Rumble Fish Essays - English-language Films, Films, Rumble Fish

Rumble Fish Rumble Fish by S.E. Hinton Rumble Fish, by S.E. Hinton is the sequel to The Outsiders. The characters names are different, but it is still taken place in the same time period. In the story Rumble Fish, Rusty James is a greaser who has a lot of fights in and out of school. He meets up with the Motorcycle Boy and whenever Rusty is in a big situation or fight, the Motorcycle Boy always helps him out. Rusty isn't a great kid. He has a police record and has been suspended for possession of a knife. Bad things can happen to you if you don't have a knife in certain situations. For example, Rusty was in a fight and it was going to be fought with knives. Nobody in his group had one, so Rusty lost. Then he met the Motorcycle Boy and everything was back to normal until the big fight. Rusty got hit, stabbed, and knocked out. Usually the Motorcycle Boy would help him out, but instead he wasn't there, nowhere to be seen. Rusty was put in the hospital. The main conflict in the story is Rusty James, and his fighting all of the time. It isn't good for him or his reputation. Rusty usually wins and someone always is looking to beat him at his own game, which is fighting, Rusty's specialty! The conflict is resolved when Rusty James is in a fight against another greaser and the Motorcycle Boy isn't there to save Rusty. After all of this happens, everyone starts making fun of Rusty. The mysterious thing is that the Motorcycle Boy is never seen again. Now Rusty has no friend's what so ever! Read Rumble Fish by S.E. Hinton, It's worth the read!

How to Sign Up for the ACT Tricks and Tips

How to Sign Up for the ACT Tricks and Tips SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Registering for the ACT seems like a pretty straightforward part of the testing process. But the signup process is much more convoluted than you think, and some things matter a lot more than others. You also want to make sure to avoid important mistakes that can be costly. In this article, we’ll discuss step-by-step how to sign up for the ACT. In the half-hour long process, we’ll discuss which sections matter a lot, and which ones not at all. Finally, we’ll share helpful tips to choose the best location and save money. How to Register for the ACT Step 1: The first step is to log into your ACT account here.If you don't have an ACT account, you'll be asked to create one.Next, click on Register on the left. Step 2: The first section, â€Å"Your Personal Profile,† has only one important page. The rest is just information the ACT is collecting for research purposes and has zero impact on your score or college admissions. The important page is the first one: â€Å"Your Information.† Make sure all of this information is accurate because this is what they’re using to track your tests. Step 3: Every other page in this section is irrelevant to your ACT score. The ACT is collecting this information from you for two purposes: 1) to conduct research about how different types of students perform on the ACT, 2) to give your information to colleges who can then send you spam mail based on your interests.Colleges will NOT be using this information as part of their admissions decisions – they’ll instead be reading your application. If you’re not sure yet which colleges you might want to apply to and want schools to contact you, then take the time to fill this out accurately. Otherwise, feel free to breeze through it and submit blank answers. This page and the following pages in this section aren't important. Step 4:The next major section is â€Å"Your Interest Inventory.† Much like the previous section, this is purely optional. The ACT uses this to try to recommend career choices for you, but few students really see this as helpful. Step 5: Next, we move to â€Å"Your Test Selection.† This is where your choices really start to matter.First, you have to agree to Terms and Conditions. These basically forbid you from cheating and sharing the questions and answers with others.Next, choose your test date and any other options you want. Step 6: The next page goes over the requirements of the photo of yourself you must upload in order to complete your registration.This photo will be used on test day for identification purposes. On this page are all the requirements the photo must meet, such as being a picture of only you, showing your full face, and having a plain background. You won't be uploading the photo just yet; instead you'll do that after you finish the registration process. You have to upload your photo by the photo deadline (eight days before your test date) or your registration will be canceled. Step 7:Next, the ACT asks for the high school courses you’ve taken, and then it asks you to enter grades for each course. The ACT says they’ll send your colleges the GPA with your score report. Note that most colleges don’t actually take this as your record – they’d much rather use your transcript directly. But you might as well take the time to take this seriously, lest the college wonders why your ACT reported GPA differs so much from your transcript. Step 8: Next, you’ll have a chance to add Score Report choices. At this point, you get the ability to send four free score reports to colleges of your choice. This is a $48 value for free! If you know which schools you’re applying to, I recommend that you fill this out as it can be a major cost savings (read here for more about why). If you’re worried that your college will see an unfavorable score, realize that they actually don’t really care how many times you took the test – they just care about your highest score. Step 9: Next, you’ll have the ability to fill out Future Plans (this isn’t important and is just given to colleges to try to match your interests). Step 10:Finally, you get to choose your Test Center. At this point, I heavily recommend that you search by ZIP code. This will show you the test centers closest to you, and the best location to take your test might not be your high school. If you search by ZIP code, you get to see all the available test centers near you. If you're registering right now, I recommend you read our guide to the best ACT test locations. This will help you make sure you're maximizing your chance at a great score. Don't forget to upload your registration photo when you're done, and that’s the whole process! Now you know which parts really matter and which don’t. Tips for Signing Up for the ACT Now that you know how to sign up for ACT tests, here are some important tips: Choose the best location. This isn’t an automatic decision – many students take it at their high school, but this might not be the best location! Read this guide for more. Register early, well before the deadline. Put a note on your calendar to register at least six weeks before your test date. If you don’t do this in time, you’ll be subject to fees, or worse, you won’t be able to take your exam at all. Apply for a fee waiver if you qualify. Read here for more details. What's Next? Now that you know how to register, you should know WHEN to register. Read our guide to the best ACT test dates. How high of an ACT score do you need? What's a good ACT score? Click here to find out. Want to improve by 4 points or more on the ACT? Get our free must-read guide to the top tips you need to use to improve your ACT score:

Management (the evolution of management) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Management (the evolution of management) - Essay Example The Changes that has been made to these management practices are discussed. According to Weber, Bureaucracies are governed by a set of impersonal rules and procedures that are applied universally, without regard to the personal characteristics of particular individuals, and rationally designed to serve some broader purpose. For Weber, the use of expert specialists, impersonal norms, written document, and the discipline of a command hierarchy give bureaucratic organizations a reliability, regularity, and precision in the execution of tasks that no other form of authority equals. In a bureaucracy, each member repeatedly executes a particular function according to pre specified standards in the service of a larger collective goal. Fayol contributed to the technical understanding of organizational structure in several ways. He recommended that no subordinate receive orders from more than one superior, as this will lead to confusion, disorder, and ill will when the directives of different supervisors conflict. Fayol made the first strong arguments for the use of organization charts to clarify lines of authority and communication and to demarcate areas of responsibility. Taylor recognized an important fact about all organizations: If one works alone, the problem of work discipline is only one of self-discipline; but in a cooperative or collective work process, there is a problem of control or how to ensure that other people will do what you want them to do, sometimes known as the principal-agency problem. Taylor was determined to eliminate restriction of output and break all worker resistance to management control of work methods and pace. Taylor saw his mission as recapturing knowledge and control of the production process from the workers for management by using the scientific method. He interviewed and observed workers, conducted controlled experiments to determine the most efficient techniques and maximum output levels, and devised detailed work rules and wage incentives to enforce those methods and production targets. In order to gather the necessary information, Taylor had workers perform their jobs using different methods, and he observed and timed their every movement in detail, a procedure known as time and motion study. In this fashion, Taylor determined what he thought was the one best way a job should be performed. Until this time, engineers had standardized only physical inputs; now they would standardize the human inputs. Workers would work in rigid conformity to the prescribed method and would be expected to meet the output quotas that were determined to be feasible under this system. To use a contemporary phrase, Taylor believed that people worked "smarter not harder" when they used the best methods devised by scientific management. - (Handel, pp 14) Establishing a division of labor and hierarchy of authority Weber's Bureaucracies employ technically qualified, full-time experts assigned to unique areas of responsibility in a logical division of labor. There is a hierarchy of superiors and subordinates, and access to positions is based on

Marketing Strategies for a Newly Opened Delicatessen Essay

Marketing Strategies for a Newly Opened Delicatessen - Essay Example Among them the following marketing strategies have received the attention of many analysts and researchers (Rosenbaum, 1998). Initially market dominance strategies acquired much greater recognition. These strategies are based on the understanding that any marketing strategy must have as its core objective the domination of the market. In other words the firm seeks either to lead, challenge, simply follow or develop a niche market (Treacy & Wiersema, 1997). According to market dominance strategies the typical behavior of the market dominating firm is to set prices (price leadership) or set a quantity (market leadership). Challengers do not have the same amount of market share or power. But nevertheless they are in a better position to challenge the market leader. Challengers usually have one or few advantages associated with such areas as technology, Research & Development (R&D) and so on (Cooper, 2001). On the other hand firms which do not have anything of the above capabilities would follow the market leader especially in price. Finally the firm which seeks to develop a niche market will do so without con centrating its resources much on wider strategic marketing initiatives. For a newcomer what matters first and foremost are the resource capabilities and an appropriate product placement strategy. For example The word â€Å"delicatessen† is a loanword in the English language borrowed from German. In German language it means delicacy or delicacies. However in English it has undergone a phenomenal shift in nuances. However this paper would take its secondary meaning which refers to a shop or a market where delicacies such as foie gras, caviar, truffle mushrooms, charcuterie, red wine, gourmet chocolate and so on are sold and eaten ( www.cba.ufl.edu) . An entrepreneur of a delicatessen has no much choice except to target a particular segment of consumers in the market. Even the choice of location is limited by the fact that many downtowners happen to visit

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

The Crucible - Essay Example This suggests that not only does Willy Loman represent the ‘American Dream’, but the dreams and hopes of every man who wishes to do well by his family but is not quite living up to his own standards. The play won a Tony in 1999 for a revival of the work. Miller, then 84, was thrilled to be able to be at the awards show and see one of his greatest works receive such a prestigious award fifty years after it first was produced on Broadway (Moran 226). The work has lasted the test of time, the writing so poignant that the message is clear and understood even by modern audiences. It is possible that a modern audience can relate more deeply to the plight of Willy Loman. The depth to which consumerism has taken over the lives of Americans has lead to a belief that everyone is equally entitled to the luxuries of life and that it is not relevant to the socio-economic status of the individual. According to Marron, one myth of debt â€Å"presents credit as the social equalizer, of promoting higher standards of living among the masses and allowing all to enjoy the realization of the consumerist desires† (3). Willy Loman lives by reaching for that standard of living without having actually reached that standard of income and this is a familiar lifestyle to the modern American public. According to Cody and Sprinchorm â€Å"The working title of the play was â€Å"The Inside of his Head† which is where the play takes place - the immediate events, the evocations of the past, the fantasy memories† (336). The staging of the play is done in such a way that the past and the present can converge, Willy’s memories weaving in with his present experiences in order to reveal how he has arrived to this place where he feels he must make a dire sacrifice for his family. Jo Meilzner was the original set designer for the first production of Death of a Salesman. He designed the set with multiple levels so that the movement from one space to the next wa s done through lighting rather than changing the stage. He created effects that could change the time period in which the dialogue was taking place as Willy’s memories converged with his present circumstances. â€Å"When lighted from the rear, the buildings washed out to be replaced with projections of trees with leaves, suggesting Willy’s remembered past with its bright sunshine and cheerful ambiance† (Barranger 258). Influences of Memory The way in which memory is used within the play is indicative of the way in which Miller saw the act of remembering in relationship to the present circumstances of a man. While often times memory was part of a flashback or was brought up through conflict that resulted in revelation, Miller chose to place memory into the present, creating a living, palpable presence that was part of the moment. Miller stated that â€Å"There are no flashbacks in this play†¦ but only a mobile concurrency of past and present† (Cody an d Sprinchorn 336). This can be witnessed within the interchange between Willy and Charley when the memory of his brother Ben intrudes upon their conversation. Ben: Is Mother living with you? Willy: No, she died a long time ago. Charley: Who? Ben: That’s too bad. Fine specimen of a lady, Mother. Willy (to Charley): Heh? Ben: I’d hoped to see the old girl. Charley: Who died? Ben: Heard anything from Father, have you? Willy (unnerved): What do you mean, who

Role of Firms in Science and Technology | Essay

Role of Firms in Science and Technology | Essay What roles do firms play in the generation and diffusion of new scientific and technological knowledge? Illustrate your answer by reference to one or more example. Introduction: The differences in the types of organisations, their structures, their goals and perspectives, and the way they recognise and face challenges can breed a lot of opportunities and avenues for producing and distributing new information to the world. Technology and science has made wonders for almost everyone living in this planet. It has changed the way we live. It has also introduced new sets of problems and issues which must be strategically addressed. Firms are already in the forefront of responding to changes and challenges in their environment. They respond to these challenges through strategies that make use of support systems like technology and scientific research. Today’s business and social transactions are being supported more and more by technological and scientific innovations and strategies. Knowledge of advanced technologies in the different sciences and frontiers has largely advanced most careers and business prospects. According to Dorf (2001, p. 39), [1] the purpose of a business firm is to create value for all of its stakeholders. As the firm tries to create new wealth for its shareholders, valuable products and services for its customers, it is already in the process of generating and distributing new sets of information. This includes the generation of new scientific and technological knowledge which would eventually be adopted by the society and other businesses as well. A firm then leads its market through effective technical and scientific innovation, sound business management of resources, and a solid technological strategy for the success of its business. Improved technology and increased scientific knowledge will help increase food production, efficient management of resources, allow faster access to relevant and mission critical information, and enhanced business competitiveness. Technology has the most potential to deliver business sustainability and viability through the many opportunities for research and innovation. While it cannot be denied that firms of today have a very definite and pivotal role to play in the generation of scientific and technological knowledge, much of their contribution center on how they formulate strategies to introduce new knowledge into their business functions. Technology has been known to support a lot of business and decision making processes. Technology strategy should be considered a vital part of any strategic planning. Incorporating high-end technology without careful considerations of other organisational issues is a sure formula for failure. The growth of technology presented managers with a complex variety of alternatives. Many executives and managers are using the advent of technology as an opportunity to reconsider their business operations (Irving and Higgins, 1991).[2] Many still feel that technology and any available scientific knowledge can solve a lot of organisational problems. Unfortunately, other executives see technology as a panacea for various organisational ills. Sometimes, the introduction of technology may increase organisational and societal problems. Firms have a definite role when it comes to the way technology and scientific knowledge is generated and distributed. With their technological and scientific knowledge at hand, they can be technology enhancers, identifiers of new markets, sources of customer exploration, and a gateway for information interchange. However, powerful technologies and scientific knowledge can have the potential for great harm or great good to mankind (O’Brien, 2001).[3] Competition in the business environment has led to a lot of advanced technological and scientific research and development. Investment in a lot of monetary and manpower resources has increased the need for firms to compete with each other in the introduction of new technologies which may alter the political, economic, and social landscape. Gene Amdahl was interested in starting a new computer firm to compete with International Business Machines (Goodman and Lawless p. 66).[4] He understood quite clearly that he needed a new technological design, a service and support system, and a good library software. He chose to design his computer to be IBM-compatible. Regardless of the technological wonders he designed into his new computer, it would operate all the existing IBM software. This strategy has greatly enhanced his customers’ access to new IBM technologies as well as his own. While his company has tailored itself from another company’s technology, it was able to create and generate a new set of ideas which not only enhanced his company’s image but IBM’s as well. High technology firms who generate a lot of technological and scientific knowledge have been able to identify new markets in the fields of computers, biotechnology, genetic engineering, robotics, and other markets. These firms depend heavily on advanced scientific and engineering knowledge. Michael Dell, for example, started building personal computers in his University of Texas dorm room at age 19 (Ferrell and Hirt, 1996).[5] His innovative ideas and prototyping techniques have made Dell Computer one of the leading PC companies in the world with sales of $2.9 billion. Because of his company’s capacity to use technology to perform decision-making and focus on new customer demands and tastes, he was able to identify strategic markets for his PC Company all around the world in different contexts. When he shifted to new markets, other industry players followed. These industry players created another set of opportunities to explore other means. Through the early 1990s, Dell sold directly to the consumer through its toll-free telephone line (Schneider and Perry, 1990).[6] Eventually, it expanded its sales to the Internet and has logged a significant percentage of its overall sales from the Internet. This strategy has lowered overhead for the company. The web site is a significant part of Dell’s strategy for moving into the new millenium. Company officials predict that within the next few years, more than half of their sales will be from the web. Supporting such a booming online sales are a robust infrastructure of communication devices and networks, Dell servers, and electronic commerce software from Microsoft. Just as with the globalisation of markets, changes due to advances in technology is not new to business marketing. Yet, technology change is expected to create new ways of marketing that haven’t existed (Dwyer and Tanner, 1999).[7] Du Pont, for example has developed a Rapid Market Assessment technology that enables the company to determine if a market, usually a country or region previously not served) warrants development (Bob, 1996).[8] The result of the analysis is a customer-focused understanding of the foreign market, independent of the level of economic development of that country or region. Technology is changing the nature of business-customer interaction. If applied well, benefits increase to both parties. In the area of retail marketing for example, technology can be used to enhance interaction between retailers and customers. Point-of-sale scanning equipment is widely utilized by supermarkets, department stores, specialty stores, membership clubs, and others-hundreds of thousands of firms in all. Retailers can quickly complete customer transactions, amass sales data, reduce costs, and adjust inventory figures (Berman and Evans, 1998).[9] At some restaurants, when dinner is over, the waiter brings the check-and a sleek box that opens like the check presentation folder used by many restaurants revealing buttons and a miniscreen. The waiter brings it over and disappears discreetly. Following instructions on the screen, you verify the tab, select the payment type (credit card or ATM card), insert the card into a slot, and enter your personal identification number of PIN. You can then enter a tip-a specific amount or, if you want the device to figure the tip, a percentage. Completing the transaction triggers a blinking light. This summons the waiter who then removes the device and the receipt is printed on ano ther terminal (Berman and Evans, 1998).[10] In this manner, the restaurant, as a firm was able to innovate on new ways to make customers make further exploration and application of this new mechanism. This in turn introduced another set of mechanisms for making billing charges to customers in another business setting (like electricity and water bills). With this illustration, innovation on a new technology can be of great help to different industry players. With signature capture, shoppers sign their names right on a computer screen. At Sears, the cardholder uses a special pen to sign a paper receipt-which becomes the cardholder copy-on top of a pressure-sensitive pad that captures the signature, stores it, and displays it on the checkout terminal screen so a clerk can compare it with the one on the back of the credit card. Sears has a brochure explaining the procedure is entirely voluntary and electronic signatures are not stored separately and can be printed only along with the entire sales receipt. Again, innovation centered on how customers can be better served has generated a whole new set of ideas for other firms to research on. Gateway for Information Interchange The web or the Internet has generated a lot of research interests nowadays. People rely on the web for retrieving and sending information. It’s being used for almost all sorts of business and personal transactions like in the area of learning and commerce. Stanford University Library’s HighWire Press began in early 1995with the online production of the weekly Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC). By March 2001, it was producing 240 online journals giving access to 237,711 articles (Chowdhury and Chowdhury, 2001).[11] The journals focus on science, technology, medicine and other scientific fields. HighWire’s strategy of online publishing of scholarly journals is not simply to mount electronic images of printed pages; rather by adding links among authors, articles and citations, advanced searching techniques, high-resolution images and multimedia, and interactivity, the electronic versions provided added dimensions to the information being provided in printed jour nals. The dimensions allowed readers boundless opportunities to follow up what they have initially started. The role of firms here has been magnified quite a bit. Technical and scientific information can be distributed at the least possible time possible and in as many people as possible. In another setting, consider the tremendous savings now those millions of Internet users are able to work from home – or at least, dial into the office more than drive there. Many offices are using the Internet to save office space, materials, and transportation costs. Using email and other electronic documents also saves energy, by saving paper. People who are online are able to explore most of the advantage technology and science has to offer them. It gives them the power to filter out what is and what is not useful. Newspapers are also going online. Arguably, of all the technologies, telecommunications, and the Internet, along with a renewable energy, has the most potential to deliver sustainability and the vision of integrated optical communication networks, is compelling enough for people to understand the underlying role that technology firms play in today’s technology-based society. Computer networks and the Internet have largely been the biggest technological br eakthroughs made throughout the century. And the possibilities are even growing bigger for firms to do more to leverage its use. Conclusion: Firms play a very important role in the generation of new information and their eventual diffusion into the overall structure of businesses and society as well. Firms are seen as responsible generators of new ideas which not only help them attain competitive advantage over their rivals but also are also unconsciously improving the lives of people from different places around the globe. Competing firms explore different technical and scientific innovations which match their business strategy especially in a globalised business setting. The rate at which firms do research and development has spawned the need for further collaboration and cooperation even among their competitors in order to protect their strategic advantage. The introduction of technological and scientific standards has helped guide the introduction of new knowledge to definite direction to take. Firms also serve as a window to a lot more opportunities for information exchange and interaction between customers and even their competitors. The Internet has been the biggest contributor to the generation, infusion, and distribution of knowledge. It has also provided a lot of opportunities for firms to invest their time and resources in order to facilitate easier access to their products and services. It has also created a new set of commerce and learning methods which allowed more and more people to get involved even if time and distances presented challenges. The driving force behind all of these innovations is change. Without it, firms will not be motivated to introduce new sets of ideas and distributed them. Knowledge is empowerment. Acquiring technical and scientific knowledge through the initiatives of different organizations not only increases further competition but also improves the different political, social, and economic dimensions of society. The generation and diffusion of scientific and technological knowledge will not be possible if firms are not aware of the changes that are constantly shaping their business landscape. Today’s challenges is not on how technological and scientific information can be generated and distributed. It is more on using this knowledge on the right place and at the right time. Bibliography Books Berman, B and Evans, J (1998), Retail Management: A Strategic Approach, Prentice  Hall, New Jersey. Bob, Donarth (1996), Global Marketing Management: New Challenges Reshape  Worldwide Competition. Chowdhury, G and Chowdhury, S (2001), Information Sources and Searching on the  World Wide Web, Library Association Publishing, London. Dorf, Richard (2001), Technology, Humans, and Society: Towards A Sustainable World,  Academic Press, San Diego, California. Dwyer, F and Tanner, J (1999), Business Marketing: Connecting Strategy, Relationships,  and Learning, Mc-Graw Hill, Singapore. Ferrell O and Hirt, G (1996), Business: A Changing World, 2nd edn, Times New Mirror  Higher Education. Goodman, R and Lawless, M (1994), Technology and Strategy: Conceptual Models and  Diagnostics, Oxford University Press, New York. Irving, R and Higgins, C (1991), Office Information Systems: Management Issues and  Methods, John Wiley and Sons, Ontario. O’Brien, James (2001), Introduction to Information Systems: Essentials for the  Internetworked E-Business, McGraw-Hill, Singapore. Schneider, G Perry, J (1990), Electronic Commerce, Thomson Learning, Singapore. Footnotes [1] Dorf, Richard (2001), Technology, Humans, and Society: Towards A Sustainable World, Academic Press, San Diego, California. [2] Irving, R and Higgins, C (1991), Office Information Systems: Management Issues and Methods, John Wiley and Sons, Ontario. [3] O’Brien, James (2001), Introduction to Information Systems: Essentials for the Internetworked E-Business, McGraw-Hill, Singapore. [4] Goodman, R and Lawless, M (1994), Technology and Strategy: Conceptual Models and Diagnostics, Oxford University Press, New York. [5] Ferrell O and Hirt, G (1996), Business: A Changing World, 2nd edn, Times New Mirror Higher Education. [6] Schneider, G Perry, J (1990), Electronic Commerce, Thomson Learning, Singapore. [7] Dwyer, F and Tanner, J (1999), Business Marketing: Connecting Strategy, Relationships, and Learning, Mc-Graw Hill, Singapore. [8] Bob, Donarth (1996), Global Marketing Management: New Challenges Reshape Worldwide Competition. [9] Berman, B and Evans, J (1998), Retail Management: A Strategic Approach, Prentice Hall, New Jersey. [10] Berman and Evans. [11] Chowdhury, G and Chowdhury, S (2001), Information Sources and Searching on the World Wide Web, Library Association Publishing, London.

Karl Marx and His Critique of Capitalism Essay examples -- Marx Econom

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The definition of utopia is an ideally perfect place especially in its social, political, and moral aspects (dictionary.com). This paper will discuss the changes in capitalism since Marx’s critique in 1848. Marx’s fundamental critique remains correct today. Marx is still correct about his critique of capitalism because even though there have been changes made to capitalism to prevent some abuses, capitalism still produces inequality, reduces the family relationship, destroys small business, and enslaves. In 1848 Karl Marx wrote the Communist Manifesto which was a formal statement of the communist party. â€Å"The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles [†¦] we find almost everywhere a complicated arrangement of society into various orders, a manifold graduation of social rank† (Cohen and Fermon, 448). Marx believed that throughout the past the great societies of the world have all experienced class struggle in all their internal conflict. Marx felt that the class struggle that exists in capitalism would become the main internal conflict surpassing all other struggles. Marx illustrated class distinctions in both ancient history and modern history. Marx explained, â€Å"In ancient Rome we have patricians, knights, plebeians, (and) slaves; in the middle ages, feudal lords, vassals, guild masters, journeymen, and apprentices† (Cohen and Fermon, 448). Marx makes this point to show that if a knight fought a slave then it was a class str uggle, the oppressor vs. the oppressed. Marx comments on the cycles between the oppressors and the oppressed because he felt that the capitalistic ways of oppression have been replaced with new forms of oppression, he stated: The modern bourgeois society [†¦] has established new classes, new conditions of oppression, new forms of struggle in the place of old ones. Our epoch has simplified the class antagonisms: Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great hostile camps, two great camps facing each other: Bourgeois and Proletariat (Cohen and Fermon, 448-449). One can see an example of prejudice disappearing in a capitalist society through women in the modern workplace, which shows that prejudices are of less importance when it comes to making money for the bourgeoisie. Marx felt that the disappearance of certain prejudice through capitalism would be replaced with enslavem... ...need to produce for everyone’s needs. He said, â€Å"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs† (Cohen and Fermon, 465). Everyone getting what they need when they are working to the best to their ability is true equality. I think that with the changes that have been made to our form of capitalism, a communist society will never come into existence because we have a national minimum wage, laws against monopolies, child labor restrictions, welfare, and other laws to stop abuses by the bourgeoisie. I do think that if capitalism would have continued like Marx saw it around the turn of the century and that we had until the New deal politics of Roosevelt, and some other changes to the America capitalist style that we could possibly be coming to the time when a communist society could be possible in America. I think that Marx’s critique on capitalism is correct and I have shown why I still feel that his critique is correct today even though we have made changes to capitalism to help prevent some of the problems that do in fact arise. Mitchell Cohen & Nicole Fermon Princeton Readings in Political Thought: Essential Texts since Plato. Princeton University Press

Ben-Hur and Messala

Full of surprising actions, difficult compromises, and bitter defeats, Ben-Hur tells the tale of a Jewish prince, Judea Ben-Hur, born around the time of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. Judea is childhood friends with a Roman boy named Messala. The deep bond between the two is a point clearly made in the beginning of the movie. The movie swiftly moves ahead over 20 years to a time when Rome has invaded Jerusalem. Ben-Hur is still a prince and regarded still with honor though he no longer rules the land.After years of separation, Ben-Hur and Messala have a joyful reunion and once again begin to reinvigorate the bonds of friendship. Exposition as they walk around fountain with the women discussing their youth lets us know Messala was almost a part of the Ben-Hur family. Everything is sweet with talk of â€Å"old times† yet one still gets the feeling that Messala is a bad guy as he discusses turning Libya to ashes in front of the women and soon after as he tries to get Judea to turn in fellow Jews. Messala is looking to climb the ladder of power and he begs for Ben-Hur’s help in getting rid of Jewish rebels.When Ben-Hur refuses, Messala uses an accident to place Ben-Hur under arrest. He is sent away as a galley slave for use on Roman ships. After saving the life of the Roman Counsel Quintus Arrius, Ben-Hur is freed from slavery and adopted by the high-ranking Roman. Judea Ben-Hur, driven by obtaining revenge on Messala, decides he must leave his new friends and family and return to Jerusalem. The longing to find his sister and mother are as strong as his need for revenge. After leaving Rome, Ben-Hur finds that Messala is now a famed chariot racer in Jerusalem.Fate has Ben-Hur meeting an Arab sheik who owns a chariot but whose rider is inadequate. This Arab offers Ben-Hur the chance to ride in a chariot driven by four of the finest horses he has ever seen in competition against Messala, hoping winning against the evil ex-friend will be revenge enough for Be n-Hur. After politely rejecting the offer, Judea heads back to his Jerusalem home in hope of finding his revenge and his family. But instead, Ben-Hur returns to find his home in disarray and his family still gone.His slaves, however, remain and they have hidden Ben-Hur’s wealth. Esther, the slave daughter he freed years before is still there, almost waiting for him to return. Fate once again steps in, and Judea winds up on the sheik’s chariot in the great chariot race of Jerusalem. Taking up almost twenty minutes of screen time, this ultra-dramatic and occasionally gory scene finds Ben-Hur the victor in the end. Thinking his family dead and his nemesis not only beaten but also mortally wounded, Ben-Hur finally believes the end of his torments may be close at hand.But Messala, despite knowing he is near death, still refuses to concede defeat. He requests a visit from Ben-Hur. It is then that Messala tells Ben-Hur that his family is alive and living as lepers in the vall ey. The obvious fresh pain he brings to his one-time friend seems to please Messala as Ben-Hur is once again filled with agonizing reality. Esther and Ben-Hur soon bring his mother and sister out of the valley and into the city where they are pelted with rocks. Soon though, attention shifts to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.Ben-Hur recognizes Christ. He cannot understand why he is being tortured so and Ben-Hur thrashes through the crowd in order to get closer. He is able to bring Jesus a wooden cup of water and when he sits in front of the wounded Christ to offer the drink, Ben-Hur looks into Christ’s eyes and it is obvious something deep has passes between them. The crucifixion complete, we see Christ’s blood being washed down the hillside where Esther and Ben-Hur’s family have taken shelter in cave. It is this night that finds Ben-Hur finally attaining peace.Ben-Hur has probably been described as a film of â€Å"epic† proportions more times than the su n has risen since its birth. Nevertheless, epic it is. Made on a grand scale, Ben-Hur is a story of good and evil which is often as clear as in children’s fable. For example, for centuries most people associate the color white with good and black with bad. Messala, the enemy of Ben-Hur wears black clothing and has black horses in the great chariot race while Ben-Hur’s are clothes are light and his horses white.Yet, it is also a tale that makes one wonder if good and evil are actually as clearly defined as we have been led to believe. Though it is in the background most often, religion plays a big part of this movie. Just like in the modern world where religious fanatics abound, there were many conflicting beliefs two centuries ago. While the movie, in my opinion, could have made the Romans the evildoers simply for their different beliefs, it never stoops that low. Instead, the movie shows that greed is evil and that acceptance of others unlike oneself is what makes all humans good.Messala disparages Jews to Ben-Hur frequently, but it is not that which makes him evil. It is Messala’s corrupt ways, selfish actions, and unrepentant heart that make him evil. Not only does the movie compare and contrast Messala and Ben-Hur, it also strives to compare Ben-Hur with Jesus. They were born around the same time, they were good men with great things in their futures. But the pain of one found him seeking blood for blood where the other professed people should fight oppression and evil with love and peace. With cunning subtlety, the live of Jesus is intermingled with Ben-Hur’s.We never see Jesus’ face, nor do we ever hear him speak. But, we do get the ideas Jesus professed through other characters such as Balthazar and Esther. We hear of the types of choices Jesus would make and we witness the one Ben-Hur makes. Judea is absolutely powerful as he talks of how freedom will ring so loudly when Rome falls. We know his choice is to fight, vio lently if need be for what he wants. Yet Jesus is powerful too, as we hear his words of peaceful action through others. Compared to Messala, Ben-Hur is the opposite of evil.But, when compared to Jesus, Ben–Hur is also an opposite. This is where the lines of good vs. evil are less clear than say white and black. It is almost as if the movie wanted us to see Messala as the ultimate evil, Jesus as the ultimate good, and Ben-Hur as the fallible human who must live every day between the two. This pull of both is obvious quite often in Ben-Hur’s life. First he must choose between being a loyal friend and a loyal leader, then he must choose between killing those who would have him dead and remaining alive for the future.He makes life-altering choices based on emotion only many times. The ship scene where Ben-Hur is unlocked prior to being rammed turns into him saving as many other slaves as he can, despite risking his own life by remaining in the ships’ hold is not onl y graphic but very emotional. And soon after, he not only kills another to save the life of Quintus Arrius, he saves him again by refusing to allow Quintus Arrius to kill himself by suicide. No expert on this time period, I found this movie to be extremely accurate historically.From the clothing to the architecture of ships and buildings to the desolate desert settings, they all rang fairly true. If occasionally, one could image a particular shot taken on a movie lot, there were hundreds of others that felt perfectly real that could make you forget a second or two of falseness. It seemed that very detailed attention was given to even minor aspects of the film. For instance, Ben-Hur’s hairstyle was decidedly Roman after his months spent in the empire’s capital. The make up of the women was very detailed too, as were the many wounds shown in the war between ships.Also, the instant where the slave must move the Baton of Victory closer to the emperor reach so that the empe ror would save mere inches of movement rang quite true and a tad funny. Every great epic must have a great ending. Ben-Hur certainly does. This is when Judea is finally reunited with his family and he brings them into to Jerusalem where they see Christ being tortured as he carries the cross. â€Å"In his pain a look of peace† Ester mutters softly as Judea struggles to get close to Jesus.Soon after, the blood of Jesus that runs down the hillsides as the rain pours down heals Judea’s family miraculously. Esther was going to leave Ben-Hur as his thirst for vengeance was turning him to â€Å"stone† until a look from Jesus and a few of the crucified preacher’s words rid Judea of the pull toward evil completely. The happily ever after ending can read like a children’s fable and feel a little unrealistic as well. But, one has to consider that with all the torment the main characters in this film had to endure in their lives, a little artistic license is u nderstandable.This version of Ben-Hur was a great success. It remains on many lists as one of the top 100 films of all time and is still discussed frequently among moviegoers and critics alike. The famous chariot race scenes in the later half of the movie are recognizable even to many that have never seen the entire film. No doubt this film can be considered a success when fifty years later it is still being watched, still is recognizable, and it’s actions scenes are still being emulated (Think of the pod-race in Star Wars – The Phantom Menace).Another aspect of measuring its success is that while some of the scenes are obviously shot on a filming lot (Ben-Hur’s home after his return from Rome, close-up shots during the dramatic race are the first scenes to come to mind) the production itself was an amazing undertaking. Made in the days before computers could enhance, fix, and modify any image, the drama accomplished is admirable. Thousands of people at a time i n some shots and the final product came together in a way that ends up looking so smooth, but must have been quite an undertaking to realize.The most recent production of Titanic, a massive success in its own right, had fifty years of technology at is disposal and yet it’s computer generated people aboard the luxurious cruise liner with their stiff movements and bodies and clothing without details cannot hold a candle to the thousands of extras used to fill a Jerusalem arena as they cheer for Ben-Hur, line roman streets for a tribute to the returning Quintus Arrius, fill a hillside from all directions to listen to the words of Jesus Christ, or follow Christ as he takes his last tortured steps through Jerusalem with the heavy wooden cross on his back.Technology has been wonderful to the movie industry, but Ben-Hur stands out even today because it is able to touch the audience intensely without the use of modern tools. The realistic touches, such as the thousands of extras invo lved, the intelligent decision to parallel the live of Jesus while still keeping his character in the background, and the still exciting chariot scenes are only a part of the reason this film is a monumental success still.

Nucleosynthesis essays

Nucleosynthesis essays The "big bang" which created the universe, only created the elements Hydrogen (H) and Helium (He) and possibly a very small amount of Lithium (Li). However, a glance at the periodic table of the elements shows that today (some 15 billion years after the big bang) there are at least 108 known elements. Every atom of every element heavier than Li has been produced since the big bang! The "factories" which make these elements are stars. "Nucleosynthesis" or the synthesis of nuclei, is the process by which stars (which start out consisting mostly of H and He) produce all other elements. The key is nuclear fusion, in which small nuclei are joined together to form a larger nucleus. (This contrasts with nuclear fission, in which a large nucleus breaks apart to form two smaller nuclei). Fusion requires an extremely large amount of energy (see fig. 1), and can typically only take place in the centers of stars. a) Low energy proton is strongly repelled by the 7Be nucleus.b) High energy proton moves so fast that it can strike the 7Be nucleus. Once the proton touches the nucleus, it has a chance to stick. If the proton sticks, the 7Be becomes a 8B nucleus.c) 8B is radioactive and changes into 8Be plus a positron (b+) and a neutrino (n). 8Be is itself radioactive, and almost immediately breaks into two 4He nuclei. Protons repel each other. This repulsion becomes stronger as the protons get closer together (just like when you try to stick two magnets together north to north, or south to south. Try this! As you push the magnets closer together, it becomes harder to do). However, if the protons can actually touch each other, they have a chance to stick together! This is because of the "strong nuclear force" which attracts nucleons (protons or neutrons) together, and is much stronger (at close range) than the "electromagnetic force" repulsion that makes protons repel other protons. (Magnets do not do this: two like poles wi...

Gallium Spoon Tricks

Gallium Spoon Tricks Gallium is a shiny metal with one property in particular that makes it perfect for science tricks. This element melts just above room temperature (around 30Â °C or 86Â °F), so you can melt it in the palm of your hand, between your fingers, or in a cup of hot water. A classic set-up for gallium tricks is to make or purchase a spoon made from pure gallium. The metal has about the same weight and appearance as stainless steel, plus once you melt the spoon, you can reshape the gallium to use it again and again. Gallium Spoon Materials You need either gallium and a spoon mold or else a gallium spoon. Its a bit more expensive, but if you get the mold, you can make a spoon over and over. Otherwise, youll need to mold the metal by hand to re-use it as a spoon. The Mind-Bending Gallium Spoon Trick This is a classic magician trick in which the trickster rests a gallium spoon on a finger or else rubs it between two fingers, appears to concentrate, and bends the spoon with the power of his mind. Youve got a couple of ways to pull off this trick: Rest the spoon on a finger that you warmed up right before the trick. Easy ways to warm your hand are to hold a cup of hot tea or coffee or simply put your hand under your armpit briefly.Rub a section of the spoon between two fingers. Friction generates heat, which will soften the spoon. The weight of the spoon will cause it to bend. The Disappearing Spoon Trick If you stir a warm or hot cup of liquid with a gallium spoon, the metal melts almost immediately. The spoon disappears into a cup of dark liquid or pools visibly at the bottom of a cup of clear liquid. It behaves much like mercury (a metal that is liquid at room temperature), but gallium is safe to handle. I dont recommend drinking the liquid, though. Gallium isnt particularly toxic, but its not edible.

ECONOMIC FORECASTING AT Bank OF GREEN Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

ECONOMIC FORECASTING AT Bank OF GREEN - Essay Example The bank Federal Reserve should make sure that the interest rate is maintained at an affordable rate in order to avoid inflation (The Federal Reserve 4). As a result, the investors will not only be able to borrow and expand their investment portfolio but also they will have confidence in the value of their pensions. The increase in the level of investment will ultimately create job opportunities for the household thus raising the income as well as the consumer spending (Jodi 3). As time goes by, the economy will be back in track leading to a raise in the level of consumer confidence. On its part, the Bank of Green should ensure that it emulates appropriate changes on the products and services they are offering. For example, the bank should ensure that the products can be easily changed into liquid at a faster rate. In this way, the consumer will have adequate money at their disposal thus ensuring they easily access other products and services provided by the economy. The bank should also emulate extensive marketing of the products as a way of creating strong customer

Microsoft Write Up Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Microsoft Write Up - Case Study Example There are further opportunities for the company because Microsoft has sought enterprise customers who can sign large deals to long-term commitments and provide a stable cash flow. For example, the Microsoft Azure Cloud offers consulting services to enterprises (Hoffmann, 2013). These opportunities, if utilized appropriately can benefit the company by providing a competitive edge. On the other hand, Microsoft faces some external threats. For instance, many of the users of Microsoft’s products have not shifted to start using the upgraded, newer products. By mid last year, half of the users and companies were still using Windows XP, and a large percentage of the market did not seem likely to buy upgrades (Cox, 2012). Therefore, the company has a lot of work to do in giving a reason to clients to purchase its new products. Secondly, the emergency of mobile devices and the increase in reliance on the Internet poses a threat to Microsoft. Customers and businesses have realized that personal computing can be done without using any of Microsoft’s products (Brodkin, 2013). The introduction of newer and efficient browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Google chrome has posed stiff competition to Microsoft’s Internet explorer. Other competing products include Android and iOS. Many users have opted to use them because Microsoft’s platform lacks user reach-motivator for developers to invest in it. Therefore, the company has failed to increase mindshare, whereby developers can work with its own platform or technology. The company faces further competition, and struggles to convert developer interest in the platform into adoption. The company’s lack of commercial has led to its inability to convert windows phone into adoption. Finally, the market is currently dominated by-products from Apple and Google. These are iPhone and iPad, and Google’s Android platform that many manufacturers such as Samsung and LG use to power their devices (BBC , 2013). Google became a threat to Microsoft because it used its revenue from search to fund software-development projects, such as business productivity applications, while Apple focused on the consumer more than Microsoft did (Hoffmann, 2013). These threats are not favorable for the company because Microsoft’s market share has been hurt significantly. External Environment and Financial Performance Analysis of Microsoft Microsoft’s internal strengths lie in its corporate culture. It allows any employee to submit an idea, which is then voted by other employees. Ideas that are not adopted are normally archived for future reference. The company has two yearly Think weeks during which employees can suggest innovative ideas (Koulopoulos, 2009). The company’s integration with Skype to enhance its existing business provides further strength. This is because the company can add voice and videoconferencing services to its enterprise offerings. The company has already cr eated a huge reach to customers with its most successful products, and can access both Internet and mobile platforms (Lunden, 2011). The company has invested in innovation opportunities, and this provides it with an opportunity to improve market share. Further the company’s rigorous recruitment process, which ensures that only the best and the brightest are given the opportunities, enables the company to have an excellent work force. For instance, the