia since more than a decade ago, but did not come to the mainstream of software development until early 1997. Online games became mainstream with the introduction of the Internet cafà ©. Although some reports show that the appearance of Internet cafà © and online games seems to promote the development of computer software design in Taiwan and increase the revenue for several computer component companies, it brings new social problems. There exists a management crisis of the cafà ©s, and censorship or copyright problems with software. While the Taiwanese government is trying to eliminate the problems by putting more restraints on this modern business, it also has the dilemma not to violate people’s freedoms and rights. In this paper, I will first discuss Internet cafà ©s in Taiwan and the famous (or infamous) online game known as â€Å"Heaven.† Then, I will present some ethical issues brought about by this new high-tech business and the opinions voiced regarding the pros and cons of the governmental regulations. Finally, I will also discuss my points of view concerning to this matter. In 1997, the South Korean government, in an attempt to stimulate the growth of its economy, encouraged the development of online gaming software. In order to accommodate gamers, the Internet cafà ©, which originated in England, became one of the most profitable businesses in South Korea. According to Business Weekly, there were around four thousand Internet cafà ©s in South Korea in the year 1999, but the number has mushroomed to twenty thousand in the year 2000. Moreover, the estimated revenue for Internet cafà ©s in South Korea by the year 2001 grew to $1.4 billion U.S. dollars. Due to the popularity of this modern business, the Taiwanese gaming industry decided to follow and develop online games. So far, there are around 8 million Internet users in Taiwan, and approximately 40% of them are gamers.

Blogging Digital Media And Society Series Essay

Jill Walker Rettberg new edition â€Å"Blogging: digital media and society series† can be described as a key book in an emerging field. Blogging has come to be associated as a landmark in the current social cyber studies and even more. Blogging is all about the way today’s popular culture has become an important element in large magnitude changes in how culture is produced. With her book, Jill digs into the deep and broad of blogging to give the reader the real meaning of what is involved in blogging as the evidence and driver of a shift in epochal culture (Rettberg, 2014). Jill’s capability in ensuring that she reaches out to the right audience and puts the points on blogging across is enhanced by experience. Being a prolific blogger herself, Jill uses her experience as a blogger in pointing out the various issues to her audience. Jill also utilizes examination which is enhanced by use of an expert’s eye of a communications researcher with experience to reveal the historical, psychological, social and political meaning of the blogging initiative. Borrowing from various disciplines, it is evident of her good understanding on the blogging issue and its impact. The other strong point in her writing is the fact that she brings and uses various disciplines such as media studies, marketing, ethnology, literary studies, sociology and journalism into an excellent exploratory framework (Rettberg, 2014). Jill’s book expands blogging into a wider context of the decline in print culture to the emerging trends. The updated and revised edition provides a good study of the now each and every day phenomenon placing it in a theoretical, contemporary and historical context. The use of the most recent of the researches and developments in the blogging world is taken care of with an analysis of the new tools for visual blogging and micro blogging (Rettberg, 2014). In the book, Jill discusses the changing trends where in the current times blogs are being integrated into the mainstream social media ecology. This helps to show the reader the direction the blogging element is taking in the formation and continuation of popular culture. Jill notes that the comments and the links from social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook have become more important than networks between blogs which was important five years ago. Jill also questions the new trend where there is a shift towards increased corporate control and commercialization of blogs (Rettberg, 2014). The cultural shift has also seen its share of influence from blogging as Jill illustrates using examples. Jill delves into the analysis of how the current smart phones equipped with cameras together with the social media has led to the shift towards more emphasis on the visual aspects in the blogs with the use of graphics and photographs being in the foreground. Jill puts in a convincing analysis of how blogging together with related genres have come to change the world of communication and media (Rettberg, 2014). The design of the book is in such a way that each of the chapters is a self-sufficient review of areas in blogging which makes the structure repetitive across the work. The book is more suitable for beginners or anyone with an interest in blogging as Jill puts the chapters in a loose connection to blogging. Though Jill has borrowed from many disciplines to help the reader in understanding the different aspects of blogging, there is some diversion, however when the discussion shifts from blogging as a phenomenon into the related and convergent forms like the social networking sites. There are lengthy discussions of the various sites such as MySpace and Facebook which though put with the right intention in mind, they do not achieve this as there is no clear elaboration to the reader how this relates to the overall topics (Rettberg, 2014). Walker’s work begins by tackling the question of what a blog is. She starts with an introduction to the history of online text based communication. She then moves on to the development of blogging tools such as Blogger. Walker develops a shred understanding of material aspects in blogging. An interesting section also discusses blogs as genre and medium which is a distinction that is not addressed directly most of the time. In â€Å"From Bards to Blogs†, Walter takes the discussion on the blogging place within media culture and the shift from one-to- many towards many-to- many. Walter positions the internet as a counterpoint to Plato’s complaint of a written text being unresponsive. Walker shares the view that there is potential for interactivity between authors of blog posts, the blog post itself and the reader in blog comments (Rettberg, 2014). Also of particular interest is the chapter â€Å"Citizen Journalist?’ where Walker puts her focus on the three ways in which blogging intersects with traditional journalism. There are bloggers acting as journalists, the bloggers who report on mainstream media and the bloggers giving first-hand reports on ongoing events. Walker goes ahead to discuss bloggers as the chance to witness big historical events. Her example of Kaye D. Trammell account on Hurricane Katrina is meant to show how blogs can be used as sources of information by both the public and mass media however understudied. This is an avenue that can be used for future works in blogging (Rettberg, 2014). Walker also discusses how blogs have expanded to various forms of narratives in â€Å"Blogs as narratives† She gives an account of the three forms of narratives namely the goal-oriented narrative, ongoing narration and fragmented narratives. In the same chapter she evaluates the ways in which blogs can be used as a means of self exploration with one discovering their strengths and what they can do best to contribute to the society (Rettberg, 2014). Walker finishes the book off with a review of the future of blogs and the future of social media. In the chapter, Walker also touches on the use of language, privacy government access and control each of which one gets the feeling that they could be well covered in a different book each on its own. An addition of some scholarly works using quantitative methods would have added some balance to the various discussions such as the one on protypical blog and blogger. Another limitation in Walker’s book is that there is a small number of scholarly works cited on bloggers and blogging (Rettberg, 2014). In general Walker provides a popular view on blogging culture and blogs and steers away from in-depth analysis and critical discussion. The text however is a good introductory resource for both non-academic and academic audiences (Rettberg, 2014). Reference Rettberg, J. W. (2014).  Blogging. Source document