Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Components of Consumer Information Processing Case Study

Components of Consumer Information Processing - Case Study Example As a consumer, I consider myself a more of utilitarian than hedonic. This mean whenever I am shopping I always aim at maximizing utility. I view shopping as a task which I have to program first, then conduct a proper search in order to get the a product or a service with desired specifications to satisfy my need. I normally seek functional, instrumental, and practical benefits. A recent Study on why people go shopping has revealed that shopping experience can provide to the consumer with a combination of both utilitarian value and hedonic value. Utilitarian value is task oriented and cognitive in nature. On the other hand, hedonic value is tied to the emotional aspect of the shopping experience. A consumer perceive a utilitarian value if they acquire they acquire product that necessitated their shopping trip, while at the same time perceive hedonic value if they enjoyment of the shopping experience. For these reason although I put more emphasis on maximizing a product utility, I also enjoy a shopping experience that offer both utilitarian and hedonic value satisfaction. The components of the consumer information processing are important to the business in various aspects. First, it is important to note that the volume of sales as well as the profitability of the business depends on the consumer buying behavior. These components include the exposure stages, retention, yielding, comprehension, and the attention. The exposure component triggers the stimuli of the consumer to acquire the product. The information processing is important to the business in that attracts the attention of many consumers hence the customer base of the organization is bound to increase significantly (Roy and Ian 372). It facilitates the provision of the necessary information to the consumers and thus, helps the consumer in making decision to buy the product. It provides the clear image of the product whilst providing the consumer with information regarding

Monday, October 28, 2019

Code of Sexual Ethics Essay Example for Free

Code of Sexual Ethics Essay The value of a code of sexual ethics is one that is extremely important to hold close to ones mind and soul. Human sexuality is a broad topic in society and everyone has different views on what is important to them as individuals. My view of human sexuality has been shaped with many influences. Growing up, my Mother always taught me to be comfortable with my sexuality, and I watched my older siblings show the same confidence that my Mother was teaching me. She taught me to respect others and myself equally, no matter what label of sexuality that they hold. Basically; â€Å"Treat others how you want to be treated†. I hope to teach my children in the same effective way that my Mother taught my siblings and I. I feel as though having this code of sexual ethics will act as a backbone to the teachings of human sexuality for my children and the next generation. I plan for them to follow this code faithfully, as I will continue to do so throughout the remaining course of my life. CODE To my Children; I have put together a code of sexual ethics that will help instruct and guide you in the right direction throughout the course of your lives. â€Å"Part of discovering yourself sexually usually involves developing your personal set of morals and values as they relate to sexual issues†(Hock, 6). This code of sexual ethics should not be viewed soley as disciplinary, the purpose is to provide guidance throughout the course of your lives. The first principle that is essential to your sexual health and well-being is to always use protection. This is important because Be faithful to your partner Wait until you are ready, do not let anyone pressure you/don’t take advantage Make sure it’s the right person to share the experience with â€Å"Most people agree that parents are the most appropriate source of [sexual] knowledge† (Hock, 15). THE PAST My parents have taught me to always be respectful to women. I would never force myself on any woman. They taught me to practice respect with all people, and not to judge others based on their sexuality, even if they may be different from me. I was also taught to never hold back my feelings, and to follow my heart. Yes, in some situations throughout my life, this has lead to heart break. However, in others, it has brought me to experiencing the most amazing feeling in the world; love. I have been known to wear my heart on my sleeve, however, this put forth both benefits and harms on my feelings throughout my life. Sex on the other hand, has always been a bit more personal. My parents did not exclusively teach me about sex. They taught me about love and relationships in general. Although, the topic of sex did arise, it was never the main focus of their teachings. My mother and I have a very comfortable relationship, we are usually able to talk about anything. She has taught me almost everything I need to know about how to make relationships work; along with the respectful ways to treat the woman I love. We did not start having these discussions until I was in high school. I wish that we would have talked about sexual values and behaviors while I was in middle school because that is when I started seriously liking girls. It all started at a pretty young age. I was always able to speak through my heart, even though I tend to be extremely shy. When it comes to feelings of my heart, I need to let it out. My mom and my peers have always been helpful to me in developing my awareness and understanding about my sexuality. I have never struggled with my sexuality personally, however, I have always cared greatly about the way I look. Some people call me â€Å"metro sexual†. This all started when I was very young. Because I wore nice clothes, and did my hair everyday, some people would mistake me for homosexual. This did not bother me though because I have always been comfortable with my sexuality because I know that I am not homosexual. I just like to look good, which in turn helps me feel good about myself. On the other hand, I think that the media may have played an unhelpful part in raising awareness and understanding about sexuality. Although some programs out there do a great job of explaining these concepts, most of the ones that I was exposed to, did not. Communication about sexuality is definitely welcomed when talking with my mother. However, it is almost fully unwelcomed when talking with my father. We just never talked about that sort of stuff. With my Dad and I, it has always been all about sports. Although, I am comfortable talking about my sexuality in general with all of my family members, I am not be comfortable going into detail on my sexual experiences. I think this is the case because my sexual experiences are a private, intimate matter. My family has no business in knowing about it unless something negative comes out of it, which it never has. THE PRESENT AND CONCLUSION The process of writing my code of sexual ethics was interesting. It allowed me to really look back on my past actions and reflect upon what I did wrong and what I did right. It is also interesting to think that I may be sharing this code with my children in the future. That fact in itself shaped the way I wrote my code of ethics because I really had to think about what I would approve of as a parent and how I would want my child to behave sexually. It was a hard process, but I learned a lot about myself along the way. I think that writing a code of sexual ethics was definitely useful and helpful in clarifying my sexual philosophy. This is because of the major thought process that was required to put into the creation of the code. I had to dig deep into my families, and my own beliefs and values when addressing sexual behavior, which in turn clarified some hazy thoughts in my mind as well. I currently live by most of the principles I wrote in my code of ethics. My parents raised me well and taught me to respect myself and others, and to also take responsibility for your actions. If there are any of the guidelines of my code that I did not live by in the past, than I will change my ways to live by them now. I can comfortably communicate with friends and intimate partners depending on the content of the subject. I have learned a great amount of information throughout this course. This information has shaped the way I formed my code of sexual ethics. We learned how to respect ourselves and love ourselves before anyone else and that was the basis of my code of sexual ethics. I think my code is pretty solid. I do not think it will need much revision in the future. However, it may need some additions. It may need additions because over the course of time my idea of ethics may change, as I grow older. When I am married the code may be a bit different for me, however I would want to teach my children this exact code of sexual ethics.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Guillain-Barre Syndrome Essay -- Health Medical Medicine Essays

Guillain-Barre Syndrome Most people do not expect to become paralyzed during the course of their lives. Barring injury to the nervous system or debilitating disease, one does not expect to lose motor function. In spite of these expectations, people of all races, sexes, ages, and classes can be afflicted with a debilitating syndrome that can lead to difficulty in walking or even to temporary paralysis in the most severe cases. This syndrome is known commonly as Guillain-Barre Syndrome, or GBS. GBS is an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves. When the syndrome occurs, the body's peripheral nerves become inflamed and cease to work due to an unknown cause. (1) (3) Around 50% of the cases of GBS appear after a bacterial or viral infection. (1) The syndrome can also appear after surgery or vaccination. GBS can appear hours or days after these incidences or can even take up to three or four weeks to appear. (4) Some theories propose that GBS is caused by a mechanism of the autoimmune system that prompts antibodies and white blood cells to attack the covering and insulation of the nerve cells, which leads to abnormal sensation. GBS is considered a syndrome rather than a disease, because its description is based on a set of symptoms reported by the patient to her doctor. (5) GBS is also known as acute inflammatory demylinating polyneuropathy and Landry's ascending paralysis after Jean B. O. Landry, a French physician who described a disorder that "paralyzed the legs, arms, neck, and breathing muscles of the chest." (4) (1) GBS was named after French physicians Georges Guillain and Jean Alexander Barre who, along with fellow physician Andre Stohl, described the differences of the spinal fluid of those who suffered f... ...undation International, based in Wynnewood, PA. http://www.guillain-barre.com/overview.html 2) Kolata, Gina. Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus That Caused It. Simon & Schuster: New York. Pgs. 167-185. 3) Guillain-Barrà © Support Group, The homepage for the Guillain-Barre Syndrome Support Group based in the United Kingdom. The organization disseminates information to sufferers of the syndrome and their family and friends. http://www.gbs.org.uk/index2.shtml 4) NINDS Guillain-Barre Information Page, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke information page on GBS. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/gbs/gbs.htm 5) GBS - An Overview For The Layperson, An overview of GBS written by Dr. Joel S. Steinberg, a neurologist that once suffered from GBS. http://members.ozemail.com.au/~guillain/gbs.htm

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Beowulf’s Confidence Essay

Beowulf was written in the earliest age of English poetry. Back in the Anglo-Saxon times, in order to make a name for themselves, warriors had to fight in battles. They believe that you should fight until death with absolutely no retreating. Beowulf, a young Geatish warrior, comes to Hrothgar’s kingdom to return a favor to him. While Beowulf is there, he fights in two battles; the battle with Grendel and the battle with Grendel’s mother. Much later in the poem, he fights in his third battle, defeating the dragon harming his country. Beowulf’s confidence decreases as each battle occurs. In Beowulf’s battle with Grendel, Beowulf is extremely confident. This confidence is very apparent in his attitude. When he first comes to Hrothgar’s court, he tells him that he had â€Å"firm resolve when [he] set to sea† (Beowulf 22). This confidence is also apparent in Beowulf’s preparation. He chooses to abandon his armor and weapons in the fight. He very dramatically â€Å"[strips] from his shoulders the byrny of steel, / [doffs] helmet from head† (23). Beowulf has a huge advantage on Grendel because he is very strong. He is so strong that the people of his country say that his handgrip is equivalent to that of â€Å"thirty men’s strength† (15). Beowulf’s confidence is extremely evident as he prepares to fight Grendel. Beowulf prepares differently in the fight with Grendel’s mother because he is not as confident as he was in the first battle. Beowulf’s attitude while talking to Hrothgar is less confident due to the fact he is not sure of how the battle will end. He has Hrothgar pledge to â€Å"Protect [his] kinsmen, [his] trusty comrades, / If battle take [him]† (48). Beowulf also shows his confidence lessening by deciding to use armor and weapons in the battle. To prepare for the battle, he â€Å"[dons] his armor† (47) with â€Å"A gleaming helmet† (47) and â€Å"the sword the herald of Hrothgar loaned† (47). Beowulf is still somewhat strong compared to his last battle. When Grendel’s mother â€Å"[grapples] and [grasps] the warrior / With horror grip† (48, 49) and tries to â€Å"tear through the tempered mail / With her savage fingers† (49), she cannot harm him. Beowulf’s confidence is not as apparent in the second battle with Grendel’s mother. Beowulf’s confidence continues to decrease as the battle with the dragon occurs. Beowulf’s attitude was extremely negative. His heart â€Å"[is] heavy with anguish† (75). Beowulf’s confidence level is so low that he has special armor prepared for him. The king â€Å"bade work him of iron a wondrous shield, / Knowing full well that wood could not serve him / Nor linden defend him† (75) against the dragon. Beowulf’s strength has drastically changed since the beginning of the first battle. Rather than having the grip of â€Å"thirty men’s strength† (15), Beowulf â€Å"[trusts] the strength / Of his single might† (82). Beowulf shows little to no confidence in the battle with the dragon. Beowulf’s confidence lessens as each battle approaches. He goes from being a great, bold warrior with much confidence, to an old, fragile king with very little confidence. Beowulf comes to a point of weakness where he can no longer defend for himself and needs help from fellow warriors, like Wiglef. His confidence adjusted so extremely that he goes into the last battle expecting a not so good outcome. At the end of the battle with the dragon, Beowulf passes away, with his weakness and little confidence being a huge factor.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

On Social Theory In Social Work Essay

We know where we have been, where we are now and where we need to go – but how do we get there? A map. Theory is a map. It notes any number of known landmarks (previously achieved or applied solutions) and obstacles (issues or problems) and gives us direction so that we are able to navigate intelligently and arrive safely (minimal discomfort to all) at our destination (desired outcome/s). Theory is an attempt to explain the unexplained, to give title to the untitled and to give reason to the unreasonable. It is a combination of existing knowledge and newly acquired knowledge that allows us to make assumptions in order to realise reasonably foreseeable outcomes. It is only in the realms of science, physics and mathematics that the repeated application of a single theory will return a consistent result indefinitely. However, in the social work disciplines, the repeated application of a single theory may very well result in chaos and mayhem due simply to the addition of the vagaries and subjectiveness of human behaviour – individual realism and personality. Mix society with the individual then add a third ingredient – power (political, economic, etc) and you end up with a chameleonic and metamorphosis-like result, what I refer to as the ‘lava lamp effect’ – constant change, confusion, tangentiality, shifts in personal, political and societal values and meanings. Theory is the vehicle of bringing order and making sense of all these things. That an individual on one occasion might respond to certain stimuli in a particular fashion, is no predictor of the individual’s (micro level) responses to the same or like stimuli on subsequent occasions and is certainly not an indication that the ‘collective’ (macro level) will respond in the same manner. It is not possible for one person to comprehend the world as perceived by  another person. The absolute closest we can come to this is to use our own imagination and compare our own experiences as a guide – empathy. Enter theory. Theory gives us the launching pad for action. It is a single starting point for all social work practitioners regardless of their individual methodological preferences. Howe (1987, p48) states, â€Å"The loud claim is that practice is saturated with theory no matter how much the social worker speaks of [their] simple reliance on commonsense or intuition. Each theory and its associated practice holds assumptions about people and their society †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†. However, theory still remains our most valuable agent in facilitating acceptable if not positive outcomes. The nature of social work is in a constant state of flux and what was suitable or successful yesterday may not be today although past theories still have a valid place in our reckoning. There is a constant flow of new and more complex issues introducing themselves to society every day and more often than not, theory will be the only tools available to us as a means of sourcing solutions. When discussing how theories are used in practice, Payne (1997, p48) states; â€Å"There are three approaches to this task: using theories to interrogate, clarify and criticise each other, using theories selectively, and using theories together to modify each other† and Lemert (1999, p20) states â€Å"Social theory is what we do when we find ourselves able to put into words what nobody seems to want to talk about†. Further, Mullaly (2002, p3) cites Reynolds (1971) â€Å"Theory carries out four basic functions: description; explanation; prediction; and control and management of events or changes †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦it describes phenomena; it attempts to explain what causes them; it predicts future events, including what will happen if certain interventions occur (or do not occur); and attempts to control and manage events or changes at all levels of human activity†. Theory also has its place in supplementing existing knowledge – filling in the blanks as it were. There is no divorcing theory from experience nor from assumption as these two  things are the interminably prime ingredients of theory. In order to create a theory we must draw upon our own or others’ knowledge bases, experiences and assumptions – no other source/s exist/s. Whilst most would agree that theory is generally the basis for experiment, quite often the reverse is true – experiment as the basis of theory! There once existed a theory that technological advancements would eventually result in a reduction of the number of skilled tradesmen required. This theory therefore required that there be a reduction in the numbers of (government subsidised) trade apprenticeship places – a huge cost saving exercise, an economic positive! However, we have since learned that this theory was implemented without a great deal of thought as to the possible negatives – those of higher youth unemployment (increased welfare bill), a much sharper decline in the number of skilled tradesmen to adequately service the community (have you ever tried to get hold of a plumber or electrician in an emergency?), and a steep increase in the cost to the consumer (community) in utilising those affected trade services. Some would also argue that the reduction in apprenticeship places would have contributed to increases in various crimes and therefore further unnecessary cost to the community and taxpayers. A more recent theory is that of children in detention centres. Some schools of thought insisted that keeping children in detention was senseless and cruel and that they should be settled into local communities. Others viewed this train of thought as being reminiscent of the ‘stolen generation’ and further theorised that it was wrong to separate the children from their parents and therefore the mother and children should be settled into the community with regular visits to the father who should remain in detention. There was still further argument that cultural matters had not been considered in that further or other yet foreseen problems may result by isolating the father from the family unit. Each discourse here is based only on theory but it encourages discourse that seeks resolutions. A good thing. Not all theory is good and nor is it all bad, it is simply a helpful step  towards finding resolutions where none has previously existed to address issues and problems in society be they real or perceived. As can be ascertained from just a small collection of readings, even theorists differ widely in their interpretations and applications of theory. Every ‘-ist’ of every ‘-ism’ believes that their approach is more beneficial than those of the others. Whether they are aware of it or not, even those social work practitioners who would underrate the benefits of the use of theory in their practice, preferring instead to rely on their own intuition and experience, are still employing theory – empirically. References Howe, D., 1987, An Introduction to Social Work Theory; Making Sense in Practice, Wildwood House. Lemert, C., 1999, Social Theory, Second Edition; The Multicultural and Classic Readings, MacMillan Press Ltd, Victoria. Mullaly, B., 2002, Challenging Oppression; A Critical Social Work Approach, Oxford University Press. Payne, M., 1997, Modern Social Work Theory, Second Edition, PALGRAVE, N.Y.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

The Forgotten (Persuasive essay for prison education)

The Forgotten (Persuasive essay for prison education) The media has jaded people in today's society, and it seems that people no longer care or even attempt to think about others problems and how to fix them. Many people in this country either do not care or are happy to be ignorant of the issues affecting our world today. If someone cannot come up with a quick fix immediately then they simply ignore the problem until it becomes intolerable. This is true when it comes to thinking about those that we put behind bars. The prison system is only brought to the forefront when they become overpopulated and it's time to create new prisons. Every couple of years this issue comes up and always the same solution is proposed. Building more prisons will only exacerbate the problem in the end, due to the ineffectiveness of prisons. While this is a way out of the problem, it does not get to the heart of the problem.Finnish prison guardAs a society we have to begin to focus on the bigger picture. It is time that people realize that creating prisons is not a solution to this problem. A practical and more permanent solution to our failing prison system is to fund the creation of new educational programs for inmates through our tax dollars.According to statistics from the Bureau of Justice, "In 2005, over 7 million people were on probation, in jail or prison, or on parole at yearend 2005 3.2% of all U.S. adult residents or 1 in every 32 adults." Statistics show that if nothing is done, these shocking figures will continue to rapidly increase throughout the years. Even though the United States does not have the largest general population, it somehow managed to have the largest prison population worldwide (Vicini). As if that is not bad enough...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Free Essays on Nurse Anesthetists

Nurse Anesthetists www.aana.com Anesthetists have been providing anesthesia care in the US for over 100 years. Nurse anesthetists’ association name is the American Association of Anesthetists. There are a total of 42% of the nations 28,00 CRNAs are men, versus approximately 5% in the nursing profession as a whole. They are required to have education and experience to become a CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist), which include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; hold a current license as a registered nurse; at least one years experience in an acute care nursing setting; graduate from an accredited school of nurse anesthesia; and pass a national certification examination following graduation. They have many responsibilities that include taking care of the person and doing the breathing for them at times during surgery on a patient.... Free Essays on Nurse Anesthetists Free Essays on Nurse Anesthetists Nurse Anesthetists www.aana.com Anesthetists have been providing anesthesia care in the US for over 100 years. Nurse anesthetists’ association name is the American Association of Anesthetists. There are a total of 42% of the nations 28,00 CRNAs are men, versus approximately 5% in the nursing profession as a whole. They are required to have education and experience to become a CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist), which include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; hold a current license as a registered nurse; at least one years experience in an acute care nursing setting; graduate from an accredited school of nurse anesthesia; and pass a national certification examination following graduation. They have many responsibilities that include taking care of the person and doing the breathing for them at times during surgery on a patient....

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Definition and Examples of Chiasmus Figure of Speech

Definition and Examples of Chiasmus Figure of Speech In rhetoric, chiasmus is a verbal pattern (a type of antithesis) in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first with the parts reversed. Essentially the same as antimetabole. Adjective: chiastic. Plural: chiasmus or chiasmi. Note that a chiasmus includes anadiplosis, but not every anadiplosis reverses itself in the manner of a chiasmus. Examples and Observations You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.Your manuscript is both good and original, but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.If black men have no rights in the eyes of the white men, of course, the whites can have none in the eyes of the blacks.The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order.Chiasmus as verbal judoThe root pattern is called chiasmus because diagrammed, it forms an X, and the Greek name for X is chi. When John Kennedy constructed his famous bromide, Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country, he went to the Well of Antithesis for his active ingredient. Where does the X power come from?... Obviously, a verbal judo is at work here. By keeping the phrase but inverting its meaning we use our opponents own power to overcome him, just as a judo expert does. So a scholar remarked of anothers theory, Cannon entertains that theory because that theory entertains Cannon. The pun on entertain complicates the chiasmus here, but the judo still prevailsCannon is playing with the power of his own mind rather than figuring out the secrets of the universe. The lighter side of chiasmusStarkist doesnt want tuna with good taste, Starkist wants tuna that tastes good! Pronunciation ki-AZ-mus Also Known As Antimetabole, epanodos, inverted parallelism, reverse parallelism, crisscross quotes, syntactical inversion, turnaround Sources Cormac McCarthy,  The Road, 2006Samuel JohnsonFrederick Douglass, An Appeal to Congress for Impartial SuffrageAlfred North WhiteheadRichard A. Lanham,  Analyzing Prose, 2nd ed. Continuum, 2003

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Foundations of Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Foundations of Psychology - Essay Example Through systematic observation of one's own conscious experience, subjects were exposed to different visual stimuli, optical illusions and auditory tones, and then made to analyze what they experienced ("Timeline," n.d.). Functionalism evolved as a reaction to structuralism. This school of thought was greatly influenced by the work of William James, the father of American psychology, and the evolutionary theory of Charles Darwin (Wagner, n.d.[b]). Functionalism was a more systematic and accurate method than structuralism in that the former focused on the purpose of consciousness and behavior while the latter focused on the elements of consciousness. Functionalism gave due consideration to individual differences, with a great deal of impact on education, supporting the view that "children should learn at a level for which they are developmentally prepared" (Wagner, n.d.[b]). According to behaviorism, all behaviors are acquired through conditioning, which happens through interaction with the environment, and behavior can be studied in a systematic, observable manner regardless of internal mental states (Wagner, n.d.[c]). There are two types of conditioning. Classical conditioning is a method whereby a naturally occurring stimulus is paired with a neutral stimulus so that eventually the latter evokes the same response as the former without the presence of the former. Operant conditioning uses rewards and punishments for behavior. Behaviorism does not consider free will or internal factors like moods, feelings and thoughts. The theory does not consider learning that does not use rewards and punishments. The adaptability of an individual in the face of new information is also not considered. Psychoanalysis, founded by Sigmund Freud, focused on the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior (Wagner, n.d.[a]). The six basic assumptions of the psychoanalytic theory are that unconscious mental processes exist, that all human behavior is motivated and purposeful, that past experiences influence current changes and reactions, that personality functioning is very complex and can be understood through the Id, Ego and Superego, that thinking processes involve energy, strength and force, and that human behavior is influenced by interaction with the environment ("Timeline," n.d.). Humanists like Carl Rogers consider people to be basically good or healthy and they see mental health as the normal progression of life; any distortion to this natural tendency is called self-actualization. According to Rogers, people naturally know what is good for them, and what leads them astray is the society with its conditions of worth, often leading to discontent when they do not reach the standards applied to them by others. This disparity between the real self and the ideal self is called incongruity (Boeree, 2003). A healthy individual involves the following qualities: openness to experience; living in the present; organismic trusting, doing what feels right and comes natural; freedom and taking responsibility for one's choices; and creativity. Gestalt psychology evolved in response to the

Friday, October 18, 2019

( Ontological Arguments ) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

( Ontological Arguments ) - Essay Example The conceptual analysis of the cause of the universe based on cosmological argument helps in establishing the important facts about the existence of the universe and its being. The argument starts from three premises; Premise (1) is notably true since something cannot come out of nothing. According to metaphysical intuition there has to be some cause for the existence of something. It is thus very reasonable to argue that there is a requirement of a causal explanation for the existence of the universe even for the atheists. This is because if they believe that the universe began at the Bing Bang, then the universe must have had the potentiality to exist in the first place. And since there is nothing that had existed prior to the Bing Bang, then the potentiality of the universe’s existence rested in the power of God who made it possible. As such, this premise is true as we can confirm it in our realities and also the scientist naturalists can sense in it. Premise (2) holds that an actual infinite cannot exist. This is because as infinite temporal regress of events causes intolerable absurdities and therefore it cannot exist. History is made of events leading up to each other sequentially and, therefore it is very possible to add to history making its existence potentially infinite. However, it can only be potentially infinite as opposed to being actually infinite. This argument is frequently objected on the basis of the second premise which is deemed problematic both scientifically and philosophically. This is because opponents state that if the universe has an infinitely distant starting point, then one should be able to transverse from the starting point to the present. The common logic is that if there is a finite distance which connects sequential events in the past, then it can be easily transversed, which is not the case here. This objection is further worsened by the fact that the cosmological argument presupposes

Design and Implementation of Networking Plan Essay

Design and Implementation of Networking Plan - Essay Example On a network of a number of routing protocols, rout distribution process is involved to help broaden various sections of network learned routes under the support of configured protocol in sequences adaptable to other segments too within the network system. In any communications over interlinked devices on the same network system, routers to have to be connected directly, static or dynamic. To explain these concepts: dynamic routers are always acquired from â€Å"visible† routers through routing protocols; and static routers keyed-in by the network administrator. In the case of any static routing (a system of manually inserting routes within the existing sequence of routers’ routing), a number of limitations are experienced. These include lack of its practicality/ success on larger network systems since it requires a lot of time to set up; all routers must be updated upon addition of new networks, by administrators; it requires a full understanding of internetwork in relation to the functionality of all router connections. Link state routing protocols have the limitations of inability to transfer data packets over larger network since it uses CPU and system memory to update routing tables; use of larger quantities of network bandwidth at times of convergence; and a lot of time consumed during convergence in case of poor coordination on the reception of rout information over the same network system. Overcoming the listed shortcomings takes into account measures such as reducing router resource utilization through prolonging update frequencies or by swapping rout summaries; and synchronizing updates with duration taken. Additionally, solution measures such as maximum hop counts, hold downs, route poisoning, and split horizons can be considered alternately to encounter  routing loops. The prime use of packet switching and IP address makes available internet infrastructure needed by routing protocols in the sequential transmission of data packets over the internet.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Otto Wagner Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Otto Wagner - Term Paper Example He showed his true genius in his many monumental buildings as well as through outstanding conception and functional designs. Wagner was born on 13th July in the year 1841. The designer’s father died when he was about 5 years old. Otto attended Vienna academy and later, in between 1857-1862, he went to the polytechnic institute of structural design1. Still on his struggle for knowledge he as well attended a visual arts academy with his two friends: Eduard von der null and August Sicard von Sicardburg. Before becoming a renowned architect he was an apprentice especially in the field of visual arts and architecture. He designed several buildings with outstanding unique features but many of his works were never realized. Otto Wagner had two sons Sofia Paupie though these two couples were never married, he adopted these two sons (Mallgrave, 19933, 54). His marriages took place only due to the pressure of his mother therefore he ended up getting married twice. His first wife was Jos ephine Domhart while the second one was Louise Stiffel. He later died in the year 1918 at the age of 77 leaving behind his two wives, three sons and a daughter. In the history of design Otto remains the father of the modern architecture in Vienna. The buildings he designed define the ancient outlook of Vienna at the crack of the twentieth epoch. In the urban planning engineering, Otto is historically remembered as having designed the urban bridges, railway networks, and the well-structured railway stations in the Vienna. His design and architectural work is used as the historical references while looking back to the previous centuries. The movement Otto is linked with is the union of the Australian artists or the Vienna succession. He joined this movement in order to unite both the national and the international artists. The context and the style Otto is associated with is the facade decorations design in the structural designing systems he undertaken. Otto Wagner’s Movement and Style Otto Wagner was a member of the Vienna Secession Group of Artists whose styles were varied with no single style uniting the work of members of the Secession. One of the primary concerns of the Secessionists was to explore the possibility of developing an art movement that would be able to operate outside the confines of academic tradition. Most of the members of the group such as Otto Wagner particularly hoped to create and develop a style that is free from the historical influence. With regard to their architecture, Secessionists preferred to decorate their buildings using linear ornamentation2. With regard to his style, although the early works of Otto Wagner were primarily designed in the already established New-Renaissance style, he gradually shifted his style from New- Renaissance to Art Nouveau as was evidenced by his later architectural designs. Additionally, as an architectural school teacher, Wagner particularly stressed and fused art Nouveau/Secession style to hi s students. Art Nouveau was largely an ornamental artistic design style that flourished between 1890 and 1910 in several parts of the Europe as well as the United States. The style was characterized by the use of long sinuous and organic lines and was employed not only in architectural design but also in jewelry, interior design, posters, glass

Globalization Questionnaire Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Globalization Questionnaire - Research Paper Example Because of globalization, international market or global market came into existence. International or global market then is composed of different countries trading products and services with each other. Companies have been going out of their home countries and starting to build their names in other countries. This is basically the reason why we see imported products being displayed in supermarkets and department stores such as wines from Italy, gadgets and cellular phones from Asia, and shoes from Germany. Some of the international trade theories that support globalization are mercantilism, free trade, comparative advantage, absolute advantage, Heckscher-Ohlin theory, the product life-cycle theory, new trade theory, and Porter’s theory or the national competitive advantage. Rugman (2009) argued that globalization has four major drivers: market, government, competition, and cost. Market globalization drivers are factors that usually affect the demand for a specific product or service such as consumers’ common preferences, increasing consumers from different countries, and global market distribution. Governments had taken the initiative to take off international trade and investment barriers and establish free trade. They also reduced trade tariffs and eliminated restrictions in the quantity of products and services to be imported or exported. Globalization is greatly influenced by competition. For instance, a company might consider establishing a satellite office in another country to deliver their products to foreign consumers. Because of this act, other competitors would also want to go global and promote their companies to diverse markets. Other examples of competitive drivers are increasing number of alliances between multinational companies and increasing globally-centered companies. Almost all companies would want to maximize profit thereby minimizing their costs. There are countries where production and

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Otto Wagner Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Otto Wagner - Term Paper Example He showed his true genius in his many monumental buildings as well as through outstanding conception and functional designs. Wagner was born on 13th July in the year 1841. The designer’s father died when he was about 5 years old. Otto attended Vienna academy and later, in between 1857-1862, he went to the polytechnic institute of structural design1. Still on his struggle for knowledge he as well attended a visual arts academy with his two friends: Eduard von der null and August Sicard von Sicardburg. Before becoming a renowned architect he was an apprentice especially in the field of visual arts and architecture. He designed several buildings with outstanding unique features but many of his works were never realized. Otto Wagner had two sons Sofia Paupie though these two couples were never married, he adopted these two sons (Mallgrave, 19933, 54). His marriages took place only due to the pressure of his mother therefore he ended up getting married twice. His first wife was Jos ephine Domhart while the second one was Louise Stiffel. He later died in the year 1918 at the age of 77 leaving behind his two wives, three sons and a daughter. In the history of design Otto remains the father of the modern architecture in Vienna. The buildings he designed define the ancient outlook of Vienna at the crack of the twentieth epoch. In the urban planning engineering, Otto is historically remembered as having designed the urban bridges, railway networks, and the well-structured railway stations in the Vienna. His design and architectural work is used as the historical references while looking back to the previous centuries. The movement Otto is linked with is the union of the Australian artists or the Vienna succession. He joined this movement in order to unite both the national and the international artists. The context and the style Otto is associated with is the facade decorations design in the structural designing systems he undertaken. Otto Wagner’s Movement and Style Otto Wagner was a member of the Vienna Secession Group of Artists whose styles were varied with no single style uniting the work of members of the Secession. One of the primary concerns of the Secessionists was to explore the possibility of developing an art movement that would be able to operate outside the confines of academic tradition. Most of the members of the group such as Otto Wagner particularly hoped to create and develop a style that is free from the historical influence. With regard to their architecture, Secessionists preferred to decorate their buildings using linear ornamentation2. With regard to his style, although the early works of Otto Wagner were primarily designed in the already established New-Renaissance style, he gradually shifted his style from New- Renaissance to Art Nouveau as was evidenced by his later architectural designs. Additionally, as an architectural school teacher, Wagner particularly stressed and fused art Nouveau/Secession style to hi s students. Art Nouveau was largely an ornamental artistic design style that flourished between 1890 and 1910 in several parts of the Europe as well as the United States. The style was characterized by the use of long sinuous and organic lines and was employed not only in architectural design but also in jewelry, interior design, posters, glass

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REPORT FOR EMAP PLC( A MEDIA COMPANY) Essay

A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REPORT FOR EMAP PLC( A MEDIA COMPANY) - Essay Example Financial ratio analysis is a very essential tool in assessing the financial health of a business entity. Specifically, it enables a financial analyst to spot trends in a business and to compare it with the performance of similar business enterprises within the same industry. Financial ratios are grouped into three categories, each showing a different aspect of a company’s financial operations. These are profitability ratios, financial leverage ratios and liquidity/solvency ratios. Profitability ratios measure the ability of the company to generate income from its investments less the costs incurred. The gross profit margin ratio tells us the profit a business makes on its cost of sales, or cost of goods sold. It tells us how much gross profit per peso of turnover our business is earning. Gross profit is the profit we earn before we take off any administration costs, selling costs and so on. The computed operating profit margin, which is the ratio of operating income to sales measures as a percentage of sales, the excess revenue from sales over cost of normal operation excluding financing. Net profit margin, on the other hand, is the ratio of net income to sales. Unlike the operating profit margin, it takes into account the secondary or incidental gains aside from the company’s main business operation and all the costs incurred including financing. Return on assets and return on equity are variants of return on investment, which are more significant rat ios than the margins. While return on assets measures the rate of return on the total investments of the company, the return on equity assesses the rate of return on the investments of common stockholders in the company (Analyzing Company Reports 2005). Logically, higher profitability ratios indicate a healthier financial condition. It can be seen that at the end of March 2005 the company does not perform well in terms of profitability. Gross profit margin is

On Going Home Essay Example for Free

On Going Home Essay Did you ever wonder why some people opt for peace and serenity in the company of friends and colleagues? After reading Joan Didion’s, On Going Home, numerous ideas started to rush through my brain. The experiences I had in my life started to come back to me, like a flashback, with all the emotions coming with them. Yes, I know that my life has always been filled with numerous experiences. These experiences have helped me prepare for the life I am to experience when I grow older. A tragic event in my life led to my growth as an individual. When I was younger, I perceived life to be blissful and full of challenges. The everyday activities helped shape my future , molding me into the good individual that I want to be. I was a relatively good kid. I attended school daily, and achieved impressive grades. I also had friends both in school and in the neighborhood. One of my closest friends was Charlie, my neighbor. Charlie and I have been friends since we were six years old. They were new at that time, and when her parents would go to work, Charlie was left in our house. We did things together, and our differences never made a dent in our friendship. She was the perfect friend, who always knew what to do. I could never imagine going through my life without Charlie by my side. In the summer of junior year, Charlie came over to my house and asked me to join her. I told her I cannot go with her because I was doing my homework, and I had household chores to finish before my parents arrive from work. She said that it was alright, and then she hugged me tight. She told me how much she cherished our friendship and that if ever she died, she will be my angel. She would always watch over me, and guide me to do the right things. I felt shivers come up my spine, and so I asked her what she was up to. She told me that she just wanted me to know how much she cared for me. So she left. Hours past, and still I have not heard anything from Charlie. I continued doing my homework, when I heard shattered glass from downstairs. I was scared, because I was still alone in the house. I quietly went out of my room to check on where the noises came from. I was really scared, so I left Charlie a message in her voice mail. I asked her if she can come over to help me out, and that it was an emergency. As I reached the living room, I saw the glass windows shattered, and there were evidences that there was someone who broke in our house. I called Charlie, and this time she answered me. I told her that I think someone broke into our house, and I was still alone. She said to just wait for her, because she was coming over. I tried to be calm, and device a plan to save myself from the distress. I went around the house to look for the culprit, and was shocked when someone pulled me from behind. I was scared to death. I tried to scream, but the man put his hand on my mouth. He pulled me from behind and brought me to my parents’ bedroom. With right hand holding both my arms, he started to tear away my clothes. It turned out that the man did not break in to steal our things. He was a pervert who has been eyeing on me, waiting for the right time to come. I was crying and screaming my heart out because I was not in favor of the deed this pervert is doing. When I was starting to lose hope, I saw Charlie running towards the door, bringing with her the baseball bat I kept in my room. She hit the man in the head three times making the man dizzy and unconscious. She kicked the man and helped me to get up. We ran to my room, where she gave me the first shirt that she saw, and started running towards the door. Our goal was to get the phone and call 911. Charlie and I ran downstairs. The main door was locked, and the keys were hidden in the drawers. To avoid wasting time, Charlie and I decided to pass through the back door. As we ran into the kitchen, the pervert surprised us holding a knife in his hand. He said that he was not going to hurt us, if we would give in to what he wanted. Charlie was stern and wanted to fight. She started to throw dishes at the pervert, while keeping me close behind. We were both scared, but we had to hide our fears and show this pervert of a man that he cannot defeat us. The man cut his hand and this gave us the time to run. We passed through the back door and ran outside. Charlie’s hair was pulled by the man, and she wanted me to go leave her. I cannot just leave my best friend with a man who will just torture her, and reap the dignity away from her. As the fighter, Charlie struggled to get away from the man. She gave him numerous kicks, and blows in the stomach. Little did we know that the man still had a knife on his hand only to be used in this situation. I saw my best friend, Charlie, stabbed to death by a man who tried to molest me. I screamed my heart out, waking the neighbors close by. Soon, the ambulance and the police were there searching for evidences. Charlie was brought to the hospital, where she was declared death on arrival. Before she died, Charlie told me to fulfill the dreams we built as young kids, and to always be strong no matter what the circumstances are. Soon, Charlie left and became one of the stars in the heavens. She was sixteen. My unwavering friendship with my best friend, Charlie, is something that will always have a place in my heart. She taught me a lot of things, and that it was always worth to fight for the people we care for. Charlie sacrificed her life for me to be saved, and I did not waste that opportunity. I used this pain to help me go on, and succeed in life. She wanted me to live so that I may fulfill the dreams that we had when we were younger. Nowadays, I work hard to achieve excellence in my chosen field. Although there are times that I am not in a good situation, I still keep a positive note in me. Charlie’s dream was to make a difference in this world, and I want to fulfill that even in my own little way. I want to show the world that regardless of what happened to my life before, I can still manage to rise up and start anew. I know that there are times when I feel like giving up on my career and my life, in general. Then I start to think about Charlie, and how her unwavering love for me, has shielded me from harm. If I was the fighter between us, I would have been the one who died. Charlie took that option away from me, and me see that my life was destined for something big. After much hard work and dedication, my dreams and aspirations in life are just miles away. I just have to go and expand my knowledge so that I may be fully equipped with the challenges that I will face in my chosen profession. The reading paved way for me to reminisce the friendship that I had with Charlie. Charlie’s home was two houses away from ours, but her heart has always been with us. She treated us like her own family, and made us feel how much she loved and cared for us. All these years, I have wanted to find a perfect reason as to why Charlie sacrificed her life for me. The reading showed me that irrespective of who you are with, people will do anything for us, especially when they treat us like family. I know this, because this was Charlie’s lifetime sacrifice. When I feel devastated and no will to move on, I just have to look up in the stars and see that someone up there is watching over me until all of my dreams have come true.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Income Distribution And Poverty In Malaysia Economics Essay

Income Distribution And Poverty In Malaysia Economics Essay 1.0 CHAPTER 1 Health and education is the two important components of human capital. This becomes the most important needs to Malaysian people because health and education have a strong relationship between the income distribution and the level of poverty in Malaysia. Besides that, the health status and educational level are use in measured the level of income and the level of poverty in a country. Problem Statement The specific problem statement of this study is shown below: There is a strong relationship between health status and education level on the income distribution and poverty in Malaysia. There is a gap of the income distribution between the educated and healthy people with the low-income and unhealthy people in Malaysia. Income inequality and poverty is not satisfactory in Malaysia. Research Objective To identify the relationship of health and education on income level and poverty in Malaysia. To determine whether education level gives impact on income level and poverty in Malaysia. To identify the factors of poverty in Malaysia. Scope and limitation of the study This study was focus on identifying and investigates whether health and education affect the income level and poverty in Malaysia. To examine and determine this relationship, it is important to measure the significant of each of the variables related to this study. Other than that, this study will cover and use the data from 2005 until 2009 in Malaysian country. The data areas are the real per capita gross domestic product (GDP), public spending on expenditure (percent of GDP), total enrolment in primary school and life expectancy of birth. The data are obtained from Department of statistics Malaysia and World Development Indicators (World Bank). significance of the problem This paper is important to the economic development in Malaysia as this study will help the government to identify and determine the important area that need to be improved in order to reduce income inequality and solve poverty. Other than that, this paper also can help the Malaysian communities to improve themselves by showing them the important of higher education level which is the important factors contribute to higher income level. Chapter outline In chapter 1, we will discuss about the introduction of this study. We will know a little bit about the important of health and education. After conducting this study, we will determine the problem and after that we can develop the objectives of this study. Lastly, we can determine the scope and limitation while conducting this study. Chapter 2 discuss about the relevant literature review. We explained the variable in this chapter which are the health, educational level, income inequalities and poverty. The conceptual framework also included to explain the relationship between the independent variables and dependent variables. Chapter 3 explain about the data and methodology. This refers to the data used, the population and sampling methods that was very important to this study. From the data that we find, we can analyze the data and make a hypothesis. After that we can test the data. 2.0 CHAPTER 2 2.1 Introduction As we looking at the present condition in our country, we can see that there is a strong relationship between the health and education level with Malaysian communities income distribution and poverty. This can be simplified as, there is a gap between the income distribution of the educated and healthy people with the poor and unhealthy people in Malaysia. This problem caused by some factors or variables that contribute to the income inequalities and poverty. Because of that, the government and the communities itself should identify and determine any areas that should be improved and find some suggestion to solve or reduce this problem. So that, we clearly see that the best way to reduce and improve this situation is to improve the health and education status in Malaysia as this is the common factors in determining the income level and poverty level in one place. After do some reading and find some literature review related to this situation, this study presents the investigation of t he effect of the two important components in human needs which are the health and education on the income distribution and poverty in Malaysia. 2.0 Theoretical Framework Health Status Education level DEPENDENT VARIABLE -Income inequality -Poverty Level of Savings 2.3 Literature Review There is an effect of health and education on income distributions and poverty in many areas in this world. This can be explained through some relevant literature review. Other than health and education level, the level of savings also categorized as the main factors affecting the income distribution and poverty. The problem of the income inequality and poverty is affected by health and education has investigated. According to Bakhtiari and Meisami (2009), the level of education, level of income, savings and health status can affect the income inequality and poverty. The higher educated people have more opportunities to earn more money or income. Other than that, the more literate people tend to have high awareness with their health and seeking medical when they ill. The finding of this paper is boosting the health and education status in Islamic countries will reduce the income inequality and poverty in Islamic countries. This paper also stated that Practical implications show that this empirical examination can help the Islamic countries government to identify any areas that should be improved in order to reduce the income inequality and alleviate poverty. Furthermore, this strategies help government to identify areas that should be improved upon in order to reduce income inequality and red uce poverty line. To explain the facts that there are some important determinants of poverty and income distribution in developing countries, Dao M.Q (2007), use a sample of 40 developing countries in the world, it was found that some of the population below the poverty line is linearly depends on the human capital such as health, nutrition, and formal education. All of this is the components of improvements in the development of one country. This means that this human capital reduce income inequalities and poverty. After that, they also use 35 developing countries to measure and it was found that income inequality linearly affected by the same explanatory variables but other than that, the infant mortality rate and the primary school completion rate also affect poverty and income level. Bastos et.al (2010), Research has been done to the children in Portugal to investigate the profile of income-poor children and the results obtained states that 25 percent of them are at risk of poverty. They are from the low income families and this will influence the culture on their eating habits. This contributes to the facts that the people from the lower socio-economic groups do not eat healthily. Mackereth C.J et.al also do some research on the culture of eating for the low income families and it also found the same results as Bastos et.al where they are not eat healthily and eating whatever available in front rather than cooking the healthy food. It is because they dont have enough resources and lack of time. The relationship between socioeconomic deprivation and health status also has been identified by Drakopoulos S.A et.al (2010). The result shows that the socioeconomic deprivation of child has negative effects on our health especially on our working stage. Our psychological health will decrease slowly because of this deprivation. Another results found from Habibov N.N (2010) regarding the low-income transitional countries and this also prove that health status and education level can influence the self-perceived social stratification in the multi-country like Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. It is stated that the most affordable variables in increasing the income level of the low-income transitional countries are health status and education because this is the factors of growing the effectiveness of one country and improve the level of low-income people. In his research, Adjaye, J.A (2004), examine whether the income inequality affect health. The relationship between these two variables has become the major problem in our daily life nowadays. The result shows that the people that have low-income profiles are more likely to fall sick because they dont have enough resources to pay for the treatment and medicine. Other than that, it also found that the people from rich family can live longer than the poor family people. This can be simply stated that the higher income level we have the higher level of health we are. To prove that educational can improve the peoples income inequality, Ning, G (2010) do some investigation in China. It was found that, expand more in educational will help us to reduce the phenomena of income inequality. Other than that, one of the ways to solve the problem of poverty is to do more investment in education because this will gives high return in future. Lanaskoronskis, M. et.al (2009) found in their investigation that Reflection of higher education will contribute to the high competitiveness of a country. Competitiveness refers to the skill people, goods and services we have, or ideas can be accepted locally and international. On the other words, higher education becomes the most important areas that contribute to increase competitiveness. The common factors that contribute to the poverty can be explained through the paper of Wang, X. et al (2009) where they found that the poverty line in China are due to the lack of education that automatically causing the unemployment that will make them cannot gain enough resources to buy food. Thats why China government conduct some surveys to investigate this problem and they also found that the profile of the low-income people is unhealthy because of the lack of consumption of nutritional food in their country. Education is the humans resource to apply job and opportunities in one country. This is because education is the main source of a company, manager and employers to measure their level of income. Education is a human capital investment that gives a long-term sustainable development for them. In Benjamin, S.J et.al (2011), it was found that household income is use to measure the Malaysian people ability to enter at any higher education institution. Lack of the resources will contribute to the lack of knowledgement. Besides that the parents will face the possibility to pay the high fees for their children. This is because before this they dont take more attention on their level of education. They cannot apply a good job and after that their income is not enough to support the needs of education for their children. 3.0 CHAPTER 3 3.1 The data and methodology that we used in this study is unit root test and the Ordinary least squares (OLS) to represent the effects of health and education on income distribution and poverty. Besides that this will shows whether there is a relationship between the dependent variables and independent variables. 3.2 Data, population and sampling methods. In this paper, the data was covering the time series data from year 2005 to 2009 that is 5 years. For the population, this paper focuses on the people of 14 states in Malaysia.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

The Long Road to Law School :: Law College Admissions Essays

The Long Road to Law School    Many college students know exactly what field to enter after graduation and have been preparing for that field over the course of their entire college career. However, I had difficulty discovering a career field rewarding enough to devote my entire life to, a career field worthy of education. While I had always considered pursuing the law and majored in public policy as an undergraduate, I was never passionate about it. I didn't have clear goals, and it seemed to me as if my degree and my circumstances were pushing me into studying the law; I needed to rediscover why I fell in love with the law in the first place.    As a college senior, I took the LSAT because all of my classmates were taking it. I did not prepare, and I really did not want to attend law school after college; thankfully, my low LSAT score guaranteed this. I needed to understand more about life before I could give myself to a career. After being in school for about two decades, I felt completely out of touch with reality and did not think I would ever find career direction by attending more schooling. With these thoughts in mind, I determined I needed real-world experience to help me find the direction I so desperately sought.    I accepted an investor relations position in New York that tested both my intelligence and my work ethic. The first few months moved at a hectic pace as I attempted to acquire knowledge of my new pursuit and to control the responsibilities assigned to me. However, I quickly adjusted and maintained a schedule of seventy-hour workweeks. Because of my hard work and growing expertise, my colleagues began to acknowledge me as an important member of the organization and my opinion became respected and sought out. This respect provided me with a great deal of confidence, and I began to realize that I had unlimited potential. I had finally regained the attitude necessary for success, and my recent LSAT score is a testament of this self-awakening.    While I may not have taken the direct route to law school, I took the course that suited me well.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Importance in policy developments

AbstractionThe construct of hazard has assumed extreme importance in policy developments is several subjects. There is a broad scope of literature on hazard in several Fieldss runing from scientific disciplines to humanistic disciplines. This construct means different things to different people depending on how it is perceived. Risk perceptual experience is a consequence of several factors and this has deductions for policy development. This paper attempts to specify the significance of hazard and its building in some contexts. It besides explores a few instance surveies on how human perceptual experience, prejudice, communicating and civilization can hold impacts on the effectivity of hazard direction.IntroductionIn the last two decennaries, public concern about the construct of hazard of has been given extended media coverage with frequent contentions. Every twenty-four hours we are warned about unseeable jeopardies, clime alteration, diseases and toxic waste etc. We worry about da ngers in the workplace, in our places and even about the nutrient we eat. Most human existences engage in several signifiers of unsafe ventures and this fact has prompted research workers to try happen out how people understand hazard. Everyone seeks to pull off hazard because we do non cognize for certain what the result of events will be ( Adams 1995 ) This merely means that in any given state of affairs, an inauspicious result may or may non go on and causative factors skew the chances of diverse results ( Graham and Rhomberg 1996 ) Based on this, hazard appraisal has become a moneymaking subject affecting a web of complex and controversial procedures of measuring uncertainnesss, pass oning information about possible hazards and developing controls or extenuation steps. The rating of hazard requires interpretative opinion in the face of technological and scientific and societal contentions. The construct of & A ; lsquo ; hazard ‘ has become important to the field of policy development within several subjects such as Agriculture, Medicine, Business and Natural Hazards etc. Broad footings like hazard direction presume an appreciable degree of apprehension of the construct of hazard and how it can be measured. I t besides assumes some degree of understanding on how it should be managed. These decisions are based on bold premises. There exists huge literature on hazard covering a broad scope of Fieldss in both scientific disciplines and humanistic disciplines. All these angles can and make lend to a better apprehension of how hazard is constructed, perceived and managed by experts. This paper attempts to research the assorted definitions of the significance of hazard, and how hazard is constructed and used in some context in order to hold a better apprehension of how human perceptual experience, prejudice, heuristics, communicating and civilization impact on the effectivity of hazard direction. Hazard is a really wide construct so and its enormousness should non be underestimated. Hazard touches on the most profound facets of Psychology, Mathematics, Statistics and History. Literature on hazard is monumental and each brings up new countries of involvement ( Bernstein 1996 ) The designation of cardinal issues relevant to policy shapers and interest holders interested in issues associating to put on the line analyses and hazard direction is really of import. Effective hazard direction requires appraisal of inherently unsure events and fortunes, typically turn toing two dimensions: how probably the uncertainness is to happen ( chance ) , and what the consequence would be if it happened ( impact ) . While unambiguous models can be developed for impact appraisal, chance appraisal is frequently less clear. This is peculiarly true for undertakings where informations on hazard chance from old undertakings is either non available or non relevant. The credibleness and value of the hazard procedure is enhanced if informations are collected with attention, taking the clip and utilizing the tools that are needed decently to develop information based on judgemental inputs. Conversely, the procedure is undermined when chance appraisal appears to be entirely subjective. It is hence of import to be able to measure chance with some grade of assurance.DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTIONS OF RISKHazard is a normally used term. It has been technically and convent ionally defined as a combination of the chance, or frequence, of happening of a defined jeopardy and the magnitude of the effects, should that jeopardy or event occur. This definition attempts to inquire how frequently a peculiar potentially harmful event is traveling to happen and the effects of the happening ( Harding 1998: 167 ) This definitions appears rather simple. However, the definition of the construct of hazard has been and is still contested. In recent old ages, the construct of hazard has assumed more importance than was antecedently the instance. Hazard has been defined in figure of ways but is frequently seen as the likeliness that a individual will see the consequence of danger ( Short Junior 1984 ) Economists view hazard as a manifestation of lower incomes or higher outgo that expected. This can be a consequence of several factors. For illustration, the sudden hiking in the monetary values of natural stuffs used for production, the backsliding of a deadline for the building of a new installation, breaks in the procedure of production, the loss of cardinal forces, the alteration of a political government or even natural catastrophes etc ( Luhmann 1996: 3 ) Hazard is besides seen as the combination of the likeliness of an happening of a risky event or exposure and the strength or badness of the impact that can be caused by the event or exposure ( OHSAS 18001 2007 ) . That is Risk = ( Probability of event happening ) ten ( Impact of event happening ) . This attack to the construct of hazard has become common today in Fieldss like atomic power and the chemical industry. The term & A ; lsquo ; Risk Society ‘ was proposed by Ulrich Beck in 1992, in placing a signifier of catastrophe hazard associated with industrialisation and utmost extremely improbable, risky events. This place assumes that we are in a state of affairs of really low chance of earnestly awful events. ( Douglas and Wildavsky 1982: 39 ) . This conceptual displacement it peculiarly important because it has deductions for policy shapers if the more negative perceptual experiences of the term hazard, assume widespread social position. Another angle of perceptual experience sees risk as being a map of the chance of the specified natural jeopardy event and the exposure of cultural entities ( Chapman 1994 ) . It has besides been seen in industry as being equal to the merchandise of frequence and effects. This definition suggests an outlook of system failure. Risk direction on the other manus is about guaranting that events that happen frequently must hold low effects, or events that have serious effects must be rare. ( Ballad 1992: 100 ) This attack is consistent with the construct of a preset degree of hazard which can be managed. The assorted positions and perceptual experiences of hazard lend acceptance to the fact that hazard is non something that can be subjected to objective quantification or a individual definition, but is instead socially constructed. It can be referred to as a human construct borne as a consequence of the demand to understand and get by with the dangers and uncertainnesss of life. Although these dangers are existent, there is no such thing as existent or nonsubjective hazard. For illustration the atomic applied scientists risk estimation of a atomic accident is likely based on theoretical theoretical accounts with subjective construction and inputs based on sheer premise. There are several angles from which hazard can be viewed. Let us see an attack that considers a three tier system of identifying, measuring and incorporating hazard. This method assumes that hazards exist out at that place and are to be found and dealt with. Management of hazard here involves taking the right stairss and theory helps in this way. This can be said to be the hypotheses behind both traditional and the more recent critical literature and it believes that the designation of possible hazards is the critical first measure in pull offing them. ( Smith et all 2001 ) Another school of idea believes this nonsubjective construct of hazard is erroneous and is endangering in its rigidness. This nonsubjective position of hazard supposes that hazard can be wholly controlled. It besides suggests that on completion of the digest of the list of hazards, the theoretical undertaking is complete and the direction facet is following in line. The combination of these factors leads to the creative activity of a false sense of security that may take to redundancy of the portion of directors which in itself constitutes an even bigger hazard. The societal school of idea believes hazard is socially constructed depending on societal understandings and on different perceptual experiences. It should nevertheless be ascribed to peculiar scenes or state of affairss to do it existent. Sociological literature sees hazard as a construct developed through human actions and that there are dangers that could be avoided. Hazards are consequences of actions that are neither necessary nor impossible ; they are contingent and depend on human actions. ( Thompson 1985 ) All constructs of hazard have a common factor, which is a differentiation between world and possibility. The nature of hazard becomes clearer when one differentiates it from related constructs of uncertainness, danger and opportunity. Uncertainty refers to the deficiency of cognition of the hereafter, merely put, it is unknown. Uncertainty is closely related to hazard and theories ‘ associating to behaviour, uncertainness in psychological footings is seen to be a critical spell between of human response in state of affairss of unknown results. Uncertainty is psychologically constructed and it exists merely in the head of a individual whose cognition is uncomplete. Afterall, if cognition was complete so there would be no uncertainnesss. The contrast between danger and hazard is based on the fact that danger is seen to be out of the control of the determination shaper while hazard can be affected to an extent. A clear differentiation is that hazard refers to action while dangers are nonsubjective entities beyond human control. ( Somen 1993: 130 ) Opportunity is seen as portion of hazard and can stand for potentially positive developments. This merely means hazard is taken with the cognition that the consequences could convey about possible benefits or losingss. The rating of the construct of hazard and the ensuing action depend on the perceptual experience of hazard. ( Lytinen et all 1998: 235 ) The degree of control that the determination shaper appears to hold about the result of an event is one factor that influences hazard perceptual experience. The more control he appears to hold, the less terrible the hazard is perceived to be. If hazards depend on perceptual experience, so they become subjective and so they become hard to exteriorize. ( Beck 1986: 103 ) The fact that we do non cognize what the hereafter holds weakens the constitution of a complete list of factors. A important displacement in the societal building of hazard is the fact that chance is now seen as portion of the construct of hazard. Some definitions discuss menaces and losingss while others that represent this displacement include chances in their definitions. ( Smith et all 2001 ) Based on these, hazard can merely be spoken of with mention to peculiar scenes. They can non be absolute but curious to peculiar scenes or state of affairss.RISK PERCEPTION AND MANAGEMENTThere has been a big sum of research carried out on the perceptual experience of hazard by worlds, how they live with it and pull off it. The angel of hazard perceptual experience finally determines the method of direction. This merely means hazard will be managed based on the position from which it is viewed. Hazard perceptual experience refers to the subjective opinions that people make about the features and badness of hazard. It is largely used in mention to natural jeopardies, environment and wellness. The major theories developed in the country of hazard perceptual experience are the psychological or heuristics, sociological and cultural attacks. The survey of hazard perceptual experience was borne out of the fact that experts and laic people likewise disagreed on how hazardous engineerings and natural jeopardies truly were. Risk perceptual experience appeared on the phase of policy development as a really of import construct in the 1960 ‘s. It was implicated as a chief determiner of public resistance to engineering, most notably to atomic engineering. This resistance was borne out of fright of dangers to the environment every bit good as catastrophes that the creative activity of radioactive barrens could convey approximately, but other early illustrations can be given every bit good ( Martin, 1989 ) . In Sweden and Norway, Parliamentarians now devote about three times every bit much attending to put on the line issues as they did in the first half of the 60 ‘s, as reflected in their submitted private measures. Several efforts were made to manage the hard state of affairs that the unexpected public resistance to the new engineering had caused. ( Sowby 1965 ) proposed that comparings should be made between different sorts of perceived hazard. His thought was that the hazard involved with, smoke, driving a auto or utilizing public agencies of conveyance was far higher than that of exposure to atomic accidents. This nevertheless had really small consequence in doing people accept atomic engineering hazard. A deeper probe of hazard perceptual experience revealed that people were willing to accept hazard to the extent that they were tied to benefits ( Starr 1969 ) . This attack gave rise to involvement in & A ; lsquo ; Risk Management ‘ and an waking up of involvements in how people perceive, tolerate and accept hazard. Risk perceptual experience now became an obstruction to determination devising, because people came to believe hazards existed where they truly did non. This was the positi on of the experts and the dissension between the populace and adept perceptual experience of hazard is the root cause of the jobs that have plagued hazard direction. Several bookmans have attempted to analyze hazard perceptual experience in greater item. In the 1970 ‘s, a group of psychologists became interested in happening out how people reacted with respects to put on the line. They carried out experimental surveies of chancing and in this field an effort was made to specify hazard as an abstract construct and to mensurate it by agencies of a psychological graduated table ( Lopez 1995 ) . This attack says something about how people react to lotteries but small or nil about inquiry of hazard policy that was the chief concern of determination shapers. Risk Management can be considered to be the designation, appraisal and prioritization of hazard followed by co-ordinated and economical application of resources to minimise, proctor and command the chance and/or impact of unfortunate events or to maximise the realisation of chances ( Douglas Hubbard 2009 ) Hazards can come uncertainness originating from assorted beginnings such as undertaking failures, recognition hazard, natural causes or catastrophes, accidents etc. Risk direction has besides been defined as the civilization, procedures and constructions that are directed towards the effectual direction of possible chances and possible inauspicious effects ( Standards Australia 1994: 4 ) . Several hazard direction criterions have been developed including the Project Management Institute, National Institute of Science and Technology, ISO criterions etc. These criterions vary widely harmonizing to the whether the hazard direction method relates to project direction, security, industrial procedures, fiscal portfolios, public wellness etc. Risk direction schemes include turning away of hazard, reassigning hazard, cut downing the negative impacts of hazard and accepting all or some of the impacts of a peculiar hazard. In an ideal hazard direction procedure, a prioritization procedure is carried in which the hazards with the highest impact and chance of happening are dealt with first while those with a lower chance of happening are dealt with afterwards. Practically, this can be really hard to transport out. Balancing hazards of high and low chances of happening can be really tasking and is frequently mishandled. Intangible hazard direction on the other manus identifies risks with really high chances of happening but have non been identified due to a deficiency of cognition by the directors or determination shapers. In a state of affairs where insufficient cognition is applied to a state of affairs another type of hazard referred to as & A ; lsquo ; cognition hazard ‘ is borne. This state of affairs proves fatal to put on the line direction attempts. Another type of hazard arises as a consequence of uneffective coaction between directors and or determination shapers and is referred to as & A ; lsquo ; relationship hazard ‘ Certain facets of criterions developed for hazard direction have come under unfavorable judgments because they are believed to hold no mensurable effects on hazard even though there has been a pronounced addition in assurance in determinations. Risk direction is seen as a critical portion of effectual direction. However, due to the deficiency of communicating and corporation between practicians in assorted Fieldss, a common apprehension of this construct is nonexistent. This has lead to a multi dimensional apprehension of the construct ( Kloman 1996 ) . This poses a large job for the development, constitution and acceptance of hazard direction as it is a really wide topic with several diverse subjects and subjects ( Lipworth 1996 ) . The development of a hazard direction frame work in isolation is likely to be uneffective unless determination shapers are committed to the integrating of the model to all concern activities and maps. This is done through the acceptance essentials elements like construction, scheme and civilization ( Smallman 1996 ) . This construction provides a general and consistent model for any organisation to develop a hazard direction map. The AS/NZS hazard direction frame work is a good illustration of such a models It is really of import here to advert that attention should be taken in the acceptance of a peculiar hazard appraisal or direction attack. Standardization should non direct or order peculiar methods as this would be unwanted, unrealistic and finally hamper wider credence ( Kloman 2000 ) . Several factors can straight impact on the effectivity of the procedure of hazard direction. The most outstanding of these factors are civilization, which to a great extent shapes perceptual experience and prejudice, heuristics and communicating. Culture is a wide term with a broad scope of definitions. However for the intent of this paper, we will specify civilization as the entirety of the ways of life of a people. With respects to an administration, civilization can be seen as a construct that describes the shared corporate values within an administration which influences the attitudes and behaviors of its members. Safety civilization is a portion of the overall civilization of the administration and is seen as impacting attitudes and beliefs of members in footings of wellness and safety public presentation ( Cooper 2000 ) . From several surveies, it has emerged that direction was the cardinal influence of an administration ‘s safety civilization. It was found that employees ‘ perceptual experience of direction concern towards safety, production and planning was the most utile agencies of mensurating an administration ‘s safety clime. This depends mostly on the interaction between direction and employees ( Thompson 1998 ) . A good illustration of how safety civilization can impact on effectual direction of hazard can be seen in the atomic power works detonation that occurred in Chernobyl, Soviet Union in April, 1986. This event demonstrated the ruinous hazards involved in the most advanced engineerings of all time created by worlds. Harmonizing to probes carried out, it was discovered that the detonation was as a consequence of human action ( Reason 1987 ) . A hapless safety civilization was prevalent at the works and this was reflective of the Soviet society at big. Both the Chernobyl works and its institutional context operated a civilization that had become unsighted towards the jeopardies inherent in atomic engineering. Communication with mention to put on the line refers to a procedure of sharing and interchanging information about sensed hazards between assorted cognition holders, determination shapers including research workers, technicians, directors, members of the populace, governments, media and involvement groups. The exchanged information can associate o the being, nature, signifier, likeliness, chance, badness and steps of response or other facets of hazard. Risk communicating is largely required when determination shapers do non keep all the information about the hazard in inquiry in order to do informed determinations. The motive for hazard communicating may change. It may be that determination shapers require more information in order to do determinations or that the public being cognizant of the hazard pro actively engage determination shapers in an attempt to acquire more information on doing informed determinations. There is an pressing demand to understand how members of the public perceive hazard in order to efficaciously pass on information refering to hazard. In the instance of terrorist act for case, communicating is really of import because any major information must be accompanied by instructions which must be followed by the generalization of the populace. Public hazard perceptual experience is greatly influenced by trust and as such credibleness is possibly the most important factor of hazard communicating ( Heldring 2004 ) . Trust is even more of import when communicating information about jeopardies or hazards that the percipient has really small cognition about. Possibly one of the greatest challenges confronting hazard communicators is integrating or showing the uncertainness in hazard estimations. Hazard comparings are typically given as point estimations, with really small or no indicant of variableness or uncertainness involved in the estimations of hazard. Harmonizing to most risk communicating counsel, hazard messages should non minimise uncertainness or information spreads, and countries of dissension among experts should be mentioned. The degree of assurance in hazard estimations should besides be discussed ( NRC 1989 ) . In the instance of the September 11 bombardments for illustration, unequal communicating may hold been the most powerful individual factor responsible for this incident. American security bureaus fed the populace with what they felt they needed to cognize alternatively of really affecting them in the determination devising procedure. In most instances, information passed to the populace may hold been manipulated to warrant determinations made by authorities and security bureaus. Naturally, this may hold built up misgiving in public perceptual experience about the existent presence of the hazard of terrorist act.Hazard REGISTERA hazard registry is a tool used within hazard direction for undertaking planning and hazard appraisal in the designation, analyses and direction of hazards. It contains information on identified and collected undertaking hazards identified by the undertaking squad in the appraisal of sensed hazards. It comprises a broad scope of contents and recommendations hav e been made by different professional organic structures such as Project Management Body of Knowledge ( PMBOK ) amongst others. Individual administrations besides provide their ain tools used as hazard registries because it is developed in relation to a specific activity or program. Typically, a hazard registry comprises, a hazard description, the impact should it happen, the chance of its happening, inside informations of planned response, extenuation steps or stairss taken in progress to cut down chance and or impact should the event occur and the ranking of hazards harmonizing to perceived precedence. There is nevertheless no standard list of constituents to be included in a hazard registry as contents can depend on the program of the squad, administration or individuals involved. It is recommended that a hazard registry be reviewed on a regular footing most particularly when come oning to the following phase of the hazard appraisal undertaking. The creative activity, care and use of a hazard registry are advantageous to project direction. A & A ; lsquo ; hazard evaluation matrix provides ‘ a speedy overview of hazard appraisal information derived from a hazard registry. An illustration of a hazard registry used by my group for a hazard appraisal undertaking is attached. The affiliated registry was developed by my group in the appraisal undertaking carried out to describe sphere specific edifice jeopardies, menaces and hazards in relation to the Lanchester library of Coventry University. The assessment attack used was considered equal based on the fact that group members agreed on both the contents of the hazard registry and on sensed hazards in different section associating to the edifice. It must be mentioned nevertheless that different hazard appraisal attacks work good in different state of affairss. Each of these attacks has its strengths and failings. This fluctuation displays the broad assortment of sentiments on hazard appraisal. There is a broad assortment of hazard hiting systems from qualitative to quantitative which efficaciously address a assortment of hazard appraisal attacks. There is nevertheless no indicant that one hazard appraisal attack is better than the other.DecisionRisk direction can no longer be viewed as an independent tool associating merely to fiscal or concern activities. It is most valuable when applied across several disciplined in a holistic mode. Bringing together all hazard appraisal attacks with common foreparts and using them in a robust mode. Institutions and administrations manage their personal businesss on a day-to-day footing and hazard direction is frequently seen as non adding value. Its application is now deriving more evidenc es as administrations now identify a sense of intent by doing usage of hazard appraisals. This has lead to its acceptance in the internal control systems of such administration and has greatly assisted direction in informed determination devising, improved communications and better apprehension of the hazards in and controls in their concern. The existent challenge nevertheless, lies in the integrating of the hazard profile into the strategic and be aftering corporate rhythm of these administrations.MentionsAuditor General Victoria ( 2003 ) & A ; lsquo ; Managing Risk across the Public Sector ‘ . Government Printer, Melbourne. Kloman, H.F. ( 1996 ) & A ; lsquo ; Risk direction criterions ‘ . Risk Management Reports [ online ] 23, ( 2 ) Available from[ 10 January 2010 ] Kloman, H.F. ( 1996 ) & A ; lsquo ; Risk direction: approach of age ‘ . Risk Management Reports [ online ] 23, ( 3 ) Available from[ 10 January 2010 ] Lipworth, S. ( 1996 ) & A ; lsquo ; Risk direction at the bosom of good corporate administration ‘ . Executive Accountant 23, ( 4 ) 7-8 McNamee, D. , Selim, G. ( 1999 ) & A ; lsquo ; The following measure in hazard direction ‘ . The Internal Auditor 56, ( 3 ) 35-8 Standards Australia ( 1999 ) & A ; lsquo ; Standards Australia AS/NZS 4360 Risk Management ‘ Standards Australia, Sydney. Sj & A ; ouml ; berg, L. ( 2000 ) & A ; lsquo ; Factors in hazard perceptual experience ‘ . Hazard Analysis 20, ( 1 ) 1-12. Lyytinen, K. , Mathiassen, L. , Ropponen, J. ( 1998 ) & A ; lsquo ; Attention Shaping and Software Risk- A Categorical Analysis of Four Classical Risk Management Approaches ‘ . Information Systems Research 9, ( 3 ) 233 – 254 Smith H. A. , McKeen J. D. , Staples D. S. ( 2001 ) & A ; lsquo ; Risk Management in Information Systems, Problems and Potentials ‘ . Communicationss of the Association for Information Systems, 7. Beck, U. ( 1992 ) Hazard society: towards a new modernness Theory, civilization & A ; society. London: Sage. Bernstein, P.L. ( 1996 ) Against the Supreme beings: The singular narrative of hazard. John Wiley: New York. Thompson, Paul B. ( 1985 ) & A ; lsquo ; Risking or Bing Willing: Hamlet and the DC-10 ‘ . The Journal of Value Inquiry 19, 301- 310 Douglas, M. , Wildavsky, A. ( 1982 ) Hazard and Culture: An Essay on the Selection of Technical and Environmental Dangers. University of California Press: Berkley Harding, R. ( 1998 ) Environmental decision-making: the functions of scientists, applied scientists and the populace. The Federation Press: Sydney Wikipedia ( 2008 ) Risk Register [ online ] available from[ June 2008 ]

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Life on the Arabian Peninsula

The Arabian Peninsula By: Minali Prasad Due Date: December 7, 2011 Class Color: Sapphire Table Number: 5 There are four different types of environments in the Arabian Peninsula. Three-fourths of the Arabian Peninsula is desert. The desert has plains and plateaus. Temperatures can reach up to 120 °F or drop down to below zero. There is 3 to 4 inches of rain per year with many droughts. Flash floods are caused by the annual rainfall. The desert has many oases. Oases result in plants, shade, and water. An oasis begins when water deep underground travels to the surface. The soil around and oasis is very fertile, so it produces plant life like grass and shrubs. Oases range from a few acres to expansive areas. The water is beneficial for farmers as they can grow their crops there as well as trade them. The coastal plain is surrounded by the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Persian Gulf. The coastal plain varies from 5- 40 miles from the heart of Arabia. There are many cliffs along the shore. The damp, moist air is the result of regular rain. Sometimes, water fills the riverbeds that intercept the coastal plains. Farmers grow crops on the coastal plains. Traders also benefit from the coastal plains because there are seaports. The mountain ranges line the western edge of the Arabian Peninsula. Their altitude is from 1,000 feet to 12,000 feet high. The mountains have 20 inches of rainfall each year because of moist winds from the Southern Ocean. The mountain ranges stay cool by rain and elevation. Winter brings frost and fills the riverbeds with water. Farmers use dams and irrigation systems to help grow their crops. | Muhammad was a prophet which meant he was a messenger of God. Muhammad was important to Islamic faith because he introduced the belief in one God, also alled monotheism. Before Muhammad, people living in the Arabian Peninsula were polytheists which means they believed in more than one God. Muhammad was born in Mecca, a town that grew wealthy off of trade. At that time, Arabia was only united by culture, mostly language. Multiple families ruled the city whereas clans could only live in the city of Mecca. Mecca was a popul ar destination for pilgrimages. Arabs either lived in the cities or the deserts which was ruled by tribes. Muhammad’s tribe was Hashim. Hashim took notice of his birth since his father had died. Muhammad’s mother sent him to live with wandering nomads who taught him Arabic traditions. At age six, Muhammad returned to the city, but soon his mother died. After his grandfather’s death, Muhammad was left in the care of his uncle, Abu Talib. During his childhood, Muhammad raised his family’s sheep and goats. Later, at age twelve, Muhammad experienced place farther out than the deserts on a trading journey with his uncle. As a result of his numerous trading journeys, Muhammad became a merchant. He was described as â€Å"trustworthy†. Fifteen years later, Muhammad was notified, by the angel Gabriel, that he was the messenger of God. Khadijah, his wife, convinced him convert others to the religion of Islam. Though most people believed him, some clans rejected his faith and boycotted the Hashim clan. When it became too dangerous, Muhammad moved to Yathrib on a journey called hijrah. Yathrib was renamed Madinah. Makkans tried to siege Madinah but failed. In 632, Muhammad traveled on his last pilgrimage to Mecca and gave his Last Sermon. Muhammad was important to the Islamic faith because he united Arabia with religion, set an example for Muslims on how to live and introduced Islam into Arabia. | The â€Å"five pillars of Islam† are the five basic rules of worship for the Islamic faith. These ideas are faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and making pilgrimages to Mecca. Muslims today still follow the five pillars of faith. The first pillar of Islam is Shahadah. Shahadah is the declaration of faith in which Muslims identify themselves as monotheists. They also declare that Muhammad was God’s messenger. People pledge to believe in God and submit to him. Muslims also believe in angels and other creatures like them. Angels are perceived to do God’s work. The second pillar of Islam is Salat. Salat is daily ritual prayer. Muslims show their religious discipline, spirituality, and closeness to God through salat. Muslims five times a day and are called to prayer by a muezzin. Before entering a mosque, Muslims wash their arms, face, hands, and feet. Inside a mosque, an imam leads them in prayer. While praying, people face the direction of Mecca. A person may pray anywhere they like. The third pillar of faith is zakat which is giving to those in need. Muslims believe almsgiving discourages greed because they give 2. 5% of their earnings to â€Å"purify† themselves. Zakat was used for construction of public property. Today zakat is used for soup kitchens, clothing, shelter, orphanages and hospitals. An individual decides what the money is used for and where it goes. The fourth pillar of Islam is siyam or fasting where you do not eat or drink from dawn to dusk. Muslims show siyam through Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month when Gabriel told Muhammad he was a prophet. During Ramadan, Muslims begin fasting when a white thread can be identified next to a black thread. To break a fast, Muslims eat food like dates and pray where they hear parts of the Qur’an each day. Ramadan teaches fasting and kindness. Eid-al-Fitr is a celebration that marks the end of Ramadan. The fifth pillar of Islam is hajj where a Muslim makes a pilgrimage to Mecca on the twelfth month. A person does so once in their life. Wearing white, Muslims circle the Ka’ba seven times. Later, they visit sacred sites like the Zamzam spring, Plain of Arafat, Mount Arafat and Mina. Pilgrims end with a celebration that lasts for four days. They sacrifice sheep or goats to God. This celebration is known as Eid-al-Adha. | The Arabic language emphasized learning. Even Muhammad himself declared that â€Å"The ink of scholars is more precious than the blood of martyrs†. Scholars from places like Europe, North Africa and the Middle East came together and cooperated to build on their ideas. Early Muslim rulers built places of learning for the students like schools, colleges, and libraries. For example, Caliph al-Ma’mun established the House of Wisdom in the city of Baghdad. This happened in 830. Scholars translated texts there. Those texts were from Greece, India, China, and Persia. There was also a House of Wisdom in Cairo which served for the purpose of scholars. This building opened in the tenth century. Another example is the famous library in Cordoba, Spain which has over 400,000 books. Some texts studied by scholars were those of Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle. Muslim scholars tried to use reason and logic. An Arabic philosopher tried to combine reason with faith like Christian scholars but failed because he couldn’t prove there was a possibility of someone resurrecting on judgment day. Ibn Sina was a Persian philosopher who gave evidence that the soul of a creature was immortal. This philosopher influenced other scholars in Europe. Ibn Sina though that God was the source of knowledge and that truth could be extracted through reason and revelation. | Muslim scholars made theories about the evolution of animals like al-Jahiz. Zoology is the scientific study of animals. Muslims started the first zoos. They were also advanced in astronomy. With astronomy, people used compasses and astrolabes to locate the direction of Mecca. Another example of Muslims using astronomy is that astronomers figured out the exact times to start and end Ramadan. Astronomers also discovered that the Earth rotated. They inquired whether the Earth was the center of the universe. Muslim scholars were very curious about their universe. Muslims also made advancements in technology. They made dams and aqueducts like the Greeks to provide water for their cities. Remodeling the old irrigation systems, canals, and wells, they built new and sturdy ones. Muslims brought water from canals and reservoirs with water wheels. The land used Muslims is dry so this was very beneficial. In mathematics, Muslims worked with ideas from India and Greece. In fact, algebra was created by Al-Khwarizmi â€Å"father of algebra† His texts re now one of the most important today. Arabic numerals also came from one of Al-Khwarizmi’s books. Arabic numerals were used for business and trade. Muslims also learned fractions and decimals from an Indian scholar. Muslim scholars emphasized the concept of zero. Zero means â€Å"something empty†. Algebra, Arabic numerals and â€Å"zero† are still used today. Muslims learned medicine from Greeks, Mesopotamians, and Egyptians. There were many hospitals in the Muslim communities. Doctors had many ways to cure the sick and treat the wounded patients. The patients were treated with a balanced combination of drugs, diet, and exercise. Pharmacists made medications for the doctors to use. Pharmacists made different types of medications such as drugs for pain, antiseptics for infections and ointments for wounds. Surgeons did operations on the patients such as amputations, taking out tumors and removing cataracts. Some famous physicians were al-Razi and Ibn Sina. Al- Razi discovered that a bacterium is the cause of infections and Ibn Sina was called the â€Å"prince of physicians† because he wrote a book about the treatment of diseases. | Muslims had a unique style of architecture. One of the buildings that they created was the mosque. Mosques had towers called minarets which had a small platform like a deck so the muezzin could call Muslims to prayer. Outside of the mosque was a fountain in which Muslims could perform their washing of arms, face, hands, and feet. The prayer room was located inside the mosque where worshippers prayed, facing mihrab (niche to show the direction of Mecca). An imam led the prayers. There were many designs of mosques that showed the religious and artistic side of the Muslim community. The four types of art in the Muslim community were geometric and floral design, calligraphy, textile and music in Muslim Spain. Muslims were famous for their art that was used for decorative purposes. Muslims did not have pictures of humans and animals because they thought only God had the right to create something â€Å"alive†. Artists used shapes, patterns and geometry to make decorations. Decorations were also used on household items. Arabesque was a type of decoration where nature like leaves, and flowers, was painted onto many surfaces. Artists also used shapes like polygons in their art. The next type of art was calligraphy (the art of beautiful writing). The Qur’an was copied in calligraphy because Muslims thought calligraphy was beautiful enough to write the words of God. Calligraphers used tools such as bamboo and ink to create calligraphy. Calligraphy was used on pottery, tiles and swords. The third type of art was textiles. Textiles are manufactures clothes. Textiles were important trade items. The types of textiles were wool, linen, silk, or cotton. The fabrics could be embroidered or dyed. Importance and rank was used to indicate through clothes. The last form of art was music in Muslim Spain. Music centers were scattered all over the Islamic community but the music in Cordoba, Spain combined the cultures of Islam and Spanish to make their very own style. Ziryab started the first conservatory where musicians learned from him. Songs were important in Muslim Spain’s culture. There were song about love, nature and accomplishments of the empire. Muslim Spain’s music used instruments like drums, flutes and lutes. | The Crusades were a series of wars launched against Muslims by European Christians. The reason behind the Crusade was to capture Palestine or the city of Jerusalem. Palestine was being ruled by the Seljuk Turks, which was a developing empire. Afraid that their strength may one day become too great to overcome, the emperor Byzantine asked Pope Urban II what to do, and he suggested they start a religious war to capture the Holy Land and destroy the Seljuks. Christians fought with Muslims against Jews and other Christians. Their goal was to win the Holy Land. The Crusades took place in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Though Christians suffered through many hardships during the Crusades, they also gained from the war. Kings had to tax the people to pay for those who had fought in the Crusades. Feudalism among Christians ended because the monarchs grew powerful as the knight had to leave for war. The Crusades changed the way of life for Christians. They dressed in muslin, learned to eat new foods, and learned to use spices in their cooking. Muslims suffered more than Christians, but gained less. They lost Iberia to the other Crusaders. Muslims died and were murdered with their property destroyed. However, they learned to use new weapons and military ideas. They began an army like the Europeans. The Crusades resulted in political changes for the Muslims. New mosques and schools were built. Jewish crusaders suffered the most. There were violent persecutions and murders. The French and German murdered many Jewish, destroyed synagogues and tortured the Jewish until they agreed to become Christians. Riots and massacres were the result of anti- Semitism. Christians took over and ran the Jews’ trading businesses. France and England expelled the Jews. The Jews were finally forced to live in ghettos. |