Technology and Sports

Career of a Journalist essays

Career of a Journalist essays There are many types of journalists, from the local beat newspaper reporter to the foreign correspondent, from the magazine feature writer to the freelance book reviewer, so it is difficult to pin down the daily routine of the "average" journalist. Journalists interview sources and review records to assemble, collect, and report information and explore the implications of the facts. Journalism informs, educates, chastises: Dont underestimate the power a journalist holds. Professionals must be able to report quickly and accurately. Over 80 percent of our respondents listed "time pressure" as one of the most distinguishing features of this job. Journalists must have a "point of view" while remaining objective about their subjects, which can be difficult; around half our respondents said that their colleagues sometimes got too involved in the stories. Interpersonal skills, excellent writing skills, and a reporter's instinct (the ability to accurately assess the significance of obscure a nd incomplete information) are essential to success. The uncertainty of the daily routine makes it difficult to incorporate family, hobbies, and any regularly scheduled plans, but those who detest the predictability of nine-to-five jobs are attracted to journalism because "no day is a carbon copy of the day before." Long hours and chronic deadline pressure can be significantly negative factors. When an editor calls you in on a breaking story, you have to be prepared to drop everything; when you're on deadline, you can get crazed trying to write a complicated story in half the time you need. This "ball and chain" to the offices leads many to resent, and eventually reject, the reporter's life. Some journalists complain about being "Under the thumb of Napoleonic editors who control your every word based on their own taste." Editors are sometimes Napoleonic but more often they are simply perfectionists. Journalists who are precious about their prose rarel...

The Japanese Internment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Japanese Internment - Essay Example The answers of these questions come to us through the story of Japanese American Internment. These people were imprisoned and interned for no strong reason. They were sent to the relocation camp far away from their homes. The disgraceful incident of internment started soon after the Pearl Harbor attack. On December 7, 1941 Imperial Japanese Navy attacked on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Suspicion prevailed all over among the outraged American people and their attitude towards the Japanese- Americans suddenly changed. On the background of the bombing on Pearl Harbor, the Presidential proclamations were signed which included 2525 (Japanese), 2526 (German), and 2527 (Italian). The Raciest Hysteria led to the forced evacuation and internment of the Japanese- Americans. Approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned and were sent to the war relocation centers. Among some young men of Japanese heritages became some of the most trustworthy soldiers. In 1990, Japanese American survivors of the camps started receiving redress checks of $ 20,000 along with a letter of apology from President George Bush. The Second World War had just started. There was a historic incident happened during this time. It was 19th February 1942. On the basis of the Pearl Harbor attack, Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066. According to the order 120,000 Japanese- Americans were rounded up to one of the 10 internment camps which were called â€Å"relocation centers.† The American government took such initiatives against the Japanese- Americans due to the fear that those people would otherwise support to the Japanese in Second World War. Thus more than 2/3 of the Japanese in US were interned who were the citizens of United States. They were never disloyal to America yet they were evacuated for no strong reason. The blatant euphemism was that they were humiliated by calling them ‘non-aliens.’ The misery of the people can be

Why does ethnic conflict occur How can it be avoided Essay

Why does ethnic conflict occur How can it be avoided - Essay Example They usually fall under the following categories namely instrumentalist, primordialist and constructivist. Instrumentalist seeks to explain the role of community leaders in ethnic conflict while primordialist relates ethnic conflicts as being caused by a common feeling of kinship which makes a group to think along the same line. On the other hand constructivist tries to explain conflicts as being caused by individuals’ learning process1; however, most of the ethnic conflicts are largely caused by social and economic injustices. Gross violations of human rights have played a great role in fuelling ethnic violence; as a result, this has brought about a lingering question as to whether human rights can be enforced and at the same time end violence. Therefore, human rights have a strong negative effect in the management of ethnic conflicts. This has led to the establishment of the international criminal tribunal for Rwanda as well as the special courts for Sierra Leon as an indica tion of the need of involvement of the international community to address the issues of human rights violations.2 In the 1990s most ethnic conflict were religious base for instance the Palestinian-Israel conflict, Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, the Tamil rebellion in Sri Lanka, the southerners in the Sudan conflict with their northern counterparts just to mention but a few.3 Iran and Sudan are the best example of ethno religious conflicts, and this makes them attract international attention as well as journalistic and diplomatic coverage. The minority tag as in the case of the Kurds in Iran, Iraq and turkey is also a source of ethnic conflict due to their relationship with the state which is governed by the majority ethnic groups. This has exposed them to political and economic discrimination which has resulted in protest and rebellions to air their grievances. Consequently, they have resulted to the use of violent and rebellious organizations and other extra legal means geared towa rds attaining their rightful status in the society. The media is also to blame for ethnic conflicts that have occurred in various countries around the globe. This is owing to the fact that at times it abuses the freedom of speech and peddles propaganda pitting ethnic groups against each other, and a good example is on what happened in Rwanda and Yugoslavia.4 The media was used to fuel ethnic animosity against the minority Tutsi in Rwanda that resulted in the death of thousands of Tutsi civilians. Furthermore, the absence of a democratic government leads to formation of violent organization by the minority group e.g. in Sudan. Democracy ensures that the minority goals are achieved through a democratic process, and gives room for due process to be followed be it legal means or peaceful organizations. Therefore, the lack of proper democracy being practiced in a country makes violence to be the last resort.5 Mobilization of ethnic groups has also played a major role in fuelling ethnic c lashes, which can take the form of being offensive, defensive and preparatory that are all to blame for ethnic uprising. As a result, it leads to the formation of unruly militia groups that bring chaos in the society. Preparatory mobilization is highly counterproductive while at the same time creates unnecessary ethnic tension considering that some minor flare up in most cases leads to ethnic conflict due to this nature of preparedness. Ethnic security dilemma whereby there is no sovereign authority to oversee the security of every group security is another major factor that leads to conflicts. The government may be weak or entirely absent which creates a situation where the respective group acquires a group concern of feeling threatened, as

Assignment3 economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Assignment3 economics - Essay Example When computed on an annual basis, CPI is seen to rise 4.8% during the entire year. Because of these developments in the economy, it is expected that the price of supplies and other miscellaneous expense incurred by the business organization also rises in accordance to the CPI. However, as the CPI measures only a common basket of commodity, the rise in expenditures might be bigger or smaller than CPI. Thus, the company's expenses in these goods can affect bottom line especially if prices are of our merchandise are held constant. It is therefore recommended that per unit price of merchandise increased in order to keep up with the rising expenditures. If not, net profit will fall and the company might be recording losses in the near future. The increase in the general price level is detrimental to the organization if unmatched by subsequent hike in our merchandise prices. Unemployment rate represents the percentage of unemployed individuals in an economy compared to the total labor force. In order to understand this term, it is essential to define the workforce. The entire labor force is consists of individuals from 16 years old and below retirement age who are actively looking for a job or employed. On the other hand, unemployed are those who are in the age bracket who are looking for a job in the past four weeks or those who had been laid-off (Bureau of Labor Statistics 2008). During the past month, unemployment have declined by .3% meaning that there are less people who are looking for a job. The decline in unemployment undoubtedly means increase in the employment rate. When the number of people looking for a job declines, it often means that it is much harder to find individuals who will fill up the positions in our offices. In order for us to be able to gain applicants, I strongly suggest that we review our benefits and compensation packages in order for use to attract the best potential employees. Rising monetary rewards can be enticing to applicants. However, we should also take note of non-monetary compensation like recognition, work environment, and communication processes which are also considered by individuals who are looking for a job. Employment Cost Index indicates the rise of fall of the cost of employment in the economy. This is a highly watched economic variable as it typically gives business organizations an idea of how they should tailor their employees' salaries and other paid benefits according to how the whole economy is behaving (Bureau of Labor Statistics 2008). The government reports that the ECI increases by .8% from March to April thus representing an increase in employment cost. It means that generally, employers are paying their employees .8% higher monthly or 9.6% annually. In order to keep up with this development, our company should also increase our employees' compensation together with other paid benefits in order to reduce the risk of employee turnover. This often happens when employees are not well compensated and there are opportunities in the market which offers them more benefits. However, this will affecting our bottom line as it will irrefutably increase expenditures that we shoulder. Thus, it is recommended that we also increase the price of our products and services in order to maintain our profitability. Productivity refers to the resources generated by the company's resources, per unit of input. A business

Character Traits of Superheroes

Character Traits of Superheroes I am lying in bed counting sheep when all of a sudden it hits me. I conceive a character like Samson, Hercules, and all the strong men I have ever heard rolled into one. His intense wave of inspiration perhaps a small parallel of the inordinate abilities possessed by the mythical heroes and strongmen he himself had name checked, he proceeds to feverishly wile away the night producing what would become the very first Superman script. By connecting his creation of this contemporary Super being to both the biblical figure of Samson and the Mythological hero of ancient Greece, Hercules, Siegel shows us that his Superman and the legions of costumed adventurers that his presence will inspire the creation of are to be seen and revered as godly totems. In fact Thor, the Norse god of thunder himself would go on to star in his very own serialized adventures with Marvel Comics. When superheroes are the subject of a discussion, an important point to try and ascertain is just what exactly the definition and nature of a hero is. A hero, in its simplest of definitions is a person who conquers his or her own limitations and fears to achieve or perform an act that under normal circumstances would be considered extraordinary. Regarding the harsh reality most of us inhabit, the soldiers and military personnel who lay their lives on the line for a concept that is bigger than them as individuals, the astronauts who risk their lives to further the reach and imagination of our collective species on missions with a high probability of a lethal outcome and the firemen who take their lives in their hands daily by entering burning buildings and combating deadly blazes. These men and women are regularly and with good reason, the yardstick by which heroism is measured. Furthering that idea, perhaps with less lethal professions, is the doctor who will spend his or her long da ys and nights treating the sickly and infirm, or the schoolteacher who sees to it that our children receive decent educations to put to use further on in their lives ahead. Perhaps even, a different but no less impressive display of bravery, in which a sufferer of a particularly debilitating disease, or trauma, will endure painful and physically draining rehabilitation to regain their strength and good health. A hero is supposed to personify the traits within ourselves that we deem to be the best. Be they morally, socially or lawfully. They are standards that warrant our admiration and aspiration. And while this unwritten rule considers the heroes of the reality that surrounds us it still applies to our fictional heroes, of the page, the stage or the screen. Fictional heroes have been an ever-present institution of modern-day societies and past mythologies and cultures throughout history. Michael Corleone from The Godfather films, the gun slinging Dirty Harry or the Man with No Name as both portrayed by Clint Eastwood, Phillip Marlowe, Rambo and Sherlock Holmes, for example are all indeed human in their emotions, their nuances and their foibles in spite of their inherently fictitious nature. But could we seriously consider those characters as heroes? Or are they, for all the adventures they may endure or the nefarious plots they may foil, simply compelling, but ultimately human protagonists that enthusiasts can relate to? We feel that given the right opportunities, we could become them in some capacity. Casting a glance further back in time, there is also an all-too obvious distinction between the more ancient mythological heroes and the costumed supermen and superwomen of today. Hercules, Thor, Beowulf, Gilgamesh and Moses for example, all display the qualities of nobility, courage and the strengths both mental and physical we have come to associate with that of a hero. But somewhere within the cultural evolution of these fictitious heroes, the genome seemed to split off and create a sub category of its own. One that saw the hybridization of the ancient heros super-human strengths and the pop relevance and accessibility of the more contemporary fictional protagonist. This new strain of heroes were defined by a characteristic fearlessness as opposed to the more human ability to adapt to and ultimately overcome fear, with a set of skills honed to a meta-human standard. Even Batman, who, while not possessing the conventional super-strength or x-ray vision proclivities that his inked brothers and sisters may share, belongs amongst them more so than his more human peers. He proves himself by displaying the fearlessness to patrol the rooftops of Gotham city come nightfall, leaping headlong into violent situations and making use of his inordinate intellect and physical training to foil the designs of his villains (even going as far as to recover from a bro ken back in Knightfall: Part One (Moench, Titan Books, 1993) while never compromising his own morality and ultimately keeping his lifelong vow to restore safety and peace, earning the respect and admiration of the community as he does it. This raises an interesting point. While the origins and talents of superheroes are often incredibly varied on an individual to individual basis; the one constant amongst their equally as varied psychological repertoire is adopting and living by a value system and an unflinching, immovable dedication to enforcing said system. Although, ironically, as Daniel Fingeroth notes in his book Superman on the Couch (Continuum, 2006, page 17) These are also, interestingly, the characteristics of a villain. And, as the saying goes, every decent villain thinks of himself as the hero. Hitler had no doubt that he was the good guy. However, as Richard Reynolds is quoted as saying in his book Super Heroes: A Modern Mythology (University Press of Mississippi, 1994) page 74 Superheroes are by and large not upholders of the letter of the law; they are not law enforcement agents employed by the state. The set of values they traditionally defend is summed up by the Superman tag of Truth, Justice and the American Way. Sometimes the last term has been interpreted in a narrowly nationalistic waybut far more oftenhas stood for the ideals enshrined in the US Constitution. Reynolds claims that the superhero is a symbol that inherently represents, and continues to represent, the ever-changing values of whichever society creates him or her. A trait almost wholly unique to the superhero, with such prominent cycles of revision and reinvention rarely being attributed to those fictional heroes of past eras (For instance, you may be hard pressed to find a 60s-era Moses or a 80s-era Lone Ranger). Reynolds theory is, both visually and thematically, very distinguishable when looking through the back catalogues of a number of todays popular heroes. For example, in the 40s, Superman fought the Nazis, in the 50s, communists, in the 60s and 70s he became more involved against governmental issues like widespread corruption. Compare early, campy Batman to the dark, brooding Batman established in the late 80s and early 90s and literally witness a night and day transformation. But, regardless of such evolutions, whatever the time and place, the hero will always know wha t the morally correct course of action is. But what is it exactly that dwells within people and causes them to harbour such intense craving for these hyperbolic tales of greater valour? Why are we not content with the truer and undoubtedly more realistic tales of human heroism? Take for example, a typical everyman character. Would his encounters with extraordinary situations or extraordinary people be a better example of an inspirational role model, and the very idea of a super being leaving us mere mortals feeling wholly inadequate? Perhaps we as people and congenitally social creatures, find hearing about the man of steel from the distant planet of Krypton easier to digest than say a neighbour who outclasses us physically, socially or hierarchically. Therein may lie the key the whole question. Maybe these heroes tap into our group consciousness and shared doubts about us, as individuals, failing to measure up to our potential or the standards others may expect of us. The notion of a character not quite living by the same so cietal doctrines as the rest of us, allows for an amount of comfortable dissmissiveness regarding our own perceived human failings. Lets focus on who many consider to be the alpha-superhero, Superman. Superman (or more accurately, Kal-El, his given Kryptonian name) is from the planet Krypton. It is rather unlikely that any sane human could ever also make that claim. So feeling inadequate after seeing him stop an earthquake or reverse time by flying around the planet backwards is prevented by a buffer zone of suspended disbelief. Batman, on the other hand, was always a perfectly normal little boy (and, obviously, an earthling) who swears an oath to himself to be better, stronger and smarter over the murdered bodies of his parents. Not only does little Bruce Wayne swear to it, he grows up and accomplishes it. That kind of human dedication could potentially rub a person who had, so far, failed to get where they wanted in life, or were prone to procrastination, the wrong way. But while Batman is more of a human hero than say Superman, hes none the less a larger than life character that displays characteristics that a re absent or unrealistic to expect within ordinary people. Even the pop culture characters more rooted in reality seem to operate in places where certain degrees of magic or pseudo science are possible. Rambo or The Punisher couldnt really dodge so many bullets or use their weapons so casually without incurring significant collateral damages, yet these characters are still believed to be normal within their genre. Whereas if you or I, average people, ever found ourselves in a fist fight, were ever struck or struck someone else in the face, it would be an unforgettable event that we would relay to anyone who wished to hear it whether we knew them all that well or not. Wed seek medical or legal advice, press charges to bring the perpetrator to justice. It would become an important footnote in out lifes story. Yet to the more human of serial fictional heroes, physical altercations are an everyday occurrence, a part of the job. With characters that dont have the disadvantage of needing to be portrayed by real life actors, the number of fights they will undertake is a truly staggering number. How many kicks and jabs has Batman landed over his sixty plus years of existence? It would be an almost incalculable number that would put the body counts of most modern flesh and blood action men to shame. So, the fact must be that, even in our real heroes, people feel the compulsive need to imbue them with qualities, powers and abilities that far exceed the rest of our capabilities. More so even than those amongst us in peak shape and of outstanding performance. Looking back at the idea of the regular person dealing with punching, or having been punched by somebody, any event like that, that can elevate itself above those of the everyday; will change a persons constitution in some way. Be it physically, mentally or socially. And change is invariably the one constant, be it large or small, in our lives. But Superman will never retire. Hell change, certainly. You only have to compare his adventures now to those of the 30s and 40s to see it. But he is still, in essence the same Kryptonian that landed on Earth all those years ago. Comic writers allow their creations something known as the illusion of change, which is true of most serialized characters, and, possibly, a part of their appeal. For, we grow older, witness it in our friends and relations and eventually die. But superheroes are always there. They age remarkably slowly, if at all. We learn from our lifes experiences and grow, existentially as people. Fictional creations do not. An inescapable fact of life is that, as we age, we will acquire some level of wisdom from our experiences. We can find witnessing others go through the same situation inspirational and instructive. As we grow, we learn and as we learn, we change. All we can do is hope we are changing for the better. It can be delayed somewhat, but never be truly avoided. But superheroes change incredibly slowly. Slow enough that any change could barely have been said to have occurred at all. After just over half a century, Superman still hides his identity from Lois Lane and continues to battle Lex Luthor, Batman still hides his identity from the people of Gotham city and continues to battle The Joker, and Spiderman still hides his identity from Mary Jane and Aunt May while continuing to battle Doctor Octopus and still remaining the unattached and troubled teen. Of course, this is in spite of occasional deviations from canon in which they may be seen wedding their respective sweethearts or appear to die, before exploiting some catch in which they can be revived, which are designed to indulge fans who may have since aged and moved on to the next phase of their lives and who may wish for a little more psuedorealism or social politics that speaks to their present situations. But no matter which version you may have seen, be they married, single, perpetually teenage or maturing young adult, the illusion of change still applies. But can a character that doesnt really age ever learn from his or her life and experiences? Or change as a direct result of it? In truth, only superficially, as to truly change as a result of an encounter or life experience would involve a sense of closure and the following transition from the characters previous, unenlightened standpoint to a more knowledgeable or enlightened stance. If this rule was in effect, perhaps Batman would eventually get the need for his own brand of vigilante justice out of his system after a couple of years in real life. Maybe in his participation of his particularly elaborate neuroses hed receive an injury that would prevent him from continuing with his crusade, or inadvertently harm an innocent bystander, accidentally kill one of the criminals he was fighting or even be arrested or incarcerated within a mental asylum himself. The finality of consequence is never the character stopping of their own free will because perhaps, it is too difficult, dangerous or the character has an epiphany that affords him the insight to see the ludicrousness of his own self-imposed mission. Too many people are invested in Batman keeping to his convictions, be they fan or businessman. Whenever we turn the final page of a book we were reading or see the end credits roll for a film we were watching, there is always an acute feeling of disappointment as our time in the company of those characters is well and truly over. With serial fiction or television, that feeling can be prolonged almost indefinitely (though usually to the programs detriment) and by extension the connections we attribute to the characters just as much. However in that case, something is always lost in the process. Namely the dramatic highs and lows, as, we know Superman will never truly die. But with that comes a sense of permanence and continuity (and predictability) that means, to people of an uncertain world such as ours, that through the greatest trait of the superheroes, their immortality, that we, throughout our short, fragile and unpredictable lives, can achieve a percentage of immortality too. Without a doubt, the representation of the modern superhero we have come to recognize today has left such indelible marks upon our culture that maybe you yourself have unknowingly made reference to it at some point in your life, whether you are a fan of the genre or not. Perhaps youve been told youre not exactly Superman, whilst trying to achieve something thought of as difficult or outside of your perceived abilities? Youve told somebody not to hulk out if theyre showing signs of a shift in their temperament, or youve been with someone who has told you their spider-sense is tingling to convey their wariness of a particular person or situation? The superhero is so ingrained on our collective consciousness that our metaphors and minds tend to take for granted just how and why exactly they came to be so. Why does our society view the superhero, both consciously and unconsciously, as such an important cultural element? And why must we take the time, and exert the mental energy to create and develop these fictional saviours? What exactly are they saving us from? After all, outside of the pages of their comics, its not like Superman truly crushed the Third Reich, or Spiderman truly makes it safer to walk around your town or city at night. But, perhaps their very existence, even if it is indeed, only within a few pages of pulp entertainment, plants a mental seed in us during our youth, deep, deep down in the subconscious. A seed that, however subtly, reassures us that there are perhaps such beings out there, putting themselves on the line for the sake of truth, justice and the protection of the innocent. That maybe, if we did walk around our cities in the dead of night, wed be alright, because it feels as though were being watched over. Or, perhaps we slightly imbue ourselves with the tr aits we see in these pulpy heroes to help us press on through an unpleasant place or situation. After all, Batman wouldnt be scared to walk through town at two in the morning, or succumb to nerves when thinking about the PowerPoint presentation he has to give at work the next day. Daniel Fingeroth goes on to pose the question of whether or not our attraction and preoccupation with such heroic yet utterly fictional fantasy beings is necessarily an entirely healthy position to have. Neatly summarising it as the following Do superheroes provide us with super-excuses? For If we adore such characters and partially establish elements of their personal ideologies to our own perceptions of right and wrong or law and order, are we effectively living in a dream world whilst, in some ways, shirking our own responsibilities when faced with the handling of our own problems? Are we dependant on their authority? For after all, the inherent trait of the superhero, to possess the superior judgment to arbitrarily discern what is and is not morally wrong, then use their extraordinary abilities to violently enforce that very idea, is rather a fascist notion. Perhaps holding Superman to that level of authoritarian calibre is in truth not that dissimilar from the myths of the Aryan ÃÅ"bermensch (which translates from German as overman or superman), or The X-Men and the distinct metaphor for racial tolerance (between mutant and non-mutants) their stories embody may very well lull people into believing the struggle for racial harmony has gone as far as it really nee ds to. Or perhaps what these stern, unbending paragons of unwavering morality provide is merely a healthy totem for us to project our darker impulses upon. For dont we, as a society, often gain a certain bloody satisfaction from seeing the villains or other such characters of low moral fiber receive a swiftly violent and richly deserved punishment? Through, say, Wolverines violent actions, our own violence is rendered unnecessary. Further still, the perceived perfection of both a physical and ideological nature one may attribute to a superhero, may well provide solace for a reader who may be becoming jaded with their place in a society that, at its core, is morally corrupt and defines its own rules on what is and is not acceptable regarding the physical appearance, while possibly encouraging that same reader to exit this fantasy word he or she was engrossed in, with an adopted desire to go out and perform good deeds of their own. Its unlikely theyll don a cape, mask and tights whilst leapin g from rooftop to rooftop, but the influence of wanting to do good amongst their community is assimilated without the more fascistic and unattractive authoritative aspects that present themselves when analyzing a superheroes modus operandi. A popular symbol of super heroism and the special brand of masked vigilante justice that accompanies it is the concept of the secret identity. But it seems rather counterintuitive. What is it that could cause a person to hide who they are? If anything, people of today tend to seek out credit and adulation wherever they can. They enjoy that feeling of pride. But in real life, there can be equally valid reasons why a person may want to, or need to conceal their identity. The example that may immediately leap to mind would be a criminal wearing a mask whilst committing his crime so as to evade the attention of the law and escape the threat of incarceration. But the identity can also be hidden for more noble reasons. For instance, someone who is courageously rebelling politically or socially in a place where such action would evoke serious, perhaps deadly, repercussions or an informant, masking their voice while providing important, potentially life-saving information to figures of autho rity. Deviating far from the concept of nobility and courage, consider for a moment, a member of a radical hate group such as the KKK. His identity may well be known by close friends or family members, but his hood would prevent recognition from victims or law enforcement. There is also a psychological element of terror that wearing a mask or a hood produces in others. There are also philanthropists who work anonymously out of a sense of modesty and desire to let their generous acts speak for themselves without adding their own personal sense of glory. There are graffiti artists who express the simple fact that they were there through tagging various architecture whilst still maintaining a degree of anonymity. There is also the anonymity that the internet or the telephone provides. The lack of face-to-face interaction can allow people the feeling of liberation to say or do things, socially acceptable or otherwise, without repercussion. But why has the idea of a secret identity become such an intrinsic element of the superhero mythos? Late stand-up comedian Lenny Bruce presented a theory as a part of his act. He believed that the masked man hides himself because he doesnt want to be thanked. If he became too dependent on the praise, how would he feel when he wasnt being thanked? The masked man wants to keep his motives pure, to make sure he does what he does because its the right thing to do, not to be thanked. That may present a piece of the puzzle as to why the idea of a masked hero appeals to us, the every-day people. Because they want their heroic actions to stand by themselves, which is a sympathetic and universal human desire. To which fantasy does the idea of a double identity/life appeal? Perhaps it speaks to those amongst us that believe, deep down within us, we can be so much more than we appear. They covet the notion that if only people knew how truly special I am. For, in a sense, we all possess secret identities, sides of ourselves that we do not reveal to many others. A dual, and secret, identity is a place where fantasy and ambition can take hold and we eagerly await the time when the power within can be unleashed without risk or social reprisal. After all, there is always the risk that, once released, people would not warm to the real you and you are forced to once again repress your true self and re-presenting the false, approved one in hope of fitting in once more. But of course reality is not that clear cut, and there no doubt be events throughout our lives in which the false self and the true self may overlap. One will always bleed through at some point. Having two identities, wearing those m etaphorical masks gives us greater control on how we present ourselves to the world that surrounds us. Masks, be they literal or metaphorical, have been an important cultural factor across both time and civilization. For example, African and South American priests would were ceremonial clothes, often with accompanying mask, to perform their various holy rituals. In those instances, it is unlikely the mask was intended to preserve the identity of the wearer, but endow its wearer with a mixture of both social importance and simultaneous characterlessness. An everyman bestowed with holy connotations. The mask itself is seen as the symbol of power, the man behind it less so, if at all. A mask can be intimidating, so limiting it to association with common contemporary criminals seems like a grotesque waste of resources. Why not rally the intimidation factor against those people who would ultimately behave in ways that negatively affect our society? In the world of heroic fiction it can be used to drastically turn the tables on those individuals. But that also presents another valid reason to keep ones identity a secret. To protect their loved ones. Which, when you really stop to ponder it, could be applied, in theory, real-life scenarios, such as a teacher who may work with delinquent or anti-social children or a policeman who walks a beat in a particularly dangerous area. Though in a more negative spin on that theory, it could allow violent vigilante groups or death squads to emerge. But masked justice is rarely blind justice. It has agendas and rarely exists to just give the police force a little more edge. It is only the Superhero who disguises his or her identit y for truly noble and altruistic reasons whilst still maintaining his or her integrity in the eyes of the public. According to Gary Engle, in his essay What Makes Superman So Darned American?, he theorizes that the concept of a secret identity is deeply rooted in the experience of being an American immigrant, and applies this to whom is arguably considered the alpha hero and greatest example of a direct dual identity, Superman. The myth simply wouldnt work without Clark Kent, mild-mannered newspaper reporterAdopting the white-bread image of a wimp is first and foremost a moral act for the man of steel. He does it to protect his parents from nefarious sorts who might use them to gain an edge over the powerful alien. More-over, Kent adds to Supermans powers the moral guidance of a Smallville upbringing . Clark Kentis the epitome of visible invisibility, someone whose extraordinary ordinariness makes him disappear in a crowd. In a phrase, he is the consummate figure of total cultural assimilation, and significantly, he is not real. Implicit in this is the notion that mainstream cultural norms, however useful, are illusions. According to Engle, the origins of the immigrant are the core of his entire identities; only insert being an extraterrestrial from another planet in place of being from another country. Superman isnt unlike that of a young person from immigrant roots who may well speak his native tongue at home, around his family, but outside that dynamic, adjusts his identity to fit in with his adopted homeland. The immigrant wish to excel whilst staying anonymous. To make his parents feel proud without making them feel ashamed of who they are or where they come from. These feelings of immigrant guilt were also profoundly felt by Superman creators Siegel and Shuster, who the projected their experiences into those of Superman. As Gary Engle continues to note: Immigration, of course, is the overwhelming fact in American history. Except for the Indians, all Americans have an immediate sense of their origins elsewhere. No nation on Earth has so deeply embedded in its social consciousness the imagery of passage from one social identity to another. -80 Further, Supermans powersare the comic book equivalents of ethnic characteristics, and they protect and preserve the vitality of the foster community in which he lives in the same way that immigrant ethnicity has sustained American culture linguistically, artistically, economically, politically and spiritually. The myth of Superman asserts with total confidence and a childlike innocence the value of the immigrant in American culture -81 For many readers of comics, particularly those old enough to have been around and enjoyed them when they were freshly conceived, they themselves may be immigrants or indeed the children or grandchildren of immigrants. Perhaps reading these stories would allow for some manner of vicarious and symbolic re-enactment or unified identification with their roots and the characters they are enjoying reading about. The idea of a secret identity can further allow the readers to become conscious of and experience their own dilemmas. For instance, discovering whether or not they were being the version of themselves that makes cultural compromises and they let the outside world see, or are they being the self that they project in their home lives? Which of those two masks is truly the real them? Which do they prefer being and which do they want to be? In many ways we all at some time or another feel we are strangers in a strange land once we leave the sanctuary of our homes and venture out into s ociety to go to work or school. Home is familiarity, we are comfortable with ourselves and confidently know what it takes for us to survive and thrive there. But who do we become once we venture outside and have a choice in how we present ourselves to the world? Its a basic choice that we are all forced to learn through trial and error from very young ages and the Superheroes are forced to make them too, albeit in much grander and colourful ways. Superman isnt just an immigrant, hes also an orphan. He arrived on our planet as a sole representative of his race, without his parents. He has an idea where he is from, but could barely recite a fact about the place aside from the fact that it is no more. Knowing, instead, a great deal more about where he currently is. The opportunity that he is presented with, however, is that, as an immigrant and an orphan, he is free to construct his entire history from day one. Not that he ever has much choice in the matter, for all that he knows of ou r world at that point is that he is from somewhere else. As pointed out by Gary Engle: Orphans arent merely free to invent themselves, they are obliged to. So perhaps the double identity is more of an integral component in what defines Superman than say x-ray vision or the ability to fly. He can cherry-pick aspects from the best of us as a society and ingest them a part of himself. While he is an alien, he is an alien that resembles a human, and a handsome human at that. He can fit in to a crowd if he wishes and he can distance himself to the fortress of solitude on a whim just as easily. His life as Clark Kent can enrich his life as Superman and vice versa. However, Supermans chosen identity is fraught with a hypocrisy that could be said to highlight an immigrants internal conflicts and insecurities. A simultaneous need to both blend in and stand out from the crowd. Clark Kent is a reporter, a career that requires a degree of courage and bravery, for instance, when attempting to acquire the scoop on a dangerous situation . Yet to his peers, Clark is seen as a cowardly person who is always nowhere to be seen when danger is close, yet, s omehow he still manages to get the scoop which is rather conspicuous for a person trying to remain amongst society inconspicuously. As an interesting side note, as with most other popular superheroes, the civilian identity is often the real identity and the public and more heroic face is the adopted persona. This is not the case with the Man of Steel. It is in fact the complete opposite. Supermans true self is Superman, yet he must adopt a more unremarkable persona in Clark Kent to fit in. One of the fundamental questions with regards to identity is if it is in fact a more courageous act to be who you are or who you pretend you are. The superhero asks this too, only louder. The superheros answers to such existential questions are usually within the realms of I will be who I must in order to fulfil my task of doing good. Whatever serves that purpose is who I will be both in and out of my costume. Whichever other questions these heroes may hav

Mind, Body, Media Essay -- Science Religion Papers

Mind, Body, Media It seems as though organized religion, specifically Christianity, has always reacted with hostility towards scientific advancements. Examples of the church’s animosity towards scientific discoveries that threatened their power, influence, and credibility plague the history books. During the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution many scientists were ostracized from the church for their theories and discoveries. For example, Giordono Bruno, a follower of the Hermetic tradition and an outspoken supporter of the Copernican theory, was summoned by the church to appear before an Inquisition whereby he was found guilty of blasphemy and condemned to death. He was burned at the stake in 1600 (Perry, 70). Galilei Galileo and Johannes Kepler suffered less severe punishments in that they were only excommunicated from the church. Presently, research and scientific discovery are more collective and tend to be funded by corporations thus making it more difficult to pinpoint individual offens es, but the church continues to criticize and condemn science in areas such as cloning and stem cell research, to name but a few. Before examing the topic of A.I. and religion, it is important to understand why the chasm between the two institutions exists. I will briefly analyze the church’s position on the subject of the Internet, which clarifies their stance on A.I. Many scholars, historians, and church leaders are skeptical about the possibility of a harmonious relationship developing between the church and science. Because the church and its doctrines are based upon ethereal claims and science is rooted in empiricism and veritable evidence, notions of truth are the points at which their differences seem to culminate and their dia... ... clear set guidelines that make living with each other generally safe and when executed correctly, harmonious. There are many questions that have not been answered in this treatise and many wishful outcomes that depend on certain circumstances in order to be fulfilled, however, if A.I., religion, and society were to embrace each other and allow the nature of each discipline and being to flourish, then I believe that finally, there will be a compatible working relationship formed between science and religion. Works Cited Cootsona, Gregory S. Questions Regarding A.I., The Internet, and The Church. New York. 25 Jul. 2001. Hook, Sidney. Marx and the Marxists. Van Nostrand Punblishing Company, 1955. Page, Benjamin B. Marxism and Spirituality. Bergin and Garvey, 1993. Russell, Keith. "Believing in God and Science." Insight on the News 20 (1998) : 12-13.

Organizations

Organizations are releasing more modern and advanced products all the time and so are their competitors but the question we all want to know Is what's next? The answer to that question is Razor's upcoming gaming tablet â€Å"Project Fauna† which has been renamed as â€Å"The Razor Edge Tablet†.In this paper you will read an overview of the organization, a description of the product or service, a SOOT analysis of the organization and offering, a competitive analysis of the organization and offering using Porter's five competitive forces model, the criteria we will use to segment our market and we will select our target market including geographic, demographic, cryptographic, and behavioral factors, a description of our target market, and the needs that cause our target arrest to buy Including emotional and logical drivers.As kids in the ass's and ass's some of us grew up around Atari, Nintendo, and Saga Genesis with many games such as Super Mario Pros. , and Sonic the he dgehog making childhood memories that last a life time. Back then those very gaming systems were earning billions with 90% market share and a decade later the gaming system industry has doubled its sales becoming a worldwide entertainment powerhouse earning as much as movies and music, â€Å"U. S. Video games scored 21. 3 industry is thriving on its development, marketing, sales etc.With so many popular systems available in the market what more could gamers want? Currently on the market is Sony Play station (399. 00) who has earned 23. 8 million, Microsoft OXBOW 360 (313. 00) who earned 31. 5 million from their systems, and Nintendo WI (399. 00) who has brought In a whopping 56 million. Now the market is currently buzzing about the next Generation Console the Razor's â€Å"Edge Tablet†. The Razor Edge Tablet Is a gaming tablet with integrated dual game controllers, connected to each side Is a wand like controller with analog thumb sticks and two triggers apiece.Although it i s recently Just a manufactured idea it's strategically planned features bring significant excitement to the anticipating gamers for reason such as this, the handle bars are detachable, the base unit can slot into a keyboard to turn it Into a more conventional desktop. The edge tablet will also feature a 10 Inch touch screen designed for PC gaming and very much capable of running- current generation PC games. The Edge tablet is designed to operate on a windows 8 operating system with a memory of BIB of DRP RAM leaving a ton of space for downloading games, The Edge Tablet on its way.The competitor Analysis is the fact that Apple is the leading the tablet market. Over 55 million tablets sold globally as of last quarter ( Suns, 2012). Launch of the PAD 3 saw sales hit 3 million In the first three days. Apple currently holds 58% of the tablet the time and quickly gained ground over the other tablets that are in competition ( Suns, 2012). The five Porters competitive forces for this will be bargaining power of customers or buyers to let them know that they will be getting a great product that is worth the money and no another product will beat their product.By barging with the suppliers to help keep cost done with them being the suppliers so they can keep being your supplier for the Fauna project and also stay the competitive of your rivalry so you can stay on top of the game. In this business you always want to research what other gaming system are doing and what they are creating to make their line of business better and more appealing to customers. You also do not want a new client to come into place and try to take over your product or try to substitute your product.There are so many copy cats in this industry that you will always need to be on the kook out to make sure that your company is not being taken an advantage of. There should be a group of people hired within the company to be on the look out for scams and what other companies are launching within in t heir company to make themselves better than yours. You Just want not believe how many competition that are out there trying to be in the number one spot; so it is very important to keep up with the competitive analysis from year to year to know where you stand in this whole market.The criteria that will be used to segment the project Fauna that will target market the geographic, demographic, cryptographic and behavioral factors is the objective with these static in mind for the promotional campaign are to expand the target market by broaden the audience that will be buying this product. The first thing is to increase the awareness what Fauna tablet is all about how it is better than other tablets that are on the market as well.By doing this is to live stream with interviews and game play, have television advertisement's to help boost ratings to make the customers want to go out and buy it to see what all the talk is about. When you see ewe technology on the home shopping channel are you going to automatically look and see what the salesman have to say about the product. This also gives you the opportunity to hear what other shoppers think about the product and if they like it or not.Then they can be event appearances like going out to the mall where all your young customers and buyers hang out at to promote the tablet. By doing this will help you promote the new tablet and answer any questions that a potential customer might have and it will help them understand why this product is better and will be otter let's say the PAD. When people can get a feel of something and feel the hype of the new product people will try it to see for them. When it comes down to technology people always want to have the latest trend of technology. The gaming world has a huge age bracket to consider, you have children that start playing on tablets as young as the age of 4 and ranging up to people in their ass's. The biggest age bracket to consider would have to be young child up unt il their early ass's. What is so unique about Project Fauna is that it has all of the gaming systems you can sibyl think of that can fit into the palm of your hands. This is expanding the market to consider when marketing their brand out. There many people out there that prefer gaming systems that are compatible with PC's, playing on the T.V. , being able to work on Microsoft word to get your homework done for school. This product is going where no tablet has gone before. Making it easier for them to market out and reach everyone in the gaming world. To put it out there, it is one of the most genius ideas ever thought of after the PAD was created. Product Fauna is putting gamers into a mind blowing experience with this new technology being placed on the market. Our brains are wired to pay attention to emotion and new or unusual things.Product Fauna has put a whole new look on tablets, consoles, even Nintendo ADS' and such. The five emotional triggers to have a consumer go out and bu y are love, pride, guilt, fear and greed. People who love their games and have made it a hobby will be so excited when they can get their hands on something so spectacular. Their pride could get to them which would cause a reaction for them to go out and buy the newest system out there. Or better yet, if they can't afford it, they can guilt their parents, girlfriend, boyfriend, etc. Onto buying it for them on their birthday, special occasion or even a holiday such as Christmas. The fear that can be impacted on gaming consumers is if they have missed an opportunity of having something amazing and better than the rest. Lastly greed also has to be considered, there are some where they like to have everything that hits the selves and want to be the first one with it. Project Fauna isn't Just a gaming device that we have seen before, or should we say, we have, but not when you had it all together Onto one bundle package.That would take the consumer who is not so sure if they should make such a purchase evaluate the product and need a solid reason as to why they would want to purchased it and Justify their first initial response when considering their emotional need. Logic on this product is that it is the first of its kind and it has so much more to offer. You could even get away with all of the other gaming systems and use Just the one. REFERENCES: www. Tightrope]extinction. Com www. Silversides,. Net/]emollient/dig-take-pro]etc-fauna-presentation

Description Of Truk Island Essays - Chuuk Lagoon, Chuuk State

Description Of Truk Island Essays - Chuuk Lagoon, Chuuk State Description Of Truk Island The island of Truk was 800 square miles of sheltered lagoons and strong defensive capabilities. (1) In 1944 the island became vulnerable to allied attacks.(2) All of the warships were subsequently moved away from the island leaving all the forces on the island without warship protection. Truk was still considered one of Japans greatest naval bases. Vice Adm. Chuichi Hara was in command of the forces on the island. At this point in the war the allied forces were just moping up the Japanese as they proceeded to mainland Japan. There was no point in an amphibious assault on an island that had no military significance. Especially when you could just bomb the island form afar. The allied forces were not out to crush every Japanese stronghold. They were making the move towards Japan. It was not necessary to stop at every island and waste lives. Truk was to be neutralized. Carrier aircraft from task force 58 attacked Truk. And shot down everything that was thrown at them. And when they had nothing left to throw at them it was a duck shoot. They pounded the island. 31 ships were sunk(3). 270 aircraft destroyed(4). The forces on the island were reduced to nothing in a few short months. Of the forces that were left instead of fighting the allies they were fighting starvation and disease. 2,000 died of starvation(5) Bibliography Work Cited Hagen, Jerome, War in the Pacific (Ohio: Book Masters, Inc. 1988) 270 Hagen, Jerome, War in the Pacific (Ohio: Book Masters, Inc. 1988) 270 Hagen, Jerome, War in the Pacific (Ohio: Book Masters, Inc. 1988) 270 Hagen, Jerome, War in the Pacific (Ohio: Book Masters, Inc. 1988) 270 Hagen, Jerome, War in the Pacific (Ohio: Book Masters, Inc. 1988) 271

Reducing, Reusing and Recycling Fast Food Waste

Reducing, Reusing and Recycling Fast Food Waste Dear EarthTalk: What are the fast-food chains doing to cut back onor at least recyclethe huge amount of paper, plastic and foam they use daily? Are there any laws or regulations to force them to be good environmental citizens? Carol Endres, Stroud Township, PA Currently there are no federal laws or regulations in the U.S. specifically aimed at getting fast food chains to reduce, reuse or recycle their waste. Businesses of all kinds must always obey local laws pertaining to what must be recycled versus what can be discarded. And a small number of cities and towns have local laws specifically designed to force businesses to do the right thing, but they are few and far between. Voluntary Fast Food Waste Reduction Makes HeadlinesThere have been some strides in the fast food business with regard to packaging materials and waste reduction, but it has all been voluntary and usually under pressure from green groups. McDonald’s made headlines back in 1989 when, at the urging of environmentalists, it switched its hamburger packaging from non-recyclable Styrofoam to recyclable paper wraps and cardboard boxes. The company also replaced its bleached paper carryout bags with unbleached bags and made other green-friendly packaging advances. Some Fast Food Chains Offer Vague Policies on Waste ReductionBoth McDonald’s and PepsiCo (owner of KFC and Taco Bell) have crafted internal policies to address environmental concerns. PepsiCo states that it encourages â€Å"conservation of natural resources, recycling, source reduction and pollution control to ensure cleaner air and water and to reduce landfill wastes,† but does not elaborate on specific actions it takes. McDonald’s makes similar general statements and claims to be â€Å"actively pursuing the conversion of used cooking oil into biofuels for transportation vehicles, heating, and other purposes,† and pursuing various in-store paper, cardboard, delivery container and pallet recycling programs in Australia, Sweden, Japan and Britain. In Canada the company claims to be the â€Å"largest user of recycled paper in our industry† for trays, boxes, carry out bags and drink holders. Fast Food Recycling Programs Can Reduce Waste and Save MoneySome smaller fast food chains have garnered accolades for their recycling efforts. Arizona-based eegee’s, for instance, earned an Administrator’s Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for recycling all paper, cardboard and polystyrene across its 21-store chain. Besides the positive attention it has generated, the company’s recycling effort also saves it money in garbage disposal fees every month. A Few Communities Require Fast Food Waste RecyclingDespite such efforts, though, the fast food industry is still a large generator of waste. Some communities are responding by passing local regulations requiring recycling where applicable. Seattle, Washington, for example, passed an ordinance in 2005 prohibiting businesses (all businesses, not just restaurants) from disposing of recyclable paper or cardboard, though violators only pay a nominal $50 fine. Taiwan Takes a Hard Line on Fast Food WastePerhaps policymakers in the U.S. and elsewhere could take a lead from Taiwan, which since 2004 has required its 600 fast-food restaurants, including McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC, to maintain facilities for proper disposal of recyclables by customers. Diners are obliged to deposit their garbage in four separate containers for leftover food, recyclable paper, regular waste and liquids. â€Å"Customers only have to spend under a minute to finish the trash-classification assignment,† said environmental protection administrator Hau Lung-bin in announcing the program. Restaurants that don’t comply face fines of up to $8,700 (U.S.). GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalkemagazine.com. EarthTalk is a regular feature of E/The Environmental Magazine. Selected EarthTalk columns are reprinted on About Environmental Issues by permission of the editors of E.

Statistics - Q Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Statistics - Q - Essay Example 9. To study the spending habits of shoppers in Orlando, Florida, fifty randomly selected shoppers at a mall were surveyed to determine the number of credit cards they carried. The following results were obtained. The data in part (b) are 30 times the data in part (a).The data in part (b) are 40 times the data in part (a).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The data in part (b) are 70 times the data in part (a).The data in part (b) are 60 times the data in part (a).The data in part (b) are 120 times the data in part (a). The mean and mode in part (b) are 70 times the mean and mode in part (a). Neither data set had a median.The mean and median in part (b) are 60 times the mean and median in part (a). Neither data set had a mode.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The mean, median and mode in part (b) are 60 times the mean, median and mode in part (a).The mean and median in part (b) are 50 times the mean and median in part (a). Neither data set had a mode.The mean in part (b) are 50 times the mean in part (a). Neither data set had a mode. 14. Jerry Rice holds the all-time record in professional football for scoring touchdowns. The number of touchdown receptions (TDs) for each of his seasons is given in the following table. Find the mean, median, and mode of the number of touchdown receptions per year by Rice. (Enter solutions for mode from smallest to largest. If there are any unused answer boxes, enter NONE in the last

Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Leadership - Essay Example A Panic or Choke Moment My panic or choke moment is from a job scenario. It happened during a meeting in my workplace where I was supposed to give a presentation regarding a new project that our company wanted to initiate. That day turned out to be the most provoking and infuriating of my life. Before that time, I had experienced something similar, but this incident was more pronounced and baffling. The meeting was to take at least one hour since I was the only one presenting the project. I wanted to give a perfect presentation so I had to prepare adequately since my first presentation within my department had inadequacies and pitfalls. I had clearly mastered the whole presentation in my mind, but to ensure a sophisticated presentation, I brought along my laptop and projector. The meeting commenced, my boss did the introduction and thereafter called me to take the centre stage. I took centre stage, got ready by setting up my laptop and projector. I was so motivated and enthusiastic s ince I was sure that I had everything under control. However, five minutes into the presentation, a power surge occurred, which tampered with my laptop. The laptop failed to work; I realized that I could not access my presentation from the laptop, suddenly my mine went blank. Although, I had all the information in my mind, without my laptop, I could do nothing. Contending with the Situation After that incident, I resolved to get help in order to avoid an embarrassment like that again. Choking or panicking can be resolved through different methods. When Novotna faltered during her Wimbledon match, it was because she started to think too much about her shots, and thus, losing her fluidity. In my situation, when the power surge occurred, it tampered with my laptop, which had my presentation. I had put all my focus in presenting with the help of my laptop and projector. All I had to do was to give the presentation from my mind instead of thinking that using the laptop was the only in wh ich I possibly present. If I had relied on my mind, I would have easily avoided the stress and presented the project. Forgetting the past is very important, especially forgetting unpleasant incidences. Novotna, remembering her choke at Wimbledon was again culpable at the French Open in 1995. Forgetting disappointments in the past can help to avoid those affecting current events. Finally, it is important not to think too hard. Failure develops when an individual focuses too much on mechanical and technical procedures when carrying out an activity. As in my case, I focused too much on delivering a sophisticated presentation with my laptop and projector. In addition, contending with situations that bring about stress call for experience. Essentially, it means thinking something through with the objective of anticipating what might go wrong. Understanding Stress Reactions Understanding how a person reacts to stress is vital in making that person an effective leader. Emotional intelligen ce refers to the ability to comprehend and manage one’s emotions and of those around them (Vidula et al, 2012: p10). Leaders or team members who have good emotional intelligence normally know their feelings, what it means, and the manner in which this can affect the rest of the team. For a leader, being aware of one’s emotions is vital for success. A leader, who shouts at