Schedilemmas

Schedilemmas Three days before classes start, I woke up at 7:09 AM, ran 6 miles, discovered three new species of granola in an unexplored section of the pantry, preheated an oven to the wrong temperature in Fahrenheit but exactly the right temperature in Kelvin (on accident), took a partial derivative, tossed up a pan of granola flatbread, studied experimental bacon physics for six finger-scalding hours in preparation for an all-bacon dinner for 40 people, packed two suitcases, moved from pika into Random Hall, walked back to pika anyway, drank two cups of black tea, gave tours of pikas revamped drawbridge-accessible treehouse, crawled onto the cold-tiled roof, and stared at the thick haze of light pollution overhead until I was stuffed with numbness and murky starlight. Lately Ive been tracing a trajectory through the last week of summer that curves just short of preparations for the impending semester. Behold, the death of 3-month vacation heralded by this monstrosity of Google calendarism: [See legend at end of post to decode course numbers.] [Professor Nergis, whose last name is gentle to neither pronunciation nor spelling, is my academic advisor.] This is my class schedule for Fall 09. Theres eight courses spread over a 120-hour canvas; Ill probably drop three of them so that I dont go to bed weeping tears of angst every night. One of MITs masochist-friendly policies is that upperclassmen are free to register for every single class offered at the Institvte if they should desire a GPA of 0.2/5.0 or so. Conventional wisdom for the indecisive is that you should sign up for all the classes worthy of consideration and then progressively trim the fat from your course load until you can swallow your weekly serving of credit hours. For instance, my dilemma right now is choosing between 18.100B (Introduction to Analysis) and 8.07 (Electricity Magnetism II). Tortured by a soul-ripping conflict between studying rigorous math and learning where MIT keeps its prodigious supply of educational solenoids, I turned to my ex-roommate, Katelyn (a devout math major who watches Jeopardy, not that this is relevant). Y: Should I take 8.07 or 18.100B? K: Math! Y: I dont know if I want to be hosed trying to prove that 1+1 does not equal the set of irrational numbers greater than Australia. Later that night- K: Math is the dressing that makes physics taste better. Y: But18.100B is like mayonnaise. It doesnt even go on the salad, unless the salad is potato salad. Y: By “potato”, I mean “theoretical,” and by “salad,” I mean “physics.” K: How do you know adding mayonnaise wont help the taste of say, a lettuce salad? It may surprise you. Y: Hey Katelyn. That sounds delicious. Y: By delicious, I mean “gross,” and by “Hey Katelyn,” I mean “Thats the last time I ever invite you to a potluck.” Shortly after- K: Your salad right now has too much lettuce. It needs garnish. Y: Yeah, well, your salad isnt even a salad. Its like a condiment bar. Y: If youre taking applied math this term, maybe it has some tomatoes. On the bright side, pika rush* coincides with the first week of school, injecting sunbursts of stressless creativity into a greyish schedule. Who can resist cheesemaking lessons on Registration Day, followed by an all-night Dr. Who marathon? Nobody, thats Who. *At MIT, the first week of school is reserved for fraternity/sorority/independent living group recruitment. Although freshmen must live on campus, the rush period gives freshmen the opportunity to explore non-dorm housing options for their future years at MIT as various living groups grapple to outsplurge each other on steak and lobster dinners to attract ramen-acclimated visitors. pika inexplicably prefers to shell out for esoteric items like granola and organic nut butters. Probably half of last nights dinner budget was converted into pureed cashews. My actual schedule for this week: Legend: 18.303- The classical partial differential equations of applied mathematics: diffusion, Laplace/Poisson, and wave equations. Methods of solution, such as separation of variables, Fourier series and transforms, eigenvalue problems. Greens function methods are emphasized. 18.04 or 18.112 are useful, as well as previous acquaintance with the equations as they arise in scientific applications. [I dropped this class because of a last-minute lecture time change by the course administrators.] 18.100B- Fundamentals of mathematical analysis: convergence of sequences and series, continuity, differentiability, Riemann integral, sequences and series of functions, uniformity, interchange of limit operations. 8.03- Mechanical vibrations and waves; simple harmonic motion, superposition, forced vibrations and resonance, coupled oscillations, and normal modes; vibrations of continuous systems; reflection and refraction; phase and group velocity. Optics; wave solutions to Maxwells equations; polarization; Snells Law, interference, Huygenss principle, Fraunhofer diffraction, and gratings. 8.033- Intro to Special Relativity. Normally taken by Physics majors in their sophomore year. Einsteins postulates; consequences for simultaneity, time dilation, length contraction, and clock synchronization; Lorentz transformation; relativistic effects and paradoxes; Minkowski diagrams; invariants and four-vectors; momentum, energy, and mass; particle collisions. Relativity and electricity; Coulombs law; magnetic fields. Brief introduction to Newtonian cosmology. Introduction to some concepts of general relativity; principle of equivalence. The Schwarzchild metric; gravitational red shift; particle and light trajectories; geodesics; Shapiro delay. 8.07- EM II. Survey of basic electromagnetic phenomena: electrostatics, magnetostatics; electromagnetic properties of matter. Time-dependent electromagnetic fields and Maxwells equations. Electromagnetic waves, emission, absorption, and scattering of radiation. Relativistic electrodynamics and mechanics. 8.286- Introduction to modern cosmology. First half deals with the development of the big bang theory from 1915 to 1980, and latter half with recent impact of particle theory. Topics: special relativity and the Doppler effect, Newtonian cosmological models, introduction to non-Euclidean spaces, thermal radiation and early history of the universe, big bang nucleosynthesis, introduction to grand unified theories and other recent developments in particle theory, baryogenesis, the inflationary universe model, and the evolution of galactic structure. [This, by the way, is taught by the infamous Alan Guth, who not only developed the idea of cosmic inflation but also applied it to the stack of papers on his desk.] SP.417J- Intro to Black Studies. Interdisciplinary survey of people of African descent that draws on the overlapping approaches of history, literature, anthropology, legal studies, media studies, performance, linguistics, and creative writing. Connects the experiences of African-Americans and of other American minorities, focusing on social, political, and cultural histories, and on linguistic patterns. Includes lectures, discussions, workshops, and required field trips that involve minimal cost to students. CMS.100- Intro to Comparative Media Studies. Offers an overview of the social, cultural, political, and economic impact of mediated communication on modern culture. Combines critical discussions with experiments working with different media. Media covered include radio, television, film, the printed word, and digital technologies. Topics include the nature and function of media, core media institutions, and media in transition. 21L.011- The Film Experience. An introduction to narrative film, emphasizing the unique properties of the movie house and the motion picture camera, the historical evolution of the film medium, and the intrinsic artistic qualities of individual films. Syllabus changes from term to term, but usually includes such directors as Griffith, Chaplin, Renoir, Ford, Hitchcock, De Sica, and Fellini. 21W.785- Communicating with Web-Based Media. Analysis, design, implementation, and testing of various forms of digital communication through group collaboration. Students are encouraged to think about the Web and other new digital interactive media not just in terms of technology but also broader issues such as language (verbal and visual), design, information architecture, communication and community. Students work in small groups on a term-long project of their choice. Various written and oral presentations document project development. Next up on the MitBlog: Candy circuits, notes from my kitchen experimentation lab book, plus a certifiable tonnage of bacon.

Essay about DNA The Basis for Sustaining Life - 1334 Words

History of DNA Have you ever asked yourself â€Å"why my eyes are this color?â€Å" Have you questioned why you look the way you do? All of your physical features come from our genetics. Those genetics are family traits that are passed down through our individual bloodline. All of these individualities come from what is considered the fundamental building blocks of life, DNA. DeoxyriboNucleic Acid is the scientific name for DNA (SITE). A Swiss medical student named Johann Friedrich Miescher discovered DNA in 1868 (SITE). Miescher was investigating the white blood cells of pus from a surgical wound. It was there in these white blood cells that he found the â€Å"hot to manual† that defines what we look like. It is important to note, DNA is in†¦show more content†¦Individual DNA is created at the moment of conception and never changes throughout our lives. During conception a chemical known as nucleic acid is created and duplicates and divides itself an infinite number of times. Even through repetitive replication and division, the DNA is always an exact copy of the first DNA strand. Conception also joins the father’s sperm with the mother’s egg creating a genetic sequence (23 chromosomes from your father and 23 from your mother) of the 46 chromosomes. It is these 46 chromosomes that make up the complete instructional guide for who we are. Half of the chromosomes come from each parent, allowing for all the variations in our offspring. Scientists have said the human genome is comprised of â€Å"approximately three billion DNA molecules† (Simon Dickey, 2012). In general, we are made up of about 30,000 different genes that are spread between 46 chromosomes. With so many different chromosomes, there are an infinite number of variations that two parents can make-up. Also, the DNA of each person details a variety of information to include how long you are likely to live. All of the chromosomes that make up our DNA are coiled up inside the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. Aside from the reproductive cells, each and every cell contains the 46 linear chromosomes. Of those 46, there are 23 pairs of chromosomes. Of those 23, 22 are similar in size, shape and even genetic content. The 23rdShow MoreRelatedAre Viruses Alive?560 Words   |  2 Pagesgenetic material in the form of DNA or RNA, and is enclosed in the capsid, which is the protein coating that helps the virus attach to and penetrate the host cell. In some cases, certain viruses have a membrane surrounding the capsid, called an envelope. This structure allows viruses to become more stealthy and protected. There are two cycles in which a virus can go into: lytic and lysogenic. The lytic cycle consists of the virus attaching to a cell, injecting its DNA, and creating more viruses, whichRead MoreAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( Adhd )1292 Words   |  6 Pagesbe left untreated. Many wond er what are the symptoms of ADHD? What genes are affected? What are the strengths and weakness of ADHD? Are there any treatments? After reading, all questions will be answered. ADHD symptoms includes â€Å"complications sustaining attention, remaining seated, struggles with quiet activities, often fails to complete tasks, often â€Å"on the go†, avoids focusing on tasks, talks excessively, loses things easily, blurts out answers or opinions, easily distracted, impatient, forgetfulRead MoreEvolution Of Dogs And The Wolf Dog Theory1153 Words   |  5 PagesThat is the thing that wild wolves can’t do.† (Biologist Raymond Coppinger 2011). The latest research has highlighted the difference between wolves and dogs and that they are not one in the same breed. On a genetic level dog’s share 99.6% of their DNA with Wolves, however, a dog’s brain work’s very differently to that of a wolf. â€Å"Dogs appear to demonstrate sensitivity for human gestures more than many other specifies lack†( brauer, Kaminski, reidal, cll Tomasello 2006, hare, brown Williamson,Read MoreGenetically Modified Foods and Organisms974 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to Bakshi (p.211), the use of biotechnology in agricultural production is a major tool for enhancing food security and sustaining the environment. Biotechnology is considered important in addressing the challenge of food availability, alleviation of poverty and environmental conservation. In this regard (Tramper et al 408), it is important to note that GMOs are produced by the introduction of extra genetic information into a certain organism through genetic engineering. The methods areRead MoreThe Cellular Basis of Cancer2323 Words   |  10 PagesCancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide as it can develop in almost any organ or tissue. Significant advances in understanding the cellular basis of cancer and the underlying biological mechanisms of tumour has been vastly improved in the recent years (Jiang et al. 1994). Cancer is a genetic disease which requires a series of mutation during mitosis to develop, its characteristics can be associated with their ability to grow and divide abnormal cells uncontrollable while in the meanRead MoreMetabolism Essay1569 Words   |  7 PagesMetabolism â€Å"Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in living organisms to maintain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments† (Metabolism). Metabolism breaks down the food that we eat, transforming it into energy for our bodies. Metabolism is broken down into two categories Anabolism and Catabolism, which help aid in the chemical reaction process. Specific proteins in the body control the chemicalRead MoreCells, Cancer and Gene Control Essay1890 Words   |  8 PagesAll cancers begin in cells, the bodys basic unit of life. To understand cancer, its helpful to know what happens when normal cells become cancer cells. - Origins of Cancer (National Cancer Institute, 2014) So what is the relationship between cancer and gene control and cells? As the epigraph states that all cancer begins with cells, and the definition of cancer is â€Å"Cancer is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues† (National CancerRead MoreEssay on Organ Failure Disease2034 Words   |  9 PagesLife Support People do not often think about our own mortality. We may get sick or a bit banged up now and again, but we generally do not think anything terrible will happen to us or our loved ones. We spend most of our time going about our lives as if everything is fine, oblivious to the fact that something can kill you at literally any moment. Who can blame us? With so many things to enjoy in the world, who wants to spend their time thinking about death? Nearly no one does. That is, until somethingRead MoreThe North American Free Trade Agreement Essay1818 Words   |  8 PagesMexico City that take in migrant workers because there are no jobs in the towns they lived in before. While NAFTA allowed for free trade in North America, Mexico became victim to its lack of environmental protection leading to degradation of human life and health, deforestation and desertification, loss of biodiversity, lower quality crops, and intimidation of indigenous Mexican people. Biodiversity means the variability within and among living organisms and the systems they inhabit (2; Scott 2)Read MoreHow the Big Bang Evolved into Life On Earth Essay1973 Words   |  8 PagesHow the Big Bang Evolved into Life On Earth Should we as humans expect to find intelligent life elsewhere in the Universe? There are many reasons for and against this concept, but first we should trace just how our terrestrial life started. The beginning of time and the universe began with the Big Bang. This was an explosion that started the expansion of the universe. In the most basic sense, the standard model is simply the idea that every bit of the matter and energy in the universe was once

Democracy, Over The Years, Has Been Both Praised And...

Democracy, over the years, has been both praised and criticized as the central form of government in the United States. After the most recent election, political tensions have been high throughout the country leading to an increase in the discussion of politics in public and especially on college campuses. I have interviewed ten students on the UCSB campus about the role of democracy in the United States and if it is a good representation of a stable form of government. My interviewees’ opinions on the stability of democracy are in consensus that democracy is the fairest and unwavering form of government. Adversely, the students also agree that the United State’s direction of democracy has faults in the system that makes them question the†¦show more content†¦The majority of the students interviewed feel that there are key aspects of democracy that demonstrate the instability within the government. The first aspect is the inaccurate level of inclusivity in the United State’s government. Democracy was built on the ideals of representation for all people, including all of the diverse groups of citizens. The interviewees mostly made the consensus that people of low-income levels or in minority groups have less representation in the U.S. democracy. â€Å"Our government is a majority of white men who are relatively well financed and educated† (Interview, Anna). Having a high income gives you a disproportionate amount of power over low-income families who tend to be a minority. The two outliers in the data thought that democracy is a completely inclusive form of government. They expressed that all citizens have the right to vote, and it is their responsibility to make the effort to go to the polls. In their interviews, the outliers did not consider adverse effects experienced by certain socioeconomic and minority groups that might discourage them to be represented by the government. The second factor that was mutually agreed up on by students was the ineffectiveness of American democracy through the process of the electoral college. All interviewees, excluding one, believed that the electoral college is an outdated system that contradicts the ideas of democracy.Show MoreRelatedThe First Stage Is The Norm Of International Human Rights Essay1264 Words   |  6 Pagesstrategy that would serve as the cornerstone of Carter’s foreign policy. In the Western Europe, Norway and Netherlands were becoming more activist in promoting human rights in their own foreign policies. After 1993, respecting for the human rights had been a condition for the European Union (EU) membership. The norm of human rights sprawled to democratic states quickly and the behavior of the U.S. and those Western states had the great international as well as the domestic influence. At that time, theRead MoreAmerican Presidential Election Vs. The President Of The United States Of America Essay1661 Words   |  7 PagesQuestion: One re ason democracy is prized is that it is supposed to allow for ideological diversity. Examining Canada’s 2015 Federal election or the American 2016 Presidential election, does democracy in either of these cases reflect ideological diversity? After examining the more action packed 2016 American Presidential election compared to the Canadian federal election, there are 2 main thoughts in the mind of democrats, that is the feeling of disbelief and fear, because Donald J. Trump is theRead MoreHarriet Martineau : An Early Western Sociologist1229 Words   |  5 PagesMartineau has come to be known as the founding mother of sociology for both her theoretical and empirical work. Martineau was one of the first women journalists, she also worked as a translator, speech writer, and wrote acclaimed novels that spoke on pressing social issues. Harriet has published over 50 books and over 2,000 articles in her lifetime.Her most well known book was published in 1837 â€Å"Society in America†. The Book â€Å" Society in America† was written after Martineau’s two year trip to AmericaRead MoreModern Existentialism : Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche And National Socialism1510 Words   |  7 Pagesalmost everything. Most notably, he criticized Christianity, German cultural beliefs, Democracy, and traditional morality. He caused much controversy to say the least. Nietzsche has often been taken out of context and his literature misinterpreted, most famously with the fascist regimes that rose out of World War I and the 20th century. Specifically, National Socialism in Germany praised Nietzsche as one of their greatest inspirations, citing his condemnation of Democracy and Christianity, and his essayRead MoreSocial Media As The Truest Form Of Obtaining Information1613 Words   |  7 PagesHas Social Media replaced Mainstream Media as the Truest Form of Obtaining Information? Intro We’re at a pivotal point in modern history; the world is changing faster than it ever has before. People can communicate on a level in which our ancestors couldn’t have imagined. Plato Social media is at the crux of our society. Everything we do, everything we see is uploaded and shared with the world in the blink of an eye. Our view of the world is now through the lens of social media. This raisesRead MoreDemocracy in Bhutan9371 Words   |  38 Pagesof democracy in Bhutan and Tonga Naizang (November 7th, 2012) Acknowledgement I wish to thank and acknowledge my module tutor Mr. Sabarjeet Mukherjee and Mr. Mahindra Balasuriya for guiding me throughout my research. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to my colleagues for their advice and help. Abstract A comparative analysis of democracy in Bhutan and in Tonga has notRead MorePresident Obama’s Diplomatic Style Toward Africa: Putting the Future of Africa in the Hands of Africans2717 Words   |  11 PagesA NEW APPROACH TO AFRICA The world was watching as the son of an African settled into his position in the oval office. And it did not take long for the world to find reason to be disappointed. Within the first year of his presidency journalists in Africa, Europe, and the U.S. were reporting on his lack of involvement with Africa. Comparisons between Bush and Obama were focused on foreign assistance and the HIV/AIDS relief program. Many were wondering why there was no ground breaking initiativeRead MoreThe Economic Policy Guidelines Of The Future Of Rwanda Essay1795 Words   |  8 PagesIn regards to the future of Rwanda, the next 20 years will allow a country which has made unprecedented growth since one of the largest humanitarian crisis in modern history, to move beyond poverty and civil war to a globally competitive export based industry. The nature of the reforms that have been established in the last 20 years have made for economic growth and political consolidation of crucial social mandates. These include the restructuring of Rwandan provinces that are more reflectiveRead MoreMedia Fragmentations Effects on Democracy2121 Words   |  9 PagesMedia Fragmentation’s Effect on Democracy The emergence of new media and the rise of different forms of media outlets have greatly changed global media, providing audiences with multiple novel options for news consumption. This extremely high choice environment undoubtedly has some major implications with respect to politically charged news. Before the advent of radio, cable news channels, and most recently, the Internet, local newspapers and evening news broadcasts served as the primary outletsRead MoreU.s. And China On Anti Terrorism War3623 Words   |  15 Pagespast allies such the UK and Europe. From 2013 China has started to establish activities fighting with the terrorism after being attacked by two horrible terrorism assaults. Besides, China has always had a close economic and trade relationships with the U.S. To look forward joining hands with China in intelligence sharing on anti-terrorism war based the existing coordination is possible and promising. However, there are still some concerns from both China and the U.S. sides. Key words: intelligence

The Characteristics Of Identity Identity, Identity And...

Identity is an internalized force existing deep in the folds and crevices of the mind and manifested externally through a myriad of appearances, actions, behaviors, and ideologies. The components that define an individual are numerous, interwoven, and developed within a complex yet porous and pliable framework. Language, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, experiences, culture, personality, religion, and even the perceptions of others are just a few characteristics that help to shape and reshape how individuals and groups view themselves and their place within the world. As mentioned above, religion, or its absence, is a crucial aspect of identity. For hundreds of years the indigenous people across Southeast Asia practiced forms†¦show more content†¦The Burmese government also aggressively attempted to convert outlying groups to Buddhism, but like the Thais, had minimal success. Much of the failure in these cases can be attributed to the indigenous minority people w ho perceived conversion to the religion of the majority as a dilution of their culture and a loss of their unique identity. In most cases it seems that a balance is struck between the benefits of being a formal adherent to a major religion and choosing the religion that is less likely to absorb or undermine the identity of a minority culture. For example, in Malaysia to truly be Malay one needs to be a Muslim. For the Karen in Thailand, the choice is less obvious. Selecting Buddhism would elevate their status slightly within the country, include them in the national identity, and allow them to maintain their traditions and ethnic identity. Christianity, on the other hand, is also a beneficial choice that would expand their status beyond Thailand’s borders, but do little to connect them to the majority of the Thais. Christianity is also generally more stringent about devotion to doctrine than Buddhism and thus potentially damaging to their group identity. Choices like these we re weighed and pondered across Southeast Asia with a variety of outcomes. Religion, for all its power to unite,Show MoreRelatedPersonal Identity: Who Are You? Essay1399 Words   |  6 Pages Identity, an ambiguous idea, plays an important part in today’s world. To me identity can be defined as who a person is or what differentiates one person from another. Identity would be a person’s name, age, height, ethnicity, personality, and more. A quote by Anne Sexton states â€Å"It doesnt matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was†(Anne Sexton). This quote helps me define identity because I believe it is saying that identity is what people are remembered by. When someRead MoreGay s Personal Identity Attributes1428 Words   |  6 PagesGay’s Personal Identity Attributes In the human society, whether you are rich or poor, you have your own social identity, as gay men, what is the social identity of gay men? Do all the gay men see themselves the same or different? How do they deals with their various identities in the society? Actually, with the marked increase in the visibility of gay men in popular culture, many scholars have studied this issue and tried to explore the mysterious group. However, a systematic theory about the gayRead MoreAustralia Is Experiencing A True Predicament1342 Words   |  6 PagesAustralians feel that the nation does not have a clear nation identity. This failure to do so has left the country in a state of discontent. If a national identity is an idea constructed by modern nation-states to identify real or imagined commonalities in order to unite a population (Flayhive 2007). Australia is missing a national identity, as the country has yet to construct its own national identity. This lack of a clear national identity can largely be attributed to the youth of the country. TheRead MoreCultural Identity Among Sudanese Youth1467 Words   |  6 PagesWho are we? A study on cultural identity among Sudanese youth. Background â€Å"Who am I† or â€Å"who are we?† are both questions that require in-depth knowledge of identity. A complex sociological and psychological phenomenon, identity has been classified into many types. Self-identity is defined as an individual’s awareness and expression of their distinctive characteristics. Weinreich (1986) highlighted that it is influenced by both the individual’s past experiences and future aspirations and contributesRead MoreIdentity And Cultural Identity1158 Words   |  5 Pageschoice they’re automatically born into their cultural identity by naturally acquiring their language, accustoms, and/or taught other cultural fundamentals. This may reflect different ways or aspects of how importance five-factor models of personality, language, or learned gestures may play a role in a family or their culture based on the majority and minority which speaks also as a method of communication. Understanding there’s another way ident ity labeling may intercept cultural similarities and dissimilaritiesRead MoreCultural Identity In Deaf Culture1444 Words   |  6 Pageschoice they’re automatically born into their cultural identity by naturally acquiring their language, accustoms, and/or taught other cultural fundamentals. This may reflect different ways or aspects of how importance five-factor models of personality, language, or learned gestures may play a role in a family or their culture based on the majority and minority which speaks also as a method of communication. Understanding there’s another way identity labeling may intercept cultural similarities and dissimilaritiesRead MoreIdentity Is A Long Process Of Exploration And Discovery1506 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is Identity? Identity is really a complex thing and can’t be as simple as just asking someone who they are as Swartz mentions in his writing, â€Å"What is Identity.† Asking someone the question of who they are barely scrapes the surface of that person’s identity. This poses the internal subconscious thought in many of â€Å"who am I?† When asking oneself â€Å"who am I,† one might think in less complex terms such as; personality, race, ethnicity, culture etc. as the main focus to describe who they are. HoweverRead MoreSoutheast Asian Identity1663 Words   |  7 Pagesregion without an identity†. Discuss this statement with reference to at least 3 examples.   Making a check with Oxford Dictionary; Southeast Asia is defined as the part of south-eastern Asia that includes the countries of Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma (Myanmar), the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. A â€Å"region† refers to an area, especially part of a country or the world having definable characteristics but not always fixed boundaries, and an â€Å"identity† refers to a closeRead MoreOur Individual Identity Is Determined by What Others Think of Us1283 Words   |  6 PagesIdentity and belonging - Expository Essay Our individual identity is determined by what others think of us. Our identity is comprised of inner qualities and outer representations of self. It consists of innumerable defining characteristics that make up the whole of who we are in any given moment. These fragments of self include our sexuality, gender, and sense of belonging to a particular culture, nation, religion, family, or some other group. Our identity includes our looks, personality, beliefsRead MoreSocial Identity : An Individual s Preexisting Association With The Successful Other. Essay1504 Words   |  7 PagesSocial Identity SIT has been discussed to provide context to how BIRG is founded on an individual’s preexisting association with the successful other. However, though it is argued that social identity is relatively universal as in being crucial to the social nature of humans, the process of its creation and the content of its construal remains variable across cultures. Introduce overarching distinctions: individualism-collectivism and independent-interdependent self-construal Because of the trends

Environmental and Pest Analysis System †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Environmental and Pest Analysis System. Answer: Introduction: Development tools are important to be considered by the company so that growth can be achieved in the market. In this paper, the discussion will be made on the SWOT, PESTLE, and Porter five force models. If these tools are considered by the company then it can be possible to achieve competitive advantage. This tool is considered as a framework which can help to evaluate the external environment analysis of a company. There are six factors in this analysis like political, economic, legal, social, technological, environmental and legal. It is analyzed that this tool offers a proper analysis of the environment in which the company conducts the activities. It is seen that it is important for the company to consider these aspects so that growth can be achieved in an effective manner. The first factor is related to the political factor in which the activities related to government are considered. It is seen that in this there are policies which are related to trade tariffs and fiscal policies that give overall impact on the activities of the company (Grant, 2016). These factors give impact on the business and economic environment of many countries. Next is an economic factor in which is related to the determinants of the overall performance of the economy of a specific country. It is seen that the major effect is seen in the economy of the country in which the organization conducts the routine activities. Also when the rises in the inflation rate takes place it gives direct impact on the prices of the products and services given by the company (Yksel, 2012). The social factor is the next factors that come under pestle analysis. It is seen that it is considered so that proper analysis of the major determinants of cultural trends and age can be made. The technological factor is also concerned with the innovation that takes place with the help of latest technology (Gupta, 2013). When the company focuses on latest technology then it can be possible to accomplish overall goals and objectives. Next factor is a legal factor in which the laws are considered that give impact on the overall activities of the company (Obeidat et al., 2015). The last factor is an environmental factor in which it is concerned with the surrounding of the company. It is an important factor that directly gives impact on the operations of the environment (Ho, 2014). For example: By considering the PESTEL analysis of Apple it is seen that the policies of the government give direct impact on the cost which has a connection with labor, manufacturing, and taxes. It is seen that economy of the country is also affected by considering the buying decision of the customers. The technological factor also affects the innovation of the company in reference to its products and services. It is seen that rules and regulations give impact on the overall policy formation of the company. Also, it is seen that the company is facing environmental issue which is related to the disposal of the used products that can impact on the overall activities in the countries. This concept is used by the managers who are giving direction to their employees. Analysis of SWOT framework SWOT analysis is considered as a framework that offers details information of the internal environment of the companies. In this framework, there are four parts strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats. It is essential so that strategic planning can be done effectively. It is seen that this concept is used by the top management of the organization so that proper evaluation of the environment can be done (Bell and Rochford, 2016). In this section strength of the company is related to various aspects of the marketing mix and also the market share of the company. In strength, proper evaluation is done of the brand value and the overall demand for the products (Shin and Dess, 2017). Next aspect is the weakness in which the relation is with proper utilization of the resources in an effective manner. The weakness of the company is related to lack of loyalty and weak distribution channel (Menga et al., 2015). Opportunities are related with the chance to enhance the market share and also to the new introduction of the products so that the activities can be conducted smoothly. Next factor is related to the threats. The level of competition and also he outdated technologies considered by the company can be a major threat. Example- if Toyota is taken into consideration than it is seen that one of the major strength of the company is the goodwill in the market. It is seen that leading position is one of the strengths of the company in the market. The company can gain good position by advertising and promotion of the activities. The weakness of the company is related to the ineffective advertising and also the information is leaked. Opportunities are related to the expansion of the products in the market with the help of diversification. The threat of the company is related to the competitors prevailing in the market. This tool is used by the top management of the company so that activities can be conducted in a smooth manner. Porter five forces This tool is taken into consideration so that proper understanding of the competitive environment of the company can be there. In this first factor is related to the competitive rivalry which states the strength of the competitors and also it directly gives impact on the overall prices of the products given by the company in the market. Next factor is related with the supplier power in which the analyzes is made of the number of suppliers in a country and also if there are many suppliers then it can be seen that the power reduces and if there are few suppliers then demand increases (Hill, Jones, and Schilling, 2014). Power of the buyer is also one of the factors in which the analysis is made of the buyers present for the company. If there are many buyers then the price of the products will be considered by the buyers and if numbers of buyers are low then it is seen that company decides the price of the products. The threat of substitute is another factor in which the options that are available in the market are considered and also if there are more substitute then the direct impact is seen on the prices. The last factor is related to the threat which is related to the new entry in the overall market. It is seen that this force has a connection with the high cost which is related to the entry into the market (Porter and Kramer, 2018). For example, Cadbury is the largest brand in the market and it is seen that the threat of new entry is high and also the substitution of the products can be done easily. The power of suppliers is low and also the power of buyer is high. If the focus is given to the rivalry then it is seen that it is high as there are many competitors present in the market. So, every organization should focus on considering the development tools so that growth can be achieved in a proper manner. Reference Bell, G.G. and Rochford, L., 2016. Rediscovering SWOTs integrative nature: A new understanding of an old framework.The International Journal of Management Education,14(3), pp.310-326. Grant, R.M., 2016.Contemporary strategy analysis: Text and cases edition. John Wiley Sons. Gupta, A., 2013. Environmental and pest analysis: An approach to external business environment.Merit Research Journal of Art, Social Science and Humanities,1(2), pp.13-17. Hill, C.W., Jones, G.R. and Schilling, M.A., 2014. Strategic management: theory: an integrated approach. Cengage Learning. Ho, J.K.K., 2014. Formulation of a systemic PEST analysis for strategic analysis.European academic research,2(5), pp.6478-6492. Menga, E., Dan, A., Lu, J. and Liu, X., 2015. Ranking alternative strategies by SWOT analysis in the framework of the axiomatic fuzzy set theory and the ER approach.Journal of Intelligent Fuzzy Systems,28(4), pp.1775-1784. Obeidat, M., North, M., Richardson, R., Rattanak, V. and North, S., 2015. Business intelligence technology, applications, and trends.International Management Review,11(2), p.47. Porter, M.E. and Kramer, M.R., 2018. Creating shared value. InManaging Sustainable Business(pp. 327-350). Springer, Dordrecht. Shin, H. and Dess, G.G., 2017. From Swot to Value Appropriation: Career Implications.Academy of Strategic Management Journal,16(1), pp.165A-168A. Yksel, ?., 2012. Developing a multi-criteria decision making model for PESTEL analysis.International Journal of Business and Management,7(24), p.52.

The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Different Aims of Punishment Essay Example

The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Different Aims of Punishment Essay The definition of crime is breaking the laws set by the State and the general agreement of people is that if someone commits a crime they should be punished in some way. Punishment practices are ancient; we accept them without question. However, punishment requires justification, as it is an infliction of pain upon an individual. What is the justification of punishment? What are its aims? Before the aims of punishment can be discussed why people commit crimes should be examined to further understand how we should punish. Some people believe that all human actions are caused by factors outside human control, these people are hard determinists. John Locke, a philosopher, believed moral choice was an illusion. He gave the example of a man sleeping in a locked room, man wakes and decides to stay in the room, he thinks he has a free choice to do so but he does not know it is locked. His ignorance makes him believe he has a choice. This relates to punishment and punishment must presuppose moral blame. No person can be held morally blameworthy if they have no freedom of choice. We will write a custom essay sample on The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Different Aims of Punishment specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Different Aims of Punishment specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Different Aims of Punishment specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This suggests punishment is irrelevant as no one can be held responsible for his or her actions. Clarence Darrow, a US attorney who was also a determinist argued just that point. In 1924 two youths kidnapped and murdered a 14 year old boy, Darrow pleaded for mercy on the grounds that it was the boys environment that was the cause of their crime. Darrow was successful in his argument; the boys were saved from death. Darrow was not suggesting that the criminals shouldnt be punished as one aim of punishment is to protect society, but he questioned the common assumption that criminals are morally responsible for what they do. Libertarians do not reject determinism completely but they do deny the principle of universal causation, which states that human actions can be predicted. They distinguish between personality and moral self. A person may be pre-disposed to steal because of their personality but their moral self may stop them from doing so. So Libertarians would see the aim of punishment to penalise criminals as they can be held morally accountable for their actions. John Stewart Mill states that we use the past as an excuse for ones actions as we fear the responsibility of freedom, but the past does influence our actions. One aim of punishment is as a deterrent and this is stated in the utilitarian theory. This looks at the consequences of punishment and decides if the punishment is right or wrong by the principle of utility, which is if it does or does not increase the sum total of human happiness. A famous Utilitarian Bentham said punishment involves pain so it is an evil, however it is justifiable if the increase in pain for the criminal leads to the prevention of crime therefore an increase in societys happiness. He saw punishment as an instrument for good with a deterrent effect. The infliction of pain is motive not to re-offend. it also includes the final incapacitation, imprisonment or death. Punishment also protects society by making it physically impossible to re-offend. Another approach to punishment is the Deontological theory. In this theory the aim of punishment is retribution. The theory states a punishment should fit a crime, that it is unjust to impose a sentence on a criminal which they didnt deserve, for example if a few drivers who parked illegally were hung others would be deterred but this would be unjust. This theory believes that there is a moral imbalance caused by crime which must be corrected by punishment and it concentrates on the criminal rather than the victim. The retributive theory is similar to the Old Testament views on punishment, e. g. an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth. The idea being that the criminal must repay society that an injustice would be done if someone could inflict pain without having it inflicted upon him. Here retribution links in with the utilitarian theory as retribution also has a deterrent effect. If you know that chopping off a mans hand leads to you losing your hand, then you would think twice about doing it. The idea of retribution is appealing to the general public, for example hanging a Nazi war criminal forty years after his crime had been committed. No victims would be brought back to life, but it would be seen that he had paid for his crimes with his life. Cant, a German philosopher, believed executions were necessary unless society decided to forget all about injustice, unless murderers are executed people would behave like justice didnt matter. R. S. Downie was also an advocate of the retributive theory. He said that this theory is often seen as barbarism but provides a safeguard against the inhumane sacrifice of the individual for the social good. Brunner sees the theory of punishment also in Biblical terms. He sees punishment as achieving a moral balance similar thinking as the atonement of our sins. Brunner believed the penal system is flawed and the guilty should make expiation for their offences. De Wolf was also a Christian thinker and in his work Crime and Justice in America he attempted to show a Christian perspective on the Criminal Justice System. He listed a set of ethical norms of criminal justice by which our system should be evaluated. Consistence and coherence with realities. Benevolent good will and respect towards all person. Equal rights for all persons. Presumption of innocence. Special care to protect poor, weak and unpopular from unfair treatment. Restoration of community and responsibility of all individuals to the community. An opposing view on the aims of punishment is the idea of rehabilitation and reform. Here the focus is on the criminal, someone who couldnt cope with society due to a weakness. In helping them society will benefit, society should help them overcome their negative tendencies. Society should find a way to change them or reform them to bring them back to Society. Controlling or suppressing criminal tendencies, re-education or psychological treatment can do this. The idea is that the criminal is sick rather than wicked and needs help rather than punishment. It can be seen, as utilitarian in its outlook as it aims to have an improving effect on people, which in turn will benefit Society. In the Bible God punishes to reform the wicked happy indeed is the man who God corrects. In the 19th Century Christians used solitary confinement to achieve rehabilitation. Criminals had time to think about their evil deeds and repent. Prisoners were shut away from each other and cared for by chaplains. The Reformation and Rehabilitation theory disagreed with other ideas of the aims of punishment as they see prisons as a place where criminals enhance their criminal skills. How can you teach someone to be free when they are behind bars? The Reform and Rehabilitation theory believes in alternatives to traditional punishment, for example, probation, parole and community service, the latter even benefits society. An advocate of this theory was Crook. He saw punishment and crime as the responsibility of society. He suggested that everyone is responsible for the actions, but they are influenced by society. He believed it was possible to predict persons actions so therefore society should share in the responsibility for the offenders crime. He saw our legal system as wrong as individuals pay the price at the hands of our system. He believed society must pay the price of correcting these dangerous and destructive situations. John Hospers discussed a compromise view in which he combined retribution and reformation. He was a determinist and as such he saw men as not responsible for their actions, if a man commits murder because he ate a certain combination of foods, for example ham and cheese, we could not hold him morally responsible for his crime as it would be the ham and cheese which made him do it. He believed punishment should meet two conditions, that it should be deserved and that it should do well to someone the victim, the offender, society or all three. To meet the latter he suggested that the penal system shouldnt focus on punishment but treatment. He does not state he is a Christian thinker but his ideas are in line with Christian ideology. The philosopher Moberlys ideas were on a par with Hospers ideas. Moberly produced a theory, which combined elements of the retributive and reform aspects of punishment. He envisaged punishment as a form of ritual or mirror to bring criminals to their senses by representing crudely the moral deterioration, which had already taken place within them. Moberly believed the criminal had inflicted a wound upon society. He thought the penalty inflicted must symbolise and be felt to symbolise a double role of punishment, so imprisonment means the person imprisoned is unsuited to membership of society, however Moberly felt that the punishment in relation to the crime is artificial. He saw serious limitations to the effectiveness of punishment. He believed that there are authorities far too amoral to impose punishment and some criminals are too incorrigible and incapable from benefiting from it. At the other end of the scale he saw a intermediate moral region people who are truly repentant and communities too morally advanced to need punishment. Moberly sees that some criminals may not benefit from punishment but they still need to be taken out of circulation to protect the public. However, Moberly does not think that the people segregated from society should be left to rot in low quality prisons. In conclusion these theories seem to stand up on their own merit at first glance, but on closer inspection it is clear they have their flaws. The utilitarian aim of punishment is as a deterrent; however, it does not always deter people. Prisons are often just universities of crime simply making matters worse. Also the fear of punishment can lead to crime for example someone stealing money to prevent going to jail for not paying a fine. The theory of deterrence can be used to justify punishing the innocent on the grounds that it serves to deter others. The utilitarian idea assumes we have a legal system that will produce good results, but the threat of punishment is not very effective in reducing crime or preventing serious crimes such as murder or rape. The philosopher Hoose believed the deterrent effect does have some effect on crime but that it is far from automatic. He pointed out that when the death penalty was abandoned in Canada the homicide rate went down. The Dentological view that retribution is the aim of punishment also has criticisms as it could be seen as the harshest of all the aims of punishment. Gandhi said that if the retributive theory and eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth was used throughout the world the world would soon be blind and toothless. Christians should see that the retributive theory is wrong as Jesus taught forgiveness and co-operation not retribution only God has righteousness and judgement. Also many people argue that all retribution does is satisfy a primitive and barbarous desire for revenge. In Exodus it states an eye for an eye but how do we determine which punishment fits which crime? How long should the punishment be? This theory has too many unanswerable questions. Karl Menninger believed retribution was immoral and ineffective. He saw it as useless and expensive. He believed in rehabilitation and reform as he saw the criminal as a patient and that crime was a disease that people could be cured of. However, the theory of rehabilitation and reform is not without its critics. C. S. Lewis stated rehabilitation and reform does not really have an effect on people, that it is pointless. Some people are beyond help. Can a man who rapes and kills his family be helped? The theory in question also overlooks social advantages of deterrents. If there were not deterrents then how could psychologists and prison officers cope with the sheer numbers that would need help. As with the retributive theory the question of how long a punishment should be arises. A murderers chance of a repeat offence is low but a thief is much more likely to repeat his offence. Should the thief be given a longer sentence than the murderer? Also recent statistics by the prison reform trust show that probation and community service have not proved more effective than prison in stopping re offending. For example 57% of men and 40% of women discharged from prison in 1987 re offended in two years. The figures for probation and community service were 56% men, 37% women, 55% men, and 41% women re offended. The re-offending rate of prisoners is more than those in community service but not on a large enough scale to make a difference. This theory is supposed to be about reform but the way criminals are cured by mind altering drugs, surgery or brain washing is not reform. It is just creating a brand new person. The criminal loses the right to be him or herself in that case. C. S Lewis also stated his humanitarian theory, that in rehabilitation and reform the criminal becomes the case and not a person subject to rights. I believe that the most feasible of the aims of punishment is that put forward by Moberly and Hospers. Their views of compromise seem to be a very logical aim of punishment. Their ideas do not over punish criminals nor do they leave the victims feeling as if justice has not been served. Moberly also suggests that in some cases punishment may not be necessary. Retributivists however, may advocate punishment is a duty in all circumstances, but surely if in a particular case punishment would probably make matters worse and an alternative action, for example kindness, would improve matters, the morally right course of action would be the latter.

Comparing of EBay.com and The Home Depot

Comparing of EBay.com and The Home Depot Introduction This article discusses an online retailer (eBay.com) and a traditional physical retailer (The Home Depot). In comparing the two, the organizational structure of the retailers will be discussed, the management challenges facing the two reviewed and lastly suggestions are drawn to assist those wishing to embrace the online method of retailing as an alternative retailing method.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Comparing of an Online Retailer EBay.com and a Physical Retailer The Home Depot specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Organizational Structure eBay: The eBay organizational structure places the CEO (John Donahoe) at the top followed by the chairman of the board (Pierre Omidyar) and the directors below them. There are six directors: William Ford, David Moffett, Richard Schlosberg, Thomas Tierney, Marc Andreessen, and Dawn Lepore. There are other officials who assist in the management of the business (eBay, 2011). The Home Depot: The Home Depot is headed by a Chief Executive Officer who also doubles as the Chairman (Frank Blake). Below the CEO are the Senior Leadership Team and the Board of Directors. The senior leadership team consists of twenty two officials. The Board of Directors is made up of 10 officials (Home Deport, 2011). The organizational structures adopted by the eBay and Home Deport are almost similar. Management Challenges There are many of management challenges that both eBay and Home Depot face. Some of these challenges are similar while others are not. eBay: Regulations of Items sold and Competition The greatest management challenge that eBay faces is regulating what to be sold through its system. There have been many attempts by clients to sell what is not allowed through the system. Human parts and lottery tickets are not allowed. Selling of wildlife animals is also not allowed in the site. There are other many items which are illegal and are not allowed either in th e site and include firearms, ammunitions among other illegal items. Others items such as trying to sell plots on the moon are also not allowed. The management needs to ensure that there is a thorough scrutiny of the items posted on the site as the items may draw the site into legal tussles with the law makers. There is a need to ensure that the biddings taking place are only for those items allowed as this will help to reduce the chances of the site crashing. The second management challenge that eBay faces is competition from similar business ventures such as Taobao in China among many others.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Tough competition calls for more funds to be used to promote that site so that it can gain a favorable chance of gaining a wide market. There is a possibility that stringent competition may push some online retailers to engage in unethical stra tegies such hacking other sites or even accelerating traffic to a site with an aim of crashing it (eBay History, 2011). Home Deport: Capital Requirement and Competition Home deport equally faces many challenges. The main challenge which is typical of many traditional retail outlets is the capital required in its expansion. The retail being physical is capital intensive as it requires physical outlets. Acquiring physical outlets needs money and thus the expansion of the retail is tied to availability of capital. Another challenge that Home Deport faces is tough competition from similar retailers both physical and online. The online retailers are particularly competitive as globalization and the World Wide Web are slowly connecting the globe such that one can get anything that he/she requires from anywhere in the globe. Home Deport also faces competition challenge when physically expanding to regions which are already occupied by other retailers. Similarities and Differences of the Ch allenges In as much as Home Deport and eBay are different, it can be argued that they are similar in some aspects. The two retailers face the same challenge of competition from partners in the same line of operation as well as from physical retailers for eBay and from online retailers for Home Deport. The capital required to expand Home Deport can also be argued to apply for the case of eBay in the sense that if eBay has to expand it will have to upgrade its systems and site so as to avoid hacking, crashing of the site as well promote the site so as to expand its market. One challenge that is distinct to eBay and may not apply to Home Deport is that of the site being hacked. Transitioning to Online Retail Transitioning from a traditional physical retailer to be an online retailer is a current trend. A retailer transitioning from physical to being online should engage in this process in a stepwise manner. There is a need to assess the resource available. There is a need to develop th e best site possible and make it as efficient as possible taking into consideration this is entering into a market place with already established retailers.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Comparing of an Online Retailer EBay.com and a Physical Retailer The Home Depot specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There need to consult suppliers and carry out more research into the product specifications. One needs to give the perfect description of a product when selling it online. There is a need to consult ones bank about the arrangement so that one is aware of the expenses involved. Conclusion With the advent of the World Wide Web many businesses have adopted the online system of selling goods. Online retailers seem to be on an upward growth while the physical retail stores are absorbing the shock of losing the market to these stores. Both retailers, online and physical, face many similar and different challenges. Competition is among the biggest challenge that physical retailers face from the online retailers though equally to some extent the online stores face some competition from the physical stores. Physical stores should adopt the online system of selling their goods as it seems to carry the day. References eBay. (2011). About eBay. eBay. Retrieved from: https://www.ebayinc.com/ eBay History. (2001). The History of eBay. Bradeis. Retrieved from: https://www.cs.brandeis.edu/~magnus/ief248a/eBay/history.html Home Deport. (2011). Shop All Departments. The Home Deport. Web.