Monday, September 30, 2019

Assignment: Blood Disorders

Running Heading: BLOOD DISORDERS Blood Disorders Athena Hackett Health and Diseases: Understanding Paths and Pathology June 20, 2010 Dr. Natasha Billups In each scenario provided each person is at risk of a specific disorder. The first patient Amy, who is the four year old Caucasian female, in my opinion is at risk for the blood disorder of Iron Deficiency Anemia. Next is person at possible risk of a specific blood disorder is Marcus. Marcus is a five year old African American male with a parent that carries the trait of Sickle Cell Anemia.Therefore, the possible blood disorder he is at risk for is Sickle Cell Anemia. Last is Richard and his possible blood disorder he is at risk for is Thrombocytopenia. Each person has specific symptoms that make them at risk for the blood disorders I mentioned above. Amy is a four year old Caucasian female with symptoms of being tired, pale skin and she is a very picky eater. Most of her foods are starches and processed meats and drinks. Her foods s eem to lack the desired amount of iron needed for a growing girl. According to webmd. om â€Å"decreased iron intake is a contributing factor in iron deficiency and the resulting iron deficiency anemia†. Iron deficiency Anemia is one of the more common cases of anemia. It can be controlled or prevented by adding more iron to a person’s diet. Foods that are high or rich in iron are red meats (beef), whole wheat bread, spinach, raisins and eggs. There are lots of other foods that are high in iron as well. If eating foods high in iron is not sufficient then a person can take iron vitamins to help with providing more iron to their diet.With taking iron a person has to be monitored and advised on how much they are able to take. If a person takes too much iron it could be dangerous to their health. There are also side effects with taking iron. One of the most common side effects of Iron Deficiency Anemia is constipation. Some people will have to increase their fiber intake t o avoid constipation. The next scenario mentioned was about a five year old African American male named Marcus. Marcus is at risk of having Sickle Cell Anemia because his mother is a carrier of that trait.On the website drkoop. com the definition of sickle cell is â€Å"is an inherited disease in which the red blood cells, normally disc-shaped, become crescent shaped. As a result, they function abnormally and cause small blood clots. These clots give rise to recurrent painful episodes called â€Å"sickle cell pain crises†. † It is a very painful disease and presently there is no cure. The majority of people with this disease is African American and mentioned previously it is inherited.Both parents have to be carriers of the trait for the child to have the disease. Due to the pain and discomfort patients are sometimes hospitalized for long periods of times. It can also be life threatening or there are severe crisis the person has to deal with. There are several types of crises are: Hemolytic crisis (occurs when damaged red blood cells break down); Splenic sequestration crisis (when the spleen enlarges and traps the blood cells); and Aplastic crisis (when an infection causes the bone marrow to stop producing red blood cells).Every patient with Sickle Cell Anemia will go through one or all of these crises at some point in their life. They can last from a few days to weeks or months. They affect the bones in the person’s body and eventually can cause damage to a major organ or several major organs. The last scenario mentioned was in regards to a male named Richard. Some of his symptoms were red spots around his eyes and bruises or ecchymosis all over his body. Based on those symptoms I thought me may be at risk of Thrombocytopenia.Thrombocytopenia is low blood platelet count. According to the mayoclinic. com â€Å"platelets (thrombocytes) are colorless blood cells that play an important role in blood clotting. Platelets stop blood loss by clu mping and forming plugs in blood vessel holes†. This particular blood disorder usually starts because of another disorder such as leukemia or an immune system malfunction, or as a medication side effect. One of the good things about his disorder is that it can be reversed if one of the other disorders is treated.In some cases if the disorder is chronic then medication, surgery or blood transfusion will reverse this disorder. There are many different types of blood disorders. From each scenario I was able to determine that some disorders can be treated without medication and just require dietary changes. Mean while others are not curable and are very painful to the person with that disorder. I was also able to discover that other disorders can bring on some blood disorders and are curable once you treat or cure the underlying problem.REFERENCES webmd. com dr. koop. com mayoclinic. com

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Multi-Layered Security Plan Essay

Protecting sensitive or confidential data is paramount in many businesses. In the event such information is made public, businesses may face legal or financial ramifications. At the very least, they will suffer a loss of customer trust. In most cases, however, they can recover from these financial and other losses with appropriate investment or compensation Having information of different security levels on the same computer systems poses a real threat. It is not a straight-forward matter to isolate different information security levels, even though different users log in using different accounts, with different permissions and different access controls (Red Hat, Inc. 2006). Below I have listed the IT infrastructure of Richman Investments along with recommendations in each infrastructure on levels of security that should be implemented for a more secure network. IT Infrastructure Affected 1. User Domain: The people who access an organization’s information system. * The first thing that should be implemented is a mandatory Computer Security training session to educate the users on the proper use of work computers. 2. Workstation Domain: Users (most) connecting to the IT infrastructure. * The workstation domain comes with its own problems such as unauthorized access to the system, the way to fix this problem would be to implement access policies and guidelines. 3. LAN Domain: A collection of computers connected to one another or to a common connection medium. * Implement second or third level identity check to gain access to sensitive systems, applications, and date. Keep all hardware in a secure location with access only with proper ID. 4. LAN-to-WAN Domain: Link between the Wide Area Network (WAN) and the Internet. * Conduct post configuration penetration tests of the layered security solution within the LAN-to-WAN Domain. Test inbound and outbound traffic and fix any gaps. Also, apply e-mail server and attachments antivirus and e-mail quarantining for unknown file types. Stop domain-name Web site access based on content-filtering policies. 5. WAN Domain: Wide Area Network (WAN) connects remote locations to the Local Area Network (LAN). * Encrypt confidential data transmissions through service provider WAN using VPN tunnels. 6. Remote Access Domain: Connects remote users to the organization’s IT infrastructure. * Remote Access Domain, Being that the users are off site it is hard to say that the users password information has not been compromised. In such cases when abnormalities are spotted or data is accessed without proper authorization, data should be completely encrypted to prevent any sensitive materials from being sold or presented to the open market. 7. System/Application Domain- Holds all the mission-critical systems, applications, and data. * Develop a business continuity plan for mission-critical applications providing tactical steps for maintaining availability of operations. Perform regular rigorous software and Web-application testing and penetration testing prior to launch.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Contributions of Civil rights Movement in post-world war America to Essay

Contributions of Civil rights Movement in post-world war America to the Political and Social Development of the United States - Essay Example The paper tells that following the civil war, the thirteenth amendment eradicated slavery and the blacks gained their freedom. The freed blacks were mostly illiterate and were property or money bereft. In the south where there was slavery predominance, inequality and racism were rampant. The state and federal governments facilitated many democratic reforms in the 1860s and 1870s to support black assimilation into the white people. The 14th amendment guaranteed the blacks equal rights which were federally protected. The 15th amendment provided approval rights for every black man to vote. Throughout the construction era, new found rights were short lived. The southern whites employed various means to bar the blacks from enjoying any citizenship benefits. They kept the blacks totally disenfranchised through intimidation and harassment. A Cold War rose up in America as the World War II came to an end. Momentous changes in America pertinent to nationalization emerged. The changes enhanced support for an emergent Civil Rights Movement that chiefly aimed at doing away with southern segregation rules and overturning the 1896 ramifications of the Plessy vs. Ferguson case at the Supreme Court. Both the congress and the court in 1954 affirmed what individuals like Martin Luther King were preaching to both white Americans and the black. The black Americans had courageously served in the Second World War which was celebrated for its outstanding contributions even though segregation still continued in the armed forces. While the black Americans were roughly 10% of the whole population, they were approximately 11% of all registered in the military service. American Civil rights were strongly aided by the augmentation of Liberal Democrats in the northern part of America that were firmly in desegregation support (Cashman 82). On the other hand, Republicans were moving towards the southern part where segregation took the fore front. The â€Å"I have a Dream† words of Mart in Luther King Junior at the nation’s capital were probed up by the civil rights words. In collaboration with other black activists, they were main partakers in the Civil Rights Movement. In the first place, this movement was to abolish slavery and weighty intimidations and harassments of the black. Segregation in the communal schools was not constitutional. Earl Warren the chief justice presented the separate but equal decision by the court was a violation of the Africa American’s rights. An incident that attracted the public eye was unfolded in Montgomery where there was segregation of the black Africans at the buses. The blacks were to reserve seats for the whites whenever the whites have filled the front seats. This law was defied by Park who was a black and was later arrested. The black community responded to the arrest by a one day boycott of the public buses of Montgomery. A lead massive movement organized by preacher Martin King Luther Jr., NAACP and other Afri can leaders challenged the racist laws of Montgomery. The boycotts went on for more than one year despite harassment and taunting from the white community. The federal courts then intervened by desegregating the buses on 21st December the year 1956. As the pace quickened, the blacks made an effort to attentively pass an Act of Civil Rights that would enforce other rights including voting rights. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee i.e. SNCC was formed by the black

Friday, September 27, 2019

Aunt Ethel Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Aunt Ethel - Movie Review Example When she bakes a pie she cleans the oven right then so she won't have to wait for it to heat up again. She usually serves her vegetables fresh because it takes no time to cook them. Aunt Ethel also saves time shopping. When she goes to the grocery she gets enough food for a month. On her way to the supermarket she also does any other shopping she has to do. Aunt Ethel always takes a list and her entire shopping route is planned ahead. She also finds a way to save her leisure time. Aunt Ethel will knit while she watches TV. When she goes for a walk, she takes a book to read. Her exercise period consists of mowing the lawn and raking the leaves. There is no time that Aunt Ethel isn't saving time. down. Aunt Ethel's shoes are all slip-ons so she won't have to spend the energy tying them. Some people say that Aunt Ethel drinks Ensure just so she won't have to chew her lunch. She does her part for global warming by saving gasoline. She never drives when it's cold because it will waste gas while the car warms up. When going down a hill she turns the car off and lets it coast down. At a stoplight she turns the car off rather than waste fuel by idling. Environmentalists would be proud of Aunt Ethel's electricity saving methods. The low wattage bulbs she uses are hard on her eyes, but they save electricity. The water at Aunt Ethel's is always cold because she keeps the hot water off until she is ready to use it, and then it's barely tepid. In the winter she saves electricity by burning wood instead of using her electric heater. If the world runs out of energy it won't be because Aunt Ethel used it all. Aunt Ethel likes to save her money more than anything else. She can save money on the most common household items. She uses old newspapers to clean her windows instead of using paper towels. When she cleans her windows she uses vinegar rather than the more expensive window cleaners. Her family secret, a concoction made with baking soda, is the only cleanser she keeps in her kitchen. Her money saving ideas also reduce her food bill. Aunt Ethel can make the best chicken soup out of a leftover chicken. She will add a broth to this soup made from the parts of vegetables that most people would discard. For desert she makes bread pudding out of her stale bread. Because her wardrobe [Name] Page 3 Essay 1 is so stylish you would never guess how few dollars she spends on clothes. She saves money by shopping at yard sales and thrift shops. She tries to shop for articles that match so her wardrobe has a wide variety while only purchasing a few items. If she finds an item with a little wear she mends it. Whether in the home, the kitchen, or the closet Aunt Ethel is always saving money. Aunt Ethel may appear to be a cheapskate, but she is simply being practical with her time, her energy, and her money. At her golden age she realizes the value in saving time by utilizing it wisely. She has also come to value the scarce resources of energy and money and has found creative ways to conserve both. When Aunt Ethel pinches a penny Lincoln does not cry out in pain, he simply says thank you for being

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Type 1 diabetes, Hypertension Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Type 1 diabetes, Hypertension - Essay Example The monitoring of the patient’s blood glucose levels is an important nursing intervention at this point. In order to ensure speedy and efficient monitoring, the finger sticks can be used. Such monitoring must be performed on an hourly basis and after three consecutive hours of normal blood glucose levels, the monitoring may be shifted to every 2 hours (Peno-Green, n.d). However, when the levels once again fall to abnormal digits, the monitoring must be returned to once every hour (Peno-Green, n.d). In instances when the blood glucose levels exceed normal numbers anytime during the monitoring, insulin must be administered to the patient. Monitoring of blood glucose levels is important because it can assist the health practitioners in detecting sudden and asymptomatic decrease in blood sugar; it can also help guide the practitioners in the implementation of interventions and plan of care for the patient (Harrison, 2001). Since the patient’s blood glucose levels were restored to normal levels after simple carbohydrate intake, there is no need to administer dextrose infusions of glucose. Such intervention would have been necessary if the patient had severe hypoglycaemia and did not respond to oral glucose intake (Goldstein, 2009). Nevertheless, if (during the monitoring) the blood glucose levels would drop and would not respond to current medications, dextrose infusions of glucose can still be carried out. In the process of monitoring, the nurse must also be watchful for signs of sweating, irritability, tachycardia, confusion, dizziness, pallor, and stupor (Williams & Wilkins, 2005). Such signs can signal a hypoglycaemic crisis which may need further consult or referral to the medical practitioner. Since it is important to try to maintain the patient’s blood sugar levels – and to avoid another hypoglycaemic state, I need to constantly monitor the patient for signs of hypoglycaemia. These signs include pale moist skin, drowsiness, and the

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

You choose it Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

You choose it - Essay Example Also, considering the intensity of the issue, it is also important to take a look at the perspective of drug traders. Drug trade is often connected with poor economic conditions, drug-related violence, and other crimes. The government has generally taken an anti-drugs stance enforcing prohibitive laws that aim to reduce drug trade. Over the years, many advocates of illicit drugs such as marijuana legalization pressure groups have sprung up. Hence, the issue is of legislative importance too which sparks the revision of what constitutes as an illicit drug, the recreational and medical uses of such drugs and what is drug abuse. To start, underground drug trade is illegal and most of this trade occurs as illicit drugs are smuggled across borders. Being illegal, drug trade generates huge amounts of black money which is kept undocumented. As a result, no tax payment occurs as the undocumented money crosses borders (Duyne and Levi, 2005). This ultimately means that less tax revenue is generated by the government leading to lesser budget allocation for developmental expenditure in turn affecting the financing of mega civil projects that come under the domain of civil engineers. Less infrastructural activities are conducted by the government causing fewer job opportunities to be created. However, this is one aspect which economically concerns the domain of civil engineering. In recent years, drug mafias have become highly organized in their operations adopting sophisticated channels to transport the illicit drugs. As such, the drug trade, flourishing throughout the world, has created various issues involving law enforcement authorities as well as civil engineers. Gatti (2014) notes the role of civil engineers in providing the technical and operational expertise in helping the authorities to counter drug trade. In the specific article, civil engineers are involved in an organized effort to demolish drug trade-related

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Asset allocation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Asset allocation - Assignment Example High yield corporate bond- BofA Merrill Lynch US High Yield Master II Total Return Index Value has the second highest standard deviation after the US treasury. But it is attractive to household investors since corporates like banks and insurance firms will invest in the US treasury fixed income securities. This particular allocation receives the second best return and steady coupon rate over the term of the bond. The standard deviation of 5 year term is 8.63% while for 20 years is 8.86%, given that the minimum age of investor presented begins at 39 years old, this is the best option of getting a good coupon rate and yield in the short term if he/she chooses the 5year bond or in the long term if he /she choose the 20 year bond. This investment is however volatile due to the relatively high standard deviation. Assuming the investor bought $1000 par value bond which had maturity of 5 years, he will get 15 bond certificate each $1000(total of $15000), and the eventual return in the short term will be $2556.75, which is greater than the 20 year term. However the investor will get fewer half year coupon payments in the 5year term relative to the 20 year term. Correlation (High yield, Large Cap) = (0.115), Correlation (High yield, mid cap) = 0.715, Correlation (High yield, Total bond) = 0.692. On the other it is negative correlated with the small equities market and the treasury bonds, that is; correlation (high yield, treasury) = -0.467 and correlation (high yield, small cap) =-0.074. This implies that the as much as the client may be constrained with expense of mortgage payment and other household payment, the investor can still get a good return on the 5 year high yield bond and at the same time investing in the treasury bonds and shares in the medium and large stock markets. The price rises for both rises positively, if the yield on

Monday, September 23, 2019

Organizational Strategy of Apple Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Organizational Strategy of Apple - Essay Example According to the research findings, Apple represents one of the most successful technology companies in the world today since its launch in 1976 as a personal computer manufacturer. The organization which in 1997 was on the brink of bankruptcy has been able to transform and record profits in the following years due to the production of leading computer software and personal computers that are based on high standards of innovation, prestige, and quality. The cusses of Apple depends on the production of highly innovative hardware and software which have over the years established the company as the leader in an industry where every organization strives to gain a share of the market that readily embraces new technology. Due to the customer loyalty that Apple has been able to establish over the years, therefore, driving sales, the company has featured in several occasions as the first among Fortune magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies with latest financial results for second quarter ended March 29, 2014 indicating $45.6 billion in revenues and $10.2 billion quarterly net profits. The following sections present an analytical business report focused on different levels of organizational behavior and human resource. The multinational focuses on designing, developing, manufacturing and selling computer-based communication electronics, personal computers, and computer software. The market leader in Apple hardware was the Mac personal computers, but the company soon diversified into the world’s first media player device, iPod, a pioneering smartphone, iPhone and leafing tablet computers, the iPad. In addition, Apple introduced software such as operating systems like iOS and OS X, iTunes, the Safari browser in addition to productivity and creativity suites such as iWork and iLife. The history of Apple marks a dynamic transformation from a personal computer manufacturer to a leading manufacturer of consumer electronics, operating software and cons umer software.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Indwelling Catheters and their Relation To Urinary Tract Infections Essay

Indwelling Catheters and their Relation To Urinary Tract Infections - Essay Example Catheter- associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are caused by bacterial infections (e.g. Escherichia Coli), which is the common bacteria (Lindsay, E. 2001). In our place of practice, which is a nursing home facility, there have been significant increase in the amount of catheter and non-catheter related urinary tract infections in the patients undergoing treatment in the hospital. Research has shown that5% of patients that come to the hospital per day has urinary tract infection. Common endemic infection outbreaks as well as colonization and infection with antimicrobial drug resistant microorganisms have become a common feature within long term care facilities (Lindsay, E. 2001, pg. 205). Catheter associated urinary tract infections entail increased morbidity, mortality and financial costs. The nursing home facility has a protocol in place to reduce the number of UTIs, but it is rarely being utilized, and, therefore the system needs to be modified. CAUTIs can be reduced by rem oving the catheters upon arrival to the facility. Health care professional must assess the patients for the prevalence of UTIs, since this is a very common infection within nursing home facilities. ... Working in a nursing home and rehabilitation (NH/R) sub-acute environment has many challenges deriving from staffing problems, such as shortfall in nurse to patient ratio of 14 to 20 besides the chances of endemic infections. My main concern is the increased rate of urinary tract infections in patients with urinary catheters whether it is from the hospital or in-house (NH/R). In my facility, newly admitted patients from hospitals have or had indwelling catheters. Within 48 hours of admission, a few of the patients have showed signs and symptoms of urinary tract infection such as fever, abdominal tenderness and frequent need for urination with complaints of burning sensation. In such cases, the normal practice is to commence the administration of antibiotics prophylactically after collecting their urine specimens. The elderly are prone to a decrease in fluid intake due to a decline in the thirst mechanism and enhancing the chances of UTI. Urinary Tract Infections are caused by poor as eptic techniques and, therefore, catheters should not be used for convenience but for exclusive medical purposes only. According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), the appropriate measures for indwelling urinary catheterization are: acute urinary retention, accurate measurement of urine output in critical patients and patients requiring prolonged immobilization, such as unstable spine or pelvic fractures. (Dumont, C. &Wakeman,J. 2010.Pg. 29). I, therefore, encourage charge nurses to discontinue the use of catheters. Studies have shown that infections in long-term care facilities are highly prevalent in the United States. The most frequent infections within nursing homes

Saturday, September 21, 2019

John Updikes a & P Is a Coming of Age Story Essay Example for Free

John Updikes a P Is a Coming of Age Story Essay John Updikes short story, A P is about a 19-year-old boy, Sammy, and his short but decisive transformation from a carefree teenager to a grown man with the consequences of his actions weighing heavy on him in the end. On an otherwise ordinary day, the course of Sammys life is changed by an out of the ordinary experience which challenges him and compels him to make a rash decision that is based on what he knows in his heart is right for him. Sammy tells the story as if it is just another day while the life-changing event unfolds in a manner of minutes. He gives insight about the town by giving short character descriptions that are revealing, not only of each character, but also of Sammys feelings about the town, the people in it, and his personal perspective on the life that he is living there. Although the character descriptions paint a negative picture, the negativity has more to do with Sammys thought of living in this town with these characters for much more of his young life. It is clear that Sammy is more than ready to move on, beyond where his life is now. Sammy offers few facts about himself other than that he is 19 and lives with his parents in a small, conservative, New England town. Sammy points out that the town is not far from the location of the Salem witch-hunts and burnings in centuries past. The elusion to Salem leaves an image of a lingering puritanical cloud over the town and its people. The story takes place in the A P grocery store in the heart of the downtown area where Sammy works as a checkout clerk. Sammys co-worker, Stokes, is 22 years old and married with two children. Stokes station in life represents a lifestyle that is not out of reach for Sammy, but certainly not the lifestyle that Sammy desires for his life although it is not clear even to Sammy what exactly the lifestyle that he desires is. Sammys boss, Mr. Lengel, who is a conservative and outspoken man, is a Sunday school teacher and the manager of the A P. Mr. Lengel is th e living image of everything that Sammy does not ever want to be. The customer that Sammy refers to as the cash-register-watchers and a witch (560) is a character that epitomizes Sammys disdain for the attitude of the usual customer that comes through his check out line on a daily basis, as well as the entire citizenry of his small hometown. The life-altering event begins to unfold in the very first line of the story. In walks these three girls in nothing but bathing suites (560). The very first characters who are introduced in the story are everything that is not acceptable in this ultra conservative town, although the three girls bring with them a burst of pure innocent sunshine. Everyone in the store gawks at the three girls as if they have never seen a girl in a bathing suit. The fact is that they probably had never seen a girl in a bathing suit anywhere other than a place to swim which emphasizes that this is an ultra conservative town with puritanical attitudes. Sammy and Stokes are very preoccupied with the sight of the girls and they enjoy every second of it. Mr. Lengle, who doesnt miss that much (563) is fully aware of the enjoyment that Sammy and Stokes are having. Mr. Lengle insults the girls by telling them that they are not decently dressed. In the girls minds, uncluttered by the collective oppressive attitude that is the norm in the store, they are decent and see nothing wrong with their appearance. At this point, Sammy feels embarrassment for the girls and at the same time realizes that he is part of their embarrassment, because he is a part of the collective puritanical attitude. He also realizes that this is a turning point for him. Sammy has arrived at a cross road in his young life and he realizes that if he is ever going to become what he sees for himself in his future, and if he is ever going to reach what he truly desires in his life, he must make a decision. He must decide to break free from the collective attitude or remain a part of it. Sammy makes the decision to break free from the puritanical and oppressive attitude of all of the generations before him. Sammy quits his job and he does it while the girls are still in the store hoping that the girls will take notice that he does not have the same attitude and moral judgment of them and that he does not condone it. He hopes that the girls will see him as their hero. As Sammy takes off his A P apron and bow tie, he is shedding the old puritanical views and attitudes. As he walks out of the store, he embraces his newfound freedom and coming of age, although he also realizes that his parents will not be pleased. Sammy has known for some time that this is what he would eventually do, and this was the day, because the three girls provided a good reason and the opportunity for Sammy to assert himself, to become his own person with his own perspective, values, morals, beliefs and attitudes. Works Cited Updike, John. A P. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2009. 560-64.

Friday, September 20, 2019

What Causes Wars?

What Causes Wars? When one looks back in history war seems to have always been there as a means of conquering territory, desired resources or simply of demonstrating dominance over another nation. Most people would answer the question â€Å"what causes wars?† the same way. Greed, hate, religion. However, in order to understand the causes of wars one has to observe many other factors that play into the development of international conflict. Nations may regard each other with dislike over religious conflict or different values but this is hardly going to cause them to go to war. In International Relations, a disturbance in the balance of power (Brown, 2005: 99) is often named as the main cause of war. This disruption could be seen as the trigger of international conflict. For the cause of this paper, war shall stand for international war rather than civil war or inner state conflict. In this essay, the causes of wars shall be discussed on different levels. On an individual level, on the level of society but most importantly on an international level. For this purpose, it shall be elaborated on the importance of the balance of power in this context as well as on other theories that seem to be relevant. To observe the causes of war at an individual level requires observing human nature. According to Brown (2005: 104), â€Å"wars occur because of some aspect of human nature†. Man in his nature seems to be violent and bound to inflict harm on his own race. Greed appears to be an essential characteristic of human nature and therefore seems to determine the actions that are taken in order to gain more power than the rival. This all seems to be rather primitive and may sound like caveman behavior. However, in its essential form this behavior is still and will always be part of human nature. The critique that arises when discussing the nature of human beings as a cause of war is the following: can the nature of the individual really reflect accurately on the nature of the group, in this case society? Waltz (as cited in Brown, 2005: 104) called this way of thinking â€Å"reductionist†. One cannot explain â€Å"social phenomena by reference to the nature of individuals† (Brown, 2005: 104). Another aspect to be looked at in this context is that of determ inism. The concept of determinism is The theory that all events, including moral choices, are completely determined by previously existing causes that prelude free will and the possibility that humans could have acted otherwise This theory implies that war is out of man’s control and therefore he cannot be held responsible for it. Determinism implies that every action is predetermined by the causes of nature. Man is simply a play ball controlled by the forces of nature. However, who if not humankind can be held responsible for the occurrence of war? It appears that determinism in connection with war does not seem to be a very appropriate theory. Another aspect that should be looked when considering the causes of wars is that of the nature of societies, economies, and governments. According to Cashman (1993: 124), certain states possess characteristics that make them more likely to go to war than others. Naturally, here too we can find several theories. From a liberal point of view, war is caused by autocratic states, where â€Å"one person possesses unlimited power†( Merriam- Webster’s Online Dictionary). According to autocratic views, wars are caused by democracies. Leninists blame capitalist societies while capitalists see communist societies as the root cause of war. It is a popular belief that democracies do not tend to go to war with other democracies but regularly fight other non-democratic societies (Brown 2003: 104). Liberal theory states that humankind as such is a peace-loving race. Therefore, the behavior of states should follow this characteristic. Democracies, being elected by the citizens of the s tate, act for their nonviolent civilians and for that reason are likely to prevent violent conflicts with other states. This however, does not protect them from being attacked by other non-democratic states. According to this theory, all democratic states are good while all autocratic states are evil and therefore jeopardize world peace. The logical conclusion to this dilemma would be that in order for world peace to prevail, all nations have to be democratic. The solution is provided by isolationists and interventionists in two different ways. While isolationists believe that a reformation of autocratic states into democratic states should be achieved by being a good example to follow, interventionists feel that democratic states have to be actively involved in the process by attacking them if necessary instead of standing by and waiting for the other force to strike. The underlying idea for interventionists would therefore be that war is necessary to create peace (Cashman 1993: 12 6). From an outsiders point of view this theory may seem rather hypocritical. It will however become clearer when one considers the theory of the balance of power, which shall be taken up later on in this essay. So why is it that democracies should be less prone to go to war? Their governments need to â€Å"maintain public support† (Cashman 1993:127). They depend on the voting choices of their citizens and out of fear not to be re-elected, will try to pursue policies, which will satisfy the public. Still, if one actively engages in the study of history and world politics one might find that many democracies actively participate in wars and for this reason, the state system seems to have little effect on the likeliness of the war involvement of a state. Russet and Monsen (as cited in Cashman 1993: 127) claim that size matters. The bigger a state is the more likely it is for this state to conduct war. In R. J. Rummel’s opinion, war involvement depends on the degree of freedom of a state. This is to say that the freer a state is the less likely it is for this state to engage in war, while less libertarian states tend to be more violent (Rummel as quoted in Cashman 1993: 128). However, if one considers the example of the United States, â€Å"The Land of the Free†, Rummel’s theory proofs to be inconsistent. The USA have actively engaged in several wars over the past decades, be it the most recent Iraq war or the war in Vietnam. It remains uncertain whether the amount of freedom a state possesses is correlated to its violent actions or whether it creates more pressure to preserve said liberty. It seems relatively certain that states that have little or nothing in common in their political and cultural attitude are very likely to face each other with aggression. It seems to be, as Cashman (1993: 129) states, â€Å"political distance† that plays an important role. John Hobson, a British economist, held the opinion that it is the economic system of a state that causes wars. The most war prone states seem to be the ones with a capitalist economic system. This is explained by the fact that due to â€Å"overproduction, unequal distribution of economic wealth and under consumption† (Cashman 1993: 130) on the side of the public, the economy is forced to expand to other countries, to invest in foreign markets. However, in a predominantly capitalist world where all foreign markets are already taken, the only way to expand one’s economy beyond one’s own borders is at the cost of other states. In order to expand, a state, democratic or not, would have to go to war. It seems also logical that war is most likely to occur at times of financial distress. Although economic crises did not immediately lead to World War II, unemployment and poverty were certainly a reason for German citizens to feel more inclined towards the notion of trust ing in an ideology that promised to improve their living standard. It is a common belief that war creates jobs, be it due to arms races and the production of other products or the improvement of infrastructure. According to Cashman (1993: 134), war may also be seen as a means of distracting the citizens of a state from internal problems. Whatever causes governments to make this fateful decision, we can be assured that it involves a careful decision-making process at all times and only if the chances of success are high will there be war. As Howard states, wars are never accidental. They always have a political purpose (Howard 1983: 12). War used to be universally accepted as a means to protect or assist allies under attack. In earlier years, it was also used to invade territory when a nation was in need for more space due to overpopulation. This concept played an important role for Germany in World War II. Hitler argued that the German people were in need of more space in order to spread the Arian race. One could argue that Darwin’s survival the fittest theory could be applied here. In order to spread out, one nation, in the case of World War II Germany, has to attack another. The strongest state will survive and impose its power upon others. Another level to be examined is that of the international sphere. Here it shall be observed in which way states as international actors interrelate. The international system is composed of â€Å"sovereign states, organizations of states, international cooperations, and even individuals† (Cashman 1993: 224). It is in a state of anarchy in the sense that an international government does not exist. This and the lack of an authoritarian force that could keep order in the international system are addressed as a problem in International Relations. Certain actions on the side of states will disrupt the equilibrium of the so-called balance of power. According to Brown, such a disruption could occur in the form of one state becoming more powerful than it used to be (Brown 2005: 99) for instance through the increase of its military power. Other states will feel threatened by this and take action to restore the balance. Due to the relative instability of the balance and international ana rchy, states are in constant fear of being attacked and are therefore prepared to defend themselves at all times. This paranoia causes constant suspicion towards every member in the international system. To reduce this fear, they are constantly looking for a possibility to gain power while reducing that of their opponents. As Brown implies, a state’s own security is of the utmost importance. Realist theory in International Relations states that the order of the international system is kept by two institutions: the balance of power and war. War is here seen as a â€Å"conflict resolving mechanism† that is an essential part of the balance of power (Brown 2005: 10). The balance of power can be seen as a system of states as a whole, which is based on sovereignty. Stability can only exist if the opposing forces are in equilibrium. The balance of power can be disturbed if one Power becomes stronger through economic or demographic growth, the increase in military power or through alliance with another state (Brown 2005: 99). If this happens, other states may feel threatened and may feel compelled to defend themselves. In order to keep one nation from gaining more and more power, action has to be taken. States also have the military power at their disposal, which might make them more inclined towards using force against an opposing power. In the international system, war is seen as a means of evening out disruptions in the balance of power. In general, a balance is not desirable for states (Brown 2005: 101) and if there were a guarantee for being successful in international conflict, war would be a very normal occurrence. Nevertheless, states cannot be sure of their success. The price that one might have to pay for such a decision could be far too high. The second best option is therefore to maintain a balance of power and with it peace. To fix one’s opinion on one specific cause of war is impossible. There seem to be many reasons that play together when nations decide to conduct war. Be it human nature, the nature of societies, or even the nature of the international system as an unstable and unpredictable institution. Greed, the hunger for power and fear seem to stretch through all three levels and determine the events in the international system. Political distance and economic problems inside a country can be named as causes as well. War has been, is, and will probably always be a means of gaining power or resources or simply of defending the sovereignty and safety of a nation.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

The Sedition Act of 1798 :: Government American History Papers

For the first few years of Constitutional government, under the leadership of George Washington, there was a unity, commonly called Federalism that even James Madison (the future architect of the Republican Party) acknowledged in describing the Republican form of government-- " And according to the degree of pleasure and pride we feel in being republicans, ought to be our zeal in cherishing the spirit and supporting the character of Federalists." Although legislators had serious differences of opinions, political unity was considered absolutely essential for the stability of the nation.Political parties or factions were considered evil as "Complaints are everywhere heard from our most considerate and virtuous citizens, equally the friends of public and private faith, and of public and personal liberty, that our governments are too unstable, that the public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rival parties, and that measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority_" Public perception of factions were related to British excesses and thought to be "the mortal diseases under which popular governments have everywhere perished." James Madison wrote in Federalist Papers #10, "By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community." He went on to explain that faction is part of human nature; "that the CAUSES of faction cannot be removed, and that relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its EFFECTS." The significant point Madison was to make in this essay was that the Union was a safeguard against factions in that even if "the influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular States, [they will be] unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States." What caused men like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison to defy tradition and public perceptions against factions and build an opposition party? Did they finally agree with Edmund Burkes' famous aphorism: "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle?" Did the answer lie in their opposition with the agenda of Alexander Hamilton and the increases of power both to the executive branch as well as the legislative branch of government?

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Jeffery Dahmer Essay example -- Serial Killer - Cannibal

Jeffery Dahmer is arguably the most notorious serial killer -cannibal in history. Targeting men and boys, Dahmer‘s life of crime began with drinking and sex offending. His murders were exceptionally gruesome, often involving rape, torture, necrophilia, dismemberment, and cannibalism. The media often commented on how â€Å"normal† Dahmer appeared. Jeffrey Dahmer made everyone question how one develops into such a monster. By the time of his apprehension, Dahmer had sodomized, murdered, and cannibalized at least seventeen men, mostly black, Hispanic or Asian, in the Milwaukee area between the years of 1978 until his arrest in 1991 (Williams pg.1). Jeffrey Dahmer was born in Milwaukee on May 21, 1960, to Lionel and Joyce Dahmer. Despite the difficulties of Joyce's pregnancy, he was wanted and adored as a child. By all accounts, Dahmer displayed traits of a happy, bubbly youngster. However, several events from his childhood indicated that the young boy was becoming more and more disturbed. When Jeff was four, his father swept out the remains of some small animals from under the house. As his father gathered the tiny animal bones, Jeff seemed strangely entertained by the sound they made (Bardsley Ch. 13). At the young age of six, Dahmer suffered a double hernia and needed surgery to correct the problem. After the operation, he was never the same socially. Adding insult to injury, the family then moved from Iowa to Ohio where it became apparent Dahmer had grown distant, shy, and nearly uncommunicative (Bardsley Ch. 13). As a young student, Dahmer, very fond of one of his elementary school teachers, took her a bowl of tadpoles he had caught. Soon Dahmer learned that his teacher had given the tadpoles to his friend Lee. He ... ...rocess of ‘walking through’, in which the patient and therapist examine the same issues repeatedly in the course of several sessions, each time with greater clarity. This process is enduring, usually lasting for a number of years (Comer 41). Due to the presence of such a multitude of abnormal behaviors, the most helpful form of psychodynamic treatment available would be the short-term psychodynamic therapies that focus on one individual issue at a time. Perhaps the abnormalities could have been deciphered and treated separately through this type of therapy in order to improve his behavior. It is impossible to say for sure, but had Dahmer sought or been forced into treatment for his many abnormal behaviors, therapists may have been reasonably successful in identifying the underlying causes before he felt compelled to take innocent lives.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Much Ado About Nothing Act 1 Essay

1. In Act I, Beatrice and Benedick engage in a witty conversation, which Leonato describes as a playful battle: â€Å"There is a kind of / merry war betwixt Signor / Benedick and her. They never / meet but there’s a skirmish of wit between them† (1.1.58-59). Beatrice insists that she does not like Benedick at all, and insults him relentlessly throughout Act I: â€Å"It is so indeed. He is no less than a stuffed man. But for the / stuffing—well, we are all mortal† (1.1.47-48). Beatrice even goes so far as to compare Benedick to a disease when she finds out he has taken up a new best friend, Claudio: â€Å"O Lord, he will hang upon him like a disease! He is sooner / caught than the pestilence, and the taker runs presently mad† (1.1.81-83). Although Beatrice seemingly detests Benedick, her statement (claiming that Benedick is an infection that’s easy to catch but hard to get rid of) unknowingly foreshadows her future. Despite her claims, I predi ct that Beatrice will fall in love and the man who will profess his love for her will be none other than Benedick! In fact, it seems that the two characters have not truly been fighting at all, but are actually flirting! Benedick even makes a point to state that Beatrice is the only woman he knows who does not adore him: â€Å"Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved of / all ladies, only you excepted† (1.1.118-119). It can be said that Beatrice and Benedick share mutual feelings for one another even though they conceal their affection through teasing antics. Since Beatrice made it a priority to ask the messenger about Benedick following the battle and considering that she often weaves his name into conversation, it can be concluded that she in fact loves Benedick. Claudio falls in love with Hero immediately after conversing with her: â€Å"That I love her, I feel† (1.1.218). He claims that he loves Hero, however he cannot bring himself to tell her himself; it is decided that Don Pedro will therefore disguise himself as Claudio at the costume party and profess â€Å"his† love for Hero as Claudio: â€Å"I will assume thy part in some disguise / And tell fair Hero I am Claudio, / And in her bosom I’ll unclasp my heart† (1.1.309-311). Claudio’s sheepishness to inform Hero of his feelings prose’s the question, is his love for her true? If Don Pedro hadn’t agreed to assist Claudio, then he probably wouldn’t have ever confessed his love to Hero! Claudio’s love for Hero is impulsive; he falls in love with her without even knowing her. His  haste to love Hero could certainly cause him to rush into a relationship that he’s not necessarily ready for or possibly lead him to uncertainty if the relationship progresses. 2. Don John is the villain of the play and isn’t afraid to admit it: â€Å"In this, though I cannot be said to be a flattering / honest man, it must not be denied but I am a plain / dealing villain† (1.3.28-30). He only recently got back on â€Å"good terms† with his brother, Don Pedro; however, Don John is actually envious of his brother and abhors him because Don Pedro holds a higher position than he: â€Å"I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a / rose in his grace† (1.3.25-26). Don John is a gloomy character and enjoys causing mischief, especially when it will inflict pain upon his brother and his brother’s right-hand-man, Claudio. He dislikes Claudio because he claims that, â€Å"That young start-up hath all / the glory of my overthrow† (1.3.62-63). Despite being melancholy at the start of Act 1 Scene 3, Don John quickly becomes blissful once he discovers he can cause trouble for his brother and Claudio with the woman Don John believes they intend to pursue: â€Å"Will it serve for any model to build mischief / on? What is he for a fool that betroths himself to / unquietness?† (1.3.43-45) and â€Å"Come, come, let us thither. This may prove food to my / displeasure† (1.3.52-53). Don John is a dark character that seeks revenge for the personal pain he has experienced from Don Pedro and Claudio. His anger may also stem from the fact that he is a â€Å"bastard† because he was most likely treated as an outcast all of his life as an illegitimate son.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Formal and Informal Communication: an Organizational Approach

Formal and Informal Communication: An Organizational Approach By: Masayu Shahnaz Winarko Student Number: 43005860 Faculty of Economics, Business and Law University of Queensland Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 2012 Abstract This paper concentrates on the discussion of formal and informal communication and its usage in organizational approach. Although both formal and informal communication support the well-Â ­being of organizations, studies suggest that informal communication has taken a big part in determining the productivity in organizations and it has derived many benefits and many challenges. Managers should know how to deal ith such thing and optimize the advantages that will create value added for the company and overcome the obstacles it might create. Many researches have studied and given results on this matter and its application in businesses worldwide. 1. Introduction Communication occurs in every single section in life, from personal to professional issues. It is inevit able that it supports the flow of social life and company’s workflow. It has been taking an important role in organizations; therefore, many studies concentrate in the discussion of organizational communication. It is believed that both formal and informal communication affect rganization’s productivity (Litterst & Eyo). However, unlike formal communication, informal communication is less controllable and unstructured. Informal communication plays a strong role in determining the result of scientific field by generating new ideas or improving the existed idea (Hagstrom). FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNICATION: AN ORGANIZATIONAL 1 APPROACH Since informal communication has a strong impact on organizational performance, managers should be able to manage the flow of not only formal, but also informal communication. As business grows and the requirements needed in surviving within the competition keep adding on, xecutives should make the most effective use of every resource avai lable and by improving the flow of communication is one of the ways. This study will provide an analysis in dealing with managerial challenges regarding controlling the flow of informal communication and what managers should do to make the best of it. 2. Literature Review 2. 1 Communication Communication is the activity to convey messages through different channels, such as words, symbols and signs. Based on Duncan and Moriarty (1998), communication is a human activity that links people together and creates relationship. In order to create a successful communication, t requires three elements; they are the sender, the message and the receiver. Both the sender and the receiver have to share the same understanding so that the message can be fully transmitted. The success of communication is determined by how the message is understood by the receiver. As defined by Gamble and Gamble (2002), communication is the transfer of meaning and there are seven essentials of communication, which are people, message, channels, noise, context, feedback and effect. Although there are 126 different definitions on communication (Ruben & Stewart, 2006), but many scholars defined it as an exchange of information.Ruben & Stewart (2006) also stated that success in one’s career may well depend on communication. Not only in the individual performance, communication also determines organization’s performance. This present study will point out the importance of formal and informal communication and its applications within an organization. 2. 2 Formal Communication Formal communication is an organized and structured communication within an organization. The communication occurs in many flows. Upwards 2 FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNICATION: AN ORGANIZATIONAL APPROACH communication indicates the communication from employees to executives. Downward ommunication represents the flow of communication from executives to lower level employees. Horizontal communication shows the flow o f communication within the same level of company, for example the communication flow of brand manager and finance manager. The last one is diagonal communication, which represents the communication of the upper level of a particular division with the lower level employees in another division. The types of formal communication within an organization that are commonly used are meetings, conference, phone calls, company bulletin and interview. 2. 3 Informal Communication Informal communication is nevitable in every organizational entity. By communicating with other people, employees can find similarity in hobbies, opinions and experiences, which result in being friends. Informal communication is based on social relationship among people (Litterst & Eyo, 1982). Informal communication is relaxed, casual and spread through word-Â ­? of-Â ­? mouth. Informal networks are communication links between individuals and sections that bypass the formal structures in an organization (Smith, 2011) . There are four flows in communication networks; the first one is single strand in which one person tells another person, the second one is gossip hain in which one person tells the others, the third one is probability chain in which one person tells another person who pass the news to someone else and the fourth one is the cluster chain in which one person tells other two or three people who spread the news to other two or three people as well. There is another important term in informal communication, which is grapevine. Grapevine is best described as the way gossip travels through organizations. Robbins and colleagues (2008) indicate the characteristics of grapevine: it is not controlled by management, it is more believable and reliable for the employees and it serves he self-Â ­? interests of those in the group. 2. 4 Differences between Formal and Informal Communication FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNICATION: AN ORGANIZATIONAL 3 APPROACH No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Elements Definition Fl exibility Degree of control Evidence Discipline Formal Communication Informal Communication Takes place through Passing formal channels Flexible by Cannot be controlled No documentary proof is not followed formal channels Not flexible Controlled management Has documentary proof Official discipline are highly maintained is Discipline Flow of information Flows upwards, Flows freely to all downwards, horizontal directions and iagonal 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 2. 5 Differentiation and Complimentary Studies have attempted to determine which one between formal and informal communication has the most impact in organizations. Research suggest that formal communication takes role in the authority in organizational hierarchy (Dow, 1988; Jablin, 1987), differentiation of labor and specialized tasks (Dow, 1988; Jablin, 1987) and mechanism for coordination of work (Dow, 1988). Meanwhile, business communicators strongly believe that informal 4 FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNICATION: AN ORGANIZATION AL APPROACH Speed Secrecy Rumor Distortion Time MisunderstandingCost Mistakes Slow Can be maintained occur Not distorted Requires much time misunderstanding Expensive Very low Very fast Difficult to maintain Small chance of rumor to Rumor can occur Can be distorted Less time occur Less expensive Very high Not much chance of Misunderstanding may communication plays an important role in increasing innovations within organizations (Johnson, 1990). Johnson, Donohue, Atkin and Johnson (1994) conducted a study on the means of formal and informal communication within an organization through three main perspectives: salience, channel factors and channel usage. The research suggested that the employees erceive informal communication as more effective and better used in achieving company’s mission. However, in terms of cultural means, formal communication is perceived as a more appropriate way to communicate. 3. Case Study First and Tomic (2011) conducted a research regarding the role of informal communication in creating company brand image and preferences. In this research, the object was an international turnkey contractor specializing in oil and gas industry. This company employed more than 38,000 employees all over the world at the time this research was conducted. This company operates in business market, so not many eople acknowledge this company’s existence. However, this company concerns about its brand image. They use formal approach in spreading its existence to college graduates by coming to the university and do presentations on its company profile. Nevertheless, formal communication only does so much. They also rely heavily on informal communication role to spread the word-Â ­? of-Â ­? mouth on the culture of the company. For example, people know from their acquaintances that this company gives high salary to their employees and this news draws them to working for this company. The second example of case study comes from the research ofAndr ea, Arnaldo and Romano (2011). The case was about Italian leading mineral water and soft drink company. In 2008, the company held 16% of the segment mineral water in Italy, 12% in soft drink and 19% in tea-Â ­? based drink. Its ROE was 18. 1% while its competitor was only 13. 8%. Its inventory turnover was 12. 6 compared to its major competitor whose inventory turnover was only 6. 15. The study focuses on determining the role of formal and informal communication in making this FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNICATION: AN ORGANIZATIONAL 5 APPROACH company a leader in its filed. The study was conducted in three steps. The first one is dentifying the units that engage in the process of purchasing, manufacturing and logistics. The second step is tracing the flow of formal and informal communication during those activities. The final step is to identify how both formal and informal communication improved over time that results in a synchronized workflow of the company. The study suggested that formal communication was highly important in achieving internal integration (Andrea, Arnaldo & Romano, 2011), while informal communication is important in problem solving because it occurs in real time (Pagell). 4. Conclusion Based on the present and former studies conducted y many scholars on various objects (focuses on organizations in this matter), it can be concluded that both formal and informal communication are important in the productivity of the company and its performance as a whole. Managers should identify in which field the communication should be optimized and which way to use. There are several differentiations in the work progress on which it is better to use either formal or informal communication and managers should be well aware of it so they would not imply the wrong method of communication. As in optimizing the informal communication, managers should use personal approach as it ravels fast and is more favorable by the employees. Moreover, informal communication can be used in building company brand and image, so managers should be really careful that only the good values of the company is transmitted through informal communication. 6 FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNICATION: AN ORGANIZATIONAL APPROACH References Andrea, F, Arnaldo, C & Romando, P 2011, ‘Case study: understanding how formal and informal communication affect purchasing, manufacturing and logistics integration’, Advances In Management, vol. 4, no. 7, pp. 22-Â ­? 32. First, I, Tomic, M 2011, ‘Formal and informal communication channels in creating Formal and Informal Communication: an Organizational Approach Formal and Informal Communication: An Organizational Approach By: Masayu Shahnaz Winarko Student Number: 43005860 Faculty of Economics, Business and Law University of Queensland Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 2012 Abstract This paper concentrates on the discussion of formal and informal communication and its usage in organizational approach. Although both formal and informal communication support the well-Â ­being of organizations, studies suggest that informal communication has taken a big part in determining the productivity in organizations and it has derived many benefits and many challenges. Managers should know how to deal ith such thing and optimize the advantages that will create value added for the company and overcome the obstacles it might create. Many researches have studied and given results on this matter and its application in businesses worldwide. 1. Introduction Communication occurs in every single section in life, from personal to professional issues. It is inevit able that it supports the flow of social life and company’s workflow. It has been taking an important role in organizations; therefore, many studies concentrate in the discussion of organizational communication. It is believed that both formal and informal communication affect rganization’s productivity (Litterst & Eyo). However, unlike formal communication, informal communication is less controllable and unstructured. Informal communication plays a strong role in determining the result of scientific field by generating new ideas or improving the existed idea (Hagstrom). FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNICATION: AN ORGANIZATIONAL 1 APPROACH Since informal communication has a strong impact on organizational performance, managers should be able to manage the flow of not only formal, but also informal communication. As business grows and the requirements needed in surviving within the competition keep adding on, xecutives should make the most effective use of every resource avai lable and by improving the flow of communication is one of the ways. This study will provide an analysis in dealing with managerial challenges regarding controlling the flow of informal communication and what managers should do to make the best of it. 2. Literature Review 2. 1 Communication Communication is the activity to convey messages through different channels, such as words, symbols and signs. Based on Duncan and Moriarty (1998), communication is a human activity that links people together and creates relationship. In order to create a successful communication, t requires three elements; they are the sender, the message and the receiver. Both the sender and the receiver have to share the same understanding so that the message can be fully transmitted. The success of communication is determined by how the message is understood by the receiver. As defined by Gamble and Gamble (2002), communication is the transfer of meaning and there are seven essentials of communication, which are people, message, channels, noise, context, feedback and effect. Although there are 126 different definitions on communication (Ruben & Stewart, 2006), but many scholars defined it as an exchange of information.Ruben & Stewart (2006) also stated that success in one’s career may well depend on communication. Not only in the individual performance, communication also determines organization’s performance. This present study will point out the importance of formal and informal communication and its applications within an organization. 2. 2 Formal Communication Formal communication is an organized and structured communication within an organization. The communication occurs in many flows. Upwards 2 FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNICATION: AN ORGANIZATIONAL APPROACH communication indicates the communication from employees to executives. Downward ommunication represents the flow of communication from executives to lower level employees. Horizontal communication shows the flow o f communication within the same level of company, for example the communication flow of brand manager and finance manager. The last one is diagonal communication, which represents the communication of the upper level of a particular division with the lower level employees in another division. The types of formal communication within an organization that are commonly used are meetings, conference, phone calls, company bulletin and interview. 2. 3 Informal Communication Informal communication is nevitable in every organizational entity. By communicating with other people, employees can find similarity in hobbies, opinions and experiences, which result in being friends. Informal communication is based on social relationship among people (Litterst & Eyo, 1982). Informal communication is relaxed, casual and spread through word-Â ­? of-Â ­? mouth. Informal networks are communication links between individuals and sections that bypass the formal structures in an organization (Smith, 2011) . There are four flows in communication networks; the first one is single strand in which one person tells another person, the second one is gossip hain in which one person tells the others, the third one is probability chain in which one person tells another person who pass the news to someone else and the fourth one is the cluster chain in which one person tells other two or three people who spread the news to other two or three people as well. There is another important term in informal communication, which is grapevine. Grapevine is best described as the way gossip travels through organizations. Robbins and colleagues (2008) indicate the characteristics of grapevine: it is not controlled by management, it is more believable and reliable for the employees and it serves he self-Â ­? interests of those in the group. 2. 4 Differences between Formal and Informal Communication FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNICATION: AN ORGANIZATIONAL 3 APPROACH No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Elements Definition Fl exibility Degree of control Evidence Discipline Formal Communication Informal Communication Takes place through Passing formal channels Flexible by Cannot be controlled No documentary proof is not followed formal channels Not flexible Controlled management Has documentary proof Official discipline are highly maintained is Discipline Flow of information Flows upwards, Flows freely to all downwards, horizontal directions and iagonal 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 2. 5 Differentiation and Complimentary Studies have attempted to determine which one between formal and informal communication has the most impact in organizations. Research suggest that formal communication takes role in the authority in organizational hierarchy (Dow, 1988; Jablin, 1987), differentiation of labor and specialized tasks (Dow, 1988; Jablin, 1987) and mechanism for coordination of work (Dow, 1988). Meanwhile, business communicators strongly believe that informal 4 FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNICATION: AN ORGANIZATION AL APPROACH Speed Secrecy Rumor Distortion Time MisunderstandingCost Mistakes Slow Can be maintained occur Not distorted Requires much time misunderstanding Expensive Very low Very fast Difficult to maintain Small chance of rumor to Rumor can occur Can be distorted Less time occur Less expensive Very high Not much chance of Misunderstanding may communication plays an important role in increasing innovations within organizations (Johnson, 1990). Johnson, Donohue, Atkin and Johnson (1994) conducted a study on the means of formal and informal communication within an organization through three main perspectives: salience, channel factors and channel usage. The research suggested that the employees erceive informal communication as more effective and better used in achieving company’s mission. However, in terms of cultural means, formal communication is perceived as a more appropriate way to communicate. 3. Case Study First and Tomic (2011) conducted a research regarding the role of informal communication in creating company brand image and preferences. In this research, the object was an international turnkey contractor specializing in oil and gas industry. This company employed more than 38,000 employees all over the world at the time this research was conducted. This company operates in business market, so not many eople acknowledge this company’s existence. However, this company concerns about its brand image. They use formal approach in spreading its existence to college graduates by coming to the university and do presentations on its company profile. Nevertheless, formal communication only does so much. They also rely heavily on informal communication role to spread the word-Â ­? of-Â ­? mouth on the culture of the company. For example, people know from their acquaintances that this company gives high salary to their employees and this news draws them to working for this company. The second example of case study comes from the research ofAndr ea, Arnaldo and Romano (2011). The case was about Italian leading mineral water and soft drink company. In 2008, the company held 16% of the segment mineral water in Italy, 12% in soft drink and 19% in tea-Â ­? based drink. Its ROE was 18. 1% while its competitor was only 13. 8%. Its inventory turnover was 12. 6 compared to its major competitor whose inventory turnover was only 6. 15. The study focuses on determining the role of formal and informal communication in making this FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNICATION: AN ORGANIZATIONAL 5 APPROACH company a leader in its filed. The study was conducted in three steps. The first one is dentifying the units that engage in the process of purchasing, manufacturing and logistics. The second step is tracing the flow of formal and informal communication during those activities. The final step is to identify how both formal and informal communication improved over time that results in a synchronized workflow of the company. The study suggested that formal communication was highly important in achieving internal integration (Andrea, Arnaldo & Romano, 2011), while informal communication is important in problem solving because it occurs in real time (Pagell). 4. Conclusion Based on the present and former studies conducted y many scholars on various objects (focuses on organizations in this matter), it can be concluded that both formal and informal communication are important in the productivity of the company and its performance as a whole. Managers should identify in which field the communication should be optimized and which way to use. There are several differentiations in the work progress on which it is better to use either formal or informal communication and managers should be well aware of it so they would not imply the wrong method of communication. As in optimizing the informal communication, managers should use personal approach as it ravels fast and is more favorable by the employees. Moreover, informal communication can be used in building company brand and image, so managers should be really careful that only the good values of the company is transmitted through informal communication. 6 FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNICATION: AN ORGANIZATIONAL APPROACH References Andrea, F, Arnaldo, C & Romando, P 2011, ‘Case study: understanding how formal and informal communication affect purchasing, manufacturing and logistics integration’, Advances In Management, vol. 4, no. 7, pp. 22-Â ­? 32. First, I, Tomic, M 2011, ‘Formal and informal communication channels in creating

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Introduction to Sociology

05/12/2011 Oana Cristina Merca Introduction to Sociological Themes and Perspectives The word â€Å"sociology† has its roots from the Latin â€Å"socius† which means â€Å"companion† and the Greek â€Å"ology† which means â€Å"the study of†. So basically, Sociology is one of the social sciences which aim is to explain human behaviour. Unlike Psychology, Sociology is much more concerned about social group’s behaviour including whole societies and even international and global groups. Of all the social sciences it is Sociology that most closely scrutinizes change and conflict in the wider society. The range of the discipline, and the importance of the arguments that are disputed within it, still make it the most exciting of the social sciences. However, it was not until the nineteenth century, as a consequence of industrial revolution, that we see a concern with society as a direct object of study. We could then determine, once and for all, what sort of social changes were possible. In its present form, Sociology embraces a range of different views concerning both what a social science should compromise, and what might be the proper subject-matter of Sociology in particular. The latter provides perhaps the best way of making sense of the discipline. This essay will explain, compare and contrast three of the main perspectives in Sociology: Functionalism, Marxism and Feminism. The founder of the Functionalism perspective was Emile Durkheim (1858-1917), whose theory was then further developed by Robert Merton (1910-2003). The Functionalist looks at society as a body where everything has a function. There are formal organizations as law, education, the family, the media, political system and informal social actions such as suicide, love, and crime. Altogether serve a function and have consequences on society. Crime is normal and found in every society. It shows us what is acceptable or not. Crime produces rituals as court processes and boundaries which show us who is in and who is out. Durkheim believed that a very high rate of crime or deviance shows that something had gone wrong with the society. Suicide is a social phenomenon which can be explained by things such as religion, economic situation, social structure, sexual orientation. Suicide is higher in protestant than catholic countries, more common among single people than married, more common in military than among civilians, rates of suicide drop in time of ar and they are higher in times of economic crisis. The anomie theory of Robert Merton (1957) is distinguished between cultural goals (material possessions, status symbols) and institutional means (opportunities to achieve these goals in a socially acceptable way). The situation where is too much emphasis on the cultural goals and not enough on the institutional means is known a s anomie. Talcott Parsons (1951) is talking about two basic functions of the family: the reproduction and the stabilisation of adult personality.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Analyzing “Frankenstein” †Formalist Perspective Essay

The formalist method of literary criticism is primarily focused on the text itself, rather than external topics such as history and background, the author’s biographical information, or the social contexts which surround a piece of work. In the formalist perspective, we ask ourselves, why did the author choose to write his or her work in this specific style? Why did he or she choose to include certain literary elements? â€Å"What matters most to the formalist critic is how the work comes to mean what it does–how its resources of language are deployed by the writer to convey meaning† (DiYanni 2076). A reader can employ the formalist method to decipher many meanings in Mary Shelley’s classic text Frankenstein. Shelley uses setting, foreshadowing, point of view, and characterization so that the reader can gain a sense of suspense and anticipation, which are all essential to the book’s distinctive gothic mood and tone. A fundamental factor of the formalist outlook is the setting of the text. Mary Shelley’s â€Å"Frankenstein† has a very dark, gloomy setting that reflects the hideousness of the monster and society’s reaction to him, as well as our own. A very important factor of the setting is the weather: â€Å"Our situation was somewhat dangerous, especially as we were compassed round by a very thick fog.†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ (page 8). The description gives the reader a feeling of interaction with the characters in the novel and with the environment also. The narrative generates a sense of suspense that entrances the reader. The text itself relies on the setting because the reader needs to feel the emotions arising from the novel and that’s why Mary Shelley integrated this into the story using the creature’s monstrosity and nature as an element of anticipation. As a result, these components are crucial to the book’s triumph. In chapter ten, we see how Victor reacts to his surroundings. While at Chamounix Valley, he feels consolation at the nature that surrounds him. At the same time, he notes that the landscape is characterized by disorder and destruction: the valley is plagued by constant avalanches, and it often seems that the mountains themselves will crash down on Victor’s head. â€Å"The ascent is precipitous†¦It is a scene terrifically desolate†¦where trees lie broken and strewed on the ground†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã¢â‚¬â€œ (page 93). As though he wanted to  conquer the mountains that are so dangerously overwhelming, he climbed to the top of Montanvert, one of the region’s most forbidding glaciers. While at the top, Victor begins to feel the massive power nature has over man. While Victor is undergoing a major change in his perspective, we see what effect the setting has on him. Victor being at the top of such a dangerous glacier also foreshadows the coming of danger. When the monster shows up, the reader begins to speculate as to what kind of confrontation Victor is going to have with the monster. If this same meeting between Victor and the Monster were set in a field of flowers, we would definitely have a completely different idea of the text, and it would change the story incredibly. The immense snow coverage, high altitude, and the dangers of the glacier give the reader a better understanding of the text. Mary Shelley’s novel left an impression on its readers because of its dark tone. She used deliberately used foreshadowing as a method of enticing the reader and drawing them into her suspenseful story. The story of â€Å"Frankenstein† starts off with Robert Walton’s string of letters to his sister, Margaret Saville. Walton’s letters utilize a literary device called framing, which sets up the major premise of the novel. The use of multiple narratives calls the reader’s attention to the telling of the story, adding layers of complexity to the intricate relationship between author and reader. As Walton listens to Victor’s story, so does his sister. As his sister reads Victor’s story, so does the reader. By using the framing method, Shelley may have been trying to link her novel to the oral tradition of telling ghost stories which inspired her to write her own novel. In addition to setting the scene for the telling of Victor’s narrative, Walton’s letters introduce an important character: Walton himself. Walton’s second letter introduces the idea of loss and loneliness, as Walton complains that he has no friends with whom to share his triumphs and failures, no sensitive ear to listen to his dreams and ambitions. Walton turns to Victor as the friend he has always wanted. His search for companionship parallels the monster’s desire for a mate later in the novel. â€Å"But I have one want which I have never been yet to satisfy†¦I have no friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate my joy; if I am assailed by disappointment, no  one will endeavour to sustain me in dejection†¦I desire the company of a man who could sympathize with me, whose eyes would reply to mine.†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ (page 18). This similarity between man and monster becomes clearer as the novel progresses. It suggests that the two may not be as different as they seem. Framing helps the reader find the interrelation among the characters and come up with observations that would be concealed in other circumstances. The framing technique also makes the story more compelling because Walton will eventually see the monster at the end of the novel. The story about the creature would just be a story, if not for Walton’s personal encounter with Frankenstein and his creation. Shelley uses Walton and the framing perspective to add validity to the novel. Another important part of analyzing using the formalist perspective is looking at characters’ relationships and roles in the novel. Most obviously, in Frankenstein, there is the creator, Victor Frankenstein, and the creation, the monster. But what do these roles mean? A creator is one who brings something into existence; Victor literally creates the monster’s body piece by piece and it becomes his sole obsession in his scientific career, but Victor stops there. Once the monster’s body is created, it is abandoned, physically and mentally. This is where Victor fails his role as a creator; he fails to see through the full development and process of his creation. If Victor had taken the role of a mentor or father and helped his creation develop mentally, he and the monster would have been united in the book instead of becoming bitter enemies. Instead Victor repeatedly turns away, rejects, and loathes the monster: â€Å"My abhorrence of this fiend could not be concei ved!†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ (page 81). The monster however tries to fulfill his role as creation as much as possible. He is trusting in his creator, until he realizes that he has been abandoned and what he is to society â€Å"Was I, then, a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned?† Still yet, the monster realizes that as his creator, Victor is obligated to endow some happiness upon his creation: â€Å"Do you duty towards me, and I will do mine towards you and the rest of mankind.†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ (page 89). The monster now recognizes himself as a monster, but still knows it is Victor’s duty to aid him, and sadly concedes that society will never accept him for anything because of his appearance. One of the other roles portrayed  in Frankenstein is that of Master and Slave. Unlike the creator and creation roles, this relationship changes during the course of the novel. In the beginning of the novel, Frankenstein was working for himself and created the monster for the advancement of science. The monster had no power because he was dumped and abandoned in an unknown world; he barely knows what to eat at this point. Victor still lived in his society with his friends and allies. Later in the book, the balance of power begins to shift as the monster recognizes the great physical power he has, because Victor created it to be better that himself. Also Victor begins to find his power slipping when he cannot begin to turn to his friends and family because of what he has created and done. However, when the two meet, the power switches. The monster proceeds to tell his tale and uses his power of persuasion to use Victor. When Victor quits the female creation, the monster becomes supreme. During this period, Victor has almost no control because he created the monster to be better than himself, as the monster realizes early on. The monster knows that Victor cannot escape or keep up with him, thus is very open with his attacks against Victor. He knows that there is no retribution worse then the misery and hatred he has already experienced (and that was just for being created). Thus, he has nothing to lose; he shows Victor his supremacy by killing Elizabeth while Victor is in the house, and then escaping completely unscathed. During the scene in the graveyard, though, the power shifts once more between the two. The entire scene is filled with irony as the creation scoffs at the creator. The man of science invokes â€Å"spirits of the dead† and â€Å"wandering ministers of vengeance,† and the creator vows to destroy his creation. From this point on, the monster and Frankenstein are locked in a race towards oblivion. Neither have anything to lose, while both have all they have left in life to gain. The final satisfaction of the annihilation of the other and the peace of death is all that lay ahead of them. Victor becomes the haunting and trailing harasser to the monster. Neither have anyone to help them on their journey. The monster has destroyed all of Victor’s support, and in doing so, assured that he shall never be accepted by anyone. They have nothing left in their lives accept hatred for one another and thus, follow this hatred blindly into nothingness. Another trend in reading the story is Frankenstein’s lack of recognizing the creature as his own–in essence, not giving the monster his name–. This is the creature’s root problem. The monster is called plenty of names by his creator, from at best, â€Å"the accomplishment of my toils† to â€Å"wretch,† â€Å"miserable monster,† and â€Å"filthy demon.† The monster possesses familiar impulses to seek knowledge and companionship, but he has no name, and therefore, no identity. So, he cannot obtain these basic things he so longs for, which leads to his problems. â€Å"Monster† is extremely harsh, but is the first thing introduced into our frame of mind. The monster does not even give himself a name other than what has been previously stated. Sympathy for the anonymous being and our confusion of creator and created, as well as our interest in depicting the creature’s human side indicate an unconscious acknowledgement of Frankenstein. Walton notes the possibility of living a â€Å"double existence† representing as a self-divided mind in conflict with itself. The monster and his creator are two halves of the same being. Shelley doesn’t give the monster a name to clearly point out the contradictions but also, the connections between Frankenstein and his creation. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is an innovative work that weaves a tale of passion, misery, dread, and remorse that personifies the gothic novel. The mood for Frankenstein is set from the very first pages of the story. In a gothic novel, the setting is usually dark and brooding. The setting can bring about feelings of short-lived happiness, loneliness, isolation, and despair. Shelley’s writing shows how the varied and dramatic settings of Frankenstein can create this gloomy atmosphere and tone. The â€Å"dreary night of November,† where the monster first comes to life is a defining moment in the dramatic tale. Shelley can sustain the mood and create a distinct picture and it is admirable the way she begins to foreshadow coming danger. Shelley writes so that the reader sees and feels these scenes taking permanent hold on the memory. She also uses the framing perspective to add realism to the story. We, as the reader, are actually transported into the story through this method of point of view. We are seeing Frankenstein’s amazing tale through the words of Robert Walton and through the eyes of Margaret Saville. The connection between the two main characters,  Frankenstein and the monster, is crucial to the story’s success as well. The dynamic shifts, bonds, rifts that grow between these two set the pace and conflict throughout the story. We are able to notice how Victor’s own actions, as well as the monster’s choices, greatly determine the flow and direction of the novel. Had, for example, Frankenstein followed through and nurtured the monster (maybe giving it a name, at the least), they both would have become a great asset to society, instead of a menace. The uses of foreshadowing, point of view, and characterization help the reader to experience the life in which Frankenstein is accustomed to. The author depicts the time period, mood, and tone with the use of setting and plot structure, which is necessary to the understanding of the novel.

Capital Punishment Is Always Wrong, Do You Agree?

Capital Punishment is always wrong, do you agree? A Christian would agree as they believe all life is sacred and only god can choose when your life ends, he will punish you in hell for your sins and it is not the place of the government to decide whether you are killed or not. This is because in the bible it says â€Å"Do not kill† which is one of the Ten Commandments which are not to be disobeyed, they also believe in forgiveness and love which are the fundamentals of their religion therefore criminals should be forgiven and given a chance to change.A Buddhist would agree because they believe in the sanctity of life. This is because they believe in karma – that you will accumulate bad karma for the bad things you do in your life and will pay for them in your next life and so therefore we should leave people to be punished in their next life and not kill them because all life is sacred and if we kill them we will accumulate bad karma.A Muslim would disagree because they believe that punishment is needed to protect the welfare of society and serve justice to the victims family, they believe that if you take a life then you should die because you have taken away something sacred and sinned, this is because in the Qur’an it says â€Å"take not life, which God hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law† which permits the death penalty if it is to bring about justice.Another Christian would disagree because they believe that god has appointed the king/queen who has then appointed the government to serve justice on his behalf, this means that they can punish people in the means they feel appropriate and in the bible there are examples where people were killed for their sins so therefore it must be alright to kill people in today’s society.This is because in the bible it says â€Å"show no pity, life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot† which shows that we should have no mercy and shoul d give the same punishment as the crime done for example if someone kills then they should be killed. I disagree as I believe sometimes it could be right because some criminals never reform and in killing them we would be preventing them from killing again and possibly deterring other criminals as they would be afraid of the punishment they would receive.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Cause and Effect of Privacy Violation on Social Media and the Internet Essay

Cause and Effect of Privacy Violation on Social Media and the Internet - Essay Example Facebook, MySpace, Twitter are some of the most popular and most commonly used social networking sites having masses who use it on daily basis. The popularity of these social networking sites is very addictive. People update and upload statuses, check in at various places, upload pictures which have made tracking very convenient. Many people do not care about their privacy settings and unaware of that anybody can have access to their personal pictures, locations etc. many people are giving their information which is generally very personal on these sites through which all internet users can easily access it. "Social networking has also obtained a poor reputation for protecting users privacy due to a continual flow of media stories discussing privacy problems." (Tyler, 122) Some of the most common issues that have arisen with the propagation of social are internet dating, social profiling, cyberstalking, the disclosure of information, as well as the government using information available on such websites without any search warrant. Today many individuals get involved in each other merely through these social networking websites. At times these people turn out to be completely fake using such individuals for their own advantages. Fantasies are developed and then advantages are taken. Today, many young girls are a victim of this internet dating boom. Another problem with privacy violation is that pictures are being used for various purposes. Many cases have been observed through which pictures are being misused and pornography is being promoted. Cyber-stalking has also increased with the passage of time increases the risk of such problems. The concept of checking in at various locations is very new but that has increased security issues. Now one can locate someone very easily and can also keep track of individuals recent whereabouts.

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Summary of the Adventure in the human Spirit Essay

Summary of the Adventure in the human Spirit - Essay Example The book further clarifies the correlation in western cultural and music and how the society portrays the women who participate in music and other work of arts. Adventure in the human Spirit is a book that was written with a view of assisting students or scholars with insufficient knowledge and background in the arts and humanities. Adventure in the human spirit provides a sensible introduction to the major arts, religion and philosophy in the arena of visual arts and film studies. The author tries to integrate the knowledge of arts in the concept of humanities to help students become more conversant with the ways of acquiring knowledge in the arts and humanities. This implies that the students will be well-informed and hence will have the capacity to blend critically and properly with their society, culture and history. The focal point of on core ideas and issues with respect to human experience promotes appreciation of the function of the knowledge and values in curving and appreci ating human behavior and conduct. The study on humanity also emphasize on the duties and opportunities of any democratic citizenry , underscoring the importance of the creative arts of any literature material, music, theater and arts and inform us to essential issues that take place within the society in a progressively interconnected and interdependent world. Based on humanities, this text handles the concept of humanity by centering on the principles styles, events, figures and movements as it chronologies these aspects of life from the past life to the present date. It brings the early life by entailing valid and authentic records or documents of events, figures or movement as they take place in day to day activities. The concept of humanities is also underscored in this text via relative global approach, through instances of existing literature on philosophies and music. In fact on the basis of music, it highlights how women and other minority artists contribute to the music ind ustry in their effort to find out the wealth of humanities imbedded in their lives. The book also clarifies the spirit of decoration through the spirit of Baroque illustrating how the western culture embraced the concept of beauty through decoration and beautification of their work of arts. In essence, this books tries to be more readable and understandableamong the scholars particularly among the students who wish to gather more knowledge and concept on humanity. Given that it summarizes the historical advancement in the field of religion, arts, science and philosophy, basing its coverage on the western world, with focus on the relationship between the ideas and the cultural creation, the conciseness and coherence of this text compared to other existing literature proves that this book is determined to invite readers into a thoughtful and lifelong conversation with the humanities. According to Bishop The most pronouncing advancement of this text is the incorporation of color photog raphs nearly in every page which actually is a benefit to students and readers who have a specific interest on the concept of visual arts in depth. In Chapter 2, through the spirit of enlightenment, this text highlights the civilizations and progress as it considers our perspective of human progress and development with respect to the invention of skepticismand empiricism. These concepts also underscore proper understanding of the philosophical roots of the contemporary scientific approach or attitude. Based on Chapter (12) and chapter (13)the Bishop introduce scholars and students to philosophical concepts