Monday, September 30, 2019

Early Modern Period

1450-1750 Early Modern Period Major Developments I. Questions of Periodization A. Major points 1. Shift in power to the West a. Rise of the West with fall of China and India creates imbalance in power that favors Europeans for next 200 years 2. World becomes smaller – almost all civilizations touched by trade 3. New Empires – Spain, Portugal, England, France, Netherlands, Ottoman, Russian, Mughal, Ming 4. Age of Gunpowder B. Changes at end of Postclassical Era 1. Independent societies (Aztecs, Incas) falling apart 2. Arab power declining 3. New invasions – Mongols 4. Ottoman Empire gains power a. Europeans threatened by new force to East 5. Chinese flirt with trade, but Ming bureaucrats pull back 6. Europe enters age of exploration C. Western Europe 1. Unusual agricultural civilization 2. New view of family – nuclear a. Love toward spouse b. Affection toward children 3. Return to rational thought 4. Stable political structures a. Absolute monarchy b. Parliamentary monarchies 5. Religious reformers a. Reform the Church b. Protestant Reformation D. Effects of Global Economy 1. By 1750, almost everyone knows everyone 2. Food exchange – new staple crops to Africa (corn), Europe (potato) 3. Unequal relationships – master, slave, owners, workforce 4. Slaves and serfs 5. Diseases E. Themes 1. Declining emphasis of nomads 2. Direct relationships – ambassadors replace intermediaries (Nomads) 3. Gender relations remain patriarchal 4. Labor relations change – master/slave – abuse of indigenous peoples 5. A few commercial leaders get rich 6. Environmental changes a. ood, animal, disease exhange 7. Native vegetation a. Deforestation for staple crops b. Grazing land for newly introduced beasts of burden 8. Centralization of governments a. Modern government 1. bureaucracies 2. agencies 3. admiralties 4. treasuries 5. general staff 6. state banks 9. Nation-states began to emerge a. solid political units with fixed borders b. sense of national unity c. populations relatively homogenous – language/e thnicity F. Larger Trends 1. Americas overwhelmed by outsiders 2. Three trends a. Western expansion . Globalization of trade c. Gunpowder 3. Reactions a. Embrace by choice b. Embrace by force c. Choose to remain independent, involve in trade on own terms G. Why 1450 and 1750 1. 1450 a. End of the Middle Ages b. Beginning of the Northern Renaissance – away from Italian city-states c. English evicted from France d. Unified France began to exercise its power e. Globalization of trade begins f. Direct contact between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa/Americas g. End of the Byzantine Empire h. Ottoman Turks rise to power

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Diane Arbus

Diane Arbus was originally born Diane Nemerov on March 14, 1923 to David Nemerov and Gertrude Russek Nemerov. She was the daughter of a wealthy New York businessman. Her family owned Russeks department store on Fifth Avenue, allowing Dian a pampered childhood. As a member of a prominent New York family, she grew up with a strong sense of what was â€Å"prohibited† and what was â€Å"acceptable† in high society. Diane’s world was a protected one, with little adversity; yet this very lack of adversity made her feel as thou she was living in ungrounded world.As funny and different as it may seem, the ability to have a comfortable life was somehow painful for her. An extremely shy child, she was often fearful but told no one of her scary daydreams and nightmares. From what I gather her closest relationship was with her older brother, Howard. For Jr. High School, the seventh through the twelfth grade, Arbus attended Fieldstone School in the Riverdale section of the Br onx. At Fieldstone she became interested in public spectacles, rituals, and myths; ideas, which would later influence her photography work.Here she also devoted much of her time and energy to art class sketching, painting, and clay sculpture. During this period of her life, Arbus and several of her friends began exploring the city of New York. On their own they would take the subway, getting off in unfamiliar areas, Brooklyn or the Bronx. They would go out to observe and following interesting or unusual passers. At the young age of 14 Diane met her future husband. Allan Arbus, a 19-year-old City College student who was employed in the art department at Russeks, her father’s store. They say it was love at first sight for the young happy couple.Her parents obviously disapproved, as he was not of the same wealth class. However their disapproval only served to heighten Diane's conviction to marry him. Diane saw in marriage a way to escape from all that was restricting and oppress ive in her family life. In many ways, Allan represented the freedom she had been searching for. They were married, on April 10, 1941, with only their immediate families present. At the start of their new lives, to ease financial burdens her husband Allan supplemented his income by working as a salesman and also by doing some fashion photography.Diane Arbus soon became his assistant. World War II came and Allan was sent to a photography school near Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. Soon after Arbus relocated to nearby, Red Bank, and set up a darkroom in their bathroom. As a way to learn Allan taught her everything he was learning in school. May of 1944 came and Allan was transferred to another photography school in Astoria, Queens. By this time Diane was pregnant. She was having their first child, Doon Arbus, who was born April 3, 1945. During the 1940s however, Arbus briefly studied under photographer Berenice Abbott.Learning all she could about photography she and her, husband teamed up a s fashion photographers. Their first customer was her father’s business, Russeks. They were first published in the magazine May 1947 issue of Glamour. This would mark the beginning of a long association with (Conde Nast publishing) firm. Their forte was shooting models in motion. For some reason, the Arbuse’s despised the shallowness of the fashion and the magazine industry. Working in the fashion industry with all the glamour and glitz brought her lots of stress. During this period her only real joy was photographing friends and relatives.She would often wear a camera around her neck at friend and family events. On April 16, 1954, Diane became a mother for the second time. She gave birth to her second daughter, Army Arbus. Now in addition to her fashion work she was also photographing children. She would go out to Spanish Harlem in New York to photograph stranger’s children. In the 1950s she also found herself increasingly attracted to nontraditional people, pe ople on the fringes of normal society. This new avenue provided a release from the oppression felt in the fashion world.During this time of her life she also suffered from recurring bouts of depression. Due to her mental state in 1957 the couple decided to make a drastic change. He would continue to run their fashion studio, leaving her free to find and photographic subjects of her own choosing. Diane began attended Alexey Brodovitch's workshops at a New School. However Arbus found herself drawn to the work of photographs like (Weegee) Arthur Fellig, Louis Faurer, Robert Frank and, especially to the unusual pictures of Lisette Model. In 1958 Arbus enrolled in a class, Model was offering at a New School.It was during this period Diane decided, what she really wanted to pursue photographing â€Å"the different. † She saw her camera as a sort of all access pass, that allowed her to be curious, nosy, and to explore the lives of others. Gradually she overcame her shyness. She enjo yed the ability of going where she never gone before as she did as young child. She would enter the lives and homes of others and confronted that which she had never had in her own overprotected childhood. Her teacher Model taught her to be specific, that if you pay close scrutiny to reality it produces something fantastic.In her early projects, she undertook photographing what she referred to as â€Å"freaks. † She responded to them with a mixture of shame and understanding. For some reason she always identified with her subjects â€Å" the freaks† in a personal way. You could refer to Arbus' â€Å"specific subject matter† as â€Å"freaks, homosexuals, lesbians, cripples, sick people, dying people, and even dead people. † Like Weegee instead of looking away from such people, as do most of us, she looked directly at these individuals, treating them as a serious part of humanity.As a result, they opened their arms to her as one of their own making her work original and unique. In1960, When Arbus and her husband separated, her work became increasingly independent. During that period she began her series of circus images, photographing midget clowns, tattooed men, and sideshow freaks. Diane was frequently seen at Hubert’s Freak Museum at Broadway and 42nd Street, fascinated by the figures she saw. To build a repot she returned again and again until her subjects knew and felt comfortable around her. She also frequented the Times Square area, getting to know the thugs and bag ladies.Arbus’s style, was to pose her subjects, them looking directly into the camera, just as she looked directly at them. For her, the freaks were always more important than the picture. She said, â€Å"I don't like to arrange things; I arrange myself. † She was a firm believer that there were things in life everyone overlooked and no one would ever see, unless she photographed it. In the early 1960s Arbus began to photograph, nudists. She vis ited nudist camps in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, were she agreed to take her clothing off in order to be allowed to stay with them.This period was particularly productive for her, 1962 to 1964. It was during this period Arbus' won her first Guggenheim fellowship for a project on â€Å"American rites, manners, and customs†. Of Arbus' pictures three were shown in John Szarkowski's 1965 show at the MOMA, (Museum of Modern Art) â€Å"Recent Acquisitions†. There were two from her series on nudists and one of two female impersonators back stage. These honest images shocked and often repelled Viewers. Later her work was included, along with that of Lee Friedlander and Garry Winogrand, in Szarkowski's â€Å"New Documents urvey of 1967)† exhibition at the MOMA. The show, which opened March 6, marked the pinnacle of her career while she lived. It included some 30 examples of her work. Critics called her â€Å"the wizard of odds. â€Å", â€Å"the peeping Tom in all of us. † From 1966 on Arbus struggled with bouts of hepatitis, which often left her extremely depressed. In 1969, Allan Arbus, her life long partner, formally divorced her leaving her devastated. He married Mariclare Costello soon after the divorce. To cope with this difficult period Arbus photographed many influential figures of the 1960s: F.Lee Bailey, Jacqueline Susann, Coretta Scott King. Diane Arbus committed suicide in her New York apartment on July 26, 1971. In 1972, a year after she committed suicide, Arbus became the first American photographer to have photographs displayed at the Venice Biennale. Her show broke the attendance record set by the Edward Steichen's noted 1955 photographic exhibit Family Of Men which did include a photograph by the Arbuses of a father and son reading a newspaper, Millions of people viewed traveling exhibitions of her work in 1972-1979.In 2003-2006, Arbus and her work were the subjects of a another major traveling exhibition, Diane Arbus Rev elations. In 2006, the motion picture Fur, starring Nicole Kidman as Arbus, presented a fictional version of her life story. To this day her work continues to draw discushions and provoked controversy. Norman Mailer was quoted in 1971 as saying â€Å"Giving a camera to Diane Arbus is like putting a live grenade in the hands of a child. â€Å"

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Cost, Profit and Cost Function Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cost, Profit and Cost Function - Essay Example did not have adequate information regarding cost, profit and the various nuances of cost of the company, the profit and also cost functions. So in order to give them a complete understanding of the various methods of determining the cost function, relationship between cost and profit have been discusses, the basic concepts of cost function has been explained and then the methods for determining cost function has been evaluated. Cost, Profit and Cost Function There are many factors that are included in profit planning, such as cost, profitability and volume. Here the focus would be only on cost and profit. Cost is inversely proportional to profit, that means lower the cost, higher the profit (Jayapandian 2008, 393). The revenue curve is controlled by the customers, while the organization can only control the cost curve. The fluctuations in the variable cost changes the slope of the cost curve, but the increase of fixed cost may totally wipe out the profits of the company. Variable cos t has high frequency of fluctuation than fixed costs. When the cost of the company equals its generated income, then it is termed as breakeven point. The margin above this point is the profit of the company (Kolitz, Quinn, and McAllister 2009, 301-303). Cost functions are nothing but economic formula that replicates the functions of the output and input prices. In a layman’s language we can say that it simply involves finding the cost of materials for production of a particular quantity of goods. Cost function is actually a mathematical explanation which estimates the changes in cost with the levels of change related to such cost. For example: actives involved in preparing the operating machines and production runs. Cost function can be explained through graphical representation in which measurement of activity levels, such as machine hours required or the total amount of goods produced in the given time can be assessed (Horngren 1967, 308). There are various methods of calcu lating cost function, such as engineering, visual fit, regression, and account analysis. The engineering analysis is past experienced based review of cost in a systematic manner. Visual fit as the name suggest is a representation of data in a scatter diagram. Regression analysis includes mathematical formula to ascertain the cost equation that fits the data best. High low method utilizes linear algebra for the determination of fixed and variable costs, but the results are not reliable. Lastly, account analysis deals with analyzing the accounting records and determining the behavioral patterns (Whittington and Delaney 2007, 398-399). Conclusion Cost and profit go hand in hand. Cost of the company needs to be reduced to increase profit. Cost functions include functions like planning and controlling the various activities of the organization and accurately estimates the projected fixed and variable cost. There are various methods that are utilized to estimate the cost function such as regression method, engineering method, account method, visual fit method, high-low method, etc. The usage of each of these methods depends on the data available and the type of analysis required by the manager. Presentation 6 Introduction In this presentation the relationship between volume, costs and price would be explained so as to show the effect of changes in each element on the other. Bond & ltd. wanted to project the changes in profit figures due to fluctuations in volume and cost. So in this presentation an explanation of all these terms would be sated for the management to understand the concepts carefully. Cost, profit and volume can be represented graphically and also in the form of equation. Graphical representation is easier for managers to understand, as they can easily

Friday, September 27, 2019

Lloyds Bank Building and the Northern Rock Building Essay

Lloyds Bank Building and the Northern Rock Building - Essay Example The pillars have connotations of classical antiquity, while the carvings are reminiscent of an age when craftsmanship was valued and used as a demonstration of wealth and success. Ordinary buildings like homes and shops did not have these features, and they were reserved for the aristocracy and for civic buildings, imparting an air of authority and â€Å"establishment†. This is the origin of the rather conservative cultural meaning that the building conveys (Rotenberg, 1993).   Quite apart from these historic features of the Lloyds bank building, there are also distinctive visual elements which convey meanings to the observer. The building is taller than it is broad, which suggests a towering presence that dwarfs the viewer. The implication is that the bank is both strong and dominant, providing a stable, if somewhat stern, or even forbidding presence on the high street. The rather narrow door is brought slightly forward of the main building and set to the left, with a series of steps leading up to it. This suggests that entry to the bank is a privilege granted only to those who are worthy to climb the steps and enter its narrow frame. The entrance is dark and reveals nothing of the interior. This increases the mystery of the institution for the uninitiated, and the feeling of privilege for insiders, and this illustrates the contested nature of meaning when it comes to architectural spaces (Gieryn, 2000).   The bank’s name is positioned in modestly proportioned uppercase letters above the door as if to emphasize the act of entering this special portal. There is no distraction or adornment to the name, which is allowed to stand as the main advertising feature of the whole building.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

The movie, Secretary and masochism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

The movie, Secretary and masochism - Essay Example The main heroine of the movie is Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal), who is a weirdo woman. The plot shows us that Lee Holloway is a rather smart woman, who returns back to her hometown in Florida after a brief stay in a special mental hospital where she was treated from suicidal inclinations. In search of everything that surrounds Lee, we see that she takes a job as a secretary at a little local law firm. Some spectators can suppose that Lee is not only a masochist, but also a perverted woman, but it is not true because Lee Holloway is so closed and oppressed person that she just cannot throw out her inner pain otherwise than through the physical pain. She cannot accept any scandal or hysterics, but she begins torturing herself, when she has some problems. Being the secretary Lee falls in love with her boss, Mr. Grey (James Spader), and pain already appears as a manifestation of his love for her, but at the same time, the pain loses its value for Lee, she needs Edward Gray to inflict her pain. Analyzing the movie Secretary from the position of human sexuality and masochism we can understand that masochism, like sadism, goes beyond human sexuality, and being associated with a person shows a very complex and diverse sources of its development. Thus, this form of deviation very rarely becomes a subject of litigation. Sexual needs are usually met within a partner’s union for a psychological standpoint to implement manifested expectations. Various psychological observations show that unions between persons endowed with sadistic and masochistic traits are very strong and complementary. They usually do not seek help and advice, but they feel good together, mutually satisfying their needs. This film demonstrates us that both Lee’s and Edward’s sadistic and masochistic traits occur simultaneously. In this case, main characters have more complex combinations of individual features and

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

International Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

International Management - Essay Example Given the fact that the company has somehow been left behind, in terms of revenue, by the various cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s in the market which are offering almost the same products at much lower prices. The author also showed that the company Starbucks must be able to reenergize, not only in the way it does business in the market, but also with their everyday business with people who comes into its coffee shops. The author stated that the coffee business is a crowded playing field in the sense that many food chains like McDonald’s and Dunkin Donuts (companies which don’t include coffees in their menus before) are now creating and selling their own posh coffee creations. Another reason for the need to reenergize the company is its declining reputation. According to the survey conducted by Schultz â€Å"the Starbucks experience has been significantly downgraded as a consequence of its rapid expansion.† The once hip vibe turned into â€Å"disparate markets,† even if compared amongst the Starbucks chain of coffee shops. Starbucks company should also focus on the way the company is connecting with its customers on a day to day basis. This entails the catering of coffee drinkers at the different times of day. It is also noticeable how high-tech Starbucks stores have been; but in some cases, the store must also give importance on creating an atmosphere conducive to fostering human interactions. The company’s strength lies in the fact that is a pioneer coffee shop in the industry. It has already established a name and a reputation amongst coffee drinkers as offering the best coffee concoction in the business. Experience is also one of the company’s strengths. As it had been in business for so many years, the company somehow knows the coffee market. In putting the phrase â€Å"refocus on the experience† on a different context, Starbuck company could reevaluate the years with which they have operated and compare it with

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Gender, Folklore, Inequality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Gender, Folklore, Inequality - Essay Example As stated earlier modern society has diversified in the categorization of human sexual orientations. The matter has affected gravely the state of law, politics and even religion. Initially, the only recognized group to emerge was homosexuals. These are the gay and the lesbians. However, some groups chose to sort of break away from the mainstream stereotype by including a more inclusive abbreviation like L.G.B.T.Q.I.A. this category includes the homosexuals for lesbian and gay, the bisexual, the transgender, the queer, the intersex and the asexual. The term transgender in definition means a person who does not identify with the normal sexual orientations of male or female. In the USA, many cases exist of people who were born male identifying themselves as females and the same applies to females. The matter has bred such controversy and discussions to the extent of affecting the law. One such example was in a case in Colorado. The child Coy Mathis was born a boy but wore pink dresses and wished people to refer to her as a girl. While in kindergarten the school’s administration prohibited her from using the girl’s bathroom and instead to use a gender-neutral bathroom. The parents pulled her out of the school soon after. This case has been at the heart of a legal issue. Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws protect transgender people and this is why this case received much public attention. Southern Comfort was a compelling story that focused on the discrimination people of different sexual orientations from the norm suffer.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Astronomical objects Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Astronomical objects - Essay Example One of the most impressive achievements of science is the development of a quite detailed understanding of the physical properties of the Universe, even at its earliest stages. Astronomy and Cosmology is a fundamental part of our natural sciences today. Through close interaction with other disciplines, above all with mathematics and physics, it is been expanding, which on one hand triggers from knowledge, and then on the other profits from them. The great majority of astronomical objects are characterized by large masses and enormous energies. These generally cause matter to exist under extreme conditions of temperature and density, which, even today still lie well beyond what can be realized in a physicals laboratory. The various forms of matter that is encountered away from the Earth, at great distances is being studied as an area of interest. In current astrophysical cosmology there is some interesting and more or less generally accepted observational facts. Thus, in any active-ga lactic-nucleus phenomenon massive central objects like black holes, tachyons, neutrinos, WIMPS etc are expected to be common, and they are surrounded in a variety of scales, by gas clouds commonly termed circumnuclear gas, with liner a dimensions of a few ten kilo space. All these and few other astronomical objects and their current position in the study of cosmology is being discussed in this thesis.Neutron Stars: Neutron stars are highly compact stellar objects with masses ~ 1-2 M (where M is the mass of the sun), and radii of order 10km. ... observational data on neutron stars, gathered with a wide variety of detectors from radio to gamma-ray, provides increasingly stringent constraints on theories of their constitution. Precision radio and optical timing measurements show that pulsars have remarkable long-term timing stability, and thus the neutron stars forming them must have reasonably thick rigid crusts anchoring stable magnetic fields. Despite substantial work over the past half century, the nature of matter at the extreme densities in the cores of neutron stars remains uncertain. A better understanding of the possible states of matter in neutron stars interiors can also enable the world of cosmology to infer whether an independent family of denser quark stars, composed essentially of quark matters can exist (Rowan, 1996). Strings: Strings are extended objects with an intrinsic tension (energy per unit l length). Recent years have seen a radically different approach to the problem of quantum gravity this has led to a different idea of the possible structure of the quantum gravity theory. One of the most exciting ideas is that the fundamental entities upon which quantum operations must be performed are not point-like but are one dimensional. Such objects are usually known as strings, or more often super strings. In the last decades string theory has become a promised candidate for the underlying theory of the fundamental interactions of nature. However, even though lots of progress has been done it has not been yet possible to confront it with real physics. One possibility to achieve this is through cosmology by studying the cosmological implications of string theory. On the other hand string theory would

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Supply Chain and Logistics in Thailand Essay Example for Free

Supply Chain and Logistics in Thailand Essay Abstract Supply chain and Logistics management has become an emergent strategy for a developing country, like Thailand, in this new economy. Low labour cost – as a competitive advantage factor is no longer sufficient for surviving under this high pressure and competitive economy. However, at the time that the concept plays a key role in Thailand industry and a number of researches have been conducted, all the knowledge in the field are still not effectively managed. The actual needs, trends and directions are still missing. The paper examines research and knowledge management directions as well as needs in supply chain and logistics management in Thailand industry based on recommendation from the TRF (Thailand Research Fund) sponsored workshop, and subsequent by the authors’ effort to synthesize and extract the visions formed in the workshop. A main goal of this paper is to stress on the needs of Thailand industry in supply chain and logistics development and to lie down the directions of research that should be subsequently conducted for serving the country needs. We proposed a framework that, firstly, high potential and key competitive industrial cluster should be selected for in-depth study. Then, exploratory research should be done in order to guide and indicate all the needs for implementing supply chain in each cluster. The critical activities in each industrial group for developing supply chain should be identified. After that, all those needs at particular areas should be subsequently tackled by conducting further applied research. Human Resources issues are also highlighted. It is hoped that the direction model presented in the paper can be a prototype for supply chain nationwide implementation for developing countries in South East Asia. Introduction Today high competitive global market climate sparks Thai industrial demand for supply chain and logistics management. Running the old style management and competing with competitors only sales and marketing side like the old day will not work again for Thailand. Since, edges of having lower labor cost and cheaper raw materials than other exporting countries are fading out. Markets for Thai products in most sectors are gradually losing to other countries. To stay competitiveness, companies in Thailand start cultivating supply chain and logistics management. The corporate crusade to gain competitive advantage using new supply chain and logistics management methods is constantly extending to all Thai industry. Regarding to this emerging need for Thai Industry, a group of Thai researchers, Thai Value Chain Management and Logistics Researcher’s Consortium (ThaiVCML), leaders in private sectors, and government officers from Thai Research Fund joined an effort by organizing a workshop on November 2nd -3rd , 2002. The objective of the workshop was to elaborate a research direction in Supply Chain and Logistics Management for Thailand. Methodology and Outcome In order to have insight and synthetic outcomes, a group of participants was divided into three distinct areas: 1) Inbound Logistics and Supply Chain; 2) Physical Distribution and Transportation; and 3) Strategic Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Each group was assigned to examine all fundamental issues and factors in their area, and then try to lay down all needed and sufficient research that should be subsequently conducted for serving Thailand needs. The following are the research directions in each area, which the authors synthesized and extracted from the outcomes of the workshop. Research Direction of Inbound Logistics and Supply Chain The research of inbound logistics and supply chain should be emphasized on three directions: 1) To study state of the art and characteristics of inbound logistics and supply chain management, categorized by the types of industry such as textile industry and local community textile industry, automobile, electronics, and food industries; 2) To improve the effectiveness and efficiency of inbound logistics activities regarding introducing products to market, which include operations, manufacturing, organization and human-resource development and information technology; 3) To study the result of introducing inbound logistics and supply chain management such as the impact of improvement in logistics and supply chain systems on the industrial competitiveness of textile entrepreneur. The above result suggests that the research direction of inbound logistics and supply chain management can be categorized into three research groups including ground research, basic research, and research regarding the impacts of improvement in logistics and supply chain. Ground Research for Studying the State of the Art of Logistics and Supply Chain The research should be focused on significant components of the logistics and supply chain management and major problems occurring in each industry. The study of critical stages in supply chain pipelines that are bottlenecks and rush problems of Thai industry should be conducted. The research should also study what and where problems are as well as how to encourage an awareness of supply chain and logistics improvement in Thai industry. Examples of those researches are: 1) Food industry requires research on material management in order to solve the major problems involving long lead time, quality and environment; 2) Automotive industry needs research on the structure of inbound logistics and supply chain model including supported industries. Examples include automotive part manufacturers and trading partners; 3) Local community textile industry requires research on process improvement to reduce problems incurred by inconsistency of knitting and dyeing, and lack of skills and knowledge arising from high turnover problems, long lead-time asynchronous production planning and control, quality of raw materials, marketing, product design and development, inventory problems, intellectual property, pricing, competitiveness, and delivery; 4) Local community textile industry requires research on process Logistics Research Network 2003, London 257 improvement to reduce problems incurred by inconsistency of knitting and dyeing, and lack of skills and knowledge arising from high turnover problems, long lead-time asynchronous production planning and control, quality of raw materials, marketing, product design and development, inventory problems, intellectual property, pricing, competitiveness, and delivery; 5) Small- and medium- sized enterprises require research on information technology to increase the value of supply chain pipelines. Applied Research on Effectiveness and Efficiency Improvement for the Inbound Logistics and Supply Chain Applied research should be conducted for each industry by implementing supply chain models for both short-term and long term, accounting for product design, product and process innovation, culture, organizational competency, information management and technology. Research on the Impact of Introducing the Logistics and Supply Chain Concept For Thailand, the research is focused on impact of introducing the supply chain models on improvement of competitiveness components including lead-time, quality, design, bullwhip effects, and labor. Research Direction of Physical Distribution and Transportation The research in this area can be classified into 3 areas: 1) physical distribution and transportation improvement in private businesses; 2) the efficiency improvement of national distribution and transportation, and defining strategy; and 3) directions in order to be a center of transportation in South-east Asia. Physical Distribution and Transportation Improvement in Private Businesses The objectives of this group are to improve the efficiency of shippers and carriers in order to achieve less cost in distribution and transportation, reduce delivery time and increase reliability in delivery performance. Achieving the objectives, the research must be conducted into 4 groups that are information technology development, strategic alliance development, human resources development, and transportation technology development. Examples of research in those 4 groups are: ground survey in information technology should be done to obtain currently situation of distribution and transportation activities and its consequences that affect to each industry sectors; applied research could then be done to define a strategic alliance roadmap for medium and small size businesses; ground research should be conducted to discover currently status of the labors such as wages, education, training, working hours and performance expected; and development of transportation and material handling technology could then be studied to discover appropriate technologies for the product groups. Improving of Domestic Physical Distribution and Transportation The research in this area is to improve performance of physical distribution and transportation’s activities. Firstly, survey based research should be conducted to survey and analyze the activities such as flow of distribution and transportation relating to product groups, flow of transportation according to consumption points, etc. The outcome of the research can be very useful for applied research in order to support in developing the government’s policies and investment related to the activities such as improving road routes or train routes, having distribution centers. Improving of International Physical Distribution and Transportation To improve physical distribution and transportation internationally, defining strategic policies supporting the activities should be done. Survey based research of domestic physical distribution and transportation can usefully support to applied research in the international activities. To improve performance in physical distribution and transportation, 2 types of research should therefore be conducted. Survey based research is to investigate weak and strong points of the 3 main aspects. The roadmap and applied research topic needed can then be addressed. Applied research 258 Logistics Research Network 2003, London could thus bring methods or techniques to bridge betwee n current situation and competitive situation for each business sector. Research Direction of Strategic Supply Chain and Logistics Management In order to leverage this area of supply chain management research, the research are divided into three folds: 1) Focusing on assessing current business practice and strategy in each business sectors or industries, which impact the logistics and supply chain operations (Macro Level); 2) Focusing on assessing current business practice and strategy in each companies (Micro Levels).; and 3) Focusing on developing the best practice in creating and implementing logistics and supply chain strategies. The above result suggests that the research direction of strategic supply chain and logistics management can be categorized into three research areas including collaboration, human resource development, and uses of information technology. Collaboration The objective of this research area is to find out the obstacles, ways, and ultimately possibility of establishing collaboration efforts across the supply chain spectrums, vertical and horizontal, both within enterprise and between organizations. This also includes the collaboration between industries, private and government agencies, and academic parties within the same value chain. Examples of research are: 1) Ground research focuses on assessing the possibility of forming cluster in each industry and evaluating all necessary factors like human resource, product development, economy, and manufacturing capability; 2) Applied research emphasizes on developing collaborative model, implementation plan, and all related deployment issues. Human Resource Development The outcome of the workshop indicated that workforces and decision makers in Thailand have limit understanding about supply chain and logistics management. To properly lay down the strategic supply chain, these people have to be trained and upgraded their understanding of logistics operations. Examples of research in this area are: 1) Ground research focuses on assessing current understanding, needed knowledge and skill of logistics and supply chain operations in each industry; 2) Applies research focuses on developing sufficient tools and educational media like software, internet, or other devices to better train or educate logistics personal. This also include developing case study in particular industry. Information Technology The objective of this research area is to find the obstacle, limitation, suitability, and pros cons of using logistics information system and enterprise information system. The research should focus on finding the need of using these emerging technologies in Thai company, especially in each industry. The research should point out all aspects both tangible and intangible issues of acquiring these systems. The applies research should focus on developing these systems in order to avoid importing from oversea. Discussions The outcomes from the workshop show that supply chain and logistics management is now recognized as a key competitive area for Thailand. Essentially the workshop participants all agree that the study and research conducted should stress on such area for enhancing the country development. Five research domains were recommended as parts of the country focus for creating competitive advantage. Also, in each domain, the current status of supply chain and logistic management in Thailand was demonstrated. Logistics Research Network 2003, London 259 The first research domain stresses on the development of government and industrial sector policy. These policies set from each sector should facilitate the implementation of supply chain and logistics management in the country. Based on the current situation, the evidence shows that although the existed country policies, laws and regulations support the implementation of supply chain and logistics, there is no explicit analysis which indicates the effect of such policies on supply chain and logistics management in the country. Proper research should be conducted in identifying the interrelationship of the existed policies and the implementation of supply chain and logistics, suitable for the current situation and for the future. The second research domain includes the development of information technology (IT) for supply chain and logistics management, and its application with reasonable cost and suitable implementation. Even though it is all known that IT is an important factor for supply chain and logistics management, there is yet no study of the current status of IT application in Thai industry. The readiness for IT implementation has not yet been identified. Hence, the requirement and appropriate level of the use of IT in leading to supply chain and logistics management should be pointed out. The research for this area should state on, firstly, investigating appropriate and required level of IT for supply chain and logistics in Thailand and, secondly, developing a suitable IT applications for supply chain and logistics management for Thai industry. The third research domain identifies the need of strategic alliance research. This includes ways and methods of creating strategic alliance and how to select appropriate partners for building their supply chain. In Thailand, there is a high potential for creating strategic alliance horizontally and vertically. However an appropriate matchmaking has not yet been identified. Research should be conducted for indicating appropriate groups of industry in forming supply chain. The outcomes from research should be able to guide each industrial sector about their potential partners for developing supply chain. The fourth research domain highlights the importance of supply chain best practices. The evidence shows that the success of supply chain implementation can be seen mostly in Multi National Company (MNC) or large scale firm. Hence it is suggested that supply chain best practices from these large firms can be used as a prototype model for local and SMEs in Thailand. Research in this domain should notify factors for implementing these practices. Also all supply chain best practices appropriated for each industrial sector should be collected and documented. Lastly, the fifth research domain states the need of human resource development. The current situation in Thailand shows that we still lacks of supply chain and logistics resource persons in most organization. Supply chain education and training system together with knowledge and resource sharing should be developed for Thai industries. Also a database for collecting research and list of resource persons in supply chain and logistics management areas should be established. Conclusion Generally it can be said that supply chain and logistics development in Thailand is still at an early stage. Most firms tend to focus on technology in leading to supply chain. Nevertheless, based on Thailand current situation, they still lack of understanding in supply chain and logistics management concept. To apply appropriate concept of supply chain and logistics for Thailand, basic or grounded research is preferable. Thailand should initially begin with investigating backgrounds and status of economic and industry before stepping to an advanced supply chain and logistics development. Readiness and requirement should be stated at the first place. Therefore the research direction for Thailand should stress on studying, surveying and investigating the requirement, need and readiness of the country. Some research topics can be summarized as following. Â · A survey of Thailand’s readiness and status for implementing supply chain and logistics. Â · Cluster analysis for each industrial sector or across industry. Â · A collection of supply chain best practices for each industrial sector. Â · Appropriate government policy for facilitating supply chain and logistics. Â · Human Resource Development for supply chain and logistics. Â · Future trend and direction of supply chain and logistics in Thailand. 260 Logistics Research Network 2003, London Despite of the need of these grounded research, some basic applied research are also appropriate. However it is to focus on developing basic tool for implementing supply chain and managing logistics for basic use such as developing a simple scheduling and routing software for delivery system, developing a database or information system for managing and linking information within a department or between departments, developing a basic MRP or CRP, etc, rather than an advanced or in-depth research for supply chain and logistics improvement.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Why do people help Essay Example for Free

Why do people help Essay Helping behavior is an important topic in social psychology. It is important to understand why people help, when they help and reasons for helping others. According to Kassin, pro-social behavior is an action intended to benefit others. The author also describes several factors of why people help. Among them, one is kin selection which is preferential helping of genetic relatives, which results in the greater likelihood that genes held in common will survive ( 2010, page 392). Another one is altruistic which is motivated by the desire to improve another’s welfare ( ). The author also describes the bystander effect in which the presence of others inhibits helping in an emergency indicates why the five steps necessary for helping—noticing, interpreting, taking responsibility, deciding how to help, and providing help. People are most likely to help others in certain circumstances: when they are not in rush. People who are in a good mood are more likely to help. Good mood makes people interpret events in a sympathetic way and it gives them more positive thoughts about helping behaviors. Also people in a bad mood can often increase helpfulness because they feel guilty about something and they may be motivated to help others in order to improve their mood. According to the article, â€Å"People help save man trapped in burning car† the author mentions how the residents in southwest Houston were helping to save a man’s life after he crashed his car into a tree, causing it to catch fire. The vehicle apparently hit a speed bump at a high rate of speed, and the driver lost control. The vehicle slammed into a tree head-on, and the car caught fire with the driver trapped inside. It was shortly before midnight Sunday in Houston. People were helping to save the man’s life. In this article, people were noticing the event, and interpreting it as an emergency. It also shows that this is not a diffusion of responsibility because people were taking the responsibility for proving help. They were taking the decision for providing help, and provided help. They started putting water on the blaze to keep it under control until firefighters arrived. The smoke was so intense that they had to take a brick and bust the window. The Houston Fire Department was able to put out the fire and cut away the vehicle’s door to get the driver out (Khou, April 15 2013). Khou believes the people in the community helped save the driver. The  situation can influence helping. When two explosions occurred along the stretch of the Boston Marathon on Boston street in Boston on April 15th, three people were killed and more than 170 people were injured. People and communities came together to respond and help the best they could. According to the article â€Å"6 Examples of Awesome People Helping Boston Marathon Victims† the author wrote about the heroic people who were helping Boston Marathon victims. Carlos Arredondo is one of them. Carlos was there and he jumped over a fence and ran towards the people lying on the ground and where he found spectator Jeff Bauman with his shirt on fire and the lower parts of his legs gone. Arredondo beat the flames out with his hands, tied a t-shirt around the stump of one of Bauman’s legs, and kept him company until emergency responders arrived (Olivia, April 17, 2013). Joe Andruzzi carried an injured woman to safety. Joe also had carried a man covered in blood to the medical tent. 15 National Guard Members who were assembled at the medical tent near the finish line. They had water, extra uniforms, and first-aid with them on their backpacks. Alyssa Carter raised more than $220,000 on the crowd funding website to help pay her cousins’ medical bills. Boston Restaurants have been donating food and letting people use their establishments as places to regroup (Olivia, April 17, 2013). All above the examples clearly shows that the norm of social responsibility is powerful situational factors that lead individuals to help others. The norm of social responsibility dictates that people should help those who are in need of assistance. This norm creates a sense of duty and obligation to which people respond by giving more help to those in greater need of it. The helpers who were helping after the two explosions noticed the event first and subsequently interpreted it as an emergency. As a result, they took the responsibility and provided help the best possible way they could. Jason said there are countless stories of selfless people who risk their lives to save others after the Boston Marathon explosion. Jason mentions how much people are willing to help. This clearly shows of altruism. Helping the victims could possibly harm the own life of the helper and not helping keeps away from harm. So it was altruistic because the cost outweighed the reward. It is important to understand pro-social behavior and how helping behavior can be increased. Understanding why people help may help to understand how helping behavior can be increased. Elaborate using examples  of where pro-social research can be applied in the real world and what information acquired through research can do to further the understanding of helping behavior?

Friday, September 20, 2019

Investigate the impact of video gaming on society to determine whether it leads to aggressive, violent, anti-social behaviour

Investigate the impact of video gaming on society to determine whether it leads to aggressive, violent, anti-social behaviour Abstract Video games have become one of the favorite activities of adolescents worldwide. A growing body of research is linking video game play to violent, aggressive and anti-social behavior. The purpose of this study was to Investigate the impact of video gaming on society to determine whether it leads to aggressive, violent, anti-social behavior. The first aim of this study was to document the different type of video games and how they work through electronic devices and also to examine associations among video game exposure and the impact it has on school grades and obesity levels. The second aim was to indentify factors which lead to violent, aggressive and anti-social behavior and the extreme lengths in which advertisers and players reach to enjoy the benefits of video games. In addition this study also presents brief outline of the current ratings and censorship on video games in Australia. The overall result of the study revealed that adolescents who expose themselves to greater amounts of video game violence were more were more likely to perform more poorly in school and increase obesity levels. The research also suggested that exposure to violent video games may increase angry and hostile feelings while interacting with peers, teachers and adults. Other results include that the encouragement of violence and the use of weapons like guns, knives, pipes and bombs in video games can ultimately lead to real life situations of violence. The study also goes to length by examining some video games which have been banned due the violent and inappropriate content. The study altogether reveals that modern technology for example video games have an association with many current issues in society like violence, obesity and the extreme addict adolescent have to video games. Section One: Introduction The impact of video games has become a controversial issue in modern times. The gaming industry has grown enormously through the evolution of modern consoles, games and accessories. The hype that surrounds new technology and technology gadgets is unprecedented even in the world of gamers. Video games now play a huge role in society affecting many people around the globe. According to many studies, Video games can increase aggressive behavior and emotional outbursts and decrease inhibitions in many people. (Kardaras 2008). Teenagers are mostly affected by video games because nowadays in many of the richer countries it is perceived as a necessity in their lives, rather than a privilege. This paper provides an investigation into the impact of video gaming on society to determine whether it leads to aggressive, violent, anti-social behaviour. For the purpose of this examination the information has been broken up into six sections. The first section examines what video games are and the different types of games found in the gaming industry. Next I look at how video games have an impact on society and then the possible factors which lead to aggression, violence and anti-social behaviour. Section five explores how video games have been used to form a second life. The final section will discuss how effectively game ratings restrict anti-social and adult content The information presented in the first three sections is instrumental for the factors which lead to aggression, violence and anti-social behavior. There is no question that video games have an impact on society and it has become a huge problem in recent years. One thing that is certain is that the gaming industry is growing rapidly which increases the impact of video games on the society. Section Two: What are video games and the different type of video games? A video game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. The electronic systems used to play video games are known as platforms .There are many different platforms which video games can be played on. These are personal computers and video game consoles. These platforms range from large computers to small handheld devices (Video Game 2009) Video game platforms have become very common in households around the world. The Australian Bureau of Statistics completed an extensive investigation into the Australian Gaming industry and the results clearly show that gaming is widespread in society and that it continues to grow. Some of their findings include: The Australian games industry is worth an estimated $140 million per year Australians spend over A$2 million per day on interactive computer games Annual compound growth of the industry is 12.3% 12.5 million games were sold in 2006 6.1million video game consoles have been sold since 2000 3.6million Australian households have a video game console 4.8million Australian households have an internet enabled PC which is capable of playing games (Booker 2008) The platforms continue to evolve and become more and more sophisticated with time. Some platforms have been designed so that a gamer can access their video games at any time; for example with the PSP (play station portable) a gamer is able to carry his console around with him/her anywhere. The Wii console set a new precedent for the gaming world, trying to create a physical gaming experience. When it was released in December 2006 it was the fastest selling gaming console in Australian history, In the first four days of its launch in December 2006, 32,901 Wii units were sold nationwide (Moses 2006). It bought a new dimension to the industry; its main selling point was that it had games that allowed gamers to exercise reducing the need for outside activity and trying to curb obesity. Due to the revolution of new game consoles there are many different types of games which are being played these days. These games range from action to puzzle to driving games. According to Caruana, Caruana and Bruner 2009 the seven different types of game that can be identified are action, adventure and role playing, arcade, strategy, simulation, driving and puzzle games. Action games usually have a large amount of violence due to their fast-paced nature. Many of these games fall under the category of mature rated games which are inappropriate for children. Some games are milder but may contain suggestive themes. Action games may allow the user to play person against person or person against animal/alien. Some examples of such problematic games include Halo, Star Wars, Jedi Knight and Enter the Matrix (Caruana, Caruana Bruner 2009) Adventure and role playing games are usually less graphic than action games and typically have an element of surrealism and fantasy. Many times these games are combined with a role playing element and allow the character to initiate dialogue. These adventure and role playing games are designed to be less intense than action games; they often do include violence. These games tend to be among the most addictive due to the narrative fantasy themes. Examples of this genre are Starfox Adventures and Billy Hatcher. (Caruana, Caruana Bruner 2009) Arcade games can be almost anything from the violent Street Fighter to the classic Pacman. This category includes games that cover the entire spectrum of ratings. Many older arcade games have been updated and turned into 3-D. Some examples are Pacman and Soul Caliber 2. (Caruana, Caruana Bruner 2009) Strategy games most often involve tactical movement of troops and/or players. These games may be warfare based or may be as simple as chess. The content of many of these games can be appropriate for children but they tend to be difficult to play. Combat is often slower paced and allows time for strategic thinking. Some examples are Advanced Wars I II and Chessmaster 2000 (Caruana, Caruana Bruner 2009) Simulation games are often aircraft simulations. You get to fly a jet or a helicopter. Most have nothing more to them than the destruction of enemies; rarely do they use excessive language. Some games in this category include Secret Weapons Over Normandy and SimCity. (Caruana, Caruana Bruner 2009) Driving games are most often racing, but some are also crash derby or mission-based. Players usually get a choice of car and get better and better cars over time. Some of these games are Project Gotham Racing, ATV Offroad Fury, and the highly offensive Grand Theft Auto. (Caruana, Caruana Bruner 2009) Puzzle games are rated for everyone. They all involve thinking and logic skills. A common puzzle game is Tetris. Many others are Tetris-like or involve color matching skills. Many games incorporate puzzle aspects but are not true puzzles. Some of the puzzle-incorporating games fall under Action or Role-Playing games. (Caruana, Caruana Bruner 2009) Section Three: How do video games have an impact on society? Adolescents and children are the groups most exposed to video games. They are at such crucial stages in their development and highly influenced by their environment which is why they are deliberately targeted time and time again by the gaming industry and advertisers. It is a common belief in society that they are becoming increasingly exposed to games that cause some to become violent, aggressive and antisocial. According to Gentile, Lynch, Linder and Walsh (2004) the average child in the USA aged 2-17 years old plays video games for seven hours a week. This average masks wide differences between boys and girls and children of different ages. There is a gender difference in the number of hours spent playing games. In modern studies it has been shown that adolescent girls played video games for an average of five hours a week whereas boys averaged thirteen hours a week. The two aspects of video game use that are of interest are the amount of time involved and the content. With respect to content, researchers have been most interested in violent games compared with non-violent games. Although not all studies have differentiated between violent and non-violent content this is an important distinction as it is likely that the effects of amount of play and the content of games may be independent of each other. For example most evidence suggests that amount of play affects school performance whereas violent content affects aggressive outcomes (Gentile, Lynch, Linder Walsh 2004). Although Greg Thom reports that The games which have the most positive impact on users are educational games which help users with the enhancement of visual and communication skills (Thom 2009). A good indicator of the negative effects of video games is its impact on school and grades. School performance is very essential for many adolescents and their families all around the world. Performance at school will offer more opportunities for the students in the future. While students are provided with these opportunities for the future many adolescents around the world choose to spend hours on video games rather than focusing on studies. Video games can have some positive aspects but studies have shown a negative association between the amount of video game playing and school performance for children, adolescents and college students. Games can be played in moderation but for many who are avid gamers it becomes more important than other things that they should be focusing on. Studies show a fairly consistent negative connection between leisure video game play and grades. For example, high-school students who report spending more time playing video games or who report spending more money on video games had poorer grades in English classes. This indicates the huge impact it has on students because students are addicted to the enjoyment of different games. The content of the games being played certainly could affect the relationship between amounts of play and school performance (Gentile, Lynch, Linder Walsh 2004) However, regardless of content the amount of play could affect grades negatively by displacing time spent in other educational and social activities. This suggests that electronic media can influence learning and social behavior by taking the place of activities such as reading, family interaction and social play with peers. If the average child plays video games for seven hours week, those are seven hours that the child is not engaged in reading, homework or participating in creative activities. The content of the games being played certainly could affect the relationship between amounts of play and school performance The overall impact that video games has on students affects them both mentally (addiction of the game) and physically (lack of movement and exercise). Video games become a necessity in their lives leading them to forget other responsibilities like school and social interaction. As shown before with the impact of video games on school performance affecting adolescents, it can be said that adolescents are also affected by video games through the increasing obesity levels. Numerous studies have shown that sedentary behaviours like watching television and playing computer games are associated with increased prevalence of obesity(Dehghan, Akhtar-Danesh Merchan 2005) The cause of teenage obesity is generally because of lack of physical activity combined with unhealthy eating habits. Society has become very inactive especially adolescents because they have become addicted to video games which becomes part of their daily routine rather than their regular exercise. Adolescents spend hours sitting in front of computers, video games or televisions. One survey showed 43% of adolescents play video games for more than two hours games per day (Teen Obesity Statistics 2009). Obese teenagers may also suffer from depression which can lead to a viscous circle of staying at home watching TV, snacking and gaining more weight feeling worse about themselves (Teen Obesity Statistics 2009). This cycle attracts people to play video games because it can be played at home and they are able to snack during their games. It harms a video gamer both mentally and physically which further increase obesity levels. Obesity is one of the biggest unsolved issues around the world with USA having the highest obesity levels in their population. According to research, 14% of adolescents in the United States are overweight. This figure has nearly tripled in the last 20 years (Teen Obesity Statistics 2009). This clearly indicates that obesity is an enormous problem for adolescents in the USA and countries with advanced technologies such as video games consoles like the PS3, PSP and Xbox 360. Section Four: Factors which lead to aggression, violence and anti-social behavior. Violent video games have been a high discussion issue for many years now. Many violent video games have been linked back to aggressive, violent and anti social behavior, for many the line between reality and fantasy is lost through their addiction. For many gamers they are able to live out their fantasies for example in the game Second Life in this game players are able to live their fantasies to the point where they can no longer make the distinction between whats real and whats not. Even though the games on their own dont make a person aggressive violent or anti-social they are still a contributing factor. In modern times games are designed to be entertaining, challenging and sometimes educational. Many companies and advertisers want to push the boundaries, so games are released where it is better to kill people, attack police and drive dangerously, all illegal acts in real life. Recent content analyses of video games show that as many as 89% of games contain some violent content and that about half of the games include serious violent content towards other game characters. Therefore among the games being purchased and played by youth, a majority contain violence. The popularity of video game violence has driven much research on the possible harmful effects on children and adolescents. (Gentile, Lynch, Linder Walsh 2004). Although violent video game exposure is related to negative social outcomes, some experimental work suggests that video game exposure independent of content is related to improvements in certain types of cognition and learning. (Barlett, Anderson and Swing, 2008) With some research for positive outcomes of video games, the negative outcomes are clearly more evidence of negative outcomes through surveys and analysis. For example a meta-analysis by Anderson and Bushman (2001) found that across 54 independent tests of the relation between video game violence and aggression, involving 4262 participants, there appear to be five consistent results of playing games with violent content. Playing violent games increases aggressive behaviors, increases aggressive awareness, increases aggressive emotions, increases physiological arousal and decreases pro-social behaviors. These effects are strong and have been found in children and adults, in males and females and in experimental and non-experimental studies. These modern games due to consumer demands are made to have violent and disturbing scenes in them. Research by Anderson has suggested that exposure to violent video games may increase angry and hostile feelings while interacting with peers, teachers and adults which leads users to violent behavior. (Anderson et. al. 2004) Perhaps the best example of violent video games influence over adolescents is the case of Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris. They opened fire in their Colorado high school in 1999, killing 13 people. Experts made a link back to the continuous playing of video games by these two young men. Reports revealed that Harris and Klebold played a lot of violent video games including Wolfenstein 3D, Doom and Mortal Kombat. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold enjoyed playing violent video games and these games played a role in their violent acts at Columbine High School. Eric Harris had actually modified a version of the game Doom and placed it on his Website. In his version there were two shooters, extra weapons, and the other people in the game couldnt shoot back. Eric and Klebold essentially acted-out their version of Doom on innocent classmates (Holmes 2005). The dramatic rise in violent shootings by teenagers many of whom have been like to be play violent video games is fueling the argument that video game violence translates into real-world situations (Layton 2007). In many violent video games players are encouraged to actively participate as a character by choosing how they will interact with other characters including which weapons will be used while fighting or attacking other characters. Weapons often include guns, knives, pipes and bombs. (Anderson et. al. 2004) In cases of extreme violence like the case of Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris as described above encouragement of violence in video games can ultimately lead to real life situations of violence. The addictive nature of video games can cause anti- social behavior. Often gamers can connect with people around the world without even meeting them or knowing who they really are. From the comfort of your own home, one can communicate via countless chatrooms, twitter, msn, facebook, email and my space; the list goes on and on. The easy access of the internet and the speed which one can do it eliminate the need to go out and socialise in order to meet people. Time spent on video games results in time lost socializing and interacting. Although reports by Greg Thom suggests fun games which encourages teamwork and friendship, can lay the groundwork for positive interaction between children, leading to better behavior and academic results show some positive connection with video games (Thom 2009). The negative linkage with video games is shown more with players spending hours alone on a video game which isolates them from the rest of the world physically, which weakens their social skills. Basic social functions are forgotten. The video game player does not know how to handle social behavior. One cause of the anti-social disorder is even more time spent in front of video games. Another cause is isolation, aggressiveness, and disregard for rules and regulations. An initial addiction of video games can easily turn into a psychological anti-social personality disorder (The Dark Side of the Internet). Section Five: Second Life: Escape from reality. The gaming world has developed enormously in the last ten years. Today there are virtual reality games invented for users to interact with other users online in a whole new world. Second Life is a program that has taken the world by storm. The second life offers similar worldly commitments like business, leisure and friendship. When there is a place to turn and virtually become anything you want to be, why would any user want to leave that fantasy life. This virtual world promotes itself as an escape from reality. Second Life is a 3D virtual world created by its residents thats bursting with entertainment, experiences and opportunity. The Second Life Grid provides the platform where the Second Life world resides and offers the tools for business, educators, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs to develop a virtual presence (Holmes 2005). The main in-world activity is the building of interactive objects using a scripting language that is theoretically designed to be simple enough for those with no previous programming experience. This fits in with Second Lifes stated goal of encouraging widespread group participation and creativity. Objects can be either donated to the world or can be brought for Linden Dollars the Second Life currency. Once you have been through the Second Life orientation a user will be able to explore the world of Second Life. There are so many things to do in Second Life. Just about anything you can do in real life you can do in Second Life. Some of these things which you can do in Second Life are shopping, partying, attending events and having sexual relationships. These types of activities make Second Life such a popular game because it allows users to live a life of fantasy and glamour. Although with all the fantasy of Second Life there has been cases were inappropriate actions have taken place. While Second Life has taken technology to new heights the platform also has been severely criticized for interesting many visitors and turning them into Internet addicts (Linden Lab 2009). The attraction of second life is that users can enter a world that would allow them to be whatever they want and have a life different to their real one. When one can turn into a millionaire with mansions and cars at their disposal, why would they want to go out into the real world. Section Six: Overview of ratings and censorship in Australia. The intention of a rating system is to restrict people from playing certain games. It is designed to provide users with adequate information to make informed decisions. However the current system is open to manipulation quite easily whether that be by corrupt retailers or careless parents. Games that are rated MA15+ or AO are at risk of falling into childrens hands. With pirated media rampant in society a game that is banned in your country could be located and downloaded from a destination where is has been released. Two of the main reasons that games are banned are because they promote anti-social behaviours and expose users to high violence and adult content. For example Marc Ecko Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure was banned, for amongst other things, its glorification of graffiti (List of banned games 2009). While one could argue that it is harmless, the fact remains that graffiti costs approximately 300 million each year in Australia, which families end up paying for with higher cost for services, rates and insurance premiums. Of the thirty three games that have been banned in Australia fourteen of them contained images that were deemed inappropriate for users and considering that the average age of a video gamer in Australia is 30 years old that is indicative of just how explicit the content is (List of banned games 2009). There are already issues in todays society with children being exposed to images/cultures which are not appropriate. The game, Phantasmagoria goes so far as to have a rape scene in it. Without censorship games like these that are highly inappropriate could easily make their way in to children hands. Ratings are vital because they are a tool by which companies must abide to produce a game that can be made available to the masses. However while it is possible to control the content of what hits the shelf, it is what happens once they have been bought that remains the issue. Section Seven: Conclusion The impact of video games is enormous and is increasingly affecting people around the world daily. From street fighter to FIFA 09 these games are impacting society through mental and physical conditions. People are becoming addicted to games and they are impacting some people in a way that they act like the characters they play in the games. In one case, a murder, as explained in the essay, was linked back to the playing of violent video games. Young people in society are mostly attracted to video games. Games with contain violent content and lead aggressive and anti-social behavior are reaching our childrens hands. One question which we should ask Are we to blame the video game companies for producing very harmful games, the parents for buying inappropriate games for their young children or the young people who play the games?. The impact of video games on society is evident with the gaming industry estimated to be worth millions and the development in technology over the years. The research revealed that an estimated 6.1million video game consoles have been sold since 2000.Video games impact society in many ways like school performance, obesity levels and violent behavior. Many games have been banned for there violent and inappropriate contain for example in Australia the game Phantasmagoria was because of its caused huge controversy with rape scenes in it. The issue of video games and there negative effects is evident as shown in the essay. The gaming world had has become so dominant that people are playing games more and more every day because of the releasing of different games daily. The adventure and role playing games were found to be among the most addictive due to the narrative fantasy themes. With new technology like PS3 players allowing the users to use the internet for daily purposes like online banking and shopping. The gaming world has come part of many peoples life and it has either affected them positively or negatively. In many cases gamers have been affected negatively with outcomes like violent, aggressive and antisocial behavior from the exposure to video games and there inappropriate contain in some cases. There is no definitive solution to the issue of gaming and the effect that it has one the user. There needs to be more regulation and parents should become more aware of what they are allowing their children to play. Ultimately, people need to be more conscious of separating the gaming world from the real world and try and maintain a reasonable balance between reality and fantasy. For many the line between reality and fantasy is lost through their addiction of gaming. Reference list: Anderson, C.A. Bushman, B.J 2001. Effects of violent games on aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, aggressive affect, physiological arousal, and prosocial behavior: A meta-analytic review of the scientific literature. Psychological Science, 12 , pp. 353-359. Anderson, C. A., Carnagey, N. ., Flanagan, M., Benjamin, A.J., Eubanks, J., Valentine, J. C. (2004). Violent Video Games: Specific Effects of Violent Content on Aggressive Thoughts and Behavior. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 36, p. 199-249. Barlett, C. P, Anderson C.A, Swing, E.L (2008) Video Game Effects- Confirmed, Suspected, and Speculative: A Review of the evidence, Simulation Gaming, vol. 40, pp. 337. Booker, L 2008, Australian Bureau of Statistics Releases Data On Local Games Industry, viewed 4 September 2009, http://www.kotaku.com.au/2008/04/australian_bureau_of_statistics_releases_data_on_local_games_industry/#. Caruana, V, Caruana, C Bruner O (2009), Types of Video Games, Focus on the Family, viewed 28 June 2009, http://www.focusonthefamily.com/entertainment/mediawise/parents_guide_to_video_games/types_of_video_games.aspx. Dehghan, M, Akhtar-Danesh, N Merchant, A. T (2005) Childhood obesity, prevalence and prevention, Nutrition Journal, vol. 4, pp.24 Familari, P 2009, Virtual games, real pain, Herald Sun, 3 October, p. 15. Gentile, D.A, Lynch, P.J, Linder, R.H Walsh, D.A 2004, The effects of violent video game habits on adolescent hostility, aggressive behaviors, and school performance, Journal of Adolescence, vol. 27, pp. 5-22. Holmes, L 2005, Violent Video Games Produce ViolentBehavior, viewed 6 September 2009, http://mentalhealth.about.com/cs/familyresources/a/vidgameviolence.htm. Kardaras, E 2008, The Effect of Video Games on the Brain, Serendip, viewed 2 September 2009, http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1742 Layton, J 2007, Do violent video games lead to real violence? , viewed 25 June 2009, http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/video-game-violence.htm. List of banned video games 2009, Wikipedia, viewed 28 July 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banned_video_games#Australia Linden Lab 2009, Linden Lab Research, viewed 2 September 2009, http://lindenlab.com/. MacDonald, A 2009, Violent video rating under scrutiny again, Hearld Sun, 28 September, p.20. Moses, A 2006, Wii breaks Xbox sales record, The Sydney Morning Herald, December 14. Teen Obesity Statistics 2009, Troubled Teen 101, viewed 4 September 2009, http://www.troubledteen101.com/articles42.html. The Dark Side of the Internet, A social, psychological and economic study of the positive and negative impact the internet has on children and families, viewed 27 June 2009, http://people.hamilton.edu/bhouse/DoWeEncourage/DoWeEncourage5.html. Thom, G 2009, Videos part of game plan for happy kids, Hearld Sun, December 10. Video Games 2009, Wikipedia, viewed 1 July 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_games#cite_note-0. Weinstein,B 2009, Second Lifes founder responds to criticism, MetaVerse Journal, viewed 4 September 2009, http://www.troymedia.com/NewsBeats/Technology_News_Beat/2009/06/TMC062609.htm.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Prosperos Choice in The Tempest :: Tempest essays

Prospero's Choice in The Tempest In The Tempest, Prospero achieves his ultimate goals of exiting the island and regaining his kingdom without unnecessary killing, torture or deception. Both this choice, and his decision in the end to rescind his magic, allow him to morally reconcile with himself. Prospero's choice to refrain from murder sets his objectives above mere revenge. By using ingenuity and the spirit Ariel's help, he achieves the semblance of death without the reality thereof. He could have simply made the tempest so furious that it destroyed the ship, or subjected the offenders to lingering torture, but instead spends more time to separate the "survivors" into three groups to deal with them more effectively. Thus he avoids guilt and criticism for unnecessary death. The island magician also abstains from using his arts to force the evil men of the group into excruciating pain with possible death. We know he is capable of this - he has punished Caliban in such a way. However, no only does he refrain from torturing them, but also makes sure they are not uncomfortable! Alonso's group includes the pervasively cheerful Gonzalo, and is never kept away from food or water. Caliban knows the island, and helps Stephan and Trinculo survive. Ferdinand even fins the love of his life. Even though Prospero deceives the shipwrecked captives, it is never for his own personal enjoyment. Instead, he specifically aims to achieve his goals by putting pressure on Alonso and restricting Caliban's scheming. As if this were not enough, he further surrenders his powers and even begs the readers' help to assure his safety! It becomes obvious that Prospero has no desire to rule or lust for power to corrupt him, but only wishes a return to his previous status. Because he avoids death, torture and unnecessary deception, there is nothing to stain Prospero's long trek to return to civilization. He has given Ferdinand love, Alonso his son and recognition of his deeds, and Caliban a lesson in obedience. Thus, the long-suffering magician is able to reconcile morally with himself. PEER FEEDBACK Very precise and well-organized, although it doesn't address every aspect of the question.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

McDonalds :: essays research papers

I.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Introduction McDonalds has always been a leader in the fast food industry. Through its dynamic market expansion, new products and special promotional strategies, it has succeeded in making a name for itself in the minds of the target customers. However, McDonald’s earnings has declined in the late 1990’s and 2000s. This is mainly due to a fiercely competitive industry and variety in customer tastes and preferences. II.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Statement of the Problem How can McDonalds increase its sales, market share and profits in a fiercely competitive industry? III.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Objectives McDonalds objectives are to reverse the decline of sales, to continue staying ahead of the competition in the fast food industry and to find new strategies that would help the restaurant successfully compete in the a fiercely competitive market. IV.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Areas of Consideration Situation  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eating habits of Americans are changing  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Younger consumers are getting tired of fast food and are becoming health conscious  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Growing dissatisfaction with the quality aspect of fast food restaurants such as McDonalds  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fast food is losing its sense of appeal to the large group of customers who frequently eat out Environment  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  another segment of the fast-food industry is comprised of a non-hamburger restaurants, growing trend is moving customers to non-burger sandwiches  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  increase in the fast-casual segment that includes restaurants that offer deli sandwiches and more upscale meals with more comfortable surroundings but faster Background  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  McDonalds has added new products on its menu  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Advertising message focused on tasty and nutritious food, friendly folks and fun  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Invested heavily in advertising and improving its public image  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Opened first domestic McCafe Customers  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  recognize the importance of drive-through customers (try to increase the speed of drive-through delivery)  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Importance of heavy users of fast-food restaurants Threats  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  McDonalds cheap and greasy image Major Competitors in the Hamburger Segment  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Burger King Corp. that offers an array of value-priced offerings and makes kitchen and drive through upgrades  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hardee’s that continually introduce new items in the menu and join the price-promotion burger wars  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wendy’s International who has the strongest same-store-sales gains in recent years Major Competitors in the Non-Hamburger Segment  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Pizza Hut that dominates the Pizza Segment  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  KFC that uses programs to attract kids and families to its food offerings  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Taco Bell that practice successful high-priced offerings V.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alternative Causes of Action & Analysis In today’s market, McDonalds faces numerous challenges such as fierce competition, a more health conscious customer, and the continual need for improved customer satisfaction and menu. McDonalds needs to go through some changes in order to remain ahead in the fast-food industry. Alternative 1   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  McDonalds should focus greatly on building good customer relationship and uphold customer retention. This is done by allocating time and budget in improving their resources and making changes that actually cater to their customers’ needs and comfort.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Primacy Effect

Primacy Effect is a cognitive bias that results from disproportionate salience of initial stimuli or observations. It is the tendency to remember well the first items, that will influence us more than the later information will. According to Solomon Asch (1946), â€Å"a glance, a few spoken words are sufficient to tell us a story about a highly complex matter† (pg. 258). Therefore, we often make our judgment of the person right from the first impressions. For example, if someone makes a good first impression the moment they meet you, you will tend to dismiss negative attributes shown later in the person.However, if someone were to make a bad first impression, they will have a hard time making a positive influence later on. In one study, the Asch had presented a list of six adjectives to a subject. It was revealed that subjects who had flattering descriptors were picked to be more likeable when their adjectives were in order from favorable to unfavorable. Therefore humans perce ive the people around them by their independent trait. Humans often fill in the gaps of missing information. In another study that Asch (1946) conducted, the two different subjects were shown 2 lists A. bedient-weak-shallow-warm-unambitious-vain B. vain-shrewd- unscrupulous-warm-shallow-envious (pg. 267) results shows that the subjects were more influenced by the words that came before warm. They felt that in series A, the person was truly and genuinely a warm person. However, in series B the subjects felt that the warmth in the person lacks sincerity. (Asch, 1946, pg. 267). This clearly displays the primacy effect that humans different judgment of two different first impression, however with a similar central trait warm.Therefore, we would perceive people with better physical appearances as more socially desirable and that the first impressions of them will be positive. Even if there were to be signs of any negative characteristics, humans tend allow these first impressions to beco me self-fulfilling prophecies and be naturally biased towards them. Reference: Asch, S. E. (1946). Forming impressions of personality. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 41(3), 258-290

Monday, September 16, 2019

Adolf Hitler Essay

Adolf Hitler remains one of the most infamous figures in human history. He will be known as the worst person at the worst time in human history. When an otherwise indignant Germany actually threw Hitler in jail for his views on overthrowing the government in 1923, all of a sudden is embraced as a patriot and the man who would be able to restore Germany to her past glory only a decade later. There have been scores of psychological books and studies which have tried to explain why an entire nation of sixty million people could have allowed, ignored and even assisted in not only allowing such a man to come to power and to fight and die for his warped sense of justice, but to allow to occur, the worst chapter in human history: The Holocaust. Despite there being no clear reason as to who started World War I and with there occurring a virtual stalemate on the battlefield, Germany was nevertheless blamed for the war and the Allies sought to punish Germany accordingly. In the years that followed, Germany was thrown into a deep depression, filled with record inflation, discontent and frustrations as they sought to find a scapegoat to help explain their problems. Hitler gave the German people the answer that they wanted at the time that they were desperately looking for a leader to pull them out of the meager existence that had plagued Germany since the end of World War I. Hitler would use the benefits of industrialization that had made many fearful and intimated by Germany’s power and military strength. Hitler was therefore able to threaten the world with Germany’s industrial strength through the economic and political climate that was present in Germany at that time. Hitler exploited these to his benefit and to the shame of Germany and the rest of the world. Adolf Hitler became aware of the world during his fighting in World War I. Hitler was twice honored for his bravery and was given the Iron Cross in August of 1918. However, it was his constant fighting with his superiors and violent temper which prevented Hitler from being promoted within the ranks of the Army. Also, Hitler not being a German citizen also served as an impediment. Hitler was a citizen of Austria but had long admired Germany and seemed to feel her pain towards the one sided terms of the Versailles Treaty as much as any German national had felt. Hitler was wounded in the war and was later exposed to chemical gas which some historians and psychologists have given credit to the formulation of hysteria within Hitler. It was during this time that Hitler became convinced that Germany would need to be saved from her current plight and that he was the one who could bring such glory. It was also at this time, as seen five years later in his writing of Mein Kampf, Hitler knew that this would have to be accomplished through the extermination of the Jews. In his autobiography, Hitler states: â€Å"At the beginning of the Great War, or even during the War, if twelve of fifteen thousand of these Jews who were corrupting the he nation had been forced to submit to poison gas and all of her crippling effects, then the millions of sacrifices at the front would not have been made in vain. † Hitler took the lead in blaming the Jews for the troubles of Germany and sought to reclaim her greatness in any ways possible, One of the ways in which Hitler sought to reclaim Germany’s prominence in the world was a rapid arms build up, brought on by her highly industrialized factories. This was in high contrast to the condition that the Treaty of Versailles has left Germany after the war. Germany hade only six battleships, no air force, no submarines and an armed forces of less than 100,000. Hitler sought to overhaul the infrastructure of Germany and was soon involved in the largest physical improvement in German history. â€Å"In only a few short years after Hitler was elected, he had thousands of workers employed, building thousands of bridges, dams, miles of railroads and other most important civil works. † The architect Albert Speer was named the architect of the Reich and was responsible for reviving Germany’s past glory through the construction of stadiums and other monuments to the greatness of the Third Reich to levels that were never before seen in Europe. One of these stadiums was in Berlin as it was the host of the 1936 Olympics. Over 100,000 Germans crammed the seats to see if Hitler’s theories were correct concentrating the racial superiority of the Aryan race. Through the efforts of Jesse Owens and Jesse Metcalf, Hitler was proven wrong. Hitler did not let this minor setback stop him from his building and in flexing the industrial muscle of the German nation. When Hitler took over control, Germany had no air force. In the months leading up to his invasion of Poland, Germany could boast of having the largest air force in the world; three time larger than Britain’s Royal Air Force and even larger than much of America’s armed forces and their isolationist views. This influence towards a more industrialized Germany, did not escape the other forms of German military might. The most modern weaponry the world had ever known, in the form of the toughest tanks, the fastest planes and the most high tech artillery as well as a build up of over a million fighting men by 1935, made Germany a very dangerous member of what would later be known as the Axis Powers. Germany’s industrial might was so strong that Charles Lindbergh, the once hero of American youth, proclaimed that it was in the best interest of America to appease Germany as the United States had no hope of every being able to compete with her military strength and specifically her air power. Lindbergh’s comments propelled his fall from grace but there was scarily anyone who could disagree with his assertions concerning Germany’s superiority on any factual grounds. This was the design of Hitler from the start. Hitler would seek to either scare the surrounding countries into submission or confidently invade with superior forces, brought on by his industrializing of Germany’s factories, those that did not buckle under his threats. In this respect, Hitler was able to incite complete submission and cooperation from countries such as Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Poland without firing a single shot and France after only two weeks of fighting. Had Hitler not sought to build up Germany’s military and economic might through her industrial strengths almost immediately after he took become the Fuhrer and within his preparation in the hope of a much greater victory, these decisive victories would have been unlikely to materialize in the ways in which they did. When the American Stock Market crashed on Tuesday October 29, 1929, not only did America’s financial economy crash but so too did many of the world’s economies. Germany was especially vulnerable because her industry had been built upon foreign trade and foreign capital. Germany’s economy came to a halt when those loans came due and foreign trade stopped. Hitler had now know that his chance to rise had come. Once an unorganized and brutish troublemaker, Hitler had become very politically savvy and knew that a different approach was now needed in order for his views, once seen as reactionary, to be taken seriously. Millions of people were unemployed and thousands of small German businesses had gone out of business. Inflation was very high and starvation on the minds of everyone. That is why Hitler’s 1932 Presidential slogan was â€Å"Freedom and Bread! † Hitler lost the election by seven million votes but was ready for the run off election and it was then that he escalated his attack on the Jews as the source of Germany’s downfall and their removal from Germany being the only way in which Germany could reclaim their glorious past. Hitler was able to exploit the current economic conditions in Germany, only by political means. When Hitler had first attempted to overthrow the German government in 1923, he was swiftly thrown in jail. Hitler recognized the absolute necessity of exterminating democracy from Germany and that in order to do that, he would have to become the ruler of Germany and from there, could rewrite Germany’s laws that would increase his power and help his dream of a new world order, one that would last a thousands years, to be established. It is interesting to see that the political power of the Nazis increased exponentially and in tune with the discontent that the average German felt with his government and Germany’s place in the world. In May of 1924, The Nazi party received only 6. 5% of the popular vote. When the Great Depression finally came to Germany in the summer of 1930, the Nazi Party enjoyed an increase in their political power as they received 18. 3% of the popular vote was able to acquire 107 seats in the Reichstag. When Hitler was announced as the Nazi party’s candidate for president, the Nazi Party received 37. 4% of the vote and by March of 1933, Hitler finally became the chancellor of Germany with more than 43% of the popular vote and the ability to send 288 of their own members to the Reichstag. This was an amazingly quick rise to power for a political party that had once been on the brink of German politics and how was on their way to rule not only Germany, but a dozen other surrounding countries while having designs on the rest of the world. Adolf Hitler Essay Adolf Hitler was a notorious dictator over Germany during World War II. Hitler was a unique but complex individual that was heavenly influenced by his upbringing. Hitler became the dictator over Germany during the years of 1933 to 1945. During his dictatorship, Hitler participated in the World War II and was the cause of the Holocaust. The Great Depression provided Hitler with an opportunity to rule. Once Hitler realized the opportunity to overtake Germany, he began to run for fuhrer. Hitler was elected fuherer over Germany in 1933 and began the rise of the Nazi party. When the year of 1935 came around, Hitler had complete power. He started by beginning the Nazi army and separating the Jews from everyone else. The Jews were sent to very brutal concentration camps where they were held hostage and faced with death. At this time the genocide was in full attack. The mass murder of the Holocaust lasted for approximately four brutal years and ended when the American troops invaded Germany and over powered Hitler. â€Å"Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889 in Braunau, Austria, a small town across the Inn river from Germany. † (Hoffmanl). Hitler moved to Germany in 1893 and remained there until his death. As Hitler grew up he began to have many feuds within his household. Hitler mainly argued with his father, Alois Hitler. His father did not agree with his interest in art and German nationalism. His interest fueled his evil ways. During Hitler’s earlier years as a child his younger brother, Edmund Hitler died. When Edmund died, the family had a falling out and resulted in many problems throughout the family. When Hitler grew up, he moved out of the house and had major money problems. When World War II broke out, Hitler Joined the army and was present in multiple battles. Adolf Hitler pointed out the Jews out of everyone in Germany. Hitler was very active in the German army and participated in World War l. World War I Adolf Hitler Essay Adolf Hitler was one of the most authoritative tyrants of 20th century. He was an originator and leader of the Nazi Party. The crisis in the economy, policy and society form the milieu for Hitler to attain power. Hitler was blessed with powerful speaking excellence. His passion and his speech motivated people tremendously. Hitler observed a nation in misery and promised to build a strong nation, disengage the justice of the Versailles treaty and restore the dignity of German people. During his time, nation was undergoing with unemployment and starving citizens. He promised them for economic success and secure future for the youth. Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria, on 20 April 1889. At academic level, he was not an exceptional student as indicated in school records. He dropped school in September 1905 without appearing in final examinations because of a poor school report that drew particular attention to his insufficient command of the German language. School age was very troubled and to defend Hitler, it can be said that teenage years were disturbing due to the deaths of his younger brother Edmund (1900), his father (1903) and his beloved mother (1908). Some biographers have recommended that these deaths and his own survival influenced Hitler that he was marked out by providence for a particular outlook. From school period, Hitler had become a fervent German nationalist. The death of Hitler’s parents had impacted him greatly but he continued his studies in order to obtain an orphan’s annuity. In 1919, he joined a small group called the German’s worker party. Hitler revealed a powerful ability for public speaking as well as giving the new Party its sign the swastika and its greeting â€Å"Heil! † His speech contents were throaty, jarring voice, for all the bombastic, humorless, and melodramatic, which dominated listeners by impression of his tenor of gift for self-dramatization. During 1920, Adolf Hitler was represented as the chief mover in the expansion of a Nazi foreign policy program. Hitler was familiar as Fuhrer of a progress, which had 3,000 members, and improved his individual command by organizing strong- arm squads to keep order at his conventions and ruined those of his rivals during 1921. Hitler had a strong sense of German patriotism. When the First World War broke out, he enrolled for Army, acted as a herald in front. The German conquer sickened him â€Å"However, since the main sources for Hitler’s ideas before 1923 are frequently short police or newspaper reports on speeches lasting between two and three hours, one cannot be entirely confident about conclusions based on this evidence† (Geoffrey Stoakes, pg:5). His rise to authority was entirely resistible. His early life indicates little intelligence or quality of the demagogic leader, which can have such a deep impact on the world arena. Usually, he was out of favor for work, was messy and did not maintain personal discipline. According to his age groups, he was competent of rousing himself over an issue that attracted his mind’s eye. He was a vegetarian. Reading and talking politics, listening to Wagner and watching films were his fervor. Hitler’s reading habits were good and he usually covers the texts at wide level not deeply. His memory was very sharp and he liked the writings of philosopher Nietzsche, Karl May, a writer of Westerns, and works on medicine, biology, astrology and occultism. Though all of them excite him but he did not concentrate intellectual curiosity in any single field. Yet, he measured himself as he had a mastery over history, art and architecture. † Commenting on reading in Mein Kampf, Hitler wrote: â€Å"Reading is not an end in itself, but a means to an end. One who has cultivated the art of reading will instantly discern, in a book or journal or pamphlet, what ought to be remembered because it meets one’s personal needs or is of value as general knowledge† (Hitler 1939:42-3). It is obvious that Hitler tried to communicate the sense of wider learning than, in fact, he actually had. During his student life, his formal education was interrupted but his reliance on self-learning continued with his disdain for intellectuals and formal education. Hitler was a man with a closed mind for whom reading was a means of reinforcing his own prejudices. He had a very selfish, frustrated, distant, unapproachable, lonely young man unloved and unloving personality in Vienna. Hitler was differentiated in mass by his extraordinary power in political convictions and his stanch belief in his own rightness and fortune. Hitler’ main aim was the Nazi movement and to empower Germany. In 1923, Hitler planned to grab control of Bavaria and capture power but he failed. He devised a new style of politics. He understood the significance of rituals and display in mass mobilization. Nazi party line skillfully projected him as a messiah, a savior, as someone who had arrived to overcome people from their distress. Hitler was not an innovative philosopher. He got bundle of ideas from his diverse reading in boyhood and his time in Vienna and later on as a soldier in the First World War. Recent studies verify that personal thinking of Hitler was neither a mess of national baloney nor merely a disciple aspiration to make safe an electoral success earlier to 1933. The obvious truth is that the young Adolf Hitler represent upon a well- established German belief for four of his major ideas that are his unshakeable belief in the superiority of the German race and particularly of Aryans; his utter contempt for parliamentary democracy; his belief in the heroic leader figure; and his vehement anti-Semitism. In Hitler’s Weltanschauung (worldview), major themes show the roots and past history his nationalist thought. This was due to Hitler’s capacity to activate a mass movement and ultimately secure supremacy on the basis of these thoughts. Hitler loathed the ramshackle and international Empire and enthusiastically believed that Germans rule must be there without compromise to the Slavs and other peoples. There is a light sarcasm that Hitler’s obsessive German nationalism sprung from his Austrian roots. In Vienna Hitler started his political apprenticeship through careful observation of the demagogic method of Karl Lueger, leader of the Christian Social Party and mayor of the city. Hitler admired Lueger because â€Å"he had a rare gift of insight into human nature and was very careful not to take men as something better than they were in reality† (Hitler 1939:94). Lueger’s scorn was shared by Hitler for the masses and identified with his obsessive, anti-Semitism with its vicious sexual connotation and apprehension with racial purity. Hitler had a great influence in the importance given to the fable of Aryan race preeminence and the keeping out of Jews from the Volk group of people. Even though Hitler and pan-German agitators had difference of opinion on nationalistic thoughts, Hitler straight away impacted on Munich through the self-dramatization talent where he rapidly gained a status as a populist demagogue. In August 1920, he was phrased as the sharpest of all protesters â€Å"carrying out mischief in Munich† by the Social Democratic Munchner Post. Hitler would later assert that his ideas had been definitely time-honored before 1914. Hitler’s hub of infatuated viewpoint and chauvinisms continued steady but in mid 1920s, his worldwide view modified and crystallized. His antipathy towards Marxism was firmly linked by his anti-Semitism approach, which was viewed as its political and ideological expression; his own self-image went through a process of change; and the geopolitical idea of Lebensraum appeared as a central board of Germany’s upcoming foreign policy. Hitler was much affected by experiencing war, the mortification of defeat and the radical turbulence in Munich. These all provided him with chances to publicize his right-wing analysis (David Welch, pg: 4-12). By any elongate of the thoughts Hitler’s rise and fall was unusual. It was surprising that he was not a scholar. He created no great workings of philosophy or art. He was not a mastermind-armed leader. He remained in command for 12 years and by 1941 he ruled a European empire not seen during Napoleon. He was also the troublemaker of a genocidal war of supreme scope and viciousness. Adolf Hitler Essay Winston is not ignorant and loyal to Big Brother, he lacks the ability of ‘doublethink’ and does not completely believe everything he is told especially since his job at the Ministry of Truth is rewriting history. For history being rewritten by the Party shows the repressive control on the past and future because we depend on knowing the mistakes of the past in order to correct them in the future, â€Å"Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past. † Orwell demonstrates that people can be controlled through cultural conditioning, this is because people will put their faith in a government that they believe tells them the truth. Winston’s profession leads him to rebel against the Party by writing about the present in his diary to inform the people of the future what actually occurred in the past. Winston wrote in his diary entry, â€Å"If there is hope†¦ it lies in the proles. † This rebellious thought written in Winston diary shows that the proles are the only ones that can actually rebel against the Party because the proles aren’t put in rigorous monitoring that members of the Party, like Winston, are. This is because the Party sees the proles as not intelligent since they seem pleased with their life because they are satisfied to have food, shelter and entertainment. This links back to what I stated about the proles being the largest population in Oceania and are being manipulated by the Party, this is the reason why they didn’t overthrow the Party because they have an elevated image for the Party without realising that they are living in poverty. Orwell creates a picture of a society that is influenced by the government through Winston diary. The word ‘hope’ indicates that something virtuous may happen and this would cause the readers to believe that Winston rebellious tactic of writing in his diary would be the spark that saves Oceania. Another form of Winston rebellion against the Party is the forbidden love between him and Julia. From the third person narrative we’re informed of Winston emotions for Julia. At the beginning Winston disliked and desired to rape and kill Julia. When Winston first encounters Julia, he doesn’t want to lie to her, so he introduces himself to her by saying, â€Å"I hated the sight of you. I wanted to rape you and then murder you afterwards. † Julia being a part of the Junior Anti- Sex League and working in the Ministry of Truth causes Winston to be suspicious of Julia as she could be a spy working with the Inner Party. Orwell could be showing us how oppressed Winston truly is since he wants to do horrid things to Julia because he desires her and doesn’t trust her at the same time, Winston assumes Julia is a part of the thought police. In Oceania the society is influenced by the government through destroying trust between people, the creation of the thought police and the fear that lies in Room 101. This is the reason why Winston struggles to trust Julia until she confesses to him by slipping a note that says, â€Å"I love you. † This causes him to be confused about his emotions because his heart tells him that he loves her, but his brain screams she’s a traitor working as a spy for the Inner Party. Nevertheless, this doesn’t stop Winston from pursuing a sexual relationship with Julia as a form of rebellion. When Mr Charrington let Winston rent a room without telescreen for him and Julia to have an illegal love affair, this was the spark that lead him and Julia to the Ministry of Love to be tortured until the only love they could have was for Big Brother. This is because the government is determined to stop them as they are trying to abolish orgasm, removing all human bonds. â€Å"The sex instinct will be eradicated. † Orwell shows how the Party is dehumanising citizens by the uses of dialogue which is said by O’Brien, a member of the Inner Party, in Room 101 to Winston. The word ‘eradicated’ would make the readers realise that the Party motive is to have total control over Oceania by taking away pleasure from the citizens. This could be a way for Orwell to remind the readers the importance of feelings because emotions are a part of human nature. Emotions are significance to humans because feelings serve important functions and are very necessary, even though they can be really painful at times. This is because they provide information just like senses. The Party wanting to get rid of an emotion like pleasure would dehumanise the citizens of Oceania because pleasure brings an experience that is positive, enjoyable and worth seeking. To take that away would make brainwashing people a lot easier for the Party. Similar to Winston and Julia’s forbidden love, Katniss and Peeta on-screen romance in the arena defies the Capitol when they threaten to eat poisonous berries. The Gamemakers’ wanted to make the final more entertaining so declared that only one victor can win. Katniss figures out that the Gamemakers never intended to let her and Peeta survive, this suggesting they wanted to create a dramatic fight to the death between Panem’s star-crossed lovers. For Katniss to suggest that she and Peeta to give the Capitol no victor is the greatest act of rebellion against the Capitol in the novel. A victor is needed is an element for the Capitol to enforce fear in the citizens of Panem. Without a victor Panem would acknowledge the oppressive ruling because if Katniss and Peeta carried out their dual suicide, the Hunger Games would have been deeply distressing to the viewer’s living in the Districts and Capitol. The pain that was supposed to provide entertainment would have become too disturbing for the public to watch. It may even start another rebellion in Panem because people would be more aware of the Capitol actions and treatment to innocent people living in the Districts. The Hunger Games would go from being amusing to a real-life tragedy. Collins shows the readers the dangers of ‘nightlock’ by a minor flashback Katniss had about her father, â€Å"Not these, Katniss. Never these. They’re nightlock. You’ll be dead before they reach your stomach. † The dialogue spoken by Katniss father, who was a coal miner that taught Katniss hunting skills, shows that Katniss is purposely rebelling against the Capitol to the readers by suggesting to eat the berries. Collins could be warning us that the creation of a perfect society is a goal that is incompatible with human nature. In conclusion, 1984 and Hunger Games are the most-powerful written novels warning us against a totalitarian regime. Although, Orwell uses Winston to convey a message to the readers that humans cannot rebel successfully against a totalitarian regime whilst Collins uses Katniss to convey a message of hope and human strength, both authors still use the protagonist to give a warning to resist or rebel against a corrupted regime, highlighting the dangers of a totalitarian state. Winston was unsuccessful in rebelling against Big Brother which had caused him to become ignorant and loyal because he is able to doublethink, something he was not able to do before. He is able to believe that â€Å"2+2=5† and the Party’s slogan, â€Å"WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, and IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH† which are all obvious lies. Orwell uses an oxymoron to show us that Winston no longer exists as a thinking individual, he exists only as a puppet of Big Brother. Winston’s unsuccessful rebellion could be an indication that Orwell is informing us that humans will lose their individuality if under enough fear and will not retain traditional values if they believe themselves to be in danger. Katniss, unlike Winston, stays strong and doesn’t lose herself to an oppressive regime. Katniss rebellion doesn’t end in her outsmarting the Capitol and Gamemakers when her and Peeta win the 74th Hunger Games, â€Å"and right now, the most dangerous part of the Hunger Games is about to begin. † The dialogue spoken by Katniss shows us that her rebellion isn’t over and would be continued by Collins. Orwell and Collins warn us of giving too much power to a government. If there is no rebellion, the totalitarian dictatorship only gets stronger with the passage of time. We learnt in history that giving dictators too much power has caused human to lose value. Reference:  http://blogs.britannica.com