Third-Person Effect and Social Networking: Implications for Online Marketing and Word-of-Mouth Communication

Few studies have explored the direct influence of social networking websites related to behaviors. â€Å"One of the most important capabilities of the internet relative to previous mass communication technologies is its bidirectionality. Through the internet, not only can organizations reach audiences of unprecedented scale at a low cost, but also for the first time in human history, individuals can make their personal thoughts, reactions, and opinions easily accessible worldwide. Best known so far as a technology for building trust and fostering cooperation in online marketplaces, such as eBay, these mechanisms are poised to have a much wider impact on organizations. Their growing popularity has potentially important implications for a wide range of management activities such as brand building, customer acquisition and retention, product development, and quality assurance. † This article explains about online marketing and I’m going to incorporate this piece of informa tion into my paper. Few studies have explored the direct influence of social networking websites related to behaviors. â€Å"One of the most important capabilities of the internet relative to previous mass communication technologies is its bidirectionality. Through the internet, not only can organizations reach audiences of unprecedented scale at a low cost, but also for the first time in human history, individuals can make their personal thoughts, reactions, and opinions easily accessible worldwide. Best known so far as a technology for building trust and fostering cooperation in online marketplaces, such as eBay, these mechanisms are poised to have a much wider impact on organizations. Their growing popularity has potentially important implications for a wide range of management activities such as brand building, customer acquisition and retention, product development, and quality assurance. † This article explains about online marketing and I’m going to incorporate this piece of informa tion into my paper.

Revenge in “Medea”, by Euripides, and “The House of the Spirits” by Isabel Allende

Often, when someone commits evil deeds, it causes the victim to take action. This, however, may simply escalate the situation to the point where the characters forget about morals and beliefs for retribution. In the novel, The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende, and the play, Medea, by Euripides, the characters from both works react intensely to get revenge on others. Although Allende mainly uses effective diction, and Euripides the power of the chorus, both authors challenge the view that when faced with injustice, defiance is the solution. In The House of the Spirits, Allende’s use of diction enhances the injustice that Esteban Garcia ll must confront, but also to emphasize the consequences of such confrontation. To begin, he loathes Esteban Trueba for raping his grandmother, Pancha, the cause for his revenge. During the death of Pedro Garcia, Allende details Esteban Garcia’s hatred for Esteban Trueba: â€Å"[h]e hated Esteban Trueba†¦ Trueba had forgotten all about Pancha Garcia and the fact that he had had a child with her†¦ [Esteban Garcia] would lie awake at night imagining all sorts of dreadful illnesses and accidents that could put an end to the life of [Esteban Trueba]†¦ [Esteban Garcia] always reproached Trueba for the dark existence he had forged for him, and he felt constantly punished† (Allende, 189). Evidently, Esteban Garcia has passionate contempt for his grandfather, rooted by the transgression he commits by raping Garcias grandmother. Allende emphasizes his hatred by using harsh diction, such as: â€Å"dreadful, reproached, dark, forged, [and] punished†. This depicts the extent to which Garcia regards such actions as injustice. Later in the novel, the consequences of getting revenge on Esteban Trueba are revealed. As Alba writes about her family history with Esteban Trueba, she discusses, â€Å"[Alba] wrote in [her] mind that one day Colonel Garcia would stand before [her] in defeat and that [she] would avenge [her]self on all those who need to be avenged. But now [she has] begun to question [her] own hatred†¦ Afterward the grandson of the woman who was raped repeats the gesture with the granddaughter of the rapist, and perhaps forty years from now [Alba’s] grandson will knock Garcia’s granddaughter down among the rushes, and so on through the centuries in an unending tale of sorrow, blood, and love† (431-432). Allende explores the inevitability of retribution, that revenge will always take place because the two families would continue to see injustice in the way their ancestors deal with situations. Effective diction is used to intensify the reader’s feelings about this, such as â€Å"repeats, so on through the centuries, [and] unending†, which enhances the feeling of continuity, and therefore negativity, in the consequences. She also uses gloomy words, like â€Å"sorrow† and â€Å"blood† to deliver the message that such consequences are also gloomy and unfavourable. To summarize, Allende indicates that revenge should not be taken as a result of injustice, through the manipulation of diction. Similarly, in Medea, Euripides illustrates that injustice is not necessarily resolved when the victim seeks vengeance. However, he uses the ability to communicate directly to his audience, instead of elaborate words with deep meanings. The use of the chorus, along with rhetorical questions, aids Euripides in conveying his message to his audience. Euripides uses the chorus to emphasize the difficulties that Medea must cope with, but also to emphasize the immorality in the way she chooses to resolve the situation. To begin, the chorus is used to depict the injustice that Medea is faced with. When Creon banishes Medea from the city of Corinth, the chorus sympathizes for Medea by saying, â€Å"[h]apless woman! Overwhelmed by sorrow! Where will you turn? What stranger will afford you hospitality? † (Euripides, 45. 359-360). Clearly, the chorus is feeling sympathy toward Medea, as they exclaim her feelings and worry about her future. In the ancient Greek setting of this play, the audience would confirm what their feelings toward the play should be through the chorus. This would therefore cause the audience to feel sympathy for Medea as well, and Euripides would succeed in making the audience realize the injustice that Medea faces. The use of the two rhetorical questions also emphasizes this feeling. If the all-knowing chorus cannot even answer these questions, there must not be any answer, and Medea must really have nowhere to go. Further into the play, however, the chorus’s opinion on Medea changes when she reveals her plot to get revenge on Jason for causing her misery. When she announces her intention of killing Jason’s new family, the chorus asks. â€Å"Whence you got the hardihood to conceive such a plan? And in the horrible act, as you bring death on your own children, how will you steel your heart and hand? When you cast your eyes on them, your own children, will you not weep that you should be their murderess? † (58. 843-847). Suddenly, the chorus is against Medea, and the audience would follow this dramatic turn. Through the use of rhetoric, Euripides shows that any rational person should not plan as such, should not be able to â€Å"steel† themselves, and should not be able to murder her own children without weeping. As Medea begins lose her ability to think ethically, Euripides demonstrates Medea’s immorality because she descends too deep in the choices she makes to resolve her problems. The rhetorical style enables the audience to be engaged and actually think about the situation as they try to answer the question. This is in contrast to the way Allende shows the irrational decisions people tend to make in their attempts to confront injustice. Allende uses elaborate diction that effectively portrays the negativity in both situations, whereas Eurpides has the option to engage his audience directly. However, both authors, despite having their own methods, succeed in proving that defiance tends to go out of control, when it either lasts continuously causes the characters to forget how to act morally. In conclusion, both Allende and Euripides take different routes to reveal their underlying purpose: that seeking revenge is not necessarily the correct path to take when faced with injustice. The phrase â€Å"two wrongs do not make a right† has a powerful effect in both works, as it causes permanent retaliations of â€Å"wrongs† and results in the disregard for ethics and morals. Overall, it can be seen that people tend to reciprocate injustice due to their desire for retribution.

Gender Bias Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Gender Bias - Essay Example To start with, the author of the text is definitely a man. This is easy to tell since the work has been written from the third person perspective. This simply means that he is sharing experiences that are foreign to him. The author uses simple sentences and a limited description of objects, people and events. This is common among men who are unable to express their feeling accurately using words. His reference to the imagery of the â€Å"American wife† clearly shows the author is a man as all other men do in the American society (Hemingway 695). The description of how she went out to look for the cat shows the caring and compassionate nature of women while her husband accompanies her although he is unwilling. This shows that the author is a man since he clearly captures her husband’s reaction. The author explains how the woman is attracted to the hotel keeper who is described as being serious, mature and cold. The author captures the manly features that attract the woman to the hotel keeper. He states that the woman is interested in fine things, romantic dining, long hair and a cat (Hemingway 695). He describes these things as being foreign to him and could have described them better if he were a woman. The author vividly points out her husband’s interests and this could only mean that he is a man as well. This text clearly shows the plight of an African-American woman who works hard by cleaning laundry for the white people. From the beginning of the text, it can be seen that the author is a woman from the way that she describes Delia as being a hard worker and provides for her husband Sykes. On the other hand, her husband is depicted as being lazy and does not treat her well too (Hurston 697). He once played a trick on her by placing the bullwhip in her laundry. He was well aware of the fact that Delia was scare of snakes. This shows that he is

Eloquence of Landscapes in the Western Film Genre Movie Review

Eloquence of Landscapes in the Western Film Genre - Movie Review Example In both films the landscape effectively highlights salient features of the storyline and characterizes its inhabitants in a way similar to the Westerns reviewed in Jane Tompkin's insightful West of Everything (70-87). Winton C. Hoch photographed The Searchers in VistaVision,1 cinematography in Technicolor with wide-angle perspective, on-location in Monument Valley. According to the Special Features section of the DVD edition, beyond the colorful sandstone spires and buttes reminiscent of its ancient inhabitants, the cameras caught on film a living, breathing recent element of the desert landscape in some of the 500 destitute Navajo families employed as actors on the set (Ford). Loyal Griggs actually won an Academy Award for his second director-of-photography effort in Shane. Ultimately all Griggs had to do was to position his camera with some aplomb and let the Grand Tetons of Wyoming speak with quiet eloquence (Purdy). Filmed in Technicolor in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and shown on an expanded screen that served to emphasize the vastness and beauty of the fertile surroundings, the film creates a living picture of the boundless promise of the American frontier, "forever framing the action in relation to the unspoiled land surrounding it." (Crowther) In her evaluation of the Western film Tompkins compares the sanctuary of the homestead or the pioneer cabin with the rugged challenges of the desert landscape (87). The Searchers opens from the safety of one family's haven into the vast reaches of the unfolding story as a lone figure on horseback rides slowly into view out of the barren wilderness. The breadth and length of the landscape scenes create a sense of authenticity for the much-abridged time and distances of the unfolding action in the narrative. The Searchers will come full circle to an identical doorway as members of a reunited family press past the threshold into their home totally oblivious to the hero as the door closes on the lonely drifter striding quietly back into the dusty landscape (Ford). On the other hand, the point of view in Shane is chiefly through the eyes of young Joey as the child vigilantly watches the distant stretches of Wyoming prairie where sundry strangers make their debut in the story from the outlying horizon. The viewpoint on the closing action will belong to Joey as well when the landscape, veiled in darkness, echoes with the child's heartbreaking appeals for his friend to return, and the wounded Shane slips quietly out of his life into the shadowy oblivion of the Wyoming hills (Stevens). Tompkins suggests that the genius of the Western is to have the terrain speak for itself (71). The physical settings in each film visually develop unique aspects of the narrative in much the same way as background music creates an ambience that heightens the emotion and suspense of the drama. In The Searchers the harsh nature of the character's surroundings accentuates its isolating and dangerous nature for the extended pioneer family (O'Brien). In striking contrast to the welcoming and simple world filmed inside the log cabin, where Ethan Edwards yearns to fit in, is the Civil War veteran's native element in the brutal and unforgiving environment which at last lures him away yet again into its untamed independence (O'Brien). The Shane exploits are mostly reflected through the eyes

Legal Aid Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Legal Aid - Essay Example The changes have singled out the reason for the introduction of a resident test as being the need to ensure the delivery of a justice system that is more credible and efficient to the UK citizens. However, when that provision is closely assessed, it presents more problems than anticipated. In fact, when this new change is assessed based on the provision of the above three laws, it may not pass the justification. The major reason for the introduction of the two-part residence test as a requirement for the qualification for accessing legal aid is to single out foreigner within UK and its overseas territories jurisdiction, and then deny them an opportunity to equal access to the justice system, similar to the UK citizens. The stability of the United Kingdom justice system is tempting to assume that it bears permanency, since it has been entrenched for long enough. Nevertheless, the recent changes introduced in LASPOA 2012 threaten this stability, through introducing legal measures that are contrary to the spirit and letter of the rule of law. When summed up together, the changes have introduced restrictions to the access of legal aid and increased the fees and the procedural hurdles for those who seek to use the courts to defend their interests (Bindman, 2013:6). In addition, the changes have introduced the use of secret evidence that precludes challenge, increased the surveillance to and access of personal and private information, and reduced the damages payable to people who have successfully defended their claims through the justice system (Bindman, 2013:6). Overall, the government has struck a major blow to those who seeks to uphold the rule of law. The definition of the rule of law requires that all individuals are granted an equal chance and opportunity to access the justice system. However, the introduction of the recent changes in the LASPOA 2012

Classroom Environment and Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Classroom Environment and Education - Essay Example Rules and expectations are clear and consistent set policies that govern the day-to-day student's behaviors outlining the expectation and achievement from the learning process. Moreover, these policies issue the students with steps to undertake certain tasks in the class. The optimal class environment requires the teachers and related professional have to formulate rules and procedures that give the student a role towards understanding the policies in a positive way, which eventually help them to understand their expectations accordingly. Furthermore, harsh rules only distract the students’ emotions that read to the negative view of the learning process, which necessitate the need for a proper policy-making process.Schedules are the time-oriented timetable set for the students for the learning of various modules. The schedule should be such that it allows students to have ample time to socialize, which eventually improves their social skills. Consequently, this leads to a clas s environment that offers both intellectual knowledge and facilitates the social skills of the students. Social skills play an influential role in the learning process from the improved curiosity, confidence, communication, and cooperation skills of students.Routines and procedures are the set guidelines for students to follow while in class. The optimal classroom environment is met by ensuring that the teacher formulates clear and explanatory routines and procedures that the students are expected to follow.... urthermore, harsh rules only distract the students’ emotions that read to the negative view to the learning process, which necessitate the need for a proper policy making process including the students concerns aptly. Schedules are the time-oriented timetable set for the students for the learning of various modules. The schedule should be such that it allows students to have ample time to socialize, which eventually improves their social skills. Consequently, this leads to a class environment that offers both intellectual knowledge and facilitate the social skills of the students. Social skills play an influential role in the learning process from the improved curiosity, confidence, communication, and cooperation skills of students. Routines and procedures are the set guidelines for students to follow while in class. The optimal classroom environment is met by ensuring that the teacher formulates clear and explanatory routines and procedures that the students are expected to f ollow. In addition, the procedures should evoke a sense of positive acceptance within the students to enable the student feel that their emotions are emotionally considered. The routines for writing down and submitting the assignments should include clear instructions and the dates for submission, which avoids the discouragement that the student gets when an assignment is rejected because of late submission. Classroom climate refers to the feeling of the students, either physically, emotionally or both, in a classroom. The teacher should not evoke stimuli among the students and should ensure that all the students in a class feel a sense of positive attitude concerning the inclusion in the learning process. A favorable classroom climate ensures that it offers support to the students

Communications Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Communications Study - Essay Example Despite this, the fans have seen a more settled and confident United in the past few weeks, reminiscent of the spirit instilled by the iconic Sir Alex Ferguson, with a sharp attacking force that combines brilliantly with the ever- improving defense. Without the services of the injured and robust Diego Costa, the attacking force of the Blues is jeopardized. Given his seven point lead at the top of the table, the cunning Jose Mourinho will opt for a mere draw, as his team requires only three wins from a possible eight to be crowned the new English Champions. With his tactical prowess, Mourinho will look out to shut the on-form Manchester United midfielder, Maroune Fellaini who has proven to be a menace in aerial ball control. The ex- Everton man’s abilities have stretched the defenses of many fierce sides, such as Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurs. Despite this, Louis van Gaal and his devils are out to spoil the party for the Chelsea fans at their own home turf, the Stamford Bridge. Previous records show that Chelsea are a hard side to beat at this stage of the competition, but football lovers and followers know that the story is totally different when dealing with an on-form Manchester United squad. With the Chelsea manger taunted for his over defensive tactics, the rhetoric Louis van Gaal was quick to tame the tension. â€Å"To build a champion team, you must have a system that not only scores goals, but also brilliant in defense,† said a relaxed van Gaal. Mourinho, on the other hand, hopes to rub salt in the wounds of the Red Devils, who are on a revenge mission having had a disappointing start of the year. He is out to put a stamp on his name â€Å"The Chosen One† having led Chelsea to the first trophy success of the season against Tottenham Hotspurs in the Capital One Cup finals. The timid Mourinho, however, is quick to write out the threat

Metropolitan Museum of Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Metropolitan Museum of Art - Essay Example It does not contain the ethereal quality of previous paintings of the time period of the same subject, where the quality of light and brushstrokes portrayed a beatific reality (Harden 2008). This is an engraving which must be meticulously produced with ink, compass and ruler and the initial impression of the work is one of precision (Harden 2008). However, Durer is able to capture a new variation in the work that expresses the harmonious quality of the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve's relationship to each other and their surroundings. As the eye enters the work, one can see the how opposites are harmoniously existing. A mouse is relaxing next to a cat, an elk and cow do not fear the humans in the picture, and the tree of knowledge is contained in the background, with the serpent giving Eve the fruit and Adam waiting to receive it. All is peaceful. Here, Durer expresses in black and white the harmonious expression of opposites, soon to be destroyed with the taking of the forbidden fr uit. The work is one of bold expression and the medium and succinct lines and use of black and white stand out as a first in artistic expression of the Garden prior to the fall. Giovanni di Paolo, an Italian artist, created The Creation and Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise in 1445. Here we see the angst inherent in the fall of man from paradise after the forbidden fruit is tasted. Paolo is an expressive artist who uses elements of design to symbolize the aspects of the harmony of the Garden and the devastation of the fall from grace. God is shown in radiant fury pushing the universe, represented by a very large globe that is entering from the left side of the painting and expresses the power of the universe that God has created and is now directed with wrath. In the globe, the evidence of astrology is found within the concentric circles representing the elements, the planets and the constellations (Metropolitan Museum of Art 2008). Adam and Eve are being directed, seemingly pushed also, by an angel who is in human form. The lush vegetation of the garden and the four rivers emerging from the ground symbolize the ecological wealth and harmony of the ga rden, which Adam and Eve are now forced to leave. The medium is tempura on panel and a dark light is effectively used near the trees and on the ground to give the painting an emotional quality of impending negativity and hardship. This painting, previous to Durer's engraving, illustrates the gravity of artist's representing the fall of man in artwork with dark colors and vivid use of brushstrokes to express God's seriousness. Saint Teresa of Avila Interceding Souls in Purgatory is oil on wood painting by Peter Paul Rubens, a Flemish artist dated between 1577 and 1640 (Metropolitan Museum of Art 2008). This work is dramatic and emotional and shows how the skilled use of oil captures a quality of light and brushstroke that effectively portrays the seriousness of the task at hand. Saint Teresa to the right of Jesus is shown prostrate and pleading for the souls praying for release from purgatory at the bottom of the wood. On the left are the cherubs, angels of God that seem to be waiting for a decision from Jesus as to the faint of who they will aid in rescue. One is

Finance for managers essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Finance for managers - Essay Example There are generally no hassles when owned capital is employed for executing budgetary plans. But problems arise on use of debt capital. These problems of debt financing are as under: 3. Financial leverage or gearing of the capital employed affect future funding for the business. For example during periods of depressions the entities will find difficulties in raising capital through issuance of equities. On basis of study conducted by Catherine Stenzel and Joe Stenzel (page 82)2, it may be observed that irrespective of model of the budget adopted, budgets normally incorporate three mistakes that limit the scope and decision taking abilities of the entities. Those three mistakes are as under: It is seen that budgets do not align resources to strategic objectives of the firm. Budgets do not reveal the business strategies. Logically the budgets should translate the strategic goals into actionable operations in quantitative terms. But this does not happen. Budgets and strategic objective some time appear far apart in planning the use of resources. Budgets are constructed keeping in mind the resources in hand. There is no planning under budgetary process to create resources to meet strategic objectives. Entities declare mission statements and strategic objectives enthusiastically in big way. It is seen that during budgeting, very few so called flaccid budgets, that are presently in operations, care for business plans and plan activities to achieve those strategic goals. In words of Catherine Stenzel and Joe Stenzel ‘one final flaw that can reduce budgeting relevance and lead to flaccid budget centers on parochial claims to resources.’ That is to say resources under budgetary process are allocated on competitive basis and not as per preferences set out in the strategic objectivity. Conventional budgets do not describe methods for arriving at budget proposals or at allocation of funds. The methodology

FBI Agency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

FBI Agency - Essay Example Another purpose for the formation of the FBI was to supplement other law enforcement agencies by conducting surveys on crime scenes and prosecuting any individuals held responsible. The FBI legal authority comes from the United States Code Title 28, Section 533. The FBI also borrows from different corporate bodies the mandate to investigate crime and prosecute. The RICO Act allows the FBI to conduct investigations on organized crime while the civil rights act allow the FBI to conduct investigations on violation of civil rights (Ricciuti, 2011). Another source of authority is the US PATRIOTIC Act that allows the FBI to monitor online activities to counter cyber and other related crimes. The US Code section 1951 criminalizes obstruction of interstate business and prioritizes the FBI to enforce any breach. The US Code section 668 criminalizes theft of heritage artifacts and museum art thus making it a federal crime to be handled by the FBI. The Federal Bureau of investigation was officially commissioned in 1935. The bureau was formed to respond to the growing anarchy in the country following the assassination of President McKinley in 1901. President Roosevelt ordered the formation of the Bureau of investigation to gather intelligence and report directly to the attorney general. The Bureau initially operated as the Bureau of investigation till 1935 when it was renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The primary role of the FBI is to carry out intelligence investigations. The FBI is mandated to carry out intelligence investigations on all federal criminal acts in America. The FBI conducts research on crime activities and forwards it to the necessary authorities as well as take crime prevention initiatives. The duties of the FBI have recently widened to include investigations of drug-related crime in collaboration with the DEA, counter-terrorism measures and research into white

Psychology and Scientific Method Essay Example for Free

Psychology and Scientific Method Essay There are many arguments that debunk the idea that psychology could ever be a ‘pure science’. In any event, psychology has been touted by many a philosopher as a pseudo-science. This is primarily because science itself has a fixed method by which they conduct scientific experiments. We discuss precisely what it is that makes a theory scientific, how theories can be related to evidence and the principal issues involved in evaluating a theory. We also look at what it is that a science of psychology should study. What aspects of psychology can be defined as scientific and what aspects are thoroughly based on conjecture? Can we really call psychology a scientific medium? The observable is what science studies. Freud was initially concerned with studying the unseen, while observing behaviors (Hays, 1964: 27). He believed that the insanity that is presented to the outside world was due to a complex internal mental mechanism (Hays, 1964: 27). However, Freud also fell short of one thing, hard evidence that these mental processes existed. Scientific method determines that there are 4 or 5 steps the researcher has to take in order to make the experiment valid in the eyes of the scientific community. Physics lecturer Jose Wudka states that these steps include: 1. Observation; 2. Hypothesis; 3. Prediction; 4. Test the prediction with experiment (Wudka, 1998). The last step may be that the prediction needs to be retested and the hypothesis revisited. If we take Freud as an example, his experiments were based almost entirely on observation with no empirical data to either prove or disprove his hypotheses. Theory remains just a theory until is proved as fact. Theories are therefore related to evidence in a crucial way. Firstly, there has to be evidence of something that can be studied: for instance in criminal justice we have a bullet cap left behind at a crime. This bullet may be lying in a certain way and with the added presence of gunshot residue (cordite) can help investigators to formulate a hypothesis about what happened with the particular crime. With the case of Freud for instance, we can observe behaviors of children or even adults, but we cannot say where it comes from without getting inside the head. This makes the evidence inadmissible and the theory remains just that – a theory. Secondly, evidence that is presented, has to be tested. This means that the evidence must relate to the theory it is trying to legitimate. In this case, the evidence either proves the theory or it forces the experimenter to return to the theory and rework it. A theory can be evaluated by means of this same testing procedure, key issues being predominantly about validity, verifiability and reliability. Take for instance the normal experimental procedure for empirical research that includes the presentation of a valid sample group that is anonymous and whose records are either thus or confidential. An example of theory testing in psychology that does follow the scientific method is that of medical and electrical testing. One particular research example in psychology is that of Electro Shock Therapy. In this case the treatment studied is reversed in that the EST was used to treat asthmatics, successfully. This case studied asthmatics brought in for EST after intense supervision prior to hospitalization. The patients were monitored before, during and after the treatment to see whether there is a relationship between hysteria and asthma (Cohen and Holbrook, 1947: 213). In this case the patients themselves provide the data necessary for testing the hypothesis. The hypothesis was that there was a relationship between hysteria and asthma. The results showed not only a relationship, but I significant reaction to Electro Shock Treatment (Cohen and Holbrook, 1947: 214). In other research, EST is studied for its effect on schizophrenia rather than the usual bipolar disorder. This research revealed that EST may be useful in the treatment of this psychotic illness. This especially when combined with medication (ScienceDaily, 2005). These research projects were conducted under strict supervision and with documentation the entire process. On the other side of the coin, there are arguments that also dispel scientific method. William McComas of the Rossier School of Education cites 15 myths about scientific method that he considers to be principal issues. In the scope of this paper we cannot discuss all of McComas’ issues but a few will be discussed. The first of these is that hypotheses become theories and then become laws. This is not always the case since sometimes the evidence does not uphold the hypothesis. He also says that theory is not always absolute. Theory can only be absolute if there are no exceptions and in psychology particularly, there are almost always exceptions. Science and scientific method are also not always absolute proof, nor does it always answer all the questions (McComas, 1998: 2-9). In tune with the fact that the evidence does not always support the hypothesis, science does also not always represent reality but functions as a model around which scientific developments can be made (McComas, 1998: 9-18). Furthermore and specifically in psychology terms, these theories are flouted by the presence of some elements in a patient that do not fit the ‘textbook’ description of a certain ailment. For instance, it could be said that most cases of borderline personality disorder come from upper to middle class sectors and develop this type of disorder as a textbook concern, not all BPD patients are upper to middle class. This is merely an example of the type of issue that faces the social sciences where individuals cannot be controlled in the way that plant slides or blood tests can be. The science of psychology is about people and the nuances thereof. It is aware that humans are temperamental and also subject to the actions of other people. This means that psychology can be studied as an observation, by viewing the behaviors of people and documenting them. Psychology cannot be studied in the same way as other sciences can be, despite the fact that in empirical sciences there are also issues of compliance. If we consider that communicable diseases such as HIV/Aids can be physically examined, that blood cells and antibodies can be made visible and studied in their physical form, psychology is not the same. Inroads have been made to attempt to clarify tests done decades earlier, such as Pavlov’s conditioning studies, but unless a method becomes available to view thought processes, these theories remain unproved. The visible is the first step to studying science, but psychology hits a wall after that. We know certain aspects of psychology, such as schizophrenia is as much a neurological disorder as a psychiatric one, but there are other psychological issues we do not know. This means that psychology has to be studied in a multidisciplinary way, rather than as purely scientific. In qualitative research as in quantitative, issues of evaluation are the same. In some psychiatric cases, a patient may also have medical problems, such as diabetes, epilepsy or malnutrition and these can be physically seen. There are indeed ways in which psychology fails the test of scientific method, and therefore falls into the category of ‘pseudo science’. However, there are issues in pure sciences that also fall short of the elitist idea of science. Films such Stanley Kubrick’s â€Å"A Clockwork Orange† explore the idea of experimentation with the human brain, but to undergo such testing even with the consent of volunteers, would be considered inhumane. It seems to be ethical to test chemicals on animals or to test explosives in remote areas, but not ethical to perform potentially dangerous tests on human brains. This leaves psychological testing with the likes of psychometric testing and theories, yet again. As discussed, scientific method is reliant on having the evidence to back it up, whereas psychological is based on assumption to a large extent. Psychological profiling is an example of this in that given the evidence presented, a criminal can be profiled by the marks he leaves behind. Seldom is this knowledge enough to prove someone is guilty of not.

Symbolic Interactionism Blumer

Symbolic Interactionism Blumer The essence of society lies in an ongoing process of action- not in a posited structure of relations -Blumer, 1969,(p.71) Although symbolic interaction theory is often applied primarily to the micro level, the structuring of interdependent lines of behavior at the meso and macro levels also involves shared definitions developed through interaction. The overall culture of a society is the objective outcome of these shared social definitions whereby subjective meanings are created, often expressed in material artifacts of various types, and either sustained or transformed through interaction. Symbolic Interaction-Process Versus Structure Many of the core ideas of symbolic interaction theory are grounded in the pioneering work of George Herbert Mead, particularly his perspective regarding the close relationship between the mental processes whereby people make sense of their environment and their interaction with one another. This relationship is manifested in the patterns of collaboration among people as they seek to develop shared interpretations of the situations they face. It is also reflected in how ones self-concept develops through awareness of the perspectives of others. In addition, contemporary symbolic interaction theory draws on Charles Horton Cooleys analysis of how ones feelings about oneself (pride or shame, for example) reflect ones sensitivity to the positive or negative reactions of others, especially in primary group settings. This is consistent with his often-cited concept of the looking-glass self. Symbolic interaction theory is comparable in some ways to Georg Simmels focus on the forms of interaction, but symbolic interaction theory goes deeper than Simmels perspective in emphasizing the symbolic medium through which interaction takes place plus the subjective mental processes that accompany it. This focus on the subjective level may be compared to Webers emphasis on understanding the subjective meanings of individuals actions. But while Weber moved well beyond the level of individual actions and subjective meanings to deal with broad patterns of institutional and cultural change, many symbolic interactionists resemble Simmel in their strong micro-level focus. Human beings relate to one another and to their environment in terms of interdependent roles they create and sustain. At the center of this process are the self-concepts or identities of the individuals involved as they interact and adjust to one another in face-to-face encounters. Human beings are thus transformed into students and teachers, friends and lovers, husbands and wives, team players and college graduates, customers and sales people, celebrities and deviants, soldiers and social workers, lawyers and police officers, members and outsiders, and so on. Social definitions are crucial even for defining the meaning and social relevance of human beings biological characteristics, such as sex, age, and weight, for example. The socially contrived character of large-scale institutional structures may not be as obvious as in small group relationships or childrens micro-level play worlds, but macro level social institutions are also socially constructed through widely shared subjectiv e definitions that are developed and sustained through interaction. This implies that when subjective definitions and interpretations undergo widespread change, institutional transformation may occur, which then changes the context of subsequent interactions at the micro level. The divisions between micro, meso, and macro levels of analysis are not rigid distinctions. From r various micro-level social circles, networks of social relations extend outward, thus providing an opening to meso and macro levels of the social world. The heritage one share as members of society also includes enduring cultural products and artifacts that have been constructed or reproduced by countless other people far beyond the range of ones own limited social circles or personal knowledge. Language obviously transcends personal micro-level social settings, even though language is actually reproduced regularly in the context of face-to-face interaction as well as in mass media communication. Even ones adaptation to the objective physical reality of the natural world (like the food one eats) is mediated through the symbols used to define and interpret it. All symbolic interactionists emphasize the micro-level linkages between the subjective consciousnesses, interpersonal interaction, and identity formation, as well as the symbolic and socially constructed nature of the larger social world. Symbolic interaction theory today differs from the pioneering social behaviorism emphasized by Mead in the early part of the twentieth century. Blumers Theorey: Symbolic interaction theory, under the influence of Herbert Blumer, was in large part a critical reaction to macro level types of analysis, particularly as reflected in functional theory, and the strong emphasis on the notion that peoples behavior is largely determined by social structures. For symbolic interaction theorists, the strong emphasis on culturally scripted norms and institutionalized roles was misplaced. This focus seemed to leave little room for individuals to make choices or to improvise as they interpret and adjust to the specific situations they face. For symbolic interactionists social structures do not exist as an objective reality that is independent of the actions of its human participants. Instead, all aspects of the social world are negotiated, constructed, and reproduced or sometimes transformed through ongoing processes of interaction and subjective interpretation whereby people mutually shape one anothers perceptions, definitions, and responses to their envir onment. Within this general framework, several different areas of emphasis can be identified within symbolic interaction theory. Symbolic interactionist perspective serves as a general framework for role theory, reference group theory, analyses of social perception and person perception, self theory, and dramaturgic theory. Of the various versions of symbolic interactionism, Herbert Blumers (1962) perspective expressed the strongest skepticism regarding macro-level theories such as functionalism. As he put it: By and large, of course, sociologists do not study human society in terms of its acting units, instead, they are disposed to view human society in terms of structure or organization and to treat social action as an expression of such structure or organization. Thus, reliance is placed on such structural categories as social system, culture, norms, values, social stratification, status position, social roles and institutional organization. (Blumer, pp.188-189 in Rose, ed. 1962) Blumer coined the term symbolic interaction and promoted Meads strong emphasis on the interrelated processes of mutual role-taking, interaction, and subjective interpretation that occur as people adjust their actions to one another in dealing with the particular situations they face. This emphasis on the need for people to improvise their responses to their environment and to one another seems to downplay the habits and memories that individuals bring to situations that they encounter over and over. It also seems to push the cultural and institutional framework that might influence their interpretations into the background. Even though social organization, culture, roles, and other structural features of the social world may not determine peoples behavior in a strong sense, such features may nevertheless be taken into consideration, especially in familiar situations. When people repeatedly face similar types of situations, they may employ ready-made responses with only a minimal amou nt of negotiation or reflection. This does not mean that social organization determines peoples behavior as an external force. It does suggest, however, that patterns of interaction and interpretation are not always as fluid as Blumer seems to suggest. People do indeed sometimes face novel situations that are unstructured and ambiguous and so will need to make a conscious effort to make sense of them as they explore with one another how to cope. In other situations, they may each have their own distinctive ideas on how to respond and so will need to negotiate their differences. But in many routine situations they already share an implicit understanding of its salient features and know how to respond. This means that very little negotiation is required if any. Regardless of these variations, patterns of social organization, including written rules and established authority or power structures, are never automatically self-enforcing. Instead, these structural factors become relevant only to the extent that people remember them and decide how to apply them. Sometimes there may be discussion and debate regarding whether or how an established rule or custom should apply. If there are large differences in power and authority, the negotia tion actually may be quite minimal, as those with relatively less power realize the futility of trying to get those with greater power to see things their way. By pushing social organization, culture, and similar concepts that transcend particular situations into the background, and by emphasizing the fluid and indeterminate nature of the immediate social world, Blumers approach makes it difficult to establish principles of social behavior that apply across different situations or to move from the micro to the macro level. However, other symbolic interaction theorists give more emphasis to stable structural categories than Blumer did. These structural influences do not determine behavior from the outside, as external or objective forces, however; instead, they are encoded in individuals subjective consciousness and shared memories and expectations. Although they may be interpreted to apply in unique ways in different situations, they are nevertheless reflected in participants predispositions regarding how to respond to the specific situations they face. The contrast between Blumers view of the fluid and undetermined nature of the social world versus a more structural version of symbolic interaction theory can be illustrated through the process whereby individuals self-concepts are developed, maintained, and changed. The relation between individuals self-concepts or identities, their social roles, and the reactions of others can be traced back to the pioneering work of Mead and Cooley. Contemporary symbolic interactionist theory offers several different strategies for exploring how individuals self-concepts or identities are expressed through the different roles they perform. The following section will deal in more detail with the relation between peoples role performances and their identities. Blumers image of the fluid and negotiated character of the social world implies that identities and social roles are not fixed but instead are largely improvised in each encounter as individuals seek to align their own self-concepts and intentions with the expectations of others. In contrast to Blumer, a more structural version of symbolic interaction theory puts greater emphasis on the standardized and routine expectations and behaviors of various roles. With this alternative focus social life is viewed as having a higher level of predictability than implied in Blumers perspective, especially in routine situations. Although behavior is not determined by social roles, with no room for individual variations, this structural version is closer to the conventional forms of sociological analysis that Blumer criticized. While roles may not be scripted in detail, there are definite guidelines and expectations that people tend to follow. Peoples self-concepts are multidimensional. They may r eflect roles associated with various personal characteristics as well as with the social positions they occupy. These roles include, for example, those associated with gender, age, family status, occupation, race or ethnicity, residential location, leisure time pursuits, general lifestyle preferences, and so on. Such roles are likely to be partially structured by general cultural expectations as well as by specific expectations that develop among people who interact on a regular basis. Even so, there is room for considerable improvisation in most cases as individuals express their own unique individuality and seek to satisfy their current needs and concerns. There are three fundamental premises underlying a symbolic interactionist perspective; and it is to Blumers great credit that these premises receive emphasis in his work. All are in fact central to Meads arguments, even while none of them originates with Mead. The first of these premises holds that an adequate account of human behavior must incorporate the perspective of the actor and cannot rest entirely on the perspective of the observer alone. The second of these premises asserts the priority of social interaction and the derivative, emergent nature of both self and social organization from that social process. The third argues that self, or persons reflexive responses to themselves, serves to link larger societal processes to the social interactions of those persons. The first and last of these premises contain between them the justification for insisting that socially formed meanings that are aspects of the subjective experience of persons are not only legitimately but are necessarily part of observers accounts of the social behavior of human beings. Contrary to Blumers position would be the emergent character of social life as well as ignoring the reality in experience of the dialectical relationship of what Mead called the I and the me. However, working from Blumers perspective on these matters does not require that one must retreat to phenomenologies of individual minds, or forgo attempts to develop theoretical explanations of social life that have some general applicability. If one accepts interaction as the source and substance of society, i.e., accepting the foundational character of the social process, it will surely be the acceptance of Blumers emphasis on the emergent character of self and social organization. This acceptance in turn implies the recognition of some degree of indeterminacy in attempts to foresee what will be from what is at any given moment of that social process. Further, such indeterminacy is principled and not merely a recognition of the incompleteness or inadequacy of present knowledge. The central role of self in mediating the relationship of social process and social behavior, one of the basic premises of symbolic interactionist thought whose emphasis in Blumers work need to be emphasized. Without invoking a concept such as self, attempts to come to grips with obvious variability of persons behavior in the face of apparent constancy of circumstance-biological, ecological, cultural, or social-are likely to founder similarly in a complementary way the concept of self permits dealing with that variability in specifically social terms. Meta-theoretical Conceptions of Blumer: The metatheoretical ideas proclaim the impossibility of general, predictive sociological theory as a consequence of the centrality of meanings and definitions in the production of human behavior. For Blumer, all social life is actively constructed by participants in the very process of interaction itself because this micro-constructivist process is taken to be descriptive of social life in general, it is also taken to be descriptive of the meanings and the interpretations applying those meanings assumed to be critical for each next step in the processes of interaction. Meanings in that sense are truly emergents, subject to literally continuous reformulation on a moment-to-moment basis. If meanings are indeed central, and if meanings are constructed in and particular to the experience of individual actors, emergent from their ongoing experience, it follows for Blumer that the generality required of the predictive, theoretical concepts in terms of which theoretical arguments are couche d cannot exist. Preexistent concepts cannot match the emergent interpretations of actors constructing their lines of social interaction. Given all of this, Blumer concludes, sociology can expect to be able to develop after-the-fact understandings of behaviors that have occurred, but cannot anticipate the development of general explanatory sociological theory in a predictive sense. Methodological consequences of Blumer: His metatheoretical argument has methodological consequences. For one thing, it implies the futility of a research enterprise that is initiated by a priori theory, or that anticipates behavioral outcomes via hypotheses arrived at deductively from such theory. For another, it suggests that research methods that fail to focus directly upon actors interpretations by setting up prior procedural or substantive constraints on how issues are formulated or are attacked-experimentation and survey research methods are cases in point-necessarily lack va1idity and the capacity to generate meaningful data. And for yet another, it underwrites the condemnation of the application of mathematical or statistical manipulations of data in efforts to draw from those data their sociological implications, on the grounds that numerical data are necessarily bereft of the meanings that define the essential character of sociological phenomena. Thus along with denying the possibility of explanatory sociological theory, Blumer severely restricts the legitimate range of investigatory (data gathering) techniques as well as analytic methods.Apparently, in his own mind only participatory observation meets his strictures but even that method would not survive a thorough logical analysis of its fit to Blumers methodological arguments. It is important to note that Blumers ideas which are fundamental to defining symbolic interactionism do not necessarily lead to the metatheoretical and methodological ends at which he himself arrives. Actors perspectives, the definitions of situations they call into play that are critical to the course and the content of interaction, are not unconstrained. Both the meanings those are possible to invoke in the course of defining situations, as well as the particular meanings from the range of possible meanings that are likely to be invoked, are not random events. They are, on the contrary, subject to the constraints of extant social and cultural systems. Further, there is some reasonable stability over time to the meanings attached to social objects. For practical purposes these do not change willy-nilly or from moment to moment in a way that signifies great change in behavioral outcomes. If there were no such stability, if meanings did not in general entail relative constancy from mo ment to moment, from day to day, even from year to year, there is no way that social life could have the predictability that enables people to live their lives as they do. The fact that meanings can change radically and precipitously does not argue that in general they do change radically and precipitously. This implies that one can indeed formulate general statements or theoretical propositions that go beyond the phenomenologies of single individuals, statements or propositions that are not subject to a priori rejection, whatever their fate may be at the hands of empirical evidence. To recognize that social life is constructed via definitional or interpretive processes and that there are few limits on what constructions are possible does not require one to abjure reasonably strong predictions, or to anticipate that predictions, when based on solid theoretical grounds, will lack credibility or validity. Neither does it obviate the recognition that the social process sometimes, perhaps even frequently, crystallizes and stabilizes in a manner that permits the theoretical recognition of selves and social structures that they themselves operate to constrai n and limit the possibilities for emergence in social life, that operate to transform possibilities into probabilities. Substantive ideas in Blumer: In substantive terms, it is Blumers treatment or lack thereof of social organization and social structure are both nonessential and highly problematic. For Blumer, society consists of the congeries of lines of individual action, the fitting together of these lines. Individual action is a matter of persons guiding their own action by interpreting the significance of things for that prospective action; group action is a matter of aligning individual action through a process of role-taking, i.e., searching out the meaning of others acts by ascertaining what they are doing or intend to do (Blumer 1969, p. 8). Social organization and social structures enter action only by shaping situations and providing the symbols used in interpreting situations, only as they enter into the process of interpretation and definition out of which joint actions are formed; and, in any event, they are less important in modern society than in stabilized, settled societies precisely because in the former there are fewer situations calling for previously regularized and standardized actions. Conclusion There obviously exist a number of very different senses of what symbolic interaction is substantively and what it implies methodologically. The problem is not that these different senses exist; the problem rather lies in the artificial and unnecessary oppositions among them created by the polemics that have historically characterized the literature of symbolic interactionism-the polemics of social movements and embattled minorities, the polemics that define orthodoxies and heterodoxies in seeking to recruit adherents to the banner being waved by the pure. The fact of multiplicity of alternative viewpoints in itself is healthy: self-control, choice, freedom and various other good things spring from alternatives symbolically represented in human experience. But multiplicity of views can be unhealthy if there is no communication across differences, if either structural or cognitive barriers prevent the alternatives from in fact entering the experience of persons, for then each person be comes the prisoner of his or her preferred -perspective. One is then used by perspectives rather than using them and the perspectives themselves are likely to ossify, to become unquestioned Truths and not potentially fallible ideas subject to logical and empirical examination and reformulation.

Effects of Antifungal Agents for Fungi and Tumor Cells

Effects of Antifungal Agents for Fungi and Tumor Cells Literary Summary of Effects of Antifungal Agents and ÃŽÂ ³ Interferon on Macrophage Cytotoxicity for Fungi and Tumor Cells. The experimenters in this journal describe the influence of antifungal agents on acquisition of the activated state of the microphage. Stating that the macrophages modify their activity in response to the microbes in an infection. The experimenters continue to state that metabolic functions are factors that may affect the way the cells change their state of activation when testing the toxicity of the chemical substance on cultures. The experimenters noted a particular factor, calling it a marker that targets the neoplastic or microbial cells and kills them. The experimenters discovered when using bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG); that the peritoneal cells when introduced with limited quantities of endotoxin become fully cytotoxic for susceptible tumor cell lines (Perfect, J. et al., 1987). The experimenters exclaim that it is this tumoricidal activity that is the designated marker for the activated macrophages. Continuing this line of thought the experimenters then state that the 1st signal in this activation process is ÃŽÂ ³ Interferon (IFN- ÃŽÂ ³) when testing the toxicity of the chemical substance on cultures for intracellular infection. Experimenters posed that one hypothesis could be that the antimicrobial agents they were going to use may act against the invading fungi by promoting the host immune response. With that hypothesis; the question the authors were trying to answer in this journal is the study of the effector systems of activated murine macrophages against fungi (Perfect, J. et al., 1987). In this journal the experimenters state that they will be working with three target cells. Murine fibro sarcoma cells (3T12); Cryptococcus neoformans H99/C3D, a clone from a human pathogenic isolate that does not increase capsule size in response to physiological concentrations of carbon dioxide [24]; and Candida parapsilosis, a nonpathogenic strain isolated from the laboratory environment (Perfect, J. et al., 1987). The experimenters in this journal used various research items and obtained supplies from Wilmington Massachusetts, the Trudeau Institute in Saranac Lake New York, Detroit Michigan, Gibco in Grand Island New York, Corning New York, and Salt Lake City Utah. The experimenters performed the laboratory experiments at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. Having all the various supplies and research items necessary to perform the experiment the experimenters conducted at least three different experiments for each additive. Periodically all the additives, medium and plastics were checked for endotoxin contamination by amebocyte lysate assay (Perfect, J. et al., 1987). C. neoformans or C. parapsilosis (yeasts) were grown overnight and suspended in modified DMEM and adjustments were made by the hemocytometer and counts yielded 103 yeast for a total volume of 0.2 mL per well. Macrophage, Fungistatic, and the antifungal agent assays were washed five times with DMEM before any yeasts were added. As a control, wells without cells were included for each additive. Wells were then cultured after being prepared on Sabourauds agar after lysing of host cells with a chemical compound of deoxycholate at 0.5% (Perfect, J. et al., 1987). The experimenters did a one-way analysis of variance on each set of three of the experiments. The experimenters in case of finding a difference between grounds a multiple comparison analysis by Tukeys method would be used. Visual results were good, having showed correlation with those found using the more quantitative thymidine release assay for tumoricidal activity (Perfect, J. et al., 1987). According to the results, the macrophage activation for tumor killing appeared to work whereas the antifungal agents had no effect. The experimenters found the serum to be with in tolerance range for human therapeutic purposes. The experimenters explain that a significant cytosidal effect by the macrophages on the tumor cell growth was found and that the next step would be to determine whether macrophage activation for tumor cell cytotoxicity correlated with the ability to inhibit or kill fungal cells (Perfect, J. et al., 1987). With previous knowledge and experience in macrophage activation, the experimenters knew that more consistent results could be obtained if the culture medium was to be left throughout the testing. With previous knowledge of this, endotoxin was used because the experimenters knew it would have no direct effect on antifungal activity. The experimenters determined in previous experiments that the azole compounds used had no prior effect. However, results showed dramatic effects on yeast growth. The experimenters postulated that direct antifungal activity was due in part by human error in the preparation and cleansing phase. This meant that a drug must have remained in the macrophage cultures to give those results. Further testing showed active drug remains within the monolayers or the surfaces of the plastic culture vessel despite extensive washing (Perfect, J. et al., 1987). The experimenters removed the cells from the tissue culture container, washed and lysed in 0.5% deoxycholate again assuring no further contaminates. The process was repeated, after 24 hours desired results showed. The experimenters were able to confirm that the activating effect of AMB in tumor cell killing by macrophages (Perfect, J. et al., 1987). The experimenters were able to show that the primed macrophage was made cytotoxic for tumor cells in the presence of therapeutic concentrations of AMB (Perfect, J. et al., 1987). Having acceptable results and demonstrating findings the experimenters had shown that fungicidal activity did stay within the cells even after having been removed from by an antifungal medium. Tests had shown that the compound was biologically active and attached to the cells. The experimenters explain that this may be useful in understanding macrophage-yeast interactions during antifungal treatment (Perfect, J. et al., 1987). Reference Cited Perfect, J., Granger, D., Durack, D. (1987). Effects of Antifungal Agents and ÃŽÂ ³ Interferon on Macrophage Cytotoxicity for Fungi and Tumor Cells. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 156(2), 316-323. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/30136160

Apollos Oracle at Delphi Essay -- ancient Greek beliefs and prophecies

The Oracle of Apollo at Delphi is shrouded in myth and mystery, but one thing is certain, their prophetic influence stretched far and wide and was detrimental in shaping Greece. Neither war nor boundary was determined without conferring the Delphic Oracle first. The Oracle of Apollo was held in high regard by the likes of "Plutarch, Plato, Aristotle, and Diodorus" (Broad 10). The Trojan War and Theban War were in part responses to the Oracle's forecasts (Fontenrose 4). The Delphic Oracle shaped the decision of Spartans and consulted the "Greek states at the time of the Persian War" (Fontenrose 6). For well over a millennium, devotees would continue to seek the Delphic Oracle's counsel. The Greek legacy is riddled with her prophecies. Delphi, Greece's relative geographic location is in the center of Greece. According to Richard Haywood, its location could literally be the reason that the "Delphic Oracle was near the center of Greek life for centuries" (112). Delphi was inhabited as early as the Bronze Age. The Oracle's existence is believed to have appeared as early as the 8th century BCE (Scott 11). Several stories exist to explain the origins of Delphi. One myth says that Zeus released two eagles "from opposite ends of the world and they met at Delphi" signifying the geographic center of the earth (Scott 36). Another myth claims the word Delphi was obtained directly from a Greek word meaning "womb", indicating the birthplace of the world (Scott 36). However, the Homeric Hymn to Apollo written "between the late 7th century BCE and mid-sixth century BCE" tells the tale of Delphi's genesis in a different light. According to the Homeric tale, Apollo traveled throughout Greece in search of the perfect site for his temple. H... ...'s future, creating a blurred line between the real and fantastical. Fact and fiction continues to cohabitate in the daily debate and rituals of Modern Greece and it is quite possible that the Delphic Oracle is to praise and/or to blame. Works Cited Broad, William J. The Oracle: The Lost Secrets and Hidden Message of Ancient Delphi. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print. Fontenrose, Joseph Eddy. The Delphic Oracle, Its Responses and Operations. Berkeley: U of California. Print. Haywood, Richard. "THE DELPHIC ORACLE." Archaeology 5.2 (1952): 110-18. JSTOR. Web. 25 May 2014. . Lehoux, Daryn. "Drugs and the Delphic Oracle." Classical World 101.1 (2007): 41-56. Web. Scott, Michael. Delphi a History of the Center of the Ancient World. Princeton: Princeton UP, 2014. Print.

Proposal for a Fitness Center in TI Essay -- Texas Instruments Health

Proposal for a Fitness Center in TI An on-site fitness center for Texas Instruments will prove to be advantageous to the company as well as its employees. Studies show that employees who exercise regularly are more productive, efficient, and pleasant to work with. Texas Instruments has the capability to increase employee retention, recruitment, and revenues by investing in a fitness center through Health Fitness Corporation. Health Fitness Corporation provides on-site fitness centers for numerous prestigious companies such as Best Buy and Federal Express. The positive relationships and results have more than qualified Health Fitness Corporation to provide Texas Instruments with a unique facility, designed to meet all of their personal needs. Among Health Fitness Corporation’s services are state-of-the-art equipment, the latest healthcare products, a knowledgeable staff, specialty classes, and employee incentive programs. The project will be divided into four phases, each with a certain purpose and timeline to achieve a specific goal. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Phase I (Research and Development) - This four month phase will involve evaluating the needs and desires of Texas Instruments’ employees. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Phase II (Bidding and Structural Construction) - This five month phase involves choosing the right contractor and building the facility. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Phase III (Interior Development) - This two month phase will involve renovating the interior of the facility to meet Texas Instruments’ custom desires. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Phase IV (Trial Period) - This one month process involves staffing the facility and providing training on the exercise equipment. Health Fitness Corporation offers two standard packages. Package A is less expensive to implement, but Package B offers greater revenues. After analyzing Texas Instruments, we believe that Package B will be the most beneficial to the company. Not only will this investment improve the financial status of Texas Instruments, but it will also develop stronger employee relationships. For each dollar Texas Instruments invests in this project, they will realize a greater increase in employee productivity. Many forward-thinking corporations are offering on-site fitness centers to their employees. Texas Instruments must join this trend or their company will be left behind in employee recruitment and retention. Health Fitness Corporation can h... ...ly expanded and is becoming much more than mere fitness centers, but major sources of revenue for companies as well. Health Fitness Corporation has assisted many companies in increasing both recruitment and employee retention. In today’s fast-paced, competitive business world, companies who do not innovate are left behind. Texas Instruments cannot allow these other corporations to gain a competitive advantage. Health Fitness Corporation can provide Texas Instruments with a facility that will not only compete with other companies, but will also offer special programs, products, and training that will separate Texas Instruments from the competition. Health Fitness Corporation looks forward to the commencement of this project and a long and rewarding relationship with Texas Instruments. Works Cited British United Providence Association [online]. Available:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/exercise.html [2004, April 22] Georgia State University Exercise and Physical Fitness Page [online]. Available:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  www.gsu.edu/~wwwfit/benefits.html [2004 April, 24] Hoover’s The Business Information Authority [online]. Available:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  www.hoovers.com [2004 April, 18]

Animal Farm. Analysis

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Misleading Graphs

â€Å"Graphs give a visual representation that enables readers to analyze and interpret data more easily than they could simply by looking at numbers. However, inappropriately drawn graphs can misrepresent the data and lead the reader to false conclusions† (Bluman, 2009, p. 76). Some methods used by graph makers to mislead consumers are truncated axis starting points and using two dimensional pictures rather than simple bars or lines. Problems The graph we chose as our project is flawed in many ways. The chart has no title, no scale on the vertical axis, and no labels for the horizontal axis. There is no way to determine what type of data is being represented other than â€Å"singles† of some kind being sold. Whether these are single units of something, single rooms rented, Kraft singles cheese slices, or something else entirely is uncertain. The missing labels on the horizontal axis also deprive the viewer from knowing exactly how the data is being tracked. The columns certainly look like they represent years but it could be something else entirely. Another large issue with this graph is that the two dimensional viewpoint makes it seem as if the 1995 column is far taller than the rest of the data when in fact it is the same height as the 1997 column. Effect on Users When the graph is misleading, it becomes hard for the reader to accurately understand what the graph is trying to show. The largest problem with this graph is the lack of information provided about what is being studied. There is no title provided to give the reader a general idea of what information is being shown. The graph fails to show the frequency amount of the â€Å"number of singles being sold†, or even what the single is exactly. The fact that there is little labeling on the vertical axis and none on the horizontal axis can be misleading and could cause the users to think that the graph is representing something different than it really is. The graph can also be misleading to it users because of the fact that it is set up as a two dimensional graph. When looking at the graph the closer the bars are the larger they are made to appear. So while it looks like the first bar is the tallest it is no taller than the third bar. Corrections To correct our chosen graph we first start by appointing an appropriate product for the â€Å"number of singles sold,† and in choosing our product it will also help us to decide our chart title which is â€Å"Annual CD singles sales. The scale on the vertical axis contains the year of sales, and the horizontal axis contains the amount of sales or the number of CD singles sold. And the graph has changed to a simple bar graph for better reader understanding. These corrections make the graph more informational and contain a better frequency than before. And the labeling of both the horizontal and vertical axis helps the graph to better represent the product to the user. And changing to the bar graph will show the graph’s strongest and weakest years of sales.

Dear John, Book vs Movie

Author Nicholas Sparks added to his list of best sellers with the novel Dear John. Dear John is a love story, love stories make big money in movie form, so the novels are popular to make into a movie. Books and movies are two forms of entertainment that are closely related and we overlook the differences among them. There are many similarities between the two, but there are also major differences. If one has never read a novel and then watched the movie version of the novel they may not have experienced this comparison and contrast to the the two forms Even though Dear John contains similarieties and differences the message still remains the same.. Love. The first major contrast is that each form has a different author. Nicholas Sparks wrote the novel and Jamie Linden turned the novel into a screenplay which was then directed by Lasse Hallstrom. Sparks has written both the novel and screenplays for some of his other works but turned the screenplay writing over to Jamie Linden for this project. When there is a separate author on the novel and screenplay the initial story is almost certain to be written differently based on the second authors interpretation of the original authors work. In some instances there is a third interpretation with a director of the movie. A lot can go wrong when the original story is interpreted differently by the author that writes the screenplay and a director that then directs. Michael O’ Sullivan of The Washington Post, wrote in a review of the movie, â€Å"I think our relationship is in trouble†. O’ Sullivan is trying to get across to the reader of this article that the movie’s story has problems and disappoints him as a viewer. A. O. Scott of the NY Times reports that â€Å"Jamie Linden is careful to respect the vague, whispery tones of Mr. Spark’s writing† but â€Å"did however, change the books ending in a way that both deepens and blunts its impact†. The author of the book or movie explains themes, symbols, and the main plot in different ways. Movies may be easier for the audiences to visualize the story, but, books may leave room for readers to use their own imagination. Ending change is another major contast of these two forms of Dear John. The book version The author of the book or movie explains themes, symbols, and the main plot in different ways. Movies may be easier for the audiences to visualize the story, but, books may leave room for readers to use their own imagination.