FAQs about the American Flag Answered

FAQs about the American Flag Answered Flag Day: The Celebration Of The American Flag On June 14, were going to celebrate Flag Day. On the threshold of this holiday, you should check whether you know much about it. So read on and see the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the American Flag and Flag Day! What is Flag Day? On Flag Day, which is celebrated on June 14, we honor the American Flag. It is observed on this day, because on June 14, 1777, the first official flag of the United States was adopted by the Congress. This flag had 13 white and red stripes and 13 stars. The stripes represented the 13 original colonies. Afterwards, the flag would change several times to eventually become the one we have now: 13 stripes (still representing the original colonies) and 50 stars (one for each state). The first Flag Day was observed in 1877, on the 100th anniversary of the American flag. What is the history of the American flag? The main historical facts include:January 1, 1776: George Washington displayed the first flag of the United States. It looked differently. June 14, 1777: Stripes and stars were added to the flag. June 14, 1877: The first Flag Day was celebrated nationwide. June 14, 1937: For the first time, Flag Day was officially celebrated as a state holiday in Pennsylvania. July 4, 1960: The American flag started to look as it looks now (with 50 stars).What do the colors of the flag mean? Each color has its own meaning: white is purity, red is valor and hardiness, and blue is perseverance, vigilance and justice. Originally, the use of these colors was inspired by the British flag. Are there places where the American flag can be flown 24 hours a day? Yes, there are places where it is permissible. They are:The White House The US Capitol The House of Betsy Ross (Philadelphia) Fort McHenry (Baltimore, MD) The Revolutionary War battleground (Lexington, MA) The Two Jima Memorial (Arlington, VA) George Washingtons winter encampment (Valley Forge, PA) The USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor The House of Jenny Wade (Gettysburg, PA)In addition, it is also permitted to fly the American flag all day long on the customs points of entry into the country and onthe USNavy ships that are underway. Important note: when the American flag is flown during the night hours, it has to be properly illuminated. Now you know so many things about the American flag and Flag Day. You can share them with your friends and family on Flag Day this year. If you want to know more about other American patriotic celebrations, be sure to check Presidents Day and Independence Day!

Same Sex Marriages Impact on the Children Social Growth

Same Sex Marriages Impact on the Children Social Growth Introduction Same sex marriages have been described as many things; an affront to God, an inherent right by all individuals, a desecration of the sanctity of marriage as well as an expression of love between two people of the same sex. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Same Sex Marriages Impact on the Children Social Growth specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are numerous argument both for and against it with some citing its possible impact on adopted children, the degradation of society as a result of same sex couples, its affect on religious tolerance and the possible ramifications of social harassment due to many believing that the act itself is against the very principles of nature and evolution. What must be understood is that the concept of same sex marriages is relatively new to society with people still adjusting to the widespread proliferation of homosexuals Same sex marriage can be considered a d ramatic leap in legitimizing what most consider an abnormal form of behavior yet it must be questioned whether such a practice should actually be condoned. From a religious standpoint gay couples marrying each other is undeniably an affront to God and violates church doctrines which are literally thousands of years old. From a social standpoint same sex marriages create undue social tension which may or may not result in violent repercussions for individuals belonging to the homosexual community. It must also be noted that members of the homosexual community are often thought of as carriers for various forms of sexually transmitted diseases and as such same sex marriages are thus connected to legitimizing a behavior that promotes the spread of STDs. Furthermore, from a community standpoint same sex couples are often thought of as bad influences for their children due to a certain degree of homophobia wherein they believe that exposure to homosexuals may place their own children at risk for sexually deviant behavior. It is based on these various opinions that this paper will explore the various issues related to same sex marriage and will attempt to determine whether this particular type of behavior can be considered either positive or negative. Impact on Adopted Children One of the current prevailing arguments against same sex marriage is the notion that since same sex couples normally adopt children in order to start a family then children adopted by such couples are at risk in developing the same sexual orientation as their parents (SOLODNIKOV and CHKANIKOVA, 38 59). The logic behind this particular idea stems from the belief that since children develop their behaviors, personalities and sexual characteristics based on what they observe from their parents then it is likely that children adopted by same sex couples will become gay themselves. It is based on this that it argued children should be free to choose their own sexual characteristics and not be ne gatively influenced by those that adopt them. Advertising Looking for research paper on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In fact it is due to this particular line of reasoning that during the late 1990s it was noted that adoption procedures for gay couples was often harder, more restrictive and met with a greater degree of denied adoption due such institutions fearing for what might happen to the children adopted by such couples (SOLODNIKOV and CHKANIKOVA, 38 59). Studies such as those by Solodnikov and Chkanikova (2010) refute this claim stating that based on data reviewing the sexual orientation of children of various gay couples over a period of several years it was seen that such children grew up to be relatively healthy heterosexuals with no negative behaviors (SOLODNIKOV and CHKANIKOVA, 38 59). In fact other studies back up this claim and as such it can be seen that the assumption that gay pa rents will create gay children is definitely false. On the other hand it cannot be stated that there are no negative consequences for the children of gay couples. A study by Joslin (2011) revealed that children of gay couples often have to deal with the social stigma of having gay parents due to the fact that it is still not a widely accepted norm for a child to have same sex parents. Negative consequences of such a stigma can range from being classified as being gay, insults, bullying, social isolation and other forms negative social consequences (Joslin, 81 101). It was noted by Rogers and Fossey (2011) that while such problems are relatively minor early on due to a childs innocence and the fact that the social stigma is not immediately apparent the fact remains that as the child grows older they become more aware of the difference in their familiar situation with that of other families and this, combined with the negative social consequences of having gay parents, at times resu lts in childhood depression and the development of personality traits related to being a loner, becoming anti-social or other similar behavioral characteristics which distance a child from becoming sociable (Rogers and Fossey, 423). Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Same Sex Marriages One of the negative connotations attached to homosexual behavior as well as same sex marriages has been its connection to the supposed spread of sexually transmitted diseases among members of the gay population. It is actually a commonly held belief that members of the gay community actually participate in various forms of deviant sexual behavior in which a single individual has multiple partners and practices bizarre sexual practices which as a result supposedly facilitates the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and AIDS. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Same Sex Marriages Impact on the Children Social Growth specifically for you for only $16.05 $ 11/page Learn More While it may be true that same sex partners practice sexual activities that are outside the norm of what most people would consider traditional methods of sexual relations the fact remains that there has been no conclusive evidence which specifically indicates that STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) are more prevalent among the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transsexual) community as compared to the normal heterosexual population. In fact studies such as those by Brody and Weiss (2011) clearly point out that the level of sexually transmitted disease between the two groups is actually the same and that the misconceptions regarding homosexuals having multiple sexual partners is no different than an ordinary heterosexual also having multiple sexual partners (Brody and Weiss, 298 300). Furthermore it was noted by studies such as those by Grulich et al. (2009) that being a homosexual does not immediately make a person more vulnerable to catching STD s, in fact it was even noted that members of the gay community often practiced safer methods of sexual activity as compared to members of the heterosexual community (Grulich, et al, 1813 1817). Thus, when taking into consideration the growing number of same sex marriages it cannot be immediately assumed that such activities will lead to the spread of STDs since it has been proven so far that the risk is just the same between straight and gay couples. Religion When examining arguments directly against same sex marriages it is often the case that religious dogma comes up as one of the main proponents against the continued practice of same sex marriages. From Christianity to Islam same sex marriages are considered an affront to what many consider the natural order of things with religious texts specifically prohibiting the union of two people from the same sex. What must be understood is that from a social standpoint the arguments of various religions against same sex marriage do ma ke sense since social stability hinges on maintaining social institutions of which heterosexual relationships are a cornerstone. Furthermore, if one were to take into account the concept of what can be consider a moral relationship then from this standpoint same sex marriages can be considered immoral since they go against what many consider as a moral and responsible union of two individuals (Whitehead, 63 79).Advertising Looking for research paper on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In fact religious text specifically state that all unions must be between a man and a woman with those engaging in homosexual relationships often considered an aberration of set standards and as such deserve to be stoned or outright killed (Whitehead, 63 79). In fact when examining various aspect of Christian theology it is often seen that homosexual relationships are considered an affront to God and as such tolerance for homosexuality has always been a contentious issue in the Catholic Church. While it may be true that Christianity espouses a doctrine of tolerance and love for ones fellow man the fact remains that to this day it considers homosexuality as being perverse, immoral and nothing more than individuals giving into their baser desires (Whitehead, 63 79). The result of the Churchs view on the subject of homosexuality has actually affected members of its own congregation resulting in various Christian communities often socially ostracizing or persecuting people who have been identified as being homosexual. The reason why the Catholic Church and other religions have this particular stance is actually connected to institutional theory which specifically states that individuals tend to prefer to adhere to traditional institutions and ideas despite the presence of newer and more improved systems since it is in their belief that age equals stability. In the case of religious beliefs it is the age of the doctrine which specifically condemns homosexuality that gives it a degree of credibility in the eyes of the Catholic Church and its followers and as such explains why to this day the stance of the church continues to be against same sex marriages. Culture From a cultural perspective, while same sex marriages are increasing in various areas within the U.S. as well as in several countries around the world the fact remains that though it is tolerated due to arguments presenting marriage as an inherent right, whether people are gay or straight, the fact rem ains that it is still not universally acceptable across all cultures. For example, in the Middle East same sex marriages are expressly banned and the homosexual culture is thought of as bizarre, strange and an affront to God which results in it being ruthlessly suppressed (Dunne, 55). In fact in a lot of cultures homosexual behavior is frowned upon and those who come out of the closet are times shunned by their family and friends. This is not to say that homosexuals are bad people, in fact some of them are actually quite nice, rather what must be understood is that their choice of lifestyle is considered by many to be abnormal and an intentional lifestyle choice. When examining the homosexual culture it is often said that a person does not choose to be a homosexual rather they are born that way and thus, in their eyes, homosexuality is a perfectly normal behavior. This is a rather interesting viewpoint to consider since homosexuality and heterosexuality are usually thought of as behaviors which develop as a result of both environmental and psychological influences (Jeffs, 66 71). As such becoming gay or straight is dependent on the way a person develops and is not based on a person being born gay. Rather, based on social control theory which states that people often develop abnormal personality patterns based on a lack of social bonds which prevent such behaviors from manifesting it can be said that homosexuality is merely the result of abnormal development during an individuals development stage wherein a certain lack of social bonds whether in the form of father figures, mother figures, friends or other constraining factors are usually not present resulting in the development of tendencies related to abnormal behavior which manifests itself as homosexuality (Jeffs, 66 71). Based on this it can be assumed that homosexuality is not a direct result of a person being born that way rather it is merely the manifestation of abnormal patterns of behavioral de velopment during a persons formative years of development. Conclusion Based on the presented data this paper concludes that not only does same sex marriage have the potential adversely impact the social growth of children due to the stigma of having gay parents but it must also be noted that due to effects of religious doctrine, negative social responses and the fact that the behavior itself is thought of as morally wrong this research paper disagrees with the concept of same sex marriage and it should be stopped in the mean time. As this paper has shown the concept of same sex marriage is still thought of as being an affront to religious, social and natural laws and as such at the present it merely invites greater degrees of negative and even possibly violent responses. While it may be true that from a human rights standpoint there is nothing wrong with it the fact remains that society still isnt quite ready to openly accept it and thus it should not be implemented until such a ti me that homosexuality is either totally removed or universally accepted. Andrew E. Grulich, et al. Circumcision and Risk of Sexually Transmissible Infections in a Community-Based Cohort of HIV-Negative Homosexual Men in Sydney, Australia. Journal of Infectious Diseases 200.12 (2009): 1813-1819. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. Brody, Stuart, and Petr Weiss. Heterosexual Anal Intercourse: Increasing Prevalence, and Association with Sexual Dysfunction, Bisexual Behavior, and Venereal Disease History. Journal of Sex Marital Therapy 37.4 (2011): 298-306. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. Dunne, Bruce W. Homosexuality in the Middle East: An agenda for historical.. Arab Studies Quarterly 12.3/4 (1990): 55. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. Jeffs, William Patrick. CHAPTER FOUR: THE TURN OF THE CENTURY: FREUD, PSYCHOANALYSIS AND HOMOSEXUALITY. Feminism, Manhood Homosexuality: Intersections in Psychoanalysis American Poetry. 66-71. Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., 2003. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. Joslin, Courtney G. Searching for Harm: Same-Sex Marriage and the Well-Being of Children. Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review 46.1 (2011): 81-101. International Security Counter Terrorism Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. Rogers, Kevin, and Richard Fossey. SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM: CAN PARENTS OPT THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF CURRICULAR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND SAME- SEX MARRIAGE?. Brigham Young University Education Law Journal 2 (2011): 423. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. SOLODNIKOV, V. V., and A. M. CHKANIKOVA. Children in Same-Sex Marriages. Russian Social Science Review 51.3 (2010): 38-59. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. Whitehead, Andrew L. Sacred Rites and Civil Rights: Religions Effect on Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Unions and the Perceived Cause of Homosexuality. Social Science Quarterly (Blackwell Publishing Limited) 91.1 (2010): 63-79. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web.

Organisation Structure, Employee Motivation And Effectivness Dissertation

Organisation Structure, Employee Motivation And Effectivness - Dissertation Example It will then discuss the applicability of various motivational theories towards the improvement of employee motivation and effectiveness in the day to day running of organisations. Literature Review This paper seeks to give an analysis of the interrelationship among organisational structure on employee motivation and organisational effectiveness. The question that the research paper seeks to answer is whether organisational structure has a significant impact on employee motivation and organisational effectiveness. In an attempt to answer this question, an integrative review of literature will be conducted. Aswathappa, (2005) asserts that many researchers have concentrated in research work on areas of improving productivity based on separate aspects such as organisational structure, motivation of workers and organisational effectiveness disregarding the fact that the interrelationship between the three plays an integral part in production. It is for this reason that the study in quest ion studies the relationship between the three aspects. To begin with, the researcher will give general overviews of the four theories. The researcher will then describe the research methodology and give an overview of the reviewed literature. Historical overview Virgin Group is a collection of companies constituting one of the largest organizations in the globe. Since its establishment, Virgin Group has posed diversity in its business operations in the entire industry. The smart structure of the Virgin Group owes its origin to the core founder, Richard Branson, who created a decentralized organizational structure that allows its employees to act based on their own reasoning. This helps reduce bureaucracy where workers are subjected to adherence to bureaucratic procedures. In... This article stresses that Virgin Group is a collection of companies constituting one of the largest organizations in the globe. Since its establishment, Virgin Group has posed diversity in its business operations in the entire industry. The smart structure of the Virgin Group owes its origin to the core founder, Richard Branson, who created a decentralized organizational structure that allows its employees to act based on their own reasoning. This paper makes a conclusion that environmental changes can sometimes have adverse effect in large organisations as a result large organizations that have complex structures such as Virgin Group need to adapt swiftly to these changes. In this case such an organisation requires an organic structure that will allow flexibility in an ever dynamic environment. If each of these companies were to operate independently then, each providing a unique good or service, Virgin Group would been said to have product departmentalization where each division operates based on the product or service it offers. However, Virgin Group structure offers a unique scenario because a company affiliated to it does not have to necessarily specialize in one department. The executive is required to look at fairness in judgement of different situations since different situations require different interventions. In addition to this, the theory serves minor purposes in the public domain. Virgin Group understands th e importance of job security and stability in ensuring motivation of it employees.

Are cultures converging across the world Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Are cultures converging across the world - Essay Example Its a process that has been talked about a lot in political and social circles, and on the media, for many years. In most cases, it seems to be concluded that this convergence of cultures is a necessary and unavoidable aspect of the future global environment. A lot of people have said globalization is evil because it increases the current inequality between nations by privileging the nations that behave like the United States and punishing those that try to hold onto their own cultures. It also threatens jobs and living standards for people in all countries either as the talent is pulled from each nation into a shrinking number of openings or as jobs are outsourced to areas that have lower living standards and therefore the people are willing to take lower pay. With the way these cultures are colliding, the natural social progress of every country has been affected. Even though it isnt likely that there is a way to stop this process or to reverse it, it is important to try to underst and how the individual nations and the people in them are changing in good ways and in bad ways to see that the cultures are collapsing. As it became easier and easier to communicate across very long distances and even share files and participate in live, face-to-face meetings with the use of two screens with the internet, businesses and organizations have forced cultures to come together. It is an important part of capitalism to try to increase the productivity of the company at the same time that it tries to reduce the amount of money spent to make that productivity happen. It is for this reason that many corporations have participated in the process of bringing cultures together. They will often outsource their production processes to countries where there are fewer restrictions and they can pay lower and sell the products to countries that have more money so they can charge more for it. â€Å"Global markets offer greater

The Effects of Video Games on Society Essay Example for Free

The Effects of Video Games on Society Essay Perhaps the most positive way video games are being used these days are in the classroom. Video games challenge students to think and solve problems (Vlasak and Ranaldo 36). These educational games must take on an approach that involves gaming and must also be â€Å"fun. † Suggestive evidence includes that spatial visualization skills improve with video game playing. These skills are the ability to rotate mentally, manipulate and twist two and three dimensional objects. Students with a high degree of spatial visualization are high achievers in mathematics and science. Improving spatial visualization may have a corresponding effect on student mathematics (Dorman 133). Students these days are referred to as the Net generation. Their environment is saturated by media as they spend an average of 6. 5 hours per day engaged with various types of media (Annetta 233). Creating educational games that are centered on human interaction is no easy task. Designing today’s educational video games includes blended motivation and self-regulated learning (Annetta 233). Educational games enable students to learn by doing, experience situations first-hand, and role-playing. â€Å"Gee (2003a) stated that the practice of learning a video game is an enculturation practice that involves not only learning the mechanics of game play, but learning how to negotiate the context of play, the terms and practices of a game’s players, and the design choices of its developers† (Annetta 233). Studies for the negative effects of video games on society highly outweigh the positives. Research has shown increases in aggressive behavior associated with the amount of time teenagers are allotted to play video games. This rise in aggression seems to be due to the parents not regulating the amount of time teenagers play their video games. In a study, teenage girls played video games for an average of 5 hours a week, where boys played for an average of 13 hours a week. The study also showed that teens who played violent video games for extended periods of time are more prone to aggressive behavior, teacher/student confrontation, fights with peers and a decline in academic achievement (Fritz 1). Tips from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) include managing your teen’s media consumption, limit how long and how often they play video games, and know the rating of your teen’s video games. â€Å"Video games share much in common with other pursuits that are enjoyable and rewarding, but may become hazardous in certain contexts. Parents can best protect their children by remaining engaged with them and providing limits and guidance as necessary† (Harvard Mental Health Letter 3). Boys, more often than girls, tend to play video games for a means to compete and win. The violent games may be similar to the rough-housing that boys are prone to when growing up (Harvard Mental Health Letter 3). In conclusion these video games represent a fad that is extremely unlikely to fade anytime soon. In fact, technology is something that is getting more advanced every day. With advancing technological video games comes more opportunities for positive and negative effects on society as a whole. The key to this advancing technology is education. Get out there and educate yourself about the possibilities of video games.

New Beginnings in Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf :: Whos Afraid Virginia Woolf

New Beginnings in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf  Ã‚   Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf is a disturbing and powerful work. Ironically, it is disturbing and powerful for many of the same reasons. As the audience watches George and Martha tear savagely at each other with the knives of hurled words, sharpened on pain and aimed to draw blood, the way in which these two relentlessly go at each other is awful to see, yet strangely familiar. Like wounded animals, they strike out at those closest to them, and reminds one of scenes witnessed as a child between screaming parents from a cracked door when one is supposed to be in bed. In this age of psychoanalytic jargon, George and Martha are the quintessentially dysfunctional couple. Yet, with all their problems, Albee reveals that there is a positive core of feeling that unites these two troubled people and that helps them look beyond their self-created hell. The truth of their relationship is exposed layer by layer as the play progresses, like the peeling of an onion, and though the pattern of this truth appears vague at first, with each cycle of revelation, the pattern becomes more distinct, and the picture is fully revealed in the final, cathartic scene. One of the most consistent themes of the play is the question of George and Martha's "child," and all that this child, and children in general, symbolizes for them. The "child" seems not only a desire for fecundity within their relationship, but also a projection through which they express many of their personal desires, needs, and problems, and, in this context, the child's subsequent "death" signifies a mi lestone in their understanding of their marriage and of themselves. By the end of play, after much suffering and flagellation, George and Martha appear ready to deal with their lives in a new way. George and Martha have a history. They are also emotionally trapped by this history, especially that of their respective childhoods. As a consequence, both are plagued by low self-image and self-doubt. The audience learns of this history slowly, in bits and pieces. Martha tells Nick and Honey in Act 1 how she lost her mother early and grew up very close to her father. She was married briefly, but her father had the marriage annulled. She returned to live with her father after college, and met and fell in love with George.

STD booklet

Which of the following is NOT true of the success of interest groups? A. The more intense a group, the more successful it tends to be b. The more financial resources a group has, the more successful it tends to be c. The more potential members a group has, the more successful it tends to be d. The smaller a group is, the more successful it tends to be e. The larger a group is, the more successful it tends to be 4. Which of the following is an example off single Issue Interest group? A. NEAR b. NAACP c. FALL-CIO d. UCLA e. National Wildlife Federation 5. An interest group is most likely to have influence in Congress when the issue at take a. S narrow in scope and low in public visibility b. C. D. E. 6. Is part of the president's legislative package has been traumatized by the media engages legislators' deeply held convictions divides legislators along party lines Which of the following Is not a tactic that Interests groups use? A. Lobbying to Influence policy b. Forming Pace to influe nce elections 7. A. Litigating to influence policy through the courts appealing to the public to promote a positive group image Which of the following is true of mimics curiae briefs? They are used by interest groups to lobby courtsThey are used exclusively by liberal interest groups They are used exclusively by conservative interest groups d. They are now unconstitutional e. They are the means by which a litigant seeks Supreme Court review off lower court decision 8. Which of the following factors best accounts for the rise of interest groups and the decline of political parties in recent years? A. National parties have become too closely identified with controversial issues. B. Court decisions have restricted the political parties' abilities to recruit new members. C. It is less expensive to Join an interest group than to Join a political party. D.Interest groups have been more successful in avoiding negative press coverage than have political parties. E. Interest groups are bette r able to articulate specific policy positions than are political parties. 9. . Which type of interest group would the NAACP be? Economic civil rights . Single-issue governmental environmental 10. An interest group would likely have the greatest influence on policy matters involving a. Narrow issues, only a few interest groups, and technical information b. Broad, highly visible national issues c. Broad foreign policy issues d. Major constitutional questions about civil rights and liberties . Areas in which members of Congress have considerable expertise and commitment 1. Interest groups seek to influence political processes in ways that benefit their members. In doing so, however, they may not act in the overall public interest. (a) Describe two techniques interest groups use to influence elections. (b) Explain how interest groups use each of the following to influence government decision making. Mimics curiae briefs Issue networks (also known as iron triangles) (c) Explain how each of the following serves to limit interest group influence. The media Pluralism 2.Individuals often form groups in order to promote their interests. The Constitution contains several provisions that protect the rights of individuals who try to promote their interests in a representative democracy. (a) Explain two provisions in the Bill of Rights that protect individuals who try to influence politics. Interest groups engage in a variety of activities to affect public policy. Explain how each of the following is policy. Government institutions used by interest groups to exert influence over Grassroots manipulation Litigation Lobbying of (c) Describe one specific federal governmental regulation of interest groups.

Meaning of life, Life Essay

Suffering is an inevitable part of life. We all live in this big labyrinth of suffering. Th only way out of the labyrinth is death. † To live is to suffer, to survive to find meaning in the suffering. Few peopl e actually commit suicide to liberate themselves form suffering. Most people find meaning or purpo se for their life so that they have the motivation to live on. Some think that suffering make them wis er, some think that suffering is a test of faith, there will be rewards for them in the after life if they c an endure the suffering on earth. Some people couldn’t understand but keep going on with their life for their loved ones. Some people keep themselves busy to dodge from the question. My view on this question is that suffering does not make life any more or any less meaningful. Beca use as an atheist, I believe that there is no God, the Universe does not have a divine plan for us. Tha t the existence of life is just purely a miraculous accident. When we die, we stop existing. The time we spend on Earth will not amount to anything in an afterlife in another dimension. Therefore, life i s inherently meaningless, with or without pain and suffering. Human are powerless in the face of m eaninglessness . The only way we can deal with life is to embrace the fact that there is no intrinsic va lue in life. We can only create our own meanings. One can create meaning of life with or without su ffering. But since suffering is an inseparable part of our life, it more or less give us insights on mean ing of life. Dr. Bernard Rieux can best exemplifies my point of view. When the plague got out of control and O ran was placed under quarantine, it didn’t stop the doctor form battling the plague, fighting the war t hat was doomed to fail. At this point, many would wonder what is meaning of of the doctor’s action s when they are all in vain. The answer can be found in a dialogue he shared with Tarrou. Tarrou asked the doctor why he was so committed to fighting the plague if he does not believe in G od. The doctor replied that whether or not God exist is irrelevant and he didn’t have the time to thin k about what waits him in the future and what will come out of his actions. The only thing he knew that there were sick people suffering and they needed to be cured. Even though he admitted that his struggles against death would only be temporary victories and that the plague was what he referred as an†endless struggle†, he said that this was not the reason to give up struggle. From the dialogue, we can see the doctor was aware of the intrinsic meaninglessness of his life, bec ause he said he wouldn’t waste time to think about the existence of God and what his action will lea d to him. If he deemed his life has inherent meaning, he should have thought about the above questi ons. Thought he considered that his life is inherently meaningless, the plague gave me the meaning. The meaning lies in the other people. The doctor was fully aware that his attempts at lifting people out of misery is an impossible task as more and more people became infected and die. And there were no effective cure. Basically, his sitti ng around and doing nothing or wearing himself off to save the patients might just possibly lead to s ame outcome. However, the doctor did not stop his work in face of his powerlessness to alter the situation. Becaus e under this situation, he was left with only two choices, ignore it or act on it. There was no third op tion. The doctor chose the later one because he couldn’t bear to see people suffer and doing nothing about it. It’s meaningless to battle the unwindable battle against the plague. It was not defeating the plague that gave meaning to the doctor. It was the people gave him meaning. It was his compassion for others that keep him going in times of suffering. From the case of Dr. Rieux and his battle against the plague, we can see similarities in the real worl d. The plague is like the amoral universe, and Dr. Rieux represents all the human beings. We are po werless in face of the meaningless of life, just as Dr. Rieux was powerless in face of the plague. But we do have a choice, we can create meanings for ourselves just as Dr. Rieux has learnt from sufferin g and found meanings in helping people. Winston Smith from 1974 1984 somewhat share some similarities with Dr. Rieux in terms of action upon the unchangeable, though he was not such a noble and heroic person as Dr. Rieux. In his case, the unchangeable was the Big Brother. Winston Smith lived in a state where every moves, every wo rds ands every thoughts he made were monitored by the Party. In the instance of living in an extrem e state where even having disloyal thought against the party is in violation of law. The meaning of li fe for Smith was not to start a revolution and topple the party, and change the system entirely. Thou gh Smith had thought about it and desired it to happen. Deep down he believed that it was impossibl e to achieve the goal and sooner or later he would be arrested by the Party. Nevertheless, he set out t o challenge the limits of the Party. He kept a diary which has† Down with the Big Brother† written o n it over and over again. He had an forbidden affair with Julia. Also he joined the Brotherhood whic h he believe is the enemy of the Party. I think the meaning for Smith did not lie in being the hero. What was important for him was to stay as human as possible. Through the rebellious acts against the Party in his own ways, he got to keep his spirit and his human side. That was the meaning he could find for himself. Despite the fact that he was completely compromised at last when he was brought into Room 101, where he was tortured to an extreme degree and indoctrinated to cure his â€Å"insaneness†. He was com pletely broke and dehumanised. His passionate hatred towards the Big Brother turned into absolute l oyalty and love. He should not be blamed for betraying Julia and not upholding what he believed in the first place in such extreme conditions. After all, he did try to rebel against the Big Brother even t hough deep down he knew he couldn’t do anything to overthrow the Big Brother. Dr. Rieux and Winston Smith resolved the question of meaning through their rebellious acts against the plague and the Big Brother. There are people who find suffering itself reveals the meaning of lif e. Father Paneloux is a good example to illustrate this point of view. In his first sermon addressing t he plague. He said that the plague was a punishment by God. That it was the result of the sin of all c itizens. He criticised the people for not attending church and repenting for their sins. Therefore the p lague was reminder of God’s power and the Oran residents should start to change their habits and st art to fear God again. Unlike Dr. Rieux, who is an atheist, Father Paneloux based his life and work on his christian faith. F rom a Christian point of view, everything happens on earth has purpose and fit into the grand plan o f God. Therefore, it was his job to make sense of the suffering of the plague so that he and the peopl e listening to him will be able to endure and continue to believe in God. From his interpretation of s uffering, the meaning of life for Father Panels was more easily understood than Dr. Rieux and Winst on Smith. The meaning of life was really simple, that is to serve and honour God in his will. Though he changes his view on suffering drastically after witnessing the death of an innocent child. He did not view suffering as a punishment anymore. He said that the reason why a innocent child sh ould suffer was not something that human would necessarily understand no matter how hard they tri ed. They just had to keep in mind that it was God’s will. One must keep his faith and God and find t he good in bad situation. In spite of a changing tone, the meaning for Father Paneloux remained the same- to serve God. To conclude, life itself is inherently meaningless. Not even religion can provide an universal answer to the meaning of life. There are no answers for that and never will be. Suffering does not make one’ s life meaningful. But through suffering one might find meanings in life and live a meaningful life. Wu Ngai Ching, Ivy 20189319 Grade: 21/25 ? 19/25 (due to 2-day late submission) Comments: ?Ivy – In terms of the main thesis of the essay, you’ve done a good job delineating your own atheist view on the meaning of life and drew 3 examples from the 2 works to discuss what m ight be the meaning of life for them. Your argumentation is quite right and your analysis of e ach of their reaciton and thoughts on this difficult question is right on. ?However, you simply â€Å"narrated† through the whole essay without really giving detailed or c oncrete evidences from the book. I wish you could provide some passages or quotes from se veral particular moments in the book to clearly illustrate your point. This is one of the ways t o demonstrate that you’ve actually done the reading, and that is also what we’ve been doing in class – making your point across by providing specific passages/instances in the book as c oncrete evidence. So please remember to do so for your final paper!

The Shang Dynasty - History of Ancient China

The Shang Dynasty - History of Ancient China The Shang dynasty is thought to have lasted from c. 1600 to c.1100 BCE. It is also called the Yin Dynasty (or Shang-Yin). Tang the Great founded the dynasty. King Zhou was its final ruler. The Shang kings were linked to the rulers of the areas around who paid tribute and provided soldiers for military operations. The Shang kings had some bureaucracy with the highest offices presumed filled by close friends and family of the king. Records of major events were kept. Shang Population The Shang probably had about 13.5 million people, according to Duan Chang-Qun et al. It was centered on the North China Plain northward to modern Shangdong and Hebei provinces and westward through the modern Henan province. Population pressures led to multiple migrations and the capitals moved, too, until settling in Yin (Anyang, Henan) in the 14th century. Relocation of Civilization Centers in Ancient China: Environmental Factors, by Duan Chang-Qun, Gan Xue-Chun, Jeanny Wang and Paul K. Chien. Ambio, Vol. 27, No. 7 (Nov., 1998), pp. 572-575.Shang dynasty. (2009). In Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Retrieved March 25, 2009, from Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online: search.eb.com/eb/article-9067119China KnowledgeThe Shang of Ancient China, by L. M. Young. Current Anthropology, Vol. 23, No. 3 (Jun., 1982), pp. 311-314. Start of the Shang Dynasty Tang the Great defeated the last, evil king of the Xia Dynasty, sending him into exile. The Shang changed their capital numerous times because of environmental problems, hostile neighbors, or because they were a semi-nomadic people used to moving. Shang Dynasty Kings Da Yi (Tang the Great)Tai DingWai BingZhong RenTai JiaWo DingTai GengXiao JiaYong JiTai WuLà ¼ JiZhong DingWai RenHedan JiaZu YiZu XinWo JiaZu DingNan GengYang JiaPan GengXiao XinXiao YiWu DingZu JiZu GengZu JiaLin XinGeng DingWu YiWen DingDi YiDi Xin (Zhou) Shang Accomplishments Earliest glazed pottery, evidence of a potters wheel, industrialized bronze casting used for rituals, wine, and food, as well as weapons and tools, advanced jade carving, determined the year was 365 1/4 days, made reports on diseases, first appearance of Chinese script, oracle bones, Steppe-like war chariots. Remains have been found of palace foundations, burials, and rammed earth fortifications. Fall of the Shang Dynasty The cycle of the founding of a dynasty by a great king and ending a dynasty with the ousting of an evil king continued with the Shang Dynasty. The final, tyrannical king of the Shang is commonly called King Zhou. He killed his own son, tortured and murdered his ministers and was overly influenced by his concubine. The Zhou army defeated the last king of the Shang, whom they called the Yin, at the Battle of Muye. The Yin King immolated himself. Sources The Shang-Yin Dynasty and the An-Yang Finds W. Perceval Yetts  The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland No. 3 (Jul., 1933), pp. 657-685Urbanism and the King in Ancient China K. C. Chang  World Archaeology Vol. 6, No. 1, Political Systems (Jun., 1974), pp. 1-14China. (2009). In Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Retrieved March 25, 2009, from Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online: search.eb.com/eb/article-71625.Shang Divination and Metaphysics, by David N. Keightley.  Philosophy East and West, Vol. 38, No. 4 (Oct., 1988), pp. 367-397.

The Return of the Dangling Modifiers

The Return of the Dangling Modifiers The Return of the Dangling Modifiers The Return of the Dangling Modifiers By Mark Nichol Like the compositional equivalent of lurching zombies, dangling modifiers insistently, incessantly assault the sensibilities of careful writers (and careful readers). I’ve posted several sets of examples of these misbegotten misconstructions in which an erroneously constructed sentence subject is at odds with the modifying phrase that precedes it, but they keep on coming. Here, in honor of Halloween, I execute another sordid sortie of such monstrous errors. 1. â€Å"A biostatistician by training, Smith’s initial study of alcohol as a disease was funded by Jones.† Smith’s initial study is not a biostatistician by training; he is. Therefore, the modifier (in this case an appositive, a word or phrase that takes the place of another word or phrase: Smith and â€Å"a biostatistician by training† refer to the same entity) should follow the subject, so that the sentence reads, â€Å"Smith was a biostatistician by training, and his initial study of alcohol as a disease was funded by Jones.† But this revision might alter the emphasis of the author’s intended meaning. â€Å"Smith, a biostatistician by training, received funding from Jones for his initial study of alcohol as a disease† might adhere more closely to the original intent. 2. â€Å"After nearly four years behind bars, an Italian jury overturned her conviction for the murder of her roommate.† If I had been part of that incarcerated panel, I would have avoided the jail time by overturning the defendant’s conviction four years earlier. For this sentence to say what it’s trying to say that the defendant, not the jury, was exonerated the defendant needs to be introduced in the introductory modifier: â€Å"After she spent nearly four years behind bars, an Italian jury overturned her conviction for the murder of her roommate.† 3. â€Å"As a member of a political minority in this area, it’s interesting how people here just assume you think the way they do.† It is not a minority, the writer is. Writers need not introduce themselves at the expense of the expletive it’s, but they do need to introduce themselves: â€Å"As a member of a political minority in this area, it’s interesting to me how people here just assume you think the way they do.† 4. â€Å"Born in Los Angeles, this isn’t the first time John Doe has sparked controversy with his artwork.† This sentence suffers from a distracting diversion similar to the one in the previous example; it identifies LA as the birthplace of this, rather than the hometown of John Doe. The statement’s awkward insertion of a detail that is both unimportant and unrelated to the main part of the sentence is easily remedied; reinsert the biographical detail as a parenthetical following Smith’s name: â€Å"This isn’t the first time John Doe, born in Los Angeles, has sparked controversy with his artwork.† 5. â€Å"Never a fan nor a detractor, the sheer insanity of the band excited and frightened me enough to stay three hours longer than I intended to.† The sheer insanity of the band is not its own fan or detractor the writer is. Therefore, the writer must be the subject of the sentence; I also introduced the modifier nevertheless to signal the contrast between expectation and outcome: â€Å"Never a fan nor a detractor, I was nevertheless excited and frightened enough by the sheer insanity of the band to stay three hours longer than I intended to.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:45 Synonyms for â€Å"Food†When to Form a Plural with an ApostropheComment, Suggestion, and Feedback

Software as a Service (SAAS) as It Pertains to Enterprise Architecture Essay

Software as a Service (SAAS) as It Pertains to Enterprise Architecture - Essay Example The concept and notion of architecture date back to the prehistoric times. Originating in the design and architecture domains, the concept has been invariably associated with the principles of structure, symmetry, functionality, and harmony. Rapid advances in technology during the 20th century gave an impetus to the development of new, enterprise architectures; the latter remain the most complex, challenging but nonetheless desirable elements of productive business functioning. The Software as a Service (SaaS) model marks a new stage in the evolution of enterprise architecture and paves the way for the smooth integration of various EA frameworks with the principal business operations and functions. In contemporary business environments, the choice of SaaS is justified by the need to consolidate IT applications and models and reduce the costs of IT management at all levels of organizational performance. It is through SaaS deployment that organizations can easily achieve the desired fu ture state of technologies where computing is integrally linked to communication, and seamless integration of technological efforts into end user-centered frameworks precipitates the creation and sustained usability of cost-efficient and flexible IT models. Software as a Service: A Brief Introduction Understanding the SaaS model is important for understanding its place and role in enterprise architectures (EA). â€Å"SaaS is software deployed as a hosted service and accessed over the Internet†. ... Software as a Service: A Brief Introduction Understanding the SaaS model is important for understanding its place and role in enterprise architectures (EA). â€Å"SaaS is software deployed as a hosted service and accessed over the Internet† (Carraro & Chong, 2006). Actually, it is due to the rapid expansion and accessibility of the Internet that SaaS is gradually becoming a fundamental ingredient of many enterprise architectures. Thousands of end-user organizations move to adopt SaaS frameworks and applications, in order to automate front and back-office business operations, enhance accessibility of data, and guarantee security of information (SaaS, 2011). The Software as a Service model is: Loosely coupled services and components – that SaaS avoids tight coupling characteristic of earlier models means that the framework has a potential to reduce the costs of maintenance and integration. Configuration over programming – the SaaS framework depends on smaller compo nents, which are coupled and shared to create business solutions based on minimal codes. Agnostic to databases – the choice of relevant databases is usually left to the needs of the SaaS provider. Agnostic to topologies – most enterprise architectures and computing topologies constantly involve, but the use of SaaS guarantees applicability, seamless integration, and deployment of various SaaS elements in any topology. GUI agnostic – enterprises using the SaaS frameworks have the free choice of GUI technologies, including performance and firewall issues, and makes it easier to integrate and design loosely coupled architecture elements, including Flex user interfaces. Agnostic to data sources – the SaaS

Value Chain Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Value Chain Analysis - Research Paper Example Organizations identify strategic advantages and disadvantages with the help of value chain analysis. Value chain refers to all the value-creating functions required for creating and delivering the goods and services to the target customers. Value chain analysis is an important tool for strategic cost management which is an important part of the management accounting. According to Porter, in value chain cost management methodology first the value chain need to be identified, and then the cost, asset and revenue need to be assigned to the value activities (Hoque, 2005). Value chain analysis involves organizations internal cost analysis, its internal differentiation analysis and vertical linkage analysis. Porters value chain model is represented below. Wal Mart, one of the largest organizations in the world not only in retail sector but among the entire private as well as public sector organizations. Wal Mart, founded by Sam Walton in 1962, started its operation in 1969; it is one of the largest organizations in terms of number of employees and revenue. There are almost 1.3 million employees working in Wal-Mart. According to estimates, there are 3400 Wal Mart stores in America till 31st January, 2007. Company is one of the most important drivers of US economy. It is further proven by the fact that every week there is almost 120 million people shop in Wal Mart. As far as sales is concerned Wal Mart is far ahead of its three major global competitors namely Carrefour (France), Home Depot (United States), and Metro (Germany). Cost management is one of the basic things in management accounting. Strategic cost management results to improved strategic performance and significant transformational change in organizational value chain. Cost management information is crucial for four important management functions, which are 1) strategic management, 2) control in management and operations, 3) planning and decision making and finally