Monday, September 30, 2019

Pet peeves

Pet peeves, everyone has them. Some people make their peeves known; others Just grit their teeth and keep their annoyance to themselves. My pet peeves Include my husband talking loudly In public on the phone, people using their phones In public, and the way people care for their kids. These are just a few of my pet peeves that I want to talk about. My husband is one of the worst about talking to loud on his phone in public. One day in particular comes to mind. We were going to walk into a restaurant, and his phone rang.He answered it and began to talk. I started to walk slower, hoping he would do the same. He did not even realize that he was almost yelling. As we were walking into the restaurant he continued to talk and people turn their heads to see who was talking so loudly. I was trying to get him to hurry up, but that was not happening. I could Just see other people around us looking at him wishing he would hang up his phone. He finally finished his call and hung up his phone. Th is does not happen often, but whenIt does I try to remind him that he has many pet peeves and his loud talking Is one of mine. It Is possibly my biggest pet peeve. Furthermore, phone etiquette in general is one of my pet peeves. Don't get me wrong, cell phones are great; I just really wish that someone would write a book on the proper way to use a cell phone. If there ever was such a book the author would be a millionaire instantly. Cell phones exploded on to the scene so fast and furious that many people did not have time to think. It is understandable for people not to understand proper phone etiquette.The ability to talk wirelessly to anyone, and everyone from almost anywhere in the world has been around now for many years. People should know that there is a proper time and place to use a cell phone. I can understand If a call comes Into a person's phone that Is an emergency. However It Is not an emergency If a friend has Just broke up with their boyfriend or girlfriend. If one I s In a walling room of a doctor's office, or a public place people do not need to hear about y personal life problems.Be courteous to the ones around and, get up and walk outside to finish the call. I can promise that no one else wants to hear a one-sided conversation. Parents drive me crazy when they allow their children to scream and cry in a public place. I can understand some children have special needs and there is Just no way for a parent to soothe the child. The parent should still get up and take the screaming child outside or to the bathroom. My husband and I were at a restaurant the other day and there was a child crying and screaming at the top f his lungs.The mother just sat there and did nothing to try and soothe the child. We quickly finished our meal and left the restaurant. Parents should try and consider that not everyone cares to hear their child screaming and crying In public places. In conclusion I normally do not say a whole lot about the different things that g et on my nerves. I am typically the kind of person that Just goes with the flow. The loud talking on the cell phone, the lack of phone etiquette, and children crying and Pet peeves Pet peeves, everyone has them. Some people make their peeves known; others Just grit their teeth and keep their annoyance to themselves. My pet peeves Include my husband talking loudly In public on the phone, people using their phones In public, and the way people care for their kids. These are just a few of my pet peeves that I want to talk about. My husband is one of the worst about talking to loud on his phone in public. One day in particular comes to mind. We were going to walk into a restaurant, and his phone rang.He answered it and began to talk. I started to walk slower, hoping he would do the same. He did not even realize that he was almost yelling. As we were walking into the restaurant he continued to talk and people turn their heads to see who was talking so loudly. I was trying to get him to hurry up, but that was not happening. I could Just see other people around us looking at him wishing he would hang up his phone. He finally finished his call and hung up his phone. Th is does not happen often, but whenIt does I try to remind him that he has many pet peeves and his loud talking Is one of mine. It Is possibly my biggest pet peeve. Furthermore, phone etiquette in general is one of my pet peeves. Don't get me wrong, cell phones are great; I just really wish that someone would write a book on the proper way to use a cell phone. If there ever was such a book the author would be a millionaire instantly. Cell phones exploded on to the scene so fast and furious that many people did not have time to think. It is understandable for people not to understand proper phone etiquette.The ability to talk wirelessly to anyone, and everyone from almost anywhere in the world has been around now for many years. People should know that there is a proper time and place to use a cell phone. I can understand If a call comes Into a person's phone that Is an emergency. However It Is not an emergency If a friend has Just broke up with their boyfriend or girlfriend. If one I s In a walling room of a doctor's office, or a public place people do not need to hear about y personal life problems.Be courteous to the ones around and, get up and walk outside to finish the call. I can promise that no one else wants to hear a one-sided conversation. Parents drive me crazy when they allow their children to scream and cry in a public place. I can understand some children have special needs and there is Just no way for a parent to soothe the child. The parent should still get up and take the screaming child outside or to the bathroom. My husband and I were at a restaurant the other day and there was a child crying and screaming at the top f his lungs.The mother just sat there and did nothing to try and soothe the child. We quickly finished our meal and left the restaurant. Parents should try and consider that not everyone cares to hear their child screaming and crying In public places. In conclusion I normally do not say a whole lot about the different things that g et on my nerves. I am typically the kind of person that Just goes with the flow. The loud talking on the cell phone, the lack of phone etiquette, and children crying and

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Colgate Pricing Strategy

In a highly competitive oral care market, Colgate holds its’ own, and maintains a category leadership position. The company's strategies to category growth are accomplished by long-term, joint planning with retailers; understanding consumers and how they shop; and employing integrated marketing to demonstrate the benefits of new products. The company has long been on the voyage to establish the best brush possible, and in doing so, has developed a number of impeccable products along the way. The introduction of the Wisp portable mini-brush, which was voted 2010 Product of the Year and marketed through online video and social media, increased Colgate's market share of the U. S. manual toothbrushes to a record 32. 2% last year. In the toothpaste segment, Colgate took the leadership position with 36. 2%. Earlier this year, Colgate introduced Wisp Plus Whitening with over 15 million impressions in the second quarter. Articles in Fitness and InStyle magazines and mentions on â€Å"The View† television program and numerous blogs further promoted awareness of the product, as did sampling at colleges and conducting a Facebook fan drive. In keeping up with consumer trends, Colgate began to focus on features, comfort and professional recommendations. Consumers first purchased toothbrushes without much knowledge or information concerning the product’s benefits. As new product development increased, and consumers became better informed about the benefits of toothbrushes, they began to focus their interest not only on cavity prevention, but also on the health of their gums, their oral hygiene, and their cosmetic appearance. Because consumer interest and toothbrush purchases began to increase, advertising and promotion also began to increase, which lead to the development and addition of the super-premium product class (McCarthy, 2002). Consumers began to purchase toothbrushes based on the specific benefits each toothbrush and company had to offer. One study identified 46% of adults as being therapeutic brushers – that is, brushers acting primarily to avoid cavaties and other problems with oral care (Pauszek, 2009). In reaction, Colgate developed the new Prescision toothbrush. CP tracked consumers brushing movements and how they affected plaque removal, thereby developing a brush with a varation of bristle lengths to thoroughly clean hard to reach areas (Younger, 2002). Production began in 1989 when the company put together a research team whose purpose was aimed at testing the design of the toothbrush, how the company would market the product, and how the company would gain a competitive advantage over others. Colgate-Palmolive’s mission was to â€Å"develop a superior, technical, plaque-removing device† (Laidler, 2003). The research team tested and experimented with the toothbrush for eighteen months by the usage of â€Å"dental professional focus groups and product usage tests. † This led to the introduction stage of the product life cycle, with the â€Å"launching† of the Precision toothbrush to the oral health care market in 1993 (Laidler, 2003). Colgate-Palmolive considered many different names, which included, â€Å"Colgate System III, Colgate Advantage, Colgate 1. 2. 3, Colgate Contour, Colgate Sensation, and Colgate Probe† (Laidler, 2003). Colgate-Palmolive decided upon the name Precision, because they did not want a name that could lead customers to associate the new toothbrush with their already existing toothbrush, Colgate Plus. The price budget for promotion was set at 14. 4 million dollars. The company’s promotion plan was to â€Å"induce trial† (Laidler, 2003). Colgate Palmolive planned to promote the Precision toothbrush by offering a free five-ounce tube of toothpaste or a fifty percent off coupon that could be put towards any other size of toothpaste to every consumer who purchased a Precision toothbrush, and by offering $. 0 off coupons (Younger, 2002). The position of the Precision toothbrush could be niche or mainstream (Colgate Palmolive, 2009). The focus of niche positioning would be placed on consumers who are concerned about the prevention of gum diseases. There would be many positive benefits to the company if Colgate-Palmolive were to position the Precision toothbrush as a niche product. These benefits would include one, by targeting the segment of consumers who are worried about gum disease; Colgate-Palmolive would be able to charge premium prices (Colgate Palmolive, 2009). Two, Colgate-Palmolive would be able to differentiate the Precision toothbrush from other toothbrushes, because of Precision’s technological superiority over the other toothbrushes already on the market. In contrast, mainstream positioning would place emphasis on the Precision toothbrush as being the most appealing and effective toothbrush available on the market. The advantages of using mainstream positioning for the Precision toothbrush would be that most retail stores are under a mainstream position rather than a niche position. In addition, in the super-premium category, the Precision toothbrush would be the most superior product (Younger, 2002). By positioning the toothbrush as a mainstream product, it would in return increase name recognition for Colgate. Negative advantages of using mainstream positioning for the Precision toothbrush are that although the toothbrush would be superior to the other super-premium toothbrushes, the prices for the Precision and other brushes would be equal. Equal prices would then lead to increased competition, which in return could cause prices to go up. A second disadvantage could also lead to the cannibalization of Colgate-Palmolive’s other super-premium toothbrush, the Colgate Plus. By producing a superior toothbrush, that offers more qualities than the other toothbrushes available on the market, at or around the same price as the competition, consumers will hopefully want to purchase the Precision toothbrush over the others. There will be more qualities offered at no extra charge. The price of the toothbrush if positioned as a mainstream product will have to be equal to the prices of the other toothbrushes already available on the market. If the Precision toothbrush is profitable and there is a high percentage of consumer demand, then Colgate-Palmolive might want to consider increasing the price of the toothbrush by a small margin. The price of a product says something about the quality. Even though the quality of the Precision toothbrush will be significantly higher than other leading toothbrushes, the price of the toothbrush will be determined by the prices of the other toothbrushes already in the market (McCarthy, 2002). This pricing strategy is a result of positioning the toothbrush as a mainstream product rather than a niche product.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Marco in a View from a Bridge Essay

Give advice to an actor playing Marco on how he should present the character Marco is a character of two faces. At the beginning of the play, a grateful and respectful man is presented to the audience. He shakes Eddie’s hand, and makes it clear that he does not want to impose – ‘when you say go, we will go’. This is in stark contrast to the absolute lack of respect your character gives Eddie later in the story, and the more-so you can make this the better the reception will be from the audience. Marco is also quite a reserved character. When the two men first come to the house, Marco speaks only in short sentences, rarely elaborating on his point. However, he also seems to have a quiet authority and this is shown in stage directions when Eddie ‘is coming more and more to address Marco only’. This authority is also shown when Rodolpho starts to sing, saying ‘You’ll be quiet, Rodolpho.’ silencing his brother. This reservation is also shown in his realistic sense of mind, compared to his brother who has possibly unreachable dreams. He is also not as flamboyant or elaborate as his brother, who sings, cooks and sews; he is a ‘regular bull’. This makes others respect him and this sense of authority and strength needs to be portrayed. In the scene where Marco shows his strength by lifting the chair one-handed, the tables start to turn. The respect Marco once had for Eddie seems to have disappeared suddenly, as Marco menacingly holds the chair over Eddie’s head. On the surface, it looks as though he is protecting his brother, but the underlying reasons are mainly that by doing so, Marco has just proved Eddie’s inferiority. This enjoyment of feeling superior mixed with the defence of his brother makes Marco a fierce character in this scene, and a character that may have been shadowed in earlier scenes come to prominence in the play, and this continues in the later parts. The character then follows a vicious path of revenge after realising that is was Eddie that reported them to Immigration. Your character loses sympathy with the audience due to this, and as you lose sight of everything else – why you came to America, your family etc. – the seems to be no compassion in Marco. He not only wants to kill Eddie but humiliate him as much as possible in the process. Essentially, Marco is like Eddie. A formally caring man of his family, he is an honourable man who lacks the quality of forgiveness.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Environment 110 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Environment 110 - Essay Example If the environmental service for gas and oil stopped, assuming that the oil wells run dry, the state would suffer from adverse effects, both social and economic. These may be worse if the scarcity of crude oil is a global problem. One of the effects of the change would be increased unemployment rate as people who worked in the mining fields and processing firms would lose their jobs. People who trade in the commodities would also lose income through lost jobs or lost profits. While importation could ease the burden, this would take time and would not be a complete remedy to lost jobs and reduced profitability. Importation would also increase cost of energy in domestic and industrial set ups, leading to macroeconomic burden. Induced economic strain from lost jobs, reduced income, and possible rise in commodity prices due to increased fuel cost would spill to people disposable income. This could have adverse effects on ability to afford services such as health care and education servic es. The state would also suffer negative effects on its import expenditures. Services pertaining to oil and gas are therefore significant to the economy and should be sustained. Ball State University. â€Å"Key economic sectors in Indiana: State overview.† Ball State University. July, 2014. Web. October 24, 2014. . The Indiana Department of Natural Resources. â€Å"Oil and gas in Indiana.† The Indiana Department of Natural Resources. N.d. Web. October 24, 2014. < http://www.in.gov/dnr/dnroil/files/og-OilGas_in_Indiana.pdf

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Capstone IP 5 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Capstone IP 5 - Research Paper Example ess mainframe, as well as distribution of infrastructure for information technology applications, since the time of their security product spin off into Total Defense (Ambos, Andersson & Birkinshaw, 2010). Therefore, the company engages in IT management software and solutions, and it facilitates optimization of IT by their customers with the aim of achieving enhanced business results. The company’s goal is to become a strategic partner upon whom the customers can rely as far as the adoption of new technologies is concerned, and at the same time, realize maximum value from the existing investments in IT (Ambos, Andersson & Birkinshaw, 2010). In this respect, therefore, the company has sought to employ a customer-centric strategy where the customer is at the center stage of the business, in which the company believes it can best achieve its goals. With this, the technical support of the CA Technologies has been made the lynchpin that helps the customers realize maximum value of the CA Technologies investment (Ambos, Andersson & Birkinshaw, 2010). The International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a multinational corporation for technology and consulting based in the United States. The company deals in manufacturing and marketing of computer software and hardware, in addition to offering infrastructure, consulting and hosting services in a wide range of areas, beginning from the nanotechnology to mainframe computers (Kane & Alavi, 2007). IBM boasts of over 12 research laboratories all over the world, and is also the leading company in patent generation for over 20 years. New services and products are important to the performance and survival of any organization. The introduction of new products, as observed by both IBM and AC Technologies, enhances the firm’s ability to meet the new demands on the market and facilitate the establishment of new generations of technology (Ambos, Andersson & Birkinshaw, 2010). A major logic within innovation in these

Weeding Out Corporate Psychopaths Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Weeding Out Corporate Psychopaths - Essay Example Most of the companies face high employees’ turnover since the employees are victimised by the psychopaths. The psychopaths tend to target his or her immediate superior as one of the strategies to transfer accuse for any wrongdoing (Boddy, n.d.). The main objective of this study is to examine what a corporate psychopath represents and the dangers that they pose to the workplace. This report will also try to evaluate if the case study has been capable of providing convincing account of comprehending corporate psychopaths. The study will attempt to make use of numerous research articles related to corporate psychopaths so that it can offer a clear understanding on the work behaviour of this category of people. Concepts Related To Corporate Psychopaths Organisational psychopaths are referred to those people who subsist at an occurrence of about one percent of the common populace and who work in an organisation. It is a well known fact that the organisational psychopaths are capabl e of demonstrating themselves as pleasing employees and have the capability to gain position in the organisation easily. These people do not have any conscience and are capable to cruelly charm, lie, coax and hence manipulate their way up in an organisational hierarchy in chase of their key aims and power, possessions as well as position at the expense of anyone who comes on their way (Boddy, 2006). The concept related to corporate psychopaths gets hitched with the term ‘psychopaths’ which has been derived from the dimension of psychological literatures and the term ‘corporate’ has been derived from the area of business in order to symbolize a psychopath’s working and operating in the organisational context. It has been observed that the corporate psychopaths tend to manipulate others without any principles, for the purpose of furthering their own objectives. It is worthy of mentioning the fact that the corporate psychopaths have been capable of ente ring into the modern organisations as well as other organisations because of the charming personality that they possess (Babiak & et. al., 2010). They can rise immediately and remain comparatively unobserved within the members of the organisation due to disordered nature of the modern organisation. Such corporate nature is featured by quick alterations, steady renewal and a quick turnover of the talented personnel. It is these changes in the culture of the organisation that makes it harder for the organisation to identify the corporate psychopaths because steady movements tend to make their attitude and behavior imperceptible and combined along with their extroverted personal charisma and appeal, making them to appear as normal and as ideal leaders (Boddy, 2011). One of the well recognised facts is that employees tend to lose their jobs and at times even their livelihood when the organisations tend to be destroyed due to the actions of their senior directors. The shareholders as wel l as the society as a whole tend to be affected because of the negative deeds of the senior directors. Private enterprises also lose their integrity. Such corporate collapses have been apparent in the recent years and have been found to be mushrooming in the western countries. It has further played a crucial role in global financial crisis (Boddy, 2010). Most of the people demonstrate various characteristics of psychopaths; however a few of them tend to be true psychopaths. They tend to be

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Civil Society and Global Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Civil Society and Global Finance - Essay Example This transition occurred in the running century, however, it initiated in the 1990s; the reason was increasing competition for economic sustainability and supremacy. In the running decade, the magnitude of the economic activities is considered enormous than previous decades, unfortunately, this success is the cost of ignorance or non-compliance of social and environmental obligations. The companies are more interested in improving their financial positions for obtaining credit facility. The devised financial policies are extremely converged to point of high revenue generation, such that significant environmental and social aspects have been outclass. Such practices was never exercised in 20th century, the companies considered compliance of social and environmental laws obligatory, the financial profits were curtails, production numbers were reduced only to secure the necessary non-financial interests, beneficial for the human society (Clarkson, 2002). As per critics, it was in 1980s when the international investment regime transformed significantly. The attributing factors towards such transformation included "extra-ordinary increase in the volume of global FDI flows and stocks; second, the rising levels of corporate concentration in high technology global production resulting from mergers, acquisitions and network relationships, in particular strategic business alliances; and third, the development and widespread application of information technologies to international corporate organization". During the 1980s and 1990s, the economic indicators of the world economy were negative, and severe slowdown in the foreign direct investment was witnessed, "global foreign direct investment flows declined in 1991 for the first time since 1982, falling from USD 230billion in 1990 to USD 180billion in 1991" (Jan 2002).  

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

The Making of Disneyland Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Making of Disneyland - Essay Example This discussion stresses that beneath this feeling of joy and happiness lay a grim reality that plagued United States at that time. The author’s main argument is the prevalence of racial discrimination in the country. This racism found its way right into Disneyland. The recreational park housed Fantasyland; an area perhaps found in dreams.   However the same park demonstrated the existence of racism, an aspect that can be a nightmare for many.  This paper discusses that the author cites numerous instances that establish the prevalence of racism in Disneyland. At the outset, the author states that akin to the postwar suburbs, Disneyland was not meant for the blacks and other minorities. The theme park was specifically meant for the white, middle class families. The entry fee was exorbitant and therefore only the affluent could afford to visit Disneyland and have a pleasurable experience. The high fee ensured that Disneyland was accessible to an â€Å"economically† ho mogenous group. Disneyland was located near new freeways. However, it was catering to the all-white neighborhoods that had emerged in the San Fernando Valley and Orange Country, claims the author. The author has categorically stated that Disneyland was not meant for the ethnic minority residing in the inner city. The most compelling evidence of racial discrimination inside Disneyland emerges from the fact that Walt Disney did not employ African Americans at the park. This policy continued till the civil right protests of 1963.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Review of Academic Journal Articles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Review of Academic Journal Articles - Essay Example 1. International and Comparative Employment Relations The book International and Comparative Employment Relations by Bamber, Lansbury and Wailes (2004) mainly contemplates on Industrial Relations and Human Resource management from an international perspective. To give the readers a comprehensive idea of employee relations, they have attempted an interdisciplinary approach which use analytical tools that have been drawn from various streams. To get a better view of internationally comparative approach to HR, the employee information in a number of states are also enclosed here by the authors. The employee relations of various developed countries that have well defined market economies have been described and systematically analyzed. The employ relation of the past is compared with the present affairs. With advent of globalization, the HR scenario got changed. The ripples of this change were visible in fields like industrial relation systems and collective bargaining. As globalization helped the growth of employee mobility, it is easy for the organizations to recruit and train employees at a cheaper cost. ... As far as the developing or underdeveloped countries are concerned, they could find some qualified workers from the developed countries. Apart from Britain, other nine countries are also examined in the light of a similar format that analyzed the environment relations and the people and organizations that play major roles in determining the solidarity of the employer- employee relationship. Studying the experiences of other countries helps the reader to get an overview of his own country and the existing practices (Bamber, Lansbury & Wailes, 2004). However, the matters discussed herein are confined to ten developed countries that have got a well developed market economy. The points of view of other countries have been forgotten conveniently. What the world witness in the present day is the triumphing of Asian nations including India and China as economic powers. Being two vast countries in terms of population, they provide majority of the work force to other countries. It is odd to a void such nations that constitute the majority of the labor force in prominent companies worldwide. If the details of employee and industrial relations of the developing countries also have been included this article would have been an excellent work providing information about the industrial relations around the world at a single glance. This book does not provide information as to how an organization maintains a good relationship between its managers and the employees. With the passage of time, industrial relations have become one of the most delicate and complex problems of the modern industrial society. The term industrial relations are used to

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Crevecoeur Letter What is an American Essay Example for Free

Crevecoeur Letter What is an American Essay Discussion question: What, to Crà ¨vecoeur, are  the differences between a European subject and an American citizen? I WISH I could be acquainted with the feelings and thoughts which must agitate the heart and present themselves to the mind of an enlightened Englishman, when he first lands on this continent. He must greatly rejoice that he lived at a time to see this fair country discovered and settled; he must necessarily feel a share of national pride, when he views the chain of settlements which embellishes these extended shores. When he says to himself, this is the work of my countrymen, who, when convulsed by factions, afflicted by a variety of miseries and wants, restless and impatient, took refuge here. They brought along with them their national genius, to which they principally owe what liberty they enjoy, and what substance they possess. Here he sees the industry of his native country displayed in a new manner, and traces in their works the embryos of all the arts, sciences, and ingenuity which flourish in Europe. Here he beholds fair cities, substantial villages, extensive fields, an immense country filled with decent houses, good roads, orchards, meadows, and bridges, where an hundred years ago all was wild, woody and uncultivated!†¦. He is arrived on a new continent; a modern society offers itself to his contemplation, different from what he had hitherto seen. It is not composed, as in Europe, of great lords who possess every thing and of a herd of people who have nothing. Here are no aristocratic families, no courts, no kings, no bishops, no ecclesiastical dominion, no invisible power giving to a few a very visible one; no great manufacturers employing thousands, no great refinements of luxury. The rich and the poor are not so far removed from each other as they are in Europe. Some few towns excepted, we are all tillers of the earth, from Nova Scotia to West Florida. We are a people of cultivators, scattered over an immense territory communicating with each other by means of good roads and navigable rivers, united by the silken bands of mild government, all respecting the laws, without dreading their power, because they are equitable. We are all animated with the spirit of an industry which is unfettered and unrestrained, because each person works for himself. If he travels through our rural districts he views not the hostile castle, and the haughty mansion, contrasted with the clay-built hut and miserable cabin, where cattle and men help to keep each other warm, and dwell in meanness, smoke, and indigence. A pleasing uniformity of decent competence appears throughout our habitations. The meanest of our loghouses is a dry and comfortable habitation. Lawyer or merchant are the fairest titles our towns afford; that of a farmer is the only appellation of the rural inhabitants of our country. It must take some time here (before) he can reconcile himself to our dictionary, which is but short in words of dignity, and names of honour†¦.. We have no princes, for whom we toil, starve, and bleed: we are the most perfect society now existing in the world. Here man is free; as he ought to be; nor is this pleasing equality so transitory as many others are. Many ages will not see the shores of our great lakes replenished with inland nations, nor the unknown bounds of North America  entirely peopled. Who can tell how far it extends? Who can tell the millions of men whom it will feed and contain? for no European foot has as yet traveled half the extent of this mighty continent! The next wish of this traveler will be to know whence came all these people? they are mixture of English, Scotch, Irish, French, Dutch, Germans, and Swedes. From this promiscuous breed, that race now called Americans have arisen. The eastern provinces must indeed be excepted, as being the unmixed descendants of Englishmen. I have heard many wish that they had been more intermixed also: for my part, I am no wisher, and think it much better as it has happened†¦.. I know it is fashionable to reflect on them, but I respect them for what they have done; for the accuracy and wisdom with which they have settled their territory; for the decency of their manners; for their  early love of letters; their ancient college, the first in this hemisphere; for their industry; which to me who am but a farmer, is the criterion of everything. There never was a people, situated as they are, who with so ungrateful a soil have done more in so short a time†¦.. In this great American asylum, the poor of Europe have by some means met together, and in consequence of various causes; to what purpose should they ask one another what countrymen they are? Alas, two thirds of them had no country. Can a wretch who wanders about, who works and starves, whose life is a continual scene of sore affliction or pinching penury; can that man call England or any other kingdom his country? A country that had no bread for him, whose fields procured him no harvest, who met with nothing but the frowns of the rich, the severity of the laws, with jails and punishments; who owned not a single foot of the extensive surface of this planet? No! urged by a variety of motives, here they came. Every thing has tended to regenerate them; new laws, a new mode of living, a new social system; here they are become men: in Europe they were as so many useless plants, wanting vegitative mould, and refreshing showers; they withered, and were mowed down by want, hunger, and war; bu t now by the power of transplantation, like all other plants they have taken root and flourished! Formerly they were not numbered in any civil lists of their country, except in those of the poor; here they rank as citizens. By what invisible power has this surprising metamorphosis been performed? By that of the laws and that of their industry. The laws, the indulgent laws, protect them as they arrive, stamping on them the symbol of adoption; they receive ample rewards for their labours; these accumulated rewards procure them lands; those lands confer on them the title of freemen, and to that title every benefit is affixed which men can possibly require. This is the great operation daily performed by our laws. From whence proceed these laws? From our government. Whence the government? It is derived from the original genius and strong desire of the people ratified and confirmed by the crown. This is the great chain which links us all †¦.. What attachment can a poor European emigrant have for a country where he had nothing? The knowledge of the language, the love of a few kindred as poor as  himself, were the only cords that tied him: his country is now that which gives him land, bread, protection, and consequence†¦..What then is the American, this new man? He is either an European, or the descendant of an European, hence that strange mixture of blood, which you will find in no other country. I could point out to you a family whose grandfather was an Englishman, whose wife was Dutch, whose son married a French woman, and whose present four sons have now four wives of different nations. He is an American, who leaving behind him all his ancient  prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced, the new government he obeys, and the new rank he holds. He becomes an American by being received in the broad lap of our great Alma Mater. Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labours and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world. Americans are the western pilgrims, who are carrying along with them that great mass of arts, sciences, vigour, and industry which began long since in the east; they will finish the great circle. The Americans were once scattered all over Europe; here they are incorporated into one of the finest systems of population which has ever appeared, and which will hereafter become distinct by the power of the different climates they inhabit. The American ought therefore to love this country much better than that wherein either he or his forefathers were born. Here the rewards of his industry follow with equal steps the progress of his labour; his labour is founded on the basis of nature, self-interest; can it want a stronger allurement? Wives and children, who before in vain demanded of him a morsel of bread, now, fat and frolicsome, gladly help their father to clear those fields whence exuberant crops are to arise to feed and to clothe them all; without any part being claimed, either by a despotic prince, a rich abbot, or a mighty lord. I lord religion demands but little of him; a small voluntary salary to the minister, and gratitude to God; can he refuse these? The American is a new man, who acts upon new principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas, and form new opinions†¦..This is an American.  (†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..)Men are like plants; the goodness and flavour of the fruit proceeds from the peculiar soil and exposition in which they grow. We are nothing but what we derive from the air we breathe, the climate we inhabit, the government we obey, the system of religion we profess, and the nature of our employment. Here you will find but few crimes; these have acquired as yet no root among us. I wish I were able to trace all my ideas; if my ignorance prevents me from describing them properly, I hope I shall be able to delineate a few of the outlines, which are all I propose. Those who live near the sea, feed more on fish than on flesh, and often encounter that boisterous element. This renders them more bold and enterprising; this leads them to neglect the confined occupations of the land. They see and converse with a variety of people; their intercourse with mankind becomes extensive. The sea inspires them with a love of traffic, a desire of transporting produce from one place to another; and leads them to a variety of resources which supply the place of labour. Those who inhabit the middle settlements, by far the most numerous, must be very different; the simple cultivation of the earth purifies them, but the indulgences of the government, the soft remonstrances of religion, the rank of independent freeholders, must necessarily inspire them with sentiments, very little known in Europe among people of the same class. What do I say? Europe has no such class of men; the early knowledge they acquire, the early bargains they make, give them a great degree of sagacity. As freemen they will be litigious; pride and obstinacy are often the cause of law suits; the nature of our laws and governments may be another. As citizens it is easy to imagine, that they will carefully read the newspapers, enter into every political disquisition, freely blame or censure governors and others. As farmers they will be careful and anxious to get as much as they can, because what they get is their own. As northern men they will love the cheerful cup. As Christians, religion curbs them not in their opinions; the general indulgence leaves every one to  think for themselves in spiritual matters; the laws inspect our actions, our  thoughts are left to God. Industry, good living, selfishness, litigiousness, country politics, the pride of freemen, religious indifference, are their characteristics. If you recede still farther from the sea, you will come into more modern settlements; they exhibit the same strong lineaments, in a ruder appearance. Religion seems to have still less influence, and their manners are less improved. Now we arrive near the great woods, near the last inhabited districts; there men seem to be placed still farther beyond the reach of government, which in some measure leaves them to themselves. How can it pervade every corner; as they were driven there by misfortunes, necessity of beginnings, desire of acquiring large tracks of land, idleness, frequent want of economy, ancient debts; the re-union of such people does not afford a very pleasing spectacle. When discord, want of unity and friendship; when either drunkenness or idleness prevail in such remote districts; contention, inactivity, and wretchedness must ensue. There are not the same remedies to these evils as in a long established community. The few magistrates they have, are in general little better than the rest; they are often in a perfect state of war; that of man against man, sometimes decided by blows, sometimes by means of the law; that of man against every wild inhabitant of these venerable woods, of which they are com e to dispossess them. There men appear to be no better than carnivorous animals of a superior rank, living on the flesh of wild animals when they can catch them, and when they are not able, they subsist on grain. He who wish to see America in its proper light, and have a true idea of its feeble beginnings barbarous rudiments, must visit our extended line of frontiers where the last settlers dwell, and where he may see the first labours of the mode of clearing the earth, in their different appearances; where men are wholly left dependent on their native tempers, and on the spur of uncertain industry, which often fails when not sanctified by the efficacy of a few moral rules. There, remote from the power of example, and check of shame, many families exhibit the most hideous parts of our society†¦..(But after ten or twelve years) prosperity will polish some, vice and the law will drive off the rest, who uniting again with others like themselves will recede still farther; making room for more industrious people, who will finish their improvements, convert the  loghouse into a convenient habitation, and rejoicing that the first heavy labours are finished, will change in a few years that hit herto barbarous country into a fine fertile, well regulated district. Such is our progress, such is the march of the Europeans toward the interior parts of this continent. In all societies there are off-casts; this impure part serves as our precursors or pioneers; my father himself was one of that class, but he came upon honest principles, and was therefore one of the few who held fast; by good conduct and temperance, he transmitted to me his fair inheritance, when not above one in fourteen of his contemporaries had the same good fortune†¦. Exclusive of those general characteristics, each province has its own, founded on the government, climate, mode of husbandry, customs, and peculiarity of circumstances. Europeans submit insensibly to these great powers, and become, in the course of a few generations, not only Americans in general, but either Pennsylvanians, Virginians, or provincials under some other name. Whoever traverses the continent must easily observe those strong differences, which will grow more evident in time. The inhabitants of Canada, Massachusetts, the middle provinces, the southern ones will be as different as their climates; thei r only points of unity will be those of religion and language.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Behavioural and Cognitive Approaches to Learning Comparison

Behavioural and Cognitive Approaches to Learning Comparison Compare and contrast two perspectives in psychology and the ways in which they study learning. The two perspectives chosen to be compared in this essay were the behavioural approach to learning and the cognitive approach. The behavioural approach to learning involves the observation of identifiable behavioural characteristics and rejects anything to do with thought processes or consciousness as it regards these features unrecognisable (Miell et al, 2002). Contrastingly, the cognitive approach focuses entirely upon thought processes and the faculties associated with the conceptual mind to understand the concept learning. In this assignment we will look at the ways in which these two fields have provided support for the concept of learning, whilst appreciating the similarities and differences of either approach. The behavioural perspective was established by Watson. Concerned with the principles of objective scientific research, Watson rejected the notion of internal psychological mechanics as he believed that this could not be empirically measured (Miell et al, 2002). All Watson was interested in was observable external phenomena, which meant behaviour. The emphasis that Watson and behaviourism put on the concept of learning was that of the association made by the organism to its external environment. This places the individual as a learning vessel reacting to the environment. However, the extent and nature of this relationship has been argued across the field of behaviourist research. A fundamental distinction between the two approaches to learning within the field of behaviourism is within the notion of conditioning classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Research into classical conditioning was defined in principle by physiologist Pavlov (Miell et al, 2002). Pavlov observed tha t in relation to certain stimuli dog’s behaviour could be conditioned through association. Using the dogs’ biological response to hunger, Pavlov revealed in his experiments the basic principle relationship between an observable stimulus and its learned response as an outcome. His work indicated that a dogs’ natural reflex to hunger could be conditioned through the contrived association of a manipulated neutral stimulus. Essentially, he showed that pairing the noise of a bell with the introduction of food the dog would salivate eventually learning through association that the bell signified food. This response was labelled the conditional response and the bell was labelled the conditional stimulus. In classical conditioning, we can see that learning is defined as a modification of behaviour caused by association and manipulation of environmental stimuli. However, the extent of intelligence involved in this form of learning is very limited. The second distinction in the behavioural approach is operant conditioning. Research conducted by Skinner gave insight into the notion of developmental or figurative learning in the form of reward and positive regard (Skinner, 1948/1990). This approach assumed that animals were primarily interactive within the role of learning behaviours. Given a variety of different consequences for each potential behaviour, it was believed that animals could decide what behaviour was best to adopt in any particular environment as it had learned and could apply through relevant schemas. In Skinner’s experiment, he used rats and manipulated their environment through reinforcement to see to what extent their behaviour could be shaped through conditioned learning (Skinner, 1948/1990). Essentially, the rats in this experiment changed their behaviours through positive reinforcement, which provided evidence of learning. From these findings the role of discrimination between stimuli was believed to be understood in the form of shaping. What had been established in both forms of behavioural models is that learning could be shaped through the manipulation of specific stimuli in any environment. However, what underlines these behavioural models of learning is the idea that learning is no more than a response to certain stimuli under manipulative environmental conditioning. This is where we can see a significant difference between that of the behavioural approach and that of the cognitive. The cognitive approach addresses the human capacity to categorise, generalise and conceptualise certain phenomena (Miell, 2002). Primarily concerned with the functioning of the mind within learning with the mind this approach, concerns itself primarily with notions such as memory, perception and categorisation (Miell, 2002). Interested in the role of perception and memory within the role of category learning, the psychologist Bruner et al, devised a test to see how we constructed categories. Unlike conditioning, Bruner suggested that this was an engaging intelligent procedure performed by way of hypothesis testing stages of acceptance and rejection based upon trial (Bruner et al, 1956). A variety of shapes were used in a variety of conditions. Some of these shared the same number of shapes, some the same colour of shape and others the same number of borders. No two varieties were identical. From the results of this experiment, Bruner et al surmised that there were two forms of learn ing that had been present. Firstly, successive scanning, which entertained one hypothesis at a time and secondly, conservative scanning, which sought to eliminate classes of hypotheses such as border, number of shapes, colour (Bruner et al, 1956). Unlike the behavioural approach, we can see from these experiments that an attempt is being made to understand the operation of the intelligent mind with regards to learning through categorisation. However, categorisation as a learning process is not accepted by everyone in the field of cognitive psychology. Although much of the research that had gone to indicate that attributes revealed that a prior knowledge or experience was active and influential in category learning (Kaplan Murphy, 2000), many argue that the categories are innate (Fodor Chomsky, 1980). This argument does strengthen the behavioural notion that the conceptual structure of the mind is open to interpretation, and so cannot be as valuable as the observable findings of th e behaviourist approach. In each approach we have seen an emphasis on the nature of learning. We have seen that this emphasis on learning is different in each approach. One approach is essentially concerned with the extent to which behaviour can be shaped by the environment and how this relationship can be observed through association and shaping. Whilst the other approach seems to be only concerned with how the environment is categorised by the organism and how it subsequently applies that to a concept of structural framework. However, both agree on the fundamental principle that learning is done in conjunction with the environment. Bibliography Bruner, J, S., Goodnow, J, J., and Austin, G, A., (1956) A Study of Thinking New York: John Wiley and Sons. Chomsky, N., and Fodor, J, A., (1980) Statement of the Paradox, in Piatelli Palmarini, M. (ed.). Miell, D., Phoenix, A. and Thomas, K. (2002) Mapping Psychology 1. Milton Keynes, Open University. Kaplan, A, S., and Murphy, G, L., (2000) Category Learning with Minimal Prior Knowledge, Journal of Experimental Psychology, 26, 4, 829-846. Skinner, B, F., (1946/1990) Walden Two London: Collier Macmillan.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Underdevelopment: The Democratic Republic Of Congo

Underdevelopment: The Democratic Republic Of Congo Most of African countries are underdeveloped, and according to theories of modernization factors such as population, traditional agrarian structure, and illiteracy, low division of labor, poor infrastructure and communication. For development to take place there has to be change in these factors for example the rate of population growth has to change, infrastructure has to be improved and so on. Countries in the world are ranked in terms of development from the most to the least developed and each country has its position. In that regard, Democratic Republic of Congo ranks among the underdeveloped countries in the world. According to Theodore, (2009) The Democratic Republic of Congo earlier known as Zaire is the biggest nation in Africa. This country is rich in valuable natural resources, which include petroleum, cobalt, diamond, and copper. Since its independence in 1960, the country knows not what true democracy is. It has been faced with prolonged civil and ethnic strife. This has led to political, economic, and social instability all over the country, making this country to remain underdeveloped despite its wealth in natural resources. Mining and exportation of diamond, copper, cobalt and other resources have greatly contributed to internal conflicts. According to Hope (2004) civil war started as early as after the independence; however, the United Nations intervened on a peacekeeping mission. The country experienced thirty-six years of conflict from 1964 to 1997 when Mobutu Sese Sekou was overthrown from presidency by the present President Kabila forces. Though the neighboring countries came, in to support restores peace in the country but this has not been a success as these countries also show interests in getting a share of the wealth got from mining of these resources. The peace deal signed in 1999 by the concerned parties did not stop the civil war (Udombana, 2000). Political situation of the country has been a major contribution to the countries underdevelopment. Countries that are developed or developing normally are good democracies. The rule of the people by the people, political stability is very critical in providing room for change in the factors that cause underdevelopment. Contrary to democratic rule, the country experienced seen a long dictatorial regime during the era of Mobutu Sese Seko. Underdevelopment was fuelled by the fact that power was concentrated to the president. The government institutions were stifled and their role was to rubber stamp orders from above. Compromising the role played by institutions is a major hindrance to the path of development. The dictatorial regime controlled all the corporations and every aspect of the administration. This contributed to the countries underdevelopment in that decisions were centralized and in a top down approach. Since the country was had one party, the dictator took advantage of his power to make sure that only those who were in support and loyal to the party become CEOs, directors and union leaders (Lubeck, 1992). This led to mismanagement of public institutions and much looting at the expense of poor citizens widening the gap between the rich and the poor. When president Kabila was elected many thought that the country was on the road to democracy. However, the regime maintained the status quo in that the president had legislative. Executive and military powers vested in him. This kind of a government structure does not give full support of development because the executive is not accountable for any omission or commission in any act regarding the country. After the assignation of Kabila in 2001, his son Kabila took over with the objective of developing the country. The transition constitution has greatly contributed in determining the structure and organization of the countrys institutions helping put them back on development track. The constitution has also caused devolution of powers between the central and provinces governments. From the economic perspective, the Democratic Republic of Congo is economically underdeveloped compared to other countries in Africa and all over the world. Democratic Republic Congo is very rich in valuable minerals and favorable climate that can spur economic growth to great height however, the country is still underdeveloped mainly due to the political instability of the country. Economic development is what causes an increase in the living standards of a countrys population. In Congo the citizens, live in poor conditions despite the presence of mining firms in the country the citizens earn very little wages, which translates into poor quality of life (Mbaku, 2004). Though there has been several economic development plans set as early as 1982 the expenditure called for in the development of infrastructure, agriculture, forestry, and light industry is never reached due to economic difficulties. One main challenge to economic development in the country is the overdependence on petroleum at the expense of other industries. The country has not succeeded in boosting those economic activities that do not mainly rely on imports. Despite the favorable climate sector such as agriculture have been neglected. Thus, the income earned in exportation of minerals is used to import food supplies. Overreliance on international aid is a major bottleneck to economic development in the country (Porter, Craig 2004). Countries such as China, Soviet Union, and France provided significant aid with France being the leading donor. Although international aid is normally given to spur economic development, countries that relies much on foreign aid face economic challenges when the donors withdraw or fail to give what such countries expected. The political instability in the country has made many donors to withdraw their pledges put strain on the Congos economy, which is a combination of industrial sector relying on petroleum mining, traditional agriculture and services. Congos economy has however, made substantial progress mainly because of the reforms. The country has taken measures to liberalize the economy through investment, hydrocarbons, and tax reforms. However, not all these reforms have succeeded some are yet to be felt by neither the common citizens on the ground nor the investors. Plans to privatize main parastatals the transportation and telecommunication monopolies, was a good one that would have helped improve unreliable and dilapidated infrastructure. Nevertheless, the plans were never implemented and the state of telecommunication and infrastructure is still very poor. To achieve economic development the country needs to make serious moves towards economic stabilization through restructuring external debt and public finances improvement. In the late 1990, the country was back on track in terms of economic development with major economic reforms. However, this later hindered by several external and internal factors that followed. For example, in 1998 the oil prices slumped put much strain on the countrys budget deficit. Armed conflict broke out in the same year straining the economic prospects, which chiefly depend on political stability (Booth, 1985). The country has to make the investment climate remains unfavorable making many investors to shy away from investing in the country. Investors especially foreign investors have in many countries contributed to spur the economic growth of these countries. Slater (1993) argues that development from the social perspective refers to qualitative changes in the society structure and functioning, in a bid to achieve the objectives better. To attain social development there has to be increased awareness that will lead to better organizations. In the Democratic Republic of Congo from the social perspective is poorly developed. The structure and functioning of the society is poor there is need to create awareness among the Congolese to help create better organizations. This will help improve their living standards, health, education and other quality life measures. Education levels and access to facilities such as hospitals in the country is still very poor (Brohman, 1996). Most of the citizens are either illiterate or only have basic education. The political instability has played a significant role in hindering human development this further deters social development. Political instability of the country has caused major social injustices; social development takes place in societies that have democratic rule and freedom. This freedom promotes creativity and invention for the betterment of a society. The social welfare in the country has for a long time been compromised, the economic gains only benefit a few who are in power. Women have over the years fallen victims of social injustices from rape especially during conflicts to discrimination in the job market. The country has failed to provide social services such as security and health care to its population. Social services are not equally distributed in the country (Harrison, 2005). Conclusion It is no doubt that The Democratic Republic of Congo is an underdeveloped country despite its wealth in valuable resources. Political instability has been the main challenge to a successful economic development strategy. The country has poor transportation networks, which is still a major challenge to economic development. The country needs major reforms be on the development track. To achieve overall development the country must not overlook any of the development perspectives (Simon, 2003). The political development is crucial for any development or growth to take place. It is through political stability and democratic rule that lead to the development of other sectors such as economic, social and technological. Fences by August Wilson: Analysis of Troy Fences by August Wilson: Analysis of Troy Unintentional Effect Around the early 1900s, racism was prominent and wasnt sugarcoated at all. African Americans had to deal with several obstacles around this period because of the discrimination in certain things they wanted to partake in. These actions effected many African Americans because it forced some of them to look at the world with hatred and it limited many of their opportunities in life. Racism is sad reality in our nation that affects all types of people and it continues to shake and alter lives. People use racism as a sort of way to detect the differences with their peers and spike bias towards a group of people. Some people go the extra mile in insulting, attacking or mentally attacking others because of racist ideals they believe in. In the play Fences by August Wilson, Troys dreams of becoming a professional baseball player got ripped away because of his racial appearance. This single experience has slowly made him look at life differently. He easily gets fooled by his inner thoughts b ecause of the past racial discrimination he endured and believes his self-created illusions. Racism has played an important role in Troys life which is evident based on the certain decisions he has made in his life. Because of these experiences in his life, Troys rash decisions in the play causes tensions and conflicts with his family. One of the rash decisions Troy does in the play is when he prevents his son from playing football. Based on the college scholarship, Cory had a bright future in playing football but Troy completely neglects that and says that Cory will not get involved in no sports. Not after what they did to me in the sports (Wilson 1053). Because of the past discrimination Troy faced in his life, Troy also assumed that Cory wouldnt get a fair shake either because of his skin color. Troy argued that because of his skin color, he was prevented from playing in the Major Leagues. Later in the story, he tells the coach that Cory isnt allowed to play football and he told the recruiter to leave and to never come back. Troy doesnt see that by pulling Cory away from achieving his dream at being a football player, he is creating tension and he is subconsciously not allowing Cory to have a better life than him. If Cory had got the opportunity and played football in college, he would have been able to get a co llege education while playing the sport he loves. Troy doesnt see that however because Troy is still effected from the denial he got when he was trying to play professional baseball. Although he cares about Cory and he thinks by preventing him from playing football is only for his own good, that decision wasnt wise because he is basically doing what society did to him which is preventing him from achieving his dreams. Troy aspires to be fighter and a survivor in life and from Roses perspective that shows through his son Cory. Troys true intentions are to show his son that nothing comes easy. The ultimate flaw however is that Troy looks at the world in his perspective. Troy is trying to prevent Cory from going through the same harsh experiences as him but he is unintentional recreating the same obstacles which are preventing Cory from becoming the full potential of himself. Throughout the play, Troy is imposing his will on Cory and he is basically preventing him from exploring the world for himself. This causes Cory to have conflicts with his dad because they dont agree completely. In the article Baseball as History and Myth in August Wilsons Fences by Susan Koprince, Susan says that Troys front yard is literally turned into a battleground during his confrontations with his younger son Cory (Koprince 354). With each argument and conflict, Cory slowly characteristics change in the story. In the begi nning of the story, he was a cheerful kid hopeful for his future. However because of the denial of pursing football and the constant back and forth between him and Tory, he becomes very bitter just like his father. This isnt a good thing because once Cory picks up his father characteristics, it forces him to see the world in a single perspective and thats not his full potential but an intentional effect from Troys reactionary decision. Like stated before Troy isnt trying to harm his family at all. Troy went through a lot in his past and he doesnt want his family to go through that same experience he went through. He felt it was his job to be a father and protect his family from his past mistakes. Troy went to jail for fifth teen years for murder. A man he tried to rob pulled a gun on him so in retaliation he stabbed him. Experiences like this Troy doesnt want any of his sons to go down that path. Lyons is Troys son from a previous relationship. While Troy was in prison, Lyons didnt have a dad growing up and he didnt really have guidance in the world. Lyons doesnt seem particularly bitter about any of this. He just seems to accept things as they come. Lyons passion is becoming a musician. Troy however doesnt see that as a serious thing. He instead sees that as a dangerous path. Troy says You living the fast lifeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦wanna be a musicianà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦running around in them clubs and thingsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (W ilson 1041). Although Troy sounded harsh there, this was probably the most honest and sincere thing he told Lyons. Troy views Lyons dream as a risk because hes not getting any income from this profession. Every time Troy gets paid, Lyon appears asking for a handout. This offends Troy because he never had handouts coming up. From the experiences of growing up in a white society, he believes that African Americans have to work for everything that they want. From the article, Susan writes that Instead of limitless opportunity, [Troy] has come to know racial discrimination and poverty (353). He wants Lyons to take on a safer route which is working somewhere with a structure rather than the freelance world of music. He doesnt want Lyons to get lost in that music world and result into doing the things he used to do that caused him to go to jail. Lyons doesnt see the world like Troy. Lyons isnt bitter at the world like Troy and he expresses himself through music. Lyons has the same mindset as Cory which is that they can do something special for their lives in this society full of opportunities. Troy believes that Lyons isnt aware on the harsh treatment African Americans go through and it shows clearly when his son asks him for ten dollars. This conflict shows how Troy distance himself away from Lyons. Troy doesnt feel comfortable giving out ten dollars because he feels like hes being taken advantage of. This goes back to the self-created illusions Troy creates because of the past experiences he dealt with especially with whites. Troy basically creates a barrier to Lyons because of this fear. Lyons doesnt want to take advantage of Troy but he wants a closer relationship with father. This isnt possible because Troy doesnt support Lyons career and he doesnt give Lyons the same attention he gives Cory. Sadly, Troy doesnt see that Lyons wants more attention instead he looks at Lyons as someone who is trying to take his hard-owned money. Troy later in the play makes another decision that shifts the tone of play where he commits an affair with Alberta. Troy feels trapped in a marriage where he cant display his true self. He doesnt blame Rose but from this scene he looks very unapologetic. He felt like with all the responsibilities of being a father and provider for his family, he needed a way to escape all that. This is his reasoning for committing this fatal decision. Troys selfish act shows that he wanted to break a boundary hes been limited too. Hes been limited from baseball, the status hes been in at work and his marriage. Rose was crushed hearing that the man she gave her life and identity to committed an affair with another woman. It bothered her when he said he needed an outlet from his priorities. She said Dont you think I ever wanted other things? Dont you think I had dreams and hopes? What about my life (Wilson 1071)? She committed herself to the marriage and to repay her, he betrays her by having a baby wi th another woman. Because of this conflict, Troy and Roses marriage is severely jeopardized. Rose is still the mother of his children but she doesnt recognize herself as a wife to Troy. She starts to build her own characteristics and beliefs after this conflict. Rose felt like she wasted her years with Troy so she began to build a life outside of the house she felt trapped in. During the last scene of the play, she tells Cory why the marriage went down the way it did. Rose recognized that she gave up her free will for love. She wanted to have children and be at one with Troy. She accepted that this was her identity. But because of this affair, it woke her up and made her a diverse character because she became independent rather than dependent. Troys decisions distanced himself away from his family as he lost his dominance in the household. Troy Maxson went through a lot in his life. Troy has a singular perspective on the world. He has a strict demeanor because of how society viewed African Americans back in the 1950s. Troy cares a lot about his family even if he doesnt show it. Throughout his life, Racism has been a barrier for him. He was once young and he chased his own dreams but because of his skin color, several ideals got in his way. Racism caused a lot of Troys bitterness towards life. He went to jail and ultimately makes sure he doesnt fall back there. All of his decisions were very influenced by past experiences from racism. Whether it be denying Corys dreams, neglecting Lyons and breaking the barriers of his marriage with Rose. All of these decisions caused tensions around the family and ultimately fenced his family away from him. Works Cited Koprince, Susan. Baseball as History and Myth in August Wilsons Fences.. African  American Review, vol. 40, no. 2, Summer2006, pp. 349-358. EBSCOhost. Wilson, August. Fences Literature: A Portable Anthology. 4th ed. Boston:Bedford/St.Martins, 2016. 1030-1088. Print. What Is Algebra? What Is Algebra? Algebra is a branch of mathematics, as we know maths is queen of science, it plays vital role of developing and flourishing technology, we use all scopes in past and newly, the algebra is not exceptional the maths. Algebra is one of the main areas of pure mathematics that uses mathematical statements such as term, equations, or expressions to relate relationships between objects that change over time.Here is a list of names who have contributed to the specific field of algebra. Algebra is seen by much arithmetic with letters and a long historical precedent the textbooks, stretching back of the 14th century. As such it deepens upon experience and facility with arithmetic calculations. It provides student with skill to carry out algebraic manipulations .many of the which parallel arithmetic computation. At the very least ,school algebra is a collection of mathematical practices and procedure to be internalised and integrated into learners functioning ,at the very most in its tradition form its afford glimpse of a powerful tool for modelling and thus resolving problems, (page 559 jifa cai) Word Algebra The word algebra is a shortened misspelled transliteration of an Arabic titleal-jebr wal-muqabalah (circa 825) by the Persian mathematician known as al-Khwarizmi [words, p. 21]. Theal-jebrpart means reunion of broken parts, the second partal-muqabalahtranslates as to place in front of, to balance, to oppose, to set equal. Together they describe symbol manipulations common in algebra: combining like terms, moving a term to the other side of an equation, etc. In its English usage, in the 14thcentury,algebermeant bone-setting, close to its original meaning. By the 16thcentury, the formalgebraappeared in its mathematical meaning. Robert Recorde (c. 1510-1558), the inventor of the symbol= of equality, was the first to use the term in this sense. He, however, still spelled it asalgeber. The misspellers proved to be more numerous, and the current spellingalgebratook roots. Thus the original meaning ofalgebrarefers to what we today callelementary algebrawhich is mostly occupied with solving simple equations. More generally, the termalgebraencompasses nowadays many other fields of mathematics: geometric algebra, abstract algebra, Boolean algebra, Ã‚ ³-algebra,to name a few. Algebra is an ancient and one of the most basicbranch ofmathematics, invented by Muhammad Musa Al-Khwarizmi, and evolve over the centuries. The name algebra is itself of Arabic origin. It comes from the Arabic word ‘al-jebr.[1] http://www.cut-the-knot.org/WhatIs/WhatIsAlgebra.shtml The English invented the world (Kelly 1821-1895) algebra of matrices and the research (Paul 1815-1864) may have emerged since 1854 and from this research Boolean algebra, also appeared in 1881 forms of art to illustrate the Boolean algebra, (availablhttp://www.jeddmath.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5330/15/052011). History of algebra In history, we find some following mathematicians who have great contributions in development of algebra. Cuthbert Tunstall Cuthbert Tunstall (1474 -1559) was born in Hackforth, Yorkshire, England and died in Lambeth, London, England. He was a significant royal advisor, diplomat, and administrator, and he gained two degrees with great proficiency in Greek, Latin, and mathematics. In 1522, he wrote his first printed work that was devoted to mathematics, and this arithmetic book ‘De arte supputandi libri quattuorwas based on Paciolis Suma. Robert Recorde Robert Recorde (1510-1558) was born in Tenby, Wales and died in London, England. He was a Welsh mathematician and physician and in 1557, he introduced the equals sign (=). In 1540, Recorde published the first English book of algebra ‘The Grounde of Artes. In 1557, he published another book ‘The Whetstone of Witte in which the equals sign was introduced. John Widman John Widman (1462-1498) was born in Eger, Bohemia, currently called Czech Republic and died in Leipzig, Germany. He was a German mathematician who first introduced + and signs in his arithmetic book ‘Behende und hupsche Rechnung auf Allen kauffmanschafft. Thomas Harriot Thomas Harriot (1560 -1621) was born in Oxford, London and died in London England. He was an astronomer and mathematician, and founder of the English school of algebra. William Oughtred William Oughtred (1575-1660) was born in Eton, Buckinghamshire, England and died in Albury, Surrey, England. He was one of the worlds great and formally trained mathematicians. Oughtred, in his book Clavis Mathematicae included Hindu-Arabic notation, decimal fractions and experimented on many new symbols such as ÃÆ'-,::, >, and John Pell John Pell (1611-1685) was born in Southwick, Sussex, England, and died in Westminster, London, England. Pells work was mostly based on number theory and algebra. Pell published many books on mathematics such as Idea of Mathematicsin 1638 and the two page A Refutation of Longomontanuss Pretended Quadrature of the Circle in 1644. Reverend John Wallis John Wallis (1616-1703) was born in Ashford, Kent, England and died in Oxford, England. In 1656, Wallis published his most famous book Arithmetica Infinitorum in which he introduced the formula /2 = (2.2.4.4.6.6.8.8.10)/ (1.3.3.5.5.7.7.9.9). In another of his works, Treatise on Algebra, Wallis gives a wealth of information on algebra. John Herschel John Frederick William Herschel (1792-1871) was born in Slough, England and died in Kent, England. He was a great astronomer who discovered Uranus. In 1822, he published his first work on astronomy, a small work to calculate the eclipses of the moon. In 1824, he published his first major work on double stars in the Transactions of the Royal Society. Charles Babbage Charles Babbage (1791 -1871) was born in London, England and died in London, England. In 1821, Babbage made the Difference engine to compile tables of mathematics. In 1856, he invented Analytical Engine, which is a general symbol manipulator and similar to todays computers. Sir Isaac Newton Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) was born in Lincolnshire, England and died in London, England. He was a great physicist, mathematician, and one of the greatest scientific intellects of all time. In 1672, he published his first work on light and color in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. In 1704, Newtons works on pure mathematics was published and in 1707, his Cambridge lectures from 1673 to 1683 were published. ( http://www.barcodesinc.com/articles/algebra-history.htm) How is Algebra used in daily life? Every day in our life and all over the world we use Algebra many places as well as finances, engineering, schools, and universities we cant do most scopes without maths.( It is actually quite common for an average person to perform simple Algebra without realizing it. For example, if you go to the grocery store and have ten dollars to spend on two dollar candy bars. This gives us the equation 2x = 10 where x is the number of candy bars you can buy. Many people dont realize that this sort of calculation is Algebra; they just do it). (http://wiki.answers.com and http://wiki.answers.com) Other Definitions Algebra is the parts of mathematics where numbers and letters are used like A B or X and Y, or other symbols are used to represent unknown or variable numbers. For examples : inA +5 = 9, A is unknown, but we can solve by subtracting 5 to both sides of the equal sign (=), like this: A+5 = 9 A+ 5 5 = 9 5 A +0 = 4 A = 4 3b+12=15 subtract both sides 12 3b+12-12=15-12 3b=3 divide both sides 3 to get the value of b which is 1 and so on 5x/5x=1 if you substitute x any number not zero the equation will be true (Algebra is branch of mathematics that substitutes letters for numbers. An algebraic equation represents a scale, what is done on one side of the scale with a number is also done to the other side of the scale. The numbers are the constants. Algebra can include real numbers, complex numbers, matrices, vectors etc. Moving from Arithmetic to Algebra will look something like this: Arithmetic: 3 + 4 = 3 + 4 in Algebra it would look like: x + y = y + ) artical http://math.about.com/cs/algebra/g/algebradef.htm Terminology used in algebra to make algebra easy or any other branches of maths, we must understand well all basic sign in all operations and use it right way, these signs are , subtractions ,division, addition ,multiplication. variable is also called an unknown and can be represented by letters from the alphabet letters. Operations in algebra are the same as in arithmetic: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. An expression is a group of numbers and variables, along with operations. An equation is the equality of two expressions. (Polynomials are often written in descending order, in which the terms with the largest powers are written first (like 92- 3x + 6). If they are written with the smallest terms appearing first, this is ascending order (like 6 3x + 92). equation- An equation is a mathematical statement that contains an equal sign, like ax + b = c. exponent- An exponent is a power that a number is raised to. For example, in 23, the exponent is 3. expression- An algebraic expression consists of one or more variables, constants, and operations, like 3x-4. Each part of an expression that is added or subtracted is called atermFor example, the expression 42-2x+7 has three terms. factor- The factor of a number is a number that divides that number exactly. For example, the factors of 6 are 1, 2, 3 and 6. formula- A formula shows a mathematical relationship between expressions. fraction- A fraction is a part of a whole, like a half, a third, a quarter, etc. For example, half of an apple is a fraction of an apple. The top number in a fraction is called the numerator; the bottom number in a fraction is called the denominator. inequality- An inequality is a mathematical expression that contains an inequality symbol. The inequality symbols are : > greater than (2>1) à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ less than or equal to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥ greater than or equal to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚   not equal to (1à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚  2). integer- The integers are the numbers , -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, . inverse (addition)- The inverse property of addition states that for every number a, a + (-a) = 0 (zero). inverse (multiplication)- The inverse property of multiplication states that for every non-zero number a, a times (1/a) = 1. matrix- nth- operation- An operation is a rule for taking one or two numbers as inputs and producing a number as an output. Some arithmetic operations are multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. polynomial- A polynomial is a sum or difference of terms; each term is: * a constant (for example, 5) * a constant times a variable (for example, 3x) * a constant times the variable to a positive integer power (for example, 22) * a constant times the product of variables to positive integer powers (for example, 2x3y). monomial is a polynomial with only one term. A binomial is a polynomial that has two terms. A trinomial is a polynomial with three terms. prime number- A prime number is a positive number that has exactly two factors, 1 and itself. Alternatively, you can think of a prime number as a number greater than one that is not the product of smaller numbers. For example, 13 is a prime number because it can only be divided evenly by 1 and 13. For another example, 14 is not a prime number because it can be divided evenly by 1, 2, 7, and 14. The number one is not a prime number because it has only one factor, 1 itself. quadratic equation- A quadratic equation is an equation that has a second-degree term and no higher terms. A second-degree term is a variable raised to the second power, like x2, or the product of exactly two variables, like x and y. When you graph a quadratic equation in one variable, like y = ax2+ bx + c, you get a parabola, and the solutions to the quadratic equation represent the points where the parabola crosses the x-axis. quadratic formula- The quadratic formula is a formula that gives you a solution to the quadratic equation ax2+ bx + c = 0. The quadratic formula is obtained by solving the general quadratic equation. radical- A radical is a symbol à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ that is used to indicate the square root or nthroot of a number. root- An nthroot of a number is a number that, when multiplied by itself n times, results in that number. For example, the number 4 is a square root of 16 because 4 x 4 equals 16. The number 2 is a cube root of 8 because 2 x 2 x 2 equals 8. solve- When you solve an equation or a problem, you find solutions for it. square root- The square roots of a number n are the numbers s such that s2=n. For example, the square roots of 4 are 2 and -2; the square roots of 9 are 3 and -3. symbol- A symbol is a mark or sign that stands for something else. For example, the symbolà ·meansdivide. system of equations- A system of equations is two or more independent equations that are solved together. For example, the system of equations: x + y = 3 and x y = 1 has a solution of x=2 and y=1. terms- In an expression or equation, terms are numbers, variables, or numbers with variables. For example, the expression 3x has one term, the expression 42+ 7 has two terms. variable- A variable is an unknown or placeholder in an algebraic expression. For example, in the expression 2x+y, x and y are variables. +,- (www.EnchantedLearning.com) Learn algebra Symbolizes the number in the account to a group that contains that number of things, for example, No. 5, always stands for a set containing 5 things.In algebra, the symbols may be replaced by numbers, but it is possible to solve the number one or more replace one icon.To learn algebra, we must first learn how to use symbols replace the numbers.And then how to create a constraint for strings of numbers. Groups and variables.There is a relationship between the symbols in algebra and groups of numbers.It is certain that each of us has some knowledge of groups of objects, such as collections of books, collections of postage stamps, and groups of dishes.And groups of numbers are not different for these groups a lot.One way to describe sets of numbers in algebra is that we are using one of the alphabet, such as the name of her p..Then half of the numbers of this group Bhzaretha brackets of the form {}.For example, can be expressed set of numbers from 1 to 9 as follows: A = {1, 2.3, 4, 5.6, 7, 8.9}. The group of odd numbers under 20 are: B = {1.3, 5, 7.9, 11, 13.15, 17, 19}. These examples demonstrated the models of the groups used in algebra. Suppose that the age of four persons were respectively: 12, 15.20, 24. Then can be written in this age group numbers. A = {12.15, 20, 24}. How is the age of each of them after three years? One way to answer this question is that we write 12 +3.15 +3.20 +3 and 24 + 3.We note that the number 3 is repeated in each of the formulas  ¸ à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ four.In algebra we can express all previous versions form a single task is m + 3 where m is any number of numbers of a group.That is, it can replace any of the numbers 12, 15, 20 or 24 m are indicated.Is called the symbol m variable, called the group a field of this variable, but No. 3 in the formula m+3 is called hard because its value is always one.Known variable in algebra as a symbol can be compensated for the number of one or more belongs to a group. We can replace any names lead to correct reports or reports the wrong variable.For example: Hungary is bordered by the State of the Black Sea Report of the wrong, as in fact can not be like this report is correct only if compensated by the variable r one of the States: Bulgaria or Romania, or Turkey.The report shall be  ¸ Turkey is a country bordered by the Black Sea for example, the right one called the compensation that makes the report and called the right roots group consisting of all roots with a solution.The solution set is the previous example. {Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey}.And in reparation for not use the names to compensate for variables, but we use the numbers. Equations known as the camel sports is equal to reflect the two formats. Phrase: Q +7 = 12 For example, an easy equation  ¸ mean the sum of the number 7 with the number equal to 12 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ To solve this equation, we can do to compensate for different numbers of Q until we get a report of the equation makes the right one.If we substitute for x the equation becomes number five report is correct, and if we substitute for x any number of other reports, the equation becomes wrong.So to solve this equation set is {5}. This group contains only one root. It is possible that the equation more than one root: X  ² + 18 = 9 o. No. 2 highest first variable x means that the number of representative variable Q is the number of box, that number multiplied by itself once.See: box.In this equation, we can make up for X number 3: 3 ÃÆ'- 3 + 18 = 9 ÃÆ'- 3 9 + 18 = 27 27 = 27 We can also compensate for X number 6: 6 ÃÆ'- 6 + 18 = 9 ÃÆ'- 6 36 + 18 = 54 54 = 54 Any other compensation for making the equation Q report wrong.Then 3 and 6 are the root of the equation.Thus, the solution set is {3.6}. There are also equations having no roots: X = + 3 If we substitute for x any number, this equation becomes a false report, and a solution is called the group of free and symbolized by the symbol {}. and some of the equations, an infinite number (for high standards) from the roots. (X + 1)  ² = x  ² + 2 x +1 In this equation if we substitute for x any number we get the right report, the Group resolved to contain all the numbers http://nabad-alkloop.com/vb/showthread.php?t=38762 What is best way to learn and teach algebra? Step-by-step equations solving is the key of teaching and learning. To find fully worked-out answers and learn how to solve math problems, one step at a time. Studying worked-out solutions is a proven method to help you retain information. Dont just look for the answer in the back of the book; There are five laws basic principles of math governing operations: multiplication addition subtract and expressing the variables and can be compensated for any number Algebra is anessential subject. Its the gateway to mathematics. Its used extensively in the sciences. And its an important skill in many careers. Many people think, it is a nightmare and causes more stress, homework tears and plain confusion than any other subject on the curriculum but that is not true. Theimportance of understanding equation Connotation and denotation on extension of a concept two opposite yet complementary aspects is clarified the extension is defined vice versa understanding the concept equation includes its connotation and denotations. This session of observed lessons will show the essential nature or the equation is consolidated by designing problem variation putting emphasis on clarifying the connotation and differentiation the boundary of the set of object in the extension. (Page 559 Jifa cai) Whats the best formula for teaching algebra? Immersing students in their course work, or easing them into learning the new skills or does a combination of the two techniques adds up to the best strategy? Researchers at the Centre for Social Organization of Schools at Johns Hopkins are aiming to find out through a federally funded study that will span 18 schools in five states this fall. The study, now in its second year of data collection, will evaluate two ways to teach algebra to ninth-graders, determining if one approach is more effective in increasing mathematics skills and performance or whether the two approaches are equally effective. Participating schools in North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Utah and Virginia will be randomly assigned to one of two strategies for the 2009-2010 school year; to be eligible, students must not have previously taken Algebra I. Twenty-eight high schools were studied during the 2008-2009 school year. One strategy, called Stretch Algebra, is a yearlong course in Algebra 1 with students attending classes of 70 to 90 minutes a day for two semesters. This approach gives students a â€Å"double dose† of algebra, with time to work on fundamental mathematics skills as needed. The second strategy is a sequence of two courses, also taught in extended class periods. During the first semester, students take a course called Transition to Advanced Mathematics, followed by the districts Algebra I course in the second semester. The first-semester course was developed by researchers and curriculum writers at Johns Hopkins to fill gaps in fundamental skills, develop mathematics reasoning and build students confidence in their abilities. â€Å"The question is, Is it better for kids to get into algebra and do algebra, or to give kids the extra time so the teacher can concentrate more on concepts started in middle schools?† said Ruth Curran Neild, a research scientist at Johns Hopkins and one of the studys principal investigators. Teachers using both strategies will receive professional development. Mathematics coaches will provide weekly support to those who are teaching the two-course approach; the study will provide teacher guides and hands-on materials for students in Transition to Advanced Mathematics. Johns Hopkins researchers will be collecting data throughout the school year. Findings are expected during the 2010-2011 school year. http://gazette.jhu.edu/2009/08/17/calculating-the-best-way-for-teaching-algebra/ Learn Algebra, the easy way The key to learn and understand Mathematics is to practice more and more and Algebra is no exception. Understanding the concepts is very vital. There are several techniques that can be followed to learn Algebra the easy way. Learning algebra from the textbook can be boring. Though textbooks are necessary it doesnt always address the need for a conceptual approach. There are certain techniques that can be used to learn algebra the fun and easy way. Listed below are some of the techniques that can be used. Do some online research and you will be surprised to find a whole bunch of websites that offer a variety of fun learning methods which makes learning algebra a pleasant experience and not a nightmare. But the key is to take your time in doing a thorough research before you choose the method that is best for you, or you can do a combination of different methods if you are a person who looks for variety to boost your interest. 1. ANIMATED ALGEBRA : You can learn the basic principles of algebra through this method. Animation method teaches the students the concepts by helping them integrate both teaching methods. When the lessons are animated you actually learn more ! 2. ALGEBRA QUIZZES : You can use softwares and learn at your own pace best of all you dont need a tutor to use it. What you really need is something that can help you with your own homework, not problems it already has programmed into it that barely look like what your teacher or professor was trying to explain. You can enter in your own algebra problems, and it works with you to solve them faster make them easier to understand. 3. INTERACTIVE ALGEBRA : There are several Interactive Algebra plugins that allows the user toexploreAlgebra by changing variables and see what happens. This promotes an understanding of how you arrive at answers. There are websites that provide online algebra help and worksheets. They also provide interactive onlinegamesand practice problems and provide the algebra help needed. It is difficult to recommend better methods for studying and for learning because the best methods vary from person to person. Instead, I have provided several ideas which can be the foundation to a good study program. If you just remember all the rules and procedures without truly understanding the concepts, you will have difficulty learning algebra. (http://www.ehow.com/how_4452787_learn-algebra-easy-way.html)

Thursday, September 19, 2019

The British Colonies in the New World Essays -- United States History

The British Colonies in the New World Several historians often examine significant points in history in attempt to discover the reasons the events occurred. The aforementioned statement applies to the American Revolution as countless number of books has been written concerning the American colonies decision to declare independence from England. Woody Holton and Bernard Bailyn are two historians who have probed the subject and reached two separate decisions about the revolution. Focusing on the fears and threats the colonists felt, Bailyn identifies England as the threatening force against the colonists, while Holton gears towards those within the colonies. Before examining the two authors’ views, exploring the terms liberty and power are essential in comprehending the colonists’ fe...

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Do The Right Thing :: essays research papers

The first scene begins with a close up shot of Senor Love Daddy's mouth, the top of a microphone, and an alarm clock. The alarm clock, being used as a prop, is making a very loud, annoying, ringing sound. This is done in order to get the viewers attention to the problem of racism. After the ringing stops, we start reframing in, and zooming out slowly, seeing more of Senor Love Daddy and the microphone. There is hard lighting present in the scene. The entire shot has a reddish color to it. A slow zoom and the reddish color are used to show the viewer how hot the setting of the movie is. The color also reflects tension, conflict, anger, and frustration, things that are not being expressed in the film yet. As we are zooming out, Senor Love Daddy says "Wake up, wake up, wake up†¦" This part of the scene is also is intended to get the viewers attention to the problem of racism. The foreground and some of the middle ground are in shallow focus. This is a get in your face type of shot, letting the viewer know that this movie will be in your face for the next two hours and that the viewer better pay attention to the problem at hand: racism. This shot is solely for the viewers, to get their attention. We stop zooming out once we see the whole microphone. At that point, we start tracking out and the camera starts moving slowly up, via a crane. We now see the reflection of the street outside Senor Love Daddy's workplace, on the glass window Senor Love Daddy is facing. We also see hats of many different cultures sitting Senor Love Daddy's desk. This shows that he respects many different cultures and shows he is a very open person. Also Senor Love Daddy's workplace is street level. He talks to all the characters in the movie like Mookie, Radio Raheem, and the people playing outside with the fire hydrant. This shows he is willing to communicate with the neighborhood and also show once again that he is a very open person. He is always looking outside the window at the community. Senor Love Daddy is not hiding from anybody. He is the voice of the neighborhood. The camera continues moving up on a crane until it is at an high angle, and we start panning to the left.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Why Women are obsessed with Appearance

The human physical appearance is very vital in the development of social relations with the others as they interact. The appearance is also important in relation to an individual’s personality. Because human beings are influenced by what they can see, physical attractiveness of a person plays a very important role in social relations. The physical characteristics or features that are seen in men and women are an expression of sexual dimorphisms in human. This is due to the physical differences that exist between men and women. A woman’s physical appearance affects how she socially interacts with other women and men because when it comes to the appearance, human beings have proved to be very sensitive to variation in appearance. Some of the factors that can be attributed to variation in appearance include age, genetic factors, diseases and personal adornments. Physiological differences between individuals can be seen in physical features such as the body hair, height, bodyweight, hair colour, shape of the ears and nose, body deformations and body shape. Appearance can also be affected by short term occurrences such as crying, skin colour changes and sexual arousal. In the contemporary world, the appearance of an individual whether a man or a woman is considered to have great significance. This is especially true for women who are considered to be very concerned and obsessed with their appearance. Cornell(Cornell,1998) states that women have in the past years expressed their determination, dedication and great efforts as they seek to get equal opportunities with the men. To women, they have been denied equal opportunities with the men who have dominated the world for a long time. Through their appearance, women can win the attention that they may fight for feminism. This has made many women to invest their time, efforts, and resources in order to attain an appearance that is desirable to them. Although men are also concerned about their appearance, majority of men do not allocate as much time, energy and financial resources to enhance their certain appearances like women do. Changing someone’s physiological features whether in long-term or short-term has become an issue of concern for many, whereby personal effects and clothing have become important in promoting changes in appearance for women. The use of decorative objects, body shape altering devices, cosmetics, body modifications, change of haircut or hair colour, and changing dressing styles have become very common in women. Technological advancements have resulted to new and more advanced ways of changing the appearance, a good example being cosmetic surgery. Plastic of cosmetic surgery is now being embraced as one of the most advanced way that is currently available to women who would like to change their physiological appearance. In this paper, the reason behind women’s obsession with their appearance will be discussed. The discussion will be based on the theory that women are obsessed with their appearance because of their concern of their future existence and the need to maintain their feminine identity. Discussion There are many reasons why women are obsessed with their appearance. However,the reason why certain individuals may be obsessed with their appearance may vary depending on the experiences one have had in her life. Some reasons seem to contribute greatly to the obsession women have with their appearance. These reasons will be discussed below; 1. Women’s concern about their future existence. Women are considered to be concerned about their appearance due to the influence their appearance have on their future. This opinion is also supported by Gillis et al (Gillis et al, 2007). The future existence of a woman is based on her attractiveness. This is a factor that many women may not be consciously aware of. Women’s anxiety about the future promotes their engagement in efforts that aim at making their appearance more attractive. Because women pursuit for attractive appearance is related to future, their obsession with appearance is centrally tied to their relationships with men. This is because. The future of women depends on co-workers, husbands, employers, and lovers who are men. One reason why women show their obsession with their appearance is the conviction that a woman’s life if fulfilled and her continued existence guaranteed depending on her ability to attract and be attached to a particular man. This ability defines what her future holds for her. In almost all societies, relationships between men and women are considered to be very important. Even in the ancient societies, women were viewed as very crucial since they played the important role of mothers and wives. A woman’s ability to attract a man, especially the one who she can marry is to some extent related to her physical appearance. This is in relation to her body shape, body size, colour of her skin and hair, and her natural beauty. In order to share power and wealth, many women tend to enhance their bodies’ potential as objects of men desires. This gives a woman’s body great sexual significance in the society. Women invest their time, energy, efforts and resources to enhance an appearance that will be desirable and attractive to men. This is especially true when it comes to a man who proposes to marry a woman. Apart from a woman’s concern about her appearance before marriage, appearance still remains an important issue even in marriage. In the contemporary society, a woman’s worth and acceptance is promoted by her being married. To many, marriage still remains the natural mode of a female being a woman. Price and Shidrick (Price and Shildrick, 1999) state that since the ancient times, the societies have given certain socioeconomic and historical positions to woman. These positions restrict women to take care of the households and children and they have been for some time strengthened even more by the commercial media. Women’s obsession with appearance does not entirely depend on their personal preference to pursue attractiveness. Their pursuit for attractiveness emanates from the need to give their bodies some power. The power that women acquire through the appearance of their bodies determines what kind of a husband they get and also how they relate with employers or co-workers. It is these people who define how her future will be like. Therefore, a woman’s obsession with appearance can be attributed to her desire to give her body some power that will ensure she gets a good husband and family in the future, as well as assure her of her success as a result of good relations with male co-workers or employers. Women use decorative or attractive items to enhance their appearance that attracts the right men. For instance, cosmetics and jewelry still remain as very important personal effects to a woman. These items increase a woman’s beauty and make her more attractive to men who are likely to be beneficial to her life in future. Pharmaceutical companies are now manufacturing many and different cosmetic products for women to use in their pursuit for attractiveness or good appearance. Marrakchi (Marrakchi, 2006) links women’s obsession with their appearance to the production of harmful and toxic cosmetic products . These products which have been viewed as contributing to the many cases of diseases such as cancer in the modern society. Decorative objects such as earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and rings have become part and parcel of many women’s lives. In an ideal traditional marriage, a woman’s beauty is seen as though to be exchanged with a man’s power, wealth, and influence. Because marriage becomes part of a woman’s future, enhancing an attractive appearance that will assist her attract a good husband has promoted a woman’s obsession with good appearance. Her future that depends on how well she can attract good men as a potential husband determines how far a woman may be willing to go in order to get the â€Å"right† appearance. The appearance to her will in future give her some worth and will ensure she is accepted in the society if she relates to the right men. The future existence of a woman is promoted by the happiness she gets in life and the fulfillment of romantic love that she receives. Gerhard (Gerhard, 2001) asserts that the society has made marriage attractive and desirable to women by associating future happiness and fulfillment of romantic love to a marriage. Future happiness and fulfillment or romantic love is associated with a marriage. Because the society tends to present a marriage as an institution that makes women acceptable and gives them some worth, some women fear that they will loose their worth if they fail to attract men who can marry them. Because a woman may consider being married as â€Å"doing the proper thing†, her ability to attract a man for marriage becomes her focus. The fear of being seen as a failure or a â€Å"social misfit† if she is not married motivates a woman to seek an attractive appearance. By ensuring that she remains attractive, a woman increases her opportunity to have her romantic love and happiness fulfilled. Furthermore, her worth and acceptance in the society is retained, a situation that increases her happiness. A woman’s failure to attract men makes her loose her worth or makes her feel that she is not as good as other attractive women. Women’s obsession with appearance can therefore be attributed to their desire to get happiness and fulfillment of romantic love in future. In addition, her attractive appearance boosts her self confidence and esteem hence she feels that she has great worth in the society. For example, in some societies, women who do not get married may not be highly regarded. As compared to their married counterparts, unmarried women are viewed as people who are not happy or are unfulfilled in relation to romantic love. When marriage becomes an important institution for a woman in future, ensuring that one gets married has led to their obsession with an appearance that they seek to have so as to attract men they are likely to marry. 2. The need for a woman to change with the changes in the society A society is always dynamic, which demands that the society members embrace changes that occur. Phillips (Phillips, 2004) holds the opinion that changes that are experienced in the society determine the kind of a society we will have in future. The changes in turn result to changes in the peoples’ attitudes and lifestyle. The changes that have been experienced in the contemporary society have made the people to adopt an attitude that thinness is beauty. The opinion that the thinner a woman is the more attractive she is continues to encourage a huge number of women to adopt a lifestyle that promotes one’s body thinness even at the expense of an individual’s health. The opinion that for one to be attractive they have to be thin has become very popular. This has altered the eating lifestyles of the people by promoting dieting and physical exercises. For instance, many teenagers have been found to be engaged in dieting practices with the aim to obtaining small body sizes so as to resemble their skinny and thin role models. The media is flooded with advertisements that display a woman’s body thinness as the ideal and more attractive feminine body shape as compared to average or huge women. For instance, the current fashion industry has promoted modeling as a very lucrative career for those who are determined to become successful models. Women who are tall and thin are now being viewed as the most beautiful. Consequently, the women’s’ desire to resemble the thin and tall models they view as the most attractive has promoted their obsession with appearance. Even for women who are successful in other career fields other than modeling, there seems to be a belief that a good career cannot be a substitute for an individual’s attractiveness. Attempts by women to make themselves more attractive by becoming thin has led to the manufacture of a wide range of weight losing equipment or products and their sale in the market. Although some items are important to promote health, some equipment and items have ended up affecting the users’ bodies negatively. Dieting has become the order of the day for some women whereby some women starve themselves in their efforts to cut down weight or to remain thin. Whether women’s efforts to remain thin are encouraged for the right reasons still remains debatable. Obese or overweight women are currently viewed as lacking the proper feminine body. In addition, a woman who is youthful looking and fashionably thin is considered to be more attractive to the modern man as compared to those fat-looking women. To many women, an individual who is fat or big in size is seen as experiencing psychological problems and is inadequate and incompetent by failing to manage their body size. Hence she becomes a person who fails in adjustments. Because being huge is considered as a sign of lack of control, women who are overweight or huge are looked down upon. Therefore women who do not loose weight to be thin tend to see themselves as objects of rejection and hate. Furthermore, they look at themselves as inevitable failures. This undermines an individuals self esteem leading to isolation, pretended cheerfulness, and loneliness. In the North American society, being thin translates to† looking good† for young girls and women. This means that the girls and women should do almost everything possible so as to avoid becoming fat or to remain thin. Having a fair and clear skin has become an important factor in the definition of attractiveness. Increased desire to remain thin and to have a fair skin has led to women’s’ obsession with their appearance. 3. Womens struggle to retain their feminine Identity Women’s struggle to retain their feminine identity is another factor that has promoted their obsession with their appearance. As explained by Hill (Hill, 2000), women consider their body shape, body size, and their personality to define who they are. A woman relates who she is to the behaviours and qualities that the society considers appropriate for her. Some of the features that shows a woman’s’ feminine identity include, kindness, submissiveness, patience and gentleness. Throughout history, women have gone to extreme ends to bring out features or characteristics that strengthen their feminity. For instance, large breast size in the contemporary society is considered an important feminine trait. Many women in the western culture are now emphasizing on their cleavage to promote and enhance their femininity. This they do by wearing clothing that emphasizes of their breasts and cleavage. High heeled shoes have become very common with women despite the discomfort they cause them. Plastic or cosmetic surgery has become a lucrative business for the professionals who are trained in that field. Many women, especially the wealthy ones are now turning to cosmetics surgery as a solution to the old skin, old age and unattractive body shape. Due to the woman’s preference for an ideal body shape that resembles that of the models, altering the body shape is now being done through cosmetic surgery. The process is expensive which makes it difficult for majority of women to afford it. Those that cannot afford cosmetic surgery services however go for other options of changing their body shapes. For example, pharmaceutical companies sometimes manufacture drugs and equipment that can enhance hips, breast and waist size as an individual would like to have. The body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) has been attributed to women’s’ failure to acquire feminine appearance they would prefer. Many industries that are doing well in the market depend highly on the women’s’ investment as they seek attractive appearance. The pursuit of women’s attractiveness has overtaken their lives. The search for feminine attractiveness has made any work of beautification that does not fall within the domain of promoting feminine characteristics to be insignificant. Perfecting appearance through the perceived appropriate feminine characteristics has become the major concern and work that women engage in. By ensuring that their feminine identity is maintained and enhanced, women’s’ body have become a road that maps their future identify. The appearance of their body defines the women’s feminine identify. In the contemporary society, a woman’s’ body is being used to map her future territory. Good examples are the many beauty contests that are currently being witnessed all over the world. The media has been very instrumental in promoting the beauty contests, a situation that continues to convince women that they cannot be beautiful unless they resemble the models. For example, the â€Å"Miss Universe† and the â€Å"Miss World† contests are now being held every year with contestants from almost all nations of the world participating. Various attires are constantly being designed in order to be won by the participants. In addition, the contestants embrace various techniques of enhancing their attractiveness in order to win the coveted title of being the worlds’ most beautiful woman. Winning the contest becomes the greatest dream to come true. This has contributed to women 4. A reaction to lack of space in a male-dominated world Women’s’ obsession with appearance is a reaction to lack of space in a male dominated and male defined world. According to Ashe (Ashe, 2004), women even in the modern world just like in the past live within spheres that have been defined and demarcated by the men. For instance, women have been confined to low paying jobs, kitchen and bedroom. Modernization has changed this and this has made the women want to break out from the spatial confinements they have acquired. They are therefore becoming aggressive and competitive with the men. The women are then considered to be a threat to the male power. When women fail to access spaces that for many years have been occupied by men, they are seen as failures and it becomes their fault for lack of achievement. On the other hand, women who use their feminine identity to access the male dominated spaces are criticized as having no brains. Due to this, women are said to suffer from an inferiority complex which some say it’s an incurable psychological condition. As some women fight for their future space to compete equally with men, they need to move out from the spheres that have been demarcated for them by men. The women are seen as fighting for equal positions with men. This is because, confining women to the kitchen, bedroom and low paying jobs is seen by many women as oppressive situations that women have been for many years been put in due to their gender. Breaking out of the oppressive situation for many women has encouraged their efforts to pursue attractive appearance. Unfortunately, for many women who try to fight for equal positions with men through their appearance end up destroying their lives and their bodies. Because fighting oppressive situations becomes their major focus in life, anything that the woman does to attract attention and prove themselves out to men becomes an obsession. Enhancing their appearance tends to make women feel better because they can be able to attract attention that for a long time women have been denied by male domination. When women are carried away by their desire to seek attention in order to counter their feelings of inferiority, making their appearance attractive becomes an obsession. 5. Efforts to attain equality with men The common identity of women in reference to men has made women to rely on what men define as female attractiveness. In many cultural set ups including the contemporary society, men seems to dominate. This includes their opinion on what is right or wrong for a woman to do. Due to the specialization of the role of men and women in the society, the man is more superior to a woman. Man becomes the subject and the absolute while a woman becomes â€Å"the other† In the modern North American corporate capitalism society, a woman’s’ identity relates to that of a man. Her appearance is identified whether it is attractive depending on her ability to present her appearance as feminine according to a man’s view of a woman’s attractiveness. To acquire some security and safety in a society where her identify is described in reference to men, women work very hard to attain recognition and security through good appearance. This has no doubt contributed to a woman’s obsession with their appearance. Women may alienate themselves from their bodies when self and body becomes divided. This may make women to have their bodies transformed into ugly, unruly and out of control objects. The self on the other hand becomes a web of reproach and hatred for an individual. This means that a woman who goes through such an experience is willing to submit her body to appearance enhancing practices even if they are harmful. Dressing styles such as tooth braces and casts are now being used to fight the woman’s identity as â€Å"the other†. Conclusion In the contemporary world, the physical appearance has become a major concern for many people. The most affected are the women, seen in their obsession with their appearance. People are now using a wide range of products to bring about changes in their appearance. Examples of products that are being used to enhance appearance include cosmetics, decorative items, and body shape enhancing products, jewelry, rings, body paintings, and tattoos. Since the ancient times, women have always used certain products and products to change their appearance by enhancing their beauty. Many societies support thisHowever, what for many years have been search for beauty has turned into an obsession for women. Appearance is no longer seen just as a way of promoting physical beauty, but also as a way of ensuring future existence for women. In a male dominated society, women have had to fight for equal opportunities with the men (feminism). In their quest for equality, women to some extent have used their uniqueness as women to take up roles and position that have for a long time been dominated by men. The need to change their lifestyle, to maintain their feminine identity, to fight for equality, and to secure their future existence makes women obsessed with their appearance.