Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zooey

Director Robert Zemeckis once stated, â€Å"We dont function well as human beings when were in isolation.† This quotation pertains to the protagonists in both The Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger. Both protagonists overcome estrangement when they learn from their siblings the underlying reason behind their feelings of isolation. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield fails to form a connection with others at Pencey Prep and escapes to New York City in an attempt to overcome his alienation. Similarly, in Franny and Zooey, Franny Glass seeks religion to cope with her social isolation at college. Initially, both characters are isolated from their peers because their judgmental attitudes make them unable to form a†¦show more content†¦As each novel progresses, both protagonists seek instant pleasure in attempt to escape from their isolation, but their desperation for comfort leads to their deteriorating health. Holden attempts to escape his f eelings of alienation by going to New York City, but in his desperate attempt to connect with others, his overall health worsens. Struggling with his loneliness, he reluctantly agrees to have a prostitute come to his room at the hotel: â€Å"I was feeling so depressed I didn’t even think† (Catcher 91). Holden’s desperation has made him travel from Pencey Prep, in Pennsylvania, all the way to New York City to escape his feeling of isolation from his fellow students. Even though it goes against his moral values about sex, he desperately reaches out to anyone who might be willing to ease his loneliness, and that leads him to accept the offer of letting a prostitute come to his hotel. Although once she arrives, he feels insecure and refuses to have sex. The prostitute is a symbol of instant gratification that Holden initially thought he wanted to comfort his isolation, but ends up feeling too insecure to have sex because the prospect that his first sexual experience would be with a prostitute depresses him. When Holden refuses to pay the extra charge that the prostitute requests, she gets annoyed and calls her â€Å"boss,† Maurice. Eventually, this situation results in Holden being assaulted. After this beating, Holden feels like he is at hisShow MoreRelatedEssay on Franny and Zooey and Holden Caufield694 Words   |  3 PagesHolden as a Foil ti Zooey Although they are the protagonists from two separate books, Franny Glass, a teenage girl in J.D. Salinger’s Franny and Zooey, and Holden Caufield, a young man in Salinger’s novel Catcher in the Rye, serve as foils to each other. Both suffer unnecessarily due to their interaction with those whom they are close to, due to their relationships with themselves, as well as due to their views on the world. In the end, however Franny and Holden change their values and thereforeRead More Jd Salinger Essay772 Words   |  4 Pages Salinger, J(erome) D(avid) (1919- ), American novelist and short story writer, known for his stories dealing with the intellectual and emotional struggles of adolescents who are alienated from the empty, materialistic world of their parents. Salingers work is marked by a profound sense of craftsmanship, a keen ear for dialogue, and a deep awareness of the frustrations of life in America after World War II (1939-1945). Jerome David Salinger was born and raised in New York City. He began writingRead MoreJD Salinger Research Paper1671 Words   |  7 Pagesauthor best known for his novel, Catcher in the Rye. Although Salinger only published one novel, he wrote several short stories for magazines like The New Yorker and Story. A large number of these stories went on to be compiled into books such as Nine Stories, Franny and Zooey, and Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction. Despite the fact Salinger has not published any stories in over 45 years, his reputation is still quite popular. Salingers stories are studied in high schoolsRead More Mysterious ways of J.D. Salinger Essay1582 Words   |  7 Pagesin 1945 (French xiii ). His first book was then published six years later in 1951 (French xiv). nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I think that the most important and interesting factors of Salinger life happened after 1951 with the publishing of Catcher in the Rye. It wasn’t until this point in the writers life that he really started to feel the all the criticism rush in. This is what I feel, along with all the deception that started to come in convinced him to move to Cornish, New Hampshire only twoRead MoreSummary Of The Great Gatsby By F. Salinger904 Words   |  4 PagesWorld War II, was born on January 1, 1919 in New York City. Little is known about his early life except for his education. He attended schools on the upper west side of Manhattan, which would later be the setting of his most famous novel, The Catcher in the Rye. After flunking out of several prep schools, including McBurney’s, his parents sent him to Valley Forge Military Academy. At Valley Forge he maintained average grades and was involved in several clubs and organizations, many of which had toRea d More The Writings of J.D. Salinger Essay1513 Words   |  7 Pagesand New York University. From 1939 to 1942, he went to Columbia University where he decided to become a writer. Salinger published short story collections and one novel. His best known work, The Catcher in the Rye, was published in 1951. The short stories he wrote were Nine Stories in 1953, Franny and Zooey in 1961, Raise High the Roofbeams, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction in 1963, Young Folk in 1940 and A Perfect Day for Bananafish in 1948. Many critics have considered J.D. SalingerRead More J.d. Salinger Essay2971 Words   |  12 Pagesquite odd because he would later in life become a recluse (Wenke, 3). Salinger adjusted his writing style to fit the literary marketplace. He was writing for money and began writing for magazines like Good Housekeeping and Mademoiselle. Many of Salinger’s characters have unique character traits. amp;quot;Salinger presents a number of stories that consider characters who become involved in degrading, often phony social contexts,amp;quot; states a major critic (Wenke, 7). These characters are oftenRead MoreSummary Of Salinger s The Catcher Rye And Franny And Zooey 1966 Words   |  8 PagesAmerican writer’s haven’t only impacted this country, but the world as a whole. Specifically, J.D. Salinger. He is a well-known author who has wrote many influential books such as The Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zooey. Salinger’s childhood, education, significant people, major influences,and historical events have all had an impact on how he became the face of a literary movement as well as his contributions to the art of American Literature. Jerome David Salinger was born on January 1, 1919Read MoreJ.D. Salinger is Holden Caulfield1666 Words   |  7 Pagesinfluential twentieth century American writers.† states Biography.com, â€Å"His landmark novel, Catcher in the Rye, set a new course for literature in post World War II America.† The Catcher in the Rye told a story of Holden Caulfield and his struggle to find something pure in a world filled with â€Å"phonies† (Biography). It is arguable that some of Holden’s experiences could be comparitively autobiographical to Salinger’s real life. Much like J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield is a reserved character, attendingRead MoreA Short Biography of J.D. Salinger1316 Words   |  6 Pages(â€Å"David Jerome Salinger†) In 1932, Jerome was enrolled in Mcburney School. It was a private high school. He was the captain on his fencing team. He really enjoyed fencing. He struggled in private school though because he got terrible grades! Since Salingers grades were very mediocre in private school they sent him somewhere else. He was sent to military school. He started to attend Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania in 1934. While he was there, he worked on the newspaper and yearbook

The Old Man And The Sea - 1176 Words

Throughout many works of literature there is a conflict between man and nature. There are classics such as The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway and Lord of the Flies by William Golding, that show a very clear line that divides man from nature, and how nature is for the most part the enemy. However, in other stories, the line between civilization and nature is blurred. Stories such as True West by Sam Shepard, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, and â€Å"The Rememberer† by Aimee Bender display examples of how the two distinct world of the civilized and the wild can cross into one another. In True West, the two main characters are complete foils of themselves. The first brother, Austin, is a hardworking, Ivy League graduate, who currently works as a screen writer in Sothern California. He has a lovely wife, and two wonderful children, a nice house, and a stable career. Austin represents the civilized world. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the spectrum, there is L ee. Lee is a sloppy, violent drunk, and prone to theft and crime. He has been living in the outskirts of town, in a desert with a dog that he uses for fighting. Lee is the wild, or nature in this story. Austin and Lee start out as far apart from each other as can possibly be. As Lee and Austin spend time together, however, there is a noticeable change in both of them. Before each of the brothers are able to get a read on the other, they are able to tolerate be around each other, for the most part.Show MoreRelatedThe Old Man And The Sea1561 Words   |  7 Pages The Old Man and The Sea is more than a book about a fish and an old man, it teaches us strength and never giving up on ourselves. The Old Man and The Sea is written by Ernest Hemingway about Santiago, The Old Man. Hemingway is a writer known for his iceberg themes in his novels, where ten percent of its message is what you read and the ninety percent is hidden. That ninety percent is up to i nterpretation. My interpretation is Hemingway’s The Old Man and The Sea he expressesRead MoreThe Old Man And The Sea1154 Words   |  5 PagesThe sea in a way is like a living being. The way it rhythmically carries itself, showing all of its majestic beauty. The sea has such power, each wave coordinately smashing against whatever stands in its way. Sea erosion, most commonly known as coastal erosion, is the slow process of wave action constantly shaping and reshaping the coastlines of our world. In The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway portrays nature as a continuum-an endless progression of the invention and destruction which is ultimatelyRead MoreThe Old Man and the Sea900 Words   |  4 PagesThe Old Man and the Sea is a short, but rich novel about an old fisherman who, after eighty-four unsuccessful days in a row, hooks the largest fish of his life. Written by Ernest Hemingway in 1951, and published in 1952, the novel was the last of Hemingway’s novels to be published during his lifetime. The book was praised by critics, and became an immediate success. The story was also awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and was a factor in Hemingway winning a Nobel Prize. The story was publishedRead MoreThe Old Man And The Sea Essay1718 Words   |  7 Pagesearly to mid 20th century. Known mainly for his success in writing the critically acclaimed novel, The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway had many symbolic meanings instituted throughout this novel and many other works. Many having the theme of a hero confronting a natural force, as seen when Santiago confronts the mighty sea. Along with the heroic themes, Hemingway had become a religious Catholic man growing up and decided to include many religious references and biblical allusions. Since the beginningRead MoreThe Old Man And The Sea1128 Words   |  5 PagesLiterature Analysis 3 The Old Man and the Sea was written by Ernest Hemingway. It was published by the Charles Scribner’s Sons in 1952, and contains 127 pages. The genre is literary fiction. The story is about an old man named Santiago who fishes alone in the Gulf Stream and has been very unsuccessful for the past 84 days. A simple tale, this takes timeless themes of courage of one man’s struggle and personal triumph. The author’s purpose was to write both a realistic andRead MoreThe Old Man And The Sea1412 Words   |  6 Pagesboth having completely different writing styles and ideas, seem to have an underlying similarity in how they view leadership and heroism. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway and Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh both show internal battles and undeniable fate within characters throughout each novel. In The Old Man and the Sea Hemmingway uses Santiago, the old Cuban fisherman, to represent internal transformation, renewed life, triumph, and defeat. Ghosh also represents similar struggles throughRead MoreThe Old Man And The Sea1586 Words   |  7 Pageswithin the plot of the novel, The Old Man and the Sea and the motion picture, Life of Pi. In the novel, the old fisherman, Santiago spends a few days out at sea attempting to capture the fish of his dreams. He battles through pain, thirst and hunger in order to bring the Marlin to the shore. However, whi le losing his prey, he gains a priceless experience combined with pride, respect and compassion. On the other hand, the main character in the movie survives at sea for 227 days with a wild animal,Read MoreThe Old Man And The Sea1121 Words   |  5 Pagesimpact on the author of The Old Man and The Sea, Ernest Hemingway. Gertrude, an American novelist, poet, playwright and art collector, served as a mentor for Ernest. The novelist also served as a godmother to Ernest along with her companion, Alice B. Toklas. Ernest Hemingway used his experience with Gertrude in his 1952 book, The Old Man and The Sea. Santiago and Manolin share a relationship similar to Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. Throughout The Old Man and The Sea, Ernest Hemingway providesRead MoreThe Old Man And The Sea1395 Words   |  6 PagesBoth The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway and â€Å"To Build a Fire† by Jack London both explore the literary conflict of man verses nature. Both main characters sha re many similarities; however, they also have various differences that set them apart as well. In The Old Man and the Sea the story is about Santiago, an old fisherman who sets out one day and catches the fish of a lifetime. Santiago then spends multiple days fighting the fish in the middle of the ocean. â€Å"To Build a Fire† is about aRead MoreThe Old Man And The Sea993 Words   |  4 Pages one Earnest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, is a captivating story about and old seasoned fisherman named Santiago. It is a tale of his epic struggle with the greatest catch of his life after not catching anything for eighty-four days. He face psychological challenges and encounters multiple villains. Santiago is fishing with a young boy named Manolin and the boy leaves the old man to go on another boat. Hemingway explains to us why they boy had to leave the boat. â€Å"But after forty

Warehousing in Supply Chain free essay sample

Warehousing is one of the most important and critical logistic activities in industrial and service systems. A few production philosophies, e. g. just in time (JIT) and lean manufacturing, propose and support the so-called ‘‘zero stock’’ as basic and strategic pillar. Also manufacturing requirement planning (MRP), the well known and widely adopted ‘‘push-’’ based full? lment technique, theoretically guarantees no storage quantities when the ‘‘lot for lot’’ reorder policy is adopted. Nevertheless, these special production systems do not operate in absence of warehousing systems that support and smooth the discontinuity ? ow of materials, products and components, at the input and at the bottom of a generic production stage. Warehousing activities and storage systems are necessary! This is true in many industrial and not industrial sectors: from automotive to tile industry passing from food industry, health care production systems, service sectors (e. g. banks, universities, hospitals), etc. Obviously, warehousing is the core activity of logistic providers, usually specialized in distribution activities including storage and transportation issues. In special sectors, like the food industry and the health care supply chains, warehousing means storage systems in critical operating conditions, e. g. controlled temperature and/or humidity levels, by the management of fresh and perishable products. The storage systems signi? cantly affect the level of quality of products, the customer’s service level, and the global logistic cost. Just an example: the food industry. Warehousing and transportation issues signi? cantly affect the level of quality of foodstuffs at the consumer’s location, especially when production plants and ? nal points of demand (consumers’ locations) are far away and frequently located in different countries. The mission of warehousing is the same of the discipline ‘‘logistics’’: to effectively ship products in the right place, at the right time, and in the right quantity without any damages or alterations. Important keywords in warehousing and storage systems are: safety, quality, availability, cost saving, customer service level, traceability, picking, automation, ful? llment, travel time, etc. With increased globalization and offshore sourcing, global supply chain management is becoming an important issue for many businesses. Global supply chain management involves a company’s worldwide interests and suppliers rather than simply a local or national orientation. This is the operational arena of warehouses in most complex production systems. THE ROLES OF WAREHOUSE IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN Warehouse play vital roles in the supply chain. The warehouse is not only a facility where a company can store their products, but the warehouse offers inventory management, physical inventory counts and shipping functionality. The warehouse charges their clients for a certain rate for the goods stored, the volume of the warehouse used and the services the client wishes to use. The company using the warehouse does not have to employ warehouse staff, does not require any inventory software or warehouse equipment. The owner of the warehouse is responsible for the costs and passes this on to their clients based on the rate they are charged. The warehousing functionality today is much more than the traditional function of storage. The main function that warehousing serves today are hold raw material at or near the point of induction into a manufacturing or assembly process. The work-in-process warehouses hold partially completed assemblies and products at various points along an assembly or production line. Besides, the finished goods warehouse hold inventory used to balance and buffer the variation between production and schedules and demand. For this purpose, the warehouse is usually located near the point of manufacture and is often characterized by the flow of full pallets in and full pallets out, assuming that product size and volume warrant pallet-sized loads. A warehouse serving only this function may have demands ranging from monthly to quarterly replenishment of stock to the next level of distribution. Edward Frazelle. (2001) claims that distribution warehouses and distribution centers accumulate and consolidate products from various points of manufacture within a single firm, or from several firms, for combined shipment to common customers. Such as warehouse may be located central to either the production locations or the customer base. Product movement may be typified by full pallets or cases or broken case quantities out. The facility is typically responding to regular weekly or monthly orders. Warehouse also receive, pick, and ship small orders for individual consumers. As a fulfillment warehouse and fulfillment centers. The local warehouse, distributed in the field in order to shorten transportation distances to permit rapid response to customer demand. Frequently, single items are picked, and the same item may be shipped to the customer every day. The value –added service warehouse serve as the facility where key product customization activities are executed, including packaging, labeling, marking, pricing and returns processing. According to Edward Frazelle. (2001) the figure below illustrates warehouse performing these functions in a logistics network. Unfortunately, in many of today’s networks, a single item will pass in and out of warehouse serving each of these functions between the point of manufacturer and the customer. When feasible, two or more missions should be combined in the same warehousing operation, and handling steps in the chain should be minimized. Current changes in the availability and cost of transportation options make combining activities in a single location and link skipping possible for many products. In particular, small high-value items with unpredictable demand are frequently shipped worldwide froma single source using overnight delivery services. Figure : the roles of a warehouse in logistics and supply chain management. Cliff Otto (2010) is of the opinion that Cross-docking as manufacturers seek ways to move products more efficiently and cost-effectively, many are ediscovering cross-docking—moving product directly from receiving to shipping with little or no inventory and minimal handling. The process is resurfacing as a way to take costs out of the supply chain, accelerate inventory velocity, and improve service levels. While historically used for durable goods, high turn rates and reduced handling make cross-docking an effective solution for everything from perishable products to high-value/high-security g oods. The process helps get product to market quickly and economically while reducing the need for warehouse space and inventory carry costs. In simple words, warehouses are used by manufacturers,  exporters, wholesalers, retailers,  transport businesses, customs (exporters, Importers), etc. They are usually large plain buildings, equipped with loading docks to load and unload consignment from trucks. Based upon the size of the goods and volume of operation they also often have cranes and forklifts for moving goods, which are usually placed on ISO standard pallets. Warehouse is a facility where the supply chain holds or stores goods, until they are needed by the customers. Warehouse can be owned by manufactures, wholesalers, retailers to store the goods. In my opinion, the role of warehousing and storage has changed drastically as customer and vendor compliance issues have come to surface and a greater emphasis has been placed on operations and customer satisfaction. There are more demands and expectations in today’s industry. The management of warehousing operations requires a unique combination of engineering, IT, human resources and supply chain skills. Motorsense offers an integrated warehouse solution that incorporates all the above to give a cost effective solution with the added benefit of stock reworking, returns management, sub-assembly and repackaging.

Moral and Ethical Issues and the Foundation of Special Education

The disability topic has always elicited a lot of debate whenever it is mentioned .Throughout the history of humanity, there have been conflicting viewpoints concerning disability. The difference in perspectives depends entirely on the available policies about people with special needs together with the level of awareness in the society. The term disability is very broad and people have always argued about the real definition of disability.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Moral and Ethical Issues and the Foundation of Special Education specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Disability is a condition that entails physical impairments that eventually lead to inability of the person to fully participate in day to day life activities. These physical limitations together with the general perspectives of the society constitute the complicated concept of disability. This essay will discuss the various disability philosophies and issues of the 19th century in comparison with the current ones. Disability philosophies have contributed a great deal in the way the disabled people are treated in the society. Disability occurs as a result of impairments that limit the normal functioning of the body. When the body subsystems are impaired in one way or another, the person becomes physically restricted in performing some essential functions (Meade Serlin, 2006). The visual, sensory or auditory systems are key to the normal functioning of the body. When these subsystems are impaired, the person qualifies to receive special treatment. Any impairment that limits the motor ability of the body is termed as a physical disability. There are other categories of disabilities including mental retardation, developmental disability and social disabilities. The disability condition can be acquired in one’s lifetime or one can be born with disability (Jaeger, 2009). There have been a lot of issues surrounding disabilit y. The first issue arises in the name they should be called. Many people with disabilities feel offended when referred to as disabled. This has always sparked a lot of argument about the right name to be used to refer to them. The disability rights activists have been very critical on the use of this name arguing that many people are prone to become disabled due to accidents and illnesses. The issues of masculinity and feminism have a great effect on disabled people. Disabled men are forced to re-define masculinity not based on their physical abilities but on their ability to face life with courage and optimism despite their condition (Jaeger, 2009). Disabled women face double tragedy because they have to confront feminism and disability at the same time. Apart from facing the stigma associated with disabled people, they also face the issue of discrimination against women. These women are charged with a heavy responsibility of fighting the two wars.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are two models associated with disability. The societal model and the medical model are very different from each other in terms of philosophy. In medical terms, disability is viewed as a personal problem that requires professional medical care and treatment. The main issue in the medical model is treatment and care of the disabled people wich can be enhance by comprehensive health care policies that cater for the people with disabilities. In the societal context, disability is seen as a problem created by the society (Carlson, 2009). The situation can only be managed by appropriate social actions involving all the stakeholders in the community. Social change ensures equality in access to opportunities regardless of one’s condition. The disability history is wide and quite intriguing as well. Although there were issues and philosophies concerning disabled people from the 17 th century, the 19th century experienced increased awareness and viewpoints about disability. During the 19th century, disability was seen as a race issue (Derlin Pothier, 2008). The whites saw themselves as the normal people and the rest of the races were viewed as abnormal. In the industrialization period, women were also regarded as disabled because of their excessive emotions and physical weaknesses (Meade Serlin, 2006). This claim denied women a chance of participating in politics and industrial work. At this point, disability was also defined on gender basis. In the industrialized western countries, disability was seen as the reversal of the evolution process (Meade Serlin, 2006). The disability issue was so serious that some immigrant countries went ahead to formulate laws that block would disabled people from entering their countries. People with physical and mental disabilities were the most affected by the laws. Acts of criminality and immorality were condemned in the st rongest of terms by these nations. Immorality and criminality were seen as signs of mental disability (Derlin Pothier, 2008). The immigrant nations continued with their concerted efforts to lock out disabled immigrants by revisiting the race issue. They believed that certain races and nationalities were more prone to physical and psychological impairment than others. They tightened their restrictions on these nationalities terming them as undesirable in their countries. In the late 19th century, some Western countries like the U.S established disability centers where the disabled people could be gathered and restrained. This was an attempt to separate them from the rest of the (Carlson, 2009). Children with cognitive and psychological impairments formed the majority of those in the centers.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Moral and Ethical Issues and the Foundation of Special Education specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The disability definitions and philosophies have changed a great deal in the 21st century. Various international organizations like the World Health Organization have come into place and completely revolutionnalised disability viewpoints and policies. The attitudes about people with disabilities have completely changed in recent times. The traditional mind set about disabled people is continually being erased from the minds of people thanks to concerted awareness efforts put in place by various Government and Non-Governmental Organizations (Derlin Pothier, 2008). The disability is not inability campaigns have borne much fruits because disabled people can now be recognized in the society. The traditional notion that disabled people are beggars has been proved wrong because this group of people have proved that they can also work and earn their daily bread without depending on anyone (Ralson, 2009). The number of disabled people working in different organizations has been imp roving over the years. Disability rights activists have been at the forefront in fighting for equal access to opportunities. The 21st century has experienced an increase in the number of special schools all over the world to cater for the special needs of disabled students. It has been proved that children with disabilities can actually score good grades in school if given the required facilities and support. The public and health policies are instrumental in ensuring people with disabilities receive equal treatment and opportunities (Ralson, 2009). Governments who are reluctant to formulate and enact disability policies have been put under a lot of pressure by international bodies on human rights to comply with the specified conditions. The 21st century has experienced a lot of positives concerning disability rights. The disability history from the 19th century to now has seen tremendous changes that are worth looking at. The immigration restrictions imposed on people with disabili ties in the 19th century are now a thing of the past. The international immigration laws forbid denial of entry to a certain nation on the basis of disability. People with disabilities can now enjoy the freedom of moving in any country of their choice without facing discrimination (Marshall, 2009). The other current positive is that people with disability can now be given a chance to go to school and pursue their dreams just like anyone else. This was actually beyond imagination in the 19th century. In the 19th century, disabled people were viewed as outcasts who were not needed in the society. They were branded useless and enable to achieve anything in life (Marshall, 2009).Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The race issue in the 19th century was a serious issue that promoted a lot of hatred and sheer brutality .The notion that some races were prone to physical and psychological impairments than others is actually fallacious. The recent campaigns against racism have actually helped in reducing incidences of racism allover the world. In the modern world, disability is no longer defined in terms of race but in terms of one’s physical and psychological conditions (Meade Serlin, 2006). The modern man has realized that the condition of disability is not a reserve of some nationalities and races but can be faced with everyone (Marshall, 2009). The viewpoints and philosophies about disabilities in the 19th century were very discriminatory and unfair in all terms. Coming to think of being denied access to a certain country because of your condition is actually dehumanizing and unfair. It is a pity that those people had no idea that disability is a condition that anyone can get into. The idea of defining disability in terms of race is actually absurd. There is no superior race than the other in terms of cognitive and mental abilities. There were some reported cases where disabled people were even killed or completely alienated from the rest of the society because they were seen as undesirable. The perpetrators of those brutal acts did not even consider if they were the ones in a similar situation. In conclusion, the philosophies on disability have been changing over time. The 19th century experienced a dark phase in the life of disabled people all over the world. The discrimination and the acrimony of the people living with disabilities sparked a lot of international outcry for the recognition of disability rights by Governments all over the world. International bodies on human rights have played a major role in notifying the disabled about their rights and at the same time pushing for policy reforms that would accommodate people with disability. These efforts have borne fruits because discrimination against people with disabilities has declined significantly. References Carlson, L. (2009). The faces of intellectual disability: Philosophical reflections. New York, NY: Indiana University Press. Devlin, F.R Pothier, D. (2008). Critical disability theory: Essays in philosophy, politics, policy and law. New York, NY: UBC Press. Jaeger, P.T et al. (2009). Disability matters (Gpg) (PB). New York, NY: IAP Publishers. Marshall, C.A. (2009). Disabilities: Insights from across fields and around the world. Praeger Perspectives, 1, 38-66. Meade, T. Serlin, D. (2006). Disability and history. Radical History Review, 94, 98-218 Ralson, P.C. Ho, J. (2009). Philosophical reflections on disability. Philosophy and Medicine, 104, 22-58. This essay on Moral and Ethical Issues and the Foundation of Special Education was written and submitted by user Clara Elliott to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The mind-body connection and how this impacts how we learn free essay sample

My topic of discussion is: The mind-body connection and how this impacts how we learn. Currently I am a Infantryman in the United States Army. Being deployed for my third tour of duty in Afghanistan, this topic has intrigued me to say the least. Since 2001, The United States has seen a growing number of men and women volunteering for military service. This service requires these brave souls to learn set skills required to finish a task in battle. Most agree that there are two school of thought, classical conditioning and operant conditioning, when it comes to learning. However, I am going to examine how physical fitness can improve mental capacity even when in the extreme situations seen in war. The paper compares the aforementioned schools of thought on learning and how they relate to the military service members. While the United States Military spends a lot of time developing new skills for their recruits, what ultimately allows a soldier to kill the enemy; mind, body or both? My research will demonstrate how the mind-body connection is impacted in the learning process and how it relates to those in a combat situation. We will write a custom essay sample on The mind-body connection and how this impacts how we learn or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The Mind-Body Connection and How This Impacts How We Learn Schools of Thought on Learning As human beings much of what we learn is a result of conditioning. There are two types of conditioning; classical and operant. Classical conditioning was pioneered by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov. He is credited for his research of mental reflexes in dogs when food was either present or if there was a possibility of food. Pavlov observed the dogs drooling before the food was even given. Here we see the mind body connection played out. The idea of food caused an unconditioned stimulus which for the dogs and their unconditioned response thus was the drooling of the mouth. After a while, through training, the dogs became conditioned. Pavlov introduced a ringing bell before feeding (conditioned stimulus) and just as before the conditioned response from the dogs after hearing the bell ring was drooling. Pavlovs findings showed the world that learning can come from classical conditioning. The second school of thought for learning is operant conditioning. Defined as training a person or animal to behave in a certain way by way of punishment or reward. Psychologist B. F. Skinner invented operant conditioning chamber. Skinner discovered that consequences for the organism played a large role in how the organism responded in certain situations. (Benjamin, L. T, 2007). There are two types of positive reinforcement; primary and secondary. Primary occurs when something that an animal likes instinctively which is not learned like eating. Animals learning to enjoy something is the secondary type of positive reinforcement. Skinner used his operant conditioning chamber to observe and train rats. His rats were trained to press a lever to get food. If the rats lever pressing is reinforced only when there is a tone being played then the rat would wait for the tone. A key component of the research was positive punishment. Postive punishment aimed to reduce behavior by taking away the desired good. Man or animal, if they enjoy the reward they will work to avoid losing and thus are less likely to repeat the behavior that threatens to take it away. In October of 2001, the United States began its retaliation against the al Qaeda backed terrorists responsible for September 11, 2001. According to Martinez and Bingham (2011) 22,658,00 American personnel had be deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan or both as of August 30, 2011. That number has only grown since that data was taken. What we see are men and women joining the service to learn a new job to support the wars abroad. They endure months of training in both physical and mental capacities before they are shipped off to fight. As discussed previously, there are operant and classical conditioning, which both occur in the various training received before ultimately deploying. Classical conditioning or mental reflexes rely heavily on what our animal instincts. Before going to basic training, I had never shot a gun in my entire life. There were times when had to rely on my gut to get a task finished. However, all the military training focuses heavily on this operant style of learning. Our instructors pounded proper procedures on a daily basis and if we screwed something up then there would be a negative consequence like performing pushups until your arms fall off. Eventually, I no longer thought about how to fire my weapon at a target, it was like second nature. Physical Fitness CDC states that Research has shown that doing aerobic or a mix of aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities 3 to 5 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes can give you mental health benefits. Theres no mystery as to why the military requires its members to be in great physical fitness. The physical state of ones body can have a direct relation to the amount of stress in the mind. Studies have shown that physical activity can improve concentration, enhance memory and mental awareness. (Mo, 2010). One of the worst things that can occur admists battle is self doubt and confussion. There is not a moment to lose when its a life or death situation. It is that moment where all that training kicks in and one reacts, a mental reflex, as you will. Being physically fit increases the chances of making the correct decision coupled with the amount of training received. Here is when the flight or fight mentality sets in. In my last deployment in Iraq, I had the chance to read Dave Grossmans On Killing. His research really digs into how and why in battle we either fight or flee. The body, despite how trained it is to ultimately kill someone, the mind has a harder time executing. This is a great example of the mind-body connection. Grossman states, You do not rise to the occasion in combat, you sink to the level of your training. Do not expect the combat fairy to come bonk you with the combat wand and suddenly make you capable of doing things that you never rehearsed before. It will not happen. Basically, what I have been taught and those fellow veterans before have been taught is how we are able to react accordingly. Again, I will throw out the term reflex. One does not think but rather react. Under the condition of stress, the entire sympathetic nervous system is activated, producing an immediate, widespread response. Characterized by the release of large quantities of epinephrine, an increased heart rate and skeletal muscle vasodilation†¦. The overall effort is to prepare the individual for danger.

Surviving the Mountain essays

Surviving the Mountain essays Throughout my life I have spent a good amount of time in the wilderness and I've learned a lot of lessons while there. I learned the most when I was fourteen and spent five weeks at a wilderness camp in Durango, Colorado. We did everything from horseback riding to canoe trips to learning what water we should and shouldn't drink. We even had a emergency while scaling down a mountain when a fellow camper created an avalanche because he took a wrong path down the mountain. He was struck in the back by a small bolder so the other campers and I built a makeshift gurney from our backpack frames to carry him down the mountain. He was later air lifted by helicopter from the base of the mountain and fortunately he wasn't significantly injured. Never the less, my experience on that mountain taught me a lot about mental strength and staying calm while under stress. Even with the danger I encountered, I wouldn't change a thing about my time in Durango. In fact, it prepared me for what I was to f ace my senior year of high school during what was meant to be a bonding experience in the Stanislaus National Forest. Alex was in my high school class and went with us to Stanislaus National Forest. He was normally a quiet guy but was fired up during an impromptu game of pigskin. I don't even remember who threw the pass, but I can still see Alex stretched out for the ball, accidentally wedging his foot under a log that was hidden in the tall grass. The log stopped him in his path like a doorstop. Alex yelled out in pain immediately as he grabbed his ankle. I could tell this was no small sprain. It was the worst case scenario. What had once started as a bonding experience had now turned into a rescue mission. It was earlier that morning I had looked around my surroundings in a almost guilty manner knowing how lucky I was to be experiencing Mother Nature and the beautiful views. Once we had come to conclusion Alex's ankle was probably broken, ...

Modern Astronomy Frontier Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Modern Astronomy Frontier - Research Paper Example What exactly makes black holes so captivating is the effects they seem to have on their surroundings, and yet their ability to remain in obscurity, literally. Before embarking on the actual topic of black holes, this paper will discuss the background research completed on black holes, the observations on them, the results of those observations, and the mysteries that still exist about them. First of all, black holes possess an amazing heritage. The first record of the black hole theory begins back in the early 1780s (DeBenedictis 4). However, during the nineteenth century, the idea that light could be affected by gravity was thought to be false, and therefore black holes, which result from gravitational pulls that suck away light, would not be possible. During the early twentieth century, with the discovery of the theory of relativity by Albert Einstein and discoveries by astrophysicist Karl Schwarzschild, belief in the theory of black holes returned (DeBenedictis 4). Further research took place once the technology advanced enough to produce models and test the various theories and equations that were used. Several types of research were employed to test the theory of black holes. One type of research, labeled as classical black hole research, begins with the theory of general relativity (DeBenedictis 14). Classical theory believes that â€Å"black holes can only absorb and not emit particles† (Hawking 199). Therefore, whatever information â€Å"falls into a black hole is forever lost† (Carr 22). Within classical black hole research, several different equations determine the spin, velocity and gravitational field surrounding the black hole and the particles that compose the black hole (DeBenedictis 22). Classical research deals with the geometry of black holes, specifically at the â€Å"event horizon† (Anderson 1). The event horizon constitutes â€Å"the boundary around a black  hole on and within which no matter or

FINAL PROJECT Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

FINAL PROJECT - Term Paper Example He goes to the court three to four days a week. Now seven years have passed since the start of practice. The interviewee has only one partner in his firm, and he himself fundamentally assumes the responsibility of the firm’s management. He chose this occupation because the work in it is enough to ensure an uninterrupted income. The following text discusses the crux of my discussion with the interviewee. I asked him about 19 questions. What he said in reply to those questions is mentioned in the text below: To possess the basic skills as an associate in a firm, one needs to have basic understanding of legal precedents, the ability to manage a heavy caseload, and the ability to behave professionally in court.  The firm assigns responsibilities to the personnel according to the volume of work and the individualistic capabilities of individuals. Time management is compulsory for success of an insurance litigation lawyer. The interviewee said that he has developed interest in his field over the course of time. He was not very optimistic about it in the start, through with time, the routinely issues grabbed his attention. The interviewee said that in order to maintain a good clientele in this field, the employees must have good rapport with the customers.

The Strong Form of Efficient Market Hypothesis Essay

The Strong Form of Efficient Market Hypothesis - Essay Example This evaluation may seem too obvious to day, but prior to the efficient market hypothesis in the 1900s, it was not so self-evident. In recent times however, the Efficient Market Hypothesis is subject to critical re-examination and trial in the paradigms of financial market research (Russel and Torbey, 2001:27). Primary evidence shows that the initial confidence of the concept of Efficient Market Hypothesis is misplaced. According to observations, Efficient Market Hypothesis based financial equilibrium models do not depict the actual trading operations in the world. Indeed, numerous inconsistent results and anomalies require refinement of the current paradigms. This paper presents a critical analysis on the validity of Efficient Market Hypothesis strong form based on existing evidence. Within the realms of finance, Efficient Market Hypothesis reiterates that there is efficient information in financial markets, that assets traded in the financial markets such as bonds, property, or sto cks, reflect all the known and relevant information. In this regard therefore, there is no bias since the information present reflects the collective beliefs of involved investors concerning future expectations and prospects. The Effective Market Hypothesis states that in a financial market with effective information, it is impossible to outperform that market using known information, with the exception of lack (Palan, 2011:24). According to the hypothesis, news or information refers to anything capable of affecting the current market prices.

Elements Of Culture Corporate Artifacts Commerce Essay

Elements Of Culture Corporate Artifacts Commerce Essay Experienced captains know that navigating uncharted sea should be pay more attention to observe, analyze to predict potential risks and make proper decisions. As a manager, running an existing or setting up a new company also need these skills, strategic management helps corporate to focus ahead, understand the marketing environment and reposition business to effectively compete other companies. Corporate strategy management is related to different aspects, such as financial aspects, human resources management, organizational culture, marketing, etc. Organizational culture is one of these important aspects, which is an indispensable and intangible aspect of strategy management. The concepts of organizational culture and organizational strategy looks like different, but they have a closer relationship between each other. Normally one part of corporate success depends on the support of organizational culture to organizational strategy. Organizational culture is about expectations, valu es and beliefs learned and shared by the companys members and transmitted from one generation of employees to anther. The organizational culture generally reflects the values of the founders and the mission of the company. Culture gives a corporate a sense of identity: This is what we stand for. This is who we are. This is what we do. The culture includes the dominant orientation of the company, such as customer care at Hilton, innovation at Apple, product quality at Volvo, or RD at HP. It often includes the many informal work rules that the staffs follow without asking questions. These work practices over time become part of a companys unquestioned tradition. The culture, therefor reflects the companys value. (Thomas, L 2012) Apple Inc does well in their organizational culture, their culture was based on an ideal that self-motivated individuals will work harder if they do not have a boss micromanaging every action. This unique and successful culture helps Apple Inc develop the mos t attractive products and occupy the market rapidly. (Scribd 2010) Elements of culture corporate artifacts, shared values, shared assumption When you walk into a hotel, a resort, a university, a bank, what do you notice first? What do frist impressions tell you about the organization that you have just entered? How friendly it will be? How expensive it will be? What kind of behavior is expected of you? How will the staff approach and deal with you? Now look more carefully at the physical surroundings what positive and negative signs, symbols and signals do you get? How exactly are these being transmitted to you? These are all aspects of organizational culture. Cultural awareness will not only lead to more effective staffs, but also get more customers or clients and increase the customers loyalty. There are many elements of organizational culture, but three of them artifacts, values, and assumptions are the key elements, organizational employees create the sets of artifacts, values, and assumptions, no single element can build corporate culture. Corporate artifacts are the observable signs and symbols of an organizationa l culture, such as the corporate stories or legends, the organizations physical layout and the way guests are greeted, it is also a language and physical structure of the organization, the artifact may be as formal as the staff handbook or a hotel logo, or as informal as decoration in the front lobby. Artifacts are important because they offer the best evidence about a companys culture. In Hilton, there is a famous story, 80% hotels were closed down during the great depression in America. The hotels owner Conrad Hilton still told his staff dont forget the etiquette, the smile is always belong to the guests. After the great depression, Hilton hotel lead into the new flourishing period and became the leader in tourism industry. (Charles Kelly 2010) Values are stable, evaluative beliefs that guide organizational members preferences for goals or plans of action in a variety of situations, such as compassion, innovation, cooperation, compassion, integrity, service innovation, and the cr eativity. Values could demonstrate themselves in the form of corporate strategies, goals and desired qualities. Building organizational core values can be used to guide principles and wish the employees to insist to these. For example: Lenovo which was established with 25,000 RMB investment in a guard house in China, today, Lenovo is a US$21 billion personal technology company which ousts HP as worlds largest PC vendor. (Gartner 2012) Its success mainly depends on its strategy and corporate culture, its core value innovative spirit and customer service attract more talents and customers, which help Lenovo occupy the global market.( Lenovo 2012) Along with shared values , corporate culture consists of a deeper element shared assumptions. These are unconscious taken for granted perception or beliefs that have worked so well in the past that they are considered the correct way to think and act toward problems and opportunities. Shared assumptions are so deeply ingrained that you prob ably would not discover them by surveying employees. Only by observing employees, analyzing their decisions, and debriefing them about their actions would these assumptions rise to the surface. (Steven, L. 2008) Why do executives at Lenovo, Hilton hotel group and other companies pay so much attention to organizational culture? The answer is that they believe a strong culture is competitive advantage. Culture is one of the most precious things a company has, so the company must work harder on it than anything else.the effect of organizational culture depends partly on its strength. Corporate culture strength refers to how widely and deeply employees hold the companys dominant values and assumptions. In a strong organizational culture, most staffs across all subunits hold the predominant values. These values are also organized by established artifacts, which make it difficult for these values to change. A strong corporate culture potentially increase a companys success by serving three important functions: control system, which is deeply embedded form of social control that influence employee decisions and behaviors; social glue, which is increasingly important as a way to attract new staff an d retain top performers; and sense-making process, it helps employees understand what goes on and why things happen in company. Impact of organizational culture on tourism industry customers decision In tourism industry, the organizational culture also play an important role in its daily business, the organizational culture will have impact on the customers decision, employees service, the companys brand or reputation and the revenue. Organizational culture is the most basic determinant of a persons wants and behavior. It comprises the basic values, perceptions, wants, and behaviors that a person learns continuously in a society. Today, most societies are in a state of flux. Culture is expressed through tangible items such as food, architecture, clothing, and art. In the minds of millions of travelers worldwide, hotel means Hilton a place where they know they will find warm hospitality, comfort, value and rewarding recognition. This brand strength, coupled with Hiltons leading edge management systems, translates into an incredibly successful business model. Partnering with this iconic industry The culture of Hilton hotel group helps the corporate to attract more customers and inc rease their customers loyalty indirectly. Impact on employee performance Corporate culture not only have impact on customers decisions, but also on the employees satisfaction and performance, organizational culture has the potential to increase the corporate performance and employee satisfaction, the relationship between the culture and performance are that organizational culture can have a significant influence on a companys long-term economic performance and will probably be an even more important factor in determining the success or failure of firms during the next 10 years, the impact of organizational culture is also related to the service to the guests. Organization culture is important in hotel, because it sets out a control mechanism. It influences the the relationship between the employees and how decisions are made by managers in hotel. An example is where the hotel hire a new supervisor who make decisions without studying the organizational culture first, If the changes he makes conflict with the organization culture, it will confuse the employ ees behavior. In Hilton, the hotel management do it specially, other hotel put the customers in the first place, but in Hilton, they also put their employees in the first place, not matter you are the general manager or the cleaner of the back area, they think that in the hospitality industry fulfilled guests are the direct result of a fulfilled staff. The hotel offer scholarships ,travel plans, health schemes for the employees, and trust, respect, understand their employees, create the relaxed working environment to build team spirit and good mood. Hilton elevator program, which helps the Hilton Group develop a large amount of talented, internationally mobile employees and try the best to make sure every of them to the management level during 5-8 years from starting this elevator program, also helps the corporate retain their talent employees and attract more new employees. Impact on branding Nowadays, the most important thing lead brands famous or not normally is their strong culture. Successful organizations often ask themselves: how do we continue grow and promote the continuation of organization culture that makes them successful? Amazon purchased Zappos.com. Why? One key reason: because of their culture and potential to innovate the customer experience on the web and WOW them. What are the ingredients for the kind of brand culture that will fuel your companys sales, create customer loyalty and attract the right people to work with. When company begin to create culture, people are the companys asset. A company existing in the world now consist lots of people staffs, guests and suppliers. Thats why people and what they think and feel matter now more than ever before. The look of a companys advertising, design of the web site, coolness of its mobile apps are all important, but not as important as the voice and the actions of its people. Building a strong brand culture, then, starts with the people. The culture is not owned by the marketing team, it is owned by the entire company from the CEO to the customer service rep and everyone in between. And companies that nurture a distinct brand culture in the workplace will become a distinctive brand in the marketplace. Focus on developing your people and relationships and everything else will follow. Impact on leadership Organizational culture can have impact on customers decision, employee performance and corporate brand, it also can influence the leadership, leaders is created by the culture; culture created by its leaders, Leaders are supposed to be in charge of organizations, but the organizational culture also have huge impact on their decision-making in the workplace. If the leaders want to change something in company, their styles of leadership should be adjusted strategically and accommodated the organizational culture. Leaders have the roles to decide the daily business and program of activities according the basic assumption of the organizations. If the subordinates behavior are in accordance with the program outlined by the leader the value obtained is high, and vice versa when the behavior of individuals within the organization is far from the truth as set forth in the work program by the leader, then its value is low. Leadership is about supervising and guiding the following employees to wards a unified standard or target, by broadcasting as a positive impact and using motivational strategies. Leaders can be used to lead corporate through organizational, operational, structural and operational reforms.This phenomenon can be said to be similar to the growth phase of organization proposed by, especially in the second growth phase in which an organization grew on the basis of guidance (direction) of a leader that has been agreed upon by the organization. The phenomenon can be turned around, meaning leader could be created by the organizational cultural when the leader is born as a successor (succession) in an organization in which the organizational culture has taken hold and has become part of the life of the organization. An example is in the organization of government. A country or government was born from the foundations of the Constitution and the philosophy of life in which the state constitution and the philosophy of life is the basic assumption of the governmen t culture. New leader as the next generation will continue the previous leadership with the basic assumption that the new leader as the successor will hold and preserve the culture of the organization. It can be said that new leader was being created by the organizational culture. This thinking has been proven by. In his research, he found that the differences of the dimensions of transformational leadership, especially is on the charisma and inspirational motivation. U.S workers have greater leadership on the variables that focus on the vision, expected future, optimism, and enthusiasm in achieving business results. While in Germany, workers have less charisma and initiative. But there is no difference in terms of transactional leadership. Some cultural values may also predict leadership style, but only in small portions. This explains that cultural values have little affect on the leadership. How to learn culture? Building organizational culture should be taken long time, thus let the employees learn the organizational culture also be difficult, Culture is broadcast to staffs in many ways, the most efficient methods are the stories, material symbols, language and material symbols. Numerous of senior Nike executive spend lots of time to be a company storytellers to promote their organizational culture. And these stories they convey are about the Nike history. The executives always tell a story about their co-founder Bill Bowerman, he poured rubber into his wifes waffle iron to create a better running shoe, this story is about innovation sprite of Nike. When the new employees hear the story of Chinese runing star Liu Xiangs battles to be succeed in winning champion at the 100-meter hurdle race, especially he used Nikes equipment, this stroy tells the new hires that Nikes commitment to helping athletes. These stories are circulated through many retail shops and companies. Normally they will tell a narrative of stories about he companies co-founders, reductions in the workplace, rags-to-riches successes, relocation of employees, reaction to reduce the mistakes. The stories explain legitimate current practices and describe history. Rituals are repetitive sequences of activities that express and reinforce the key values of the organization what goals are most important, which people are important, and which people are expendable. One of the better-know is Walmarts company chant. Begun by the companys founder, Sam Walton, as a way to motivate and unite his workforce, Gimme a W, gimme an A, gimme an L, gimme a squiggle, give me an M, A, R, T! has become a ritual that bonds workers and reinforces Waltons belief in the value of his employees to the companys success. Similar corporate chants are used by IBM, Ericsson, Novell, Deustsche Bank. Many organizations and subunits within them use language to help members identify with culture, attest to their accpetance of it, and help preserve it. Unique terms describe equipment, officers, key individuals, suppliers, customers, or products that relate to the business. New employees may at first be overwhelmed by acronyms and jargon, that once assimilated, act as a common denominator to unite members of a given culture or subculture. If you are a new employee at Boeing, you will find yourself learning a unique vocabulary, including Boeing online data, etc. Conclusion Organizational culture has three main functions. It is the bridge that connect people together and makes them feel part of the organizational experience. corporate culture helps employees make sense of the workplace. Third, It is also a deeply embedded form of social control. Organizations with strong cultures normally perform better than those with weak cultures, but only when the cultural content is suit for the companys environment. Also, the culture should not be so strong that it drives out dissenting values, which may form emerging values for the future. As a manager, you can help the company shape the culture. All managers work together and can especially do their part to consider spiritually and its role in creating a positive organizational culture and to create the organizational culture. Often you can do as much as to shape your organizational culture as the culture of the organization shapes you.

Amory Lovins’ Logic in Natural Capitalism Essay example -- Amory Lovin

Amory Lovins’ Logic in Natural Capitalism In the first chapter of Natural Capitalism, author Amory Lovins proposes a new method of capitalism that recognizes the importance of natural and human capital in the industrial system. Conventional capitalism places value only on capital that yields financial gain, and ignores the human and natural parts of the equation. Lovins points to this as the reason for many of the environmental, social, and economic problems on our planet today. He argues that the destructive practices of conventional capitalism must cease, and that a new industrial revolution must happen that will change how human beings support themselves and sustain the resources of the planet. In this chapter he offers suggestions as to how to implement such a revolution. The chapter opens with a passage describing an idealistically perfect world. In this utopian society, unemployment no longer exists and the demand for welfare has dropped. Oil only costs five dollars per barrel due to the discovery of alternate fuel sources. Lovins paints a picture of a world that everyone would like to live in, and says that such a clean world can become a reality if people read his book and follow the suggestions within. He also describes all the bad things happening in the world as a result of conventional capitalism and what will happen if governments and corporations continue on the present path. Lovins explains the relationship between the dwindling amount of natural resources, and the companies that exhaust them for financial gain without concern for sustaining the ecosystem of the planet. The resulting social problems such as poverty, malnutrition, and anarchy are of no concern to the corporations... ...emotional rhetoric than it needs. This chapter is heavily spiced with emotional appeal to sway readers without really delving into the actual argument. The entire opening paragraph and the first few pages contain nothing but emotional appeal. Lovins uses rhetoric designed to sway the emotions of the reader with the utopian scenario that he promises will come from changing the current capitalistic practices, and the vivid descriptions of the horrors of our environmental crisis. However, one should not assume that this chapter is merely emotional persuasion. Lovins bases his argument on rational logic and his informational sources are distinguished experts in their field. He makes a strongly supported claim and his words give me food for thought. I believe it would be wise for people to listen to the logical claim that Lovins presents and follow his suggestions.

Angel and Demons Book Report Essay

ANGELS AND DEMONS Angels and demons is a heart pounding adventure written by the author Dan Brown and published in 2000. Dan Brown is also famous for his bestselling novel The Davinci code (published 2003); both these novels feature the fictional college professor Robert Langdon as the main character or â€Å"hero† in the story. Both of these stories revolve around the delicate subject of religion as he incorporates religious fact into fantasy. First off, our characters include Robert Langdon who is a professor of symbology at Harvard University. He is flown to a Swedish nuclear research facility known as CERN (Which really does exist) by the director of CERN Maximilian Kohler to investigate the murder of esteemed scientist Leonardo Verta. Leonardo Verta was the head scientist of a research group working on an antimatter energy source until he was killed, and the anti-matter stolen. Robert leaves CERN with Leonardos daughter Vittoria Vetra to Rome in search of the stolen anti-matter. Robert leaves CERN with a new counterpart and one clue to solve the unraveling mystery of who stole the anti-matter and killed Leonardo Verta; the ambigram branded into the scientist chest saying Illuminati. Soon after arriving in Rome Robert and Vittoria are rushed to Vatican City by commander of the Swiss guard Commander Olivetti, as the situation grows more dire after four high ranking cardinals are kidnapped by the illuminati assassin, with one clue, one will each be slaughtered on the alters of science along the path of illumination. When the threat comes in that if they don’t stop the assassin by eight o’clock the Vatican will be destroyed, as they race against the clock to stop the destruction of the Vatican new problems will rise and betrayal is around every corner. This book is strongly recommended for readers who enjoy large scale mysteries and people who enjoy stories involving conspiracies. This is because this story involves a race against time and a struggle to stop a secret society that controls half of the government itself. This tale is a mind bending race against time and an enemy who seems to be everyone and control everything.

15 Rain Quotes to Drench Your Heart in Pure Joy

15 Rain Quotes to Drench Your Heart in Pure Joy Rain makes the whole landscape look fresh, green, and glistening. While people huddle under their umbrellas, trying to get to work, the child inside wants to throw away their rain gear and enjoy the pinpricks of raindrops on their face and the puddles that follow. Water is the elixir of life, and those of us lucky enough to enjoy regular rain may not recognize how remarkable it really is. Rain is the source of our food, the only liquid we use to stay clean and healthy, and very possibly the reason life evolved on Earth. Its also the source of wonderful songs such as  Singing in the Rain, Umbrella, Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head  and so many others. Next time the drops start to fall, soak yourself in the pure, unadulterated drizzle and let your worries wash away. Hum a tune as you walk in the rain, and feel your spirit soar. Share these rain quotes with your friends and help the rain god cast a spell of magic. Rain Quotes From Famous People Henry Wadsworth Longfellow A feeling of sadness and longing that is not akin to pain, and resembles sorrow only as the mist resembles the rain. Bill Rodgers I ran my fastest marathon in the rain. Saint Basil Many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head, and knows not that it brings abundance to drive away the hunger.   Halle Berry Id like to be able to use Storms powers for good, like have it rain more in Southern California. We could do with it. David Copperfield Im just waiting for people to start asking me to make the rain disappear. Clint Eastwood If you think its going to rain, it will. Langston Hughes Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby. Dave Barry It always rains on tents. Rainstorms will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds for the opportunity to rain on a tent. William Shakespeare For the rain it raineth every day. Satchel Paige Dont pray when it rains if you dont pray when the sun shines. Roger Miller Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet. Henry Ward Beecher Rain! whose soft architectural hands have power to cut stones, and chisel to shapes of grandeur the very mountains. Rachel Carson A rainy day is the perfect time for a walk in the woods. Mark Twain It is best to read the weather forecast before praying for rain. Rabindranath Tagore Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky. John Updike Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life. Munshi Premchand Trees bear fruits only to be eaten by others; the fields grow  grains, but they are consumed by the world. Cows give milk, but she doesnt drink it herself - that is left to others. Clouds send rain only to quench the parched earth. In such giving, there is little space for selfishness.

Free Essays on Modified Grading Scale

Modified Grading Scale Policy Description As the University of Idaho Education Board, appointed by the University and State Board of Education we feel that changing the grading scale will help push the University of Idaho to a higher level of academia. We represent the administration and the State Board’s interest in the operation of the University. We are the governing body authorized by the State and the administration. The policy will appear as follows in the 2004 spring semester faculty-staff handbook: Grading Policy: The grading scale of the University of Idaho is as follows for all non pass/fail classes. 95% and above is an A. 85-94% is a B. 75-84% is a C. 65-74% is a D. Failing grades will be given to students with a grade of 64% and below. We feel that this grading scale is a beneficial tool for setting a higher academic standard for our students. This will also help promote the University of Idaho and its faculty as an institution of higher learning. The administration working with the faculty will oversee the implementation of the new policy. The three audiences most affected by this plan will be the current students, faculty and the prospective students of this university. Current Students A) Practical and Informational Concerns The current students of this university will have to make some changes to meet this new policy. They may need to change their study habits if they would like to maintain their current grades. This may mean; studying more and taking advantage of their professor’s office hours. They may also have to cut back on extracurricular activities. For those students who already have 95% and above in their classes, no change will be necessary, they merely need to continue their study habits. For all other students this policy will be demanding but well within their abilities. Current students will need to know that the grading scale has been raised by 5% across t... Free Essays on Modified Grading Scale Free Essays on Modified Grading Scale Modified Grading Scale Policy Description As the University of Idaho Education Board, appointed by the University and State Board of Education we feel that changing the grading scale will help push the University of Idaho to a higher level of academia. We represent the administration and the State Board’s interest in the operation of the University. We are the governing body authorized by the State and the administration. The policy will appear as follows in the 2004 spring semester faculty-staff handbook: Grading Policy: The grading scale of the University of Idaho is as follows for all non pass/fail classes. 95% and above is an A. 85-94% is a B. 75-84% is a C. 65-74% is a D. Failing grades will be given to students with a grade of 64% and below. We feel that this grading scale is a beneficial tool for setting a higher academic standard for our students. This will also help promote the University of Idaho and its faculty as an institution of higher learning. The administration working with the faculty will oversee the implementation of the new policy. The three audiences most affected by this plan will be the current students, faculty and the prospective students of this university. Current Students A) Practical and Informational Concerns The current students of this university will have to make some changes to meet this new policy. They may need to change their study habits if they would like to maintain their current grades. This may mean; studying more and taking advantage of their professor’s office hours. They may also have to cut back on extracurricular activities. For those students who already have 95% and above in their classes, no change will be necessary, they merely need to continue their study habits. For all other students this policy will be demanding but well within their abilities. Current students will need to know that the grading scale has been raised by 5% across t...

The Effectiveness of the Royal Family and how it has changed the Essay

The Effectiveness of the Royal Family and how it has changed the United Kingdom - Essay Example The leader of the political which acquires the most number of seats in the House of Commons can form a government and this opportunity is granted to the Member of Parliament by the monarch. INTRODUCTION TO THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY The last monarch who took active part in the government was Queen Anne and she was responsible for the Act of Union 1707 according to which England and Scotland were united into a single Kingdom of Great Britain. In 1714, Queen Anne was succeeded by George I (Luttrell 1857). Formation of the British Royal Family The new monarch was not as active in the government as his predecessors but he did not let go of his governmental control over his German kingdoms. Due to his comparative inactiveness in the government, the governmental powers shifted towards the ministers of George. In this regard, most powers were shifted to Sir Robert Walpole who is regarded as the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The title of the Prime Minister was not officially used at that time but due to the powers held by Sir Robert Walpole, it is said that he was the first Prime Minister (Pinches & Pinches 1974). This was the initiation of the change in the political structure of the United Kingdom and it can said that this was the start of the formation of the United Kingdom as it is today. ... The next monarch was George II and with his ancestors, the Royal Family grew. The members of the Royal Family increased and since then the Royal Family holds a very special position in the political structure of the United Kingdom. The Royal Family has a number of formal responsibilities and whether the responsibilities are taken care of is recorded. The formal responsibilities include meetings among the members of the Family and other public engagements (Collins 1984). Role of the Royal Family in the United Kingdom The members of the Royal Family take part in hundreds of public engagement that take place each year all around the United Kingdom. The members of the United Kingdom attend the ceremonies to encourage and know about the endeavors of institutions and individuals in their work regarding different aspects of life. The members of the Royal Family take part in certain activities on behalf of HM The Queen and act on her behalf. The members of the Royal Family often take part in commemorating historical events, celebratory occurrences, holidays and tragic occurrences. Due to the involvement of the Royal Family in such occurrences, the Royal Family holds an important position for the people of the United Kingdom. The citizens of the United Kingdom attach great respect to the Royal Family and honor the involvement of the Royal Family in national activities with great enthusiasm. The Royal Family also sponsors a number of cultural, social and charitable activities. This is also one of the reasons behind the constant high position of the Royal Family among the citizens of the United Kingdom. By these activities, the Royal Family shows that it cares for the people of the United Kingdom and in turn the people of the United Kingdom

Ergonomics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Ergonomics - Essay Example The conveyors also can move the bottles over fixed distances. While the initial costs of installing the conveyor systems are high, this is countered in respect of the fact that they are used to transport high volumes of materials (bottles) within the processing plant. Given that the bottles that are conveyed have rigid surfaces, the conveyors are most appropriate also considering the fixed distances that they cover. In the company, a crane is used to transport materials over restricted area. In our organization, the crane is used to lift heavy materials such as metal blocks that are used in the maintenance of various process machines. The crane is controlled by one person stationed in an enclosure. The crane is applicable in its current setting considering that the flow of materials is low and often intermittent (Raouf, 1995). A conveyor would not be applicable in such a setting. Also, the crane is beneficial in that it offers greater flexibility in respect of material movement. The loads that are handled by the crane come in different shapes, weights and sizes. In the bottling plant, industrial trucks are used to carry pallets that contain empty or filled bottle crates. The trucks transport the materials from the shop floor to the warehouse or store. They are also used to load crates on trucks ready for distribution. The trucks are driven by individual drivers who have to control their movements. The industrial trucks are beneficial in that they have the capacity to transport materials over variable distances. They are more flexible in terms of effecting materials movement compared to the conveyors and crane as noted by Raouf (1995). The materials can be raised or lowered in terms of height as desired, which means that they are very versatile. Also, they are applicable where it would be impractical to install conveyors owing to the intermittence of work. Considering that the conveyors used in the company transport a lot of materials, there is

Poem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Poem - Essay Example em for the country because of the illegal immigrants that find themselves immersing themselves into our society, I cannot help but think about whether they too are thinking along the terms of the â€Å"The Melting Pot† when they decided to come and try their luck in entering the United States. This is perhaps a mentality and a belief that has not changed for the immigrants because it is the very idea that has been fed to them for generations. Thus, â€Å"The Melting Pot† has become the official name for the American immigrant culture where they arrive as foreigners but become American. Yet becoming an American never meant that they had to give up who they are as foreigners to this land. That is what makes me sad. For as long as foreigners in the United States are not forced to give up their past in favor of the traditions and culture of their current homeland, immigration, both legal and illegal, could very well be the demise of the great country known as the United States of

The Sanctuary Essay Example for Free

The Sanctuary Essay The author of the publication is Elif Batuman. The article’s title is the Sanctuary published in December 19th to 26th in the year 2011. The origin version title is the Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean. It was about the world’s oldest temple built 11,500 years ago at Gobekli Tepe in Turkey. Batuman embarks on a pilgrimage to the Gobelki Tepe temple where she finds much ancient memoirs concerning the way of life of the Neolithic man. She tries to analyse the Neolithic man, but her experience is quite captivating to the reader. The explanations that Batuman offers to regard the different remnants of the Neolithic man are quite convincing. She offers both scientific and biblical explanations for the existence of the evidence as presented by the remnants of the Neolithic man. Batuman has many questions regarding the way of life of the people who lived during the era. In her quest to seek a broader understanding and the way of life and origin of these people; she visits the excavation site where archaeologists are trying hard to unearth the finer details of the Neolithic man existence. There are many artefacts that she finds intriguing and has many questions concerning the animals and human sculptures that exist in the cave. She further tries to gather information from the local residents and raise questions to students and observes every detail and tries to analyse the situation in a logical manner. Batuman feels that these sculptures must surely represent the way of life and the thoughts of the Neolithic man but figures out that the Neolithic man must have had a connection with the Christian biblical origin of man. Batuman further cites many examples about the people from the bible like Adam and Eve, Abraham who are believed to have been among the first generations of mankind on earth. The remnants that are being unearthed from Gobelki Tepe are quite scary to an observer. Snakes, scorpions and other wild animals are naturally dangerous but were part of the creation that the Neolithic man had to contend with. Batuman feels that the men who had their penises exposed were trying to show the importance of children and that they were fertile. Towards the end of the story, Batuman says that Abraham wanted children in order for them to assure him of the continuity of the generation. Batuman tries to convince the reader by providing reasons as to why the Neolithic man became extinct. She feels that there were chances of an occurrence of a natural calamity that wiped out the Neolithic generation. The fact that people lived together with animals could have contributed to a disease outbreak or a natural calamity that wiped out the generation. Batuman further trusts her instincts that she is most likely to be a descendant of the large Neolithic man who is preserved in the museum. This can be somehow convincing to the reader because, sometimes human beings have been proven to have instincts, which guide them to some important discoveries. Elif Batuman tries to relate the Gobelki Tepe temple to the sacred nature of the Neolithic man. The man had a reference for a supreme being who was in control of mankind. The supreme God was recognized for his providence to the people. Among the fundamental things provided were children and food. However, she admits that the sculptures of animals may have been made in order to display a different message altogether. Batuman feels that the hunters should have done some sculptures or paintings in the caves that show hunting scenes. The message that the Neolithic man was trying to put across therefore may need further research in order to try and determine what the real meaning of the sculptures and animals could be.

Critical Review of Undaunted Courage Essay -- essays research papers

Critical Review of Undaunted Courage Stephen Ambrose’s Undaunted Courage is a remarkable piece of nonfiction literature. His work is so thorough that one wonders how he has time to do much more. Yet he has created time in his life to go west and go camping and hiking and canoeing in the summers with his family. Which possibly shows that anything can be raw material to the open mind, for it was on those trips that he developed a great fascination with the Lewis and Clark expedition that explored the West when the country was twenty-five years old. Ambrose creates a precise and true story of the expedition in witch most readers would be enthralled. His style is smooth, readable and enjoyable, unlike many historical nonfiction of the day. Undaunted courage has succeeded and conveying the meaning of the book and the significance of Lewis and Clark’s expedition. Ambrose’s attraction to the west resulted in Undaunted Courage, a splendidly thorough, exciting description of a happening that has achieved infamous status. Very much like the expedition itself, the book is slow in the beginning, being worried with topics like family sayings and "begats" but after 40 to 50 pages o it takes off. The expedition started chiefly through the labors of President Thomas Jefferson. Amongst his chief objectives were to find an all-water route to the Pacific and to keep the West from seceding away under Aaron Burr. Being Jefferson, there was also the pure intellectual joy of discovery...

Mpf System

In 2011, Hong Kong people aged up to 65 and above total for 13 per cent of the population that is a rapidly growing in ageing population. The ratio is evaluated to increase in 19 per cent by 2021 and will up to 30 per cent by 2041. According to this investigation, the Hong Kong Government first introduced the MPF concept in 1995 to assure that every citizens working in Hong Kong prepare the financial provision while they are retirement.In August 1995, Hong Kong Government announced a major stage in enacting the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (â€Å"MPFSO) (Chapter 485, Laws of Hong Kong) to provide a formal project of basic retirement protection. The MPFSO submits the framework for the building a system of privately managed, employment-related MPF schemes for members of the workforce to form financial benefits for retirement.The MPFA was settled on September 17, 1998 to regulate, monitor and direct the operation of the MFP system. There is only about one-third of the wor kforce of 3. 4 million people had some join of retirement protection before the achievement of the Mandatory Provident Fund System in December 2000. But now, closely to 90 per cent of the working population are already joined in retirement protection.There is a large and elderly population without enough savings will enhance a huge burden on the society if the number of ageing people rises up. MPF is build mainly to support the basic retirement protection to the working population by saving. The main feature of this system include coverage all employees and self-employed people who are over 18 and under 65 years old, not including specifically exempt under the MPFSO, are included by the MPF system.An employee and his/her employer are both needed to contribute five per cent of the employee’s monthly relevant income as mandatory contributions for and in respect of the employee, subject to the minimum and maximum relevant income levels for contribution purposes. An employee if e arning below the minimum level of relevant income (HK$6,500 per month or HK$78,000 per year) is not forced to give but may they can elect to do so by way of making voluntary contribution.Despite of the employee’s choice, the employer must contribute five per cent of the employee’s relevant income. The purpose of maximum standard of relevant income for contribution is generally at $25,000 per month or $300,000 per year. Both employers and employees can also due voluntary contribution in excess of the statutory mandatory amount. Self-employed persons also need to contribute five per cent of their relevant income as mandatory contributions, depend on the minimum and maximum standard of their relevant income for contribution purposes.As the beginning of the MPF System in December 2000, the MPF legislation has been reviewed in the light of operational experience in order to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the system continuously. With the enactment of the MPF Schemes (Amendment) Ordinance 2012 on June 21, 2012, a statutory regulatory control to enhance the regulation of the sales and marketing programmers of MPF intermediaries will be in place on November1, 2012 and the Employee Choice Arrangement will be announced on the same day.Further initiative are being undertaken to strengthen the MPF System, including the development of proposals to enhance flexibility in withdrawing MPF benefits. MPF fees and charges have come down slowly as a result of MPFA’s contribution to streamline administrative procedures, enhance fee transparency and expand the market competition. According the Employee Choice Arrangement in place, we all hope that the management handling charges would be reduced in future.

News Updates on “Tree man” Essay

On January 19, Shurmer (2010), a writer for the Comment News website wrote an article updating the site readers on the ongoing struggles of Richard Pennicuik, better known as â€Å"Tree man. † Since early December of the previous year, Tree man had been living in a gum tree near his house in Hume Road, in the City of Gosnells, as a form of protest and to save the tree from the city council plans to clear the street of any and all mature trees that may cause harm by dropping large limbs. As of the writing of the article, he had been in the tree for 43 days and was experiencing physical difficulties on top of his legal issues as there was a severe heatwave and the high temperatures were causing him discomfort. Entitled â€Å"‘Tree man’ loses hope,† the article chronicled Tree man’s fading optimism caused by heat-induced headaches; the council fining him $5000, as it deemed the platforms that served as his makeshift treehouse were illegal, and forcing him to remove these structures; and the abandonment of an adjacent gum tree by a rotating team who had occupied it for the same cause. A couple of months later on March 13th, a Staff Writer (2010) for Perthnow a local subsidiary of The Sunday Times, wrote a relatively more recent update piece on the Tree man. Asking â€Å"Tree man Richard Pennicuik for mayor? † the report comes on the heels of a stand-off the previous day wherein he still refused to come down from the tree even after policemen and tree-cutting machinery had arrived. Apparently, despite the previous report on his morale and health problems, he had stayed on the tree for another 53 days. The title of the article comes from a comment Tree man had made, saying he had intentions of running for city mayor as the current council he was battling was â€Å"laughable and unworkable. † An analytical comparison of these two Tree man news article updates will be discussed. The first, most noticeable, difference between the two news articles is their marked difference in length, with the first article much longer than the second. Although quantity does not necessarily denote substance, it can be observed that the Comment News article contains relatively more actual facts about the situation than the PerthNow article. In addition, on a related note, it can also be noticed that the former article has more content related to the actual subject, as denoted by the article title, than the latter. As an example to support both of these observations, although Comment News does not include a quote wherein Tree man explicitly stated that he was â€Å"losing hope,† it does mention why this would be the case by including a quote where he said he â€Å"didn’t cope well† with the heatwave headaches and how the $5000 fine would â€Å"ruin his family. † The PerthNow article, on the other hand, only justifies the title mentioning Tree man’s mayoral aspirations with the quote: â€Å"The current regime is laughable and unworkable and I want to get in there, if I have enough supporters, to run the council the way it should be run. † The rest of the article, however, does not mention the issue again and only contains a brief summary of the previous day’s stand-off and another quote from Tree man where he reasserts his stance. The Comment News article does seem to slightly force the â€Å"losing hope† theme though, by briefly mentioning that the street was desolate due to the abandonment of the adjacent gum tree, although Tree man is not mentioned as having an opinion on this. However, this observation still contributes to the discussion of the main subject. Coherence to a specific topic is somewhat of a requirement for any formal article, especially one that is professionally written. The briefness and lack of coherence in the case of the latter article can, however, can be attributed to the writer expecting the reades to already know the details as the situation was already months-long, and there was a climactic update the day before. Both articles do, however, paint Tree man as both a dedicated activist from his acts of defiance, and also a novelty character as the tones of his quotes in the first article are slightly rattled and dramatic and in the second, noticeably vague.He was also described as remaining â€Å"defiantly aloft† despite legal and physical danger, and his lawyer’s protests. References hurmer, J. (2010, January 19). ‘Tree man’ loses hope. Comment News. Retrieved from http://southern. inmycommunity. com. au/news-and-views/local-news/Tree-man-loses-hope/7546357/ Staff Writer. (2010, March 13) Tree man Richard Pennicuik for mayor? PerthNow. com. The Sunday Times. Retrieved from http://www. perthnow. com. au/news/tree-man-richard-pennicuik-for-mayor/story-e6frg12c-1225840398316

High Fidelity Essays - English-language Films, Films, High Fidelity

High Fidelity Essays - English-language Films, Films, High Fidelity High Fidelity High Fidelity On the surface, High Fidelity is a story about breaking up and getting back together again. Only, thanks to director Stephen Frears narrative technique, we dont realize this until the credits start to roll. He plunges into the life of Rob Gordon, played by John Cusack, on the night his girlfriend, Laura, leaves him. Robs subsequent depression and self-analysis is the focus of the film; getting the girl back becomes secondary. Robs frustration from his break up with Laura reminds him of all of his other failed relationships, specifically, his Top Five All Time Break Ups List. His recounts of each girl are interspersed throughout the first half of the film. We only learn about Laura as we learn about Robs past. Consequently, the main part of the narrative is either flashbacks or direct commentary by Rob to the audience. This might seem to be a weakness, but it is in fact a vehicle for Frear to move the present plot forward. It is only through understanding Robs past, that we can understand his current angst. In addition, the slow revelation of the causes for his and Lauras break up reinforces Robs own mental journey. We learn things as Rob himself is ready to deal with them. For example, it is only when Liz, a mutual friend, marches into Robs record store and yells profanity at him, that Rob begins to think of what Laura probably told Liz. He finally lets the audience in on some of the things he did to caus e the break up. Yet Rob still hasnt fully grasped what happened between him and Laura. It is a great strength, and in fact the very nature of the film, that we are limited to Robs mental struggle. All of the information is slowly laid out, to him, and to us. In his struggle to understand his current break up, Rob becomes obsessed with his past relationships, and decides to go out with them all again and ask them what went wrong. His discoveries give him a whole new perspective. Basically, he realizes that although he was dumped, he is now glad now that each of them ended. For example, he discovers that Charlie, who he has always imagined as the perfect woman, is in his own words awful. Not only that, he finds that she broke up with him for purely superficial reasons. In another case, he is appalled by the neediness of his ex-girlfriend and is grateful that she dumped me, and not the other way around. He also comments that he could have had sex with her, but that he wouldnt be sleeping with a person. After these kind of enlightenments, Rob also has a whole new appreciation for Laura. Once again, the audiences perspective is linked with Robs personal journey. The perspective of the film is further reinforced by the way in which Rob speaks directly into the camera. It gives the film a quickly paced, informal structure. Yet Frear doesnt trap the audience in Robs perspective alone. Rather, it is the supporting cast that really defines Rob for us. Rob gives us commentary on an event, but we get to see the cast members physically create the event and judge for ourselves. Basically, we see how he learns to live in the real world. Instead of perpetually feeling sorry for himself and blaming other people, he starts acknowledging his own failings. His concept of his whole dating history and his idea of relationships start to change. He is beginning to mature. The plot rewards this maturity with the return of Laura into his life. Robs new appreciation and maturity is shown in the final sequence in which he tells the audience he is making a mix tape for Laura, full of things that she will like. High Fidelity is an entertaining, but poignant look at breaking up. So many stories trivialize it or play it for cheap comedy. This one is more interested in exploring what a breakup does to the psyche. Through the creative narrative techniques of flashbacks and candid monologues, the audience becomes fully engaged in Robs struggle. Cusack is able to represent the despair of a broken heart and to