A view from the bridge by Arthur Miller Essays

A view from the bridge by Arthur Miller Essays A view from the bridge by Arthur Miller Paper A view from the bridge by Arthur Miller Paper Consider the importance of Italian loyalty in the play A view from the bridge by Arthur Miller. Daniel Bishop In the play A View From The Bridge Arthur Miller constantly conveys the extreme moral importance of loyalty towards others, be it strangers or close family in a closely linked Italian-American community in 1950s Brooklyn. Eddie Carbone values and honours these unwritten laws as much as anyone else, but despite warnings, his own desperation and selfishness slowly leads him to reject these values and therefore suffer the harsh Italian justice of the people that once stood by him. Alfieris opening speech gives us a brief insight into the ways of this Italian community. He describes how people are still very Italian, keeping to superstitions when he says, I often think that behind that superstitious little nod of theirs lie three thousand years of distrust; this also shows how long they can hold a grudge, being very honourable. He also mentions how people are more than willing to take the law into their own hands, due to honour and vengeance when he states, Oh, there were many here who where justly shot by unjust men. Justice is very important here. This shows that people are just like babies, if they dont get what the want they get upset and go and shoot someone and how happy they are to take the law into their own hands. Later we also learn how close the community is and how they all know each other and each others business. He also gives a little hint of a long, drawn out event that is very bad and will probably end in pain when he says, another lawyer, quite differently dressed, heard the same complaint and sat there as powerless as I, and watched it run its bloody course. This is referring to Eddies deterioration of character The first, real explanation of the severity of Italian loyalty is learnt in the Carbone household at the beginning of Act One. The family is at the dinner table discussing the arrival of the illegal immigrants; this is significant because one of the most serious acts of betrayal is telling immigration about hidden illegal immigrants. Eddie stresses the seriousness of not telling anyone because of the chance of being caught, as stated earlier, everyone knows everyones business. This is shown when Eddie states; if you said it you knew it, if you didnt say it you didnt know it. Eddie also recalls a story of a boy who snitched about his hidden uncle, his own family turned on him, they spat on him in the street, which means they no longer have any respect for him and is not considered part of the family or community. This shows the severity of the communitys own justice system, and how betrayal and dishonouring is one of the worst crimes in their eyes. This story is ironic as Eddie does exactly the same thing, but with worse consequences, therefore making him a hypocrite. Eddie clearly obeys these laws of the community for now. The whole reason he is taking in these immigrants is out of loyalty. He tells Catherine, just remember, kid, you can quicker get back a million dollars that was stole than a word you gave away. This shows the Italians strong grudge again. As an audience, by now have taken in the seriousness of Italian values and the responsibilities that come with them. Marco introduces a new aspect of Italian loyalty through his character, the way he acts and communicates with different characters differently. He is obviously polite to Eddie and has great respect for him for taking him and his brother in, taking the blankets from my bed as it is put by Eddie later. There isnt much contact between Marco and Beatrice and Catherine, but he obviously loves his brother. Marco loves his family so much that the whole reason he has come to America, the land of opportunities to earn money for his extremely poor family, this shows the importance of family. Marco is extremely grateful and doesnt want to offend Eddie, he even tells his brother to be quiet quite harshly so as not to offend him, there is a profound show of loyalty throughout this scene, Eddie has taken in these two strangers at great risk without question or want of reward purely out of loyalty to Beatrice and her family. At the end of Act One we see the growing tension caused by Catherine and Rodolphos relationship boil over slightly. Eddie has become hostile out of jealousy and openly questions Rodolphos sexuality, Eddie has given the hint to the audience that he will be responsible, or at least partly for the catastrophic end of the play. Marco acts cool and doesnt notice (or ignores) the tension until the boxing incident which everyone thinks went a bit far, but the tension is lowered but coffee and conversation, yet, out of loyalty to his brother, Marco still feels the need to subliminally challenge Eddie with the chair incident, giving a warning that he has the power to stop Eddie should this go any further and that if it comes to choosing sides he will defend his brothers honour. Here stage direction representing this; Marco is face to face with Eddie, a strained tension gripping his eyes and jaw, his neck stiff, the chair raised like a weapon over Eddies head and he transforms what might appear like a glance of warning into a smile of triumph, and Eddies grin vanishes as he absorbs this look. At the beginning of Act Two Eddie acts out his feelings towards Catherine and Rodolpho in a drunken rage, the audience can make their own judgements upon this but most will loose a lot of respect for Eddie, as do the characters. Eddie still denies his feelings and acts and his reasons for them but no one is convinced and this incriminates him further. Marco still doesnt do anything about this, possibly because he believes it was the alcohol. We have now seen the change Eddie has gone through, all his morals and values which he upheld at the start of the play have all but deteriorated, and worse, he doesnt realise or care, all he thinks about is himself and how to get himself out of situations. All he wants is his respect and dignity, which everyone agrees he doesnt deserve. Alfieri shows great sense of loyalty as he is a man of the law but still believes that Eddie shouldnt turn them in because of trust, loyalty and the unwritten code. Despite Alfieris harsh warnings (which are very accurate) Eddie ignores him and does what he thinks is best and commits one of the ultimate acts of betrayal, the audience now reflects on how serious Eddie was with Catherine about secrecy and wonder how this change of face took place. Alfieris warnings were not unlike Eddies story about the young boy at the start, Alfieri says; even those who understand you will turn against you, even the ones who feel the same will despise you! Alfieri somehow understands Eddies feelings and situation very well. In the final scene, Eddie has committed the betrayal and everyone reacts how the audience would expect, everyone loathes Eddie and has turned their backs on him, yet Eddie feels some remorse as immigration knocks at the door. This is all to much for Marco, and because this would result in sending him home he will not be able to provide for his family and in theory Eddie has killed his family, Marco spits on Eddie in the street, this shows that Eddie has committed a horrible act against the community. Catherine now hates Eddie, understandably, she even says; Hes a rat! this must affect Eddie greatly because he did it so he could be closer to her. What is very odd is that Beatrice is still loyal to Eddie, as she will not go to the wedding under his command, this doesnt necessarily mean she still loves him but is possibly still upholding her wedding vows and the loyalty of being a wife. Marco however wants blood, he is eager to reclaim justice and take the law into his own hands as Alfieri described at the beginning. This, coupled with Eddies demand for respect inevitably leads to the confrontation, neither have anything to loose and through Eddies death his soul is purified and justice is done in the eyes of the community. Alfieris closing speech describes how no one wants what they cant have without risk, unlike Eddie and everyone is better off this way. This play has tested the extremes of Italian loyalty and how important it is otherwise you simply dont fit in, also how severe the punishments are. Through Eddie the community and the audience become more aware of these things and are reminded why they live by their rules.

Fair Labor Standards Act Essay Example

Fair Labor Standards Act Essay Example Fair Labor Standards Act Essay Fair Labor Standards Act Essay Today we are fortunate to have laws to protect us from being forced to work excessive hours without being fairly compensated. We have laws to protect our children from being forced to work at an early age and these laws protect us from working in unsafe and unhealthy conditions. In 1938 our 32nd president Franklin D. Roosevelt was able to have the â€Å"Fair Labor Standards Act† passed and signed into law. This piece of legislation was a land mark in our history. It banned most child labor; it set a minimum hourly wage and set the standard work week. This was the beginning that made employers develop records to keep track of the wages that they paid to their employees and records of the hours the employees were working. The Supreme Court had been one of the major obstacles to wage-hour and child-labor laws. In the 1936 Presidential race wage-hour legislation was a campaign issue and Roosevelt promised to seek some constitutional way of protecting workers. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt won the 1936 election by a landslide he was determined to overcome the obstacles of the Supreme Court’s opposition as soon as possible. Roosevelt and his Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins tried to make a model for employers of government contractors in all fields, not just construction. But the Federal Government actually encouraged employers to exploit labor because the Government had to award every contract to the lowest bidder. : President Roosevelt and Frances Perkins continued to try to get congress to pass acts to prohibit the labor of children and set minimum wages and hours. The â€Å"Fair Labor Standard Act† in a draft form was sent to the White House where two trusted legal advisers of the President, and with the Supreme Court in mind, added new provisions to the already lengthy bill. Roosevelt had told his Secretary of Labor, that the length and complexity of the bill caused some of its difficulties with Congress, and asked for it to be shortened. Lawyers tried to simplify the bill but faced the problem that, although legal language makes legislation difficult to understand, bills written in simple English are often difficult for the courts to enforce. Because the wage-hour, child-labor bill had been drafted with the Supreme Court in mind, the bill could only be cut from 40 pages to 10 pages. The bill was voted upon May 24, 1938 and after the House had passed the bill, the Senate-House Conference Committee made more changes to reconcile differences. During the legislative battles over fair labor standards, members of Congress had proposed 72 amendments. Almost every change had exemptions, narrowed coverage, lowered standards, weakened administration, limited investigation, or in some other way worked to weaken the bill. What had survived was approved by the conference committee and passed the House on June 13, 1938 and then the Senate approved it. Congress then sent the bill to the President, and on June 25, 1938, the President signed the Fair Labor Standards Act into law. This affected industries that employed about one-fifth of the US workforce. About 700,000 workers were affected by the wage increase and 13 million more were affected by the hour’s provision. It mostly affected white males, and about 14 percent of women ( u-s-history. com). Children under the age of fourteen were no longer legally allowed to work with some exceptions in the agricultural industries and family businesses. Children under the age of eighteen were banned from working â€Å"hazardous† jobs in mining and some factory jobs. This had greatly reduced the number of children injured by bad working conditions. Children between the ages of 14 and 16 have had additional restrictions on the number of hours they are allowed to work to encourage them to stay in school. During a school day they are only allowed to work three hours and no more than eighteen hours in a school week. Children are not allowed to work before 7a. m. and after 7 p. m. , and from June 1 through Labor Day they are not allowed to work after 9 p. m. The 14 and 15 year old also have addition al restrictions in addition to the â€Å"hazardous† jobs that they may not perform. These jobs include the food service industry such as baking, cooking, working in the freezers and meat coolers, operating food slicers, grinders, choppers and bakery mixers. Fourteen and fifteen year olds are also not to perform jobs that require loading or unloading goods on or off of trucks, railcars or conveyors and they are not to work in connection with maintenance or repair of buildings, equipment or machines. Employers may be assessed civil monetary penalties of up to $11,000 for each employee who is the subject of a violation of the Act’s child labor provisions. A civil monetary penalty of up to $50,000 may be assessed for each child labor violation that causes the death or serious injury of any minor employee, and these assessments may be doubled, up to $100,000 when the violations are determined to be willful or repeated (LindenMeyer, 2004). In the â€Å"Fair Labor Standard Act† the federal minimum wage began at 25 cents per hour in 1938 and it has had over twenty amendments made over the years for increases. The latest rate of $7. 25 per hour was effective on July 24, 2009. In addition to a minimum wage employers must pay the employee’s wages in cash or something that can easily be converted to cash or legal forms of compensation, for example food and lodging. Employers cannot pay their employees with coupons or tokens that can only be used in a store owned by the employer. Discounts that are granted to employees by the employers cannot be used towards meeting the minimum wage requirement. There are a number of employment practices which ‘Fair Labor Standard Act† does not regulate. They are vacation, holiday, severance, or sick pay; meal or rest periods, holidays off, or vacations; premium pay for weekend or holiday work; pay raises or fringe benefits; or a discharge notice, reason for discharge, or immediate payment of final wages to terminated employees. The standard work week in 1938 was reduced to 44 hours per week, and if employees were to work over that they would be paid over time at a rate of their wages plus one-half wages for the additional time worked. By 1940 the standard work week was reduced to 40 hours per week (www. dol. gov/dol/oasam/programs/history/flsa1938. htm). Despite this law in 2006 a class action law suit was brought against Wal-Mart for not paying its employees for their overtime and forcing them to work through their breaks. Wal-Mart lost the law suit and the workers won $78. 4 million (Worth 2008 p 12). In 1961 an amendment was added to the â€Å"Fair Labor Standard Act† called â€Å"enterprise coverage†. It applies to employers whose annual sales total $500,000. 00 or more, or who are engaged in interstate commerce. The courts interpreted that the term interstate commerce to cover companies that regularly use the U. S. mail to send and receive letters to and from other states. The courts included that employees that use company telephones or computers to place or accept interstate business calls or take orders would make the employers subject to the â€Å"Fair Labor Standard Act† (Steingold, 2009). There are also exemptions to the â€Å"Fair Labor Standard Act† where some employees do not qualify for the provisions of overtime or the minimum wage requirements. These employees who are not entitled to it are called â€Å"exempt† employees. Employees that are always entitled to the overtime and the minimum wage pay provisions are â€Å"nonexempt† employees and they are blue-collar employees and first responders. Blue-collar employees include carpenters, electricians, mechanics, plumbers, iron workers, craftsman, operating engineers, construction works, and laborers. First responders are workers that are on the front lines of protecting safety and health. They include police officers, firefighters, medical technicians, ambulance personnel, and hazardous materials workers. Employees that are always exempt and are never entitled to overtime or a minimum wage are employees of seasonal amusement or recreational businesses, employees of newspapers with a circulation of less than 4,000 and newspaper deliver people, and workers of small farms. Some employees are exempt if they meet certain requirements; this is usually because the employees are being paid a salary that compensates them enough for the extra duties and responsibilities that they have. Executive, administrative and professional workers are exempt if they meet the specific guidelines. The requirements for an exempt executive worker are that they must manage other workers as a primary job duty and have at least two full time employees that they are in charge of. They must have the ability to hire, fire, discipline, promote, and demote others or make recommendations about these decisions. The executive worker must earn a salary of at least $455 per week. The requirements for an administrative employee to qualify as exempt are that they must primarily complete their work directly for the business’s management or administration. They must be independent workers and primarily use their own discretion and judgment on their work duties. The administrative employee also must earn a salary of at least $455 per week. The requirements for an exempt professional are that they complete work that requires invention, imagination, originality, or talents in the arts such as music, writing and acting. They may need to be a highly intellectual and have been trained in extensive studies such as law, medicine, theology, accounting, engineering, architecture, teaching, and pharmacy. The must also earn a salary of at least $455 per week. Outside sales people are exempt if they regularly work away from the employers’ office and make sales or obtain orders or contracts for services or facilities. Exempt salespersons are generally paid through commissions and will require little to no supervision to complete their job. The exemption from the minimum wage and overtime pay provisions also applies to computer specialist that receives a salary of at least no less than $455 per week or not less than $27. 63 per hour. The law specifies that computer specialist’s primary duties involve applying systems analysis techniques and procedures. Designing, developing, documenting, analyzing, creating, testing, or modifying computer systems or programs, prototypes and/or machine operating systems. There are a number of employees that are exempt from only the overtime pay requirements. These include taxicab drivers, announcers, news editors, and chief engineers of radio and TV stations that have fewer than 100,000 people located in a town or city (Repa, 2007 and Steingold, 2009). In 1963 an amendment called the â€Å"Equal Pay Act† had been added to equalize the pay scales for men and women who work at an equal skill, effort and responsibility. Congress felt that the differential in pay prevented the maximization of the available labor resources, they wanted to prevent labor disputes, and they did not want an unfair method of competition. They also felt that the wage differentials depressed the wages and the standard of living. Congress also wanted to eliminate stereotypes about the value of work performed by women. Congress exempted several forms of discrimination from the operation of the Equal Pay Act. These exceptions include shift differentials, restrictions on or differences based on the time of day worked, hours of work, and the lifting or moving of heavy objects. The Equal Pay Act also excluded differences based on experience, training or ability, as well as unusual or higher than normal wage rates which employers maintained for valid reasons. The Equal Pay Act allows for unequal pay for equal work only when wages are set pursuant to a seniority system, a merit system, a system which measures earnings by quantity or quality of production, or other factors outside of sex (The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc, 1963 and Landsberg, 2004). In 2004 a class action suit was brought against Wal-Mart were 1. 6 million female associates that worked for Wal-Mart felt that they were discriminated against because they were women. These women tried to advance into higher paying positions but were passed over by men/boys who did not have the experience and knowledge that these women had. More than seventy percent of the Wal-Mart workforce is women, sixty-five percent of the cashier and greeter positions are held by women and only thirty-five percent of the assistant managers for Wal-Mart are women. The female employees of Wal-Mart are paid less than the male workforce for jobs that are of equal skill, effort and responsibility all for keeping prices lower for the consumer (Worth, 2008 p 8-12). The Fair Labor Standard Act requires employers to keep records of wages, hours, and other regulated items by the Department of Labor. Most of the information is generally obtained by employers in ordinary business practice and in compliance with other laws and regulations. Employees that are subject to the minimum wage provisions or both the minimum wage and overtime pay provisions must have employers keep the following records with personal information, including employees name, home address, occupation, sex, and birth date if under 19 years of age, the hour and day when workweek begins and the total hours worked each workday and each workweek. These records also need to indicate the total daily or weekly straight-time earnings and the regular hourly pay rate for any week when overtime is worked and total overtime pay for the workweek. In addition to records for hours worked and paid the records also must include deductions from or additions to wages, total wages paid each pay period and the date of payment and pay period covered. The Records required for exempt employees differ from those for nonexempt workers. Special information is required for employees that work from the home and for employees to where lodging is provided ( ol. gov/dol/whd/regs/compliance/hrg. htm). The constitutionality of the â€Å"Fair Labor Standard Act† was unanimously supported by the Supreme Court it has been altered and amended on at least 43 occasions between 1938 and 2009. Those alterations and amendments have provided and clarified benefits to workers in various employment sections, and made increases to the minimum wage. As a hardwor king American we have a right to be paid fairly for our work. It is unfortunate that many unscrupulous employers attempt to manipulate laws intended to protect workers in order to avoid paying just compensation. When this happens, employees can turn to the legal system to ensure that their rights are protected without being discriminated against or discharged for filing a complaint or participate in any proceeding under the Act. ? Repa, Barbara Kate. â€Å"Your Rights in the Workplace† Consolidated Printers Inc, July 2007 Steingold, Fred S. â€Å"The Employers Legal Handbook† â€Å"Manage you employees workplace effectively†. Delta Printing Solutions, Inc, June 2009 The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. â€Å"Equal Pay For Equal Work† BNA Incorporated, 1963 Worth, Richard â€Å"Open for Debate Workers’ Rights† Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 2008 Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Gale Encyclopedia of U. S. Economic History. 1999. Retrieved from Encyclopedia. com: encyclopedia. com/doc/1G2-3406400301. html Newman, Roger K. Fair Labor Standards Act (1938). Major Acts of Congress. 2004. Retrieved from Encyclopedia. com: encyclopedia. com/doc/1G2-3407400107. html LINDENMEYER, KRISTE. National Child Labor Committee. Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood in History and Society. 2004. Retrieved from Encyclopedia. com: encyclopedia. com/doc/1G2-3402800297. html Grossman, Jonathan. â€Å"Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938: Maximum Struggle for a Minimum Wage† www. dol. gov dol. gov/dol/topic/discrimination/agedisc. htm dol. gov/dol/oasam/programs/history/flsa1938. htm dol. gov/dol/whd/regs/compliance/hrg. htm u-s-history. com/pages/h1701. html Equal Pay Act of 1963. Major Acts of Congress. Ed. Brian K. Landsberg. Macmillan-Thomson Gale, 2004. eNotes. com. 2006. enotes. com/major-acts-congress/equal-pay-act

Education - Educational Enquiry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Education - Educational Enquiry - Essay Example The data then must be subjected to statistical analysis for verification of the percentage error in it and various tests and measuring scales can also be used to check out the results reflected by the data (Peers 1996, p. 1). With the analysis of the data, the researchers then can elaborate on the details of their study and successively make a conclusion and recommendation. With the recommendation in mind, follow-up studies can be made based on the suggestions given by the past researchers shown in their reports and papers. For the paper on TMA03, the discussion will focus on the details regarding the research design and data production and on how to apply the concept upon the past articles on TMA01 and the topic on TMA02. The paper then will be divided into two tasks as the first task will cover the articles from TMA01, while the second task will focus on the topic of TMA02 and elaborate on it. On TMA01, a pair of articles was chosen and those would be subjected to some questions wh ich comprised the first task of the paper. The first task then will cover the transparency of the research conducted by the authors of the chosen articles. Next, the rationale will be checked as to whether it is connected to the methodological approach used by the authors of the articles. Then, an alternative design will be suggested that may better fit the studies conducted by the authors of the chosen articles. Lastly, the data collection practice of the authors of the chosen articles will be analyzed and some suggested alternative methods will be provided and discussed. The paper talks about research design and data production which will be applied on two articles used in TMA01. Research design is about putting a scientific question into an experiment to test its validity (Matthews and Kostelis 2011). The framework of the experiment then is dependent upon the questions that serve as guidelines. Each design then has its own strengths and weaknesses. It does matter when researchers are going to choose the right design for their particular study. Once they have chosen the framework, then they have already created the blueprint for their study to undertake (Craig 2009, p. 89). They usually have questions as guidelines like what are the questions needed for the accomplishment of the study, what information are related and needed for the research, what data must be obtained and how to process and study the collected data. It can then be divided into various types of designs from fixed to flexible frameworks. Those are known as qualitative and quantitative research designs. Fixed and flexible designs can then be both quantitative and qualitative research designs (Madeyski, 2010, p. 5). Flexible research designs provide the space for adjustments which give the researchers the chance to make some changes in the process or methodology. On the other hand, fixed designs are rigid which makes it difficult for researchers to make some on-the-spot changes. It also require s the design to be finalized before doing the data collection. Its advantage is the freedom to adjust especially for the qualitative variables. The downside of having fixed design is the opportunity to change once controlled and experimental variables are identified because fixed designs are heavily patterned after theories

Three- dimensional echocardiography Research Paper

Three- dimensional echocardiography - Research Paper Example   Three-dimensional echocardiography has evolved at a fast rate since it was first used about forty years ago. In its different stages of evolution, the use of three-dimensional echocardiography was at a point reduced to the research side of cardiology and not in the clinical setting. Only until very recently has 3D echocardiography been used by cardiologists, and echocardiographers in hospitals and clinics. Another interesting thing is the fact that transthoracic three-dimension ultrasound has been trumped by three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography, especially in the operating room and surgical setting.The development of three-dimensional echocardiography (3D TTE) can be traced back to almost four decades, just a short period after the arrival and development of 2D echocardiography. In the year 1974, at Stanford University, Dekker et al produced the results of their work: A System for Ultrasonically Imaging the human heart in three dimensions.2D images were retrieved ac cording to electrocardiographic and respiratory timing. This data was developed off-line by interpolation, then reconstructed into a three-dimensional image. Using the same off-line interpretation and reconstruction process as 3D TTE, three-dimensional echocardiography was introduced and was first performed in the year 1992. In Comparison to transthoracic echocardiography, the trans-esophageal perspective, as seen by cardiologists and echocardiographers, more often showed superior anatomical detail.  

Examination of benefits of using IT Software in value added elements Essay

Examination of benefits of using IT Software in value added elements in supplier procurement - Essay Example A shorter purchasing cycle to maintain lower inventory levels and respond more quickly to stock-outs is the core business value through e-procurement. Along with some strategical challenges on implementation, study observed standardization and internationalization of problems as few limitations of the technology integration with e-procurement. In the late 1990s, big corporations managed their supply chains with a combination of paper, faxes, e-mail, and proprietary electronic data interchange networks. But these systems provided opportunities for errors. Executives responsible for maintaining an unceasing flow of supplies to keep production lines running and distant field operations on schedule were at the mercy of primitive purchasing processes that were beyond their control. Though they could select from a host of qualified suppliers, they didnt have the most convenient ways to find the perfect supplier with exactly the right product at just the right price. Alternatively, it could take days or weeks to have the requisitions signed by executives who spend most of their time on the road. A critical pre-requisite for success in digital economy is the implementation of an integrated value chain that extends across - and beyond - the enterprise. The term "extended enterprise" represents a new concept that a company is made up not just of its employees, its board members, and executives, but also its business partners, its suppliers, and its customers. The notion of extended enterprise includes many different arrangements such as virtual integration, outsourcing, distribution agreements, collaborative marketing, R&D program partnerships, alliances, joint ventures, preferred suppliers, and customer partnership. Enterprises that have global operations or need to deal with a multitude of suppliers are finding that e-procurement has

‘Nature Versus Nurture’ as Predictors of Happiness

‘Nature Versus Nurture’ as Predictors of Happiness Pauline Tovee Write a critical discussion essay in response to the following task, based on your close reading of any five of the ten source texts, Texts 1 – 10 Draw on any five of the ten sources texts, discuss the relative importance of ‘nature versus nurture’ as predictors of happiness This assignment will discuss the relative importance of ‘nature versus nurture’ as predictors of happiness. The assignment will also compare and contrast all sides of the equation and discuss which is the most important as a predictor of happiness ‘nature or ‘nurture’ or whether both have a bearing on happiness. The stance taken in this assignment is that neither ‘nature’ or ‘nurture’ can fulfil the role of a single predictor, and that the combining of both the genetic and environmental factors, contribute to happiness. Defining happiness is not an easy task to accomplish. However, it can be argued that a simple definition of happiness is a sensation of positivity which covers a whole range of feelings or emotions, from pleasure to gratification. (Spoors et al, as cited in Text 2, L185, 2014). On one hand, with regard to ‘nature’, it has been argued a healthy lifestyle equates to a happy brain. Sugar has also been explored as having an important role within our brains and bodies, to keep a stable quantity available continuously. The blood sugar within one’s body fluctuates throughout the day; thus when the sugar level is at its peak one feels elated or happy within one’s mood span. However, when one’s blood sugar level has decimated to a low level, moods can change to one of irritability and tiredness, thus the cells do not get enough of the chemicals they require to function correctly. Then again, it has also been debated, brain activity is also a way of gauging happiness by simply inquiring of people on how happy that were at a particular time, though this is not specifically accurate. If two people say they are comparatively happy, one can still not be certain that both individuals are, in reality, encountering exactly the same intensity of happiness. A procedure used by Davidson, with the use of an electroencephalograph (EEG), measures action within the brain, including parts of the brain which are not active. The active part of the brain produces electrical pulses. These are selected by the electrodes located on the head. However, what Davidson did discover was that in people who stated they were feeling happy and cheerful, the action in the frontal area of the brain, on the left-hand side was more active. When pessimistic thoughts were portrayed, there was more action in the frontal area of the brain on the right-hand side. (Spoors et al, as cited in Text 3, L 185, 2014) However, ‘nurture can also play its role in the pursuit of happiness with respect to social influences. People who are loved and valued by their families are more likely to have happy dispositions than those who are undervalued and exploited by their conflicting roles within the family circle. People who are involved within formal occupations or those who work in the home, for example those who study, care for others (including children) and those who work taking care of the home, can each form a foundation of happiness. Work does not only provide people with financial support, but can also give people a sense of achievement and add meaning to their lives. Peter Warr (2007) equates employment to having one’s daily dose of vitamins, a certain amount of which is need for wellbeing and health. Richard Layard (2008) claims ‘Unemployment (in the broadest sense) can reduce happiness by destroying self-respect and the positive social relationships created by work’ In addition, researchers in psychology claim people who live in western society are, by and large, more happy than those in other societies in a survey taken of approximately 80,000 people in over 178 separate countries. Adrian White created a ‘happiness’ level of these countries. At the highest position was Denmark which was trailed closely by Switzerland, Austria and Iceland. However, countries such as Zimbabwe and Burundi were the least happiest countries. Researchers have suggested people who are living in countries whose economy is developing, may well have more amounts of happiness, which clearly define the feeling of ‘contentment’ than, for example, those who live in western societies. Further research done by the New Economics Foundation in 2006, discovered that the Pacific Island of Vanuatu, was purported to be the happiest nation on Earth, even though it is one of the poorest countries. (Spoors et al, as cited in Text 6, L185, 2014). In comparison, the question can be asked time and time again; are we the product of either our genes or simply of our environment, the physical, social and also the cultural? As Phoenix argues, ‘Whilst psychological debates are often presented as dichotomies (fixidty versus change: nature versus nurture), these debates should not be seen as requiring either/or choices’ (Phoenix, A. 2007, as cited in Text 1, L185, 2014) From evidence available, being naturally happy (by nature) and a in a nurturing (environment and experience) happiness, can influence peoples’ happiness. Research has shown that twins who are identical (have identical genes) are more comparable in their levels of happiness, than a set of twins who do not have the same identical genes. Layard argues ‘Scientists have shown that our family relationships are more important than any other single factor affecting our happiness’. (Layard, 2005). Maybe the fundamental message is that the majority of people, irrespective of their genes or their environment, are able to take the key steps to expand their levels of contentment, for example happiness and their emotional wellbeing. Happiness does not only come from outside influences and our environment, but also from within one’s self. Neither of the two is in conflict with each other. ‘The true pilgrim fights the evils of the world out there and cultivates the s pirit within’ (Layard, 2005 as cited in L185, Text 7). In conclusion the evidence indicates that although ‘nature’ and ‘nurture’ do play an important role within one’s dreams of happiness, they are not separate in that role. The influence of each position contributes to happiness as a whole. It is not easy to define happiness completely; what may be complete contentment for one person is not the same for another, for we are all different in our genetic makeup and our environment and general upbringing. Word Count: 1025 References: The Open University (2012), L185, English for Academic Purposes, EMA, Text 1: Avoiding Dichotomies in Psychological Thinking [online] https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=302192section=3.2 (accessed 17 May 2014) The Open University (2012), L185, English for Academic Purposes, EMA, Text 2: What Makes Us Happy? [online] https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=302192section=3.2 (accessed 17 May 2014) The Open University (2012), L185, English for Academic Purposes, EMA, Text 3: What Makes Us Happy – Happy Brains [online] https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=302192section=3.3 (accessed 17 May 2014) The Open University (2012), L185, English for Academic Purposes, EMA, Text 6: What Makes Us Happy – Social Influences [online] https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=302192section=3.6 (accessed 17 May 2014) The Open University (2012), L185, English for Academic Purposes, EMA, Text 7: Naturally Happy and Nurturing Happiness [online] https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=302192section=3.7 (accessed 17 May 2014)

Solar Energy Essay -- essays research papers

Solar Energy Solar energy is the most ancient kind of energy found on earth, for it is as old as the sun. "Solar" means from the sun. The earth is only one of the many planets which is bathed in the sun's overflowing energy. Every second the world receives 95.8 trillion watts of power†¦just think about that for a minute. Think about how much power the earth just received in the time it took you to read this sentence? It is well beyond the amount of power used in one day. It has the potential to satisfy all our energy needs forever without ever having to use the pollutive fossil fuels ever again. "The problem however, does not lie in the limited source, as do fossil fuels, but in harnessing it." Every day solar energy is being used all around us. In fact, it is the indirect source of all energy and life on earth. Hopefully, with continued research, we will be in a place one day where we can directly rely on the sun for all our energy needs, and never have to use pollu tive fossil fuels, or nuclear power ever again (Cross 124). It is hard to say when solar energy was first used by humans to make life easier. As far as we know, people have always used the sun's visible range of light to see by, as well as to sit in the sun to keep warm. "Some of the first ancient cultures to use solar energy as heating were those from the deserts, and dry areas." In Egypt, Libya, and Algeria, where the sun is fiery hot in the day, but reaches freezing temperatures at night, builders discovered that thick walls of mud could solve this problem. During the day, they would absorb all the sun's energy and leave it cool as a cave inside, and at night, the walls would radiate their stored heat, and keep it fairly warm inside. These ancient people also discovered how to use the sun's energy to preserve food by either drying fruits or meats in the sun, or baking them. They found techniques to bleach cloth and cure animal hides. Whether by accident, or deliberate experimentation, these ancient cultures discovered that the sun was an incredible source of power (Bower 36). Throughout history people have experimented with the many uses of the sun's power. In the 17th century, scientists in Europe began rediscovering the sun. When a French scie... ...ar energy would be a more realistic option. Does every house need two computers, 3 TV's, a dishwasher, microwave, electric stove, video games, 3 stereos, nightlights in every hall, porch lights left on all night, lights on in every room in the house, blow dryers, toasters, electric heaters, air conditioners, electric gates and garage openers... the list goes on and on. One of the major problems that I see in our western culture is our obsession that we must each have our own. No one is willing to share anything, because it might be inconvenient. All we can think of is ourselves, no thought for future generations or the environment. We need to get a reality check. There is not enough materials or energy left in the world for this to continue to go on. Solar energy is a serious option that we should all be considering. We need to learn to act as a community, not only as individuals. I don't know what the future holds, but I can't see this working much longer. Change will have to oc cur soon, or we will exhaust all our resources and chances of life on earth.

Electrinic and Digital Media Paper Essay

Historically the role of media in our society was one of delivering news and information for the sake of knowledge. According to Vivian, the news media served as the major watch dog in the gathering and sharing of information across the world. Traditions of a culture, such as China, have long been created an opportunity for free creative and artistic expression as a means of media exposure in countries where there is great government regulation. Now in a more contemporary role, media has become so integrated in people’s lives that many are swimming in a mass media ocean of communication. Media multitasking has become such of a normal routine for most people, that without media their lives would be empty (Vivian 2011). Over the years mass media has advanced in so many areas, becoming the technological assisted transmission of messages to mass audiences (Vivian 2011) of photography, sound, and transmission. Technology has been the foundation of mass communication in the media industry for years. If not for the invention of the printing press, books and newspapers may have never been published. Mass media has become almost solely dependent on the technology of today. Technological development of the Internet offers the potential, if appropriately utilized, to be an enabler of a more sustainable future (Ahmed 1999). Mass communication has evolved through the years with the emergence of various technologies such as printing, chemical, digital, and electronics. These technologies have contributed to media growth far beyond what anyone could believe early in the history of Mass communications. Particularly with the emergence of Chemical and Electronic technologies movies became popular and the radio and television mediums sky rocketed in popularity. Photography early on helped to increase the power of the printed word by bringing words to life by leading the charge in producing pictures in books, newspapers and magazines. The recording industry has evolved from the phonograph to the iPod allowing for radio to be everywhere and communication being transferred through airwaves for audiences which printed sources could not reach. Much of the technologies from above have become more of a necessity rather than a luxury by which only a few persons can benefit. With the invention of the printing press the newspaper industry has been able to mass produce a product from an initial template of an idea. Cameras and projectors have moved past capturing a moment into creating a moment vision, by understanding the eye retains a vision of a period of time, and if multiple photos could be taken, linked together, and flipped quickly, the human eye could be tricked into visualizing motion of an object. Creating a continuous motion, which later became known as â€Å"Film† and now digital photos. With the development of digital technology there has been great efficiency brought to various aspects of many people’s lifestyles. (Vivian 2011). Bell Labs lead the way in revolutionizing a new media avenue known as â€Å"The Net†. The internet in the early 1990’s was vastly evolving into the next means of mass communication. Bell Labs was in the forefront of the digital age by walking us into a media convergence. Where bits of data, we commonly refer to as messages, could be transmitted over the internet in large capacity at a certain rate of speed and reassemble as readable text upon reception at its destination. Now in 2012 because of the efforts of Bell Labs the digital age has advanced throughout time to where we once dialed a phone number from memory, we now speak a name and our phones dial for us. Smartphone devices have opened up a new world where everything is truly at your finger tips. Where Companies once relied on Trucks and warehouse for logistical need for distributing their products, they now have cut cost by utilizing the internet. Products such as books, magazines, and newspapers, printed media, have bought in to the immediate delivery of their brands in a matter of minutes versus days or weeks even. In the last 20 years all of the new trends and developments within the electronic and digital media industry the role of mass media has changed but yet still remains the same in its function. Persons, who once in casual conversation referred to their business as the newspaper business, now have restricted their verbiage and now work in the news business. References CREATIONISM — Study & teaching; MASS media; GREAT Britain; ROYAL Society (Great Britain); RELIGION & science; REISS, Michael Ahmed, Pervaiz K.; Hardaker, Glenn. Business Strategy & the Environment (John Wiley & Sons, Inc). Jan1999, Vol. 8 Issue 1, p75-81. 7p Vivian, J. (2011). The media of mass communication (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Grapes of Wrath society before ones self essays

Grapes of Wrath society before one's self essays The Grapes of Wrath is written by John Steinbeck as a political statement about the need to put the well being of society as a whole before the individual needs. He discusses this idea in the book through his three main central characters, Tom, Ma, Casy and through his intercalary chapters. Throughout the book they all come to realise this need and the events that lead up to their realisation are used as evidence to prove to the reader that this notion is indeed necessary. At the start of the book it is evident that Toms concerns are short sighted, naive and undeveloped. His concerns lay centrally with the family and he is yet to embrace the notion that unity among poor will lead to change. In one of the earlier chapters in the book, in a conversation with Ma about prison, Tom quotes, You cant go thinking when youre gonna be out. Youd go nuts, you got to think about that day, the nex day... This clearly illustrates the shortsightedness of Toms initial state of mind. He also says to Casy, I only climb fences when I got fences to climb. Casy however is aware throughout the book of the need to work as one and he is the one who inspires this train of thought in Tom. He tells Tom at the start of the book, Maybe all men got one big soul everbodys a part of. Casy starts also putting his faith into action when he covers for Tom for hitting the police officer. In jail he has an experience where one man starts yelling for more food, then another, then all of them do and they get more food. He then realises the greater good that can come from everybody working together. When he leaves jail he goes on a strike for the migrant farmers. Tom accidentally meets up with him again and Casy explains to Tom his story. At the time it doesnt seem like the message has quite gotten through to Tom but after Casys death and when Tom is seeking re...

24 Famous Quotes About Beauty

24 Famous Quotes About Beauty When you see a vibrant flower or a peacock majestically strutting his colorful plumes, revere the beauty of nature. Beauty is everywhere. Appreciate the beauty around you while beauty is still in its prime. Here are some famous quotes on beauty to inspire you to admire the beauty around you. Joseph AddisonThere is nothing that makes its way more directly to the soul than beauty.Leo TolstoyIt is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness.Carol BotwinPick a man for his human qualities, his values, his compatibility with you, rather than what he represents in status, power or good looks.Edmund BurkeBeauty in distress is much the most affecting beauty.Jean KerrIm tired of all the nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. Thats deep enough. What do you want an adorable pancreas?Johann Wolfgang von GoetheThe soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.John KeatsBeauty is truth, truth beauty.John Kenneth GalbraithThere is certainly no absolute standard of beauty. That precisely is what makes its pursuit so interesting.Alexander PopeFair tresses mans imperial race ensnare/And beauty draws us with a single hair.Lord ByronShe walks in beauty like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all thats best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies. Henry David ThoreauThe perception of beauty is a moral test.Oscar WildeNo object is so beautiful that, under certain conditions, it will not look ugly.Saint AugustineSince love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.Friedrich NietzscheWomens modesty generally increases with their beauty.Anne RoipheA woman whose smile is open and whose expression is glad has a kind of beauty no matter what she wears.Kahlil GibranBeauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.Ralph Waldo EmersonNever lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is Gods handwriting.Ernest HemingwayThe echoes of beauty youve seen transpire, Resound through dying coals of a campfire.D. H. LawrenceBeauty is an experience, nothing else. It is not a fixed pattern or an arrangement of features. It is something felt, a glow or a communicated sense of fineness.Hellen KellerThe best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched they must be felt w ith the heart. VoltaireBeauty pleases the eyes only; sweetness of disposition charms the soul.Alexis CarrelThe love of beauty in its multiple forms is the noblest gift of the human cerebrum.Marcus Aurelius AntoninusWhatever is in any way beautiful hath its source of beauty in itself, and is complete in itself; praise forms no part of it. So it is none the worse nor the better for being praised.Louisa May AlcottLove is a great beautifier.

Play Station 4 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Play Station 4 - Research Paper Example Watch dogs ranks second and the FIFA 14 ranks third. The reviews from the customers who bought these games earlier have contributed greatly to the increased sales by creating an urge among other buyers. Below, I shall discuss the reason each game made it to this list. This PS4 game has sold over two million, five hundred and ten thousand copies in both North America and Europe. This number of sales is incredible. There are those who feel that these sales are because it a Cod game and the lovers just buy it on this basis. But this game is unique, that boosts its sales. This game features players on the side of a nation fighting for liberty: they have to fight hard to survive. The immersion levels in this game are stunning, and the performance is good. These features raise its demand among play station 4 lovers. Another fascinating feature that makes this game an exceptional one is that unlike in the past call of duty games, one creates a soldier. It is upon the player to decide the gender and the appearance of a soldier. People love character customization, and this game offers just that. There is also a feature on the multiplayer. As the match goes on, the environment evolves. This change in landscape makes the players change tactics and come up with other strategies making the player feel that they own the game. Watchdogs has sold over two million four hundred and seventeen thousand copies. The game stands out because of the multi-player system that is simply amazing and that it is a fun game to play. The game has good visuals that are mind blowing. Most players love this game because the controls are tight, and the game is responsive. Every button on the PS4 is utilized for this game making it more captivating. The story line of watchdogs is interesting, and once the player gets to level two, it is even more captivating. It creates an urge that is intense among the players where the player utilizes the city’s feature to their full

The Hippies and Their Impact On Society Research Paper

The Hippies and Their Impact On Society - Research Paper Example Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, Aldous Huxley, and even J.R.R. Tolkien.2 The first signs of modern â€Å"proto-hippies† developed in Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most notably in Germany with a countercultural youth movement called Der Wandervogel (â€Å"migratory bird†).3 Like Wandervogel, the hippie movement in the United States began as a youth movement, consisting of white teenagers and young adults between 15 and 25 years old. The word â€Å"hippie† probably derives from the word â€Å"hip.† The term â€Å"hipster† was created by jazz musician Harry Gibson in 1940, in his stage name â€Å"Harry the Hipster.† During the 40s and 50s, â€Å"hipster† was used to describe jazz musicians; in 1945, Gibson was called a â€Å"hippie† during a radio show, but it was probably a derivation of Gibson’s stage name. The term was used by journalists in the mid-1960s to refer to a new group of beatniks in San Francisco . The New York Times, for example, changed the spelling from â€Å"hippy,† which described a kind of fashion, to â€Å"hippie.† Hippies also have roots in the beatniks, a group of post-WWII writers, including Alan Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, who inspired what came to be called the Beat Generation. Central to the beatniks was experimentation with drugs and alternative forms of sexuality, an interest in Eastern religion, a rejection of materialism, non-conformity, and spontaneous creativity. As the beatnik movement expanded, it moved from New York City to San Francisco, where it was incorporated into the hippie movement. Hippie culture spread throughout the world through rock music, folk, blues, and psychedelic rock, as well as through literature, drama, fashion, film, rock concert posters, and album covers. By 1968, hippies in the U.S. had become a significant minority, accounting for almost 0.2% of the population. The hippie movement, along with the New Left and Civil Rights, can best be understood as a dissenting group of the 1960s counterculture. Its members rejected established institutions, criticized middle class values, and opposed nuclear weapons and the Vietnam War. Hippies adopted some parts of Eastern philosophy, championed sexual freedom, used psychedelic drugs like LSD to expand their consciousness, were often vegetarians, embraced the beginnings of the environmental movement, and created communes. They expressed their culture through performance theater, a rt, folk music, and psychedelic rock. They supported an ideology that included peace, love, and personal freedom that was best expressed by the song â€Å"All You Need is Love† by The Beatles, whom many hippies embraced as spokesman of their ideals. Like the Beats, hippies rejected much of mainstream society, but unlike the Beat, they wanted to change society by expressing their ideology and through modeling different ways of behaving.4 The peak of the hippie movement occurred in 1967 in San Francisco. Young people converged to the city, first during the outdoor Human Be-in in January, when 20,000 hippies gathered in Golden Gate Park, to the Monterey Pop Festival in June, which marked the beginning of â€Å"the Summer of Love.† Young people from all over the world were inspired to come to San Francisco, especially the Haight-Asbury