Private Property and Labor

Timeline Start Essays

Timeline Start Essays Timeline Start Essay Timeline Start Essay Preconquest Twenty thousand years ago, Paleo-Indians crossed into North America from Asia. During the migrations, they divided into distinct groups, often speaking different languages. (Brands, H. W. , 2009) As the Indians dispersed across the North American continent they developed new food sources such as small mammals, fish, nuts and berries. Approximately 5,000 years ago they discovered how to cultivate certain plants and that is when knowledge of maize, squash and beans spread north from central Mexico. Native people living in the southwest acquired cultivation skills long before the bands living along the Atlantic coast. The shift to basic crops profoundly altered Native American societies. This is at times known as the â€Å"Agricultural Revolution. † The Agricultural Revolution also sparked population growth, allowing some groups, such as the Aztec Indians to structure their societies in more complex ways such as build vast cities, structure government bureaucracies, develop written communication through hieroglyphic writing and create an accurate solar calendar. The Eastern Woodland Indians, who lived along the Atlantic coast, had just begun to practice agriculture when the Europeans arrived. 1500-1650 When the British colonization occurred and large numbers of white men and women on the North American continent profoundly altered Native American cultures. Change did not occur at the same rates in all places. Villages on the Atlantic coast under came severe pressure almost immediately whereas groups further inland had more time to adjust. Regardless of where they lived the Indians discovered that conquest strained traditional ways of life, and as daily patterns of experience changed almost beyond recognition, the native people had to create new answers, new responses, and new ways to survive in physical and social environments that eroded tradition. English planters cleared forests and fenced in fields, and in the process, radically altered the ecological systems on which the Indians depended. The once vast and seemingly never ending supply of natural resources inevitable reduced the supply of deer and other animals essential to traditional native cultures. In addition to a change in their ecological system the Native Americans also experienced a change in the economic system. The welcomed in European commerce, but like many consumers before them discovered that the objects they longed for inevitably brought them into debt. In order to pay for the trade good they now had to hunt more aggressively and in doing so reduced their population of fur-bearing mammals even more. The most notable change for the Native Americans came with the â€Å"Columbian Exchange. † This came about when European conquerors exposed the Indians to several new fatal diseases and the Indians introduced the invaders to plants such as potatoes and corn. The Columbian Exchange is something that altered not only the Native Americans but also European history.

Nuclear Weapons Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nuclear Weapons - Essay Example Though the stockpiling of such weapons has been justified by many countries, notably the U.S., as being a deterrent for war, the many negative consequences associated with the use of nuclear weaponry even in a limited capacity has been loudly trumpeted by politicians, scientists, scholars and the majority of the world’s citizens alike. The term ‘limited nuclear war’ is ambiguous at best and considered an oxymoron by some who are confused by the concept of combining ‘nuclear bomb’ and ‘limited use’ together within the same phrase. The guiding principles of force used in a ‘limited war’ can be described as â€Å"the ‘minimum necessary’ and ‘the maximum feasible’† (Brown, 1988: 177). One person’s definition could include a ‘limited’ nuclear strike of a populous city, a clear violation of the moral and ethical standards of most people yet the minority opinion may be the one making that decision. The result could be catastrophic for the victims as well as the region and the collective psyche of the nation who caused the destruction. Germans for example, still have to cope with the national shame of the Holocaust. Military engagements are fraught with imprecise and unpredictable events, seldom precisely regulated. In troducing nuclear weapons escalates the engagement but does nothing to make the situation less volatile thereby only acting to exacerbate an already tense and dangerous conflict. It is unlikely that anyone could provide a reasonable argument demonstrating that using nuclear weapons on any scale could be sustained in a limited form. Nuclear weapons are immensely destructive whether large or small and even restrained use would inflict great harm to people and property. â€Å"Radiation released from each step in the nuclear weapons production cycle causes cancer, congenital defects, mental retardation, immune destruction, cancer,

The Conflict between Profit-Making and Business Ethics Resulting in Essay

The Conflict between Profit-Making and Business Ethics Resulting in the Claims Made within the Article - Essay Example The report claims that by having the Olympic Branded products made within abusive sweatshops it makes a â€Å"mockery† of the claims made by London 2012 organisers that this summer’s Olympics will be the most ethical ever. 1.2- Who is the report intended for? The report is intended for the owner’s of the following six factories, PTShyang Yao Fung, Shyang Yao Fung, PT Parnarub Industry, PT Pancaprima, PT Golden Castle and PT Golden Continental. 1.3- Who asked for it? The Independent conducted the investigation. 1.4- What is the following report aiming to find out? The following report is aiming to examine the conflict between profit-making and business ethics whilst finding out if the claims made by The Independent’s investigation into the alleged sweatshops in Indonesia are making a ‘mockery’ out of the London summer Olympics and whether it is ethical. 2.0- Terms of reference: The report is intended for the owners of the Indonesian factories t o give findings and recommendations following an investigation from The Independent. The investigation was carried out because of claims from London Olympic organisers that ‘’this summer Olympics will be the most ethical ever.’’ 3.0- Procedure. ... 3.5- In total there were eleven people questioned within the article. 4.0- Findings: 4.1 –Indonesian factories have been contracted to produce Olympic branded clothing and shoes for the official sportswear partner of the London Olympics, which is the German company Adidas. These products are to be worn by athletes of Team Gb as well as games volunteers. 4.2 The German company Adidas hopes to make ?100 million pounds from its Olympic products. 4.3 An investigation carried out by The Independent has uncovered wide spread violations of workers rights in Indonesia. 4.4: From the investigation, The Independent has found out that the German company subjects its employees to long working hours, that is, they work for 65 hours which is 25 hours longer than what should be the case for a standard working week. 4.5 The employees of the German company are paid a very low pay and are mostly young females. 4.6 The German company is alleged to subject its employees to physical and verbal abu se and are punished in case they fail to achieve the production targets. 4.7 The Independent also found out that not a single factory among the nine factories of the Germany based company ensures that it pays its workers a living wage. 4.8 The report by the Independent unravelled that the Olympics Organising Committee (Locog) had adopted the base code set by the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) that a living pay should be approximately 20 percent more than the officially recognised minimum wage of a country. 4.9 The investigations also revealed that the employees in the nine factories live in deplorable conditions where they have to skip meals to save money. 4.10 The working conditions have affected the families of the workers where some are separated from

Should animals be use for medical research Annotated Bibliography

Should animals be use for medical research - Annotated Bibliography Example In this book, the author seeks to put forward that even though animals suffer, they have no moral entitlement. The fact that they do not also value their lives, their lives have no intrinsic value which makes it better to use them for experimentation than how we would use human beings. The book helps in opening up the debate and showing where the different perspectives that are posited on this issue. It is therefore an important book to the topic by providing perspectives on both sides of the debate. The article could be useful to the topic on whether animals should be used for medical research. It shows the inhumane treatment of these animals thus showing us how it is important that this process should be put to a halt. The article talks about the latest events in the U.S whereby the use of Chimpanzees in conducting medical tests may be put to a halt. According to this article the â€Å"Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act† that is now in the congress seeks to impose a ban on the invasive research performed on all great apes. This article actually helps to show that trends in the long going debate about the use of animals in medical research are almost being concluded. This article is actually important to this topic because it shows that the world is now coming to accept the fact that animals are not supposed to be used for medical research. While it is recognized that medical research has taken it to greater heights in the tremendous changes it has made in human beings life through creation of drugs and vaccines as well as medical practices, there are people who still feel that it should be stopped. This book helps to understand these controversies and acts as a response to those against the use of animals in

The Pulfrich phenomenon

The Pulfrich phenomenon Introduction What is the Pulfrich Phenomenon? The Pulfrich Phenomenon is a three dimensional illusion where a moving object is seen to move in an anomalous pathway when viewed binocularly with a light attenuating filter placed in front of one eye. This creates the illusion that an object oscillating on a frontal plane appears to follow an elliptical pathway. The most widely accepted theory for this illusion is that reducing the brightness of a stimulus to the retina of one eye causes relatively slower excitation of the photoreceptors (www.suic.edu) and therefore a delayed processing of the image relative to the other eye. (1) This creates a latency difference between the two eyes and as a result, information for two different scenes from each retina arrives at the visual cortex at the same time. Information from one eye will arrive at the cortex milliseconds later than the other. A geometric disparity is registered cortically from the input of the two eyes (7) and this leads to the incorrect perception of the movement and relati ve positions of objects observed by the individual. Many ocular or neurological disorders that affect the visual pathway can produce a delay in signal transmission to the brain, creating a geometric disparity. The illusions created by this geometric disparity produce troublesome symptoms for individuals with a condition and is why many patients experience problems in everyday life as a result of the phenomenon.(5) Who first discovered the Phenomenon? Carl Pulfrich, a physicist with the Zeiss Company, described the phenomenon in 1922. He was not able to observe the effect himself however due to a childhood injury, which left him blind in one eye by 1905. The phenomenon was first noted earlier however by astronomers using stereo-comparators to search for planets.(3) Demonstrating the phenomenon The Pulfrich phenomenon can be observed in a normal individual by binocularly viewing a swinging pendulum bob whilst holding a neutral density filter in front of one eye. The pendulum bob or target used to elicit the phenomenon may take the form of a mechanical or computerized target. The neutral density filter lowers the retinal illumination of the eye it covers, and this creates the difference in signal transmission time between the two eyes. This delay created by a reduction in retinal illumination is supported by several psychophysical and electro-physical investigations.(1)((8,9)) The geometric disparity created by the visual latency difference between the eyes is interpreted by the brain as depth by the binocular disparity detectors.(2) This is why the pendulum bob is perceived to oscillate in an elliptical motion instead of moving along a frontal plane. The perceived direction of the pendulums swing is dependent on which eye the filter is covering; the pendulum appears to rota te clockwise when the filter is placed in front of the left eye and anti-clockwise when it is in front of the right eye. Provoked and Spontaneous Pulfrich Phenomenons When the Pulfrich phenomenon is induced in a normal individual i.e. using neutral density filters, the phenomenon is sometimes called the provoked Pulfrich effect. Since a delay can occur in individuals with ocular or neurological disorders that affect the visual pathway, the Pulfrich effect can occur spontaneously. Such diseases which may result in a spontaneous Pulfrich effect include optic neuritis, an inflammation of the optic nerve which can cause swelling and destruction of the myelin sheath covering the optic nerve. Since this myelin sheath helps conduct nerve impulses along its axons faster than non-myelinated axons, its destruction will lead to a slower transmission to the occipital cortex, where the information is processed. Optic neuropathies with bilaterally asymmetrical demyelination are thought to be the most common causes of the Pulfrich Phenomenon and the visual symptoms it is associated with. (website) Systemic conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, a demyelinating d isease were the fatty myelin sheaths around axons are damaged (Miller DH, Leary SM (October 2007). Primary-progressive multiple sclerosis), can lead to many individuals experiencing the Pulfrich Phenomenon. The Pulfrich Phenomenon has also been reported in many other diseases such as unilateral cataract or asymmetrical bilateral cataract. A cataract may reduce retinal illumination or produce retinal blur thus leading to a visual latency in the visual pathway of the affected eye causing the phenomenon in the individual. Anisometropic amblyopia, strabismus, corneal opacity, anisocoria, unilateral mydriasis, Central serous retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration have all been accountable to produce the Pulfrich effect to some extent in an individual. Retinal blur has also been thought to be cause of the effect, most noticeable in smaller targets. Sokol and Moskowitz (cat(13)) showed that a 12 ms increase in the visual latency resulted from a 3 dioptre refractive error.() A spontaneous Pulfrich phenomenon is not uncommon and has been found quite frequently in studies with patients with ocular and neurological disorders. It was found in 24 out of 93 patients with recovered optic neuritis, 16 out of 29 patients with uncomplicated unilateral cataract and three out of 70 patients with various strabismus problems.(3) Factors affecting the magnitude of the Phenomenon seen The magnitude of the Pulfrich Phenomenon seen depends on a number of factors with retinal illumination being one of the most significant. The magnitude of Pulfrich effect seen i.e. the depth of the elliptical trajectory, is larger for increasing disparity of retinal illumination between the two eyes. This may occur in a patient with a spontaneous Pulfrich phenomenon, for example when one eye has a much denser cataract than the fellow eye. It may also occur in cases of uniocular mydriasis when anisocoria could be induced. (2) The eye with the larger pupil receives increased retinal illumination than the other eye with a smaller pupil and therefore the phenomenon may be induced. This may also occur when the Pulfrich phenomenon is provoked, i.e. when a neutral density filter covering the eye is increased in depth. Lit ((2)12) has shown that the magnitude of the Pulfrich effect seen, that is the size of the ellipse, is proportional to the density of the filter used. The distance from which a pendulum or similar target is viewed, also has an effect on the magnitude of the Pulfrich phenomenon seen. An increase in the magnitude of the phenomenon can be observed as the distance between the observer and target increases. Target velocity also contributes to the magnitude of the Pulfrich phenomenon. As the target velocity increases, so does the magnitude of the Pulfrich effect seen by the observer, leading to much more noticeable illusions and increased visual symptoms. Symptoms experienced due to the Phenomenon The symptoms expressed by a patient with the Pulfrich phenomenon to a general practitioner or optometrist can be quite strange. Objects appear to move in incorrect pathways when either the observer or the target is in motion.(3) Objects moving up and down however will not demonstrate this effect or lead to symptoms as a result of misjudged distances. These symptoms experienced lead to difficulties in everyday tasks. Tasks such as driving and various ball game activities like football, which require good perception of moving objects, have been found to be more difficult for patients who have the Pulfrich phenomenon. Even the simplest of tasks such as navigating through doorways or pouring a drink have been found to produce an increased level of difficulty for such patients. Several studies have revealed that visual impairment leads to increased car accidents and difficulty driving. Visual perception has a key role in the safe operation of a vehicle, helping prevent driving errors and therefore prevent accidents and fatalities. In order to drive safely, a driver must be able to act and react to the changing environment around him/her. This requires the ability to correctly estimate the relative positions of moving and non-moving objects. Some Patients with a spontaneous Pulfrich phenomenon have complained of oncoming cars apparently swerving across the road towards them. This visual perception could lead to a serious accident and therefore must be treated to help prevent any casualties. Individuals who were later diagnosed with pathologies thought to be the cause of a spontaneous Pulfrich Phenomenon have reported the illusion that whilst driving, oncoming cars appear to swerve across the road towards them. Perception of this would lead to the driver maki ng a sharp turn away to escape what he/she thinks is a certain accident. Forty years ago, a traffic accident was reported which occurred as a result of an induced Pulfrich phenomenon due to unilateral pupillary dilation. (reference) Since then, many investigations have been carried out to learn more about the effect a spontaneous Pulfrich phenomenon has on driving. It was found that many individuals had problems with judging distances when driving, especially when performing manoeuvres such as reverse parking into a garage.(references) Why is it useful for optometrists to be able to diagnose and treat the Pulfrich phenomenon? Due to troublesome visual symptoms experienced by patients known to have the phenomenon, it is in the interest of both the patient and Optometrist that the Pulfrich effect is diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Various studies have shown that unilateral mydriasis was found to always produce the phenomenon on subjects.(reference) Because of this, it would be important for the Optometrist to warn the patient in advance of dilation, the visual symptoms and difficulty judging distance that can be expected, and also to warn, if possible, the patient should not drive home. It has also been suggested that, because patients with conditions such as cataract and optic neuropathy often demonstrate the Pulfrich phenomenon, an effective test for the Pulfrich phenomenon might be a useful addition to the tests available to Optometrists in primary care practice. The detection of this phenomenon may aid prompt diagnosis of any underlying pathology therefore the correct management and treatment could be initiated without delay. Recognition of this phenomenon could be particularly helpful in the early diagnosis of Retrobulbar neuritis, the most common form of optic neuritis in adults and frequently associated with multiple sclerosis (Jack J Kanski). In retrobulbar neuritis, the optic disc appearance is normal, at least initially, because the optic nerve head is not involved and so early detection is difficult using direct or indirect Ophthalmoscopy. Testing for the Pulfrich phenomenon is the only way to clinically determine if motion stereopsis is normal or not. Visual Evoked Potentials are not useful in analysing how motion stereopsis is affected, as their signals are travel via different visual pathways. VEPs are also not available to primary care optometrists. Standard stereo-tests such as the Frisby stereotest commonly used in Optometric Practice also fail to detect any abnormalities in motion stereopsis. (1) Knowledge and understanding of the Pulfrich would help the O ptometrist appreciate many of the strange symptoms experienced by an individual with the Pulfrich phenomenon and the many kinds of problems faced in daily life by i.e. sports games and traffic situations. The symptoms experienced by a patient with the phenomenon can be quite easily ignored or dismissed if the clinician is unaware of the phenomenon. If optometrists had the appropriate equipment and knowledge to diagnose the Pulfrich phenomenon in everyday practice, they would also be able to treat the phenomenon and its sometimes-disabling effects using simple filtered lenses. This would help reduce or eliminate any of the problems experienced as a result. Patients, that find even the simplest of tasks such as pouring a drink or navigating through doorways, may be enabled to carry out these tasks with ease after treatment. Management and treatment of the phenomenon may also allow patients who retired from driving a vehicle due to the visual difficulties faced with the Pulfrich effect to feel confident in driving again. The unusual symptoms experienced when driving due to the Pulfrich phenomenon, especially the location of moving objects encountered in traffic, could be eliminated with the simple treatment available. How is the Pulfrich phenomenon treated? The symptoms experienced by patients with a spontaneous Pulfrich phenomenon can be reduced or eliminated by placing an appropriate neutral density filter or optic tint in front of the unaffected eye. (3) The lens has the effect of reducing retinal illumination of the unaffected eye and therefore creates a delay in signal transmission to the visual cortex, which equals the delay in the affected eye. To choosing a correct filter, the patient is shown a range of filters of varying densities and asked to decide which lens alleviates their symptoms and removes phenomenon. Once the suitable lens filter has been chosen, it may then be worn as spectacles or as a contact lens. Optic tints are preferred to neutral density filters as they are more readily available and cost effective for the patient.(3)The filters used to treat the phenomenon should remain the same without needing to be updated, so long as the underlying pathology remains stationary.() Other Diagnostic methods Doctors and other Healthcare professionals have found many different ways of testing for the phenomenon. The most often suggested method is to swing a pendulum in 5 different pathways in front of a patient. A pendulum is swung in each of the pathways, from A-E. If the right eye is affected, the pathways C and B produce the most marked effect for the patient. The pendulum appears to veer towards the patient as it gets closer on these pathways. Picture from Charles J. M Diaper, 1997 Surv Ophthalmol Another technique used by some medical professionals in detecting the Pulfrich Phenomenon is when the examiner instructs the patient to quickly walk past the examiner whilst trying to brush his/her shoulder on either side. If the effect is present the patients left eye for example as shown in the diagram below, usually the affected eyes side will result in a large gap between the patient and the examiner. Errors in spatial localization result in the misjudgement of the distance between the patient and examiner. The patient can be seen to make a course correction, which can be seen as a rapid lurch away from the examiner. (6) The incorrect distance judgement by the patient is a result of an illusion caused by the Pulfrich phenomenon leading the patient to believe the examiner is closer than what he/she actually is.(3) Note that this gap would only occur on the same side of the affected eye. For example if the patients right eye were affected on the picture left, a large gap would not be observed. What my project is about? In this project we are interested in investigating which tests prove most effective to an Optometrist in detecting the Pulfrich Phenomenon and also what the optimal parameters are for eliciting the Pulfrich effect in visually normal observers. With the ready availability of computerised stimuli for eliciting the Pulfrich effect, this may now be possible in practice. We would like to investigate which of the currently available online versions of the Pulfrich phenomenon stimuli are most successful and sensitive at eliciting the Pulfrich effect. I will also test a range of neutral density filters of varying depths to see which induces the phenomenon best in a group of visually normal adults aged 18-30. I will also be recording the distances at which the subjects were placed in relation to the screen throughout the test to see what effect this may have on detecting the phenomenon on how sensitive the different stimuli were at detecting the Pulfrich phenomenon in the subjects.

Importance of Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac’s On The Road Essay

Importance of Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac’s On The Road It is Dean Moriarty, in Jack Kerouac’s On The Road, who represents the eternal flame of youth that was adopted by the rebellious youth culture of the Beat Generation. He is free from responsibility, â€Å"simply a youth tremendously excited with life†¦want[ing] so much to live and to get involved with people who would otherwise pay no attention to him† (Kerouac 4). Just as the Greek of the Olympics, â€Å"with [the] torch†¦[that] ignites the pagan dream of immortality† (Rodriguez 1), Dean embodies the almost immortal flame of youth, the eternal â€Å"sideburned hero of the snowy West† (Kerouac 2). As â€Å"He was the BEAT—the root, the soul of Beatific† (Kerouac 195), Dean embodied and still embodies the spirit of the immortal Beat Generation. Post-World War Two, the fifties saw the arrival of â€Å"juvenile delinquents, motorcycles, and leather jackets†¦[and the hipsters, who] adopted an ethic at odds with most Americans, and his values and view of the world soon became the Beats’† (Foster 8). The character of Dean Moriarty is literally and figuratively the firebrand of the invincible youth culture known as the Beat Generation, as he was one of â€Å"a youth tremendously excited with life†¦the holy con-man with the shining mind† (Kerouac 5). The passionate madness of life and rebellious con-man life-styles evinced in the character of Dean Moriarty are symbolic of the generation. Tim Hunt proposes that Sal Paradise, the protagonist or perhaps the conventional man, chooses â€Å"his [Dean’s] romanticized version of Denver slum life†¦[this] represents the New World at its most anarchistic and individualistic apex† (Hunt 39). Because Dean Moriarty holds this carefree and enthusiastic nature of the unconq... ... be immortal himself, his actions and Beat are enduring, that is, living within On the Road eternally. As James Dean became a symbol and inspiration for the Rebel, Dean Moriarty became the literary representation of the rebellious Beat Generation, holding onto that eternal flame—the passionate recklessness, the easygoing charisma that can ultimately found in youth. Works Cited Campbell, James. â€Å"The place of dead roads.† This is the Beat Generation. Los Angeles: U of California Press, 1999. Foster, Edward Halsey. â€Å"Kerouac.† Understanding the Beats. Columbia: U of South Carolina, 1992. Holstad, Scott C. â€Å"Kerouac: A look.† Kerouac’s On The Road and the American Quest. 1999. 04 Jan 2002. Hunt, Tim. â€Å"An American Education.† Kerouac’s Crooked Road. Los Angeles: U of California Press, 1996. Kerouac, Jack. On the Road. New York: Penguin Books, 1976.

Capitalism: A Love Story Essay

In class Ms. Crosdale sat us down to watch a documentary by the great Michael Moore â€Å"Capitalism: A Love Story.† To be quite honestly at first I wasn’t very interested in it until I started to hear little things like people losing their jobs and companies taking out life insurance on their employees unknowingly. I took it upon myself to go home and catch the rest of it on Netflix. After two hours of seeing the evil of capitalism or, as Michael Moore puts it, â€Å"legal greed,† I see myself looking at the world and our government in a different light. I have volunteered plenty of times before in shelters and have heard stories of capitalism taking toll over people’s life and leaving left with absolutely nothing. I also view everyday the mad rush of those who have been captured up in the rat competition for more here in the investment of the capitalist world. One man said in the movie that Wall Street is a â€Å"holy place,† and also implied that capitalism, each person making as much cash as he can, is God-given. Other comments in the movie regarded to capitalism as â€Å"evil.† Who is right? One interesting point that came to mind while watching the documentary was was it was said following Ronald Reagan years where the policies of Don Regan â€Å"turned the bull loose† for free enterprises, corporations gained more political power, unions were weakened, and socioeconomic gaps were widened. Then after it cuts in to speak about coverage of â€Å"dead peasant insurance† policies, where companies such as Wal-Mart have insurance against losses caused when workers or suppliers die. The employee is usually unaware of the policy, and the fact that the company stands to benefit if s/he dies. Apparently the practice of taking out life insurance on valuable, high level employees started a number of years ago. This seemed to make some sense, since a company stood to lose money from the untimely deaths of key personnel. But somehow, in recent years, facilitated by deregulation, this practice morphed into taking out policies on low- paid, easily replaced workers, i.e., peasants. Why? Windfall profits. It turns out that companies like Bank of America, WalMart, AT&T, Procter & Gamble, Dow Chemical, and others have found a way to make windfall profits off the deaths of employees! These dead peasant policies are also known to insiders as E. COLI â€Å"Employee Company Owned Life Insurance.† Funny? More like outrageous! Sometimes the company even gets the huge pay out when a former employee dies, because leaving the company doesn’t void the policy. The movie shows a parody of what would occur if God was a capitalist who desired to â€Å"maximize earnings,† â€Å"deregulate the financial market,† and desired the sick to â€Å"pay out of pocket† for their â€Å"pre-existing condition† , in comparison with several information commentators who announce the achievements of various capitalist businesses as being a â€Å"blessing from God.† The dictionary defines capitalism as â€Å"an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market.† While the Bible doesn’t mention capitalism by name, it does speak a great deal about economic issues. In my opinion, every thinking U.S. citizen should see this movie and take time out to think about the country that we are living in. Why? Very simply, because it will prick your conscience. On one level, it’s classic Moore, with indirect and subliminal humor, mockery (especially toward self-important people), understated exaggeration, and the clever use of people’s own words to incriminate themselves. But in over all, every point Moore makes is painfully true, and in this film more than in his previous ones, you feel the heart of a man who has compassion for the demoralized.

friday the 13th pt2 essays

friday the 13th pt2 essays Shane Gladstone Film Criticism Is Friday the 13th Part 2 typical of the slasher movie formula as laid out by Vera Dika? After having read Vera Dikas text Games of Terror (Dika, 1990) and watched the film in question Friday the 13th Part 2 (Steve Miner, US 1980) it was clear to me from the outset that there are parallels to be drawn between the two. Throughout this essay it is my intention to re-evaluate Dikas theories in relation to the chosen text and come to my own natural conclusions as to whether it qualifies as a strong example of the stalker genre or not. I will do this initially by re-reading the text and picking out the sections of it that relate the strongest to scenes in the film, once these have been chosen I will then concentrate on these scenes and texts in particular as examples of my methodology. I have done this by focusing on the typical stalker cliches presented to the viewer in the opening scene and the general use of space and setting throughout the narrative. The discussion of the typical stalker scene, setting, characterisation and plot structure. Friday the 13th Part 2 (Steve Miner, US 1981) opens with a lurking point of view shot of the killer (Jason Voorhees) watching the child of Alice (Adrienne King, heroine of the original movie Friday the 13th (Sean S Cunningham, US 1980) walk home alone in the rain while singing to himself a childrens song. This song (singin in the rain) signifies happiness and innocence, as a counter reaction to the song the soundtrack music playing in the background is dark, atmospheric and chilling. The setting in which they are located is suburban and typically American however the dark and the rain of the weather give the scene an almost gothic feel and the viewer feels that the child is exposed and open to attack. Moving inside the house the next shot depicts Alice laid on her bed in the middle of a nightmar...

The 3 Stages of a Spiders Life Cycle

The 3 Stages of a Spider's Life Cycle All spiders, from the tiniest jumping spider to the largest tarantula, have the same general life cycle. They mature in three stages: egg, spiderling, and adult. Though the details of each stage vary from one species to another, they are all very similar. The spider mating ritual also varies and males must approach a female carefully or he may be mistaken for prey. Even after mating, many male spiders will die though the female is very independent and will care for her eggs on her own. Despite the rumors, the majority of female spiders do not eat their mates. Egg, the Embryonic Stage After mating, female spiders store sperm until they are ready to produce eggs. The mother spider first constructs an egg sac from strong silk that is tough enough to protect her developing offspring from the elements. She then deposits her eggs inside it, fertilizing them as they emerge. A single egg sac may contain just a few eggs, or several hundred, depending on the species. Spider eggs generally take a few weeks to hatch. Some spiders in temperate regions will overwinter in the egg sac and emerge in spring. In many spider species, the mother guards the egg sac from predators until the young hatch. Other species will place the sac in a secure location and leave the eggs to their own fate. Wolf spider mothers carry the egg sac with them. When theyre ready to hatch, they will bite the sac open and free the spiderlings. Also unique to this species, the young spend as many as ten days hanging onto their mothers back. Spiderling, the Immature Stage Immature spiders, called spiderlings, resemble their parents but are considerably smaller when they first hatch from the egg sac. They immediately disperse, some by walking and others by a behavior called ballooning. Spiderlings that disperse by ballooning will climb onto a twig or other projecting object and raise their abdomens. They release threads of silk from their spinnerets, letting the silk catch the wind and carry them away. While most spiderlings travel short distances this way, some can be carried to remarkable heights and across long distances.   The spiderlings will molt repeatedly as they grow larger and theyre very vulnerable until the new exoskeleton forms completely. Most species reach adulthood after five to 10 molts. In some species, the male spiders will be fully mature as they exit the sac. Female spiders are always larger than males, so often take more time to mature. Adult, the Sexually Mature Stage When the spider reaches adulthood, it is ready to mate and begin the life cycle all over again. In general, female spiders live longer than males; males often die after mating. Spiders usually live just one to two years, though this does vary by species. Tarantulas have unusually long life spans. Some female tarantulas live 20 years or more. Tarantulas also continue molting after reaching adulthood. If the female tarantula molts after mating, she will need to mate again, because she sheds the sperm storage structure along with her exoskeleton. Resources and Further Reading Cranshaw, Whitney, and Richard Redak. Bugs Rule!: An Introduction to the World of Insects. Princeton University, 2013.Evans, Arthur V. National Wildlife Federation: Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America. Sterling, 2007.Savransky, Nina, and Jennifer Suhd-Brondstatter. â€Å"Spiders: An Electronic Field Guide.† Field Biology, Brandeis University, 2006.

Is capital punishment still a relevant form of punishment in today's Essay

Is capital punishment still a relevant form of punishment in today's society - Essay Example By contrast, the abolitionists see the impact of executions as a statement of pervasive importance about the relationship between the government and the individual. (James, 33-40) Abolitionists in the United States view capital punishment as a fundamental political issue; proponents usually assert that the question is neither fundamental nor political. As far as the question of relevance of capital punishment still as a form of punishment in today's society is concerned, it is simply refutable. Though there are many people who support capital punishment, yet they are few and they have not strong justifications to present in its favor. On the other hand, the civilized world has a firm stand and argumentative rebuttal of capital punishment in the contemporary era. While this is just one way in which the disputants talk past each other in the capital punishment debate, this particular disagreement helps to explain other aspects of the capital punishment dispute. ... National government and constitutional values have little direct influence on most punishment decisions. If the availability of death as a criminal punishment were a garden-variety choice of punishment option, state and local power over them would be consistent with an important American tradition. If, on the other hand, one regards capital punishment as a fundamental moral and political question, the national government and constitutional values are the appropriate vehicles for decisions. (Jan, 110-12) The Flaws in Implementation of Capital Punishment The proper way of characterizing the capital punishment may be an important question but it is not a difficult one. Our history, the recent history of other developed nations, and even the importance that the proponents of the penalty attach to it are powerful evidence that the capital punishment is an issue of transcendent importance, one that is principally moral and political. (Zimring, 78-82) There are certain reservations from some corners of public discussions as regards to the unreliable evidences that caused capital punishment but consequently proved false. It is hard to believe how prosecutors can admit evidence from unreliable sources. In some cases witnesses have later recanted or disavowed their testimonies claiming that they had only made their statements under pressure or coercion from prosecution and law enforcement. These false testimonies proved to be the condemning evidence in many cases. Lastly, most of the people charged in capital cases cannot afford defense attorneys. The appointed defense counsels in several cases have exhibited incompetence. Some of them did not even look for or missed important evidence that proved the innocence of their clients.

Financial Analysis of Capital Structure Term Paper

Financial Analysis of Capital Structure - Term Paper Example The decision regarding finding the optimum mix of equity and debt capital depends on capital spending, expected returns, optimum levels of debt, liquidity, cash levels, interest rates and risks, and dividend policy (Mallicoat, 2011). The following is a snapshot of the possible Capital Structures that Competition Bikes Inc. could acquire while expanding to Canada. The following were the alternatives available while choosing the right Capital Structure mix: 1. Capital Structure consisting only of bonds 2. A capital structure consisting of only stocks, with 50% preferred and 50% Common Stock 3. With 20% bonds and 80% common stock 4. Capital Structure consisting of bonds of 40% and Common Stock 60% EPS (Earning Per Share) is the portion of company’s profit that is allocated to each share of the common stock. It is the most important measure or figure for any shareholder. However, we would analyze the capital structure not only according to the EPS but also analyze the risk inheren t in the capital structure. The first alternative of the capital structure comprising only of bonds would allow the company to borrow capital at an interest rate that is lower than the interest rate for other types of borrowing. Bonds are written promises to pay back specific amount at a certain date and some interest payments at specific rates. They are pretty similar to the conventional loans with a few perks. Debt financing is favorable than equity financing as interest expense is tax deductible. However, one problem with this form of capital structure is that it is more risky as corporations are required to make interest payment even when they are not making profits making them vulnerable to bankruptcy and solvency (Brown, 2006). The EPS of this capital structure is also lowest at -0.042 under the current scenario. Hence, having the capital structure completely rely on bonds is a very risky option, specifically for Competition Bikes Inc. when they are expanding and exploring new opportunities. The second alternative is of 50% preferred stock and 50% common stock. Preferred stock offer dividend incentive to the shareholder as they are second in line to be paid after the bond holders when a company is facing a loss making them more risky than the common stock. Common stocks are favorable for companies with good financial health. However, the risk of losing ownership is inherent in common stocks as stock holders have the right to elect the board of directors. Moreover, equity financing is more expensive than debt financing and it is not feasible for a capital structure to be totally based on it (Other ways of raising capital – stocks and bonds, 2011). Therefore, the Capital Structure must include both debt and equity financing. All the third, fourth and fifth alternatives are mix of equity and debt financing. We need to find the right kind of mix between equity and debt. As debt is more risky and equity is more expensive and the objective of the compan y’s capital structure is to maximize shareholder return, we can decide on the basis of Earning per Share (EPS). EPS is the earning of each outstanding share. An important aspect of EPS is the capital required to generate the income used in the calculation of EPS. As all our Capital Structure alternatives use the same amount of capital, we can decide on the basic of the highest value of EPS while keeping the risk factor under check. Since Competition Bikes Inc. is expanding in Canada, they need time before they can start making large