Modernism Essays - Architectural Design, Architectural Theory

Modernism . Introduction [ ] Print section [ ] Modern Art , painting, sculpture, and other forms of 20th-century art. Although scholars disagree as to precisely when the modern period began, they mostly use the term modern art to refer to art of the 20th century in Europe and the Americas, as well as in other regions under Western influence. The modern period has been a particularly innovative one. Among the 20th century's most important contributions to the history of art are the invention of abstraction (art that does not imitate the appearance of things), the introduction of a wide range of new artistic techniques and materials, and even the redefinition of the boundaries of art itself. This article covers some of the theories used to interpret modern art, the origins of modern art in the 19th century, and its most important characteristics and modes of expression. Modern art comprises a remarkable diversity of styles, movements, and techniques. The wide range of styles encompasses the sharply realistic painting of a Midwestern farm couple by Grant Wood, entitled American Gothic (1930, Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois), and the abstract rhythms of poured paint in Black and White (1948, private collection), by Jackson Pollock. Yet even if we could easily divide modern art into representational works, like American Gothic, and abstract works, like Black and White, we would still find astonishing variety within these two categories. Just as the precisely painted American Gothic is representational, Willem de Kooning's Marilyn Monroe (1954, private collection) might also be considered representational, although its broad brushstrokes merely suggest the rudiments of a human body and facial features. Abstraction, too, reveals a number of different approaches, from the dynamic rhythms of Pollock's Black and White to the right-angled geometry of Comp osition with Red, Yellow, and Blue (1937-1942, Tate Gallery, London) by Dutch painter Piet Mondrian , whose lines and rectangles suggest the mechanical precision of the machine-made. Other artists preferred an aesthetic of disorder, as did German artist Kurt Schwitters, who mixed old newspapers, stamps, and other discarded objects to create Picture with Light Center (1919, Museum of Modern Art, New York City). Thus 20th-century art displays more than stylistic diversity. It is in the modern period that artists have made paintings not only of traditional materials such as oil on canvas, but of any material available to them. This innovation led to developments that were even more radical, such as conceptual art and performance art?movements that expanded the definition of art to include not just physical objects but ideas and actions as well. [ ] II. Characteristics of Modern Art [ ] Print section [ ] In view of this diversity, it is difficult to define modern art in a way that includes all of 20th-century Western art. For some critics, the most important characteristic of modern art is its attempt to make painting and sculpture ends in themselves, thus distinguishing modernism from earlier forms of art that had conveyed the ideas of powerful religious or political institutions. Because modern artists were no longer funded primarily by these institutions, they were freer to suggest more personal meanings. This attitude is often expressed as art for art's sake, a point of view that is often interpreted as meaning art without political or religious motives. But even if religious and government institutions no longer commissioned most art, many modern artists still sought to convey spiritual or political messages. Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky , for instance, felt that color combined with abstraction could express a spiritual reality beneath ordinary appearances, while German pai nter Otto Dix created openly political works that criticized policies of the German government. Another theory claims that modern art is by nature rebellious and that this rebellion is most evident in a quest for originality and a continual desire to shock. The term avant-garde, which is often applied to modern art, comes from a French military term meaning advance guard, and suggests that what is modern is what is new, original, or cutting-edge. To be sure, many artists in the 20th century tried to redefine what art means, or attempted to expand the definition of art to include concepts, materials, or techniques that were never before associated with art. In 1917, for example, French artist Marcel Duchamp exhibited everyday, mass-produced, utilitarian

Routing Protocol and Research Lab Network Essay Example

Routing Protocol and Research Lab Network Essay Example Routing Protocol and Research Lab Network Essay Routing Protocol and Research Lab Network Essay The genome4u is a scientific study project at a large university that is intended to provide an order of the genomes of a hundred thousand volunteers. This genome lab setup has various amounts of routing protocols, in which the task would be getting the protocols interlinked so that design can be changed. The different Cisco switches represent the various VLANs that can be configured for the different project teams in the lab (Oppenheimer, 2005).Router-EIGRPs are the internal routers of the research lab network. Router-EIGRP/OSPFs and Router-EIGRP/RIPs are the routers that are at the Fundraising office interface and the Biology lab interface respectively. The file servers are where the volunteer’s data files will be stored. The design will now spread apart similar data to travel across it from different internet connections. With the change of routing protocols to the EIGR, a lot of traffic can be sent across that routing channel. This routing protocol can run on most software and can be serviced easily.It is also quick to install. EIGRP reduces both the routing insecurity caused by topology change and the use of bandwidth for the routers. EIGRP enabled routers will redistribute route information to IGRP neighbors, providing a loop-free mechanism and fast convergence (Medhi amp; Ramasamy, 2007). The various network segments will understand route segments depending on the protocol which is configured on them. Since the network has multiple routing protocols present, route redistribution will take place.This will help to spread the knowledge in a way that is recognized by other network segments. Routes learned by EIGRP will be redistributed into RIP and vice versa, by using a default metric or simply define a metric specific for every redistribution (Lathem et el, 2006). The first step would be to change over the routing protocol after that has been handled. Then configure the EIGRP routing and make ensure that the internet access can function through that setup. After the internet access is confirmed to be working, other labs and offices can be connected to the network.Once that is complete all data can be moved across the connections to all the laboratories and offices. The data that will be distributed on the EIGRP protocol will be all the sensitive information. This is because by using such protocol, security mechanism can be easily implemented so that it is hard to interrupt that protocol. The OSPF protocol will handle the security of any high priority information such as payroll document. The RIP connection is not equipped to hold anything confidential because of the lack of a security feature.The main problems to encounter will be an RIP security issue. However, the insecurity can be solved by using the RIP protocol for information that is less sensitive to the network design (Lathem et el, 2006). Similarly, when the information is redistributed, the traffic may be overwhelming. But the network administrators will have to divi de the traffic so that all the routers can each carry their weight of the information. The problems with the flow of traffic will be fixed and distributed through the routers.Each router will be used for certain information and that way the routers will not be overworked. Also the security will be set up so that all confidential information goes through those securities enabled routing protocol. Internet will be purchased internet from the best vendor nearby like Verizon. In the design a router will be installed in each office and lab, then configure them to operate on the network with appropriate security configuration. Finally, the internet connection would come from those routers and all the labs and offices would run on that service.References Oppenheimer, P. (2005). Top-down network design. Indianapolis, Ind. : Hemel Hempstead: Cisco Press ; Prentice Hall. - Top of Form Medhi, D. , amp; Ramasamy, K. (2007). Network routing: Algorithms, protocols, and architectures. Amsterdam: E lsevier/Morgan Kaufmann Publishers. - Top of Form Lathem, C. , Dinerman, B. , amp; Hansen, L. (2006). Configuring SonicWALL firewalls. Rockland, Mass: Syngress. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form

The Last Supper Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Last Supper - Research Paper Example For centuries, Jesus Christ is the most prominent religious figure. His life is mostly chronicled in the Bible and a historical account of Tacitus mentioned about the death of Christus in the hands of Pontius Pilatus (Canfield 144).Prior to his death, Christ and his disciples were recorded to have the supper before Passover and this later on would be one of the important events not only in the history of Christianity but will also shape the sociological, cultural and political history of the world. Immortalized in painting as early as the 1300s (Dyas 139), the famous scene depicting the last meal of Jesus Christ with his disciples was rendered in varied styles by artists from different art genres. Two of the most famous versions of the last supper were Last Supper created by Renaissance painter Leonardo Da Vinci (Kleiner 582) and the painting by Mannerist Jacopo Robusti generally known as Tintoretto with the same title created in 1594 (615). Differences can be observed immediately up on viewing the two last supper paintings. Both paintings vary mainly because the two painters belong to different periods and relatively, the social, political and cultural situations during their respective times had influenced Da Vinci and Tintoretto in creating their renditions of the last supper.Aside from the surrounding conditions during the era of the two artists, a close comparison of the two versions with the Biblical accounts about the famous last meal would enlighten as which artist had depicted the scene exactly or was close enough to what really transpired during the night before the Passover. Probing on the accuracy of the two paintings, may demystify the misconceptions regarding the last supper which in recent times had largely influenced the social, political and cultural beliefs. An example of which is the controversial story about the last supper in Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. A fresco made for the church refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Italy, Da Vinciâ₠¬â„¢s Last Supper measures 13 feet and 9 inches by 29 feet and 10 inches (4.2 meters by 8.9 meters), oil and tempera on the plaster wall were used by the artist (Kleiner 582). The symmetrical painting depicts Jesus Christ at the center of the tabl

Strategic Marketing Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategic Marketing Planning - Essay Example However, during the last 20 years, this industry has been experiencing a rapid decline. Declining industries were once growth industries but a continuing fall in demand for their products has resulted in their decline. The steel industry is typical of the British decline in the manufacturing sector. This industry was in a position of supremacy in the 1870's but by 1910-14 British output had fallen behind that of the United States and Germany (Pope, 1998:24). Whilst annual output averaged 7 million tonnes, Germany was averaging 15 million tonnes and the United States averaging 27 million (Pope, 1998: 24). The US and German producers benefited from home markets protected by tariffs. A guaranteed home market, especially one dominated by huge corporations like US Steel or cartels, encouraged investment in large scale integrated plants utilising the latest technology. These plants gave the US and German producers a competitive edge. However the British industry comprised of mainly modest sized family firms, lacking the capital resources or the market to justify investment in the latest, large-scale and integrated plants (Pope, 1998: 24). Western Europe accounts for more than 60% of total steel production; with North America accounting for 50% and Japan for about 80% of steel production. Nevertheless the industry is still fragmented and even with the creation of the Mittal Steel Company the top 5 producers in the world account for fewer than 25% of global steel production. By contrast, the top 5 iron ore producers account for about 90% of the global iron ore market; in the automotive sector, the 5 biggest players account for about 65% of market share (Varin, 2005: 4). Although the UK steel industry has made great strides to become internationally competitive, and is on a par with the most efficient producers in Europe, the depreciation of the euro since its launch at the beginning of 1999 has undermined the viability of UK manufacturing. To offset its price disadvantage, UK manufacturing has sourced semi-finished products increasingly from overseas. In addition, UK distributors have increasingly purchased finished goods from abroad. As a result of these developments, steel in imported goods is now the biggest source of steel used in the UK, representing nearly 40% of UK steel consumption, against 25% in 1989 ( Hickman, 2001:11). As a result of increased import penetration largely via the steel content of finished and semi-finished goods, the steel demand chain in the UK is under pressure. UK mill products now satisfy little more than one third of total UK consumption. The competitiveness of UK mill products has inevitably been affected by sterling's strength, and the mill product share of total consumption has fallen from 53% to 35% over the past decade. Imported mill products rose by 36% in the ten years to 1999, but this was a much slower rise than the 68% rise of steel contained in imported goods (Hickman, 2001:11). This sharp rise reflects moves by manufacturers of consumer goods to produce increasingly in locations where labour and energy costs are cheapest. There is clearly a growing threat to the steel i ndustry from a contracting customer base, as the UK manufacturing sector continues to suffer from global competition, and an over-valued pound. This is illustrated by the performance of the main markets for steel.

Health and safety Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Health and safety - Essay Example We specialize in manufacturing and supplying all kinds of chemicals for retail and mass consumption, and have been doing so for the last 60 years. Our biggest clients are industries which use most of our products, but retail consumption also forms a significant component of our corporate strategy. We produce organic and industrial chemicals, ceramic products, petrochemicals, agrochemicals, polymers, elastomers, explosives (including ammonium nitrate and nitroglycerin), oleochemicals, fragrances, and flavors. We have a presence in 16 countries, with our biggest markets being the United States and Canada, although Latin America also contributes greatly to our overall growth and success. Because of our sheer size, we employ over 20,000 workers in the 16 countries in which we have a presence. These workers perform a wide range of duties ranging from casual labor to administrative work. Others are also employed in the supply and distribution segment, playing a crucial role in taking our p roducts to our customers. Over the last two years we have embarked on an ambitious expansion program that has helped us to not only grow existing markets but also push into new markets and frontiers. The program has been a huge success considering that only the first phase has been implemented. We intend to roll out the second and final phase in the next month and finish its implementation in two years. Statement of Intent First, I already mentioned that our company manufactures chemicals for industrial and retail consumption. It is well known that chemicals, especially industrial chemicals, are not only very volatile and dangerous, but also highly sensitive. They can cause great damage if mishandled in any way or stored in a manner that makes them more hazardous than they already are. Workers are also predisposed to the dangers of these chemicals since they are the ones charged with handling them during manufacturing, packaging, storage, and distribution. Those workers who do not c ome into contact with these chemicals are also vulnerable indirectly because they spend some time around them. I must say that since we are primarily a manufacturing company, the working conditions of our employees are critical to the success of our business. More importantly, the health and safety conditions of our employees form the backbone of current and future success of the company. We have put in place measures that comply with the requirements of various government agencies like OSHA (occupational safety and health administration), NISH (national institute for occupational safety and health), and the chemical safety board. In addition to this, we regularly cooperate with the aforementioned agencies in order to ensure that we are constantly in compliance with the necessary regulations. This has enabled the company to consistently score highly in industry ratings that are published every year, and used to classify those companies that have best complied with health and safety requirements and made their plants and workplaces safe for all their employees. From a health and safety perspective, the company considers the following things important: a) Safe Working Conditions Our employees are our most valued assets, and therefore we know it would be foolish to let them work in poor and unsafe conditions. We are focused on making our employees feel as comfortable as possible (despite the potential dangers in their

Is the UK welfare state in crisis?

Is the UK welfare state in crisis? Since the British Welfare state materialized in 1945, the debate on how to reform it has never ceased. In the first 25 years after it was introduced, the debate concerned how to increase its scope and abolish means-tested benefits. Then, after the economic crisis in the 1970s, the aim was on how to trim it back. Now, the future of the welfare state itself it the subject of fierce debate. In this essay I will begin with a history of the UK Welfare State and how it came about, before analysing a few of the key elements of the welfare state which will help me decide whether the welfare state is in crisis. I will then finish with a conclusion with my thoughts and views, verbalised. The narrow definition of the welfare state comprises two types of government spending; (1) cash benefits to households such as transfers and income insurance and (2) subsidies or direct government provision of human services such as pre-schooling, education, child care, health care and old age care. The broader definition of welfare state includes housing policies, price regulation, job security legislation and environmental policies1. The purpose of the welfare state is to create economic equality or to assure equitable standards of living for all2, to protect British people from unemployment3, and to encourage the provision of the social services on the same basis as the public services such as roads and libraries4. However, there are differing opinions as to whether the objective of the welfare state is a simple one, as John G. Francis states the purpose is to allocate public funds In order to secure certain minimum life support services for those most in need and to construct a c omprehensive set of social and economic policies designed to realize a certain vision of society.5 Morris Janowitz, on the other hand, paints a more minimal portrait of the welfare state: the welfare state rests on the political assumption that the well-being of its citizens is enhanced not only by allocations derived from their occupations and the marketplace but also grants regulated by the central government. He explains that in addition to the government provisions of benefits for its citizens, there are two further elements in his conception of a welfare state: (1) parliamentary regime determination of resource allocation and (2) the recognition of the states right to intervene in order to create the conditions under which citizens can pursue their goals. The welfare state was developed primarily by William Beveridge. In 1941, the British government commissioned a report into the ways Britain should be rebuilt after the Second World War, mainly how improvements could be made to the system of providing sickness and unemployment insurance. Beveridge was the obvious candidate to compile the blueprints for the welfare state due to his book on Unemployment: A Problem of Industry in 1909, in which he argued that full employment could be obtained if industry was not constrained by over regulation.7 In 1942 as the war reached its height, he produced his report The Report on Social Insurance and proposed that all people of working age should pay a weekly national insurance contribution where benefits would be paid to the sick, unemployed and retired and thus provide a minimum standard of living for all citizens.8 He also identified five giant evils that plagued society and could be tackled: Want (today we call it poverty) by establishing a comprehensive social security system Disease by establishing a new health service Idleness by the state aiming for full employment Ignorance by reforming the education system Squalor by a new house building and slum clearance programme9 The first of Beveridges proposals came into effect before WW2 ended. In 1944 the Ministry of National Insurance was set up before the Family Allowances Act was passed a year later.11 Reactions to the report were positive: It gave me a feeling there was something to work for and fight for after all and that our efforts might be rewarded by some real social improvement, giving means to the phrase winning the peace. (Royal Artillery, male, 29) Its the goods! All the yearnings, hopes, dreams and theories of socialists for the past half century have been crystallized into a practical economic formula. Equity for the lowest common denominator I was staggered by its comprehension. (Insurance clerk, male, 39, Newport) I am aware of a new feeling of confidence in myself as a member of a democratic society when I see those social reforms which I have considered necessary for such long time actually taking shape. (Accountant, male, 40, Prestwick) 12 Such positive reaction, though not all positive, led to a landslide victory for Clement Attlee and his Labour Party and he decided to seize upon Beveridges proposals as a basis for radical action, and proceeded to implement many social policies, which became known as the Welfare State. Attlees hope was to have Beveridges plan in force by 1948, but in a time when Britain was suffering from the severe conditions of post-war Britain, it did not have the money to pay flat rate benefits that would keep people out of poverty.13 The National Assistance act which was passed in 1948 played a bigger role in improving poverty than Beveridge had planned and because the idea of basing entitlement on contributions through national insurance was flawed, it meant many people, in particular women, were excluded from the system. Another act which passed was the National Health Service Act 1946, which came into effect on 5th of July 1948 and created the National Health Service in England and Wales.14 A fter the landslide victory for Labour in 1945, Aneurin Bevan was appointed minister of health, responsible for establishing the National Health Service. Since there was already a free, compulsory state education service, the people of Britain now probably had the most comprehensive Welfare State system in the world.15 The question of whether the UK welfare is in crisis is one that has been asked before. The welfare state in the 1970s was claimed to be in crisis with oil price shocks and increasing food prices adding pressure on the economy and leading to a rise in unemployment. Though the causes sharp reductions in output by OPEC and exchange rate fluctuations were said to be external to the welfare state 16, there still continues to be a debate over not just whether the welfare state is in crisis but also if it is sustainable. The first area I will tackle is state benefits. As of September 2009, there were 2.7million people claiming incapacity benefits in the UK17 and with reports stating that less than a third of these claimants are legitimate18, it begs the question that are the standards of the UK health service so inadequate that more people than ever are incapacitated? The simple answer is the majority of these people are simply work-shy19. Michael Portillo of the Sunday Times pointed out the intentions of the Welfare Stare was to prevent this abuse of the system by the work shy20: The state should not stifle incentive, opportunity, responsibility, wrote Sir William Beveridge in the 1942 report that inspired the post-war welfare state. In establishing a national minimum it should leave room and encouragement for voluntary action by each individual to provide more than that minimum for himself and his family. These work shy people are forcing the tax burden on the hard working families and as a result, taxpayers have spent  £346bn on payments to those out work since Tony Blair entered Downing Street. He goes onto say It might have been possible for the state to fine tune benefits when every claimant was known to the local poor law guardians. It is much more difficult today in systems that are nationalised and standardised, before concluding, we ought to assume that fit young people are not entitled to anything. If a few young men from sink estates are now heroes in Afghanistan, why should we presume that all the others are capable of nothing useful at all? Some believe such a centrally planned benefits system is bound to fail because it is not feasible for a planning body to know all the circumstances and facts to able to assess who is in an incapacitated state21. Another area of benefits that has come under scrutiny is child benefits. This has long been considered untouchable as it has high take-up rates and passionate support across the political sector. However, new goals such as reducing child poverty whilst at the same time cutting spending, it is time the state challenged its status as the sacred cow of the welfare state22. Between 1999 and 2004, 600,000 children managed to escape poverty as result of their guardians/parents finding work. However, this trend reversed when the recession hit when between 2008 and 2009, 160,000 more children were in workless households and, inevitably, in poverty. Kate Stanley of the Institute for Public Policy Research makes the point that the welfare state must become much more efficient in reaching poor children and child benefit is one of governments primary tools in ending poverty.23 She goes onto explain that we need to bite the bullet and make it progressively universal so that everyone gets somethin g but poorer families get most, adding further, one option would be to tax child benefit and use the tax to increase the rate of benefit paid to second and subsequent children. As with any policy change, putting forward such change is unquestionably controversial. However, it is not difficult to come to the conclusion that yes, while there is a need for a benefit reform in the UK, does it necessarily mean the welfare state as a whole is in crisis? On this evidence, I can conclude with a wholehearted, no. British schools have somewhat of a mixed reputation. Quality of state education is known to vary whilst universities and other higher education institutions garner an excellent reputation internationally and take in thousands of foreign students. The state education system in the UK has been changing at a hectic pace in recent decades which has led to a generation of curriculum chaos and crisis caused by a lack of funding, crumbling infrastructure and shortages of books and other equipment24. Many schools have been forced to cut their teaching budgets at a time when they should have been increasing them, and some have had insufficient funds to buy books for the revised national curriculum and other essentials. This is only going to get worse with the recent spending review by The Coalition hinting there may be savage cutsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦in the education budget25. The budget for the Department of Education last year was  £66.7bn, rising to an estimated  £68.7bn this year. While Cha ncellor George Osborne has pledged to protect Sure Start, the government scheme where childrens centres have been built by Labour to provide nursery care, it means other areas such as school buildings and support services are likely to be even harder hit. And it only gets worse: the Audit Commission claims that millions of pounds are still being misspent. A report last year found schools were sitting on excessive cash reserves of almost  £2bn and  £400m a year could be saved if schools bought desks, equipment and services more sensibly26. However, it is easy to criticise and easy to forget the positives. The last government claimed the increase in funding produced key successes, including rises in primary and secondary school exam results, a drop in the number of failing schools, an increase in the number of children staying on in education beyond the leaving age and improvements to early years care with the establishment of a network of Sure Start childrens centres. However, th is all happened during the last government. With ever more bleak and worrying headlines such as Students to face unlimited fees, Nearly one in five children aged 16-19 is functionally illiterate and Schools prepare to cut frontline services, it is not surprising why many are saying the education system in the UK is in trouble. A recent programme on BBC illustrated how Toby Young struggled to set up a new school within the state system. The pressing concern was the campaign to stop these schools was endorsed by the National Union of Teachers. The reason why Mr Young was trying to set up these schools was because they were wanted by parents not happy with the existing state schools. There is mass evidence to support their views with reports year on year showing dwindling numbers on the number of pupils that achieve 5 A-C GCSEs. It is about time students are able to realise their full potential instead of facing silly obstacles. It is no wonder private schools attain far higher grades and pass rates than public schools as they receive much more attention in their small class setting. I see no reason at this stage to go against what many people are saying: the UK welfare state is very much in crisis. The last area I cover is pensions. In the UK there are three major pension routes; (1) occupational final salary pension plans from your employer: (2) the state pension where you may have entitlement to a top-up plan as well as the basic state pension. Those who are not well off may have their retirement earnings boosted by a pension credit: and (3) the money purchase pension scheme either from your employer or from other earnings such as self-employment (these are called personal pensions)27. There are three problems in pension reforms in the UK. The first being whether to continue with the PAYG system or switch to a saving system, though this fight seems to be over as many academics and politicians accept the need to move to a saving or funded system. The second problem is whether, if you opt for the saving system, to make savings voluntary or compulsory, and if compulsory whether or not to give savers a choice of pension providers. The move to a saving or funded system has a great economic advantage in that it builds compound interest into the entitlement. In other words, you invest in the economy and you get the benefit when you retire. Many would like to return to the ideal situation of not wanting to be a burden on your family and the next generation, but as that family obligation myth still continues, it is too high a price to pay for the economic costs of the current system29. The question that leads from this is whether to make saving voluntary or compulsory. I would suggest setting a minimum for compulsory savings and let people saving voluntarily for larger pensions. Indeed the government introduced voluntary pension saving in the new world of pensions, but being auto-enrolled into a pension scheme will be compulsory. The high level of state pension from the age of 65 has been found to cost too much and has steadily declined in relation to average incomes and been replaced by what many call the disastrous means-tested pension credit. With the pension age to rise to 68, this will be a long overdue acceptance of vastly increased longevity30. This demonstrates the slow pace to which the UK responds to changes in reality. The Beveridge report laid the foundations of the post-war welfare state, declaring every citizen who paid his or her contributions should be able to claim an adequate pension worth more than any means tested benefit31. As Philip Johnston of the Telegraph puts it, after 100 years in which living standards have quadrupled, a pension designed to prevent the poorest in society enduring a penurious old age has failed in its purpose. James Bartholomew, in his book The Welfare State Were In, posed the question if we would have been better off without the state pension. He answered, It seems likely that if the state pension had not been introduced, British people would have saved a great deal more and, overall, would probably now be wealthier in their old age. The late 19th century trend for people to become less benefit dependent would have continued, and it would be normal to have very substantial savings. Old people would have more independence and dignity in retirement. In conclusion, I agree with the claim that the UK welfare state is in crisis. During the research for this essay, I found almost no evidence to say otherwise, which was a surprise. I have discovered the welfare state has been a failure and I believe the state should stop funding anything beyond a minimum safety net. As stated before, money is being wasted due to recklessness in its spending and rather than divert (even more) resources from social security to health and education, as the government plans, it should slash taxes and let people pay for their own welfare services. The demand for these two categories rises faster than national income and public spending is unlikely to be able to keep up, thus bringing us back to the perpetual perception that they are underfunded. I read an interesting post made by a member of the public on an online forum that made the following comment: Whenever all of part of the NHS runs out of money, wards are closed or operations are delayed or a cost saving measure is taken, but never are salaries cut back. 154 This illustrates how the government have a strong inclination to protect their staff first, instead of their customers who receive the service. But of course the nurses and doctors and administrators feel like they are under paid and endure difficult conditions, and this is often too. It bottles down to the point that their pay and their pensions are not damaged which otherwise would be if they were not working for the government. The future on the welfare state itself is uncertain at this point in time. The right are in agreement that unwarranted spending on the welfare state has weakened economic growth and reduced incentives, while the left feel the traditional welfare state has not paid enough attention to significant groups like women and ethnic minorities. Policy reforms have strengthened not just in the UK but also in the continental Europe and the US. The government often deliberates and avoids making tough decisions, such as introducing a compulsory savings scheme or increasing state pensions, which have been needed to deal with the crisis. As Steve Schifferes of the BBC puts it, though the government wants to seek a political consensus before proceeding with radical reform, time may be running out!

Ethnocentrism Essay example -- essays research papers

Webster’s dictionary defines ethnocentrism as â€Å"The tendency to evaluate other groups according to the values and standards of one's own ethnic group, especially with the conviction that one's own ethnic group is superior to the other groups.† When first reading this definition, one would naturally agree that ethnocentrism does exist in our world and society, often confusing it with patriotism. However, many do not realize that ethnocentrism is, has been, and continues to be a leading cause for violence in America. Different ethnic groups such as African Americans and Native Americans have suffered through years of violent crimes against them because of the white man’s ethnocentric views of themselves when compared with other races and cultures.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ethnocentrism began to develop in America long before we were officially a nation. When Europeans first came to America and had their initial encounters with the Native Americans, the Europeans were so surprised about how different the Natives were. Their differences in language, dress, and skin color made them doubt that the Native Americans were even human. Stemming from this notion, the Europeans eventually began to consider the Natives as the â€Å"other† and felt that they were more civilized than the â€Å"others.† Amerigo Vespucci wrote that the Native Americans were â€Å"worse than heathen; because we did not see that they offered any sacrifice, nor did they have a house of prayer.† Consequently, these feelings...

Personal Responsibility and College Success Essay

What is personal responsibility and how does it relate to college success? To me personal responsibility is to be accountable for oneself and the people around you, in most any situation, there is no other person to hold accountable for your life than yourself. Everything we do is a direct reflection of your personality and the decisions you make. Morals are something you learn from your parents growing up. They teach you to always do the right thing and try not to make bad decisions. As you get older you’re going to start making important decisions that could affect your future. By doing this your growing into a responsible adult. Being personally responsible also means being able to take responsibility for your actions. What I mean by this is if you do something wrong don’t point the finger at someone else and say they did it. Be a responsible adult and be accountable for yourself and the things you do. When going to college you need to be accountable for your actions and the responsibility to turn in your homework, show up to class on time, get good grades, and study for tests. When going to college identify past problems that could set you back and overcome them in the future. In example if your not good at math go to a book store and buy a math tutor book and read it and it can help you focus on solutions and overcome barriers that you might have. When finding solutions to overcome your barriers don’t make excuses and tell yourself you cant do it. Make a system of checks and balances to help alleviate some stress. So if your studying for a long period of time take a break and do something else for a while then come back and finish. Never tell yourself you can’t do it. By doing this your going to feel better about yourself knowing that you did it and you took your time out of your day and learned something new. When going to college you need to make goals, a goal that is beneficial to your overall success. Your goal must be attainable, taking into consideration your personal resources and abilities. Be persistent when trying to reach your goals and never give up.

010 Research and Bib Professor Ramos Blog

010 Research and Bib Research Quick Write Why do we research? Research Scholarly research is research that is published by people with specialized knowledge on what they are researching. It is peer reviewed, reviewed by other researchers and specialist in the field, and is generally trustworthy. Blogs, Newspapers, Magazines are not Scholarly but are popular sources. ProCon.org  No subscription needed. Good place to look at the main issues around a topic. Occupational Outlook Handbook  The OOH can help you find career information on duties, education and training, pay, and outlook for hundreds of occupations. Google Scholar  Google academic database search. Great place to start. Quick Write How would you feel if someone used your ideas or work without giving you credit? Annotated Bibliography Chapter 11 in our textbook explains the purpose of an annotated bib. An annotated bib is a works cited or references page with additional information added to each citation. You begin with the correct reference citation for your sources. For this assignment we will have at least five sources. Here is a good explanation of  citations in MLA. Here is the format: Author(s). â€Å"Article Title.†Ã‚  Source, vol. #, no. #, season year, pp. xx-xx.  Database,  URL. Example: Kong, Les. â€Å"Business Sources for Education Majors.†Ã‚  Education Graduate Students Journal, vol. 75, no. 4, 2014, pp. 12-19.  JSTOR,  jstor.org/stable/52506788. To each entry you will add the annotation, the paragraph or two that explains the source, why you are using it, and its reliability. Each professor you will have in the future may have specific guidelines for what to include in an annotated bibliographic entry. Always follow their instructions. For this assignment, you should include: Summary of Source, 2-4 sentences How you are using it in your report, 1-3 sentences Reliability of source, 1-3 sentences In total, you should have a short paragraph, 4-10 sentences, explaining the three points above. Sources for Review 1-2 Primary texts 1-2+ Scholarly sources 1-2+ Popular sources 4 sources minimum. The New Jim Crow We read the New Jim Crow article for today. What is a caste? What is the purpose of prisons? What is Jim Crow? What is the New Jim Crow?

Victorian Damsel in Distress Essays

Victorian Damsel in Distress Essays Victorian Damsel in Distress Paper Victorian Damsel in Distress Paper As well as being unnervingly clever, controlling, and intuitive, which probably all stem from his early education, in private educational systems, but who knows, for he doesnt mention his family or origin in this book, and as I am aware, nor does he in other books of this series he also uses sarcasm. The author may have done this, to stop people from working out Sherlock, in order to keep them guessing, and therefore more interested etc. An example of his wit is, Holmes chuckles heartily, Your Conversation is most entertaining said he, When you go out Close the door, for there is a decided draft. This is in response to Holmes first encounter that of which is a display of violent activity, with the villain of the Speckled Band, Dr. Roylott. It shows that when Sherlock Holmes is presented with undeniable violence, instead of retaliating in the same way, which he shows himself to be capable of; he chooses instead to use his educated wit to fight back with, but perhaps his cockiness presents a weak spot, for he seems arrogant. To me he also displays the following traits: Lonely and Manipulative Behaviour; An Outsiders Perspective; A life full Secrecy, he seems to Hold the Cards close To His Chest. These characteristics comply and interlock with Dr. Watsons, The following paragraph explains why and how their relationship has grown. As I have also mentioned in the first few paragraphs, their relationship is integrated. I see Dr. Watson, as a Simple Minded, timid and keen to learn Man; this is probably why He and Sherlock have thrived, and they both have a thirst for facts, and discoveries, and with Watson being so simple, there is no competition of egos, only teamwork. Baffled, just like the reader, Dr. Watson has to place trust in his associate, Holmes, in order to remain intact, even when persecuted by villains in the series. The villainous character in the speckled band is Dr. Roylott. His improper entrance, after being described as man of supposed murderous capability, does nothing to try and prove his innocence, it merely makes him seem to un-intelligent too of committed such a crime, as the one in the Speckled Band. His improper entrance also shows that he is controlling, and does not like to be betrayed, but this oath like behaviour, when not responded to as desired, leads him to be calculative when forced, by his inescapable greed, to kill off his step-daughters for their small fortune. He succeeds in killing one, but Helen, the remaining step-daughter notifies Sherlock Holmes, just as a whistle arouses suspicion that she may meet the same fate as her sister. This introductive description of Miss. Helen Stoner, A Lady dressed in Black, and Heavily Veiled, leads me to believe that she is in a period of mourning, due to the recent events that have torn her family apart, which of course led to her hurried arrival in London, at Sherlocks Door. It also shows that she does not want to be recognized, as I think she feels she is betraying her stepfather, Dr. Roylott, for she has doubts regarding his sanity. When describing the nature of her Stepfather, she also tells of how his behavior is somewhat confusing, for he is away for long periods of time travelling, with the gypsies that have set up a camp on the land. In Victorian times, people of his and their familys caliber were not often comfortably associated with vagabonds. However, she is putting emphasize on the gypsies, this could be an attempt to mask her own guilt, and push Sherlock onto the wrong path of enquiries. But what motive does Helen have? She described how her sister and she were very close, and how her older sister Julie, was engaged to be married shortly, and consequently marriage means having to leave the family home, and herself, alone with the psychotic step-father. This could provide enough motives to substantiate Helen being a possible murderer, for she could be framing her step-father, who she knew would be the perfect candidate for her to pin the blame upon. Another quote to describe Helen, Her face all drawn and gray, shows how her and her sister, were under a lot of physical stress, so she could easily be envious of her sister, finding love and leaving her to cope with running the household. However this theory is contradictive, when she tries hard to protect her father to begin with, when she attempts to hide her step-fathers abuse. Consequently to all of this, she could simply not desire to want to suffer the consequences for bearing a secret suspicion that he had something to do with her sisters untimely death, for as she also says, she explains his brawls with the locals, and how he can ended up in court as a result, as she feels going to Holmes is a betrayal of her family, and as I mentioned in my description of the Victorian era, family values are very important. She, all in all, is the perfect Victorian Damsel in Distress. After describing the characters, it is about time to try and explain how these characters fit together, and how the author uses them and their behaviour, through particular use of language to create tension, and add mystery. So how did the characters in the Speckled Band test the pairs friendship? And why would the author use these interlocked personalities in order to capture the readers imagination? The rather eerie Holmess behaviour can sometimes, seem to be un thought out, and dangerous to all involved, for example, when bating Dr. Roylott, he did not tell his companion what to expect, so he could of easily been caught in the midst of a snake Vs cane fight to the death. Because of the un-stuck characters behaviour the reader gels better with the loyal Dr. Holmes. This is the same for Helen Stoner, and Dr. Roylott, for she is calm, where as he acts like a brute, and is uncontrollable in his anger; so naturally the audience become to trust her, as she tries to conform to most Victorian morals. As, I just stated, his is depicted as uncontrollable in his anger, and as Helen describes, he has a rather tuned fascination for large, wild, and vicious animals, maybe he replicates these behavioural traits. For he appears a brute, with a problem communicating, as the baboon and cheetah do, as they thrive on death, but underneath it all, in a wild environment only the cunning and sly survive, and as we find out, when Dr. Roylott is found to be the murderer, we see that this was his persona after all. Helen, is the main link, between Holmes, the murderer, and the deceased, therefore she is the one in the spotlight. She raises concern, and its her life that has been affected, and is now threatened. Helen Stoner, however as the story unfolds, and more depth is added to her character regarding the stressed that she has had to bear, is it plain to see that she is not quite the typical emotionally neglected and reserved Victorian women. For she is genuinely distressed by the death of her sister, and it also comes clear that should not of killed her sister, for she did not have enough hatred to do so. She adds tension to her part of the story every well, she adds great emphasize on everything she says, and this is normal for every new victim and Villain, add more to the Holmes and Watson recipe.

World Religion (Buddhism) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

World Religion (Buddhism) - Essay Example The basis on Buddhism is constructed on recognizing the need to help living beings and truly understand their suffering. If this is achieved, the individual is capable of reaching the highest status available for all followers, nirvana: freedom from suffering and the cycle of rebirth. There are various ways of practicing Buddhism: meditation, physical exercises, devotional practices, ethical conduct and the cultivation of wisdom. Thus, Buddhism is based on teaching its followers a life that would be useful in this world and the next. Religion is an something that is practiced by its followers everyday, thus making it deeply engraved in their lives and actions. Buddhism is similar in this effect because it works to ensure that every belief or practice is beneficial not only to the follower but society as a whole. The word Budh comes from awakening and knowing (Smith 1995). Buddhism is divided into a number of branches. These are practiced and spread over different areas. Theravada is practiced in Southeast Asia and the doctrine states that a follower can lose their ignorance by understanding reality and thus reaching the end of the rebirth cycle. Mahayana is practiced in East Asia and the followers feel Buddha to be omnipotent and thus beyond the reach of the material world. Vajrayana is considered to be a part of the Mahayana sect while others see it to be the third Buddhist path. Though Buddhism is considered to be the strongest in Asia, it now exists all around the world. There are various scriptures in the Buddhist religions. They are divided into two broad categories: canonical texts are the direct sayings of Buddha himself and non-canonical texts are observations of Buddha's words, compilations of quotes and this history of Buddhism. An instance of a non-canonical text is the Tripitaka which has text written on long leaves and stored in baskets. It has been in existent since Buddha's life and with new additions, now comprises of three volumes. Buddhism resides in various concepts, most of which are given in the afore mentioned scriptures; amongst these, one is karma. The idea of karma is to be reborn into the cycle of suffering for every individual. Karma refers to the any idea that is affected by a mental or physical action and brings an equal result (Harvey). In this way, every action an individual conducts is done with a specific intent and it is that intent which makes the difference rather than the action itself. In Theravada, there is no forgiveness for a follower's karma. In this way, any action carried out by an individual has to be considered pure at both levels: physical and spiritual for it to help in the attainment of nirvana. Rebirth is another concept present in the Buddhist religion, it represents the different cycles an individual undergoes. This cycle represents the actions of the follower in the world which is determined by karma, rather than an unexplained jump from one life to another. This ensures that every individual in this society is bound to behave in an acceptable and amicable way in the hopes of reaching one of the six births: Naraka beings (those from hell) being the lowest and Devas (deities or angels) is the highest. Buddhism also pays great attention to practice of the faith. First and foremost is the show of devotion: bowing, pilgrimage, offering and chanting. This form is perfect in showing the due respect and reverence to the faith. To show this devotion, Buddhist temples, monasteries and stupas have been created all over the world for the followers to gather and practice. Creating a structure for representation allows the religion to

Sheppard v. Maxwell, 384 U.S. 333 (1966) & Williams v. Florida 399 Assignment

Sheppard v. Maxwell, 384 U.S. 333 (1966) & Williams v. Florida 399 U.S. 78 - Assignment Example The unprecedented penetration of contemporary communications and the extreme difficulty associated with obliterating prejudicial publicity from the perception of the jury, necessitate the trial courts to adopt stringent measures to prevent a bias against the accused. The US Supreme Court found that the accused had been denied due process and reversed his conviction. With regard to the balance to be maintained between the First and Sixth Amendment rights, the Court held that collaboration between the press and counsel, regarding information influencing the fairness of the trial was subject to regulation, and was extremely censurable and merited disciplinary measures. The US Supreme Court decried the absence of decorum in the trial court, and the free reign given to the press during the hearing. The prejudicial posturing of the press had biased the jury, which declared the accused guilty, on the basis of the adverse publicity promoted by the press and not the evidence. In Williams v Florida, the prosecution admitted the deposition of an alibi witness to establish the guilt of the accused. The latter was convicted, and the conviction was upheld by the appellate court. At the US Supreme Court, Williams contended that his Fifth Amendment rights had been breached, as the evidence of the alibi witness had been utilized for convicting him. He also contended that his Sixth Amendment rights were violated, as the denial of a 12-man jury had deprived him of his right to trial by jury. (U.S. Supreme Court, Williams v. Florida, 399 U.S. 78 (1970), 1970). In this case, the US Supreme Court set aside precedent and legal tradition and declared the 12-man jury to be the perpetuation of a traditional idiosyncrasy. Accordingly, the Court upheld the constitutionality of the six-man jury, and held the 12-man jury to be its operational counterpart. The US Supreme Court held that the Florida criminal procedure did not force petitioners to provide courts