The internet rumor picked is ‘Is Lady Gaga a Man A Woman A Hermaphrodite’ Essay Example

The internet rumor picked is ‘Is Lady Gaga a Man A Woman? A Hermaphrodite?’ Paper Name: Course: Instructor: Date: We will write a custom essay sample on The internet rumor picked is ‘Is Lady Gaga a Man A Woman? A Hermaphrodite?’ specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The internet rumor picked is ‘Is Lady Gaga a Man A Woman? A Hermaphrodite?’ specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The internet rumor picked is ‘Is Lady Gaga a Man A Woman? A Hermaphrodite?’ specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Assignment Part One The internet rumor picked is ‘Is Lady Gaga a Man? A Woman? A Hermaphrodite?’ Part Two www.about.com This website, from which the internet rumor was removed, is an online resource for varied information and stories. The website was created in 1996 with a minimum number of topics that were covered. These topics eventually increased in number, attracting advertisers and popularizing the site. This website is owned by the ‘New York Times Company’. Each topic on the website is written by a different experienced writer and these writers are paid for their work. These writers are sometimes referred to as guides and their sites contain their work and links to other websites with information related to their subjects. The guides provide forums where registered users can comment on their work and upload the information. The site also has urban legends and hoaxes about everything including celebrities. www.go.com Jeff Gold founded this website in 1995, which is currently under the Walt Disney Company. All content associated with Disney is displayed in go.com. It allows its users to have individual web pages and provides entertainment news from all over the world. This website is used as a hub for other sites that are related to the Disney Company. The Go Network has been on the forefront in promoting the sites that it supports. Contrary to the belief of many users, go.com is still operational but no longer operates email accounts. This website offers news and gossip on everything from politics to entertainment. www.snopes.com This website is known for its variety in urban legends and internet rumors. David and Barbara Mikkelson are the brains behind the site that receives more than 250,000 visits everyday. Users and contributors post their stories and pictures on the message board for veracity before their stories are made available to other users. The stories that are features on this website are divided into different categories from business, food, movies, humor, embarrassments, etc. the site also provides newsletters to its registered users. Summary The internet rumor talks about the gender of Lady Gaga, a famous pop musician. A video was reported to show her ‘male’ genitalia and the singer has allegedly said that she possesses both the female and male genitalia but that she considers herself a female. This sparked different reaction from her fans. Most of them believed the rumor to be true while a small percentage of them thought it was a malicious rumor started to ruin her reputation. Her management team refutes those allegations as ridiculous. During an interview, Lady Gaga admitted that she was aware of the rumors and said that they were untrue. Internet Rumor This story is an internet rumor because it was started and spread on the internet. Internet rumors are alleged stories without confirmed veracity. Rumors are conveyed through word of mouth. Because of technological advancements, it has become more effective and efficient to transmit rumors through the internet therefore reaching more people. The mentioned story was spread in internet websites such as www.snopes.com, www.go.com and www.about.com. All are popular sites for information on different people and situations. Rumors are also endowed with information about people, events or circumstances. In the selected story, Lady Gaga is alleged to be hermaphrodite. This information was formulated and spread through the internet. Rumors are said to portray the poignant desires of the community. This means that rumors help to feed the undying ‘need to know’ hunger of the community. Lady Gaga’s story fed into the suspicions of most of her fans and the fact that people nev er tire of reading about their favorite celebrities. The appeal of the story plays on our hopes and dreams. As human beings, we constantly worry about our physical appearances and our futures. We are always hoping for the best out of life. The fan base that Lady Gaga had created is obviously shaken by this story about her being a hermaphrodite. This is because she is considered an icon among her fans and the thought that she could be both male and female crashes the hopes and dreams of some of her fans. Those who look up to her feel betrayed by the story because they probably had dreams and hopes of meeting her in their lifetime. The story therefore appeals to people to have realistic hopes and dreams. It is very creative story as it involves someone that is already famous, Lady Gaga, thereby drawing the attention of its readers. The details of the story and the pictures also portray the creative level of its creators. The use of her quoted words in the story makes it almost believable to the readers. The writer also incorporated her sexuality in the story to awaken the readers’ curiosity and capture their attention, which worked quite well, judging by the number of visitors to the sites that contain the story. People are passing the story along because it is interesting, refreshing and entertaining. The facts that the subject of the story is a celebrity makes more people want to read and pass it along to heir friends and family. The story’s authenticity does not matter, only its entertainment factors hence its continued popularity. Reference Emery, David (august 10, 2009). Is Lady Gaga a Man? A Woman? A Hermaphrodite? Retrieved from http://urbanlegends.about.com/b/2009/08/10/lady-gaga-a-man-urban-legend.htm Mikkelson, Barbara (31 January 2010). Bluffin’ with her muffin? Retrieved from http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/ladygaga.asp Marikar, Sheila (august 17, 2009). Lady Gaga Goes Nude, Stands Up for Gays. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=8345070#.UAVwpZEeAwo

Definition and Examples of Linguistic Ecology

Definition and Examples of Linguistic Ecology Linguistic ecology is the study of languages in relation to one another and to various social factors. Also known as  language ecology or ecolinguistics. This branch of linguistics was pioneered by Professor Einar Haugen in his book The Ecology of Language (Stanford University Press, 1972). Haugen defined language ecology as the study of interactions between any given language and its environment. Examples and Observations The term language ecology, like language family, is a metaphor derived from the study of living beings. The view that one can study languages as one studies the interrelationship of organisms with and within their environments presupposes a number of subsidiary metaphors and assumptions, most notably that languages can be regarded as entities, that they can be located in time and space and that the ecology of languages is at least in part different from that of their speakers. . . .The ecological metaphor in my view is action oriented. It shifts the attention from linguists being players of academic language games to becoming shop stewards for linguistic diversity, and to addressing moral, economic and other non-linguistic issues.(Peter Mà ¼hlhusler, Linguistic Ecology: Language Change and Linguistic Imperialism in the Pacific Region. Routledge, 1996)Language is not an object that can be considered in isolation, and communication does not simply occur by means of sequences of sounds . . . . Language . . . is a social practice within social life, one practice among others, inseparable from its environment. . . .The basic idea is thus that the practices which constitute languages, on the one hand, and their environment, on the other, form an ecolinguistic system, in which languages multiply, interbreed, vary, influence each other mutually, compete or converge. This system is in interrelation with the environment. At every moment language is subject to external stimuli to which it adapts. Regulation, which I will define as the reaction to an external stimulus by an internal change which tends to neutralize its effects, is thus a response to the environment. This response is first and foremost the mere addition of individual responses- variants that, over time, lead to the selection of certain forms, certain characteristics. In other words, there is a selective action of the environment on the evolution of language . . ..(Louis Jean Calvet, Towards an Ecology of Wo rld Languages, translated by Andrew Brown. Polity Press, 2006) The biological analogy may be the most pertinent- linguistic ecology is now a recognized field of study, not just a figure of speech. What dialects are to languages, subspecies are to species. Chainsaws and invaders menace them indiscriminately. . . .What the survival of threatened languages means, perhaps, is the endurance of dozens, hundreds, thousands of subtly different notions of truth. With our astonishing powers of technology, its easy for us in the West to believe we have all the answers. Perhaps we doto the questions, we have asked. But what if some questions elude our capacity to ask? What if certain ideas cannot be fully articulated in our words? There are amazing things about Aboriginal languages, Michael Christie told me when I visited his office at Northern Territory University in Darwin. Their concepts of time and agency, for example. They go right against our ideology of linear time- past, present, and future. I reckon theyd completely revolutionize Western philosophy , if only we knew more about them.(Mark Abley, Spoken Here: Travels Among Threatened Languages. Houghton Mifflin, 2003) Also see: CodificationLanguage ChangeLanguage DeathLanguage PlanningLanguage StandardizationLinguistic AnthropologyLinguistic ImperialismLinguistic TypologySociolinguistics

ICJ case Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

ICJ case - Assignment Example The Security Council can only seek the ICJ’s opinion regarding a certain case or decision (Angehr, 1017). This means that Abrocanto’s idea of demonstrating that the ICJ has a right of review is nullified. Ralivia is right since the Security Council has already passed the required resolutions on the matter. ICJ has the same rights as the Security Council and can only provide possible opinions, but only if the opinion is requested by the Security Council (Schweigman). Concerning the review over the Security Council’s actions in general, the role of ICJ in exercising review over the actions of the Security Council has remained unclear for many years. The has been initiated by the need of ICJ to rule according to international law on those disputes treated in the political process of the General Assembly and Security Council (Matheson). Essentially, the ICJ should hardly the roles of the other UN political organs in the course of maintaining international security. Being the principle organ of the UN according to article 92 does not make it to have absolute right over the other organs. The actions of the Security Council are thus independent of the ICJ (Schweigman, 31). Regarding matters of international peace and security in particular, the ICJ has the right to review the actions of the Security Council. The question of ICJ review of the Security Council regarding international matters can be established through the Lockerbie case 1, which was before the International Court of Justice for more than a decade (Angehr, 1007). The case dismissal in 2003 without any decision raised questions about judicial review regarding the UN major political organs and the decisions made. The review of the Security Council by the ICJ was the main agenda. The Security Council had sought a resolution urging Libya to turn over the required

Church and State Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Church and State - Essay Example One of the most imperative objectives behind exploring the topic above-mentioned includes seeking the answer to the question whether or not there appears any need for the formulating of the new phase of relations between the church and state in the best interests of the masses at large. Hence, the present paper will provide an insightful outlook of the topic under-examination by seeking support from the works created by the scholars. The fast and continuous alterations being witnessed in the contemporary era all over the world have forced the thinkers and political and social scientists to re-determine and review the role of church or institution of religion in order to avoid and escape the extremism that appears to be challenging the peace and harmony of the social establishments on the one side, and adding their share in widening the gulf of hatred and conflict among the cultures following the divergent religious belief systems within their respective political jurisdictions on the other during the contemporary era. Consequently, the world looks reflecting the scenario of chaos and disorder even after the advent of marvelous scientific and technological advancements making the life peaceful, comfortable and luxurious one in general. There was a time when the entire Europe used to be submitting to the decrees issued by the church. The establishment of the Holy Roman Empire was also the outcome of the dominance i nfluence of church on state and all its institutions. While elaborating the position of church and state in his remarkable â€Å"The Prince†, distinguished Italian philosopher Machiavelli strongly demands the separation of church from the political affairs of government and state (2010, p.45). It is partly due to the very reality that the ecclesiastical principalities or religious rules are unable to cope with the historical patterns altogether. Since the church lays stress upon specific mode of worship as well as leading the life in a standardized manner, the same could not be observed practically in any region of the entire globe. One of the most dominant reasons behind the same is this that the people belonging to divergent faiths, factions and sects co-exist in one and the same socio-political establishment; and if the (Catholic) church representing just one faction of one single faith looks for the masses’ strict observing of the Catholic code of laws, there will be bright probabilities of conflict and clashes in society, leading to anarchical state of affairs in the country subsequently. Rousseau refutes the implementation of religious and social laws by stating that man was born free, but everywhere he is in chains (2008, p.15). Hence, he does not appear to be surrendering before the heavy burdens of laws, which challenge the human liberty in one way or the other. Taking the precedent of the contemporary era rigid orthodox states of Afghanistan and Pakistan, it becomes evident that the nefarious extremist deoband sect of Muslims has made the life of the non-Muslim and peaceful Shiite Muslims miserable and pathetic one by inflicting pains and sufferings upon them with the aim of forcing them to adopt their religious policies and ways at any cost. Such a condemnable religious prejudice has destroyed the efficiency of the political institution on the one side, and has caused the ruination of social fabrics on the other. It is therefore, Machi avelli’s arguments (2010, pp. 47-8) with regards to separation of church and state still carry weight even nearly five centuries after its first publication in 1532. In addition to this, the undue and unnecessary

Has the auditor lost its relevance as a profession Literature review

Has the auditor lost its relevance as a profession - Literature review Example The secondary data sources have been used to study the previous studies and the empirical literature on the incompetency of the auditors and the adverse consequences faced the public due to their irresponsible activities. The literature review then assesses the justification of the expenses incurred for the purpose of auditing and the value that has been added as a result of auditing activities. The questions asked on the relevance of auditing function, mainstream and the alternative viewpoints on the topic have been reviewed. The recommendations on the ways of adding relevance to the auditing profession have also been included in this study. Historical background The auditors and their functions of auditing have never in such a limelight as ever before. The occurrence of the global financial crisis has raised concerns in the US, UK, Belgium, Singapore and in many other countries of the effectiveness of the auditing profession in the industry. The economic debacle exposed the ineffic iencies in the auditing practices conducted by the auditors. The US Senate, parliaments in different countries of Europe have started to relook into exploring a new model for auditing practices as its was felt that the auditors and their profession of auditing has lost its relevance in streamlining the business records, identifying the gaps and loophole and help the business to keep fair and transparent financial records for public disclosure. Several companies in the past have been involved in the financial scams where there balance sheets and financial statements have been inflated and thereby misled the investors about the true financial status of the companies. For example, Enron has been earmarked as the biggest audit failure in the history when they showed poor standards in auditing of financial statements mainly due to the mal intentions of their board of directors that led to the incorrect disclosure of financial statements to its shareholders. The eventual fall of performan ce of Enron brought out the truth and finally Enron Corporation went bankrupt. The impacts of failure of auditing were hugely felt during the global financial crisis. The accountability for lack of transparency in the financial statements was affixed to the auditors (Kornberger, Justesen and Mouritsen, 2011, p.525). Hence, the costs incurred and the time and energy spent in the profession of auditing were felt as unnecessary burdens with the advent of control technologies and automated systems to streamline the financial records and information. Methodologies The methodologies adopted for carrying out the activities of auditing is important in establishing the relevance and effectiveness of the auditors. The auditors are the final check points of the financial information to be disclosed to the public after their certification. Thus the methodology adopted by them for evaluating the values of the assets and liabilities of the company in judging the correctness of the financial infor mation is very important. The auditors follow the method of going concern in assessing the value of the assets and liabilities of the companies. This raises the complications in the activities of the auditing profession. The method of going

Competing views of the entrepreneur

Competing views of the entrepreneur The term entrepreneur has become to have a broad definition over the years, with many authors debating over the types of characteristics that make up a person who can be classed as entrepreneurial. The word originally came from the French meaning one who takes between but over the years the term has developed with varying definitions from academic literature, the media and often people classed as entrepreneurs themselves, causing great difficulty in finding a universal definition. In the late 18th Century, Cantillion and Say from the French school of thought were amongst the first to recognise the role of the entrepreneur. Cantillion first defined entrepreneurs as a risk taker, buying at a certain price and selling at an uncertain price. (Cited in Blaug 1986:220) Jean-Baptiste Say backed this up by stating entrepreneurs are the pivot of the economy, a vehicle for economic change. Deakins and Freel (2009). In the years to come, further concepts of entrepreneurs were developed and argued amongst academics. By examining the differing opinions from a broad spectrum of authors since the role was first distinguished, through the years where the meaning has become diverse and arguments have surfaced over the true meaning of entrepreneurship, I hope to make clear whether the term is so unclear to render it worthless or find some way of giving it some true common definition in todays society. To investigate the varying opinions and definitions of the entrepreneur successfully, it is important to compare views on all aspects of being an entrepreneur. By Looking into how entrepreneurs have ideas for new ventures, the effects on the economy, the number of entrepreneurs and the types of ideas they have and ways they become entrepreneurial. As a starting point it seems all academics and speakers on the subject regard entrepreneurs as opportunity spotters Shapero A (1975) develops this further stating In almost all of the definitions, there is agreement that it includes initiative taking, organising and reorganising of social and economic mechanisms to turn resources and situations to practical account and the acceptance of risk or failure Muzyka and Birley (2000:31) add to this idea stating No one should call themselves a successful entrepreneur until they have captured an opportunity. The basis of entrepreneurial debates is based around two main perspectives from contrasting authors of the Austrian school of thought; these include the Kirznerian perspective founded by Israel Kirzner and the Schumpeterian perspective introduced by Joseph Schumpeter. The origin of this long standing debate was around information and whether or not entrepreneurial opportunities were derived from new information (Schumpeter 1934) or access to previously inaccessible information. (Kirzner 1973) Kirzner explains how people use the information they possess to come to decisions about the best way of combining their resources in forming a good or service offering to a market. However if this combination of resources is not operating to full efficiency, there is potential to use a different combination of resources in order to make a greater profit. Gaglio and Katz (2001) consolidate this idea by explaining how entrepreneurial opportunities involve the creation or identification of new ends and means that have gone unnoticed by other market participants. However the conflicting Schumpeterian view focuses on new information, arguing that changes in technology, political forces, regulation, macro-economic factors and social trends create new information, used to create a new combination of resources to generate increased profits. (Schumpeter 1934). For example deregulation in the airline industry as Thompson (2004:301) explains when new airlines were allowed to fly into and out of Heathrow for the first time since 1977, it allowed access to new information for potential entrants to penetrate the market. Furthermore improvements in technological processes have led to entrepreneurial activity in the evolution of music players for example, from the audio cassette player through to the mass multimedia players of today, such as the IPod. Schultz (1975) argues that entrepreneurship is an equilibrating process, whereby situations of disequilibria caused by market participants not operating at maximum efficiency are dealt with by entrepreneurs acting on access to the necessary information to bring about equilibrium. Very much like Kirzner (1973) who both state that the entrepreneur reallocates resources using the most efficient method. However dissimilar to Kirzner, Schultz argues that the process takes time and equilibrium is often brought back about by trial and error or human resource investment. (Iversen et al 2008) Klein and Cook (2005:4) explained this in their research on the human capital approach to entrepreneurship, using farmers as an example of how they must deal with a sequence of many differing changes, especially in such an atomistic industry, making any adjustments much lengthier. In stark contrast to this approach, Schumpeter (1934) argued that entrepreneurship brings about the process of creative destruction, which Ellison (2002:136) defines as the dynamic disequilibrium wrought by the innovating entrepreneur, with his creative rather than adaptive responses to opportunities. Schumpeter suggested that entrepreneurs disrupt the existing system by shifting production constraints and brining about new technology which puts an economy into disequilibrium. Swedburg (2000:46) further explains Schumpeters theory of entrepreneurship by stating that the entrepreneur puts together a new combination; combining already existing materials and thereby produces something novel and innovative. However Steyaert and Hjorth (2004) explained how Schumpeters Disequilibrium reflects the existence of informational asymmetry about new sources of profit potential meaning that certain groups of people might have access to information ahead of others which opens up opportunities. Knig ht (1921) argued that if change could be predicted producers could plan ahead and thereby efficiently eliminate any profit potential. As Mises (1949:297) develops this stating how, profit opportunities arise from changes unforeseen by the majority. Schumpeter (1934) used his creative destruction theory to proclaim the temporariness of the entrepreneur, he assumed that entrepreneurship was a temporary attribute to an individual, as a wave of creative destruction that displaced old methods resulted in brisk imitation by competitors. Parker (2004:41) explained how after creative destruction, ultimately stability would be restored and entrepreneurship would reach a temporary cessation before the next wave of creative destruction. McDaniel (2002) agreed with Schumpeters idea in that when a new product enters the market that is new and unique is gives the entrepreneur a temporary position as monopolist. Conversely Scranton (1993) puts forward the notion of serial entrepreneurs and there existence since the dawn of industrialisation. Serial entrepreneurs are those who constantly buy and sell businesses to stay entrepreneurial. Hall (1995) narrows this broad definition proposing how the individual owns one business after another but o nly own one at a time. This type of entrepreneur challenges Schumpeters temporary entrepreneur and suggests that individuals can be constantly entrepreneurial Theorists further debate the frequency of entrepreneurial opportunities and how and why individuals decide to go from employees to employers in an entrepreneurial manner. Chapman and Marquis (1912:293) were amongst the first to investigate employing classes being recruited from wage earning classes. Schumpeter (1961:102) argued that entrepreneurship was a rare occurrence, as it stems from innovation, the ability to carry out new combinations. However in contrast Kirzner (1979) explained how entrepreneurial acts were much more common. Aldrich (1999) agreed with Kirzners statement due to the fact that most opportunities are constructive to established ways, which links back to argument on entrepreneurship being an equilibrating or dis-equilibrating process. When an entrepreneur decides to exploit an opportunity, again there is no universal definition on their motives. Oxenfeldt (1943:109) points out that real entrepreneurs confine their adventures to lines of business that they were previously engaged in as an employer or employee. Knight (1921) agrees stating Those with prior experience in an industry as a customer or supplier often have a better understanding of how to meet demand conditions in that market place. However as Hamilton and Harper (1994) argue, this goes against the theoretical entrepreneur as omniscient, profit-orientated, opportunistic and versatile. Nonetheless as versatile as an entrepreneur might be, Baumol (1993) highlights that when people cannot fully know the full range of options facing them, the calculation of an optimum within a given set of constraints is impossible Mark Casson has tried to develop a modern theory of entrepreneurship, by fusing together entrepreneurial attributes and theories of many of the older authors. One major area of his work was in the supply of entrepreneurs. Casson (1982) distinguished between two groups of entrepreneurs, those who value their leisure at less than the prevailing real wage and those who value it more. He explains how the latter group have a strong chance of becoming an entrepreneur, if the returns of entrepreneurship rises above the real wage rate. Eisenhauers (1995) model of the decision to become an entrepreneur is very much like Cassons as it is also based on the expected utility derived from income and the working conditions of employment vs self-employment. However Casson (1982) stressed that any supply of entrepreneurs are qualified entrepreneurs who are defined as having access to the necessary resources in order to back their thought, such as wealth, contacts or the relevant financing in place, t herefore for Casson, entrepreneurship is much more of a resource, whereby firms or individuals with the capital can invest in individuals with entrepreneurial ability. A real life example of this would be the BBCs Dragons Den programme whereby successful entrepreneurs who have created multi-millionaire empires, invest their masses of capital, in smaller scale entrepreneurs looking for investment in their ideas. Kirzner (1973) has a differing opinion, he expresses that entrepreneurship is not a factor of production and entrepreneurial alertness is non deployable and costless, meaning that no resources are needed to detect entrepreneurial opportunities, he also discarded the use of supply and demand curves with entrepreneurs. As much as opportunities can be spotted, the supply of entrepreneurs to an economy depends on their willingness to act upon them. McClelland (1961) identified that a major factor in an individuals willingness to act was motivation and the need for it in achievement. When individuals decide to exploit opportunities, there are further debates between academics over the types of entrepreneur. Schumpeter had the stance that only certain, extraordinary individuals have the ability to be entrepreneurial, Hanusch and Pyka (2007:289) explained his point in that extraordinary effort required to work out a scheme of innovation, the need to escape from deeply embedded modes of thinking and acting and the task of inducing many other people to make changes. Marshall (1994) defined his entrepreneur as someone who had a thorough understanding of their industry and are natural leaders, claiming that very few can possess all of the skills required to be entrepreneurial to a high enough extent, very much like Schumpeters extraordinary person. However, unlike Schumpeter, Marshall (1994) implies that people can be taught to acquire the skills necessary to be an entrepreneur. Schumpeter (1934:85) goes on to describe his entrepreneur as rational, egotistical and self -centred to an extent that is peculiar and rare by nature. Barnes (2000:65) described this as an individual in setting in that this self centeredness is a disconnection from the constraints of tradition and habit that allow new combinations to commence. Dissimilarly to this is the view of Kirzner (1973) who thought that anybody can be an entrepreneur, since it presupposes no special initial good fortune in the form of valuable assets as the new entrepreneur is not protected at all. In todays society , many entrepreneurs agree with Kirzner, explaining how anyone can become an entrepreneur, one of Britains most popular entrepreneurs Duncan Bannatyne wrote an autobiography entitled Anyone can do it which highlights how he rose to success and makes references to how it is possible for others today. Knight (1921) states only that the entrepreneur is a risk taker meaning that the entrepreneur is prepared to take on an element of risk for the chance of a reward of profit, this being the revenue generated for taking on uncertainty. Knight developed his idea of the entrepreneur being a risk taker by clarifying the difference between risk and uncertainty. Risk being where differing outcomes can be forecasted to some degree with uncertainty being where outcomes cannot be envisaged. Brockhaus (1980b) disagreed with Knight, he could not see any difference between the risk taking levels of new entrepreneurs from those of managers or the general public. Schumpeter (1934) agreed and expressed that risk can just be part of business ownership and not an entrepreneurial attribute; he expressed how it was the lender of capital who was at risk rather than the entrepreneur. Although Hull et al (1980) found in their study that entrepreneurs have a greater tendency to take risks, with Palmer (1971 ) suggesting that the testing of entrepreneurs be directed most towards the measurement of an individuals perception and handling of a risk. Say (1803) also highlighted the notion of the entrepreneur taking risk in bringing different factors of production together, with Say (1803) being one of the first to regognise the role of the entrepreneur and the characteristic of being a risk taker still being used in literature today, this can be seen as a strong characteristic of any entrepreneur. George Shackle (1970) described the entrepreneur as creative and imaginative. Rickets (2002) developed this idea stating that the imaginative idea comes from the exercise of developing alternative future states of affairs. Shackles View (1970) centralises on the role of uncertainty and how the imaginative entrepreneur can visualise how best to arrange resources in a changing uncertain world. In other words uncertainty gives rise to opportunities. Shackles work was based around Cantillions early ideas of entrepreneurship being buying at a certain price and selling at an uncertain price. However Earl (2003:68) strongly criticised Shackles ideas stating how this creativeness that he emphasises should be more focused to the work of Schumpeter who brought about creative destruction and the idea of the entrepreneur being extra-ordinary and special as appose to the intermediary idea of authors such as Cantillion and Kirzner. One of the main areas of debate between academics is over the type of act that can be classed as entrepreneurial. Schumpeter (1934) is strongly remembered for his theory of the entrepreneur being an innovator, this relates to the ideas discussed before regarding Schumpeters (1934) entrepreneur shifting production constraints and bringing about new processes and technologies, he defined entrepreneurs as the creators of change in the sense that they have a vision and the urge to be successful in achieving it. An example of this could be James Dyson who produced the worlds first bag-less vacuum cleaner which in tern rendered the Hoover almost worthless. Fagerburg and Mowery (2005) made an important distinction between invention and innovation, invention being the first occurrence of an idea, with innovation being the first attempt to carry it out into practice. Edquist (1997) defined technical innovations as the introduction of new knowledge or new combinations of existing knowledge int o the economy, from this Sternburg (2000) highlighted the importance of innovation, supporting Schumpeters idea of the innovating entrepreneur, with his stance of business growth stemming from the companys ability to constantly innovate. Drucker (1985) like Schumpeter also, agues that innovation is the tool of entrepreneurs, however he goes on, that entrepreneurship is also about improving total quality and adding value. An example of this being the McDonalds chain, in that they did not create anything new when the business began in 1940, offering the same as many American restaurants at the time. However through the application of management concepts, most notably their Speedy service system which added value and created a new industry as such, to Drucker (1985), this is entrepreneurship. Kirzner (1973) had very different views on the roles of his entrepreneur in that he believed they were alert to profitable opportunities for exchange. His idea of the entrepreneur was one of an intermediary in a supply chain, in other words a middle man between individuals. As previously mentioned the Kirznerian (1973) entrepreneur seeks imbalances in the market and aims to eradicate them with their entrepreneurial action. An example of a Kirznerian entrepreneurial action was the launch of Accommodationforstudents.com, founded by two students in 2000, who noticed imbalances in the market place through the personal difficulties they had in finding accommodation throughout their studies. This validates Marshalls (1994) theory that having a thorough understanding of the industry is necessary to entrepreneurial success. Kirzner (1978) explained how his ideas were often based around those of Ludwig Von Mises after being his assistant for some years. Mises (1951) explains how profit emerge s from the entrepreneur that can judge the future prices of products more than others do and therefore buy any factors of production at low prices before they increase. It is also alleged that this activity takes place within an economy with limited resources and production confines. This can be illustrated using the production possibility frontier below. Kirzner (1973) argues that activities take place within the curve and his entrepreneur pushes activities to their maximum to reach the edge. Yet Schumpeter (1934) suggests that the entrepreneur pushes the curve outwards with the introduction of new technologies and methods as production possibilities in the economy therefore increase. An example of this in action could be the now ever mainstream use of the internet in business operations, over the past ten years this has allowed mass expansion of business operations with companies being able to operate in global markets. Landstrom (2005:15) Knights (1921) theory on risk and uncertainty being part of the entrepreneurial personality inspired other academics to investigate entrepreneurship from small firm management. Deakins and Freel (2009) use Knights assumptions of an entrepreneur being responsible for ones own actions, to make the proposition that managers who assume this responsibility are consequently performing entrepreneurial functions. However Shailer (1994:34) states how managers do not necessarily fit any of the current popular definitions of entrepreneur and concludes that whilst 90% of owner managers are obliged to fill the role as capitalist, only 20-40% will act as entrepreneurs under common definitions. Abundant amounts of research has been carried out between so called managers and entrepreneurs, a study by Miner et al (1989) found that entrepreneurs scored significantly higher on self-achievement than managers. Furthermore Mill (1848) appeared to believe that the inclusion of risk bearing distinguished th e term entrepreneur from manager, Shackle (1955) approved and highlighted the uncertainty element of the entrepreneurial process. One example of this might be in terms of wages, an employed manager of a firm is guaranteed a wage, whereas entrepreneurs have the uncertainty of their businesses performance. Ricketts (2002:80) comments on how once a venture is established, the scope for entrepreneurship does not cease, as continuous change in the economy requires adaptation by the firm, which results in the need for some entrepreneurial talent; Meaning that entrepreneurship can emerge from within companies. Galbraith (1967) introduced the concept of large firms being more successful than small firms in technology based industries, Schumpeters (1934) theory developed on this theme, with his notion of entrepreneurs emerging from within businesses, initiating change from inside a firm. He called these individuals Intrapreneurs. His idea was based on the fact that larger organisations have better infrastructure in place; established research and development facilities, high levels of available finance, connections with stakeholders of the business and the companies experiences. This idea was supported by Wu (1989) who described the firm as a collection of entrepreneurs. However drawbacks of the Intrapreneur can also exist, by transferring some power, to unproven individuals could perhaps be risky and put your reputation at threat also successful intrapreneurs may very well demand larger proportions of profit if they see their ideas taking off successfully. (Virtual Advisor 2009). An example of intrapreneurship having problems occurred at Xeron, whereby employees working on an idea were discarded when they suggested new software. The employees went on to develop this and created Adobe, one of the most popular digital post-script readers. Although at Google, employees are given 20% of their time to come up with new ideas which as resulted in services such as Gmail and Adsense, rendering the scheme a success. http://sgentrepreneurs.com/events/2009/01/24/after-ceo-unplugged-intrapreneurship-at-nus-entrepreneurship-week/ Miner et al (1989) and other authors views on managers and entrepreneurs http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=0FxO_Wsh30kCpg=PA100dq=entrepreneurs+as+managers#v=onepageq=entrepreneurs%20as%20managersf=false http://www.jstor.org/pss/255515 RISK, PALMER AND MILL QUOTES Wu (1989) describes a firm as a coalition of entrepreneurs, which agrees a production policy, an organisational structure, and a rule for sharing the residual profits. (page 80 of Ricketts) Galbraith (1967) concept of large firms more successful that small firms in technology based industries, however this concept is more associated with Schumpeter Schumpeter argued that there were 5 sources of entrepreneurial change: 1) The introduction of a new or improved good 2) The introduction of a new method of production 3) The opening of a new market 4) The exploitation of a new source of supply 5) The re-organisation of business management processes. (1934) DYSON: Schumpeterian Following Audretsch (2002), we argue that the absence of a generally accepted definition of entrepreneurship reflects that it is a multidimensional concept, involving aspects of uncertainty-bearing, innovation, opportunity-seeking, management and enterprising individuals. Main thoughts References Aldrich H E (1999) Organisations evolving, London: Sage Barnes B (2000) Understanding agency, London: Sage. Page 65 Baumol W J (1993) Entrepreneurship, Management and the Structure of Payoffs, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Blaug M (1986) Entrepreneurship before and after Schumpeter, in economic History and the History of economics. New York: New York University Press. Pages 219-30 Brockhaus R H (1980b) Risk taking propensity of entrepreneurs, Academy of management journal, 23,3, 509-20 Casson M (1982) The Entrepreneur, Oxford: Martin Robertson and co. Chapman S J and Marquis F J (1912:293) The recruiting of the employing class from the ranks of the wage earners in the Cotton Industry, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Vol 75 No 3 pp293-313 Deakins and Freel (2009) Entrepreneurship and Small Firms, 5th edition, Berkshire: Mcgraw-Hill. Drucker P F (1985) Innovation and Entrepreneurship, New York: Harper and Row. Earl P E (2003) Information, Opportunism and economic coordination, USA: Edward Elgar Publishing. Page 68 Edquist C (1997), Systems of Innovation Technologies, Institutions and Organizations, London: Pinter Eisenhauer J (1995) The Entrepreneurial Decision: Economic theory and empirical evidence. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice 19(4), 67-79 Ellison A P (2002) Entrepreneurs and the transformation of the global economy, Cheltenham: Edward Elder publishing Limited. Page 136 Fagerburg J and Mowery D (2005), The Oxford Handbook of Innovation, Oxford : Oxford University Press Gaglio C and Katz J (2001) The psychological basis of opportunity identification: Entrepreneurial alertness. Small Business economics, 16, 95-11 Galbraith J K (1967) The New Industrial State, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Hall, P. (1995) Habitual owners of small businesses, Small Firms Partnership for Growth, London: Paul Chapman, pp. 217-230 Hamilton R T and Harper D A (1994) The Entrepreneur in theory and practice, Journal of economic studies, 21(6) pp 3-18 Hanusch and Pyka (2007) Elgar comparison to neo-Schumpeterian economics, USA: Edward Elgar Publishing. Page 289 Hull D, Bosley, J and Udell, G (1980). Renewing the hunt for the heffalump: Identifying potential entrepreneurs by personality characteristics. Journal of Small Business, 18, 11-18. Iversen J R Jorgensen Nikolaj Malchow-Moller (2008) http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/171539783_2.html Kirzner I (1973) Competition and Entrepreneurship, Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Kirzner (1978) The Economic Point of View: An Essay in the History of Economic Thought, Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Kirzner I (1979) Perception, Opportunity and profit, Chicago: University of Chicago Press Knight F (1921) Risk, Uncertainty and Profit, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. Klein P and Cook M (2005) T.W Schultz and the Human Capital Approach to Entrepreneurship, Division of applied Social Sciences. Available from: http://web.missouri.edu/~kleinp/papers/06011.pdf. [Accessed 21st November 2009] Landstrom H (2005) Pioneers in entrepreneurship and small business research, USA: Springer. Marshall A (1994) Principles of Economics, Philadelphia: Porcupine Press, 248-250. McClelland D C (1961) The Achieving Society, D Van Nostrand co, Princeton NJ McDaniel (2002) Entrepreneurship and Innovation; An economic Approach, United Kingdom: M E Sharpe. Mill J S (1848) Principles of Political Economy, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Milner J, Smith N and Bracker J (1989) Role of entrepreneurial task motivation in the growth of technologically innovative firms, Journal of applied psychology, 74 (4), 554-60 Mises (1949) Human action: A treatise on Economics. New Haven: Yale University Press. Page 297 Mises L V (1951) Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis, New Haven: Yale University Press. Muzyka D and Birley S (2000) Mastering Entrepreneurship, 2nd edition, United Kingdom: Pearson Education. Page 31 Oxenfeldt A R (1943:109) New firms and Free Enterprise: Pre War and Post War Aspects, Washington: American council on public affairs. Palmer M (1971) The Application of Psychological Testing to Entrepreneurial Potential, California Management Review 13, 32-38. Parker S (2004) The economics of self employment and entrepreneurship, England: Cambridge University press. Page 41 Ricketts (2002) The Economics of Business Enterprise: An Introduction to Economic organisation and the theory of the firm, third edition. Page 80 Say (1803) A Treatise on Political Economy, or the production, distribution and consumption of wealth, New Jersey: Transaction publishing. Schumpeter J (1934) The theory of economic development. New York: Oxford University Press Schumpeter, J. (1961). Theory of Economic Development.Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press. Page 102 Scranton P (1993) Build a firm, start another: The Bromleys and family firm entrepreneurship in the Philadelphia region, Business History. Shackle (1955) Shailer G (1994) Capitalists and entrepreneurs in owner managed firms, International small business journal, Vol 12, no 3, pp 33-41 Shapero A (1975), The Displaced, Uncomfortable Entrepreneur, Psychology Today, Vol. 9 pp.83 133 Sternburg R (2000) Innovation networks and regional development evidence from the European regional innovation survey (ERIS): Theoretical concepts, methodological approach, Empirical basis and introduction to the theme issue, European theme issue, European planning studies, Vol 8, pp389-407 Steyaert C and Hjorth D (2004) New Movements in entrepreneurship, United States: Edward Elgar publishing. Swedburg (2000) Entrepreneurial: The social Science View, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Thompson J L (2004) Strategic Management, 4th edition, London: Thomson Publishing. Page 301 Virtual Advisor (2009) Fostering Intrapreneurial Ideas, Available from: http://www.va-interactive.com/inbusiness/editorial/bizdev/ibt/intrapre.html#6, [Accessed 8th December 2009] Wu (1989) Bibliography Bannatyne D (2009) Anyone can do it, London: Orion Publishing Group. McDonalds (2009) Our History, Available from: Historyhttp://aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/our_company/mcd_history.html, [Accessed 2nd December 2009] SG Entrepreneurs (2009) After CEO Unplugged-Intrapreneur at NUS Entrepreneurship Week, Available from: http://sgentrepreneurs.com/events/2009/01/24/after-ceo-unplugged-intrapreneurship-at-nus-entrepreneurship-week/. [Accessed 8th December 2009]

The Effects Of Video Game Violence On Human Aggression Essay -- Violen

Throughout a number of recent studies, participants playing violent video games have consistently shown increases in their aggressive behavior, both during and after the gameplay. A study that linked violent video games to child aggression found that in every group they tested, â€Å"Children who were exposed to more video game violence did become more aggressive over time than their peers who had less exposure† (Harding 1). An increase in aggressive behavior after playing violent video games is quite common in most cases, although many gamers would argue that other factors, such as people’s emotions, cause this negative change in behavior. This reveals numerous questions surrounding the effects that video game violence might have on a person. â€Å"Will a high degree of violent content in a video game mean that the frequent user will exhibit a greater degree of aggression and violent towards others in their daily lives?† (Janushewski & Truong 1). †Å"Playing violent video games not only causes an increase in antisocial behavior but also leads to a decrease in prosocial behavior† (Greitemeyer, Osswald 212). â€Å"Aggressive behavior is defined as intentional behavior produced to cause physical harm or humiliation to another person who wishes to avoid the harm (Baron & Richardson, 1994). Social science has come to understand aggression as mainly socially learned (Bandura, 1965; Bandura Ross, & Ross, 1961)† (Ferguson 70). â€Å"Anderson et al. (2010) found that video game violence can cause a significant increase in aggressive behavior in the short run, after playing a game once, and in the long run, after consistently playing† (Rowell 180). Increased behavioral aggression in the short run due to video game violence appears to be inevitable, ... ... 6, 2011, from http://articles.cnn.com/2008-11-03/health/healthmag.violent.video.kids_1_violent-video-video-games-game-genres/2?_s=PM:HEALTH Janushewski, D, Truong, M. (1999). Video games and violence. Socserv.mcmaster.ca. Retrieved April 6, 2011, from . Jeroen, L, M.Sc., J., Bushman, &, A. Konijn. (2006). Rapid communication: The appeal of violent video games to lower educated aggressive adolescent boys from two countries. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 9(5), 638-641. Rowell, H. (2010). Nailing the coffin shut on doubts that violent video games stimulate aggression: Comments on Anderson et al. Psychological Bulletin, 136(2), 179-181. Williams, K. (2005). The effects of frustration, violence, and trait hostility after playing a video game. Mass Communication and Society, 12, 291-310.

Understanding the US Homeland Security

On June 2002, President George Bush proposed to create the Department of Homeland Security – a move considered to be the most significant transformation of the US government whereby a single department has been tasked to protect America’s homeland from terrorist attacks. As noted in the Department’s website, the vision of the organization is to preserve the freedom of the United States and its homeland. Its mission is to lead the unified national effort to secure America. It has aimed to prevent and deter terrorist attacks and protect against and respond to threats and hazards to the US. Furthermore, the organization has vowed, as part of its mission, to safe and secure borders, welcome lawful immigrants and visitors, and to promote the free flow of commerce. (US Department of Homeland Security website, 2002) The organizational structure of the Department of Homeland Security has several components which involve resources within Federal, state and local governments. The following are the directorates and their components: Directorate for Preparedness, Directorate for Science and Technology, Directorate for Management, Office of Intelligence and Analysis, Office of Operations Coordination, Directorate for Policy, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office. The Directorate for Preparedness works with state, local, and private sector partners to identify threats, determine vulnerabilities, and target resources where risk is greatest, thereby safeguarding our borders, seaports, bridges and highways, and critical information systems. The Office of the Directorate for Science and Technology is the primary research and development arm of the Department. Â  It provides Federal, state and local officials with the technology and capabilities to protect the homeland. The Directorate for Management is responsible for Department budgets and appropriations, expenditure of funds, accounting and finance, procurement; human resources, information technology systems, facilities and equipment, and the identification and tracking of performance measurements. Finally, the Directorate for Policy works to enhance the nuclear detection efforts of Federal, State, territorial, tribal, and local governments, and the private sector and to ensure a coordinated response to such threats. (US Department of Homeland Security website, 2002) Aside from the Offices of the Directorates, the US Homeland Department also has independent organizations including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Customs and Borders Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Citizenship and Immigration Services, the US Coast Guard, and the US Secret Service. The functions and main responsibilities of these agencies are as follows: FEMA prepares the nation for hazards, manages Federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, and administers the National Flood Insurance Program. TSA protects the nation's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce. Customs and Borders Protection is responsible for protecting America’s borders in order to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. ICE is responsible for identifying and shutting down vulnerabilities in the nation’s border, economic, transportation and infrastructure security. Federal Law Enforcement Training Center provides career-long training to law enforcement professionals to help them fulfill their responsibilities safely and proficiently. Citizenship and Immigration Services is responsible for the administration of immigration and naturalization adjudication functions and establishing immigration services policies and priorities. The US Coast Guard protects the public, the environment, and U.S. economic interests—in the nation’s ports and waterways, along the coast, on international waters, or in any maritime region as required to support national security. (US Department of Homeland Security website, 2002) Conclusion and analysis The aftermath of 9/11 has made America more conscious of its homeland security. And rightfully, it is so. The loss of innocent lives and the repercussions it made to the economy of the United States will serve as a reminder that we have to be on vigilant on the evil motives of some countries. The current structure of the US Department of Homeland Security has so far proven itself effective in carrying out its primary task of protecting America and its citizens against any threat to the nation’s freedom and independence. After carefully identifying and studying the organization chart of the Department of Homeland Security, I am of the opinion that everything has been placed exactly where they should be. Obviously, the move to cluster all agencies related to security and the protection of America’s homeland was carefully thought out. So far, the issue on security and preparedness in terms of calamities, whether natural or otherwise, has been properly addressed by this Department. Since America has not yet experienced another 9/11, it would seem to me that the Department of Homeland Security has been doing its job perfectly. References: The US Department of Homeland Security [online] Available at: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/ Cited on: April 30, 2006 The White House [online] Available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/homeland/index.html Cited on: April 30, 2006 ;

7 Examples of Incorrect Punctuation with Quotation Marks

7 Examples of Incorrect Punctuation with Quotation Marks 7 Examples of Incorrect Punctuation with Quotation Marks 7 Examples of Incorrect Punctuation with Quotation Marks By Mark Nichol This post points out common errors committed when reporting what has been said or written. Each example is followed by a discussion of the problem and a revision that provides a solution. 1. She pointed out that, â€Å"Speed matters - the faster an organization learns, the faster it evolves.† The quotation, in isolation, is a complete sentence and is properly capitalized. But when dropped into a sentence, as in the example above, it becomes part of the sentence, just as if it were a paraphrase (â€Å"She pointed out that speed matters - the faster an organization learns, the faster it evolves.†) Therefore, a full-sentence quotation integrated into a full sentence like this is demoted and no longer merits capitalization- nor should it be preceded by a comma, because â€Å"she pointed out that† is not an attribution (see the example below pertaining to attribution), because it includes the transitional term that, which is essentially redundant to a comma: â€Å"She pointed out that ‘speed matters - the faster an organization learns, the faster it evolves.’† 2. â€Å"On the outside, he’s a warrior, but on the inside, he’s controlled and focused,† is how one of John Smith’s teammates described him to us. Similarly, when a quotation is integrated into a sentence at the head of a sentence, omit a comma at the end of the quotation unless it is necessary for the sentence’s grammatical structure: â€Å"On the outside, he’s a warrior, but on the inside, he’s controlled and focused† is how one of John Smith’s teammates described him to us. (In the sentence â€Å"She assured us that ‘he is normally very well behaved,’ as if that had anything to do with it,† the comma correctly separates the main clause from the subordinate clause.) 3. Jones screamed â€Å"help me† and â€Å"you’re assaulting me† as the detective forced her into an unmarked car. Quotations that follow an attribution- a phrase that identifies the speaker or writer and explicitly describes the character of the communication with a verb (such as said) and perhaps an adverb (such as â€Å"said sarcastically† or â€Å"said quietly†) or an adverbial phrase (such as â€Å"said as if to a child† or â€Å"said the other day†), are followed by a comma. In addition, when the quotation is a complete sentence, it should be capitalized: â€Å"Jones screamed, ‘Help me!’ as the detective forced her into an unmarked car.† (And, as further edited, an exclamation point should be included when a quotation is described as being delivered with volume or passion, just as a question mark is necessary when asking a question.) If the attribution pertains to more than one quotation, the quotations are treated as a compound phrase (using the generic structure â€Å"[this] and [that]†) and thus an additional comma, after and, is not required: â€Å"Smith screamed, ‘Help me!’ and ‘You’re assaulting me!’ as the detective forced her into an unmarked car.† (Here, unlike in the previous example, punctuation following the quotation is valid because like question marks, exclamation points, which are otherwise interchangeable with commas, provide contextual information that commas do not.) (This post about attribution and quotations is one of many at DailyWritingTips.com that discuss the topics; search the site using the keywords â€Å"attribution† and â€Å"quotations† for more information.) 4. His next comment chilled me, â€Å"We will be watching everything you do.† When what appears to be an attribution is self-contained- structured as a complete thought- the quotation should be set off from the phrase by a colon rather than a comma: â€Å"His next comment chilled me: ‘We will be watching everything you do.’† 5. I heard someone utter the words, â€Å"I’m sorry, but I can’t help you.† When a quotation is preceded by a phrase that provides context but is not a formal attribution, no punctuation should precede it: â€Å"I heard someone utter the words ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t help you.’† (This error implies that those words are the only words; see the next example for more details.) 6. In this issue, we explore the question, â€Å"Are companies curious enough to really understand all aspects of their corporate culture?† The inclusion of a comma here incorrectly implies that a reference has been made in a previous sentence to a specific question, which is explicitly reproduced in this sentence; the resulting implication is that only one question exists, and this is it. But here, â€Å"the question† and the quotation that constitutes the question are appositives- two ways to describe an idea (here, a generic description of a thing- a question- and a specific reproduction of the thing)- and should not be interrupted by punctuation: â€Å"In this issue, we explore the question ‘Are companies curious enough to really understand all aspects of their corporate culture?’ 7. How many times do you want to reheat your leftovers? At some point, you have to say I’m not going to reheat this. You’ve microwaved it six times, and it’s no longer food.† In this passage, â€Å"I’m not going to reheat this† is a conjectural statement the writer is proposing that reader might say at some point. Even though the reader may not actually speak it or write it, the writer should style it as a quotation- and treat you have to say as an attribution: â€Å"How many times do you want to reheat your leftovers? At some point, you have to say, ‘I’m not going to reheat this.’ You’ve microwaved it six times, and it’s no longer food.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Regarding Re:What to Do When Words Appear Twice in a RowHow Many Sentences in a Paragraph?

Auschwitz Concentration and Death Camp

Auschwitz Concentration and Death Camp Built by the Nazis as both a concentration and death camp, Auschwitz was the largest of the Nazis camps and the most streamlined mass killing center ever created. It was at Auschwitz that 1.1 million people were murdered, mostly Jews. Auschwitz has become a symbol of death, the Holocaust, and the destruction of European Jewry. Dates: May 1940 - January 27, 1945 Camp Commandants: Rudolf Hà ¶ss, Arthur Liebehenschel, Richard Baer Auschwitz Established On April 27, 1940, Heinrich Himmler ordered the construction of a new camp near Oswiecim, Poland (about 37 miles or 60 km west of Krakow). The Auschwitz Concentration Camp (Auschwitz is the German spelling of Oswiecim) quickly became the largest Nazi  concentration and death camp. By the time of its liberation, Auschwitz had grown to include three large camps and 45 sub-camps. Auschwitz I (or the Main Camp) was the original camp. This camp housed prisoners, was the location of medical experiments, and the site of Block 11 (a place of severe torture) and the Black Wall (a place of execution). At the entrance of Auschwitz, I stood the infamous sign that stated Arbeit Macht Frei (work makes one free). Auschwitz I also housed the Nazi staff that ran the entire camp complex. Auschwitz II (or Birkenau) was completed in early 1942. Birkenau was built approximately 1.9 miles (3 km) away from Auschwitz I and was the real killing center of the Auschwitz death camp. It was in Birkenau where the dreaded selections were carried out on the ramp and where the sophisticated and camouflaged gas chambers laid in waiting. Birkenau, much larger than Auschwitz I, housed the most prisoners and included areas for women and Gypsies. Auschwitz III (or Buna-Monowitz) was built last as housing for the forced laborers at the Buna synthetic rubber factory in Monowitz. The 45 other sub-camps also housed prisoners that were used for forced labor. Arrival and Selection Jews, Gypsies (Roma), homosexuals, asocials, criminals, and prisoners of war were gathered, stuffed into cattle cars on trains, and sent to Auschwitz. When the trains stopped at Auschwitz II: Birkenau, the newly arrived were told to leave all their belongings on board and were then forced to disembark from the train and gather upon the railway platform, known as the ramp. Families, who had disembarked together, were quickly and brutally split up as an SS officer, usually, a Nazi doctor, ordered each individual into one of two lines. Most women, children, older men, and those that looked unfit or unhealthy were sent to the left; while most young men and others that looked strong enough to do hard labor were sent to the right. Unbeknownst to the people in the two lines, the left line meant immediate death at the gas chambers and the right meant that they would become a prisoner of the camp. (Most of the prisoners would later die from starvation, exposure, forced labor, and/or torture.) Once the selections had been concluded, a select group of Auschwitz prisoners (part of Kanada) gathered up all the belongings that had been left on the train and sorted them into huge piles, which were then stored in warehouses. These items (including clothing, eyeglasses, medicine, shoes, books, pictures, jewelry, and prayer shawls) would periodically be bundled and shipped back to Germany. Gas Chambers and Crematoria at Auschwitz The people who were sent to the left, which was the majority of those who arrived at Auschwitz, were never told that they had been chosen for death. The entire mass murder system depended on keeping this secret from its victims. If the victims had known they were headed to their death, they would most definitely have fought back. But they didnt know, so the victims latched onto the hope that the Nazis wanted them to believe. Having been told that they were going to be sent to work, the masses of victims believed it when they were told they first needed to be disinfected and have showers. The victims were ushered into an ante-room, where they were told to remove all their clothing. Completely naked, these men, women, and children were then ushered into a large room that looked like a big shower room (there were even fake shower heads on the walls). When the doors shut, a Nazi would pour Zyklon-B pellets into an opening (in the roof or through a window). The pellets  turned into poison gas once it contacted air. The gas killed quickly, but it was not instantaneous. Victims, finally realizing that this was not a shower room, clambered over each other, trying to find a pocket of breathable air. Others would claw at the doors until their fingers bled. Once everyone in the room was dead, special prisoners assigned this horrible task (Sonderkommandos) would air out the room and then remove the bodies. The bodies would be searched for gold and then placed into the crematoria. Although Auschwitz I did have a gas chamber, the majority of the mass murdering occurred in Auschwitz II: Birkenaus four main gas chambers, each of which had its own crematorium. Each of these gas chambers could murder about 6,000 people a day. Life in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp Those that had been sent to the right during the selection process on the ramp went through a dehumanizing process that turned them into camp prisoners. All of their clothes and any remaining personal belongings were taken from them and their hair was shorn completely off. They were given striped prison outfits and a pair of shoes, all of which were usually the wrong size. They were then registered, had their arms tattooed with a number, and transferred to one of Auschwitzs camps for forced labor. The new arrivals were then thrown into the cruel, hard, unfair, horrific world of camp life. Within their first week at Auschwitz, most new prisoners had discovered the fate of their loved ones that had been sent to the left. Some of the new prisoners never recovered from this news. In the barracks, prisoners slept cramped together with three prisoners per wooden bunk. Toilets in the barracks consisted of a bucket, which had usually overflowed by morning. In the morning, all prisoners would be assembled outside for roll call (Appell). Standing outside for hours at roll call, whether in intense heat or below freezing temperatures, was itself a torture. After roll call, the prisoners would be marched to the place where they were to work for the day. While some prisoners worked inside factories, others worked outside doing hard labor. After hours of hard work, the prisoners would be marched back to camp for another roll call. Food was scarce and usually consisted of a bowl of soup and some bread. The limited amount of food and extremely hard labor was intentionally meant to work and starve the prisoners to death. Medical Experiments Also on the ramp, Nazi doctors would search among the new arrivals for anyone they might want to experiment upon. Their favorite choices were twins and dwarves, but also anyone who in any way looked physically unique, such as having different colored eyes, would be pulled from the line for experiments. At Auschwitz, there was a team of Nazi doctors who conducted experiments, but the two most notorious were Dr. Carl Clauberg and Dr.  Josef Mengele. Dr. Clauberg focused his attention on finding ways to sterilize women, by such unorthodox methods as X-rays and injections of various substances into their uteruses. Dr. Mengele  experimented on identical twins, hoping to find a secret to cloning what Nazis considered the perfect Aryan. Liberation When the Nazis realized that the Russians were successfully pushing their way toward Germany in late 1944, they decided to start destroying evidence of their atrocities at Auschwitz. Himmler ordered the destruction of the crematoria and the human ashes were buried in huge pits and covered with grass. Many of the warehouses were emptied, with their contents shipped back to Germany. In the middle of January 1945, the Nazis removed the last 58,000 prisoners from Auschwitz and sent them on  death marches. The Nazis planned on marching these exhausted prisoners all the way to camps closer or within Germany. On January 27, 1945, the Russians reached Auschwitz. When the Russians entered the camp, they found the 7,650 prisoners who had been left behind. The camp was liberated; these prisoners were now free.

The Family As Seen in White Noise by Don DeLillo Essay

The Family As Seen in White Noise by Don DeLillo - Essay Example This has led to the reversed roles between the parents and children. The once solid core of mother, father and children are replaced by a unit of ex-spouses, siblings and step-siblings, a situation brought about by divorce. Jack Gladney, a professor at a local college in Blacksmith, has four children; Mary Alice (aged 19) and Steffie (9), from his first and second marriages to Dana Breed-love; Bee (12), from his marriage to Tweedy Browner and Heinrich (14), from his marriage to Janet Savory (now known as Mother Devi). Of all his children, only Heinrich and Steffie live with him. His wife Babette’s three children are Denis (age 11), Eugene (8), and Wilder(about 2). Blacksmith has been negatively affected by this condition of the family. Blacksmith holds testimony to failed marriages (DeLillo 59). Things change so rapidly that even the family members seem unclear on the details. Jack even refers to family as the â€Å"cradle of the world’s misinformation† (DeLillo 81).In White Noise, DeLillo shows how technology is changing the inner experience of human beings, through waves and radiation. Television serves as a type of new collective unconscious that creates an inner frame of reference to which the mind unconsciously turns. It has become a member of the family. Stephie murmurs "Toyota Celica" in her sleep. At one point, Jack says, â€Å"His skin was a color that I want to call, flesh-toned.† We are moving toward a postmodern mentality.... As a whole, the family members can not handle their emotions and are unable to think for themselves. Money has gained colossal meaning in our time. This has led to a devaluing of other values such as freedom, customer choice and respect for shoppers. DeLillo illustrates how the current world of commerce impacts our minds by manipulating our decisions. He goes further to illustrate that a human nature demonstrates immense vulnerability to such an attack. Ubiquitous commercials lead us to desire to have things we never tried before, to see things not worth seeing, to buy stuff we do not need. The novelist tries to open our eyes to identify and understand how this commercial destructive mechanism works. For instance, in one of the earlier scenes in the novel there is a picture of the family eating lunch. DeLillo focuses our attention on how the food on the table has been packaged: crumpled tinfoil, open cartons, bowl of past substances covered with plastic wrap, flip-to rings and twist ties and shiny bags of potato chips (DeLillo 7). Babette, Jack’s current wife, is a typical example of someone who gets attracted to shiny packages with bold, visible fonts, promising the good taste of the products. She is a perfect target for offensive commercials from the television, shopping malls and advertisements. She does not read the warning tags and shows a lack of interest in calorie values. In another incident, Jack, in a bid to regain his â€Å"lost† authority, takes his whole family to the Mid-Village Mall. They spent hours there, and it is the only time in the whole novel where the members of the family appear to be having a good time. They seem to be happy and satisfied. Jack later admits, â€Å"My family gloried in the event.† Jack surrenders to true shopping fever

Answer the Questions HR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5750 words

Answer the Questions HR - Essay Example e need to make fresh employees informed about work practices and timely completion of assigned jobs or tasks that in turn could lead to intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. I would advise newly recruited and selected group of personnel about effective time management and successful completion of jobs assigned per day to each individual worker. Indeed, the first useful advice will be about minimum wastage of business hours in unnecessary discussions and informal chit chat with co-workers and peers within organisational premises. This would surely enable employees to pay greater attention to assigned business jobs and their timely completion. In fact, i would suggest workers to have informal and casual meetings during lunch or tea time so that workers could get information about their colleagues that would help in building relationships. As a result, this will foster unity and harmony among workers in the same organisation as well as reduce work overload as all assigned jobs are submitted in-time. The second advice will be to avoid spending time on unnecessary field work and travelling for business purposes. For example, some workers do not correctly sch edule their out-of-office jobs and thus waste many business hours for fewer jobs at hand, which later cause delay in timely delivery of all work requirements and productivity reduces. The third advice will be about preparing daily timetable for all tasks at hand so that workers could prioritise what tasks are to be finished first and what could be delayed because of minimal importance. 3. It is extremely important to investigate accidents thoroughly if an organisation is to put preventative measures in place to ensure that a similar accident does not occur in the workplace. Investigations help to establish the cause of the accident and to put measures in place to stop a repeat performance. What should be included in an investigation? The investigation process should be comprehensive in nature thereby covering all