A Little Cloud: Review

A Little Cloud 1. Context in Dubliners: This is the first section in Maturity 2. A brief synopsis: It has been eight years that Little Chandler and his friend, Gallaher have seen each other. While Little Chandler walks to the bar to meet up with his friend, he wonders how much he is impressed with Gallaher’s writing career. He loves poetry; nonetheless, he gave it all up when he got married. While they are sitting at the bar, drinking whiskey and smoking cigars, both Gallaher and Little Chandler talks about foreign cities, marriages and their future.Little Chandler is amazed how bad Gallaher looks. Galleher blames its on stress. Gallaher states that he rather has bunch of women rather than being bored with one. After the long conversation, Gallaher have to leave. Later that night, Little Chandler watches his son while waiting for his wife to come home. He sits and wonders; questioning his marriage. When his wife finally arrives home, she scream at Little Chandler, which made L ittle Chandler realize that what he was thinking was reckless. 3. Character List: a. Gallaher: An old friend of Little Chandler.A man that Little Chandler is jealous because of his successful in pursing his dream in a writing career and foreign traveler. b. Little Chandler: A married man who gave up his dream as a writer for the woman he married. After seeing his old friend Gallaher, Little Chandler thinks and wonders that if he hasn’t got married. He would have followed his dream. His epiphany that made him realize that he like the way he is right now and he will never change his life. 4. Religious Connotations/symbols: a. â€Å"Little Chandler allowed his whisky to be very much diluted† (60). . Shows that he have very high expectation b. â€Å"‘You’re the very same serious person that used to lecture me on Sunday mornings when I had a sore†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬  (61). i. Sunday signify as the day people would go to church.5. Example of Figurative Languag e: a. â€Å"The light and noise of the bar held him at the doorways for a few moments† (60). b. â€Å"He looked coldly into the eyes of the photograph and they answered coldly. Certainly they were pretty and the face itself was pretty†¦. those dark oriental eyes, he thought, how full they are od passion, of voluptuous longing!†¦ hy had he married the eyes in the photograph† (66). i. This lead him to question himself to why did he marry his wife. 6. Significant Quotes: a. â€Å"He remembered the books of poetry upon his shelves at home. He had bought them in his bachelor days and many an evening, as he sat in the little room of the hall, he had been tempted to take one down from the bookshelf and read out something to his wife. But shyness always held him back; and so the books had remained on their shelves† (58). i. The passion for becoming a poet has disappeared because he left it all behind for his wife.He would always daydream about having a life as a poet, which in turn led him to question about his marriage. Nonetheless, he felt remorse about this. b. â€Å"Little Chandler felt his cheeks suffused with shame and he stood back out of the lamplight. He listened while the paroxysm of the child’s sobbing grew less and less; and tears of remorse started to his eyes† (67). i. This is when Little Chandler has his epiphany. 7. Theme: Love over passion 8. Tone: envious a. The tone is envious because after Little Chandler saw his old friend. He wishes he was able to do what he has passion for. Moreover, it made him to think nonsense about his marriage.

Hawthorne’s Motives for Writing the Scarlett Letter Essay

Hawthorne’s motives for writing The Scarlet Letter were to expose corruption in Puritan society, religion, and politics. Hawthorne demonstrates both corruption and hypocrisy in Puritan society as the townspeople and even the Governor wear her embroidery, yet banish her and ostracize her as an outcast and a sinner. The town buys her clothes for an unknown reason; most likely their own curiosity, it’s beauty, or they just felt sorry for her. This shows the society’s inability to follow through with their own punishments. They are willing to ostracize her and banish her, but still buy her embroidery. However much they chose to wear her embroidery on most articles of clothing, they refused to wear her embroidery on wedding veils as they were created by her sinful hands, showing the â€Å"relentless vigor with which society frowned upon her sin† (Hawthorne 76). Religion played a major role in Hawthorne’s writing, even though he was not a member of any religious organization. The religion mentioned in The Scarlet Letter was Puritanism and in his writing he intended to expose the power the Puritans used to control the church and state. For example, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Roger Williams differed with the colony’s leaders on the relationship between church and state. â€Å"The authorizes in the Bay feared that the foul error emanating from him could spread and corrupt the entire colony. In October 1635, the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony banished him† (smithsonianmag.com). Due to the fact that Hawthorne was not a part of any organized religion he was able to criticize religions without the fear of repercussion. Hawthorne also wanted to expose the corruption in religion when he wrote The Scarlet Letter. In the Custom House he mentioned that he was a Democrat while the Whigs were in power. Hawthorne also said â€Å"I had spent three years†¦in an unnatural state, doing what was really of no advantage nor delight to any human being† (Hawthorne 40). Here he is saying that because he was a Democrat in a Whig society he felt he couldn’t speak up and that it was unnatural.

Dissolved Oxygen Essay

Oxygen in Liquids (DISSOLVED OXYGEN) Dissolved Oxygen – the amount of dissolved oxygen in a body of water as an indication of the degree of the health of water and its ability to support a balanced aquatic ecosystem. Oxygen – is a clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that dissolves in water. Small but important amounts of it are dissolved in water. OXYGEN: Aquatic Life Depends on it Plants and Animals depend on dissolved oxygen for survival. Lack of dissolved oxygen can cause aquatic animals to leave quickly they are or face death. Factors Affecting Oxygen Levels Temperature Rate of Photosynthesis Degree of Light Penetration (turbidity & water depth) Degree of Water Turbulence or Wave action The amount of oxygen used by respiration and decay of organic matter Oxygen in the Balance Dissolved Oxygen levels that are at 90% and 110% saturation level or higher consistently considered healthy or good. If the Dissolved Oxygen are below 90%, there may be large amounts of oxygen demanding materials. What Is Dissolved Oxygen In Water? Dissolved oxygen in water is vital for underwater life. It is what aquatic creatures need to breathe. Why Is Dissolved Oxygen Important? Just as we need air to breathe, aquatic organisms need dissolved oxygen to respire. It is necessary for the survival of fish, invertebrates, bacteria, and underwater plants. How Is Dissolved Oxygen Measured? Dissolved oxygen concentration can be reported as milligrams per liter, parts per million, or as percent air saturation. Polarographic Cell It is very similar to the galvanic cell. However, the polarographic cell has two noble-metal electrodes and requires a polarizing voltage to reduce the oxygen. The dissolved oxygen in the sample diffuses through the membrane into the electrolyte, which usually is an aqueous KC1 solution. If there is a constant polarizing voltage (usually 0.8 V) across the electrodes, the oxygen is reduced at the cathode, and the resulting current How is proportional to the oxygen content of the electrolyte. This current flow is detected as an indication of oxygen content. Galvanic Cell All galvanic cells consist of an electrolyte and two electrodes (Figure 8.43c). The oxygen content of the electrolyte is equalized with that of the sample. The reaction is spontaneous; no external voltage is applied. In this reaction, the cathode reduces the oxygen into hydroxide, thus releasing four electrons for each molecule of oxygen. These electrons cause a current flow through the electrolyte.. The magnitude of the current flow is in proportion to the oxygen concentration in the electrolyte. Flow through Cells In the flow-through cells, the process sample stream is bubbled through the electrolyte. The oxygen concentration of the electrolyte is therefore in equilibrium with the sample’s oxygen content, and the resulting ion current between the electrodes is representative of this concentration. These types of cells are usually provided with sampling consisting of (but not limited to) filtering and scrubbing components and flow, pressure, and temperature regulators. Thallium Cell Thallium cells are somewhat unique in their operating principle and cannot be classified into the category of either galvanic or polarographic cells. At the same time, they are of the electrochemical type. One thallium-electrode cell design is somewhat similar in appearance to the unit illustrated on Figure 8.43c except that it has no membrane or electrolyte. This cell has a thallium outer-ring electrode and an inner reference electrode. When oxygen contacts the thallium, the potential developed by the cell is a function of  the thallous ion concentration at the face of the electrode, and the ion concentration is in proportion to the concentration of dissolved oxygen. Fluorescence-based Sensor In this case, a compound containing ruthenium is immobilized in a gas-permeable matrix called a sol-gel. Sol-gels are very low-density, silica-based matrices suitable for immobilizing chemical compounds such as the ruthenium compound used in this measurement technique. Effectively, the sol-gel is equivalent to the membrane in a conventional DO sensor. Using fiber optics, light from a light-emitting diode is transferred to the backside of the sol-gel coating. The emitted fluorescence is collected from the backside of the sol-gel with another optical fiber and its intensity is detected by photodiode. A simplified sensor design is shown in Figure 8.43g. If no oxygen is present, the intensity of the emitted light will be at its maximum value. If oxygen is present, the fluorescence will be quenched, and the emitted intensity will decrease. Twinkler Titration The Winkler Method is a technique used to measure dissolved oxygen in freshwater systems. Dissolved oxygen is used as an indicator of the health of a water body, where higher dissolved oxygen concentrations are correlated with high productivity and little pollution. Temperature Effects Pressure Effects Salinity Effects Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a measure of the oxygen used by microorganisms to decompose this waste. If there is a large quantity of organic waste in the water supply, there will also be a lot of bacteria present working to decompose this waste. In this case, the demand for oxygen will be high (due to all the bacteria) so the BOD level will be high. As the waste is consumed or dispersed through the water, BOD levels will begin to decline. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is a measure for the quantity of oxygen required for the biodegradation of organic matter (carbonaceous demand) in water.It can also indicate the amount of oxygen used to oxidise reduced forms of nitrogen (nitrogenous demand), unless their oxidation is prevented by an inhibitor. A test is used to measure the amount of oxygen consumed by these organisms during a specified period of time (usually 5 days at 20 ÌŠÌŠÌŠÌŠC). Classification: BOD is devided in two parts which is Carbonaceous Oxygen Demand and the Nitrogenous Oxygen Demand. Carbonaceous Oxygen Demand – it is the amount of oxygen consumed by the microorganisms during decomposing carbohydrate material. Nitrogenous Oxygen Demand – it is the amount of oxygen consumed by the microorganisms during decomposing nitrogenous materials. Relationship of DO and BOD If the Dissolve Oxygen (DO) of a water is high, the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)is low. If the BOD of the water is hight, the DO is low.Therefore DO and BOD is inversely Proportional to each other. Why we should need to know BOD? BOD directly affects the amount of dissolved oxygen in rivers and streams. The greater the BOD, the more rapidly oxygen is depleted in the stream. This means less oxygen is available to higher forms of aquatic life. The consequences of high BOD are the same as those for low dissolved oxygen: aquatic organisms become stressed, suffocate, and die. Knowledge of oxygen utilization of a polluted water supply is important because: 1. It is the measure of the pollution load, relative to oxygen utilization by other life in the water; 2. It is the means for predicting progress of aerobic decomposition and the amount of self-purification taking place; 3. It is the measure of the oxygen demand load removal efficiency by different treatment process. Factors that contributes to variations in BOD The Seed Is the bacterial culture that affects the oxidation of materials in the sample. If the biological seed is not acclimated to the particular wastewater, erroneous results are frequently obtained. pH The BOD results are also greatly affected by the pH of the sample, especially if it is lower than 6.5 or higher than 8.3. In order to achieve uniform conditions, the sample should be buffered to a pH of about 7. Temperature Standard test condition calls for a temperature of 20 ÌŠC (68 ÌŠF). field tests often require operation at other temperatures and, consequently, the results tend to vary unless temperature corrections are applied. Toxicity The presence of toxic materials may result increase in the BOD value as a specific sample is dilluted for the BOD test.Consistent value may be obtained either by removing the toxic materials from the sample or By developing a seed that is compatible with the toxic material in the sample. Incubation Time The usual standard lab test incubation time is 5 days, results may occur at a flat part or occur at a steeply rising portion.Depending on the type of seed and the type of oxidable material, divergent result can be expected. Nitrification In the usual course BOD test, the oxygen consumption rises steeply at the beginning of the test owing to attack on carbohydrate materials. Another sharp increase in oxygen utilization occurs sometime during 10th to 15th day in those samples containing nitrogenous materials. How we determine or measure BOD? Five-Day BOD Procedure The BOD test takes 5 days to complete and is performed using a dissolved oxygen test kit. The BOD level is determined by comparing the DO level of a water sample taken immediately with the DO level of a water sample that has been incubated in a dark location for 5 days. The difference between the two DO levels represents the amount of oxygen required for the decomposition of any organic material in the sample and is a good approximation of the BOD level. Test procedures: 1. Take 2 samples of water 2. Record the DO level (ppm) of one immediately using the method described in the dissolved oxygen test. 3. Place the second water sample in an incubator in complete darkness at 20oC for 5days. If you don’t have an incubator, wrap the water sample bottle in aluminum foil or black electrical tape and store in a dark place at room temperature (20 ÌŠC or 68  °F). 4. After 5 days, take another dissolved oxygen reading (ppm) using the dissolved oxygen test kit. 5. Subtract the Day 5 reading from the Day 1 reading to determine the BOD level. Record your final BOD result in ppm. Note: Generally, when BOD levels are high, there is a decline in DO levels. This is because the demand for oxygen by the bacteria is high and they are taking that oxygen from the oxygen dissolved in the water. If there is no organic waste present in the water, there won’t be as many bacteria present to decompose it and thus the BOD will tend to be lower and the DO level will tend to be higher. At high BOD levels, organisms such as macro  invertebrates that are more tolerant of lower dissolved oxygen may appear and become numerous. Organisms that need higher oxygen levels) will NOT survive. Extended BOD Test Continuation of BOD test beyond 5 days shows a continuing oxygen demand, with a sharp increase in BOD rate at the 10th day owing to nitrification. The latter process involves biological attack on nitrogenous organic material accompanied by an increase in BOD rate. The oxygen demand continues at a uniform rate for an extended time. Manometric BOD Test In the manometric procedure, the seeded sample is confined in a closed system that includes an appreciable amount of air . As the oxygen in the water is depleted, it is replenish by the gas phase. A potassium hydroxide (KOH) absorber within the system removes any gaseous carbon dioxide generated by bacterial action. The oxygen removed from the air phase results in a drop in pressure that is that is removed with a manometer. This fall is then related to the BOD of the sample. Electrolysis System for BOD The measuring principle for all electrolytic respirometers is quite similar. As micro-organisms respire they use oxygen converting the organic carbon in the solution to CO2 gas, which is absorbed to alkali. This causes a reduction in the gas pressure, which can be sensed with various sensors or membranes. A small current is created in electrolysis cell and this generates oxidation/reduction reactions in the electrolysis cell and oxygen is formed at the anode. Electrolysis of water can supply oxygen to a closed system as incubation proceeds . At constant current, the time during which electrolysis generates the oxygen to keep the system pressure constant is a direct measure of the oxygen demand. The amount of oxygen produced by the electrolysis correlates with the amount of oxygen consumed by bacteria. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) Is the standard method for indirect measurements of the amount of pollution in a sample of water that cannot be oxidized biologically. Is based on the chemical decomposition of organic and inorganic contaminants, dissolved or suspended in water. Why Measure Chemical Oxygen Demand? It is often measured as a rapid indicator for organic pollutant in water. Normally measured in both municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants and gives an indication of the efficiency of the treatment process. It is measured on both influent and effluent water. Standard Dichromate COD Procedure A sample is heated to its boiling point with known amounts of sulfuric acid and potassium dichromate. The loss of water is minimized by the reflux condenser. After 2 h, the solution is cooled, and the amount of dichromate that reacted with oxidizable material in the water sample is determined by titrating the excess potassium dichromate with ferrous sulfate. Dichromate consumed is calculated as to oxygen equivalent for the sample and stated as milligrams of oxygen per liter of sample (ml/l). Factors preventing the concordance of BOD values to COD values: Many organic materials are oxidizable by dichromate but not biochemically oxidizable, and vice versa. For example, pyridine, benzene, and ammonia are not attacked by the dichromate procedure. A number of inorganic substances such as sulfide, sulfites, thiosulfates, nitrites, and ferrous iron are oxidized by dichromate, creating an inorganic COD that is misleading when estimating the organic content of wastewater. Although the factor of seed acclimation will give erroneously low results on the BOD tests, COD results are not dependent on acclimation. Chlorides interfere with the COD analysis, and their effect must be minimized in order to obtain consistent results. The standard procedure provides for only a limited amount of chlorides in the sample. This is usually accomplished by diluting the sample to achieve a lower chloride concentration and interference. This can be a problem for low COD  concentration samples, as the dilution may dilute the COD concentration below the detection level or to levels at which accuracy and repeatability are poor. COD Detector The term COD usually refers to the laboratory dichromate oxidation procedure, although it has also been applied to other procedures that differ greatly from the dichromate method but which do involve chemical reaction. These methods have been embodied in instruments both for manual operation in the laboratory and for automatic operation online. They have the distinct advantage of reducing analysis time from days (5-day BOD) and hours (dichromate, respirometer) to minutes. Automatic On-Line Designs Takes a 5 cc sample from the flowing process stream. Injects it into the reflux chamber after mixing it together with dilution water (if any) agents. One ozone-based scheme enriches dilution water with and with two reagents: dichromate solution and sulfuric acid. The reagents also contain an oxidation catalyst (silver sulfate) and a chemical that complexes chlorides in the solution (mercuric sulfate). The mixture is boiled at 302 °F (150 °C) by the heater. Vapors are condensed by the cooling water in the reflux condenser. During which the dichromate ions are reduced to trivalent chromic ions, as the oxygen demanding organics are oxidized in the sample. The chromic ions give the solution a green color. The COD concentration is measured by detecting the amount of dichromate converted to chromic ions by measuring the intensity of the green color through a fiber-optic detector. The microprocessor-controlled package is available with automatic zeroing, calibration, and flushing features. Sampling and Traditional Parameter Parameter Limit Value Sampling: pH, Standard Units 6.0 – 9.0 Traditional Parameters: Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) ≠¤ 30 ppm Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) ≠¤ 200 ppm COD has a large value than BOD because BOD measurement is based only in decomposition of organic matter while COD measures the decomposition of both organic and Inorganic compound. Sources of Error Cause of using nonhomogeneous sample is the largest error. Use of volumetric flasks and volumetric pipettes with a large bore. Oxidizing agent must be precisely measured. Make sure that the vials are clean and free of air bubbles. Always read the bottom of the meniscus at eye level. Total Oxygen Demand (TOD) The quantitative measurement of the amount of oxygen used to burn the impurities in a liquid sample. Thus, it is a direct measure of the oxygen demand of the sample. Measurement is by continuous analysis of the concentration of oxygen in a combustion process gas effluent. A quantitative measurement of all oxidizable material in a sample water or wastewater as determined instrumentally by measuring the depletion of oxygen after high-temperature combustion. BOD and COD have long time cycles. COD use corrosive reagents with the inherent problem of disposal. Analysis is faster, approximately 3 min, and uses no liquid reagents in its analysis. Can be correlated to both COD and BOD. Unaffected by the presence of inorganic carbon. Also indicate noncarbonaceous materials that consume or contribute oxygen Since the actual measurement is oxygen consumption. Reflects the oxidation state of the chemical compound. TOD Analyzer The oxidizable components in a liquid sample introduce into the combustion tube are converted to their stable oxides by a reaction that disturbs the oxygen equilibrium in the carrier gas steam. The momentary depletion in the oxygen concentration in the carrier gas is detected by an oxygen detector and recorded as a negative oxygen peak. Sample Valves Sliding Plate Upon a signal from a cycle timer, the air actuator temporarily moves the valve to its â€Å"sample fill† position. At the same time, an air-operated actuator moves a 20-ul sample through the valve into the combustion tube. A stream of oxygen-enriched nitrogen carrier gas moves the slug of sample into the combustion tube. Rotary Sampling Valve A motor continuously rotates a sampling head, which contains a built-in sampling syringe. For part of the time, the tip of the syringe is over a trough that contains the flowing sample. 2 or more cam ramps along the rotational path cause the syringe plunger to rise and fall, thus rinsing the sample chamber. Just before the syringe reaches the combustion tube, it picks up a 20-ul sample. As it rotates over the combustion tube, it discharges the sample. Oxygen Detectors Platinum-lead Fuel Cell Fuel Cell – Generates a current in proportion to the oxygen content of the carrier gas passing through it. Before entering the cell, the gas is scrubbed in a potassium hydroxide solution, both to remove acid gases and other harmful combustion products to humidify the gas. The oxygen cell and the scrubber are located in a temperature-controlled compartment. The fuel cell output is monitored and zeroed to provide a constant baseline. The output peaks are linearly proportionate to the reduced concentration of oxygen in the carrier gas as a result of the sample’s TOD. Yttrium-doped Zirconium Oxide Ceramic Tube Coated on both sides with a porous layer of platinum. It is maintained at an elevated temperature and also provides an output that represents the reduction in oxygen concentration in the carrier gas that is a result of the sample’s TOD. The operation of these oxygen detectors involves the ionization of oxygen in both a sample and a known reference gas stream. When the sample and reference gas streams come in contact with the electrode surfaces, oxygen ionizes into O-2 ions. The oxygen ion concentrations in each stream is a function of the partial pressure of oxygen in the stream. The potential at each electrode will depend on the partial pressure of oxygen in the gas stream. The electrode with higher potential (higher oxygen concentration) will generate oxygen ions, whereas the electrode with lower potential (lower oxygen concentration) will convert oxygen ions to oxygen molecules. Calibration Analysis is by comparison of peak heights or areas to a standard calibration curve. To prepare this curve, known TOD concentrations of a primary standard (KHP) are prepared in distilled and deionized water. Standard solutions are stable for several weeks at room temperature. Water solutions of other organic compounds can also be used as standards. Several analyses can be made at each calibration concentration, and the resulting data are recorded as parts per million (ppm) TOD vs. peak height or area. Applications: Correlation: Many regulatory agencies recognize as the basis for oxygen-depleting pollution control only BOD or COD (preferably BOD) measurements of pollution load, because they are concerned with the pollution load on receiving waters, which is related to lowering the DO due to bacterial activity. If other methods described are to be used to satisfy legal requirements of pollution load in effluents or to measure BOD removal, it is important to establish a correlation between the other methods and BOD or COD (preferably BOD). Salient Features: a measurement of property of the sample, i.e. the amount of oxygen required for bacterial oxidation of bacterial food in the water, the BOD dependence of the oxygen demand on the nature of the food as well as on its quantity dependence of the oxygen demand on the nature and amount of the bacteria Another extensive study concluded the following: (1) A reliable statistical correlation between BOD and COD of a wastewater and its corresponding TOD can frequently be achieved, particularly when the organic strength is high and the diversity in dissolved organic constituents is low. (2) The relationship is best described by a least squares regression with the degree of fit expressed by the correlation coefficient (3) The observed correspondence of COD-TOD was better than that of COD-BOD for the wastewaters. (4) The BOD-COD ratio of an untreated wastewater is indicative of the biological treatment possible with the particular wastewater. Comparison: COMPARISON BOD COD TOD Definition The oxygen required when a population of bacteria causes the oxidation reaction in a population of bacteria. The oxygen equivalent when the oxidation is carried out with a chemical oxidizing reagent such as potassium dichromate. The oxygen equivalent when oxidation is caused by heating the sample in a furnace in the presence of a catalyst and oxygen. Analyzer Utilize bacteria to oxidize the pollutants Measured through chemical oxidation and catalytic combustion techniques Oxidize the sample in a catalyzed thermal combustion process and detect both the organic and inorganic impurities in a sample Response-Range 5 days – 30 mg/L 2 hours – 250-500 ppm 3 minutes – 100-100,000 mg/L Inaccuracy-Cost 3 – 20% / $500 – $20,000 2 – 10% / $8,00 – $20,000 2 – 5% / $5,000 – $20,000

The Art of Skill Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Art of Skill - Essay Example The camera claimed supreme ability to recreate reality, and accordingly art took different direction. Taking cues from Duchamp and Warhol, the artist Jeffrey Koons developed a style of art that was completely unreliant upon personal skill and instead relied upon reproduction and appropriation. Several reasons for the devaluing of skill in art include the rise of such artists as Koons who intentionally create art that is made without skill. Beech also states that contemporary art itself is involved in taking skills way from artists. While Beech does not view Koons in such a way of devaluing skills, I wish to argue to the contrary in part of my overall argument. Beyond Beech’s argument, I would also like to state that it is part the mass production of various artists in universities that is devaluing skill to an extent. In discussing an exhibit by Jeffrey Koons, the reviewer Lynne Cooke notes that Koons sculptures were â€Å"executed by highly skilled craftsmen in small factories in Italy working, under the supervision of the artist, to two dimensional images which Koons provided as models† (246). Notice that the reviewer states that the craftsmen were â€Å"highly skilled.† This is interesting to note, especially when considering that an artist can achieve fame without being able to create the artwork himself. The people who actually put the physical labor into creating the pieces were simply called craftsmen. In considering this, we can see how actual skill in art is held at no value. The people with the skill who were involved with the project were not artists. They simply handled the technical aspects of the creation of the pieces. Ideologically speaking, it is not necessary in any way for the artist to be skilled in any way in order to be successful. Perhaps it is because Koons i s unskilled that he is has the success to the extent that he does. Koons is by far one of the most

Hague Visby Rules Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Hague Visby Rules - Essay Example Consequently, exporters are bound by the rules. On the other hand, imports will only apply the Rules in the event that the goods came from countries governed by them. Exceptions will be made to parties that expressly agreed to the Rules in their bill of lading. This implies that when a carrier decides to ignore the use of a bill of lading, then he is not bound by the rules. Such a carrier has the mandate to introduce his own terms and conditions. Also, carriers my be exempt from the Rules when they choose to give a receipt instead of a bill of lading and in the event that they are operating between countries that are not bound by the Rules. This gives carriers undue advantage and can be a source of conflict. 2 There are certain limitations on the application of the rules that are not necessarily related to the bill of lading. For instance when the carrier is required to transport live animals, then he is not bound by the rules. Similarly, if the merchandise to be transported comprises of deck cargo, then parties are not obliged to apply the Hague Visby rules. Additionally, if a receipt rather than a contract was awarded, then the rules do not apply. The receipt must be a way bill i.e. it should be non negotiable. It should be noted that the Hague rules can apply to a given situation even when a bill of lading was not issued. ... Similarly, if the merchandise to be transported comprises of deck cargo, then parties are not obliged to apply the Hague Visby rules. Additionally, if a receipt rather than a contract was awarded, then the rules do not apply. The receipt must be a way bill i.e. it should be non negotiable. It should be noted that the Hague rules can apply to a given situation even when a bill of lading was not issued. The underlying need for a bill of lading is to indicate that a contract of carriage was present. Therefore other documents may replace the bill of lading and some of them include advertisements made by the carrier. Also a booking note may be taken as an indication of the contract of carriage alongside other documents that indicate to the shipper that a carrier is in operation. An example of these exemptions was in the case of Pyrene Company vs. Scindia Steam Navigation Company. 3 In this case, there was no bill of lading issued but it had been argued that the bill of lading was intended. It was based on the fact that the contract of carriage had been completed and a bill of lading would be given in the near future. It was held by the Canadian Supreme court that a limitation be paid by the offender given the fact that they contemplated introducing the bill of lading. Howev er, in circumstances where two parties intend on introducing a charter party, then the rules become irrelevant as seen in the case of Canada Steamship Co. vs. Desgagne. 4 The Hague rules apply to goods that have been received in reality. In the event that the goods have not been delivered, then the contract of carriage is invalid i.e. it will not commence. This means that no party can sue for damages for goods that

Cross cultural management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10500 words

Cross cultural management - Essay Example TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction 4 2. Literature Review 6 2.1. Background research on Leadership 6 2.2. Background Research on Cross Cultural Management 9 2.3. Theory of Hofstede 15 3. Leadership in Egypt 19 3.1. Current Situation 19 3.2. Challenges 20 3.3. Impacts 22 3.4. Implications for Managers in Global Management 25 4. Findings 26 5. Discussion 29 6. Conclusion & Recommendations 32 7. References 34 1. Introduction Leaders are not born, they are made. The most common myth about leadership is the converse of the previous statement, which indeed is creating waves of many more misconceptions amongst those aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs around the world. There was a time when only few men and women dared to question, rebel against odds, voice for the weak and talk for the helpless. But today there is a need for each one of us to dare, rebel, voice and talk, but like leaders and not losers. Andrew Carnegie’s thought provoking statement is worth a note here which states â €Å"No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or to get all the credit for doing it†. ... If we see the current trends of leadership, there are various personalities who have quoted many inspirational words about leadership and for the future leaders as well. We see Jeff Barnes quoting â€Å"There are no boundaries anymore.† This means the businesses and organizations are looking out for globalization and make their mark all over the world. In the last 10 years the world has seen a fast changes in the business world. When there was economic downturn started in December 2007, many of the interviewees had the thought that it is somewhat different than what was happened 10 years ago. According to Roland Smith’s saying this new environment is regarded as a perpetual whitewater. The Chief Executive Officers (CEO’s) of all the big and renowned organizations have backed the saying of Roland Smith and they were not sure as to how to tackle this changing environment as the equipments are were not available that time. In Egypt the most remarkable monument or st ructure is the Pyramid. If you notice Pyramid, you can see that the tip of it is painted with gold. The reason for that is to get connected with the sun. The Pyramids have always challenged the modern science to build something since the technology and skill sets of the manpower have been advanced with time. Today it has been more than a year since the reign of Dictator Mubarak is ended. Now it is high time for the country to look ahead and reform its social, political and most importantly economic stature. Today the country is in need of a leader who can coach and inspire the nation, which will help in mobilizing the country towards growth and prosperity. The well-known examples of this type of

Integrity In The U.S. Criminal Justice System Research Paper

Integrity In The U.S. Criminal Justice System - Research Paper Example A Criminal Justice System that has integrity attracts public confidence to its working. This is to the effect that the public can comfortably send take their matters to them without fear that the outcome will be tainted with injustices. This elevates the possibility of the public taking matters in their own hands so as to fight for their rights and criminal justice due to the fear that once the law enforcers come into play, the perpetrators of a particular crime would be let go either because of their influence, race, relationship to a particular public figure or whatever other reason. It has been argued it takes integrity to fight corruption, and that the public can only make reports of criminal activities if they believe that an action will be taken and that their lives will not be endangered for making such reports, neither will they face any threats from those they reported. Without integrity, the fight against corruption and injustices in the criminal Justice System is handicapp ed (Langseth).Integrity avoids tragedy. It is a tragedy to the victims of a crime and others affected when the police incarcerate the wrong individual for years when the real criminals walk scot free and continue to propagate their criminal acts. This tragedy is a reality in the United States Criminal Justice with an example of one Greg Taylor who was convicted in 1993 or crime of murder, which he did not commit. Twenty years later, Greg was exonerated on evidence gathered by the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission.

Mergers and acquisitions process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mergers and acquisitions process - Essay Example Despite these findings, companies continue to adopt an M&A strategy for several reasons. One reason is that M&A meets the desire of firms to survive by growing. Another is that the bidding firm either has free cash flow (and cash is king!) or wants to get the free cash flow of the target firm. A third reason points to so-called agency problems between the managers of the bidding firm and the owners of the firm, where managers want to get a larger share of the rewards for taking risks and managing the firm. Another reason is that managers of the bidding firm are overconfident and proud. The fifth reason is the bidding firm might gain some benefits by implementing the M&A strategy that, by putting two firms together, may result in valuable, rare, and costly to imitate advantages. It can also happen that a bidding firm sees some hidden sources of competitive advantage in the target that competitors do not see or that the managers of a target firm either do not realize or could not turn into a source of competitive advantage. This is where a bidder can be justified for merg ing with or buying a target firm because the two firms would create an added advantage (synergy) over other competitors through economies of scope or scale. Implementing M&A is difficult and demands very good managers because the cultures of both firms may be very different. In the case of international M&A, this strategy may be costly because of differences in country cultures (like when Renault of France bought Nissan of Japan) and would need good managers to succeed. An ideal cross-country M&A is one where economies of scope can be gained without having to integrate the different firm and country cultures. Case 3-1: eBay eBay is a pioneer online auction firm that had to decide how to create more value from a new strategy of going into on-line auction drop-off selling to increase sales. Drop-off selling refers to selling items online for other people, with a seller or consignee collecting items for sale from the client or consignor. The consignee handles the whole listing and selling process and then pays the proceeds of the sale to the client, less the commission. This would capture sellers who have items to sell but who neither have the time nor the patience to advertise these items on-line. The company's initial success, built on a first-mover advantage as an on-line auction site, became the foundation for a cost leadership growth strategy achieved by offering low listing fees. In the process of accelerated growth in numbers of customers and sales volume, eBay developed into an on-line community that offered unmatched speed, safety, and security through an effective member feedback mechanism where users rated each other for every transaction made. eBay's profits grew by attracting more buyers and building the infrastructure needed to support both buyers and sellers. However, like brick-and-mortar shops, eBay's sales were seasonal, spiking during the holiday season but remaining flat the rest of the year. The drop-off selling strategy, a form of diversification into a related business that would add value to the core business of on-line auctions, was designed to increase customer traffic to its sites by making it easier for sellers to list their goods and for buyers to enjoy a wider variety of products to choose from. It also allowed eBay to transact high value-added items and compete with the more established

A Discussion of the Copyright Industrys Assignment

A Discussion of the Copyright Industrys - Assignment Example The internet has been famously defined as a network of networks, and the denser these networks become; the more complicated it becomes to prevent the bane of copyright infringement and other intellectual property violations from occurring. 2Even though the courts have been willing to intervene where there has been an infringement of copyright, the practical difficulties of managing copyright violations arise whenever the "sheer scale" and "speed" of the internet causes high-speed reproduction of the material to be achieved without actually being detected. The development of copyright law can actually be traced back to a time when there was no technology or mechanism by way of which it would be possible to replicate copies of written material. It was not possible to achieve any large scale infringement of copyrighted material as it is today from the comfort of our homes on the internet. Within British legal history, it is said that the King used the Royal Prerogative as far back as 1662 to pass the Licensing Act of 16623. The first real Copyright Protection Act, however, came as the "The Statute of Anne" giving the author copyright privileges for a fixed time period. On an international level, the Berne Convention in 1887 defined the scope of copyright protection and is still an important part of international intellectual property law.4 The advent of the photocopier followed subsequently by, home audio recording, video recording, and finally, the Personal Computer (PC) allowed digitized and rapid copying. The modern Copyright Infringer does not need a large factory of copying machines to create illegal copies of, copyrighted material.5 All in all the challenge for copyright holders has never been greater. The law provides legal remedies available to copyright owners to prevent others from copying the product and to protect original works involving some degree of skill, effort, and judgment. In England, The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 gives protection to books, films, videos, plays, music, and drawings, all of which can make it onto the internet in some form or another.This law protects computer software as a form of literary work and even large databases form copyrighted material have been given protection under the Copyright and Rights in Databases Regulations 1997. Under the Rules, the copyright owner can apply for an injunction to prevent misuse of his copyrighted material and to order the infringer to return the infringed "intellectual property" and maybe a grant for damages. All this, however, looks very nice in the Statute books but the power of the internet to disrupt Copyright mechanisms has often been compared to a force which is always connected and is everywhere and anywhere all of the time.Very often copyright owners feel helpless in the face of technologically sophisticated infringements. For example in the famous case of Napster music files were created in MP3 format and Peer to Peer file sharing began. Within months 50 million people were using a service which was a blatant violation of copyright laws.

Learning Strategies Essay Example for Free

Learning Strategies Essay In the poem â€Å"Students† by Tom Wayman, it reviews four theories with context on different learning methods. The first theory is the Vaccination Theory of Education†, detailing how once you have learned a subject, you never have to review or touch on the topic again for it is lodged in ones brain for all eternity. However, such a learning technique seems foolish because as time goes on, materials tend to fade in ones brain unless occasionally reviewed. With this in mind, material previously learned would venture from one’s memory and would leave them lacking of knowledge on the subject. For the best learning, many people including myself would prefer the knowledge once learned to be forever held by the beholder, to use in future situations. The next theory is â€Å"The Dipstick Theory of Education. † This theory relates learning to that of a car engine; only needing oil to a certain line, therefore only needing to learn to a certain degree. This again seems unrealistic to the many dreamers out there, who are constantly trying to extend the limits, the ones who do not want to be blocked by barricades. Countless material is available for the public’s access, which means the learning a person can achieve is limitless. This theory seems adequate for those individuals who only want to get by in life. However, the majority of the population who want to succeed and be proud of their success are going to want to stray away from this theory, for it will only prevent you from following the path you truly want to go down. The â€Å"Adopt the Kung Fu Theory of Education†, is the theory that follows next in the poem. It reviews the idea that one can use knowledge as a self defense mechanism. This theory makes complete sense to me. How else would a person be able to back up their statements, ideas and opinions better, than with knowledge? Not only does the knowledge help in that area, it can help a person grasp a better understanding of the world around them, as well as it can improve their common sense. Use knowledge as a supporter, to smooth the bumps in the road before you, so you can travel on a trouble free path. The last theory is â€Å"The Easy Listening Theory of Learning. † It proposes that if a person sits back and observes their environment, they can achieve optimal learning. This type of learning seems only achievable for those who learn best through visual or auditory aids; in settings where they learn most efficiently by viewing or hearing material. However, for those individuals who learn best through hands on tasks, â€Å"The Easy Listening Theory of Learning†, would not be in their favor. It would put them at a disadvantage, and make them fall behind the rest. This theory does not accommodate everyone with learning in the same fashion; therefore, it cannot be used as a universal learning technique for optimal learning in everyone. My own theory however, differs greatly from any of the learning theories displayed in the poem â€Å"Students. † My theory to insure my learning exceeds my own goals is I put in a maximum effort. The goals I set myself are extremely high and almost seem unrealistic. Nonetheless, this is what give me the motivation and strive I need to put in a great deal of effort. Postponing undesirable activities is what I seem to be a natural at, cramming to get them completed when time is limited. It is in that rushed state that I feel my mind works most efficiently. However, we all know this is a poor work method and that is why I set such high goals to make it seem unrealistic. By doing that, I insure I start the activity at a sooner time because it feels as if I have more to complete than actually necessary. That way, I can keep my eye on the target at all times because it makes me feel as if I have much work to do to achieve it still. In reference to this course, the date I began was much later than any applicants should have started. By doing that, it has given me very limited time to get this course completed. It is now that I can truly test out my theory for all that it is worth, because it is now that I feel the completed course expectations are very unrealistic based on the vast material I have to cover by a certain date. However, I plan to be vigilant to get through this course so I can walk the graduation stage at the end of the year. When that dream of mine comes true based on my goals of completing this course, it is then that my theory has once again proved me right in its successfulness.

Rational Choice Theory: Death Penalty

Rational Choice Theory: Death Penalty The death penalty has been debated over and over with no clear solution to whether it should be continued or be abolished. One thing is clear and to provide an argument for the death penalty can be made with the rational choice theory (RCT)/deterrence theory (DT). In their model, Cornish and Clark (1986) understood that people are not empty vessel when they approach a situation in which a crime might be committed (Lilly, Cullen, Ball, 2007, p. 276). Environmental, psychological, and biological factors create the motivations to commit crimes. The rational choice theory is advancement towards the causation of crime because it looks beyond the background factors and looks more at conscious decision makers who weigh options and act with a purpose (Lilly, Cullen, Ball, 2007, p. 277). The basic idea of the rational choice theory is that individuals or criminals engage in some intelligent thought before choosing to commit a crime (OConnor, 2007, para. 2). This means that the individual is already thinking of the risk, consequences, and possible rewards if they continue on with the thought of committing a crime. The other side of the RCT is the DT. As RCT would explain, individuals make a personal choice on whether they will commit a crime or not. The RCT suggests a more promising approach to reducing crime: situational crime prevention. By studying how offenders make decisions to commit criminal acts certain steps may be taken to reduce such opportunities for these offenses to occur (Lilly, Cullen, Ball, 2007, p. 277). By installing such things as alarm systems could prevent a potential burglary on your own but this is also a purpose of the deterrence theory. With regards to the death penalty, the assessment of action weighs the benefit of killing someone (for financial gain, revenge, etc.) against the threat of death and a possible result is that offenders would not make a choice to murder someone because of the threat of dying themselves at the hands of the government. Both the rational choice theory and deterrence theory work together when answer the call to murder and whether the death penalty is a rational punishment for committing a murder. Once again, the rational choice theory is explained by the personal choice made by the individual to commit a crime. The deterrence theory is the answer to that personal choice to commit a crime or for the purpose of this explanation; murder justified by the death penalty should suffice an effective deterrent to committing murders. To many this sounds good, you commit yourself to following through on a murder; you receive the death penalty but as it common knowledge that death penalty is not given to individuals all of time for committing murders. Therefore, the rational choice theory and deterrence theory immediately receives criticisms for a solution to preventing murders. Why does this happen? Our justice system pretty much tells us that for example, killing your wife because you just found out she was having an extra-marital affair does not necessarily mean you will get the death penalty. You have expert lawyers and then poorly constructed juries that defeats ideas of the rationa l choice and deterrence theories. Rational choice and deterrence theories are supposed to provide quick, swift, and certain death to offenders who commit murders but as mentioned before, this is not always the right or correct answer. Though both theories serve to the answer the question of whether or not a murder is a rational choice made by an individual and the quick answer to it, they also unfortunately lay down the issues with rational choice and deterrence as a solution to committing a murder. The problems within our justice system allow those who are on death row to extend their time alive because of appeals thus defeating both theories. According to Montaldo (2006), The U.S. Supreme Court has issued two rulings that make it easier for death row inmates to file additional appeals to avoid execution, extending the appeals process for many of the 3,300 inmates on death row and delaying justice for the families of their victims (para. 1). Final thoughts on the rational choice and deterrence theories as solutions to murder have issues but both can work and for the death penalty to serve the purposes of both, the justice system must make some changes. Death penalty cases are expensive from the court time sentencing to the actual execution can last for years because of the number of appeals for possible mishaps in the case or any other problems the individual could have with their case for example, rights violations, arguments for cruel and unusual punishment can all bring up points for new case. Unfortunately, this does happen and a death penalty sentence may get reduce to life in prison and most of the time without parole. However, some instances, individuals do get parole and release back into society and commit more crimes. To limit things like that, the rational choice theory and deterrence theory could be utilized to limit such instances. Right now, the death penalty cannot be used as deterrent in our current justi ce system because of some of the mentioned. If the theories were used, they could really provide a deterrent to murder. How would conflict theory explain the phenomenon of racial profiling in America? The conflict theory is based on an assumption that criminal behavior is delivered from the social and economical forces imposed on individuals. The criminal justice system and criminal law are thought to be operating on behalf of rich and powerful social elites, with resulting policies aimed at controlling the poor (Conflict, 2005, para. 1). The hierarchy falls as follows: High class society, Middle class society, Lower class society. The rich and powerful has always had the upper hand when establishing policy for the country. Much of that power came from capitalism. As stated by Lilly, Cullen, Ball (2007), capitalism was considered to be at the root of the conflict because it was taken to be the source of the unjust inequality (p. 151). In many opinions, capitalism makes the rich people richer while the rest are left behind thus defeating the 2nd Bill of Rights proposed by former President Roosevelt. In his State of the Union Address to Congress, FDR proposed a 2nd Bill of Rights b ecause of the capitalism had over run the country. The highlights of FDRs speech are the 5 specific Bill of Rights and they are provided for Woolley Peters (1990): Therefore, in order to concentrate all our energies and resources on winning the war, and to maintain a fair and stable economy at home, I recommend that the Congress adopt: (1) A realistic tax law-which will tax all unreasonable profits, both individual and corporate, and reduce the ultimate cost of the war to our sons and daughters. The tax bill now under consideration by the Congress does not begin to meet this test. (2) A continuation of the law for the renegotiation of war contracts-which will prevent exorbitant profits and assure fair prices to the Government. For two long years I have pleaded with the Congress to take undue profits out of war. (3) A cost of food law-which will enable the Government (a) to place a reasonable floor under the prices the farmer may expect for his production; and (b) to place a ceiling on the prices a consumer will have to pay for the food he buys. This should apply to necessities only; and will require public funds to carry out. It will cost in appropriations about one percent of the present annual cost of the war. (4) Early reenactment of the stabilization statute of October, 1942. This expires June 30, 1944, and if it is not extended well in advance, the country might just as well expect price chaos by summer. We cannot have stabilization by wishful thinking. We must take positive action to maintain the integrity of the American dollar. (5) A national service law- which, for the duration of the war, will prevent strikes, and, with certain appropriate exceptions, will make available for war production or for any other essential services every able-bodied adult in this Nation. These five measures together form a just and equitable whole. I would not recommend a national service law unless the other laws were passed to keep down the cost of living, to share equitably the burdens of taxation, to hold the stabilization line, and to prevent undue profits. (p. 1) Though this was a dream of FDR, it never came to pass but if it did chances are that the separations between the classes may not have ever occurred. Unfortunately, a separation did occur and created why as to the reason in which the conflict theory exists. Inequality is now a part of our society and will stay that way until the people want change. In the United States, the competitions for decent paying jobs are overloaded with applicants vying for jobs that would provide a decent living for their families. Those at the lowest level of the socio-economic ladder often find themselves working jobs with poor pay and using that little money to pay for insurances e.g. life, health, etc. Even with the Civil Rights Act, Affirmative Action, and other things meant to help there still lies the shadow of inequality in the United States thus leaving most individuals in poverty for their entire existence. In the United States, our poorest people are minorities including African Americans and Hispanics and it is easy to be placed into a group and most of the time those particular groups are targeted by police as bad seeds that want to upset the balance of the rich and powerful or the upper class of society. Trying to get a piece of the pie falls short and therefore commits crimes making it easier for racial profiling to occur. In other words, police are able to target whole groups of people that are minorities in order not to mess up the way of life for the upper class of society. The constant harassment makes the minority people feel fear of rebellion and maintains the inequality that benefits the upper level of society. By being the top of the pyramid, these people are able to dictate the rules to the lower masses and are doing so by implementing (or trying to implement) racial profiling. If a group of society is always in fear of being accused of crimes they did not commit, they are unlikely to find a common and loud voice of protest but by still having the ability to vote maybe there could be a change in the thought process of societys upper class. It is truly unclear on whether President Barack Obama can keep his promise of change alive but many people in the lower socio-economic classes believe that the change can and will happen. Also, there is no guarantee that if the classes were equal that crime would not exist because even those with all the money still commit crimesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦hence Bernard Madoff. Can the concept of rational choice involve passionate crimes? Explain and defend your answer. Yes, because the rational choice theory blames the crime on the personal decision of the individual. The belief that human nature was predicated upon the search for pleasure and the avoidance of pain, and that human action was consequently organized around calculative strategies aimed at utility maximization (Hayward, 2007, p. 233). The deliberate acts done in passion crimes are calculated in short periods of time. Many times the actions in passion crimes are usually at a moments notice and therefore are judged as ill advised, if not foolish (Lilly, Cullen, Ball, p. 277). The rational choice theory ultimately teaches that people make decisions to act or not to act based whether the actions would satisfy the main objective. Crimes of passion is a term used to define a crime which is committed by an individual in the form of assault or murder against a spouse or a lover out of jealousy or heartbreak and is not a preplanned crime. The thinking process is based on the limited amount of information available to the individual but it is common knowledge that the brain reacts faster than the body can process the signal and therefore even if in a split second to stop the first blow it may not be stop in time. So, when a person says they cannot stop themselves from acting what they are truly trying to say is that there is no need to suffer the pain or difficulty it would cause them from carrying out the criminal act. The most common example of a crime of passion is when a husband discovers his wife is having affair with another man and out of jealousy he can murder her. Peoples brain can make the choice to eliminate the pain of a breakup by covering it with anger, frustrations, and pain. With enough pain built up, there is usually a lot of trouble for the one who caused it. The choice being made is one that is rationalized. I believe that most courts in the United States understand crimes of passion and incarceration is the end game because though it was choice or decision it is understood that the act happened without a clear thought. However, it is still a poor decision, but a choice that brings instant satisfaction and delays pain. Therefore, explaining that the decisions in crimes of passions can be understood with the use of the rational choice theory.

Teachers and modern classroom

Teachers and modern classroom There have been profound changes in the education policies with the change in times requiring skills from modern teachers that were not even imagined possible in an earlier era. Generally teaching in classrooms were sessions that used the board, lecture, and oral and written tests of the subject and direct interaction between the teacher and students. This required skills for the teacher like a willingness to explain in depth, lecturing and presentation skills, motivation and in some cases the excise of authority and leadership. This role is slowly changing and so is the method of the delivery of instruction. Today information is not in the lecture or library but on the internet and sometimes lectures are replaces by multimedia presentations. The teacher today is called upon to be techno smart and highly creative. This has posed problems for teachers who are not trained in these technologies. Tied with modern concepts like involvement, and many other new concepts like global learning communities the teacher is always expected to upgrade their skills, and standards not only in the respective subjects but also teaching skills and methods used. This causes a dual draw. As it is there is a lack of information in the teaching departments about performance. Secondly teachers are yet to be trained properly in the use of information for the identification of weaker students and also to understand their own deficiencies. Thus teachers are not privy to data and where data is available either on the education prospects, or on the subjects or even on the students progress teachers are unable to use the information meaningfully due to lack of competency in the use of technology or the necessary medium is not available to them perhaps even on cost considerations. Unfortunately such shifts have caused teaching merely to be academic based on formulas, and painting by numbers. Technology has made the primary-school teachers into technicians. There are more and more of the administrative demands on teachers, and with a larger population of students and changes in policy that make social practices become optional. As education gets modernized it is pointed out that there is a need to develop the data processing methods. Instructional designs properly done will reduce the difficulty of understanding and the modern requirements that is necessary for task automation, time components, and technology. There is a great care required for the educational processes from textbook selection, instruction and the often marginalized social position in womens work. Creativity has become the good example in education with the teachers required to improvise the teaching methods irrespective of the use of modern technologies. As a result modern teachers use props and craft to get the message passed on to the students rather than the rote and learn technology of previews years. More students are taken to field trips and teachers are called upon to show their creative skills in creating absorbing activities. These manipulations need the teacher to plan a sequence of projects where the student is made to learn by doing, something unheard of in the past. The earlier discussions revealed that for a long time the teaching community has been using props and small technology that was creative and crafted to the requirements of the class room. That was an aide and a supplement to the class teaching and did not distance the teacher from the learning stream. Their work was participatory. However with the modern gadgets the things get confusing. The teacher showing a multimedia presentation does not participate with it and there is no doing and learning. Instructions are on the screen and are impersonal. Does this impair the learning process? There is no direct research on this though arguments have been advanced on either site. There are many types of technology that is in use today and it is argued that it can be used to teach. Thus the modern information and electronic technology can be used to convey information like a word processor. This helps those with writing problems as in dyslexia. Teachers can use such technologies to advantage. Other available tools like desktop publishing tools, music software, are all used in modern classrooms. Computer Programs like Excel that can plot graphs and pie charts can be used to save time in the teaching of data analysis. Likewise the physics class can be with practical multimedia. These facilities often handicap the teacher who is not trained to only in the use of the media but also in the method of using them as the supplement to his or her lecture skills and direct rapport with the student. In order to prevent the teacher from becoming a switch presser who takes no active part in the session other that show slides or let the software do the talking teachers have to be educated on the methods of using technology without compromising their ability to build a relationship. This calls for reorienting the teacher. Teachers have a great difficulty in the use of technology. The teacher today is faced with the changes in the classroom and technology. Novick says that students today are into the use of technology but are emotionally and physically drained. They are according to Bernard Novick the products of a new era. Therefore there is a need to train and encourage the teaching communities to be equipped themselves and handle the changes and adapt to the standard of the new student generation and their requirements. Lankshear devolve into the problems of teachers who are subject to a world that is changing not only in the area of literacy and education but also in the changing face of technology which is complicating the way education is being modernized. Thus today there is a link between literacy, technology and learning. The authors comment that there is a lot of enthusiasm and initiative with teachers and students in integrating new technologies into the activities of classroom-based literacy education. The author has researched the aspect o changes in technology that could do both, bridge the inabilities and cover for the shortcomings of the students and also become a possible creator of disabilities. On the other hand, Mac Arthur et al argue that the changes in the technology have changed the nature of the technology practices and also have caused impairment to cognitive facilities. Computer technologies may have a very far reaching influence on skills especially to writing skill and vocabulary. The ability of writing well phased matter with reflection is a skill that is cultivated by the written language; unfortunately these skills could be jeopardized. On the other hand technology could bring in aid to the really disadvantaged by providing required support. In extreme cases this could afford a method of imparting knowledge where formerly there were none. Thus it is evident that the modern teacher cannot be away from the influence of technology and it is time that teachers are technically trained, and they are also made aware of the use of modern data processing methods which will enable them in assessing students and understanding their own potential and role. As with all industries these problems are also the foundations for unions to call in the status quo. Because the modern technologies. The unions for the teachers have unfortunately blocked their own progress. Unions though a great means of collective bargaining interfere in the progressive measures which include programs to enhance the teachers proficiency and effectiveness. Thus there is a problem of the parent collective and the teachers unions and the educational institutions. Though there is autonomy of institutions larger decisions often involve the negotiation with the unions. The recent move in Columbia to make the teaching effective with the voucher plan for example gives greater say to parents. This will ensure that the teacher is dedicated to the job. Thus the initial voucher plans for the children in the District of Columbia which were funded by the government have for example given teeth to parents in education. The unions mostly are raking up issues for political mileage and this seriously impairs the quality of not only education but also of teachers. That unions were involving teachers in their political agenda was evident when the IRS charged that the NEA is illegally making use of funds which are tax-exempt for the purpose of political activity. This is in the wake of the Democratic Party documents showing that NEA is a campaign which was coordinated by the party in the year 1996. The unionism has not affected all teachers. The NEAs agenda is making teachers turn away from it because it involves opinions on international issues not involved with teaching. The AAE and its coalition have 250,000 members, and are not into collective bargaining, on the other hand offer liability-insurance policies and scholarships for teachers. There is also the suggestion of a voucher system where the teacher will be assessed by the parents. This may benefit the good teachers. That these problems do not escape the notice of teachers is evident from the protests of the teachers who wish to be devoid of union compulsions. Teachers are critical of the unions. For example public-school teachers are opposing the unions that claim to represent them on issues ranging from alleged misuse of member dues for political activity to union insistence on politically correct curricula. Thus with parental rights teachers are calling for teachers right to be devoid of union harassment. Thus there is a division on the issue and while unions provide for insurance, and other group benefits, they must not enter into the very root of the education system. Freedom of expression without compulsions must be guaranteed to the teachers. There are lots of women teachers in all communities. In fact women tend to take to teaching as a vocation more than men. However the issues that confront male teachers in the school are also present for the female teachers in the same ratio. Thus they also have to be technically skilled, and oriented to the modern teaching methods. Earlier women were relegated to the kindergarten and the primary schools. Now they are in high positions in academic institutions including research institutions and have a role in the formulation of education policies. The distinction between the male teacher and the female teacher lies in the reach women have on the marginalized children and therefore the teaching of these groups who cannot attend school is a speciality that has to be developed in willing women teachers. Thus the technology of today enables women at home take a shot at home schooling to have virtual but still intimate emotional connections. There is evidence of social disintegration, with the loss of the common school and the teacher education programs and there is a move aimed at retraditionalization with individualism being more asserted. Home schooling has come to stay especially in cases where the child is disadvantaged. It is there that Michael W. Apple lays stress on the role of women educators. It is his opinion that teacher education must be available for women, not only the professional teacher at school, but also those who care for the disadvantaged and are engaged in schooling either at home or in the community. It is urged that this ought to be considered seriously.

The Great Gatsby: Morality And Gatsby :: essays research papers fc

The Great Gatsby: Morality and Gatsby Morality is a very controversial issue. That is one of the reasons what people are interested in reading about it. Morality can lead to many questions essentially it can lead to the question between right and wrong. In The Great Gatsby Nick Carraway is faced with a constant struggle between right and wrong. Truth is an issue of morality. "It all happened in a minute but it seemed to me that she wanted to speak to us, thought we were somebody she knew." (Fitzgerald 151) Daisy and Gatsby tried to hide the fact that they hit and killed Myrtle Wilson while driving home from New York. Nick Carraway, however, knew the truth and had to decide if he was going to help hide the truth or let Daisy and Gatsby suffer the consequences. â€Å"I don't think that anybody saw us but of course I can't be sure.† (Fitzgerald 151). Gatsby felt that he could hide the car and with it he could hide the truth. The truth is that Myrtle Wilson was killed and Daisy and Gatsby are the ones to blame. They cannot hide that truth. The friendship between Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway is a questionable one and full of doubt. "He had seen me several times and had intended to call on me long before but a peculiar combination of circumstances had prevented it- signed Jay Gatsby." (Fitzgerald 45-46) The two had lived next door to each other for awhile however, they had never associated. Therefore, along with the invitation to the party there was some suspicion. Jay Gatsby is a very wealthy man. Nick Carraway, although he lives in West Egg, is not wealthy nor elegant. The two are certainly opposites. Gatsby and Carraway are bound to take

A Visit to Italy :: Descriptive Essay Examples, Rome, Italy

A Visit to Italy    The capital city of Italy is a very extraordinary place to visit. The population of Rome is well over two-million. The people there are very friendly and are extremely proud of their country. Rome is a beautiful bustling city that has a moderate cli mate. The temperature usually stays around eighty degrees. The main way of transportation is by bus.    The side walk cafes are very popular in Rome. The cafes were always populated with happy Italians and a few curious tourists. The most preferred cafe was the Cafe S. Petro. this cafe was in perfect walking distance from the Vatican city. The Vatica n city is were the pope lives. The main meals served at the cafes varied from pizza to tortillini. The pizzas were not exactly like Pizza Hut's pizza. They were crispy thin with very few toppings available. Most pizzas came with cheese, pepperoni and a watery tomato sauce. The tortillini had soft, medium-length, hollow noodles with more watery tomato sauce. Another favorite at the cafe was the lasagna which was unbelievably delicious. After having tasted the pizzas and the tortillini, I was not exp ecting the lasagna to be so tasty. The lasagna was packed full of hot meat, zesty cheese, and a tangy tomato sauce. It was not out of the ordinary to see Italians, instead of eating at the cafe, talking with their friends and sipping on hot cappucino.    The streets in Rome were always swamped with motor scooters, three-wheeled cars, and buses. Although, the main way of transportation are buses, Italians also scooted around on their motor scooters. The scooters were more convenient because the scoote rs could easily slip through traffic jams. The parking was very hazardous for people because some cars would be blocked in by a small car that was parked vertical between two horizontally parked cars. Car accidents were very common in Rome. When two pe ople had a car accident, they would just wave or yell at each other and drive hurriedly away. The police were not notified and there was no question of who would pay for the damages.    The worst part about Rome were the buses. These buses were jammed tight with people who were sweaty and excessively vulgar.

We Need a Retirement Plan

With the way the economy is today, we need all the money we can get especially when we retire. The topic of my paper is â€Å"We do not need a retirement plan because social security will cover our needs when we retire. This is a topic that I strongly disagree with; Social Security alone will not be enough to cover our needs when we retire. Social Security or SSI is a program financed through general revenues; it is designed to help adults who are blind, the elderly and disabled people who have little or no income. SSI provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. Whether you can get SSI depends on your income and things you own. SSI benefits are payable to adults who have limited income and resources, meet the living requirements, and are otherwise eligible. If you don’t fall into any of these categories and you have already retired without a retirement plan, you won’t have a source of income to support yourself. The Federal benefit rate for a SSI payment is $674 dollars, as we all know $674. 0 is not nearly enough to live, and that may only be enough to pay your rent. You will still have other living expenses such as food, bills, and personal items, not to mention health care. Although there is Medicaid, and Medicare but not everyone is eligible to receive those benefits. These are a few reasons why Social Security will not be enough to cover our needs when we retire without a retirement plan. With Social Security there is no guarantee that you will qualify to receive payment. SSI is based on your income, money that you receive such as wedges, other SSI benefits, and pensions. The amount of income you can receive each month and still get SSI depends partly on where you live. Some of the resources used in the qualification process are; real estate, bank accounts, stocks and bonds, and cash. You may be able to receive SSI benefits if your resources are worth no more than $2,000. A couple may be eligible to receive SSI benefits if their resources are worth no more than $3,000. Another big issue with retirement is Health Care. Sure Medical insurance is included when you receive Social Security called Medicare and Medicaid, but again you have to qualify for that as well. You may think that Medicaid and Medicare are the same; actually they are two different programs. Medicaid is a state run program that provides hospital and medical coverage for people with low income and little or no resources. Each state has its own rules about who is eligible and what is covered under Medicaid. The program helps with the cost of health care, but it does not over all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care. Medicare is financed by a portion of the payroll taxes paid by workers and their employers. It also is financed in part by monthly premiums deducted from Social Security checks. Some people qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older. Certain people younger than age 65 can qualify for Medicare, too, including those who have disa bilities and those who have permanent kidney failure or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). In order to qualify for Medicare before the age of 65 if; you have been entitled to Social Security disability benefits for 24 months; or you receive a disability pension from the railroad retirement board and meet certain conditions; or you worked long enough in a government job where Medicare taxes were paid and you meet the requirements of the Social Security disability program; or you are the child or the widow(er) age 50, or older, including a divorced widow(er), of someone who has worked long enough in a government job where Medicare taxes were paid and you meet the requirement of the Social Security disability program. During my research I was able to interview 3 people; Thomas Burrell a retired veteran who has SSI and retirement, Kathy Burrell retired from the school system that only has retirement, and Thelma Kelly an elderly woman who is retired but only receives SSI. Mr. Burrell is retired from the military in 1991, retired from the United States Postal Service in 2001; he started to receive SSI benefits in 2001. When I interviewed Mr. Burrell, he had a lot to say about SSI and retirement. Even though he is receiving both, he knows that if he only had one benefit he would not be able to maintain his lifestyle. By Mr. Burrell receiving SSI and retirement he is able to provide for his family. As far as health care goes, Mr. Burrell has Medicare. By him receiving retirement he does not qualify for Medicaid which will cover all of your medical needs. You are not making a lot of money with either the SSI benefit or retirement, but with both combined you will be able to survive. T. Burrell (personal communication, April 6, 2011) Kathy Burrell, who has just retired in January of this year, only has a retirement plan and no SSI benefits. Mrs. Burrell retired through the Florida Retirement System (FRS) and the 401K plan, and being employed in Florida you have to wait 4 months after you retire to access your money. You will need to have some kind of income to last until you receive your full retirement. Mrs. Burrell knows that she is not able to survive on retirement alone. If she didn’t have a husband, after she retired she would have to get another form of income to make ends meet. As far as health care goes, If Mrs. Burrell did not have military insurance from her husband; she would not have or be able to afford it. K. Burrell (personal communication, April 6, 2011) Thelma Kelly a resident of Columbia, South Carolina has been retired for the past 15 years. Mrs. Kelly who is a widow has been receiving SSI benefits from her late husband, and because she is eligible. Mrs. Kelly receives $700. 00 a month, says that it is a blessing that she does not have a house payment because she would not be able to afford it. Mrs. Kelly struggles every month to make her $700. 00 a month check last for food, gas, utility bills, and other personal items. T. Kelly (personal communication, April 6, 2011) In conclusion it would be beneficial to have a retirement plan along with Social Security benefits to be able to support yourself. As mentioned earlier there are a lot of stipulations and requirements in order to qualify for Social Security. Social Security alone will not be enough to cover our needs when we retire.

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products, Inc. Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is defined as the voluntary activities undertaken by a company to operate in an economic, social and environmentally sustainable manner. When companies operate in an economically, socially and environmentally responsible manner, and they do so transparently, it helps them succeed, in particular through encouraging shared value and social license. Management and mitigation of social and environmental risk factors are increasingly important for business success abroad, as the costs to companies of losing that social license, both in terms of share price and the bottom line, may be significant. JOHNSON & JOHNSON is a good example of a company that follows CSR. In 1982, Johnson & Johnson’s Tylenol medication commanded 35 per cent of the US over-the-counter analgesic market – representing something like 15 per cent of the company’s profits. Unfortunately, at that point one individual succeeded in lacing the drug with cyanide. Seven people died as a result, and a widespread panic ensued about how widespread the contamination might be. By the end of the episode, everyone knew that Tylenol was associated with the scare. The company’s market value fell by $1bn as a result. When the same situation happened in 1986, the company had learned its lessons well. It acted quickly – ordering that Tylenol should be recalled from every outlet – not just those in the state where it had been tampered with. Not only that, but the company decided the product would not be re-established on the shelves until something had been done to provide better product protection. As a result, Johnson & Johnson developed the tamperproof packaging that would make it much more difficult for a similar incident to occur in future. The cost was a high one. In addition to the impact on the company’s share price when the crisis first hit, the lost production and destroyed goods as a  result of the recall were considerable. However, the company won praise for its quick and appropriate action. Having sidestepped the position others have found themselves in – of having been slow to act in the face of consumer concern – they achieved the status of consumer champion. Within five months of the disaster, the company had recovered 70% of its market share for the drug – and the fact this went on to improve over time showed that the company had succeeded in preserving the long term value of the brand. In fact, there is some evidence that it was rewarded by consumers who were so reassured by the steps taken that they switched from other painkillers to Tylenol. The features that made Johnson & Johnson’s handling of the crisis a success included the following: †¢They acted quickly, with complete openness about what had happened, and immediately sought to remove any source of danger based on the worst case scenario – not waiting for evidence to see whether the contamination might be more widespread †¢Having acted quickly, they then sought to ensure that measures were taken which would prevent as far as possible a recurrence of the problem †¢They showed themselves to be prepared to bear the short term cost in the name of consumer safety. That more than anything else established a basis for trust with their customers. Johnson & Johnson published their own form of an â€Å"ethics oath† entitled †Our Credoâ€Å", as a way to communicate the mission, vision and accountability that Johnson & Johnson holds itself to for a variety of groups- doctors, nurses, patients, mothers, fathers, employees, those in the communities they operate in, as well as the global community and company stockholders. The Credo was created in 1943 by Robert Wood Johnson, a member of the founding family of the Johnson and Johnson Company. It was created just before the company became a publicly traded entity and long before the term â€Å"corporate social responsibility† was used for accountability in the workplace. On the Johnson and Johnson corporate website, they state that: â€Å"Our Credo challenges us to put the needs and well-being of the people we serve first. Our Credo is more  than just a moral compass- we believe it’s a recipe for business success. As a key player in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, Johnson & Johnson understands the responsibility they have when it comes to providing safe products to their consumers, as the risks tied to faulty products within this industry are particularly sensitive.† As a refresher, here are some of the benefits of having your employees publicly recite an ethics oath: †¢Positive Brand Value †¢Increase in Commitment From Employees †¢Perception + Expectation= Reality †¢EVERYONE is Accountable Many companies use storytelling and the mission of previous company leaders as a way to inspire employees and get them on board when working towards company goals. In the case of Johnson and Johnson, the importance of â€Å"Our Credo† has been evident since conception, and continues to play a signifiacnt role in the company today. When looking at the above benefits that an ethics oath can provide a company, Johnson and Johnson has been able to experience the rewards associated with each of these benefits. The story of Johnson and Johnson’s â€Å"Our Credo† is a great example of the positive impact a corporate ethics oath can have on a company.

Benedict’s Rule

â€Å"Benedict’s Rule†, a document that supposedly details the way a true Christian must behave to actually be a true Christian, and not a mere Sunday churchgoer, is a curious text. It is aimed mostly at those who wish to dedicate their whole lives to God, written mostly for monks. However, it is often taken to be a guide to how all Christians should behave despite the fact that there are quite a few things that differ rather drastically from what the Bible says. It is my opinion, thus, that this text cannot be used as a correct interpretation of God’s vision for Christians.Before beginning dealing with both this text and the Bible, I must note that the Bible contains controversial information. Sometimes the tales are of humans that strove hard and failed, and their failure – when taken literally and not as a lesson – can serve as a bad example. Other times, tales are shown to demonstrate how not to do, and there aren’t very many instances th at there are direct commandments towards humanity. That is why I have decided to use one particular section of the Bible – the Sermon on the Mount, as it is a depiction of Christ speaking directly and clearly to the people to show what he wants of them.It is a condensation of the Bible in many ways. And, as we shall see in direct comparison, what the Bible says are the direct words of God do not comply even closely what St. Benedict wants of the people. First of all, the text explicitly shows a bias towards monks. Even though it was written for monasteries, the author does not seem to accept any other kind of worshipper. Only those who are monks are actually pleasing to God – or, at least, such an expression I garnered from reading the text.And, even then, traveling monks, those, who have no stable monastery are frowned upon deeply and insinuated with all sorts of sins (â€Å"Always roving and never settled, they indulge their passions and the cravings of their appeti te, and are in every way worse than the Sarabaites. † BR, chapter 1). Elitism, however, is one of the things Christian doctrine rises against the most. Christianity is not the religion of some Elite, it is the religion of the many, and it is for everyone, who will take the time and trouble to know God.Any person can do it, and there is no need to lead a special, â€Å"especially righteous† life in a monastery. No, indeed, a true Christian is a man of the higher world, a man of heaven, who descends unto the Earth to aid those in need of guidance here. Someone might protest on this one that monasteries are of great value. I do not underestimate the importance of monasteries in the great work that is Christianity – scholars and keepers of lore are as valued in the Christian tradition as in any other. However, neither are they the most important.The most important is the average, everyday person, who has his or her own relationship with Deity. The aim of Christianity was never to create an elite, it was to have everyone transmute into an elite. This requires not monasteries as places of seclusion – a monk may not even eat outside of a monastery, as chapter 51 of Benedict’s rule states – but as schools admitting all those who wish to learn truly! A division between believers is not only unnecessary, but also harmful to the cause, and teaching it to the people who would be teachers is just plain evil, if an unintended one.Second, as we can see in Benedict’s rule, he depicts things such as humility, silence, and et cetera as being rather, well, showy. For instance, humility: Benedict shows that humility is to be spoken of out loud, at least in the middle degrees of it. This is not humility, but the opposite, exaltation. Even the he mentions greater humility later on; it still does not seem to be the most important. Formal observance seems to take precedence over the simple and honest, if at times clumsy, task of living a good life, shows seem to be more important than honest service.Monasteries are supposed to be quiet and devoted to their given tasks, not showing off their â€Å"more-humble-than-thou-art†. This is devoutly un-Christian. The Bible says, however, that things such as worship should be kept in secret – and not because of a fear of nosy neighbors, either! The mysteries of God are simple, yet, when occulted, they gain great power for the transformation of the one that works with these mysteries. However, as with any occult knowledge, when revealed, it becomes absolutely useless and even false.Like decorations out of a good drama, when brought to daylight, they are nothing but fool’s gold – and the alchemical transmutation of fool’s gold into real gold only occurs in solitude and darkness, only after a person has sought his on way to God and fought his own battles on it. One might oppose me in that monasteries are there to leave the lights within this darkness, for the lone traveler and neophyte to use. Monasteries are supposed to lead the exemplary life, one for which the average believer should strive. Yet how much of an example is it, if it is impossible to follow because of the elitism?A true teaching goes out to the students of this teaching, it does not attempt to shroud knowledge in baubles. Yes, showing an exemplary life originally was one of their functions – however, such things must be done very carefully, and never massively. Yes, certain shreds of enlightenment, certain way markers can be transplanted from one person to another; and a basic education is never a bad thing. However, usually such things are not given in monasteries. They are not careful enough, not competent enough, and too massive for their own good – and, even if they were good enough, what truth about God was ever learned in a classroom?It and the teacher in it can aid in pinpointing the way, not be the Truth itself. Added to the usuall y reclusive and yet arrogant life of the monasteries, what comes of it is more an indoctrination than anything else. And this leads us to the next un-Christian thing I found in Benedict’s Rule. Benedict speaks much of obedience. (â€Å"As soon as anything hath been commanded by the Superior they permit no delay in the execution, as if the matter had been commanded by God Himself. â€Å", chapter 5) However, he speaks of obedience to humans, not to God.He says that those high up in the Church are God’s chosen for this work, and should be obeyed as God would be obeyed, for they are always vessels for His will. We shall not even get into the whole discussion of where saying that the Church hierarchs lack the basic gift of God – Free Will – leads. Omitting that, we shall focus on the fact that everything is, in its own way, a test from God. If subscribing to the theodicy of the fact that evil exists as a tool for our learning and growth, the fallacies of an other can also be regarded in this respect.Preaching blind obedience, when one of the basics of Christianity is â€Å"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. † (Matthew 7:2)? The process of seeking has always involved thinking for oneself, separating the wheat from the chaff, deciphering the Holy Book that is Life and Christ itself – not merely obeying those who are also on this search, and may be going down a wrong alleyway, for to be human is to err! Christianity is a religion that is supposed to grant freedom, not to suffocate it within the throngs of hierarchy.In Benedict’s Rule there is much emphasis on formality. When prayers are to be said, how gifts are supposed to be given, and so on. (â€Å"CHAPTER XVI How the Work of God Is to Be Performed during the Day†, et cetera). The proper procedure for communion with God is quite important, that no one can deny, however, it is not by chance that the Sermon on the Mount focuses upon the inner motivations (â€Å"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court;† Matthew 5:22) and not on the outer manifestation.One might say that an outer manifestation, such as the keeping of formalities, is important as well. After all, is it not by ceremony that we recognize and identify? Is it not the symbol that shows us the way? Is it not the atmosphere that is created with these symbols and formalities that first teaches us the essence of religion, is within them not the spirit of Christianity itself? Yes, and I do not mean to contradict that in any kind of way. However, as a word written on a page can never replace the object itself, so the symbols of religion should not become the core of religion, and this should be remembered.Christianity, when it first arose, was a religion of personal experience. It was something that you felt and worked with, and it – and its outer expression s – was individual for every believer. Everyone was his own judge, in the end. Any outer rules that came into existence for Christianity, though important, were secondary, not primary. The code of conduct is a useful thing, however, it – if the monks to whom it is addressed are good monks – has no value whatsoever. It would be valuable for those striving to be monks, for complete novices, but not for those who have done the inner work.For, if one heeds the Bible, which frowns even upon evil thoughts, good actions should follow. The formalities are a necessary subsequence to real inner faith. What would be good is advice on wisdom, on how to make decisions, and not on the formalities. Tradition is important and beautiful, but not to this extent. It should not become dogma, accepted on faith as Gospel – and as too many would want it to be. As we can see, the text †Benedict’s Rule†, if read with care, can be seen as even contradicting the Bible.Such is the price of human folly; such is the price of people attempting to judge the inner world by outer laws. Not a gentle mingling, growing into each other, which is done within every true individual’s hearts – but a forcible mashing together of the two things that should be one, yet are now separate. This task, to be done, must include letting go of the reins of society and entrusting the process within the hands of an individual human and God, though this is very difficult.Christianity is not supposed to force this relationship, as Benedict states, with punishments (â€Å"At the day hours, however, whoever doth not arrive for the Work of God after the verse and the Gloria of the first psalm, which is said after the verse, let him stand in the last place, according to the rule which we stated above; and let him not attempt to join the choir of the chanters until he hath made satisfaction, unless, perchance, the Abbot's permission hath given him leave to do so, with the understanding that he atone the fault afterwards† chapter 43).However, it is supposed to gently show those who made a mistake that it was a mistake. As Socrates said, â€Å"There is not one person that would do evil if they knew it was evil. † This is true, and Christianity’s function is to enlighten the people, to aid them in stopping making mistakes. How many times could a teacher force someone to learn? None. But a teacher who awakens within his pupils not fear, but a desire to learn, will succeed in being a good teacher. Benedict, though he tries valiantly, fails this difficult task.