How my life would be if I was white men Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

How my life would be if I was white men - Essay Example I can also turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented. And when I am told about our national heritage or about "civilization," I am shown that people of my color made it what it is. Another privilege is I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their race. I can be pretty sure of having my voice heard in a group in which I am the only member of my race. Â  I can also travel alone or with my spouse without expecting embarrassment or hostility in those who deal with us. And there’s so much more to be enumerated. Some people say that racism in USA doesn’t exist anymore and that they obtained a color blind society. But as I experience, the so called white privileges is still very visible. I will never be a white man indeed, but still I’m hoping that someday, the so called white privileges will also be enjoyed by black man like me.

Deborah Moggach uses humour to address social issues consider how she does this, paying particular attention to her use of language Essay Example for Free

Deborah Moggach uses humour to address social issues consider how she does this, paying particular attention to her use of language Essay n this essay I will look at how Deborah Moggach uses humour to address social issues. I will give my own opinion and I will also pay particular attention to her use of language. In this essay I will focus on ‘fool for love’ by Deborah Moggach, she addresses the social issues of older women having a relationship with younger men. In this story there is a middle age mother with two teenagers and she found a 26 year old man for a relationship through her day time job in a dispatch room. Deborah Moggach uses humour to address a social issue a number of times throughout the story. The first time we see this is when Deborah Moggach the 26 year old man ask Esther out, ‘want to help me buy a Christmas present for my mum’. This is used as a social issue as he is asking to spend time with her. However the humour comes in later when Deborah Moggach says ‘but did he just want the advice of mature woman’. This makes the audience think and brings reality into the story and reminds us of Esther’s age. We are reminded by the young man’s age later on in the story through humour when Esther is telling him about the state of her son’s bedroom until she realise he is young himself ‘you couldn’t complain about adolescents to somebody who was practically one himself’. This humour is shown as it is as if Esther is relating the young man of her dreams to her son. Deborah Moggach then uses humour when she gets into how Esther feels about how long it had been since she had fallen in ‘love again’ and ‘Since she had shaved her legs every single day’. This humour is shown to emphasis what it is like to fall in love and what ladies do on a daily bases to show that they care top their man. This is also linked to a social issue as it is the reason she is ‘shaving her legs on a daily bases’ for the social aspect of seeing the man. In the sixth paragraph of ‘fool for love’, Deborah Moggach uses humour by saying ‘she had lent him  £10-he never had any money-and he still paid her back’. This is used in a social issue as they are socialising together more carefully now as the story goes on. This is also humours’ as people can relate towards it and it shows that he cares for his feelings and cares for her. ‘Fool for love’ by Deborah Moggach is a story that people are able to relate to well. It seems to be that everyone has fallen in love and had ups and downs, whether they would die to be with them for the rest of their lives or be with them for a period of time. ‘Fool for love’ emphasises just how strong love can be and how powerful it is to some people and this is how people are able to relate towards the story. Humour for a social issues is used a lot of the time throughout the story as a mature woman with a younger man does happen it is not too common which gives Deborah Moggach the perfect chance to play with the writing and ass humour into the story. ‘Fool for love’ is all about social issues with Esther meeting a new young man at work to meeting her son from the airport. I lot of the things that Esther does is because of a social issue and how she wants to come across to people when being social able.

Hamlet :: essays research papers

Select one of Hamlet soliloquies (preferably not "To be or not to be. . .") and by a detailed attention to the poetry discuss the nature of Hamlet's feelings as they reveal themselves in this speech. What insights might this speech provide into the prince's elusive character? Confine your attention strictly to the soliloquy you have selected. 2. Discuss Hamlet's treatment of and ideas about women. How might these help to clarify some of the interpretative issues of the play? You might want to consider carefully the way he talks about sexuality. 3. Discuss the importance in Hamlet of one of the following: (a) Ophelia, (b) Rozencrantz and Guildenstern, (c) the ghost of Hamlet senior, (d) Polonius, (e) Fortinbras, (f) Gertrude. Do not just write about what these people do. Discuss how an attention to them illuminates issues of central importance to the play as a whole (i.e., deal with matters of importance to the thematic or character development in the play, not with matters of the plot). 4. Discuss the importance of appearance and reality in Hamlet (strong hint: Why is Hamlet so interested in the players?). 5. Hamlet and Orestes (in the Oresteia) have similar challenges, and their stories are, in many respects, quite alike. In what ways are the heroes significantly different? 6. Is something rotten in the state of Denmark? If so, what precisely is it? Is anyone in particular responsible or is the rottenness simply a condition of life? 7. Select a particular scene in Hamlet (preferably a short one) and discuss its importance in the play. How does this particular part of the action contribute significantly to our response to what is going on?

U.S. Drug Policy Versus Drug Reality Essay examples -- Argumentative P

If the United States is serious about winning the war on drugs, it will have to face some hard facts about the failure of its drug policy to date. Since Reagan introduced the war on drugs in the early 1980s, the focus of anti-drug legislation has been on incarceration and eradication, not on drug education and treatment. Drug use is viewed as a crimethe same way that burglary and murder are viewed as crimeswithout examining the social and economic causes behind drug use. This categorization of drug use as criminal misrepresents the nature of addiction. Drug addicts do not abuse drugs because they are deviant or even because they consciously desire to cause harm to themselves or to those around them, they abuse drugs because they are physically dependent on those substances for survival. The only effective way to break that cycle of dependency is through extensive detoxification and treatment programs. Not all advocates of reshaping Americas drug policy are in favor of legalization or complete decriminalizaton of drug use, though such steps are being increasingly entertained as a possible solution to Americas drug problem. On the contrary, a growing number of doctors and scientists are coming out in favor of a shift in Americas policies from hard-line law enforcement to rehabilitation and education-based deterrence. The need for such a shift in policy becomes more apparent when one weighs the magnitude of government outlays on drug-related law enforcement against the ineffectiveness of the war on drugs to date. A few basic statistics on federal allocation of anti-drug funds and on federal prison records illustrate the extent to which American drug policy is focused on the blunt tool of punishment. In 1997, the federal budget f... ... their ability to impair a persons judgment, etc. The government should realize that drug users are not criminals. They should establish more government treatment facilities in low income areas so that treatment would be an option available not only to wealthy actors and models but to the anonymous mass of low-income addicts. The free distribution of sterile needles is needed to combat the transmission of AIDSnot as a tacit advocacy of drug use. At an international meeting of the United Nations Drug Control Program in 1994, the United States refused to sign any statement mentioning the phrase harm reduction, as such a stance was seen as taking a soft-line on drugs. It is time for the United States government to wake up to the reality that the future of the War on Drugs lies with doctors, educators and sociologists and not with law enforcement agents and politicians.

Cause and Effects of Watching Too Much Television Essay

Cause and effects of watching too much television Discoveries and invention of devices are always welcome till we, humans, find a way to abuse its benefits and be adversely affected by it. This was the case when Wilhelm Roentgen discovered x-ray and within five years, the British Army was using a mobile x-ray unit to locate bullets and shrapnel in wounded soldiers in the Sudan. Television was also invented with positive thoughts in mind – there would be no national borders, education and communication would be worldwide, etc. However, we are now trying to overcome its physiological and psychological adverse effects on human beings. People mainly watch television for entertainment especially when they are bored or â€Å"have nothing to do†. It is also used for relaxing, as most people like to sit and back and relax while watching their favourite television show. Watching the television however, may become addictive and a hard habit to break. There are many effects of watching too much television. One of the physiological effects of watching television in excessive amounts is eye-strain. It is true that there are specifications for watching television; television should be 5 m. away from the eye, the room should be adequately lit, television should be placed at the same height with our eyes, etc. However, these do not prevent our eyes from getting tired if we keep watching television for a long time. Another effect is obesity, which is widely observed in people who like watching television and eating snacks everyday (there is even a term â€Å"television snacks† to refer to fast food that is suitable for eating in front of the television). Television is such a powerful machine that people cannot get away from it – it is addictive. Apart from the physiological effects, television also causes psychological effects. One is a result of being exposed to violence. After seeing so many violent scenes on television, people start considering violent actions normal and they lose their sensitivity to their environment. Partly connected to this effect, the interpersonal communication among people decreases. Being insensitive to the suffering of other people causes people to become alienated. Also, after coming home from work people seek to relax n front of the television, and generally people prefer watching television to talking to each other. This issue is very important since lack of interpersonal relationships mostly end with divorces. Shortly, inventions are meant to be beneficial for human beings, if we know how to benefit from them. Television is one of such inventions that need to be used for the right purpose only – being educated and entertained for a reasonable (according to age) period of time. We may, then, be safe from or at least reduce the adverse physiological and psychological effects of watching too much television.

Competition in an Oligopolistic Market

Competition in an Oligopolistic Market Oligopoly is a market system that is intermediate between monopoly and perfect competition. It is a type of market that is dominated by only a number of firms. These firms control the prices of the commodities they sell and the industry they dominate is characterized by significant barriers to entry.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Competition in an Oligopolistic Market specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Oligopolistic markets are also characterized by similarities of the products they sell and thus the firms practicing oligopoly are normally interdependent in terms of policy formulation and competition strategies. The competition strategies are normally meant to make the minor differences in their products attractive to their customers so that the particular firm may have a competitive edge. Examples of oligopoly markets here in the United States are the automobile and the steel industry (Friedman 11 14). Since oligop oly is characterized by a few numbers of firms in the industry, each individual firm must predict the response of rival firms before it formulates output or pricing strategies. This leads to the aforementioned interdependence and thus the firms are forced to engage in what is termed as non-price competition. This kind of competition involves differentiation of virtually similar products by using means that are not price-based for fear of price wars. Therefore, companies achieve their competitive advantage by investing in promotions, improvement of the quality of their goods and services, offering of special services like delivery, provision of their goods/services at locations that are convenient for the consumers etc (Hannaford 1). Firms in oligopoly markets also practice price discrimination to maximize on their profits or win a larger proportion of the customer base. As mentioned earlier, the firms in oligopoly engage in the manufacture and/or sale of goods that are not easy to m anufacture. The goods may be difficult to manufacture due to large capital requirement like in the automobile industry, unavailability of raw materials like in the steel industry, etc. The above stated reasons act as barriers to entry together with a number of other factors. Since the products are normally of high value, the industry is characterized with a high elasticity of demand. It is this elasticity of demand that makes price discrimination possible in these markets. For instance, different people pay different amounts of money for the same car depending on the amount they are willing to pay for the car and their skills in bargaining. The above described price discrimination is one of three possible price discrimination strategies. It is known as first degree price discrimination. The other price discrimination strategies used by oligopoly markets are second and third degree price discrimination.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Second degree price discrimination involves charging of higher prices for larger quantities of goods while third degree price discrimination is the most common and it depends on the firm’s understanding of its market. The latter takes many different forms and it is the one commonly used for achievement of competitive advantage by oligopolies (Pietersz 1). Some of the possible forms it may take include the ranking of customers into groups depending on their income and selling goods to different groups at different prices. The competitive strategies used by oligopoly markets have a lot of effects on the industry. For instance, price discrimination leads to the reduction of consumer surplus and thus it negatively affects the welfare of the consumer. On the other hand, the extraction of consumer surplus makes the firms make supernormal profits which are in the interests of the firms. Such price discrimination is, therefore, advantageous to the firms since the primary concern of any business enterprise is profit maximization. Some firms may also set prices below cost for some customers in a bid to have a competitive edge in terms of market share. This kind of price discrimination will be advantageous to the consumers and disadvantageous to the suppliers. Similarly, non-price competition has a lot of influence on consumer behavior in an oligopoly market. Consumers tend to prefer goods that have been promoted and those that are convenient in terms of delivery or those goods, whose minor details, like color, match the preferences of the consumers. Non-corporative strategic behavior also has numerous effects on the industry. It mostly results to unhealthy competition between the involved firms and tends o be advantageous to the consumers (Friedman 19). As evidenced in the discussion above, oligopolistic firms have a major challenge in laying down competitive strategies and policies. This is b ecause price competition in this industry is disastrous and can, possibly, drive all the firms out of business. The firms also sell virtually identical products and this magnifies the difficulty that they face in achieving a competitive edge. As mentioned earlier, the firms settle for competition strategies like non-price competition, non-corporative strategic behavior etc. This is normally due to the interdependence of the firms. These competition strategies have the aforementioned injurious and beneficial effects on the consumers and the suppliers. It is therefore of, essence, that oligopolistic firms set policies and competitive strategies that are beneficial to both the firms and their consumers. Friedman, James. Oligopoly Theory. New York. Barnes Noble.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Competition in an Oligopolistic Market specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Hannaford, Steve. â€Å"Oligopoly Watch.† 2007- May 10, 2010. Web. Pietersz, Graeme. â€Å"Oligopoly.† 2006- May 10, 2010, https://moneyterms.co.uk/oligopoly/

An Analysis of the Energizer Bunny Commercial Sequ Essays

An Analysis of the Energizer Bunny Commercial Sequ Essays An Analysis of the Energizer Bunny Commercial Sequence Energizer batteries have been equated with long-lasting energy in your Walkman or other battery-operated appliance. "That damned Energizer bunny" is the cause; he's so aggravating. It seems like that pink bunny rabbit is running across the television screen every other second, it's so annoying. The advertising campaign has been so effective that not only did the company (finally) surpass Duracell in sales, but the advertising company was awarded an Obie (the advertising equivalent of the "Oscar") as best commercial of the year. This essay shall attempt to analyze the series of "Energizer bunny" advertisements. There is a current trend in modern television advertising for a series of commercials for the same product. An excellent example is the ad sequence for "Taster's Choice" coffee brand, where a man and a woman share (cups of) coffee amid alluring looks and sexual innuendos. But I digress. The Energizer camp decided to run a series, but the ingenuity in the Energizer series is that in every commercial in the series, not one begins or ends with suggestions or hints that there was, or will be, another ad before or after it. A brief explanation of the plots of these advertisements is warranted. The first in the sequence shows two toy bunnies, waddling back and forth across the television screen, and all beating bass drums. The one not running on Energizer batteries dies out, and the one on Energizer batteries continues. The next ad showed the same thing, but with a different ending: the Energizer bunny waddled off the television screen, out of camera range, and towards the doors of the studio. The last camera shot is that of the bunny, headed for the doors amid wires and lights and such, and a voice over the intercom says, in an authoritarian voice (probably the director of the commercial), "Stop the bunny." The humor from this scene stems from the unexpectedness of the bunny's actions; it has a life of its own. The voice of the director adds to this because his words and tone of voice suggest that he, too, was unaware of this happening. We don't know what happened to the bunny at this point in time, until they show the other ads. The other ads can be grouped into two categories: commercials which advertise other "fake" products until the bunny comes barging in with that damned bass drum, and views of vast, wide-open spaces (which sometimes include landmarks around the world, like Notre Dame in France, an island in the Bermuda Triangle, et cetera) with the sounds which naturally occur at these sites, then having one's ears assailed with those @%!#$ drums! It is now that the viewer subconsciously realizes that yes, the bunny has truly "escaped" from the jail called the television studio, and is now free to roam the world and do as it pleases (which is simply just to follow the beat of his own drummer [being himself this is getting WAY too parenthetical}]). A similar correlation can be made from this thought and another scene involving toys and freedom/incarceration: in the movie "Toys" with Robin Williams (which I truly hated, sans the Magritte style it used), a war is declared within the toy factory. To help Robin's side towards freedom from the maze the other side created, toys of the company became "accessorized", if you will, with various military tools. Robin exclaims, "F.A.O. Schwartzkopf!" However, a note must be made. Initially, the advertising campaign did poorly, and the ad company did not know why, until they realized that the public was not looking for Energizer batteries, but "the bunny batteries." It was at this time that the ad campaign persuaded the company to put the bunny on the packaging. It worked. People bought the batteries simply because of one thought that ran through their collective head: "That @%!#$ bunny won't ever stop, so I'll buy batteries that won't ever stop! I need batteries that will last as long as possible!" Furthermore, the ads were the first ads in a long time that actually made us sit up and take notice. Most couch potatoes sit through commercials subconsciously, not even aware that they

Doctor Assited Suicide essays

Doctor Assited Suicide essays Opinion Paper- Doctor Assisted Suicide After reading the editorial that discussed the issue of doctor-assisted suicide, I have concluded that I strongly agree with the beliefs of Doctor Jack Kevorkian. Dr. Kevorkian believed in giving a suffering human being the freedom of choice, the freedom to play God with their own lives, and he just helped them carry out their lifetime decision. Although many may agree that it is inhumane to perform such tasks I believe that if any human being is suffering and is near death, and are capable of making the life ending decision, then why not give them that right. Obviously they are unhappy with their situation in life, and feel that their time is up and have suffered enough. I feel that Dr. Kevorkian is only completing a job that most people would not do, but feels that there is a need for people in the world to do it. There are also people who believe that what Dr. Kevorkian does is unacceptable, and from what I can tell, those people are the ones who they themselves have not dealt with a severe illness or disease in their family or someone even close to them. In todays society there are a number of different diseases and illnesses that people and their families deal with everyday. So after watching the one that is close to them suffer for sometime make the decision to end their suffering is in some way devastating and in some way a relief to everyone involved and without people like Dr. Kevorkian it would not be possible. In respect to civil disobedience, I believe that everyone breaks the rules for one reason or another, and for the reason that Dr. Kevorkian does, he has every right to, because in the end people are the one who seek out him to assist them in their suicide he does not go looking for people to kill for the sake of killing. ...

Reflection Paper in Terms of What I Learned in Software Access 2010 Essay

Reflection Paper in Terms of What I Learned in Software Access 2010 - Essay Example Juxtaposition between the learning objectives and expected outcomes versus my current abilities also proves that I am much better informed now than I was at the beginning of the course. The appropriate introduction that was given at the beginning of the course allowed me to have a good and concrete background and understanding of the big picture of business information systems and their application within business processes. My current proficiency and mastery of the various concepts that are stipulated within the objectives of the course are therefore as a result of the effective course introduction. The introduction of the course was followed into deeper study of Relational Database Models for the Logical and conceptual modeling of business processes within which I attained my current adequate comprehension of how business processes can be modeled to ensure that they are both efficient and aligned to the mission, vision and goals of an organization. At the end of the course, I am confident that I am able to design and model an effective business process that would be applied to realize goals of a large enterprise. The assessments and peer review of my performance m otivated the achievement of the desired course outcomes. My skills in modeling of business processes in the application of information systems advanced with more study of the course material and exercises which comprised both individual and group work. My first essay acted as a guiding framework within which I understood my goals which allowed me to employ the guidance of the instructor and group members as well as effective learning approached to achieve skills required for advanced modeling. This is the reason why I have a desirable understanding of all concepts in advanced business modeling and ability to apply them within a work environment to instill improvements in work processes. The ability that I gained to present these concepts within the blackboard reveals that the course had allowed me to acquire and gain from both understanding knowledge and skills of articulating them through a presentation. This means that I have acquired relevant business communication skills of conc epts as required for the human resource within the contemporary competitive business environment. I boldly mention that through this course I have also gained managerial skills especially in planning for disasters and application of various strategies and measures to recover from various disasters that could befall a business information system. I greatly appreciate the role of security policy for securing information systems from possible risk issues that which may result to discontinuity of operations and resultant losses to an organization. In addition the querying of systems for acquisition of information for decision making is an aspect that I am specifically good at through the leaning processes of the course. This includes financial information which is applicable by managers in the making decisions on the strategies that are to be employed in improving business performance. My proficiency in Access 2010 is one of the most notable achievements that I would point out that the course has allowed me to achieve. Group activities and assignments in Acquisition and Revenue Cycles allowed me to focus and work hard in the use of Access 2010 for statistical analysis of business data including financial information which is an inevitable application within modern business organizations. I am now knowledgeable and experienced in the use of Ac

Endgame Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Endgame - Essay Example The play mirrors this chess approach by comparing it to life. Life is just like endgame in chess where there are few moves left, but the actual end is unknown and unwanted. Hamm talks of how his life is close to the end and he would like to finish it. According to Byron (2007), when Hamm says, â€Å"I hesitate, I hesitate to end. Yes, there it is, its time it ended and yet I hesitate to end,† (Byron, 2007) he talks about how the end is not the simplest choice (p. 2). To man, the world is seen as a source of suffering. Hamm says that that his mother, father and dog all suffer â€Å"as much as creatures can suffer†. He, however, insists than none of them experience â€Å"suffering that equals† his own. From this illustration, the world is depicted as not being understanding to other people’s pain. Repetition has been used by Beckett to emphasize certain themes and motifs of the play. For instance, the words ‘finished’ and ‘end’ have been used repeatedly to emphasize the nature of the end game. While Clov says, â€Å"Finished, its finished, nearly finished, it must be nearly finished† to show the never-ending nature of his task, Hamm uses it repeatedly to ask if his servant can ‘finish’ him (Byron,

Training Methods Used In Four Seasons Assignment

Training Methods Used In Four Seasons - Assignment Example It is apparent that we have a variety of many interactive sessions. The employee is given an introduction to the hotel. Here he is shown the physical structures of the hotel so as to familiarize with the environment. The culture of property location is also made clear to the employee that we put up a hotel in a city that has the long-term strong local economy, and that is a traveler's destination that chooses top luxury hotels. Our selection is also based on the safety and expensive part of the city for the hotel. As for the resorts, it is based on an appealing site and accessibility to recreational facilities. Also, we ensure our employees know that the design for the Hotels and resorts are created to be beautiful, comfortable and personal. Additionally, we introduce our new employees to the philosophy that have been embraced since the start of the Four Seasons. The philosophy is that one should treat others as you would want them to treat you. The philosophy led as to concentrate o n adaptive focused guest services and the best way to achieve that was by treating our employees well. We provide the employees with the essential things they require to serve our guest (Harvard business school, 2000). A system has been set up to ensure that they have the necessary feedback, information, training, and development to enable them to advance in their career if they wish to. It is evident that this keeps the employees motivated thus perform a very high standard service to the guest.

What Drives Toyota Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

What Drives Toyota - Essay Example The OM301 concept entails that an organization assesses its management to ensure that it best serves to achieve the goals of the organization. One aspect that makes Toyota so successful is their quality management. Toyota has developed a tradition of not just manufacturing cars, but manufacturing better cars. This is one of the aspects that drive Toyota Company. The production process at Toyota can be described as threefold. The first fold is making cars, then making cars better and then teaching everyone how to make cars better. With a ratio of eight robots per car in the painting stage, the quality of the color outlook of the car is guaranteed to be standard (Iyer et al, 2009). The cars further spend a relatively standard time in the color painting stage to keep the quality in check. Toyota Company has always strived to manage their production processes in a way that not only guarantees quality but also saves time. In the color painting stage, for example, Toyota Company managed to reduce the amount of time taken to paint a car from ten hours to eight hours. In 2004, the company used to take time to interchange the hose pipes supplying paint to the robots. The company can be seen to have employed the idea from the OM301 concept of improving processes in an organization. After one car had been painted and another one needed to be painted with a different color, the hose pipes had to be removed from that gallon, thoroughly washed and then fixed to the desired gallon. The process could waste up to 30% of the total paint that was bought by the company. Toyota Company came up with a system where the task of interchanging the hose pipes was left to the robots (Iyer et al, 2009). There was no cleaning that was required as the cylinders containing the paint now had each their own hose pipe. The process now took only a few seconds. The company was able to save 30% of the paint that previously went to waste. Management efficiency had

Maria Full of Grace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Maria Full of Grace - Essay Example ?ve, and barely schooled, Maria’s foray into the world of drug smuggling – an unfortunate fixture in contemporary Colombia – ironically opens a doorway for her to a brighter future. The travails she is subjected to mirror the lives of countless brave Latin American women in search of economic and social liberation. The motion picture, in effect, suspends judgment on what mainstream society considers criminal acts (cocaine smuggling, illegal entry and passport/visa falsification), and explores the cultural context and humanity of the heroine’s actions. 1. Close family ties – In Hispanic societies, it is common for grown children to live with their parents, each seeking emotional support from the other; this was seen in the assistance Maria, her mother, and other family members gave her sister and the baby. 2. Extended family as economic unit – It is also not unusual for extended families (aunts, uncles, grandparents) to provide financial support for each other and the next generation, in the same manner as Maria’s provision of income for her parents, sister and infant nephew. 3. Importance of religious practices (De La Torre, 2009) and institutional Catholicism (Stevens-Arroyo & Diaz-Stevens, 1994). A unifying attribute among all Spanish-speaking countries is staunch Catholicism. The message in this film is one of hope in the midst of desperation, a persistent attribute in the deeply religious Hispanic culture. 4. Element of shame – More than fault or blame, it is saving face and the element of shame that is embodied in Hispanic families’ decisions. For instance, Lucy was ashamed to face her sister in New York; also, Juan’s offer to marry Maria even if they do not love each other was prompted by the fact that he got her pregnant. 5. Forgiveness – A natural consequence of Catholic spirituality and close family ties is the ease by which family members forgive each others’ transgressions. Carla’s total absence of anger or blame against

What Drives Toyota Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

What Drives Toyota - Essay Example The OM301 concept entails that an organization assesses its management to ensure that it best serves to achieve the goals of the organization. One aspect that makes Toyota so successful is their quality management. Toyota has developed a tradition of not just manufacturing cars, but manufacturing better cars. This is one of the aspects that drive Toyota Company. The production process at Toyota can be described as threefold. The first fold is making cars, then making cars better and then teaching everyone how to make cars better. With a ratio of eight robots per car in the painting stage, the quality of the color outlook of the car is guaranteed to be standard (Iyer et al, 2009). The cars further spend a relatively standard time in the color painting stage to keep the quality in check. Toyota Company has always strived to manage their production processes in a way that not only guarantees quality but also saves time. In the color painting stage, for example, Toyota Company managed to reduce the amount of time taken to paint a car from ten hours to eight hours. In 2004, the company used to take time to interchange the hose pipes supplying paint to the robots. The company can be seen to have employed the idea from the OM301 concept of improving processes in an organization. After one car had been painted and another one needed to be painted with a different color, the hose pipes had to be removed from that gallon, thoroughly washed and then fixed to the desired gallon. The process could waste up to 30% of the total paint that was bought by the company. Toyota Company came up with a system where the task of interchanging the hose pipes was left to the robots (Iyer et al, 2009). There was no cleaning that was required as the cylinders containing the paint now had each their own hose pipe. The process now took only a few seconds. The company was able to save 30% of the paint that previously went to waste. Management efficiency had

I am not sure the topic Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

I am not sure the topic - Research Paper Example Both flora and fauna have been affected as a result of the release of factory effluents into rivers that are used by the local people. As such, the main purpose of the research will be to highlight the improvements that have been made to reduce and avoid the adverse effects of the waste released from the company into the surrounding environment. Table of Contents I. Abstract†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦1 II. Executive summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..3 III. Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦4 IV. Factors that Lead to poor waste disposal by factory management†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦4 a. Actions Taken by the factory Management†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...4 b. Locals†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.5 c. Government and Non Governmental Organization†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...5 V. Analysis of the Nature of Pollutants†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..5 a. Components†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â ‚¬ ¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7 b. ... Conclusions and Recommendations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..9 VIII. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦10 IX. Works Cited†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦12 II. Executive summary Pollution has been found to be a serious issue within many societies. This is especially when it results from the numerous efforts that have been made to bring about development and make life better for the local people. The growth of many different cities in the world has necessitated an improvement in the form of infrastructure. In this relation, they have experienced the growth and development of buildings and road networks as well as the number of motor vehicles in operations. In such cities, there has also been a growth of factories, companies and factories in the effort to provide job opportunities for their growing populations (Hassan, 1998). A proper example of this is the St. Joe paper mills factory that was built in Jacksonville, F.L, in the effort to ensure expansion and growth as well as provision of more job opportunities for those living within the area. In this sense, the St. Joe paper mills factory was established in order to provide employment for the local people of the area as well as lead to development of the region. However, with time of its operations, it has been a serious risk to the local people due to the hazardous conditions that it exposes them. This is brought about by the release of its waste products into the rivers around the area. Most of these are used by the inhabitants of the area and as a result present health cha llenges to them. In this relation, the water from such rivers is not usually fit for

Doctor of Philosophy in Naturology Essay Example for Free

Doctor of Philosophy in Naturology Essay Iridology is the scientific analysis of patterns and structures in the iris of the eye, which locates areas, and stages of inflammation throughout the body. The iris is the portion of the eye showing color. It reveals body constitution, inherent strengths and weaknesses, health levels, and transitions that take place in a persons body according to their way of life. HOW DID IT ORIGINATE? In the 1800s, a young boy, Ignatz Von Peczely, happened to catch an owl in his garden. The boy clearly saw a black line rising in the owls eye after accidentally breaking its leg during the struggle. He kept the bird until it had regained its health and then observed the appearance of crocked white lines across the black area in the owls eye. Von Peczely later became a physician and had the opportunity to study the irises of many patients. He grew certain that there existed a reflex relationship between tissue changes in the body and iris markings and developed the first iris chart, which has been continually researched and revised over the years. HOW DOES IT WORK? The complex iris is composed of hundreds of thousands of nerve endings, which are connected by impulses to every tissue of the body through the brain and nervous system. The nerve fibers, or trabecula, respond specifically to tissue and organ conditions with a corresponding physiological reflex manifested in the iris as lesions and color variations. The iris chart, which is the result of many years of clinical observation and intensive research by Dr. Bernard Jensen and others, represents the basic placement of body organs and tissues similar to a map. An accurate iris analysis is possible by superimposing the chart over an iris image projection, allowing detailed observation of the valuable and reliable data recorded there. WHAT WILL IT SHOW? A complete iris analysis will show whether a person exhibits a generally good constitution or a poor one, depending upon the density of the iris fibers, the patterns, structures, colors and degrees of lightness and darkness in the iris tell if an area of the body is inherently strong or weak. It also reveals the relative site of over-activity, irritation, injury or degeneration of the tissues and organs. Toxic accumulation levels can he observed as well as nutritional and chemical imbalances. WHAT WILL IT NOT SHOW? Iridology will not show or name a specific disease but provides information about the body tissues, which indicate tendencies toward conditions of disease, often before symptoms appear. Iridology will not reveal surgery performed under anesthesia as nerve impulses are discontinued. Iridology cannot locate parasites, gallstones, or germ life, but will indicate the presence of inflammation and toxic conditions, which are a refuge for their development. It will not show pregnancy, as that is a normal function of the female body HOW CAN IT HELP ME? Iridology is potentially an integral part of preventive health care. It has the ability to forewarn of approaching difficulties or signs of disease. Iridology can be a powerful tool, allowing one to determine what is transpiring inside the body from a simple, painless, and economical external vantage point. In effect, iridology will reveal how well your body functions. Improper nutrition and lack of exercise undermines the bodys integrity until eventually it becomes unable to reverse damaging toxic conditions through its own natural self-healing mechanisms, becoming susceptible to ailments of a chronic nature. Therefore, nutrition and iridology are inseparable in ones pursuit of a healthy way of life and holistic health care program. Iridology helps us understand our weakness so we may strengthen and cleanse our bodies to obtain our maximum health potential. It brings to us an awareness of how to prevent illness, thus allowing us to earn our most precious earthly treasurevibrant physical, mental and spiritual health! Methodology: Definition of Iridology: According to Medical Dictionary, Iridology is the practice of diagnosing disease by examining the iris of the eye. Although some diseases do affect the eye, iridology is not considered scientific medicine. What is Iridology or Iris Analysis? Iridology is the study of the iris of the eye. Iri and iris come from the Greek name of the goddess of the rainbow, Iris. The Greeks noted eyes come in many, many colors. And logy also comes from the Greek, meaning study of. Literally translated, iridology means the study of the coloration of the eye. The iris reveals changing conditions of every part and organ of the body. Every organ and part of the body is represented in the iris in a well-defined area. In addition, through various marks, signs, and discoloration in the iris, nature reveals inherited weaknesses and strengths. By means of this art / science, an iridologist (one who studies the coloration and fiber structure of the eye) can tell an individual his/her inherited and acquired tendencies towards health and disease, his current condition in general, and the state of every organ in particular. Iridology cannot detect a specific disease, but, can tell an individual if they have over or under activity in specific areas of the body. For example, an under-active pancreas might indicate a diabetic condition. What is Iridology all about? The eyeball is normally defined as a globe or sphere, but it is oval and not circular. It is approximately 2. 5cm in diameter, transparent in front. It has three layers: (1) Inner nervous layer (2) Middle, vascular, and, (3) Outer fibrous, the layer that supports The choroids or middle vascular coat contains the blood vessels. This vascular coat forms the iris with a central opening known as pupil. The color of the eye is given by the pigmented layer behind the iris. This pigmented layer is largely responsible for the color of eyes that we recognize mainly as blue, brown, gray or mixed . The word iris is derived from Greek root, which means, â€Å"halo† or â€Å"rainbow†. It is believed that iris is associated with rainbow because of its colors. According to â€Å"Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary†, Iridology can be defined as â€Å"†¦the study of the iris, particularly of its color, markings, changes etc, as associated with disease†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 

Social Media in Business and Society

Social Media in Business and Society Most organizations tend to look upon social media as a threat, where some even opt to ban the usage from the workplace altogether. The idea behind it being that employees would be given the opportunity to waste time online, chat, and possibly pose as a security threat to the organization. (Turban, 2011) (Smith, 2010) outlines risk of employees social media use at work, these can be both intentional or not and they could lead to legal and reputational risks for organisations. These have been categorised as three main problems: Use of social media cannot be fully regulated, monitored or controlled thus organisations are giving up control. Social media is a worldwide means of communication, once a negative post is online its only a matter of time till it goes viral thus reaching competitors, regulators and customers. Social media is emotional and employees can express their feelings of happiness and/or frustration. Furthermore, (Flynn, 2012) identifies the risks of having employees participating in social media by causing reputational damage, trigger lawsuits, cause humiliation, crush credibility, destroy careers, create electronic business records, and lead to productivity losses. (Dreher, 2014) argues that social media is not to be feared, but rather embraced and seen as an opportunity where employees can act as corporate advocates and brand ambassadors. If anything, it helps employees keep up to date with latest news related to the industry together with continuous knowledge development. Nonetheless, even though there are many studies that point out the benefits of social media, there is still no clear-cut decision whether it can influence work performance or whether it can fuel the social capital of the employees and help in knowledge transfer (Zhang, 2016). However, it cannot be denied that every organisation allowing social media at work will always have its fair deal of challenges to overcome. (Eliane Bucher, 2013) speaks about the health issues that can be encountered. Starting off with stating that there is so much information available on social media that professionals may face information overload. Not to mention the mix of work life with private life overlapping with social media. New technologies should improve workers efficiency and reduce stress levels however often the opposite occurs (Eliane Bucher, 2013). Technostress as referred to by (Brod, 1984). To be successful in the social media environment one needs to overcome the below 3 points otherwise technostress is formed: Techno-overload Increase in workload which could be actual or perceived. Techno-invasion Social media enables people to be constantly connected from almost every device. This can lead to the feeling of the need to be connected or online causing reduction in family time allowing work issues to invade the private life (Eliane Bucher, 2013). Techno-uncertainty Social media is constantly changing and therefore brings with it uncertainty as regards to what technologies and skills are needed to perform the job and what will they be in the future. Social media comes with many legal issues tied to it. These range from pre-employment to post employment. Wrong usage of social media will for sure lead to waste of time, inefficiency, reputation issues and negative image for the organisation. Some of the laws are outlined below by (Lieber, 2011): Employment Laws by tagging co-workers in certain provocative photos or videos, Defamation and Libel Laws by stating certain comments on co-workers or employers thus effecting their reputation., As stated in (Trott, 2009) a Microsoft Survey found that 41% of employers based their decision of not hiring an applicant based on what they found online in relation to their reputation. This is also known as Netrep. This constitutes a legal risk of discrimination in itself if the recruiter is basing decision on the netrep. Fair Credit Reporting Act by having interviewers friending an applicant on Facebook to acquire more information than is required for the job applied. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act by having a medical professional LinkIn with a patient. Uniform Trade Secrets Act by having employees discussing or commenting on social media about company internal only discussions or non-public projects. Employers can monitor the use of social media at work if the employees are informed in advance. Disciplinary actions can be taken once any abuse is being noticed. Policies should include what is allowed and what is considered as abuse (Trott, 2009). If the employees post on their personal accounts outside of office hours and such posts are in relation to work having a negative impact in some way to the employer or the organisation then there is still grounds for disciplinary action even though employees try to advocate for respect for private and family life, home and correspondence (article 8) or freedom of expression (article 10) from the Human Rights Act 1998. As discussed above, social media has its advantages and disadvantages and seeing that social media is here to stay organisations have little choices but to accept the new reality, address it and learn how to make good use of it. (Lieber, 2011), among others, identifies the following criteria that any organisation willing to harness social media must address: The creation and enforcement of solid social media policies within the organisations personnel addressing fair use, access during work time and general behaviour on social media (even during personal time). Directly using social media for the benefit of the organisation such as for recruitment, marketing and investigating competing organizations. Monitoring of key social networks to data mine information regarding your organisation (and potentially others as well), possibly using automated algorithms and software for maximum efficiency and accuracy. From the above-mentioned criteria, the first two deal with human resource aspect of social media where organizations lay out guidelines to their employees on how to use them, and they as the organizations can use social media directly for recruitment, marketing etc. However, as the third criteria suggests, to make most use of social networks organizations must make sure that any information/data being released on such platforms, is gathered and used effectively. It is important that an organization is always aware of what the average user is saying about their brand, effectively getting the general feel or mood while analysing the trends across time. The same principle could be applied to monitor competitors; possibly for example identifying any weak products which the competitors have and having your own similar product take advantage of the situation. Effective monitoring comes from generating good data. Data mining involves the following steps to make data meaningful for monitoring: (Raghav Bali, 2016) Removing unwanted data and noise Transformation of the raw data into data that can be used for further processing Study the data and come up with patterns that can give further insight to our data Represent the data in a way that is useful to companies or to who the data intended for. There are different data mining techniques which can be used to monitor social media use. Social media is a form of real time communication therefore an effective monitoring tool needs to monitor and provide alerts as things happen. Most text mining tools make use of search engines to go through social media sites and collect information related to the keywords or interests. (Mark My Words article) Text Analytics (Text/Data Mining)   Ã‚   Text analytics involves a complex and elaborate number of steps to strip down conversations into separate words and analyse the way these words are being used, positive or negative and even derive patterns from collected data. When we search for a movie and receive some other movie recommendations that technique is using text mining. Text Mining is made up of Data Mining (Information retrieval, Natural Language Processing Machine learning) + Text Data (Emails, Tweets, News Articles, Websites, Blogs etc.) Figure 1: Text Mining (Charu C. Aggarwal, 2012) As indicated in Figure 1, Stop Word Removal and Stemming eliminate the generic and less meaningful words form a phrase, this helps categorizing different words with same meaning as see, seen and being seen. Bag of Words (BOW) is having words separated from the sentence and each word having a numerical value which represents its importance. Limitations (Charu C. Aggarwal, 2012) outlines several limitations that can be observed and future in-depth research is required: The real-time posts on social media are a very important resource as mining data in real time as it is being posted can yield many advantages. This however remains a challenge for when these posts are not conducted from work computers or from outside work. Social media is very unstructured and some applications like twitter even limit the amount of characters per post. This brings about problems of text recognition when short length words are used like gnite gr8 etc. Social media allows different ways to express opinions or emotions these could be through images, videos and tags making the text analytics much more complex and difficult in its pre-processing stage. Method 1: Keyword Search (Rappaport, 2010) Organisations can decide which keywords they want to monitor, these may be chosen based on what is important for that company, it could be their products or emotional states. Social media is a very unstructured place containing noise and unwanted data for our data mining process. This form of search is good to capture keywords and try and form a meaning of these words and the frequency used however its very hard to come up with what is the users intent. For that reason, we then consider a more complex search method called Sentiment Analysis. Method 2: Sentiment Analysis and Emotion Analysis Sentiment Analysis is the process of identifying sentiment in text and analyse it. There are three types of sentiment analysis (Walaa Medhat, 2014): Document Level Analyse the entire document as one topic and form an opinion or sentiment on the entire document Sentence Level Analyse sentiment in each sentence Aspect Level Analyse sentiment in respect to entities as you can have more than one aspect in a sentence for the same entity. For this study, we are focusing our research on Sentence Level analysis using Semantic search. Semantic Search: Semantic search goes beyond the traditional keyword search by providing a meaning to a phrase and makes use of a wide range of resources to interpret the phrase and thus providing a more accurate result. Some examples of semantic search in our daily lives: Conversational searches:   Figure 2: Conversational Search (Google, 2017) Auto Correct spelling mistakes: Figure 3: Auto Correct (Google, 2017) Display information in graphics format: Figure 4: Information in graphics format (Google, 2017) (Charu C. Aggarwal, 2012) outlines some challenges that are encountered when going through mining. These are the difficulty in recognising opinions, subjective phrases and emotions. Opinion mining challenges. When using semantic search method on a post one needs to understand that the post can contain all the following: Positive opinions I like the computer I bought, it has a very clear screen Negative opinions however my wife thinks its too expensive Different targets The targets in the positive opinions relate to the computer and the screen whereas the targets in the negative opinions are the price Different opinion holders The positive opinions are mine however the negative opinions are of my wife Subjectivity mining challenges Posts are also made up of objective and subjective comments. Subjective expressions like opinions, desire, assumptions amongst others may not contain opinions or may not express any positive or negative comments. Emotions mining challenges Emotions (love, joy, anger, fear, sadness, happiness and more) fall under a form of subjective expression. Sometimes emotions give no opinions in a phrase. To observe the usefulness and ideal approach towards the analysis of social media related posts and messaging, a software algorithm was designed and partially developed to illustrate this scenario. The idea behind this software is to have the user write inside a textbox, mimicking an actual employee typing using a company machine, while the system monitors such text and acts per what it registers. Therefore, this tool will be presented as a standalone software/algorithm concept, emulating an actual activity of a possible employee, and as such must be adapted accordingly to make use of it in a real-life situation. The basic principle of the solution proposed is made up of three modules: The key logger that monitors the users input at runtime and effects certain rules The keyword and semantic analysis on the data gathered The storage of produced analysis and log The following flowchart outlines the lifecycle of said solution, followed by a detailed analysis of each component mentioned above, as well as possible ways on how it can be further enhanced to produce even more accurate results. The flow of the proposed solution. Created using draw.io (https://www.draw.io/) Collecting and Processing Data In this solution, key logging is used to monitor the data inputted by the user, which is a constant monitoring of the keystrokes registered by ones activity, and registered as a stream of text ready to be dissected and analysed as required. The main advantage of using such a strategy is that data is collected and used in real-time, making it ideal for scenarios where an alarm (for example a negative post related to work) needs to be raised as quickly as possible to the relevant personnel, providing a detailed log of what the employee has typed (through the key logger) eliminating the need to monitor and access the relevant social media to check what has been posted. Note: there are other strategies one can pursuit to monitor the users activity, such as firewall policies or general network surveillance, however in real-life situations such solutions can prove rather difficult to setup due to the expertise required; while web encryption and proxy services makes it even harder to effectively monitor the traffic generated by the users. A key logger, even if effective, generates a lot of unneeded garbage beyond the scope of social media. For example, an employee working on his station would be constantly registering keystrokes which the logger is then adding them up to its own text stream. This could prove to be very problematic for three main reasons: The logger would begin to amass a significant amount of storage space, unless the key logger is given a limit of how much information it can hold and removing old data to make up space for the new data, but than some information can get permanently lost. The analysis of the text stream generated can be quite intensive, which can significantly affect the performance of the machine doing the analysis, especially when considering that the analysis is assumed to be processed on the users machine which most probably isnt very well suited for such intensive work. Furthermore, following the previous point, the garbage log is being analysed too needlessly. The chances are that an employee would spend very little time on social media, thus logging and analysing the work-related activity is quite pointless for such a scope. To overcome the above-mentioned issues, the proposed solution makes use of predefined social media trigger keywords i.e. a list of social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc., where depending on such triggers being hit or not, the key logger will have two states, passive monitoring and active monitoring. When the tool is running normally, the key logger is in a passive state keeping only the last 30 characters in its memory, without processing the stream. The only thing it does however, is to constantly check the stream read from the textbox in the tool against the trigger keywords, and if any of the keywords is found to have been registered then the key logger would go into active state. While in this state the key logger would increase its maximum capacity, and begin to log every keystroke while constantly analysing the feed. The key logger will go back to passive state when the predefined character limit is reached or enough time has passed. Following this logic, only a set of keystrokes would be registered, reducing the chance of collecting and processing unneeded information while maintaining the workload and storage use of the machine to a minimum. Note: in this approach once the key logger goes into active state, it is monitoring and analysing the feed at runtime locally, and this could prove to be quite intensive depending on the parameters set and the overall performance of the users machines. Organizations implementing this solution can opt to have the log analysed after the key loggers goes back into passive state and therefore analysing the data only once. Better yet, since the solution assumes that the key logger is analysing the data locally, instead the logs can be sent to a common server and be analysed as a scheduled task. Once this data is captured through the key logger the feed can be processed by means of the methods discussed earlier (Method 1 and 2). Based on the outcome we store the data in our information system and align the data based on the organisations social policy. Approaching data analysis using keyword and semantic methods The designed software makes use of two different types of analysis algorithms, keyword based and semantic based, and are used together to try and cancel each others limitations and thus providing much more accurate results. Keyword based analysis The more traditional keyword analysis algorithm consists of having a list of keywords i.e. a predefined set of texts, and hit the data to be analysed against that list to determine whether any keywords have been hit and at what frequency. For example, having a text (representing the data) analysed against a list of negative texts (the keywords) would provide a set of statistical information which could be used to evaluate how negative the text is, which is conceptually what a social media monitoring tool should be trying to achieve. However, the major flaw of this analysis algorithm within the context of social media monitoring, is that keyword based analysis is far too broad and prone to false alarms if not controlled. Having the data gathered from the key logger (therefore filtered to social media activity) analysed against a set of negative texts, the statistical information produced may not be relevant to the organizations interest. An employee could simply be posting a feed about how bad the weather is and how much s/he hates it, which the keyword analysis algorithm would recognize as negative and report accordingly. In the proposed solution, the keyword based algorithm uses two different sets of keywords against the gathered data, with the aim to filter the batches of logged texts by relevance. The first set consists of a list of works related text, such as work, job, company, [company name] etc. i.e. every keyword that could somehow link the user to the organization implementing the solution. In the second set, a list of keywords/texts associated with negativity are stored, such as bored, unhappy, hate, dull, sick and tired etc. When the data passed along through the key logger reaches the keyword analysis module, it would first check the log against the first set and therefore determine whether the data fed is of any relevance to work, and if not simply do nothing. On the other hand, if any of the keywords from the first set is hit, it means that the data inputted is relevant and therefore must be analysed further. In this case, the tool would analyse the entire log within the key logger (which is currently in an active state as described in the previous section) and extract the statistical information with regards to the second set. The flow of the full keyword based algorithm adapted in the tool Created using draw.io (https://www.draw.io/) Examples Keywords to assume: First Set (work): WORK, JOB Second Set (negative): BORED, UNHAPPY, SAD, HATE, DULL, TIRED, SICK AND TIRED, ANNOYED, FED UP Example 1: Input Hate this weather, its severely effecting my mood. Constantly feeling tired and sad. Output None Example 2: Input At work and bored. Wish I could find a better job, this one is just so annoying. Output BORED x 1 [full log] Example 3: Input Never a dull moment at work. At the end of the day, the management brought in pizzas, fresh doughnuts and beer. In a couple of hours, the food was gone leaving everyone too tired to move. Got to love this company, always making sure their employees are never bored and unhappy. Output DULL x 1 TIRED x 1 BORED x 1 UNHAPPY x 1 [full log] From the examples above one can note a few limitations concerning the keyword based analysis algorithm. In example 2 the logged text is alarming, which most probably would require the full attention of the responsible personnel, but due to the limited keywords, only a single piece of text was hit which would make the output seem not so alarming. Furthermore, the logged text had the word annoying which in the negative keyword set is listed as annoyed, but still this was not captured. Therefore, this means that this algorithm is highly dependent on the keywords lists and possible deviations of each text. In example 3 the output looks very alarming since the negative keywords list was hit 4 times, but the input is very positive. The algorithm was unable to take into consideration the context of how the negative words were used and simply counted the number of times they were encountered within the log, hence raising a false alarm. To overcome such limitations, other algorithms must be used in conjunction with the keyword based, where in this solution the semantic based approach is used to compliment the algorithm and try to provide more accurate results. Semantic based analysis As explained in previous sections, semantic analysis introduces a certain degree of understanding when analysing a given text, and this is achieved by giving meaning to what it is fed. In this proposed software algorithm, this type of analysis is used to evaluate the sentiment and emotion behind the fed input, and therefore can determine whether the users work related activity on social media is negative or positive, which by extension may be able to overcome the limitations of keyword based approach. Basic forms of semantic based algorithms used to analyse text in relation to sentiment and emotion, often providing a single value output denoted by a percentage, where 0% means that the text is absolutely negative and a 100% would indicate that without a doubt it is positive. However, semantic analysis is capable to go beyond a simple value, where some of which can produce a fully detailed report indicating the level of emotions for multiple types, such as anger, fearfulness and joy. The following is an example of such a report produced by the tool Tone Analyser offered by (Cloud, 2017). Example report of a semantic based algorithm offered by IBM Watson Developer Cloud Applying such an algorithm which produces a very detailed report, may be well beyond the scope of monitoring work related activity on social media. In the end, what the proposed solution is trying to achieve is to detect negative activity which would harm said organizations, that when detected, the log of that activity is passed along to the corresponding personnel with perhaps a brief report of the analysis. Another drawback to be considered in this scenario, is that light weight semantic algorithms are much less intensive than algorithms which consider different types of emotions when analysing a text, and given that in the solution such an analysis will be triggered almost constantly, having a heavy algorithm being triggered would result in a very negative experience to said users. This is why in the proposed solution a lighter semantic analysis is considered, that is the API provided by (ParallelDots, 2017). Note: one could argue that using a semantic analysis algorithm which produces a detailed report, could replace the entire algorithm which is using both the keyword based analysis and the light weight semantic based analysis. However, performance wise the latter would operate much smoother, and from a technical point of view considerably easier to setup. Note: in the proposed solution, the semantic analysis will be conditional to whether the keyword based algorithm is triggered or not, and therefore subject to the filter which is detecting whether the activity on social media is related to work or not. Examples using the sentiment analysis demo provided by (ParallelDots, 2017), which outputs single value percentages 0% being negative, while 100% being positive. Example 1: Input Hate this weather, its severely effecting my mood. Constantly feeling tired and sad. Output 0% Example 2: Input At work and bored. Wish I could find a better job, this one is just so annoying. Output 6% Example 3: Input Never a dull moment at work. At the end of the day, the management brought in pizzas, fresh doughnuts and beer. In a couple of hours, the food was gone leaving everyone too tired to move. Got to love this company, always making sure their employees are never bored and unhappy. Output 79% Classifying severity based on score and frequency of words Thus far, the algorithm detected negative activity on social media relating to work, using both keywords and semantic analysis. However, the term negative can be rather broad and it may be the case that the organization would not want to be alerted for every minor negative activity, since that will become counterproductive. As such the proposed algorithm has a threshold mechanism which determines whether to send in alerts or not. The threshold settings are two. The minimum number of negative words the activity must contain, and the minimum percentage of negativity to be considered. Right after the key logger is finished monitoring the social media activity, if work related activity is logged, the system evaluates the log based on the threshold set by the administrators of the system, and proceed accordingly. Using same parameters of previous example for keyword and semantic based approaches. The thresholds are set as follows: Minimum Keywords 1, Minimum Semantic Percentage 30%. Example 1: Input Hate this weather, its severely effecting my mood. Constantly feeling tired and sad. Output None (not work related) Alert No Example 2: Input At work and bored. Wish I could find a better job, this one is just so annoying. Output Keywords hit: 1 Semantic: 6% Alert Yes Example 3: Input Never a dull moment at work. At the end of the day, the management brought in pizzas, fresh doughnuts and beer. In a couple of hours, the food was gone leaving everyone too tired to move. Got to love this comp

Anti-Christianity :: essays research papers

Believe in Nothing The depiction of Jesus we see all around us. We see him in books, we see him in churches. We see him on the internet, we see him on television. We see what is an assumption of Jesus' appearance. One man made a guess of what Jesus looks like based on the appearance of an average Jewish man. Since then, we have been using a mask to portray a man, if not a woman, that did not exist. We are always told of his existence, but not how we come about that conclusion. The Bible in fact, is our only proof of Jesus’ existence. Many simply rely on their faith, without need for evidence. However, knowing Christianity is not based on facts, it cannot be certain that those who follow are following the correct path. Actually it is certain that the belief in Christianity is the wrong path, for it causes more harm than good. Centuries ago, as Christianity gained an increasing amount of believers, the believers started thinking beyond the traditional beliefs. Many supposed great followers of the Christian religion, became betrayers of their religion. If one believes in a religion, they must obey its rules, commandments or such. Instead of for example Martin Luther, who formed a new type of Christianity, to satisfy his own will. His desire was for the people to worship God and Christ directly, instead of having a middle man such as the Pope. Later he was to create Lutheranism. Those who create and follow new forms of Christianity have betrayed their true religion. Believing in the Christ is bad enough, betraying Christianity and still believing in a new type is even worse. Throughout history and to the present day, the belief in Christianity has been the cause of many evil scams and tragedies. A perfect example would be the indulgences and fake relics sold during the Catholic Reformation. About 300 years ago, the church was selling false hope to satisfy their lust for money. Many believers however disagree and claim that churches improve communities. They create a true community where help is plentiful, and joy is most common. But is religion truly necessary for improving communities? The Priests and such could continue, but without religion. The goal for a better community is not only a religious goal, but also one in life. One thing that religion does to one's mind, it give a false sense of hope.

Testosterones Effects on Biology and Behavior Essay -- Hormones Sexua

Testosterone's Effects on Biology and Behavior Introduction The study of the interaction between hormones and behavior is truly a complex one. It would be simple if it were true that hormones directly cause a behavior. We know the relationship between hormones and behaviors is reciprocal. Higher levels of hormones increase the probability of certain behaviors, and certain behaviors increase the probability of change in hormones. The Biosocial Model was developed to encompass the influences and relationships the social environment, biology, and behavior have with one another, and how they interact to influence one another. Biology affects the type of behavioral response that a person has to the social environment. At the same time, that behavioral response is influencing the physiological reaction the body has to that stimulus. That environmental stimulus induces those behaviors that cause our body’s internal biology to react. Therefore, anyone of the three variables, social environment, behavior, or biology, can cause a change in the others. When applying this model to behavioral endocrinology, the relationship between hormones, behavior, and the social environment is examined. It is important to study these relationships to try and determine to what extent each factor affects the other. How much does testosterone influence aggression, or risk behaviors such as smoking, sexual promiscuity, or alcohol abuse? As researchers become closer to finding these answers, they become closer to finding out how to treat and council people on these types of activities. In this study, several hypotheses are made about the hormone testosterone, and it’s relationships to biology, health and social behaviors. On average, te... ... Also testosterone collections would need to be done in both genders when subjects are not sexually stimulated, while sexually stimulated, such as while watching a sexual video, and after stimulation. In this way the relationship between testosterone and sexual behavior might better be understood. For a study of aggression/antisocial behavior subjects (male and female) should be given a questionnaire pertaining specifically to hostile and rebellious behaviors. Collection of testosterone samples should be taken when subjects are at a baseline (not exposed to stimulation), when faced with a situation that might warrant aggression, such as an argument, and collected after the situation has ended. These types of studies could better equip researchers with an understanding of these relationships, as well as the relationships testosterone has with other behaviors.

Last Child in the Woods

Last Child in the Woods, Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv is an inspirational book. Richard Louv mainly talks about children not getting enough exposure to nature and all the problems that are caused from it such as; school (academically), behavior, health, emotional feelings, anxiety and depression. He explains that children from the age of six to eleven rates of obesity has increased and two out of ten American children are obese; because instead of going outside and playing they are sitting in the house watching TV or on the computer.In 1983 Howard Gardner came up with seven intelligences, and recently he added a new one; naturalist intelligence. When this describes a person it means they are able to recognize plants, animals and many other parts of nature; which everyone should be able to do. Not only are the characterizations of this additional intelligence just being able to recognize parts of nature, but the person has to have a love for, an int erest for and care about nature and all its parts. Physical Education in schools is not how it was when I was in school.Children only get about 30 minutes and that usually contains them doing an organized sport they may not be interested in or and running from one fence to another. When Louv talks about children being outside in nature, which does not mean on the blacktop, he refers to a â€Å"green† area. Schools are also beginning to cut out recess, which all children need. Research says nature can be used as a theory for children with ADHD and can sometimes take the place of their medication, Ritalin.The more â€Å"green† children with ADHD and ADD are around the better they are all together, especially in school. They are able to focus and concentrate more, have a higher attention span, they are more creative, get along better with others, are able to deal with peer pressure, and will have a better behavior. There are many teenagers who have never been outside of t heir urban city and have never been in a â€Å"green† area for a long period of time. Once they have that experience that will change their whole life and there way of thinking.They will know and understand how beautiful and important nature is to them and others. Computers are beginning to take over schools and because of that music classes are being dropped and art classes are becoming less and less hands-on and have less to do with nature. What school districts and some educators fail to understand is nature helps with children’s cognitive learning. Many children are associating outside with fear. They are afraid to go outside and wander by themselves.Sometimes part of that fear comes from their parents trying to protect them and telling them about strangers, and about people getting hurt; little do they know that instead of helping parents are putting fear in their children. If a child is bored, one thing they can do is go outside. Children do not like going outsid e or being around nature often, but if you expose children to nature while they are still babies they will learn to find interest for it and the child will rarely complain about being bored. Nature builds self confidence, which a lot of young children lack, it also makes them stronger.Nature is no where in the schools curriculum, but it is important for educators to add it in as many ways as they possibly can. The problem is some educators fail to realize how important nature is to children. When I begin teaching I plan to have some of my class outside in the â€Å"green†, sitting on the grass and or underneath a tree. When the whether permits we will have our reading and meditation time outside for sure. Our meditation time will be time for the children to get everything out of there system that is stressing them in any way.I will try my best to implement nature into my as many of my lessons as I can. The classroom will be full of plants and a couple of small classroom pets, and it will be the student’s responsibility to take care of them. That will help them to learn to love, respect, appreciate, care for and how to take care of nature. Even just having plants and animals inside the classroom will help the children with their everyday lives and during the day especially when the whether does not permit us to go outside and enjoy what nature has to offer.Children in environmental based programs tend to do better then those students in traditional programs. Taking the students on field trips that have to do with the lesson tends to be very effective. The children seem to take in more and enjoy it better then just sitting in a classroom. From the age of learning to walk and being able to play outside without my mom to elementary school my childhood was very similar to the baby-boomers in this book.I use to climb trees, make mud pies with my best friend, go in the woods just to play hide-and-seek, play in the rain fully clothed, etc. I remember whe n I was in middle school I would rush to get done with my homework so I could go outside and play with my friends in my neighborhood. We did not play in â€Å"green† areas as much as we played on paved roads, but just being outside felt wonderful. When I was not allowed to go outside with my friends on weekdays and weekends, I remember I would cry because I loved being outside that much.We would ride our bikes and scooters or skate downtown to the boardwalk, play basketball, kickball and other kind of sports in the church, that most of us attended, parking lot that was near to our houses. It wasn’t until I was in the eighth grade when going outside was no long interesting to me. I was more interested in playing computer games, games on my play station, watching TV or just talking on the phone to my friends. Similar to the book, around that time my mom was scared to let me go too far from the house, because she was afraid something might happen to me.I had to be in fron t of the house by the time the street lights came on. Just like what was happening to a couple of the children in the book, I think my mom trying to protect me by telling me â€Å"don’t go too far, because something might happen† scared me more than anything else and that might be what made me enjoy being inside more. I remember when I was in about sixth or seventh grade, my family and I went on a skiing trip in northern Virginia. My step-dad, mom and I drove from South Carolina to Sterling, Virginia to meet my aunt, her husband and their two children. The next morning at about five o’clock A.M. we began loading the bus for the ride to the ski resort. I know on the ride to the resort the scenery was beautiful, but just like any other child would do I slept, listened to my CD’s, and played with my cousin, instead of paying attention to nature as we rode by the mountains and more. Once we finally arrived after what seemed like a long drive I started to feel myself getting excited, because unlike my aunt and her family I never went skiing. The next day we went to the slopes and I had the best time I think I ever had still to this day. I really got a chance to see how beautiful nature really is.I took ski lessons and would ski on the small slope over and over again until I was comfortable enough to accomplish the true slope. In order to get to the top of the slope you had to get on this ride that took you all the way to the top, which allowed people to see everything. That was a very beautiful site; we looked down on the whole ski resort and the area around it, with the snow on the trees and Greenland. I believe this trip and my trips to Hawaii and Barbados are what made me fall in love with nature. After seeing the beautiful scenery and the clear blue water in the islands,I began to love, cherish, care for, and become interested in nature more than I was prior to the vacations. This book is very important to science education, because science is the simplest subject to incorporate nature into. Educators can almost add the students being in contact with nature to any lesson on their curriculum pattern for their grade level. When most students reach high school science becomes boring and the subject they despise the most and I believe a phenomenal way to keep them involved and interested in science is by implementing nature in the lessons

Animal and Color Symbolism in Harry Potter Series Essay

An Investigation of J.K. Rowling’s Utilization of Animal and Color Symbolism in Her Harry Potter Series Many consider symbolism the most important factor in comprehending the knowledgeable realm. â€Å"Symbols and metaphors extend into the realm of everyday language and figures of speech† (Biedermann VII). In turn, the Harry Potter novels of J.K. Rowling are extensively â€Å"philosophical† and symbolic (Bagget and Klein 3). Some believe that a civilization that is very advanced will keep records of important symbols (Biedermann VIII). Paralleling this statement, the civilization that J.K. Rowling creates is one â€Å"of menacing trolls and forbidden forests [that] haunts the bestseller lists week in and out, enthralling readers and leaving them hungry for more† (Bagget and Klein 1). Thus the question arises: In what ways and to what extent does J.K. Rowling incorporate animal and color symbolism into her Harry Potter series? Non-fiction animals that exist in reality, as well as in these novels, are utilized as symbols by J.K. Rowling. Owls often seem to be intelligent, tolerant, contemplative, ominous, and nocturnal. (249). Read more:  How many words in the harry potter series. These animals appear â€Å"frequently in the emblems of scholarly publishing houses and book stores† (250). According to Aeppli, cats are considered â€Å"the typically feminine animal[†¦] and females are known as being ‘more deeply rooted in the dark intuitive side of life than man with his simpler psyche’† (59-60). â€Å"The cat is tireless and cunning when going after its prey – the virtues’ of a good soldier† like Professor McGonagall (60). Of course, Rowling includes many super-natural figures. According to Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, â€Å"‘[p]hoenixes burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes’† (Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 207). Dumbledore refers to the usual grandeur of the phoenix and his feathers of scarlet and gold, the colors of Gryffindor (Rowling, Chamber 207). The phoenix, often referred t o as the â€Å"firebird[,]† ignites itself centennially, perishes, and is reborn from the cinders. The phoenix globally embodies â€Å"immortality, death by fire, the sun, and resurrection† (Bruce-Mitford 31). In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Rowling describes â€Å"a dog that filled the whole space between ceiling and floor. It had three heads, three pairs of rolling mad eyes, [and] three noses, twitching and quivering in their direction† (Rowling, Stone 160). According to Hermione, the dog is blatantly protecting something, for it stands on a disguised door (Rowling, Stone 162). The three-headed dog mainly symbolizes reliability and awareness in mythology; it usually portrays a protector at the entrance to the world of the dead (97). Unicorns have come to signify wholesomeness and power (Biedermann 360). â€Å"According to medieval lore, a unicorn’s horn was a powerful antidote to poison† (28). Unicorns are described as â€Å"pure and incorruptible† (Bruce-Mitford 28). Rubeus Hagrid explains that unicorn blood has the ability to save any life – no matter how near to death – but at an awful cost, having killed an animal of its purity and lack of defense in a selfish manner (Rowling, Stone 258). Mythology, when describing the conception of the earth, depicts dragons as very primitive. The gods are called to overcome these dragons and eventually, their most important descendants become â€Å"dragon-slayers† (102). â€Å"In fairy tales and legends, slaying the dragon is a frequent test of the hero’s mettle† (Biedermann 102). As the dragons are being tended to in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, â€Å"torrents of fire [shoot] into the dark sky from their open, fanged, mouths, fifty feet above the ground on their outstretched necks† (Rowling, Goblet 326). In a Christian view, the dragon can represent the evil counterpart, usually a devil (Biedermann 103). Many main characters in this series are represented by the animals into which they can transform. Because of the rat’s reputation for soiling what is good and carrying sickness, it has become known as a follower of the â€Å"devil, demons, and witches† (279). Peter Pettigrew, a follower of Harry’s evil counter- part, spends many years disguised as a rat. Black dogs have been thought to be in partnership with doers of black magic, yet â€Å"only rarely do dogs appear in a negative light† (97). The Chinese mostly considered them guards against fiends (98). Dogs primarily have a reputation of â€Å"loyalty and vigilance† (97). These are qualities similar to those of Harry’s god-father Sirius Black. To Christians, a wolf is most often the rival endangering those who hold strong faith. Various fables of wolves resulting from murderous individuals exist. The word werewolf is exactly translated to â€Å"man-wolf† (387). As the Latin word for wolf is â€Å"lupus[,]† it is a great foreshadowing tool that the Hogwarts professor with the surname â€Å"Lupin† is in fact a werewolf (387). The first name of said professor, Remus, also seems too well suited to be of coincidence. It appears in â€Å"the Roman legend of the Capitoline wolf that was said to have nursed Romulus and Remus† (Biedermann 389). The deer has great significance in this series. Various older legends of Europe include adolescent females who are changed into does. It was a doe that â€Å"was said to have rescued fleeing Frankish warriors by showing a point at which they could ford the Main River† (Biedermann 97). In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Rowling describes â€Å"a silver-white doe, moon-bright and dazzling, picking her way over the ground† and Harry senses the â€Å"inexplicable familiarity† of this creature. His mother’s patronus, a symbol used to fight off evil creatures w ith a spell, was a doe identical to this one. Harry realizes that his patronus is inherited from his father when he casts his own spell and sees a stag with prominent antlers. This causes him to recall his father’s nickname, Prongs. (Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 411) As the mascot of Slytherin House is a snake, it is reasonable that—as reported by an Christian passage, Physiologus—â€Å"the deer spits water into every crevice in which poisonous snakes are hiding; it thus spits them out and tramples them† (92). The deer has been seen as having skin that can act as a talisman to defeat snake poison, and antlers that can be powdered for protection against dark powers (92). Supposedly, â€Å"burnt deer horn drives away any snake† (Biedermann 93). The sorting hat, the judge of how each student is placed into a house, sings â€Å"‘[one] might belong in Hufflepuff, [w]here they are just and loyal, [t]hose patient Hufflepuffs are true [a]nd unafraid of toil’† (R owling, Stone 118). As Hufflepuff is somewhat of a misunderstood house, it is understandable that â€Å"yellow [the primary house color] gives some of the most mixed messages of all. It is the color of pulsating life—of corn and gold and angelic haloes—and it is also at the same time a color of bile, and in its sulphurous incarnation it is the color of the Devil† (Finlay 203). European opinion has dubbed the color cowardly, which coincides with the notion that Hufflepuff is quite inferior to the brave Gryffindor (Bruce-Mitford 107). Rubeus Hagrid states that â€Å"‘Everyone says Hufflepuff are a lot o’ duffers† (Rowling, Stone 80) According to Goethe and his color theory, yellow is â€Å"‘soft and merry’† but can easily become unpleasant (392). A badger—the Hufflepuff mascot—survives off the fat of its own body, which has turned it into a representation of iniquity corresponding to the bad representation of the Hufflepuff house. In the English language, the term â€Å"badgering† is synonymous to irritating (Biedermann 28). The unnerved new students are told that they could prosper â€Å"‘in wise old Ravenclaw, [i]f [they’ve] a ready mind, where those of wit and learning will always find their kind’† (Rowling, Stone 118). The House color blue is primarily known as a representation of â€Å"things of the spirit and the intellect† (Biedermann 44). In order to enter Ravenclaw’s chambers, one is asked to solve a problem. This encourages them to always seek knowledge, according to a Ravenclaw member (Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 587). Usually, eagles—the house mascot—have favorable connotations. They consist of â€Å"energy, renewal, con templation, acuity of vision, [and] royal bearing† (Biedermann 108). Appropriately, the sorting hat also sings â€Å"[f]or Ravenclaw, the cleverest [will] always be the best† (Rowling, Goblet 177). The wise sorting hat advises new students that â€Å"‘perhaps in Slytherin [they’ll] make [their] real friends, [t]hose cunning folk use any means to achieve their ends’† (118). To Harry’s perception, the Slytherin members appear to be â€Å"an unpleasant lot† (Rowling, Stone 119). A serpent, the representative of Slytherin, originated from the ability of the house’s founder to speak to snakes, a trait that Harry shares (Rowling, Chamber 196). By the Chinese, snakes are considered hazardously cunning. They also believed that the possession of a snake skin signified that a person would become wealthy (312). A snake is capable of murder by biting and utilizing its poison (Biedermann 310). Snakes are often related to demise and disarray (Willis 250). Controlled by the returned Lord Voldemort, a basilisk is hidden deep inside Hogwarts Castle that â€Å"kills people by looking at them† (Rowling, Chamber 291). In the early Middle Ages, the basilisk was attributed with incredible deadly magic. It also, possessed a lethal â€Å"glance and touch† (Rowland 28). According to Moaning Myrtle, a ghost victim of the basilisk, it only takes the glance of a basilisk’s â€Å"‘big, yellow eyes’† to inflict death (Rowling, Chamber 299). In accordance to the beliefs of Christians, basilisks symbolize an evil spirit that can only be stopped by the bible (Rowland 28). Green, Slytherin’s primary color, can represent childishness. â€Å"Especially in English, the color is associated with negative emotions† such as â€Å"envy† and â€Å"jealousy† (Biedermann 159). At one point in time, there was a green color that was undisclosed in China except to the selected royal people. All that was disclosed was its origin of the color green (Finlay 245). This statement parallels the wish of Salazar Slytherin, the founder of the house, to be more particular when admitting students to the school (Rowling, Chamber, 150). The sorting hat declares that one â€Å"‘might belong in Gryffindor, [w]here dwell the brave at heart[.] Their daring nerve and chivalry set Gryffindors apart’† (Rowling, Stone 118). Primarily, red—Gryffindor’s main color—is a sign of â€Å"aggression, vitality and strength, associated with fire and symbolizing both love and mortal combat† (28). Red is commonly the most favored color to an individual (281). To Christians, red is synonymous to Christ’s sacrificed blood, those willing to die for Christ, and ardent affection (Biedermann 282). Upon the instruction of Dumbledore, Harry rotates the sword that previously helped him defeat Lord Voldemort, â€Å"the rubies blazing in the firelight[†¦] [T]hen he [sees] the name just below the hilt[,] Godric Gryffindor† (Rowling, Chamber 333). According to Aeppli, in a dream, red indicates that the dreamer is brave, or equipped to act. Cardinals wear red in order to indicate that they are ready to give up their lives for Christ (Biedermann 282). Accordingly, Harry willingly accepts that â€Å"all that [is] left [for him] [is] the thing itself: dying† to defeat Lord Voldemort (Rowling, Hallows 692). According to [I Peter 5:8]—for Alchemists—lions can represent sulfur, the chief element or â€Å"‘the red lion,’ for the finished ‘philosopher’s stone’† (Biedermann 210). The philosopher’s stone, as it was originally referred to, is â€Å"blood-red† (292). According to Hermione Granger, â€Å"‘Nicholas Flamel[,]’† an alchemist, â€Å"‘is the only known maker of the [Philosopher’s] Stone’† (Rowling, Stone 219). â€Å"In European Heraldry the lion[†¦] is usually red or gold, with its tongue and claws in a contrasting color† (Biedermann 210). After Gryffindor’s defeat of Slytherin for the house cup, â€Å"[i]n an instant, the green hangings became gold [the secondary color of Gryffindor house]; the huge Slytherin serpent vanished and a towering Gryffindor lion took its place† (Rowling, Stone 306). Indeed, symbols are amidst the assets of the world that are the most essential (Biedermann IX). Mostly, the human race doesn’t register the significance of these signs or even their existence (Bruce-Mitford 6). Yet, as J.K. Rowling utilizes them in her Harry Potter series, â€Å"[s]ymbols [†¦] enable people to bring the incomprehensible into the realm of the ta ngible, where they can deal with it† (Biedermann XII). Works Cited Baggett, David, and Shawn Klein. Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts. Chicago, Ill.: Open Court, 2004. Print. Biedermann, Hans. Dictionary of Symbolism: Cultural Icons and the Meanings Behind Them. Trans. James Hulbert. New York: Meridian, 1992. Print. Bruce-Mitford, Miranda. The Illustrated Book of Signs and Symbols. New York: D.K., 1996. Print. Finlay, Victoria. Color: A Natural History of the Palette. New York: Ballentine, 2002. Print. Rowland, Beryl. Animals with Human Faces: A Guide to Animal Symbolism. Knoxville: U of Tennessee P, 1973, Print. Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. New York: Levine, 1999. Print. Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. New York: Levine, 2007. Print. Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. New York: Levine, 2000. Print. Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. New York: Levine, 1999. Print. Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. New York: Levine, 1997. P rint. Willis, Roy G. Signifying Animals: Human Meaning in the Natural World. London: Unwin Hyman, 1990. Print.