MPH503, Infertility and Public Health, Mod 4 Case Assignment Essay

MPH503, Infertility and Public Health, Mod 4 Case Assignment - Essay Example The usual things, of course, such as am I healthy enough, am I in a stable relationship, and is this a good environment for the child? Can I actually afford this very expensive procedure and if the father is known, is this someone that I may need to be connected to his family? Other than those typical kinds of things, there is the criticism. Today there is much controversy as to whether it is an acceptable way to raise children. This causes quite a lot of criticism and discussion that even the child will have to learn to deal with. Much of that controversy centers around the fear that the children will not be well adjusted and if raised by lesbians will be gay themselves (Drexler, 2002). Many studies are showing this not to be true, in fact Drexler’s (2002) study shows that these children are probably better adjusted than other children. There are, however, a couple of issue that present themselves in the literature. One of those is that older couples as well as older women are using this technique to have children. This has precipitated several studies. Bovin, Rice, and Hay et.al. (2009) completed a study that shows that even though there is less outward emotion shown in these older parents, children remain very stable and do not have unusual problems growing up. Another issue that is represented in the literature is the involvement of grandparents. In the event that the grandparents are known most of them admitted that they would want to have contact with these children. In a study completed by Fulcher, Chan Raboy et.al.(2002), eighty families were studied and the result was that in as many households that were heterosexual as well as lesbian, the grandparents as well as uncles and other extended family members were a regular part of these children lives. In conclusion, the use of ART by women who are lesbian or women who wish to have a family as a single parent remains somewhat

Michelangelo Buonarroti Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Michelangelo Buonarroti - Research Paper Example v-vi). During this period, there was a renewed interest in the symbolism and skill represented in the achievements of the ancient world – the Greeks and early Romans whose ruins still dotted the local landscape. People who lived and worked around these ruins saw them as evidence of a lost golden age of shared culture, reason and creativity. They viewed the frescoes and mosaics as evidence of a society much better off than they were and began working to bring it about in their own world as trade centers began to grow and wealth became more widely available. By the late 1400s, a great deal of artistic practice had grown and the arts had begun to flourish. This was the time of the great masters - Giotto, Da Vinci, Michelangelo. A study of any of these artists reveals the energy and creativity of the age. Because of his position essentially at the height of the Renaissance period, Michelangelo Bounarroti is a logical choice for this type of investigation. His life and his times he lps to explain some of the great sensitivity he had in undertaking his many works of art, including painting, sculpture and architecture, reflecting in each the nature of the creative process that was sweeping through Italy at the time. One of the key characteristics of the Renaissance period was the greater number of educated people with money. Artists in towns like Florence quickly linked the mathematical knowledge of the ancient Greeks and Romans as expressed in their art and architecture to the proportional focus of their own world and realized how this could make their art more representational. These mathematics were a form of shared knowledge between the artists and the businessmen who paid them. â€Å"In an age of non-standard shipping units, one had to be able to calculate contents and quantities of shipments fairly rapidly† (Lemaitre & Lessing, 1993, p. 15). Painters used this foundational knowledge of geometry to depict everyday elements in their paintings that hel ped to convey their deeper intentions to the greatest possible audience. â€Å"In the same way that a painter could reduce the human form or settings to a play of geometrical figures, so could the merchant simplify all things to geometrical configurations† (Lemaitre & Lessing, 1993, p. 15). The melding of mathematics with artistic expression enabled artists to give their figures an impression of weight and volume that presented a more three dimensional appearance. This new ability to create realism within the flat surface of a painting and other forms of expression led artists to continue investigating other ways in which the world was revealed through the senses. This, in turn, contributed to an even greater explosion of thought, design and implementation that would eventually change the world. Michelangelo Buonarroti of Florence was actually born closer to the coast in the town of Caprese in the year 1475. His father was the governor of the town when Michelangelo was born, but he lost this position soon afterward and the family had to move back to Florence. His mother was a frail woman so Michelangelo was given to a wet nurse to care for him. This wet nurse was the daughter and wife of nearby stonecutters, giving the infant child his first taste of stone cutting tools which would one day make him famous. â€Å"

Development of Political Parties Research Paper

Development of Political Parties - Research Paper Example 78-79). This paper is an attempt to present a bird eye’s view of the history of the political parties in the United States of America. Discussion Surprisingly, the constitution of United States, unlike other constitutions of the nations does not present any guidelines about the political parties of the country. In fact, the First President of United States and the Father of the Nation, George Washington was strongly against political parities because he viewed political party system as something, which would bring conflicts, inefficiency, and stagnation to the system (Eldersveld & Walton, pp. 123-125). However, as soon as United States gained independence, disagreements and discrepancies surfaced out in the views of the founding fathers of America (Cohen, Fleisher & Kantor, pp. 513-516). The First Part System came into being when differences between the Treasury of the State Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson regarding the role and strength of the federal government (Nivo la & Brady, pp. 78-79). Hamilton and its supporters wanted a strong central government to control ad look after the matters; however, Jefferson and his disciples feared that a strong central government like that of Britain would invite the states to stand up against the Federation someday. This was the era of 1792-1824 (Maisel, pp. 98-99). This tug of war between the Federalist Party of Hamilton and Jefferson’s Democratic Republican Party went on to include various foreign policy issues as well (Eldersveld & Walton, pp. 123-125). Towards the end of the 1820’s the era of good feelings started and these personal and policy differences were settled. However, important here is to note is that Democratic Republic Party was the clear winner and survivor (Sabato & Ernst, pp. 269-278). However, it was not until the Second Party System that foundation of the modern American Political Party system came into existence. During this era of 1828 to 1854, the Democratic Party led by Andrew Jackson and the Whig Party in the leadership of Henry clay were facing each other (Eldersveld & Walton, pp. 123-125; Ritchie, pp. 367-373). Towards the end of this era, many of the democratic leaders accepted Whiggish ideas; however, many other economic and social issues were forcing the Democratic Party itself to divide into two thus giving birth to the third political party system in the United States (Wilson & DiIulio, pp. 193-197). This was during the third political party system when the Republican and Democratic Parities emerged which continue to be the dominant force in American politics (Stonecash, pp. 59-67). Many experts believe that the newly born Republican Party emerged as a national party, which was bold enough to take strong economic and social decisions such as creation of banks, rail roods, abolishment of slavery and others (Bibby & Schaffner, pp. 112-113; Maisel, pp. 98-99). In fact, slavery was the major issue during this period. The Democratic Party, which had a strong alliance with the farmers of the South and the West were unable to continue this alliance due to the issue of slavery. Furthermore, the Democratic Party finally was divided into two fractions with for and against slavery (Maisel, pp. 26-28). On the other hand, Republicans believed on the concept of free soil and thus wanted the abolishment of slavery (Cohen, Fleisher & Kantor, pp. 513-516). As mentioned earlier that Republicans remained in the spotlight during this era and after the civil war, they were able to exercise their control over

Adlerian Theory Essay Example for Free

Adlerian Theory Essay Introduction and Rationale School counselors work with students in academic development, social and emotional skill development, and college/career development. Their work supports student success through education in these domains, improvement of skills, reduction of stress, and improvement in mental health functioning. As I read the article, School Counseling Outcome: A Meta-Analytic Examination of Interventions, I couldn’t help but realize the importance of continued research on the effectiveness of school counseling interventions. This article focuses on the effectiveness of an array of school counseling interventions and not solely on individual and group counseling. The primary aim of this research was to review various literature pieces that relate to school counseling and identify their outcome and implications to the practice of school counseling. In this study, Meta-analysis 1 involved treatment control comparisons and Meta-analysis 2 involved pretest-posttest differences. The overall average weighted effect size for school counseling interventions was .30. The study examined whether relevant moderator variables influenced effect sizes. See more:  Social Satire in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay The pretest-posttest size was not significant, so moderator analyses were conducted on treatment control comparisons. Analyses of moderator variables indicated school counseling program activities or interventions varied in effectiveness Strengths and Weaknesses A meta-analysis of school counseling outcome research found an overall effect size of .30. Students who participated in the interventions improved almost a third of the standard deviation more than their peers who did not receive the interventions. In other words, school counseling interventions have a larger effect size than aspirin for preventing heart attacks (ES of .06) and an equivalent effect size to sertoline (Zoloft) compared to placebo, for  treating major depressive disorder (ES of .31). (Whiston Quimby, 2009). The use of meta-analysis offers some weakness on the research which is actually a common thing for meta-analytic researches. This results from the fact that the effect size’s quality is dependant on the quality of research and accuracy. Sampling inaccurate of ineffective research cases may also render the meta-analytic research weak due to the weakness of the researches sampled. The meta-analytic research may also be stronger due to the fact that it samples a mean of similar variables under various researches and thus providing an average that is a true representative of all researches. In order to improve the meta-analytic exercise it is good to first make an analysis of the article and ensure that they are classified appropriately and their content has high validity so that they may not negatively affect the analysis (Sexton, L.T., Whiston, S., 1998). Summary of Research Outcome A meta-analysis of school counseling research (117 studies, 153 school counseling interventions, and 16, 296 students) found an overall effect size of .30. The authors found that students who participated in school counseling interventions tended to score on various outcome measures about a third of a standard deviation above those who did not receive the interventions. School counseling interventions produced quite large effect sizes in the areas of discipline, problem-solving, and increasing career knowledge. The effect sizes were smaller, but significant, related to school counseling interventions’ impact on academic achievement. Surprisingly little school counseling research was found related to individual counseling. Concerning guidance curriculum, small groups were more effective than interventions that involved entire classrooms. Outcome research reflects that group counseling can be effective with students who are experiencing problems and difficulties. Applying this Research to Practice School counselors can improve the climate in their schools. They can also draw from a vast array of interventions that will help students increase  their academic achievement (Brown, 1999). One intervention that has been used for more than a quarter of a century is behavioral contracts. Behavioral contracts must have specific objectives, set attainable short-term goals, be monitored regularly, allow for immediate reinforcement, and be adjusted when they are not promoting the desired change. Other direct interventions frequently employed by school counselors include study skills groups, time management training, classroom guidance units aimed at improving test taking skills, and achievement motivation groups. Achievement motivation groups are led by the counselor, but involve input from the teachers and support for increased achievement from the students in the group. When students have educational and career goals, they do better in school. Counselors can facilitate the development of educational and personal goals by engaging students in individual and group activities that focus on goal setting. Some school counselors routinely ask students about interests, educational plans, and occupational goals and record these in their portfolios as one way of emphasizing the importance of goal setting. Research supports what educators have long understood: parent involvement is an important factor in student achievement (Brown, 1999). Parents who have a high level of commitment to their children, set high standards, maintain a stable home environment, and support achievement, have children who do better in school. Counselors can involve parents through parent consultation, parent education classes that teach parents how to support their children in schools as well as parenting skills, and by advocating for parents and students when students are not treated fairly by the educational establishment. They can also help keep the parents of children who are having difficulty in school apprised of their children’s progress by encouraging teachers to communicate more frequently with parents than once per grading period. Conclusion School counselors are under pressure to assist in the effort to increase student achievement. They can respond to this challenge by working to improve the school climate, using direct interventions such as teaching study skills and involving students in achievement motivation groups, and by increasing the involvement of parents in the educational process. As our culture and educational institutions change, school counseling practices are emerging to better meet the needs of today’s students. Resources Brown, D (1999). Proven strategies for improving learning and academic achievement. Greensboro, NC: CAPS Publications Sexton, L.T., and Whiston, S.C. (1998). A review of school counseling outcome research: Implications for practice. Journal of Counseling and Development volume 76, issue number pp 412-426. Whiston Quinby (2009). Review of school counseling research. Psychology in the Schools 46(3), 267-272. Schatzberg Nemeroff (2009). Textbook of Pyschopharmacology. Arlington, VA: The American Psychiatric Publisher. Whiston, Susan C; Wendi, Lee Tai; Rahardja, Daryn; Eder, Kelly. Journal of Counseling and Development. Winter 2011. Vol. 89. Issue 1, p. 37-55.

Biography of Plotinus :: essays research papers

Plotinus was born in Upper Egypt, more specifically in Lycopolis in 204 CE. When he was twenty-eight he moved to Alexandria to study philosophy. While in Alexandria, he was tremendously influenced by Plato and Aristotle and therefore studied their works immensely. Subsequent to working under Ammonius for approximately ten years, he joined the Emperor Gordian’s campaign against the Parthians (Persians) in 243 AD. He joined the campaign, partly because he was somewhat intrigued by the Persians’ philosophies, but mainly because he was greatly interested in the philosophers of India and Persia. Plotinus’s plan failed: the emperor was assassinated in Mesopotamia and he was coerced to escape to Antioch in order to save his life. In 244 AD, he made his way to Rome and started his own school of philosophy. He was such a distinguished teacher, that he received rave reviews from highly eminent people, including the Emperor Gallienus and his wife Salonina. Not long after the school was founded, he thought up the idea for a model city, Platonopolis, in a city called Campania in Southern Italy. His idea was for the city to live according to the laws of Plato. Even though Gallienus was completely supportive of this plan, the other "imperial counselors" were not; therefore, the idea did not go any further. He continued to teach at his school in Rome until 268 AD. From that point, he retired to a rural estate of one of his disciples in Campania. During the last few years of his life, he began to put down in writing, his responses to the most common questions that were raised during his seminars. These responses were written in essays, primarily because the extent of most of the answers could not

Explore the ways in which Collins presents the relationships between men and women in The Moonstone Essay

Explore the ways in which Collins presents the relationships between men and women in The Moonstone. Do male or female characters have more influence in the novel? In this essay I will explore the relationships between male and female characters in the novel ‘The Moonstone’. This essay will evaluate all of the key characters, from the annoyingly religious Miss Clack to the caring and loving Gabriel Betteredge. I will explore the characters personality and decipher whether male or female characters have more influence in the novel. The book is split into eight narratives written by different characters to show what each character is thinking and to give different perspectives as the events unfold. This technique also adds tension as certain secrets are hidden from individuals so not everyone knows the whole truth. Out of the eight narratives only one is written by a woman (Drusilla Clack) whilst all the others are written by male characters. The female characters in the novel are all very atypical, as they stand up for themselves and do not just give way. This was uncommon in the Victorian era as women had few rights and were not expected to be hot tempered. Miss Rachel, a young lady born into a rich family, acts in an unlady-like manner at certain points in the story, especially when she refuses to give information on what she knows about the diamond. Betteredge, one of the characters who knows Rachel Verinder best, said that he could â€Å"Call to mind, in her childhood, more than one occasion when the good little soul took the blame, and suffered the punishment, for some fault committed by a playfellow whom she loved†. This aspect of Rachel’s character and personality is shown many times in the novel, for instance, when she refuses to talk about the diamond for Franklin Blake’s reputation would be shattered if she spoke. This gives the reader the impression that Rachel values her friends and family and she is a women of her word. This adds suspense to the novel and greatly effects the plot as if she had revealed what she knew then Franklin Blake would have been arrested and would not have had a chance of defending himself, resulting in the Moonstone never being found and Godfrey Ablewhite getting away, with no consequences. In the book the majority of the discoveries are made by men, although this is because the female characters already knew the truth; they just hadn’t revealed it. One of the cases of this happening is when Franklin Blake deciphers the code to find Rosanna Spearmen’s chest. This held many secrets which Rosanna had kept silent about for a long time. This effects the outcome of the novel, as since Rosanna kept quite over her love of Franklin Blake, the truth of the moonstone being revealed is delayed, giving time for the events at London to unfold. The reader really gets the impression of Rosannas love of Mr Franklin Blake from this act, of saving his reputation, even though holding these secrets could be argued to be a massive factor of her eventual suicide. Despite this, Franklin never really notices Rosanna Spearman; this is probably due to the fact that in his eyes she is just a housemaid with a lumpy shoulder. Social class is outlined here, with the rich Franklin Blake and the poor Rosanna Spearman. The different social classes were more prominent in Victorian times and Collins also uses class in his other novels such as the woman in white, where Walter Hartright and Laura Fairlie fall in love, but due to Walter’s low social class, they separate. When Rosanna dies, it could be suggested that Ezra Jennings is introduced to replace her, as these two characters are very similar in personality and are both rejected by most members of society. They are also both attracted to Mr Franklin Blake in different ways; Rosanna has an undying love for him, and Ezra asks himself â€Å"What is the secret of the attraction that there is for me in this man?†. Both characters also had rough upbringings, as Rosanna was a thief as a child and Ezra was beaten and was mistreated mercilessly by his family. Ezra Jennings is also addicted to Opium, as â€Å"for ten years past I have suffered from an incurable internal complaint†. His addiction to the drug led to his painful and horrific nights, and Opium also destroyed his nervous system. Wilkie Collins probably introduced Ezra Jennings as a character which he could relate to, as Collins himself was addicted to Opium, which is probably why the drug plays such a significant part in the book. Collins believed he had an imaginary friend named ‘Ghost Wilkie’ and often hallucinated in his sleep. His other novels have opium in them, so his way of relating to his addiction was to put it into his books. Opium plays a significant part in the book, as Ezra uses it in his experiment to discover who took the diamond. The reader feels uncertainty when the book dapples in the secret world of Opium as most readers would not have tried it and therefore do not know how powerful it is and what it can do. Gabriel Betteredge often talks about which side of Mr Franklin Blake’s character is shining through, and believes it to be due to all of Franklin’s foreign training (Betteredge usually relates his strict character to Franklin’s German side, his poeticness to his French side, and his bravery to his English side). This gives Mr Franklin Blake no distinct character. This gives you the impression that Gabriel Betteredge is very stereotypically British, supporting his country and almost believing that the English are superior to others. Godfrey Ablewhite however, has a very different character which is hidden from the public view. He tries to get across the image of a hardworking gentleman who dedicates his life to the many women’s charities he patronizes, when he is actually a man swallowed in debt and trying to rob people of their riches to pay it off. His debt was one of the key reasons why he asked to marry Rachel Verinder, as he thought that he would inherit enough money to pay off the debt; however that did not turn out to be the case. When Rachel asked for the marriage to be cancelled, Godfrey did not try to put up any resistance, as he knew that he would not receive the inheritance he had hoped for. Godfrey also gets engaged to another woman, but the marriage is broken off for similar reasons. At the end of the book, Godfrey is in disguise as a sailor with a dark complexion when he tries to get the Moonstone from the bank. This is symbolism as it outlines the fact that he is leading a double life, and he has a dark complexion as Betteredge and Franklin immediately suspected the Indians of stealing the diamond. Their immediate suspicion of the Indians affects the plot greatly as it means that Godfrey Ablewhite has time to hide the diamond without being suspected, as all eyes were on the Indians. The view the public have of him is different to what he is actually like, and if it had not been for Mr Matthew Bruff, the marriage might not have been called off. Miss Clack often swoons at the sight of Mr Godfrey Ablewhite; this is because she believes he is a hardworking Christian, and refers to him as â€Å"gifted† and â€Å"wonderful†. It is therefore no surprise that she is shocked when she, by chance, hears Godfrey’s proposal to Rachel. It is here that he admits that his, â€Å"Charitable business is an unendurable nuisance† and that if â€Å"I see a Ladies’ committee now, I wish myself at the uttermost ends of the earth†. Miss Clack is highly offended by this, as she is a member of ‘The Mothers Small Clothes Conversion Society’, but she dismisses this out of hand as being a slip of the tongue in the heat of the moment. Miss Clack’s personality is very different to the other female characters in the book, as she is a character of a certain type of hypocrite. She never leaves without her Christian pamphlets and she often tries to spread her faith through these tracts. She may be doing this to turn more people Christian, or she may just be doing this as it is in her sphere of power and it makes her feel as though she has more influence on society. A perfect example of Miss Clack’s character is when she visits Lady Verinder and Rachel, but upon realising that Lady Verinder’s doctor is trying to use medication to treat Lady Verinder instead of praying to god and waiting for him to perform a miracle, she spreads religious books of her choice around the Verinder’s house. She believes that this act did not make her a nuisance, but instead, a â€Å"True Christian†. Miss Clack has a very different opinion of herself compared to what other people think of her. Even the kind and loving Gabriel Betteredge, who has a good word to say about almost everyone, does not take well to Miss Clack. Before handing over the job of narrating to her, he asks the reader to â€Å"Just do me the favour of not believing a word she says, if she speaks of your humble servant†. This shows that she is believed to not be a teller of truths, and Betteredge is pre-warning the reader of what to prepare for. We believe what Betteredge says and not Miss Clack as he has shown himself to be an honourable character, worthy of the readers trust. Our decision to believe him and not Miss Clack is also influenced by other characters, as Franklin Blake often refers to him as â€Å"a dear old friend†, so others characters have respect for him as well. In the story, female characters do not reveal what they know straight away. This adds suspense to the story, as you have to wait a long time for the secret which will put together a new piece of the puzzle. A good example of this is Rosanna’s letter to Mr Franklin Blake, explaining where the chest is hidden, and inside the chest is Rosanna’s narrative which explains events before and after Rachel Verinder’s 18th birthday party leading up to Rosanna’s suicide told through her point of view. The letter’s opening is delayed however, as Limping Lucy refuses to give it to anyone other than Franklin Blake himself. This lets the events at London unfold, and the case of the Moonstone is put on hold for a short period. Limping Lucy is Rosanna Spearman’s only friend, and was understandably angry at Franklin as she believed that he forced Rosanna into suicide. Limping Lucy has a severe limp in her left foot, and this may be one of the reasons why she and Rosanna are so good friends, as they both have physical deformities and are rejected by most members of society. I believe that female characters have more influence on the plot of the novel due to their actions which are gradually revealed to the reader. Superficially, male characters seem to have a larger role in the discovery of the secrets behind the moonstone but this is because they are only just digging in to what the female characters already know. The fact that male characters have almost all of the narrations add to the secrecy of the novel and also reinforces the point of male character seemingly having more influence and control of the plot, when all they are doing is discovering what is beneath the surface of an apparently settled world in the novel.

Milliron’s Privacy was Invaded by Face Recognition Technology

Rob Milliron, a construction worker, was enjoying his lunch in an entertainment area of Tampa, Florida, when a government camera equipped with face recognition technology took his photograph. The photo was used without Milliron’s consent in an article published in the U. S. News & World Report. When a woman in Oklahoma misidentified Milliron after seeing that photo and contacted the police department to have him arrested on child neglect charges, the man in the picture was forced to explain his innocence to law enforcement agencies. He told a newspaper once his explanation had been accepted: â€Å"They made me feel like a criminal† (Alexander & Richert-Boe). This case raises ethical concerns regarding governmental use of facial recognition surveillance. Although common use of this technology is yet to be realized in the United States, its future in areas of security and public safety appears rather promising. However, as Milliron’s case shows, there is an issue of legality that federal statutes have not yet addressed with reference to face recognition surveillance. In order to understand the legality of face recognition technology, we have to bring into consideration the Fourth Amendment (Bennett, 2001). The United States Supreme Court held in Katz v. United States that the Fourth Amendment would afford constitutional protection in those areas in which an individual reasonably expects privacy. For a private or public space to be recognized as one that is outside the bounds of search, both the individual occupying the space as well society must recognize privacy interest in the space in question. Courts allow the use of video surveillance only in places where people do not have reasonable expectations of privacy. These places may include sidewalks as well as public streets, workplaces in addition to entertainment areas (Bennett). Because Milliron should not have expected privacy in the public area he occupied, the fact that government cameras took his photograph cannot be considered unethical. Benett writes that â€Å"[c]ourts have found repeatedly that warrantless video surveillance of public areas does not violate the Fourth Amendment, and it seems likely that courts will take the same approach toward public surveillance systems incorporating facial recognition software† (164). This is true despite the fact that facial recognition technology is marked by an unreasonable privacy invasion, and â€Å"all individuals in the camera’s path are subject to a police lineup† (Kasindorf, 2001). Bennett’s claim that face recognition technology would not have a conflict with the Fourth Amendment is based on the fact that the new technology does not involve the kind of physical intrusion, such as the drawing of blood or the taking of urine samples that the Fourth Amendment’s searches involve. Moreover, the Supreme Court has maintained that new technological devices that enhance the senses of law enforcement are entirely constitutional. The Supreme Court has further held that observations using technologies such as biometrics are made in areas where the police have a clear right to be present. Such observations are a part of plain view surveillance that may also be performed without the technology in question. Finally, it has been maintained that no technology may be considered an intrusion where the lack of the technology poses a threat to the security of the people (Bennett). Although this line of reasoning is entirely acceptable, the fact remains that Milliron’s photograph was used without his consent. His subsequent experience with the photo was uncomfortable enough to refer to the publishing of the photo as misuse of information on the part of the government. It was an invasion of Milliron’s privacy to publish the photo without his consent. So, even though the government is correct to use face recognition surveillance in public places for security reasons, it should vow never to misuse the information it gathers thus for security reasons alone. Milliron and other members of the general public should be asked whether they would agree to have their photos published with the caption, â€Å"You can’t hide those lying eyes in Tampa,† as did Milliron’s photo in the U. S. News & World Report (Alexander & Richert-Boe). Clearly, the government should be held as a lawbreaker if it takes photographs for security reasons and publishes them for other reasons.

The Most Famous Wildfire Photograph Ever Taken

The Most Famous Wildfire Photograph Ever Taken Some consider the image shown, taken by an observant wildland firefighter, to be one of the most beautiful photographs of both wildfire  and wildlife taking refuge. The photo  was taken on August 6,  2000, by John McColgan who was a fire behavior expert working under a  cooperative agreement with the  Bureau of Land Management (BLM)  and attached to an Alaskan Type I Incident Management Team on a Montana wildfire.​ McColgan says he was at the perfect spot with his Kodak DC280 digital camera when fire conditions and wildlife activity combined to create his image. The pic was saved as just another image file in the new type of digital camera.   McColgan finished his work for the BLM and returned to his home in Fairbanks, Alaska. He could not be found for days after one of those pictures turned viral and spread quickly over the Internet.   One of his elk and fire snapshots has fast become one of the most downloaded environmental photos of wildlife and wildfire on the Internet. Rob Chaney, a  reporter for the  Montana Missoulian  suggested that there were multiple reasons this photo was so great. Here are some of the comments reported:   Best darned elk photo Ive ever seen.Best darned fire photo Ive ever seen.Best darned photo, period, Ive ever seen. From the Official Record The famous photo was taken on a Sunday, in the late evening where several fires burned together near Sula, Montana (population 37) and turned into one large 100,000-acre wildfire. McColgan just happened to be standing on a bridge crossing the East Fork of the  Bitterroot River  in the  Sula  Complex of the  Bitterroot National Forest  in the state of  Montana where he took what is now called his elk bath digital Image. McColgan was employed by the Alaska Fire service and was on loan to Montana and acting as an expert on wildfire behavior. McColgan just happened to be a contract fire analyst with a new camera and took digital pictures of two elk who escaped the fire by wading in the Bitterroot River. No big deal. As a natural resource professional, McColgan understood both wildfire and wildlife.  When asked about the elk, he assured that they know where to go, where their safe zones are...a lot of wildlife did get driven down there to the river. There were some bighorn sheep there. A small deer was standing right underneath me, under the bridge. McColgan completed his assignment and left for home. The Search for McColgan The digital image he took was sent from one person to another person and according to the Montana Missoulian within about 24 hours the elk photo had world-wide-webbed its way across the West. For about a week now, theres been a medium-size manhunt underway across the West. The man everyones been hunting for is John McColgan of Fairbanks. The Nation and the World were sending emails and making phone calls for weeks to find out just who took the images of the wildfire and wildlife. It was the newspaper  Missoulian in Montana who finally solved the mystery and tracked McColgan down. He had indeed been in Montana and was now in Fairbanks attending the birth of his son, where the paper finally found him and where he told reporter Rob Chaney that he had taken the picture. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.  McColgan confirmed that he had been in fire protection for  years  and that this particular fire ranked in the top three  extreme fire behavior  events he had ever seen.   Rob Chaney in response to the photo wrote that many people have never even seen an elk. Most of those who have, even those whove seen thousands of them, never get to see an image like this. Most people dont get to see a fire like this, either. Thanks to McColgan and Rob Chaney, millions of people have seen this stunning image. McColgans image went viral and eventually was picked as a Time Magazine favorite.

The Revolutionary Age of Andrew Jackson Essays

The Revolutionary Age of Andrew Jackson Essays The Revolutionary Age of Andrew Jackson Paper The Revolutionary Age of Andrew Jackson Paper Essay Topic: Revolutionary Road Subject Matter The Age of Andrew Jackson was a time of revolution when enormous changes were â€Å"shaking and transforming America. † Prominent figures â€Å"wrestl[ed] with the nation’s prospects and with each other,† further shaping the people and its democratic government. (Remini, i) Every decision Jackson and his men made in some way or another affected the social, economical, and political aspects of life in the Age of Jackson. Once Andrew Jackson took office, the people immediately embarked on a journey to develop a closer relationship with the government. Though conflicts, many times over particular issues concerning the nation’s practices and patterns, occurred between the President and Congress, Jackson proved to be a â€Å"living symbol of the advance of American democracy† and, eventually, Congress seemed to agree. (Remini 27) The Revolutionary Age of Andrew Jackson is arranged into three parts, or â€Å"books†. Each describes events primarily through the accounts of prominent historical figures such as Webster, Clay, and Jackson. The events, spanning from westward expansion to the days of Jackson, are presented chronologically. Book I of The Revolutionary Age of Jackson, titled â€Å"A New Age† talks of how â€Å"American society itself had changed. † The nation simply â€Å"throbbed and pulsed with energy. † People began to believe in equality of opportunity. They believed that â€Å"no one should have special privileges†¦ Government must†¦ prevent any one from gaining an advantage over the others. † (Remini, 15) Many issues had also risen, many concerning preserving the Union, slavery, Indian presence, and etc. And â€Å"central to all these issues† was Andrew Jackson. Jackson’s election â€Å"marked a new beginning in the relationship between the government and the people† Never had there been such an inauguration of a President. Never before had the â€Å"ordinary citizen- the common man- so spontaneously expressed his enthusiasm for a new administration. † (Remini, 33) It already shows that the people and the government were bonding. It was â€Å"the beginning of truly popular government in America† and all because of Andrew Jackson and his administration. (Remini, 150) The Age of Jackson marked the beginning of modern political campaigning. Now he politicians were reaching out to the masses, employing â€Å"gimmicks of all kinds to arouse and sustain popular interest in the activities of the party. † (Remini, 50) All the proof needed to argue that popular government had indeed arrived was seen in the constant rise of the number of voters and by looking at the candidates elected into office. To a large extent, popular government emerged because of a small group of men: Martin Van Buren, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, Thomas Harton Benton, and John C. Calhoun. Book II, titled â€Å"Issues and Answers†, is where Remini presents his purpose. He presents the many issues of the time- â€Å"how to make America truly democratic; how to hold the Union together, when slavery was threatening to tear it apart; what to do with the Indians†¦ how to solve the fierce power struggle between the President and the Congress†- and explains the actions of Jackson and how he changed American life. (Remini, i) Making America truly democratic began with politics. Jackson believed that government jobs belonged to all and thus supported the principal of rotation to avoid corruption of the office holders. Rotation meant that more people served. And when more people served, there was a more democratic system. â€Å"It seemed to the ordinary citizen that the people themselves had finally assumed control of their government. † (Remini, 135) Whether or not a democracy truly came to America can be debated. What matters is that the people believed democracy had come. When the Civil War drew near, many Americans â€Å"wistfully looked back to the Age of Jackson and remembered how their President had guided the country away from secession and its bloody consequence. (Remini, 84) He exerted notable leadership and had the desire to â€Å"save the Union. † A debate concerning states’ rights commenced with Calhoun and Jackson on different sides. While Calhoun worked to defend the rights of the South, Jackson â€Å"did everything within his power to work out a compromise. † (Remini, 103) The president had successfully avoided armed conflict and the breakup of the Union by issuing the Compromise Tariff of 1833. The Indian problem proved to be an â€Å"ugly contradiction to the general democratic mood of the Jacksonian age. (Remini, 105) While many Americans felt Indians blocked the progress of â€Å"the civilized white man,† Jackson felt they made notable advances. He acted out of concern for the well-being of the Indians, moving them out west of the Mississippi because â€Å"it was necessary to preserve [their] life and culture. † (Remini, 113) Apparently, the democratic government freely elected by the people had solved the Indian problem to its own satisfaction. It is â€Å"a terrible contradiction† that a powerful democratic nation had solved one of its problems by the â€Å"near extinction of the entire race of people. Despite the severity and the cruel nature of the matter, what Jackson did was possibly the only course of action they could take. With such an explosive fervor for land and expansion, the Indians were at threat, and Jackson had placed them beyond â€Å"the reach of injury or oppression. † (Remini, 120) Book III, titled â€Å"The Growth of Presidential Power†, concerns the struggle between the President and Congress. The Bank War, a substantial issue under Jackson’s administration, runs through the entire last third of The Revolutionary Age of Andrew Jackson. A quote from Henry Clay calls it a â€Å"revolution†¦ tending towards a total change of the†¦ character of the Government. † (Remini, 124) The Bank of the United States had gained a considerable amount of power, controlling financial operations of the entire country. Such privileges â€Å"ran contrary to the spirit of this democratic age. † (Remini, 128) Jackson, thinking that the Bank was dangerous to the government, wrote a veto message and sent it to Congress in 1832. It â€Å"changed and amplified the fundamental power of the President. (Remini, 134) Whereas previous vetoes were issued by question of constitutionality, Jackson believed the President can veto a bill when he felt it harmed the nation. This interpretation of presidential â€Å"prerogatives† changed the relationship between the legislative and executive branches of government. The Presidential Election of 1832 was the first election in which the American people were â€Å"actually inv ited to decide an important issue. † (Remini, 140) Also, the selection of candidates was conducted in a more democratic manner than ever before. The election marked the beginning of the end for the Bank of the United States, and it also signaled the democratization of the electoral process. â€Å"A climate of respect and regard for the popular will† had risen, and this was â€Å"one of the great contributions of the Jacksonian era. † (Remini, 151) â€Å"’The President is the direct representative of the American people,’† said by Jackson, was truly a revolutionary statement. It â€Å"certainly did not accord with the practice or beliefs of previous Presidents,† and it â€Å"restructured the government to the advantage of the executive branch. (Remini, 165) Many prominent figures such as Calhoun and Clay rose up against the President and accused him of despotism. However, finally finding acceptance of his theory, Jackson altered the essential character of the presidency. The President from this point on became the â€Å"true† head of government. Remini finally finishes his book with a conclusive chapter. He praises Jackson for increasing the number of ordinary individuals involved in the functioning of the government, exercising a leadership new to presidential history, and redefining the presidency in its relationship with Congress and the people. The Jacksonian Era broad about a â€Å"new breed of politician who preached the doctrine of popular rule,† and represented the political beginnings of modern America. (Remini, 178) Thesis The author explicitly states that â€Å"the revolutionary Age of Andrew Jackson changed much of America’s way of life. It established the nation’s basic political practices and patterns. It stands at the beginning of the modern America we have inherited. † (Remini, ii) Jackson was one of the people, spoke for the people, and acted for the people. He was the people’s President, and because of his beliefs, he revolutionized American politics. America was changed forever. Politically, Jackson created a truly popular government in spirit. The people of America were always supporting the President, whose first election was already the most enthusiastic of the time. More of the masses began voting and more of them began looking at the candidates running in office. The rotation system even brought more of the people themselves into office. Activity in the political parties sparked and contributed much into the dvancement of democracy within the nation. Andrew Jackson ultimately â€Å"brought the people and the government closer together. † The time period was thus coined the era of â€Å"Jacksonian Democracy. † (Remini, 66) His leadership created a precedent for future presidents to come. His â€Å"desire to save the Union† did save the Union in a time when the issue of slavery first made its way over the country. The way he handled the issues was unmatchable, as proven from the failure to avoid the Civil War decades later. Remini, 84) Also, as a President who â€Å"had sworn to uphold the Constitution and faithfully execute the laws of the United States,† he did â€Å"not tolerate defiance of the national government,† exercising the use of government military strength. (Remini, 102-103) A result of the Bank War was an increase in presidential power. Jackson’s relentless use of vetoes proves that. The War also â€Å"altered the fundamental structure of government. † (Remini, 123) When Congress declares a bill constitutional, it doesn’t mean that it has to be signed. According to Jackson, if one feels it unconstitutional, it isn’t necessary. It is up to the people, who are â€Å"equally entitled to protection by law. † (Remini, 136) The conventional system was also changed by the age of Jackson. â€Å"More people were involved in the process†¦ They represented every section, state, class, and economic interest and most political views in the nation. † The system provided for electoral success and the purposes of democracy were well served. The traditional notion that voting was only for the rich vanished, and Jackson changed the entire direction of government. He â€Å"marked a new beginning in American political history† by saying, â€Å"The President is the direct representative of the American people, and he is elected by the people and responsible to them. † (Remini, 165) This revolutionary philosophy changed the course of presidential history and its relationship with the Congress and its people. Remini, again, emphasizes the influence of the revolutionary age of Andrew Jackson, which created fundamental practices for the future. Though it was a time of departure from traditional operations of government, it represented the political beginning of a modern America. Critique Robert V. Remini is qualified for being a notable author, clearly demonstrating his scholarship in the Jacksonian Era from his many novels about the time period. Though retired from teaching history and humanities at the University of Illinois at Chicago, he still retains his title as a venerable professor. Not only is he consultant to â€Å"The Papers of Andrew Jackson,† the â€Å"official project which will publish all of Jackson’s important papers and correspondence,† but he is also Historian of the United States House of Representatives, commissioned to study and document its past. Goodman, 2) Even Christina Jeffrey, a visiting Professor of Politics at Coastal Carolina University agrees, saying that â€Å"he is beyond question superbly qualified to be Historian of the House of Representatives. † He is, without denying, â€Å"one of our greatest living American Historians. † (Goodman, 4) Remini’s The Revolutionary Age of Andrew Ja ckson employs many quotations from many documents of the Age of Jackson, which primarily give the novel a more narrative feel as well as provide evidence for Remini’s claims. Throughout the novel, many quotations were taken from prominent historical figures, travelers, and foreign visitors during the time. For instance, Remini was describing the changes of American society, and the words of Daniel Webster proved that the Jacksonian Age was â€Å"wholey [sic] of a different character from the past† while the words of an Englishman stated that the continent â€Å"present[ed] a scene of scrambling and roars with greedy hurry. † (Remini, 5) At one point in the novel, instead of telling the death of Rachel, Jackson’s wife, in a factual, unadorned manner, the author describes the scenes with vividness. According to Remini, Jackson had â€Å"spent the night by Rachel’s side, his face in his hands, grieving†¦ He would look into the face and feel the heart and pulse of the one to whom he was totally and utterly devoted. † (Remini, 28) As shown, the effectiveness of the presentation is not only enhanced by authentic pieces of hard evidence, but also augmented by the author’s style of writing. Robert V. Remini presents a thesis with plenty of evidence to justify his claims about the Jacksonian Era. Much of it is from dialogue of significant people and common folk which significantly raises the book’s credibility because change in American life an’t be proven without what people have actually said during the time. And all this evidence is structured in such a way that the Age of Andrew Jackson comes alive in all areas of life: political, economical, and social. All these aspects of life were delved deep into, and Remini made sure that each one was explained to the fullest in as little bias as possible. Modern day government was sparked by the Age of Jackson, which Remini fully explains, and the change that he talks about is undeniable. The Revolutionary Age of Andrew Jackson proves to be an interesting book. Richard Norton Smith, while commenting on one of Remini’s works, praises him for having research that is â€Å"impeccable, his storytelling on a par with his outsized subject. And what a story he has to tell. † (Goodman, 3) Remini purposely sets up his story with such a fashion that Jackson turns into a protagonist while the others turn into antagonists. Jackson is a hero who had sworn to â€Å"uphold the Constitution and faithfully execute the laws of the United States† and his enemies such as Nicholas Biddle were described as â€Å"arrogant† with â€Å"questions about [their] integrity. (Remini, 102) This book is highly recommended for its novelty in history telling and its fundamentality to an understanding of contemporary American government. Evaluation The American Pageant and The Revolutionary Age of Andrew Jackson, though drawing upon the same conclusions, treat Andrew Jackson’s career quite differently. The American Pageant expresses more o f a negative tone toward the man than does Robert V. Remini. The spoils system, for example, was treated quite differently. Remini’s book calls it the â€Å"rotation† system, and treats it as a great democratic tool that brought about a closer relationship between the people and its government. The textbook, on the contrary, emphasizes the scandal when one million dollars was extracted from the Washington government by Samuel Swartwout. Although The American Pageant affirms the fact that the system was â€Å"an important element of the emerging two-party order,† it accentuated the negative aspects of the system rather than the positive, which contrasts greatly with The Revolutionary Age of Andrew Jackson. (Pageant, 263) The nullification crisis during the 1830s was also treated in different manners. The textbook credits Calhoun for saving the country from armed conflict. He was â€Å"the true hero of the hour,† not Jackson. Instead, the President was a â€Å"cantankerous general† and threatened the states if they were to secede. (Pageant, 265) The Revolutionary Age of Andrew Jackson disagrees, praising the President as a man â€Å"sworn to uphold the Constitution and faithfully execute the laws. † (Remini, 102) Both texts, however, agree that the next time the â€Å"nullies† and the Union clash, it would be a time when compromise would prove more elusive. The Native American problem was also presented differently. The American Pageant noted Jackson’s â€Å"callous jibe at the Indians’ defender,† the Congress, and his harsh comment, â€Å"John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it. † (Pageant, 267) Yet, Remini goes on to explain that Jackson â€Å"acted out of concern for the well-being of the Indians and for their civilization,† which completely opposes the first description. (Remini, 111) It was undeniable that these views are at odds, but the fact is that the Indians were moved to reservations after having attempted to assimilate them into white culture. The American Pageant only spends a few pages on the President and doesn’t go quite as far in depth as Remini’s The Revolutionary Age of Jackson. It is interesting to note the different views of President Andrew Jackson. Some may view him as a very controversial man, while others may view him the same way Remini does. The facts are given in The American Pageant, but The Revolutionary Age of Andrew Jackson gives the facts and tells an intriguing story that speaks of the triumphs of a once living symbol of American democracy.

Pac-Man Video Game History and Background

Pac-Man Video Game History and Background On May 22, 1980, the Pac-Man video game was released in Japan and by October of the same year, it was released in the United States. The yellow, pie-shaped Pac-Man character, who travels around a maze trying to eat dots and avoid four mean ghosts, quickly became an icon of the 1980s. To this day, Pac-Man remains one of the most popular video games in history. Inventing Pac-Man If you ever thought that the Pac-Man character looked like some kind of food, then you and Japanese game designer Toru Iwatani think alike. Iwatani was eating pizza when he came up with the idea for the Pac-Man character. Iwatani has more recently said that the Pac-Man character is also a simplification of the  Kanji character for mouth,  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹kuchi.   While a pizza with a slice out of it turned into the main character of Pac-Man, cookies became the power pellets. In the Japanese version, the pellets look like cookies, but they lost their cookie look when the game came to the U.S. Apparently, Namco, the company that made Pac-Man, was hoping to create a video game that would entice girls to play as well as boys. And everyone knows that girls like food, right? Hmmm. Anyway, a relatively nonviolent, food-based video game with cute little ghosts and a bit of humor did appeal to both genders, which quickly made Pac-Man an unquestionable success. How He Got His Name The name Pac-Man continues the eating theme of the game. In Japanese, puck-puck (sometimes said paku-paku) is a word used for munching. So, in Japan, Namco named the video game Puck-Man. After all, it was a video game about a pizza eating super-powered cookies. However, when it was time for the video game to be sold in the U.S., many were worried about the name Puck-Man, mostly because the name sounded a bit too similar to a particular four-letter word in English. Thus, Puck-Man underwent a name change and became Pac-Man when the game came to the States. Playing Pac-Man Its probably a very rare person who has never played Pac-Man. Even for those who may have missed it in the 1980s, Pac-Man has been remade on nearly every video game platform since then. Pac-Man even appeared on the front page of Google (as a playable game) on Pac-Mans 30th anniversary. However, for those few who are unfamiliar with the game, here are the basics. You, the player, control the yellow, circular Pac-Man using either keyboard arrows or a joystick. The goal is to move Pac-Man around the maze-like screen gobbling up all 240 dots before the four ghosts (sometimes called monsters) get you. The four ghosts are all different colors: Blinky (red), Inky (light blue), Pinky (pink), and Clyde (orange). Blinky was also known as Shadow because hes the fastest. The ghosts begin the game in the ghost cage in the center of the maze  and roam around the board as the game progresses. If Pac-Man collides with a ghost, he loses a life, and the game restarts. If Pac-Man eats one of the four power pellets available on each level; the ghosts all turn dark blue and Pac-Man is able to eat the ghosts. Once a ghost is gobbled up, it disappears- except for its eyes, which run back to the ghost cage. Occasionally, fruit and other objects appear on the screen. If Pac-Man gobbles those up then he earns a point bonus, with different fruit worth different values. While all this is happening, Pac-Man makes a wocka-wocka sound that is nearly as memorable as the yellow character itself. The game ends when Pac-Man has lost all (usually three) of his lives. When You Win Many people are impressed with themselves if they get to level five or six on Pac-Man. However, there are always those die-hards out there who are determined to finish the game. Despite how popular Pac-Man was in the 1980s, it actually took 19 years for the first person to ever finish Pac-Man. That amazing feat was reported to be accomplished by 33-year-old Billy Mitchell, who finished Pac-Man with a perfect game on July 3, 1999.   A Scandal in Gaming Mitchell completed all 255 levels of Pac-Man. When he reached level 256, half the screen became jumbled. This is an impossible level to complete and thus the end of the game. It took Mitchell about six hours to win the game and he did so with the highest possible score- 3,333,360 points. Mitchell went on to record record-breaking runs in Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and Centipede, and became a mini-celebrity, named as Gamer of the Century, featured in Life magazine in 1982 and in the 2007 movie The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. In 2018, however, Twin Galaxies, the American organization that tracks video game records, announced their discovery that some of Mitchells record-breaking runs were not achieved on an arcade machine, but rather using emulation software, a violation of the rules. All of Mitchells titles, including his Guinness World Records, have since been stripped. Pac-Man Fever In the early 1980s, the nonviolent and goofy nature of Pac-Man made it a phenomenal attraction. In 1982 an estimated 30 million Americans spent $8 million a week playing Pac-Man, feeding quarters into machines located in arcades or bars. Its popularity among teenagers made it threatening to their parents: Pac-Man was loud and stunningly popular, and the arcades where the machines were located were noisy, congested places. Many towns in the United States passed statutes to regulate or restrict the games, just as they were allowed to regulate pinball machines and pool tables to combat gambling and other immoral behaviors. Des Plaines, Illinois, banned people under 21 from playing video games unless they were accompanied by their parents. Marshfield, Massachusetts, banned video games outright. Other cities used licensing or zoning to limit video game playing. A license to run an arcade could stipulate that it had to be at least a certain distance from a school, or it could not sell food or alcohol. Ms. Pac-Man and More The Pac-Man video game was so immensely popular that within a year there were spin-offs being created and released, some of them unauthorized. The most popular of these was Ms. Pac-Man, which first appeared in 1981 as an unauthorized version of the game. Ms. Pac-Man was created by Midway, the same company authorized to sell the original Pac-Man in the U.S. Ms. Pac-Man became so popular that Namco eventually made it an official game. Ms. Pac-Man has four different mazes with varying numbers of dots, compared to Pac-Mans only one with 240 dots; Ms. Pac-Mans maze walls, dots, and pellets come in a variety of colors; and the orange ghost is named Sue, not Clyde. A few of the other notable spin-offs were Pac-Man Plus, Professor Pac-Man, Junior Pac-Man, Pac-Land, Pac-Man World, and Pac-Pix. By the mid-1990s, Pac-Man was available on home computers, game consoles, and hand-held devices. Lunch Boxes and Other Collectibles As with anything super popular, merchandising went wild with the Pac-Man image. You could purchase Pac-Man T-shirts, mugs, stickers, a board game, plush dolls, belt buckles, puzzles, a card game, wind-up toys, wrapping paper, pajamas, lunch boxes, sheets, bumper stickers, plus so much more. In addition to buying Pac-Man merchandise, kids could satisfy their Pac-Man cravings by watching a 30-minute Pac-Man cartoon that started airing in 1982. Produced by Hanna-Barbera, the cartoon lasted for two seasons. In case you really wanted that wocka-wocka sound to stay in your head, listen again to the 1982 song by Jerry Buckner and Gary Garcia called Pac-Man Fever, which made it all the way up to No. 9 on Billboards Top 100 chart. Although the decade of Pac-Man Fever might be over, Pac-Man continues to be loved and played year after year. Sources Crecente, Brian. King of Kong Star Stripped of High Scores, Banned from Competition. Variety April 12, 2018.Gallagher, Marcus, and Amanda Ryan. Learning to Play Pac-Man: An Evolutionary, Rule-Based Approach. The 2003 Congress on Evolutionary Computation, 2003. CEC 03. 2003. Print.Goroff, David B. The First Amendment Side Effects of Curing Pac-Man Fever. Columbia Law Review 84.3 (1984): 744–74. Print.Lucas, Simon. Evolving a Neural Network Location Evaluation to Play Ms. Pac-Man. IEE 2005 Symposium on Computational Intelligence and Games. Ed. Graham Kendall and Simon Lucas. Essex University, 2005. Print.Moore, Mike. Videogames: Sons of Pong. Film Comment 19.1 (1983): 34–37. Print.Rife, Katie. King of Kongs Billy Mitchell Has Been Stripped of All His High Scores, Banned From Competitive Gaming. AV News April 12, 2018.Yannakakis, Georgios N., and John Hallam. A Generic Approach for Generating Interesting Interactive Pac-Man. IEE 2005 Symposium on Computational Intelligence and Games. Ed. Graham Kendall and Simon Lucas: Essex University, 2005. Print.

The Strategic Environment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Strategic Environment - Assignment Example In this period, there has been an increased threat to U.S national security, more than ever before. There are several factors contributing to these threats such as increased development of weapons of mass destruction, more countries becoming a nuclear power, increased formation of a terrorist organization, rebellious groups taking refuge in other countries and operating against U.S interests etc. It can easily be seen that, during the 21 century, there has been an increased threat to a country’s security and national interests. The infamous 9/11 incident that shook the world and brought Al Qaeda on the big screen, the London bombings of 2005, the Mumbai attack in 2008 etc. All these infamous incidents show that every country is under extreme threat whether it is from terrorist organizations, infiltrates within the country or due to any other reason. It is very obvious that a country has to take steps and measures to protect its country and U.S being a global and nuclear power and a world dominant it is very natural to say that it has to safeguard its interests the most. It is safe to assume that the U.S would have the best strategic intelligence cycle in place, but it too is liable to mistakes, such as in 2003 when the strategic intelligence information confirmed that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and therefore invaded Iraq; however, later they were proved wrong as there were no WMD(Johnson 2007). There have been several factors identified by the National Intelligence Security (NIS) which may cause harm to U.S National interests, however the most significant are: Violent Extremism: It has been identified by the NIS that violent extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda, Taliban etc will continue to pose a great threat to U.S security. It has been acknowledged that these people are not causing threat for the purpose of acquiring money or abduction but they are seriously out for what they call revenge and will take any possible steps to cause dish armony and violence in different regions. They have previously done that on several occasions and in different countries such as U.S, U.K etc which shows that they can reach such places even when there is tightest of security present. The steps identified by the U.S to counter them is to identify such terrorist groups and people, intercede and disrupt, cut off aid and supply of weapons of mass destruction and stop their operations. Enhance Cyber security: Enhancement of cyber security is a significant step that the U.S should take in order to reduce the threat of proliferation through cyber space. It has been identified that the architecture of U.S digital structure is not very secure (Johnson 2007). It was found out that there have been attempts to valuable information from the Pentagon through cyber space. Now, all the information is stored digitally, so there has been an increased attempt by these terrorist groups to explore future advancements of America’s intelligence or ganizations, so they may act accordingly. Through cyber space these terrorist organizations have attempted to change or steal information in order to undermine the nation’s confidence and attack the country (Johnson 2007). Increased use of Wifi etc has made internet vulnerable and terrorist could easily hack password of a normal user of Wifi and use it to steal

The Department of Corrections Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Department of Corrections - Assignment Example This disparity could be attributed to the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2012 that ruled out US states from expanding Medicaid eligibility, which has led to a significant drop in the number of states adopting the Medicaid expansion. Moreover, even after the Federal Government gave consent to pay 100% Medicaid expansion costs for the initial three years and 90% thereafter, just 26 of the US’s 50 states have preferred to expand Medicaid (Rice et al, 2014). Such reluctance has left almost half of the eligible US residents with no Medicaid coverage. Another evident challenge is the increase in Medicare expenditure, 3 years after the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enactment. A few months after the inauguration of the 2010 ACA Act, expenditure indicated low levels perhaps due to Medicare payment cuts, reduced hospital readmission and growth of responsible care centers. However, there has been a rebound in the Medical Department expenditures due to the introduction of blockbuster drugs; thus, continually resulting in high spending. Similarly, it is increasingly becoming difficult to control costs as physicians and hospitals merge to augment their market in negotiations with major insurers (Rice et al, 2014). That notwithstanding, strong, and resolute opposition that has always come against major Medicare policies and plans in the US poses a lot of challenges. For instance, immediately after the ACA came into effect, opposition from Republican Party within the House of Representatives, voted persistently for the Act’s abolishment over 40 times. Consequently, out of 1507 national representative polled in 2014, only 37% were for the ACA whereas 53% were against it (Rice et al., 2014). Thus, this lack of political will has led to many residents being against Medicare proposals. Apparently the background of the challenges facing the Medicare department in the US is due to a series of poor plans and policies that

Streptococcus pyogenes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Streptococcus pyogenes - Essay Example Most types need an enriched media (blood agar). They spread through respiratory secretions. In human- beings, Streptococci causing diseases generally occur in the respiratory tract, bloodstream or appear as skin diseases. If it is a respiratory infection, then its habitat would be the pharyngitis or tonsillitis but in case of a skin infection it occurs as pyoderma. Streptococcus Pyogenes creates inflammatory lesions at the portal of its entry which is most often the upper portion of the respiratory tract. At times it infects the lower respiratory tract and causes infections of the sinuses (sinusitis), or lungs (pneumonia) or the middle ear (otitis media), Streptococci are both useful as well as harmful. They are essential and are used as indicators of pollution and in various dairy and industrial processes. But beside its good side, it also has a dangerous side to it. Of all bacterial pathogens that attack humans, streptococcus A causes the most number of diseases. It is harmful and causes many significant diseases among which are – rheumatic heart, impetigo, scarlet fever glomerulonephritis, and pneumococcal pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, periodontal disease and pneumonia. For the past several decades scientists and researchers have focused their attention on two primary species which cause severe infections: They are - S pyogenes (group A streptococci) and S pneumoniae (pneumococci). Streptococcus pyogenes is a common and clinically important human bacterial pathogen causing a wide range of invasive and non-invasive disease, as well as non-suppurative sequelae. (Cunningham, M. W. (2000) Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 13, 470–511). This bacteria attacks the inner lining of the throat and is highly contagious. Symptoms include severe pain and redness of the throat. The patient experiences swelling within the throat and has difficulty in swallowing. This is accompanied by fever and uneasiness. It is very difficult to diagnose

Reasons for the Failure of Camp David of 2000 Essay

Reasons for the Failure of Camp David of 2000 - Essay Example It was aimed to eradicate the conflict involving Israel and Palestine. These two countries have been in conflict for an incredibly long time. Israel is composed of both Muslims and Christians while Palestine is an Arab only state. The summit was a continuation of the peace development that had been started by former United States president Carter. This paper will expand on the issues that led to the failure of Camp David in 2000 and what had caused the conflicts. Nature of the Failure of Camp David The summit meant to discuss many issues that hindered the development of the peace procedure and included territory, Jerusalem, refugees and security worries by Israel. In relation to territory, the Palestinian authorities demanded that they should be awarded with full power over some areas such as the Gaza strip, which was being controlled by Israel1. Israel disputed that the area belonged to them, and rejected their proposals. The prime minister of Israel instead offered them the access to the areas under conflict but insisted that they were still under the government of Israel. He additionally explained that the roads to be used were still under Israel and the Palestinians would be deprived of their use in case there was an emergency. The Palestinian leader rejected Israel’s whole idea since they had wanted complete ownership of the land2. This is one issue why they never solved their conflict on territorial borders. They further discussed on the territorial conflict that concerned Jerusalem. Palestinians claimed complete ownership of the east of Jerusalem and the holy cities that were nearby including Temple Mount. Amusingly, both Israel and Palestine referred to temple mount as holy grounds, considering that Judaism and Islam are involved. Palestine claimed that the land on the east of Jerusalem was ‘stolen’ by Israel and that they should return it to the rightful owner. The Israeli leader argued that if the land belonged to Palestine, they w ould still be having it since countries should always protect their possessions. In an attempt to solve this problem, Israel suggested that Palestine be granted with custodianship and not complete ownership of the area in conflict (Temple Mount)3. Israel however claimed that the ancient wall on the temple mount would belong to them since it was very an important icon in Judaism. Israel also suggested that some Muslim environs in the east of Jerusalem would be part of Palestine while others would still be under the control of Israel. It happens that Palestinians had wanted full control of all the Muslim neighborhoods and sought for an explanation why Israel would no grant them full sovereignty. They did not desire Israel to have power over the holy Arab cities in any manner and therefore could not come into a viable conclusion. Another reason for the summit was the issue of refugees. These refugees came to being because of war that made some Palestinians to escape from Israel into th e neighboring Palestine. Palestine wanted the refugees to go back to their original homes in Israel without being asked and that they should be granted with land. Israel rejected because they were millions of them and they would make the country be overpopulated and limit the resources. Large populations have high demand for resources and lead to their degradation since they can never be enough. Israel stated that they would only permit the immigrants who had families left in Israel after the war period was over. This amounted to about 100,000 refugees4. This did not favor the Palestinians, as they wanted the refugees to decide where they wanted to be, Israel or Palestine. It was evident that a large number would prefer to relocate to Israel. It was also decided that

CIS273 Week 1 123 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

CIS273 Week 1 123 - Assignment Example a) Standardizing HTML ensures that web pages are accessible to all sorts of internet users including the visually impaired. While designing a website, developers need to acknowledge that there are web users with disabilities such as poor eyesight. Other issues to be identified are choice of language and conditions for use. The issues provide developer with the knowledge of user circumstances hence accounting for them. b) Further stipulates that with combination of factors put forward by the W3C, the issues can be broadly divided into cultural, social and technological. Language and symbols considerations are for cultural issues, social differences are found in age, gender are even economics while technology is with computer related issues. a) The selected website uses java script based on character set utf-8. The HTML DOCTYPE reveals that the version used in the site is 4.01. The comment tags used in the source code are of this type, â€Å"†. Furthermore, the marked header elements contain the main subject of the webpage which in this case is definition. b) The website is also preferably designed for internet explorer. The fact that the used comment tag is and does not employ â€Å"---â€Å" is proof enough that the comment syntax used is SGML. a) With respect to the e-Activity comments are at the beginning of the selected source code. The comments basically talk about the language used in the website which in the selected case is English. The essence of the comment is that during editing of the source code the web designer will tell the exact place to make changes. b) Adding a comment into a web page requires something like HTML Comment Box which offers one of the easiest ways to add a comment to a web page of a website. Furthermore Disqus Comment Box could also be used. Comments are necessary for code explanation, for

Reasons for the Failure of Camp David of 2000 Essay

Reasons for the Failure of Camp David of 2000 - Essay Example It was aimed to eradicate the conflict involving Israel and Palestine. These two countries have been in conflict for an incredibly long time. Israel is composed of both Muslims and Christians while Palestine is an Arab only state. The summit was a continuation of the peace development that had been started by former United States president Carter. This paper will expand on the issues that led to the failure of Camp David in 2000 and what had caused the conflicts. Nature of the Failure of Camp David The summit meant to discuss many issues that hindered the development of the peace procedure and included territory, Jerusalem, refugees and security worries by Israel. In relation to territory, the Palestinian authorities demanded that they should be awarded with full power over some areas such as the Gaza strip, which was being controlled by Israel1. Israel disputed that the area belonged to them, and rejected their proposals. The prime minister of Israel instead offered them the access to the areas under conflict but insisted that they were still under the government of Israel. He additionally explained that the roads to be used were still under Israel and the Palestinians would be deprived of their use in case there was an emergency. The Palestinian leader rejected Israel’s whole idea since they had wanted complete ownership of the land2. This is one issue why they never solved their conflict on territorial borders. They further discussed on the territorial conflict that concerned Jerusalem. Palestinians claimed complete ownership of the east of Jerusalem and the holy cities that were nearby including Temple Mount. Amusingly, both Israel and Palestine referred to temple mount as holy grounds, considering that Judaism and Islam are involved. Palestine claimed that the land on the east of Jerusalem was ‘stolen’ by Israel and that they should return it to the rightful owner. The Israeli leader argued that if the land belonged to Palestine, they w ould still be having it since countries should always protect their possessions. In an attempt to solve this problem, Israel suggested that Palestine be granted with custodianship and not complete ownership of the area in conflict (Temple Mount)3. Israel however claimed that the ancient wall on the temple mount would belong to them since it was very an important icon in Judaism. Israel also suggested that some Muslim environs in the east of Jerusalem would be part of Palestine while others would still be under the control of Israel. It happens that Palestinians had wanted full control of all the Muslim neighborhoods and sought for an explanation why Israel would no grant them full sovereignty. They did not desire Israel to have power over the holy Arab cities in any manner and therefore could not come into a viable conclusion. Another reason for the summit was the issue of refugees. These refugees came to being because of war that made some Palestinians to escape from Israel into th e neighboring Palestine. Palestine wanted the refugees to go back to their original homes in Israel without being asked and that they should be granted with land. Israel rejected because they were millions of them and they would make the country be overpopulated and limit the resources. Large populations have high demand for resources and lead to their degradation since they can never be enough. Israel stated that they would only permit the immigrants who had families left in Israel after the war period was over. This amounted to about 100,000 refugees4. This did not favor the Palestinians, as they wanted the refugees to decide where they wanted to be, Israel or Palestine. It was evident that a large number would prefer to relocate to Israel. It was also decided that

HR Performance Issues and Motivation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

HR Performance Issues and Motivation - Essay Example HR management literature has well documented the relationship between motivation, job satisfaction, and work performance. Using the theories of motivation, this paper will analyze the inextricable relationship between performance and motivation in the modern business environment. Â  In order to clearly understand the relationship between employee performance and motivation, it is better to consider a real-life situation. For instance, a sales executive (Jim) who has been working at a leading MNC for the last four years fails to meet his sales targets continuously despite periodical increases in his salary and incentives. Jim had acquired his post graduation degree from the Harvard Business School with the 10th rank holder status, and subsequently, he was hired by this MNC through a campus interview. For the first three years, Jim performed outstandingly and received the ‘best performer of the year’ award two times from the sales manager. He was excited to work overtime and performed duties and responsibilities beyond his job requirements. Considering his caliber and short-term achievements and the exemplary commitment to work the management doubled his salary incentives and allowed him free food and accommodation and a brand new company vehicle. In addition, the company agreed to pay his phone and electricity bills. In spite of those attractive offers, Jim’s performance began to decline by the end of the last year. Currently, he is not interested to work overtime and is frequently absent from the office. Jim failed to meet even his sales target for the last five months.

How Sound Is Used Expressively in M Essay Example for Free

How Sound Is Used Expressively in M Essay In the beginning of the movie everything appears normal but within minutes you are thrown into a frantic time in Germany. A serial killer of children is on the loose and a mother waits at home for her young daughter. When are then shown her growing anticipation for her daughter to get home but at the same time shown her daughter talking to a shadowy figure who buys her a balloon. Her mother screams her name over and over as the camera shows different scenes. This is expressive because the sound of her voice shows how worried she is and the interchanging scenes show she is nowhere to be found. Then the scene of her ball rolling into the brush and her balloon tangles in the electrical wires signifies her death. Without the mothers screams the scene would not have delivered the dramatics that it did. Another instance of sound being used expressively was the part in the movie where the minister and the chief of police are discussing finding Elsie’s killer. They show many scenes of the police doing various investigations including combing areas for clues, interrogating people, night raids and trying to pick up scents with a dog. This scene shows how intense there investigation is and the chief’s monologue gives you the added intensity of the situation. With the chief talking about how they plan to find the killer and the scenes of the police doing their investigation being shown, Lang manages to expressively show a wide scale investigation in a short time with aural and visual aspects. It’s something that could not be done with a silent movie. The essence of the movie is then truly captured with the parallel sequence shots depicting the criminal underworlds meeting and the police meeting. M is not only a story about a serial killer but, it shows the similarities at the time of the criminals and the police due to the lack of control in postwar Germany. This comparison is very expressively shown when Lang uses what they are saying to show how very similar they are. Everything from both the rooms being filled with cigarette smoke to dialogue that is seemingly mirrored from their separate meetings, is a great

Sociological Imagination In Relation To My Life Sociology Essay

Sociological Imagination In Relation To My Life Sociology Essay Sociological imagination is germane to experiences of the individual with other relationships in society. There are three primary characteristics of the sociological imagination history, biography and social structure. In correlation with Mills hypothesis of the sociological imagination, we will be able to position ourselves in reality and have enhanced understanding of ourselves and others through a grasp of the links between personal experiences versus structural and historical forces (Mitra Sarabia, 2005). In this paper, I will undertake a critical contemplation on the factors that seem to have influenced my life choices and chances. I will use my own personal encounters as a case study and will use the sociological imagination as the tool for examination while realizing that this concept must be applied critically since I am attempting to link personal experience to public issues (Schudson, 2008). Because of my life circumstances, the feminist point of view is the most useful ap proach although symbolic interactionism explains many of the issues I have encountered. The key sociological factors I have seen reoccurring in my research are class, gender and socialization. These pivotal factors of socialization have allowed me to unpack and carefully examine what the sociological imagination is, how it works based on my life experiences, and the ways in which it connects to the structural conditions in my life. The distinctive attribute of history correlates to the ways in which a society was produced and how it has been transformed over the course of time. The term Biography is an idiom for the human circumstances, or the nature of man in correlation to the type of individuals in a particular society. Social structure defines the order of a society focusing on the people who are dominating, and how they cling together and how over time they change. The sociological imagination defines visionaries who can see beyond what is in front of them in relation to history, biography and social structure. (Mills, 1959, pg. 7) The theory of the sociological imagination facilitates an individual to associate their own life experience with the whole of history along with social, economic, and political forces. The entire concept of the sociological imagination was summarized by Mills belief that the life of any one individual and the history of the whole society cannot be understood unless both are understood (Mitra Sarabia, 2005). This is because individual occurrences as well as all human action is socially and historically contextualized. The central question concerns how we can proceed or make the leap from individual experience to the entire society and to history. Schwalbe exemplifies how the social world must involve individuals practicing a conscious effort of relating and unpacking their live experiences with society as a whole when stating how In the end, sociological mindfulness must be about more than studying how the social world works. It must also do more than inspire curiosity, care and hope , it must help us change ourselves and our way of doing things. (Schwalbe pg. 43) The sociological imagination is best considered as a vehicle which permits use of one of the major sociological perspectives (Mitra Sarabia). In this case, it will be feminism but symbolic interactionism is relevant for this analysis. My parents primarily instilled certain values and beliefs especially concerning fairness and justice. The sociological imagination promotes critical thinking skills. The sociological imagination has refined my ability to think in relation to ground breaking new and innovative connections between myself and the society. A good metaphor by Allan G. Johnsons literary work The Forest The Trees and The One Thing exemplifies the sociological imagination as the forest is society and the trees are individual people. How the trees are related to the forest personifies how individuals relate to society and societies history as a whole. Its crucial to understand the relationships a mong trees that make a forest what it is. Paying attention to that something more whether it is a family, corporation or a whole society, and how people are interrelated to it is at the heart of the sociological process (Johnson, Allen, pg. 5) Social research is concerned with the definition and assessment of social phenomena. Social researchers enable us to get inside these diverse social worlds and discover what social forces are at work in creating social life. (Duneier pg.53) Duneiers standpoint on the sociological imagination corresponds to the discovery of my own personal sociological saga. As a college student I think to be successful you need to have sociological imagination. How often do we sit in classes and wonder what the purpose of all this is? When many of us graduate from high school we see as far as the first day of college, we have no vision of our future, we are looking to escape from our parents home and to find freedom and self expression. Then there are others who graduate from high school and start their college careers. The first day of college is just another day for them, they are thinking about the life they will lead 10-15 years in the future. They see their career going a certain way, when they plan on getting married and having children and some even see their retirement by the age of fifty. I find myself somewhere in the middle. I have always known I my dream job was to become a writer from the time I picked up a pencil as a child I was in love with the feel of the pencil lead on paper. I took all the courses I could in writing and participated in workshops and wrote for my local high schools paper read avidly. Upon graduation from high school I was focused more on making money, therefore I went to work and gave up writing. However, it did not take long before I went to college I quickly realized that if I wanted to not work so hard for a minimal amount of money I would need to get a college degree in something that was practical yet gave me time to write. In college as I tried to choose a major I was still focused on making money rather than being happy with what I was doing. I was determined to follow one of my passions and I picked Broadcast Journalism as my major because I could use my writing skills and do something I loved doing which was storytelling through interacting with people and reporting. I began seeing my life in years rather than days. I began taking classes in subjects I liked. I am studying business as at the Whitman School and minoring in Entrepreneurship because I know this will be an imperative skill to have later in life. I continued pursuing my passion for writing however in my many required arts and science elective classes, and have a plan for the years to come as how I want to make my living. I want to become either a sports broadcaster or a sports writer. I identified education as the key to change. The sociological imagination creates links between the personal the wider society in a reciprocal way. The person who has the sociological imagination is able to understand the large historical process in terms of its meaning for the inner experience and outer life of the individual. Schudson argues that the sociological imagination allows us to critically investigate reality instead of passively observing it. Andreev expands on that by explaining that individ uals who are positioned at different social and economic points in society hold different views of the world. Rushing argues that education is not always the solution but rather a source of new social and economic inequalities since we can never escape from the factors of class, gender and race. As a result, the concept of the sociological imagination needs to be applied to a system of education as well to understand what impact that education will produce on different groups of people. I have found through my analysis that in order to use the sociological imagination and see a need for structural change, the person has to be oppressed or deprived in some way. With the internet there is no discrimination; sociological imagination has little historical or biographical influence even social structure is irrelevant. The world of C. Wright Mills is disappearing on the internet people have no sociological imagination. People on the internet are fast becoming a society with no past or future there is just the present what is being done right at this moment. I want this type of life so does that mean I have sociological imagination in regard to the internet and how I will use it in my life. I know how the internet began and what it was originally used for, but does it influence my vision of how I am going to use it? No, when I am sitting at my laptop I dont think of the history of the internet or the people who use it. (Solis-Gadea, 2005, pgs. 113-122) When Im writing on my laptop I dont think of the people I am writing for or working for they have no face, no personality, no relevance to me except for giving me work. Social structure is nonexistent on the internet as well. No one has a face unless you want to and even then you cant be positive it is really their face. The way sociological imagination works in my life is by me seeing into the future and having a vision of myself working as a sports broadcaster or a sports writer. If sociological imagination is about making a connection to historical events and my instincts for the life I want then I would have to say I want a life unlike my parents., I do not desire to restrict myself and my lifes goals a job for 30-40 years because I have a mortgage and car payment, kids and a wife and the Joness living to the side of me. I want mobility and freedom and most importantly I want to utilize the technology that is out there to assist me in having the life I envision. (Schneider Silverman, 2006, pg. 43) The sociological imagination is valuable for allowing understanding of ourselves by means of the links between personal experiences versus structural and historical forces. Through reflecting on my life choices and chances with the use of the sociological imagination, I have been able to arrive at particular realizations. Power and class are at work in the wider society just as they are operating in my own life. Socialization was a key factor in my life because it guided me to connect with the underlying and structural conditions in my life. The sociological imagination promotes critical thinking skills, this idea to me means being able to think in terms of new and innovative connections between myself and the society. Worked Cited Mills, C. Wright.   (1959). The Sociological Imagination.   New York:   Oxford University Press. Johnson, Allan. The Forest, The Trees, and The One Thing Schwalbe, Micheal. Finding Out How The Social World Works Duneier, Mitchell. Sidewalk An ethnographic study of street vendors in New York City Schneider, L. Silverman, A. (2006). Global Sociology: Introducing Five Contemporary Societies 4 ed. New York: McGraw Hill. Solis-Gadea, H.R. (2005). The New Sociological Imagination: Facing the Challenges of a New Millennium. International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society. 18(3-4), 113-122. Andreev, A. (2008). Russians mentality and problems of social inequality. Sociological Research, 47(5), 52-62. Retrieved, from Academic Search Premier database. Dowell, W. (2006). Throwing the sociological imagination into the garbage. Teaching Sociology, 34, 150-155. Retrieved, from Sociological Abstracts database. Mehan, H. (2008). Engaging the sociological imagination. Anthropology and Education Quarterly, 39(1), 77-91. Retrieved, from Sociological Abstracts database. Mitra, A. Sarabia, D. (2005). Embracing the sociological imagination: A study of university students perceptions of sociology. College Student Journal, 39(4), 637-646. Retrieved, from Academic Search Premier database. Rushing, W. (2001). Inequality and education reform. Race Ethnicity and Education, 4(1), 29-41. Retrieved, from Academic Search Premier database. Schudson, M. (2008). The sociological imagination as clichà ©: Perils of sociology and practices of journalism. International Journal of Political and Cultural Sociology, 20, 41-49. Retrieved from Sociological Abstracts database.

Genes Coming of Age in A Separate Peace Essay -- Separate Peace Essay

Gene's Coming of Age in A Separate Peace      Ã‚  Ã‚   The novel, A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, is the coming of age story of Gene Forrester. This novel is a flashback to the year 1943, when Gene is attending Devon School during his senior year and the summer before it. "Gene's youth and inexperience make him ill-equipped to deal with situations that require maturity" (Overview: A Separate Peace 2). However, Gene is a follower of Finny and therefore gains experiences that provoke his development into adulthood. Some of these experiences include: breaking Finny's leg, training for the 1944 Olympics, and killing Finny. Through these three experiences Gene is forced to grow out of his childish-self and become a man.    Gene jounces a limb of the tree he and Finny were standing on, causing Finny to fall and break his leg. Gene's jealousy of Finny's perfection causes him to have childish feelings of resentment and hatred. After Finny's leg was broken, Gene realized "that there never was and never could have been any rivalry between" (Knowles 51) him and Finny. Gene looked at himself and became conscious of what a terrible, self-absorbed friend he had been. Understanding there was no competition caused him to discard the majority of his feelings of jealousy. Getting rid of these feelings made him grow-up because he was no longer spending countless hours believing a childish game was being played between Finny and him. Gene began to understand more of Finny's goodness and love towards all, making him strive to be more like Finny.    When Finny trains Gene for the 1944 Olympics, Gene becomes more mature. Through Finny's coaching of Gene, Gene acquires many characteristics of the already grown-up Fi... ... age of Gene Forrester. Because Finny causes Gene to grow up, we are able to realize that one must grow up to move on in life. In that process of growing up, several people impact your life. This novel shows us how our identity is basically created by those who are present in our lives; however we must not measure our abilities against another person (Overview: A Separate Peace 2). We are shown how the impact of one person can make a great difference. The goodness in people is what one should always take away from a relationship. This is shown in the relationship between Gene and Finny. The experiences Finny gives Gene cause him to grow up and become a better person because of them.    Sources Bryant, Hallman. A Separate Peace: the War Within. Boston: G.K. Hall & Co, 1990. Knowles, John. A Separate Peace. New York: Macmillan, 1961.