Cognitive Skills in Baseball

Cognitive Skills in Baseball By Garrett Pape Lamar Community College The skills that people use on a daily basis are extraordinary, the way we use these skills can be extraordinary or disastrous. There are so many things that a human accomplishes with physical activity, yet these physical activities are started with a set of skills that most human beings have. These skills involve the brain and are called cognitive skills. The brain is where all activity starts; before a person does anything their brain tells them how to do it.For example, if a person wants to pick up a cup of water off of the table, their brain will order their hand to the right placement for you to be able to accomplish the task at hand. Cognitive skills, also known as cognition, are known to influence peoples lives daily. These influences will affect a person’s life in ways that are not understood by most. A person’s thoughts can be described as a use of cognition. This cognitive skill is very broad, but when one looks at their thoughts they will understand why things happen the way they do.Now we’re talking about something known as, â€Å"The Self-fulfilling Prophecy†. This prophecy is looked at in particular to negative thoughts, but the same consequences hold true for positive thoughts. Kenrick describes the Self-fulfilling Prophecy in his online book, Social Psychology: Goals in Interaction, (2011) 5th Edition, as when an initially inaccurate expectation leads to actions that cause the expectation to come true (Kenrick, Neuberg, and Cialdini pg. 79).When a person has thoughts about something they can easily change the outcome of the thought by changing their attitude about it. For example, in baseball cognitive skills are taught exclusively at times, allowing players to repeat simple tasks that can easily go wrong. In baseball, there are many aspects of the game that differ physically but have little difference mentally. During practice a pitcher on a baseball team practices his physical skills by throwing what is known as a â€Å"bullpen†. A bullpen is when the pitcher practices throwing all of his pitches for strikes.This consists of a pitcher and a catcher. It is easy for a pitcher to go into his bullpen and throw strikes because he does not have a high risk of failure, there is not a hitter there competing against him. So, he can easily succeed by throwing strikes. When a hitter steps into the batters box facing the pitcher there is physically only one difference in a game to the bullpen, the hitter. The pitcher must still throw the exact same strike as he did in the bullpen, now the use of cognition really affects the pitcher.With the hitter putting for risk for failure into play, the pitcher can either use his cognitive skills to help or hurt him. If the pitcher throws the exact same pitches that he practiced, the hitter would not have a very high chance of hitting the pitch. The way a pitcher can help himself through cognit ive skills are simple but affective. â€Å"When evaluations are positive, thoughts are completed rapidly, and you get right on with your thinking about the next pitch. When the evaluations are negative you have a difficult time forgetting the event.Many times you’re still thinking about what went wrong on the previous pitch or play, as you’re beginning to throw the next pitch†(Dorfman and Kuehl pg. 301). This can directly result in a repeat of the outcome, positive or negative. If something has gone wrong and a person is still thinking about it while trying to perform the next task, they are mentally preparing themselves to repeat the failure. Same holds true for positive outcomes, and the repetition of success. The key to using this set of skills is to master a positive outlook on whatever it is one is trying to accomplish.This sounds very easy, but if you have ever failed in your life, it is very easy to quit or say, â€Å"I can’t do it†. Childre n learning new things in school will tell themselves that they cannot do something after failing at it once, they will get frustrated and quit. Good teachers will pick them up and show them that they can do this, and they can do it on their own. With baseball the term â€Å"don’t† is used quite often. This term is actually frowned upon in baseball because of its meaning, or lack there of.There is really no definition for the word, â€Å"don’t†. An example of this term for a pitcher could be, â€Å"don’t give up a homerun†, if there is no definition for the word don’t, then what is really being said? If a person asked 100 pitchers, â€Å"what happened after you told yourself don’t give up a homerun? †, 100 pitchers would say they gave up a homerun. Keeping the positive outlook and picturing oneself succeed will result in success. One way to keeping the positive outlook is to picture the event taking place in your head, pi cture success.After picturing yourself succeed, you have already seen yourself accomplish the task. This makes it much easier and proves in your own head that you can do it. Seeing yourself in your head fail will also prove that you cannot do it and are incapable with that outlook. Gary Mack, the author of, Mind Gym, quoted Ty Cobb saying, â€Å" The most important part of a players game is above his shoulders. † Mind Gym is an athletes guide to inner excellence. This promotes positive thoughts and picturing yourself succeed before ever physically performing the task.Referring to baseball, Yogi Berra a famous catcher said, â€Å"90 percent of the game is half mental†. Yogi is known for saying bizarre things that somehow makes sense. This quote is hard to understand but is viewed as the majority of the game has to do with your mental approach. Thinking positive thoughts is easy, but how easy is it when somehow failure seems to take over. Athletes get into what is known as, â€Å"slumps†. Slumps are a period of time when the athlete is performing poorly, or below their ability.How can a person stay focused on thinking positive thoughts when they are in a slump? It is a hard thing to do, but Getting Focused, Staying Focused takes on an approach to keeping a positive head on your shoulders. â€Å"By studying the highly developed minds of the Yogis, Martial Artists, and Zen Masters of China, Japan, and India, the Soviets devised and instituted mental training techniques that enabled their athletes to perform under the most pressure-filled conditions with a clear, calm and controlled mind†(Jaeger pg. i). Further in the book explains that once competition starts, the game is purely mental. Practice and preparation will get you ready and prove you are able to physically perform the event, being confident and picturing success will let you use your physical skills to their full capability and the game becomes easy. Practice is meant for the game to become second nature, it is when we are not confident with ourselves that the game becomes a foreign language. Most mental flaws come from what is known as â€Å"dead time†.Dead time is a gap in performance that interrupts our performance. Athletes can get in the zone and success becomes effortless. Its when failures or dead time occur that athletes lose focus. This dead time can cause an athletes thought’s to wonder, this is not good for mental approaches. When minds wonder, thoughts creep in and take over. Most athletes can remember a time when they said, â€Å"what if? † or â€Å"I should have†, this is bringing up the past and thinking of things they did wrong, this is only bringing failure and negative thoughts to mind.A coach will say take out of the game the positives and dwell on those, not the bad things that may have happened. Shawn Green, a retired baseball player said, â€Å"There, I’d learned to separate my awareness from my m ind and move it into my body and ultimately into the present moment. There, I first began to understand what it means to chop wood and carry water†(McAlpine pg. 156). In, Introduction to Psychology, Plotnik and Kouyoumdjian describe something known as a cognitive map, a mental presentation in the brain of the layout of an environment and its features (Plotnik and Kouyoumdjian pg. 23). This was first shown by rats learning to move through a maze with a reward at the end. Once the task has been accomplished, it is known that it can be done again, the mind barrier is a powerful thing. So powerful that once a mile was ran in under 4 minutes people realized it could be done, and now it is done daily by people everywhere. In baseball the reward is success, and the cognitive map is known as practice, and for pitchers, bullpens. References Dorgman, H. A. (2002). The mental game of baseball. 3rd ed. ). New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield. Jaeger , A. Getting focused, staying focused. Al an Jaeger. Mack, G. (2001). Mind gym. New York, NY: Stone/Robert Daly. McAlpine, G. (2011). The way of baseball. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. Plotnik, R. (2008). Introduction to psychology. (9th ed. ). Canada: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Santrock, J. (2010). Children. (12th ed. ). McGraw Hill: Social Psychology: Goals in Interaction, (2011)5th  edition Kenrick, Nueberg, and Cialdin

Establishing Ground Rules and Promoting Appropriate Behaviour

Establishing Ground Rules and Promoting Appropriate Behaviour When it comes to dealing with a new group of students, the first thing that one needs to keep in mind is that every student, as an independent individual, is unique and prone to acting upon and analysing certain situations in diverse ways. In order to come to a mutual understanding, certain arrangements on anticipated conduct within the classroom have to be made and maintained. According to Atherton (2011), these arrangements or ground rules are â€Å"the minimum necessary conditions for getting learning work done in the class†.So essentially, the ground rules are a pact concluded between the learners and the teacher; a pact that provides a greater understanding of the expectations as well as the needs of both the teacher and the learners relating to positive learning environment. There are various ways or approaches in which ground rules can be constructed. The concept of setting out rules is closely connected to t he idea of leadership – â€Å"a process of influencing the activities of†¦ a group of individuals in an effort towards goal achievement in given situations† (Bhatti et al, 2012).Consequently the approaches of ground rule establishment can be compared to three leadership styles, determined by Lewin, Lippit and White in their article Patterns of Aggressive Behaviour in Experimentally Created Social Climates (1939): a) authoritarian type, when the leader is making decisions independently with almost no contribution from the rest of the group, b) delegative or Laissez-Faire type, when the decision making is in the hands of group members, and c) democratic type, when the leader is allowing and encouraging the contribution from the members of the group.Every leadership style mentioned above could be implemented in the formation of ground rules in the classroom, the question is, however, which one of these would prove to be the most effective? On one hand, it can be deba ted that authoritarian approach could be beneficial – a set of clear, predetermined rules, provided by the teacher could give a good insight into the outcomes and certain regulations, that the learners would be expected to comply with. On the other hand though, this approach by its nature is not earner inclusive, which could result in the learners' reluctance to engage because of the dictatorial essence of the authoritarian approach. One can argue, that the delegative approach could be impactful, when working out ground rules, because the learners would be free to make independent decisions and set out their own standards. However, every educational establishment has a scheme of set policies and requirements that one has to hold by, which would mean that these policies would have to be included in the making of ground rules.Yet the learners might not be aware of these and therefore won't necessarily include those in their rule structure. Consequently, the Laissez-Faire approa ch might not be the right option. Common sense dictates that the democratic approach could be the best path to take. That way the formation of ground rules can be seen as a collaborative decision between the teacher and the learners. The teacher will be in a position to identify and establish particular rules that need to be in place, such as certain regulations, i. e.Health & Safety issues, or their expectations towards the learners, whereas the learners, in turn, will be able to address their preferences and requirements. This combined decision making can be achieved through group discussion or ice breaker activities, where different ideas can be proposed and afterwards either accepted or discarded. It can be reasoned that the advantage of this approach is the fact that the learners will be given a voice in decision making, therefore they will be more likely to respect and adhere to the set out rules.With an eye on creating a healthy learning environment, the established ground ru les need to promote and encourage appropriate and positive behaviour from both the learners and the teacher, both in and out of the classroom. In order to preserve this positive setting the teacher should place the emphasis on attaining an organic and well-handled atmosphere within the classroom, by encouraging creativity and enthusiasm in learners, recognising and praising success, flexibility in learning styles and approaches, as well as modelling of good and respectful behaviour, preventing any sorts of inappropriate conduct.In return, the learners should respect and appreciate the ground rules, be aware of their fellow learners and be able to consider and accept their needs, as well as to develop the sense of self discipline and responsibility. REFERENCES †¢ Atherton, J. S. (2011) Learning and Teaching; Ground Rules for the class [Online] Available from: http://www. learningandteaching. info/teaching/ground_rules. htm †¢ Bhatti, N. , Maitlo, G. M. Shaikh, N. , Hashmi, M. A. , Shaikh, F. M. (2012) The Impact of Autocratic and Democratic Leadership Style on Job Satisfaction, International Business Research [e-journal], 5(2). Available from: http://ccsenet. org/journal/index. php/ibr/article/view/14599 †¢ Lewin, K. , Lippitt, R. , White, R. K. (1939) Patterns of Aggressive Behaviour in Experimentally Created Social Climates, The Journal of Social Psychology, 10(2), p. 269-299

Organizational Stakeholders Affected by Ethical or Unethical Behavior Essay

Organizational Stakeholders Affected by Ethical or Unethical Behavior at Boeing - Essay Example The unethical behaviors manifested by Condit and Stonecipher were not exemplary because they failed to adhere to the prevailing policies that the company initiated in order to provide a good venue for business, as specified in the case. As a result, this created a significant impact, primarily on the level of trust that the investors will have to guarantee for Boeing. For example, the anomalous contract between Sears and Druyun forced Condit to resign, which required the image of Boeing for further cleaning up, as primarily depicted on the ideal move of Stonecipher, Condit’s replacement. This resulted to cancellation of contracts with potential investors for around billions of dollars. On the other hand, Stonecipher violated the company’s code of conduct, which he himself mandated for the employees. He had a consensual relationship with a female employee, which is a behavior that would strongly stand against the prevailing company policy. Therefore, the image of Boeing has become so poor, affecting not only the potential investors, but also directly the employees within the organization. 2. What organizational approach to social responsibility did Boeing appear to use under the leadership of Condit and Stonecipher? How do you think the approach changed under McNerney’s leadership?... However, under his leadership, even though he attempted to clean up the mess of the previous administration, he failed to provide exemplary actions on how exactly he was forceful in implementing the company’s prevailing policies he mandated himself. Changing the culture of the company, with openness and accountability primarily to ward off illegal financial reporting is one of the ultimate concerns of McNerney’s administration. Added to this is to implement teamwork and improve morals. Now this may sound like McNerney is heading to include placing value, treating employees well and fairly, and sourcing of ethical business partners. By doing all of these, what might turn out as mess in the previous administration will remarkably generate a substantial improvement under McNerney’s administration as the bottom line of his action is to promote an organization that will operate in a socially responsible way. 3. Are the actions McNerney is proposing likely to improve e thics at Boeing? If yes, explain why. If now, tell what actions McNerney could take that would be effective. Let us recall the point of McNerney prior to his entry at Boeing. This person is not afraid to take the plunge into change, giving a higher possibility that he would guarantee total restoration of the prevailing morals in the company. In the first place, one significant manifestation that he could be capable of initiating change was his ability to look at the culture first at Boeing. He has in mind to change the prevailing culture to develop transparency. This alone could help us decide whether McNerney is proposing for the company is most likely to improve ethics at Boeing. At the positive side, yes it will definitely pave a way moving forward to a positive

A Critique of Personality Fit in NASCAR Assignment

A Critique of Personality Fit in NASCAR - Assignment Example (1), Pp. 25-35. The study was carried out in an attempt to determine whether the personality fit between the drivers of NASCAR and their major sponsors affects the outcome of consumer attitudes in terms of sponsorships to the sponsor. The study also intended to determine whether the consumer attitudes towards the brand and the purchase intentions are affected by the personality fit between drivers and their sponsors. A literature review on NASCAR was carried out and it was noted that all fans of NASCAR normally choose their favourite driver based on the driver’s personality. It was also noted that the drivers are normally used as brand endorsers and they normally represent the brands of their sponsors. The review also notes that the drivers are normally branded with the brand name of their sponsors in that their uniforms, helmets and their cars bear the names of the brands. A theoretical framework was also presented in relation to event sponsorship and celebrity endorsements. The hypothesis adopted by the researchers is related to the congruence theory and they noted that people are more likely to process, store and remember information if it is related to information they have seen before. The hypothesis used in this study suggests that the response of customers to advertisements or sponsorships is significantly affected by the similarity of the endorser and the brand personality.

Understanding Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Understanding Art - Essay Example If I would never have read Frida Kahlo’s meaning to her work, I would have thought that this man was in her head, always watching with a third eye and the oppression she feels, but as she expresses to friend, â€Å" I have suffered two serious accidents in my life, one in which a streetcar ran over me†¦. The other accident was Diego.†. Her work compels me, possibly because of her bravery to not only look at the reality of her situation but also because she allowed me to view it and share her emotion.   This painting makes me feel compassion, revulsion, and other unnamed emotions.   That is what makes it good art.  If I would never have read Frida Kahlo’s meaning to her work, I would have thought that this man was in her head, always watching with a third eye and the oppression she feels, but as she expresses to friend, â€Å" I have suffered two serious accidents in my life, one in which a streetcar ran over me†¦. The other accident was Diego.â⠂¬ . Her work compels me, possibly because of her bravery to not only look at the reality of her situation but also because she allowed me to view it and share her emotion.   This painting makes me feel compassion, revulsion, and other unnamed emotions.    Art is defined by many different categories, all in which help give a greater  understanding of the purpose of art. Art can range from the occasional change in color contrast of our room to a fresh vase of roses on the dining room table.

Doppelganger Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Doppelganger - Essay Example The objective shall be met by the aid of the salient delivery techniques employed by the director to effectively bring out the themes. The prestige adequately covers the theme of sacrifice that goes into deception; the kind of deception that is good enough to generate the perception that what is achieved is actually magical and cannot be replicated by someone else without the knowledge, skills and experience of the magician. A peculiar characteristic of this sacrifice is that in most instances, it is often disguised because its discovery could be fatal to the discovery of the truth thus unmasking the fact that no magic is performed. Two examples stand out to demonstrate sacrifice. One is in the characters of Borden and Chung Ling Soo. In order to perform the magic trick of entering one point and exiting the other instantaneously, Borden cleverly uses a twin brother to accomplish the same. However, great sacrifice is what makes the achievement a reality. Borden has to conceal at all costs that he has a twin brother and make sure that the status quo remains hidden for life (McGowen, 2012, p. 112). This demonstrates how far he is willing to go just to deceive his audiences. Borden cannot even reveal his twin brother to his wife Sarah who is forced into taking her own life when she suspects that she has been dealing with two men believing them to be one. Further, sacrifice is still demonstrated when Borden’s two fingers get shot off during a magic activity that goes awry. Instead of stopping bullets as originally intended, he ends up with two fingers chopped. The negative development puts the secret of his t win brother in jeopardy as the brother will be conspicuously distinguishable from him with all fingers intact. The only solution is to chop of the fingers of the other brother so that they all look the same. Perhaps, this example best demonstrates how far in the domain of sacrifice a magician can go to capture and retain audience for

Jehovah witness in St. Louis Mo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Jehovah witness in St. Louis Mo - Essay Example They are well-known for their pervasive preaching and circulating activities. The highly eminent religious magazines like The Watchtower and Awake are the results of their publications. The Watchtower which mainly deals with the issues discussed in the Bible is published twice a month and Awake which covers the general topics of day-to-day life is published monthly. Any kind of idol worship or religious symbols are banned by the Jehovah’s Witnesses. They reject blood donations and their research and development of bloodless surgery techniques have resulted in various bloodless treatment options. Inspired by the Bible the Jehovah’s Witnesses encourage singleness. Nationalism and social ceremonies and rituals are not entertained by the witnesses. However, they are allowed to pay taxes to the government. Their motive is to spread the good news of Jehovah’s Kingdom to the people through door-to-door preaching. The Jehovah’s Witnesses lay considerable emphasis on reading of the Bible and regular prayers to God. The religion claims of God’s earthly paradise with the promise of eternal life when the lost ones will be resurrected. The followers believe that they have been chosen by Jehovah to spread the good news to all as the period of â€Å"last days† are going on. Like most of the religions the Jehovahâ€⠄¢s Witnesses consider premarital sex and abortion to be sinful. Any witness who is found guilty of indulging in any such heinous act is excommunicated or â€Å"disfellowshipped† by the congregation. The Jehovah Witnesses call their place of worship as the â€Å"Kingdom Hall†. It is the meeting place for members of the religion predominantly utilized for directions of Bible and devotion to God. This place of worship is purely functional in character. Scheduled meetings generally thrice a week including Sundays are held in each Kingdom Hall where the local groups assemble to offer their prayers to â€Å"Jehovah†. The members address

People Classification Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

People Classification - Essay Example Over the years that I served in the army, I have learnt that a single soldier may shine out as the star of the play, but the true success of the Unit always is a consequence of the team that works together. It not only includes the other comrades, but all those people who remain behind the scenes, in a supportive role. This has made me realize, that one should never qualify success on the face of how things seem. The tip of the iceberg can never truly explain what the entire emblem stands for. Nothing is skin deep, not even skin itself! There is a lot more struggle and undertaking that goes into achieving a task that is otherwise visible. And I feel that it is in making all this effort that the secret of life lies. Success is not attained by achieving something, but by treading the path. For instance, in war, the victorious army has seemingly successful soldiers celebrating what they have achieved. But what about their friends who died in the struggle, to make sure their comrades wou ld achieve the same? The answer is very simple; they are in effect more successful than those who survived, because they believed in something so much, that they were willing to give away their lives for the cause. And that is the true measure of success. The fact is, that when one defines a path for oneself, then merely walking that path is an assurance of success.   Rationalistically, nobody can achieve everything. Further, the natural shortfalls in our lives, including financial, physical and emotional emergencies.

Preschool pros and cons Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Preschool pros and cons - Research Paper Example The supporters of preschool education are of the view that preschool education has an integral role in children’s learning and development. They could find out certain other features that are truly helping the children to expand their learning experience. But many others strongly disagree with the prospect of preschools and remark that they are nothing more than glorified babysitters that cannot provide individual attention to each child. This paper explores the pros and cons of the preschools and identifies that preschools have an elite role in molding the character and behavior of students and they are essential for preparing them for elementary school. Preschools have certain good qualities that really help the children to be confident, enthusiastic and eager learners. Preschools provide students the opportunity to do as many things by themselves. This independent learning will increase their confidence to put on their dress themselves or keeping or arranging their toys as they wish. Preschools let the children to have their own preferences than prescribing things for them. Encouraging children to engage in games with their friends, relatives and others will also have the same effect. Preschools help the children to get acquainted with friends and family and they are taken to the new realm of education as well as knowledge. The combined endeavor of the parents and the teachers can ensure the all-round development of the children. Laurie Edwards in the article, ‘Building Self-Esteem in Preschool’ makes an assessment about the role of preschools in creating self esteem among the children. The author also agrees with the fact that â€Å"self-esteem begins in infancy, and by the time they reach the preschool years children already have the foundation for their self-esteem. However, parents and preschool teachers can do many things to build on that base so that your child retains a sense of self-esteem throughout his growth

Technology Project Essay Example for Free

Technology Project Essay Week 1: Begin thinking of a business problem that could be solved with a technology solution for a company or organization you are familiar with. Use the QA Forum to ask questions and discuss your ideas about the project. See the Course Project Technical Areas for ideas. Week 2: Complete the Course Project Proposal using this format: Course Project Proposal (1-2 pages, 75 points, due week 2, properly cite any external sources used) Cover page 1. Subject of Course Project 2. Business problem statement 3. Name of the company or organization 4. Brief description of proposed solution 5. General benefits it will provide the organization 6. Audience to whom you are presenting the recommendation(s) George Mason University hosts this youth-based program in which the primary goal is to increase motivation, achievement, and exposure to STEM content of students from urban public schools by having them work with scientists and experts to design and build educational games that can be utilized by other students and teachers. The project is a partnership between George Mason University and McKinley Technology High School in Washington, DC. It will include 100 high school students from McKinley and other high schools and 100 middle school students from urban schools. During the academic year the project proposes a 3-week gaming camp which meets four hours each day while the academic year activities include 24weeks of activities for three hours each week. The project introduces fundamental concepts of IT as students develop human animation, multimedia authoring and rapid game prototyping using 3D tools. The project will include hands-on, inquiry-based activities with a strong emphasis on non-traditional approaches to learning and the intensive use of information technologies such as: web-based programming, GIS, architecture, database management, motion capture, LAN network management. The project targets urban traditionally underrepresented students from the Washington, DC area with the vision of being a model for other distance learning efforts.

Neorealist Theory of US Politics

Neorealist Theory of US Politics Realists believe that power is the currency of international politics. Great powers, the main actors in the realists account, pay careful attention to how much economic and military power they have relative to each other. It is important not only to have an important amount of power, but also to make sure that no other state roughly shifts the balance of power in its favour. For realists, international politics is synonymous with power politics. They are, however, important differences among realists. The most basic divide is in the answer to the simple but important question: why do states want power? For classical realists  [1]  like Hans Morgenthau, the answer is human nature. Practically, everyone is born with a will to power, which effectively means that great powers are led by individuals who are determined to having their state dominate its rivals. Nothing can be done to change that force to be all-powerful  [2]  . For Neorealists or structural realists, human nature has little to do with why states want power. Instead, it is the structure or architecture of the international system that forces states to pursue power. In a system where there is no higher authority that sits above the great powers, and where there is no guarantee that one will not attack another, it makes good sense for each state to be powerful enough to protect itself in the event it is attacked. In essence, great powers are trapped because they have little choice but to compete with each other for power if they hope to survive  [3]  . Neorealist theories ignore cultural differences among states as well as differences in regime type, mainly because the international system creates the same basic incentives for all great powers. Whether a state is democratic or autocratic matters relatively little for how it acts towards other states. Nor does it matter much who is in charge of conducting a states foreign policy. Neorealists treat states as if they were black boxes: they are assumed to be alike, save for the fact that some states are more or less powerful than others.  [4]   There is a significant divide between structural realists, which is in the answer to a second question that concerns realists: how much power is enough? Defensive realists like Kenneth Waltz (1979) maintain that it is unwise for states to try to maximize their share of world power, because the system will punish them if they attempt to gain too much power. The pursuit of hegemony, they argue, is especially imprudent. Offensive realists like John Mearsheimer (2001) take the opposite view; they maintain that it makes good strategic sense for states to gain as much power as possible and, if the circumstances are right, to pursue hegemony. The argument is not that conquest or domination is good in itself, but instead that having overwhelming power is the best way to ensure ones own survival. For classical realists, power is an end in itself; for structural realists, power is a means to an end and the ultimate end is survival. In a widely discussed essay John Mearsheimer  [5]  (1993) use the neorealist argument of Waltz  [6]  (1979) and applies it to both the past and future. He says that neorealism has continued importance for explaining international relations: neorealism is a general theory that applies to other historical situations besides that of the Cold War. He also argues that neorealism can be employed to predict the course of international history beyond the Cold War. The question poses is: What would happen if the bipolar system were replaced by a multipolar system? This question can be justly discussed with the study of the last War in Iraq. Indeed, the Iraq case throws light on the determinants of war, exposing how far decisions are driven by systemic factors. Kenneth Waltzs defensive realist image of systemic constraints shaping a prudent defensive use of power does not appear to correspond to American behaviour. Offensive realism, predicated on the notion that great powers can never have enough power in an insecure world, might seem more relevant, but even this is doubtful: its main proponent, John J Mearsheimer (2001) views hegemony as merely regional and hegemons as acting as offshore balancers outside their own regions. Seeing the Iraq War as going well beyond that, he denied that it was necessary to US security (Mearsheimer and Walt 2003). So, ultimately, How the US invasion in Iraq can be interpreted from neorealists points of view? First, in order to answer, I will study the works of Waltz and Mearsheimer in identifying their similarities and their differences. Finally, I will apply their perspective to the US invasion of Iraq. Defensive Realism versus Offensive Realism: How much power is enough? The leading contemporary neorealist thinker is undoubtedly Kenneth Waltz (1979). Waltzs Theory of International Politics (1979) seeks to provide a scientific explanation of the international political system. In Waltzs view the International relations theory is a neorealist theory that focuses centrally on the structure of the system. Actors are less important because structures compel them to act in certain ways. Structures more or less determine actions. According to Waltss neorealist theory, a basic feature of international relations is the decentralized structure of anarchy between sates. States are alike in all basic functional respects in spite of their different cultures or ideologies or constitutions or personnel, they all perform the same basics tasks. But the structure of the system changes with changes in the distribution of capabilities across the system units  [7]  . In other words, international change occurs when great powers rise and fall and the balance of power shits accordingly. A balance of powers between states can be achieved, but war is always a possibility in an anarchical system. Waltz distinguishes between bipolar systems, such as existed during the Cold War between The United States and the Soviet Union, and multipolar system, such as existed both before and after the Cold War. Waltz believes that bipolar systems are more stable and thus provide a better guarantee of peace and security than multipolar sys tems. With only two great powers, both can be expected to act to maintain the system  [8]  . That is because in maintaining the system they are maintaining themselves. According to that view, the Cold War was a period of international stability and peace. Waltz assumes that the fundamental concern of states is security and survival. He also assumes that the major problem of great power conflict is war, and that the major task of international relations among the great powers is that of peace and security. Nevertheless St ate leaders are prisoners of the structure of the state system and its determinist logic which dictates what they must do in their conduct of foreign policy. There is no room in Waltzs theory for foreign policymaking that is independent is the structure of the system. Waltzs image of the role of state leaders in conducting foreign policy comes close to being a mechanical image in which their choices are shaped by the international structural constraints that they face. Thus, Waltzs neorealist approach does not provide explicit policy guidance to state leaders as they confront the practical problems of world politics. That is presumably because they have little or no choice, owing to the confining international structu re in which they must operate. Waltz does address the question of the management of international affairs  [9]  . Waltzs argument is at base a determinist theory in which structure dictates policy. However, just beneath the surface of Waltzs neorealist text, and occasionally on the surface, there is recognition of the ethical dimension of international politics. For example, he operates with a concept of state sovereignty:To say that a state is sovereign means that it decides for itself how it will cope with its internal and external problems  [10]  . For Waltz, all states are equal only in a formal-legal sense; they are unequal, often profoundly so, in a substantive or material sense. But that means that a norm of state exists which all states without exception are expected to observe in their relations with each other regardless of their substantive inequalities of power. Waltz also assumes that states are worth fighting for. That, too, indicates that neorealism is imbued with normative values: those of state security and survival. Waltz operates, as well, with a concept of the national interest: each states plots the course it thinks will best serve its interests  [11]  . For Waltz, however, the national interest seems to operate like an automatic signal commanding state leaders when and where to move. Waltz sees states as structures that respond to the impersonal constraints and dictates of the international system. Mearsheimer builds on Waltzs argument concerning the stability of bipolar systems as compared with multipolar systems  [12]  . These two configurations are considered to be the main structural arrangements of power that are possible among independent states. As indicated Waltz claims that bipolar systems are superior to multipolar systems because they provide greater international stability and thus greater peace and security. There are three basics reasons why bipolar systems are more stable and peaceful. First, the number of great-power conflicts is fewer, and that reduces the possibilities of great-power war. Second, it is easier to operate an effective system of deterrence because fewer great powers are involved. Finally because only two powers dominate the system the chances of miscalculation and misadventure are lower. They are fewer fingers on the trigger  [13]  . In short the two rivals superpowers can keep their eye steadily fixed on each other without the distractio n and confusion that would occur if there a larger number of great powers, as was the case prior to 1945 and arguably has been the case since 1990  [14]  . The question Mearsheimer  [15]  poses is: What would happen if the bipolar system were replaces by a multipolar system? Mearsheimer  [16]  that the demise of the bipolar War order and the emergence of a multipolar world will produce highly undesirable return to the bad old ways of anarchy and instability and even renewed danger of international conflict, crises, and possibly war. Mearsheimer differs from Waltz whom characterizes as a defensive realist: someone who recognizes that states must and seek power in order to be secure and to survive, but who believe that excessive power is counterproductive, because it provokes hostile alliances by other states. For Waltz, it does not make sense, therefore, to strive for excessive power beyond that is necessary for security and survival. Mearsheimer speaks of Waltzs theory as defensive realism. Mearsheimer agrees with Waltz that anarchy compels states to compete for power. However, he argues that states seek hegemony, that they are ultimately more aggressive that Waltz portrays them as being. The goal for a country, such as United States, is to dominate the entire system, because only in that way could it rest assured that no other state or combination of states would even think about going to war against the United States. In the Western Hemisphere, for example, the United States has long been by far the most powerful state. No other state, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, would even think about threatening or employing armed force against the United States. All major powers strive for that ideal situation. But the planet is too big for global hegemony.The oceans are huge barriers. No state would have the necessary power. Mearsheimer therefore argues that states only become the hegemon in their own region of the world  [17]  . Regional hegemons can see to it, however, that there are no other regional hegemons in any other part of the world. They can prevent the emergence and existence of a peer competitor. According to Mearsheimer, thatis what the United States is trying to ensure. That is because a peer competitor might try to interfere in a regional hegemons sphere on influence and control. According to Mearsheimer, all states want to become regional hegemons. That is why he refers to his theory as offensive realism which rests on the assumptions that great powers are always searching for opportunities to gain power over their rivals, wit hegemony as their final goal  [18]  . There has always been conflict, there is conflict, and there will be conflict over power. And there is nothing that anyone can do to prevent it. This is why the title of one of his books is The tragedy of Great Power Politics. In sum, there is disagreement among structural realists about how much power states should aim to control. Offensive realists argue that states should always be looking for opportunities to gain more power and should do so whenever it seems feasible. States should maximize power, and their ultimate goal should be hegemony, because that is the best way to guarantee survival. While defensive realists recognize that the international system creates strong incentives to gain additional increments of power, they maintain that it is strategically foolish to pursue hegemony. That would amount to overexpansion of the worst kind. States, by their account, should not maximize power, but should instead strive for what Kenneth Waltz calls an appropriate amount of power  [19]  ; The War in Iraq and the neorealists : a troublesome case States operate in a self-help world almost always according to their own self-interest and do not subordinate their interests to the interests of other states, or to the interests of the so-called international community. The reason is simple: it pays to be selfish in a self-help world.  [20]   The decision made by the Bush administration to invade Iraq in 2003 can both be fit into neorealist theory, while some things also complicate neorealist theory. Realists believe that power is the controlling force in politics, and especially international politics, and power is defined as the ability to control outcomes. This is a hard thing to prove but the US certainly have shown that it is able to control outcomes, when US forces invaded Iraq without the consent of the UN or most other nations. Other countries like France also tried hard to persuade the US not to invade Iraq, which is also a sign of wanting to control outcomes. However, the US turned out to be a lot more powerful in this case. Mearsheimers theory of offensive realism states that the unrelenting pursuit of power means that great powers are inclined to look for opportunities to alter the distribution of world power in their favour. This means that the US, which is by far the greatest power in the West, will always be looking for opportunities to gain even more power at the expense of other states. Neorealist theory can explain the Iraq war in 2003 by saying that the US saw invading Iraq as an opportunity to gain even more power at the expense of foremost Iraq  [21]  . The invasion of Iraq can also be seen as a way for the US to prove to the world how powerful it is by not letting the US be taunted by Saddam Hussein, and by defying the opinion of the UN and other states  [22]  . The invasion of Iraq can be analysed as a strategy for gaining power or as a strategy for checking aggressors. By using war as a way of increasing their power, the US can exploit Iraqs economy for their own benefit and gain power by confiscating natural resources such as oil and foodstuffs  [23]  . Also, the US can gain strategic important land by gaining an ally in the new Iraq, which the US has helped rebuild. War has been used as a way of checking aggressors, which is basically a way of preventing other states from gaining power at their own expense. In reality this is done by deterring the aggressor, who in this case is Iraq. When the US did not think that Iraq was deterrable they had no other choice than to invade Iraq, according to offensive realism. This is because the structure of international politics forces states to be aggressive in order to survive. Before and during the 2003 Iraq war the US gave the impression that they were threatened by Iraq, which means that they were trying to deter Iraq, which was an aggressor. However, looking at the image as being just and democratic that the US clearly wants the world to think of them, it is hard to imagine that they would say anything different from what they did, no matter what their motives were. The conditions of international politics today for countries in the West demands them to be just and democratic or at least to appear that way and no state leader would say anything that could not be explained as being just and democratic, because it is the rules of survival in international politics today. This does not mean that states today in the West are only just and democratic, because they can do whatever they want to within reason. It just means that whatever they do will have to be camouflaged as just and democratic. However, the invasion of Iraq is hard to explain with offensive realism in some ways. According to offensive realism, the central aim of American foreign policy is to be the Hegemon in the Western Hemisphere and have no rival hegemon in Europe or Northeast Asia. How can offensive realism then explain that the US is invading a country in the Middle East, because this region should not interest the US enough to want to invade a country in other regions than Europe and Northeast Asia?  [24]  Mearsheimer has trouble seeing why the US have troops in Europe and Northeast Asia, and argues that they should be sent back, and therefore it is even harder to explain why they should have troops in a region in which the US government does not aspire to be a hegemon. Some of the most prominent realist scholars Mearsheimer and Waltz actually argued against invading Iraq, because they believed that it was unnecessary. All state leaders are rational according to realist theory, which means that Saddam Hussein is also rational although the US government kept arguing that he was irrational and therefore you could not reason with him  [25]  . Because realist theory holds that Saddam Hussein, like all state leaders, are rational, he is also deterrable because economic sanctions and threats of massive retaliation will always work on him, and they have in the past, realists argue. Therefore, neorealist theory tells us, that Saddam Hussein is not as big a threat to the US as the US government claimed and there was no reason to invade Iraq. If Saddam Hussein is rational he would acknowledge that Iraq is a weak state, and would never be foolish enough to attack such a powerful state as the US, because it is not wise to attack a state that has nuclear wea pons regardless of whether you have WMD or not. Conclusion It is impossible to create a theory about international politics, that is bullet-proof, because there will always be an element of unpredictability, which is unavoidable when humans interact. Neorealist theory has been able to predict the US foreign policy because a structural argument: the unipolar system and its instability. However, when the system level ceases to be the major constraint on behaviour, as expected by neorealism, there is much more scope for domestic determinants to drive policy  [26]  . Moreover, the war demonstrates the dangers of unipolarity in which the once-benign hegemon becomes malign  [27]  . It is no accident that small powers have traditionally put the highest value on international law and the UN and that the world hegemon uniquely deprecates the latter as unwanted constraints on its freedom to do as it pleases; their failure in the Iraq case makes for a less secure world for those at the bottom of the power hierarchy.

Informix Revenue Recognition Essay -- essays research papers

MEMORANDUM Re:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Group 2 - Case 2.1 â€Å"Software Revenue Recognition: Informix Corporation† Companies following GAAP can manage earnings by simply altering its accounting policy to select those accounting principles that benefit them the most. Entities have a host of reasons for selecting those principles that will paint the rosiest financial picture. Some would argue that the market demands it, as reflected by the stock price punishment for companies that differ by as little as one penny per share from prior estimates. External market pressures to â€Å"meet the numbers† conflicts with market pressure for transparency in financial reporting. Most fraudulent financial reporting schemes involve â€Å"earnings management† techniques, which inflate earnings, create an improved financial picture, or conversely, mask a deteriorating one. Premature revenue recognition is one of the most common forms of fraudulent earnings management and the case of Informix Software Inc. unfortunately illustrates closely this practice. The analysis of this case will shed light on issues like: v  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Informix’s revenue recognition policy prior to 1990 and its compliance with FASB Concept #5, FASB Statement #86, GAAP protocols. v  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Informix’s reactions to AICPA SOP in changing the revenue recognition procedures and Informix’s reason to prematurely and voluntarily implement the new policy v  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The changes that took place at Informix and the financial results reported during 1990 Furthermore, we will also evaluate the software industry practices and the regulations in place at that time. We conclude with lessons learnt and recommendations towards identifying and discouraging non-GAAP revenue recognition practices. 1986-1990 Revenue Recognition Policy at Informix Corporation REVENUE RECOGNITION POLICY BEFORE THE PROPOSED AICPA SOP Prior to 1990 the software industry had the FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Concept No.5 and the FASB Statement No. 86 to provide guidance in the revenue recognition concepts. The Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) No. 45 which discussed long-term construction type contract was also available but did not specify application for the software industry and so it was ignored. Before 1990 (refer exhibit 1) Informix recognized ... ...nbsp;  ($1,503.00)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($327.00) Net Income(Losses)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($10,311.00)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($11,146.00)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($1,503.00)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($327.00) Income per Share Before Extraordinary Items  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($0.80)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($1.00)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($0.13)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($0.05) Net Income (Loss) per Share (Fully Diluted)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($0.80)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($0.94)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($0.12)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($0.03) Total Assets  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($32,102.00)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($17,173.00)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($3,411.00)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($573.00) Long-Term Obligations  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00

Essay About Family: Inside the Nightstand :: Personal Narrative essay about my family

Inside the Nightstand We live together now, my boyfriend and I. It’s still new to both of us. 41 North State Street- that’s us. The quiet apartment lined by two rows of cement drive, an oak tree, and his step-mother’s opinion that we are â€Å"too young to be living together seriously.† We share our bedroom, square in shape, with the bed pressed tightly to the far wall, curtains embracing the narrow sides of the mattress. It’s ours- the bed, the room, the oak tree, and the way my toothpaste sticks to the sides of the white sink. The toothpaste doesn’t bother me, but it’s something I’m working on. We’re still getting use to all this. Sharing a bathroom is what we’re working on at the moment. Home alone I find myself organizing- shiny silverware drawers, old, half-bent novels, rows of mismatched socks. My mother calls and tells me I must get out more. I opt instead for making the bed in our square shaped room, but not before casting myself between the sheets, my bare back feeling warm against the patch of sun-stricken cotton. Beside the bed is the nightstand. My face shines innocently in a picture of myself taken with my father at age four. His dark bushy hair and matching 80’s mustache contrast with the pale frame of my body sitting on the counter beside him. Near that is the picture of my best friend Erin and me. We were in Paris. The close frame of the picture cuts off anything below our necks, hiding her belly that has recently become home to a tiny son- due to arrive early January. Inside the nightstand many things sit quiet: an old red wallet, a shirt with a broken left strap, a journal, and a stack of pictures from my 21st birthday party. I open the wallet to see if, by chance, I was smart enough to leave myself some backup cash. The slots inside lay empty, bent over from years of wear and tear. I remember how I used some of my graduation money from high school to buy this wallet.

The Truman Show Essay example -- Papers

'The Truman Show' is the story of a baby who is bought by a television company at birth. He becomes the star of the television programme, but he has no idea that his life is being filmed. All the people in his life, such as his wife, best friend, and colleagues are actors. There are no set scripts. There are three different worlds shown in the film: Truman's world, the producer's world, and the real world when we see the viewers watching the programme in the homes. The film starts when Truman is twenty-nine. We see him begin to become suspicious, by odd occurrences, such as a light falling from the sky, the way his friends and family advertise things, and people that accidentally get on the show and tell him things. Truman has always wanted to travel, but obviously he can't because the set of 'The Truman Show' is only one town. He saw his father 'die' whilst they were sailing together, and the fictional director of 'The Truman Show' did this so Truman would be thalassophobic, and wouldn't want to travel that way. Eventually he wants to get out of the town because of all these suspicions, and he gets delayed for ages trying to go by car. He plucks up the courage to go by boat and after sailing for a while he hits a backdrop with clouds painted on it. Christof's voice is heard and he speaks to Truman, though he can't be seen. He tries to persuade Truman to stay in the world he created for him, and tells him that he is the star of a television show. Truman finds a door, and after some conversing with Christof, he leaves. The director's intentions ------------------------- Peter Weir was the director of the film, 'The Tru... ...ch as a busy pub all watching, the two old ladies, the security guards, the man in the bath, and Sylvia. We also see shots from the producers control room, so in this last sequence we see from all of the three worlds that we se at different stages in the film. Up until now, the different worlds are shown, but they're quite spaced out in the film. In this last sequence, we see them a lot more regularly, instead of just Truman's. It almost seems that we see from the audience more to show that Truman is going to be in that world soon. People from the different worlds are coming together, because Truman's left, and the production team will all be out of jobs. This is important because there is a lot in the film saying that the real world is a bad place, but in the end it's where we all come from, and where we all belong.

Communication and Society

Can ideas from the past be useful in our modern day problems? The answer is yes, because people do not want to repeat the mistakes their ancestors made in the past. But some of the mistakes may be repeated due to it being inevitable. After World War II, the press was free to criticize whomever they want, and it appeared to the world that our press was irresponsible. And when Marcos became the president, he did not want the Media to overpower him, He was the president and he thought that having been seated in the top most position he should have absolute power, he couldn’t have the media scrutinizing him for every move he makes. Our grandparents and parents use to say that Marcos reign was the prime era of the Philippines because of the good deeds he has done for the country, but little did they know that his good image is due to the fact that Marcos has a leash on the mass media to prevent news of his somewhat malicious intentions on killing journalist who publish bad news about him. Media is a politician’s biggest opponent. The use of Media might have supported the government/politicians on campaigns but when fooled or did not kept their promise, The media has the power to ruin you in an indirect manner. When a government is hiding something, it will not last long for it to come out. As technology advances, being in a progressing country, truth be told, we always get left behind when it comes to new things. We have learned to make movies from the Western World, but in the present day, why couldn’t we make movies as good as them? Why can we only make films with so little special effects? Is it because we still lack the technology to do so? The problem is with us, Filipinos already made some animation films, but due to not having met the standards of American animations, we tend to ignore it. If we have supported our own, animation might have progressed in the world of Filipino film. Why is the trend in movies nowadays having an extramarital affair with another woman? Because it reflects the society, it shows the realism about the lives of ordinary citizen in a more glamorous and sophisticated manner, and we Filipinos love that, since many of us have lives that are routine and unexciting, we spice things up a bit by imagining life through celebrities, since they have the money, the status and influence we wish we had. Why don’t we Filipinos get tired of watching the same old stereotyped characters in melodramas? Why don’t we try themes that are based on sex, crime and drugs on television shows? The protagonist always win and the antagonist is always the loser. Why can’t the antagonist win in the end, instead of dying or be imprisoned? Since most of us are all Catholics, The Filipinos are not ready to take on new themes that would contradict the belief of the Church, that evil will finally defeat the good. That is the very reason why we are trapped in a never-ending cycle of protagonist vs. ntagonist themes. We sometimes think if the news that had been reported on the television or the newspaper is really news worthy? Much likely the â€Å"Amalayer† issue, should it have stayed on youtube instead? The problem with people today is the lack of common sense. An issue concerning the â€Å"Amalayer† situation, wherein a student confronted a lady guard who was working i n a train station and that the guard was accusing her of lying. The woman was identified as a student of a known school in Manila. This was videotaped by a passenger and was uploaded in the internet, this issue became a trend in Social Networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Common sense would tell most of us that causing a commotion in public would easily destroy not only our reputation, but have lessen our dignity as well. Basically the role of the mass media is to inform the people and comment about the issues regarding the society, but this issue doesn’t concern us at all, it is just a dispute between a student and an employee. Will we benefit something from watching this? It was basically posted in the internet so that other people could criticize and pass judgement on the girl to how she was treating the lady guard. In our modern society, the Philippine Media clearly reflects the society, since us Filipinos are easily influenced, an example is the Korean wave in 2009, bright and colourful outfits, hairstyles that I couldn’t even describe, eating Kimchi and most of us even studied the Korean language. The television was bombarded with Korean dramas. It is not only the Korean wave but the whole purpose of the media is to influence the society, we tend to imitate what we see in television. People go to a plastic surgeon, so they can look like their favourite celebrity, some would even go to the extent of having two of their ribs remove just to have a waistline they see on supermodels walking down the catwalk. These are the circumstances that will test a person’s ethical behaviour, from what they perceive on national television, if what they will acquire is good or bad, moral or immoral, appropriate or inappropriate. Ethics not only promotes a better individual but a better society.

Thomas Paine Common Sense

Common Sense is a document written by Thomas Paine who strongly advocates the urgency to have the colonies become an independent nation. He argues, that the nation has to break ties from the evils of Britain, in order to have an established society. On the surface, the document would seem to hold the ideas of freedom and democracy, but upon examining it closer, I believe that it was all propaganda, that was only to benefit a small elite group. Thomas Paine’s argued that under Britain’s rule, no one would ever benefit in society because it was made up of a monarchy. He felt that Britain had been fed enough, and that it should be put to a stop immediately. Neglect on the part of Britain was the only positive and negative aspects, that took place because of the following reasons. A sad and negative outcome because, the colonies were able to fend for themselves while Britain enriched herself while neglecting her people. The positive outcome was that colonies showed independence, by being able to sustain a comfortable lifestyle without Britain’s assistance. Most important, the laws of Britain were no longer able to address the people a new nation had emerged made up of many different backgrounds and religions. Paine continues his arguments by stating to the colonists, to think of why they left in the first place. If all was well back home, why did some many leave if it was all okay. He makes it clear that no one left voluntarily, but for an urgency to better themselves. Of course, we can not forget that some left for religious freedom but most left because, opportunity was available. Also, he felt that the colonies were already exercising their beliefs and ideas, because they exercised their freedom by making new laws and implying them to all. Profit was also another motive, having a free port that would enrich the lives of those who lived in the new independent nation.

4P analysis of Phoenix Essay

The success of Phoenix Satellite Television starts with the accurate positioning. According to research, in 2011, the coverage of Phoenix Chinese Channel in southern China including Gudgeon and Axing province enjoyed a dominant position among all the areas In China. Meanwhile, administration and enterprise network have become the main channels for people to watch Phoenix TV. More than 65% of people have watched Phoenix Chinese Channel through administration cable network specifically. The number is still gradually increasing in recent years. As it is dated on the 201 2 Annual Report of Phoenix Satellite Television Station Holdings Limited, the dally viewing of Phoenix Chinese Channel among business executives rose 28% year-on-year, and maintained as the fourth most popular channel compared with CATV General, CATV News, Dragon TV and so forth. Phoenix Chinese Channel as well as Phoenix Infernos Channel also receives a high level of audience attention in offices and hotels where people who enjoy high income such as general manager, CEO and partner of an organization are easy to be spotted. Apart from equines world, Phoenix TV has also gained its popularity in political field. Ghana Goal’, the member of the Political Bureau of the CPA Central Committee, described Phoenix TV as his old friend, praising the contribution that Phoenix has made to promote cultural communication between China and western world. Therefore, having examined all the characteristics of TV population, it is not hard to find the clear market segmentation of Phoenix. Individuals who own high educational background, possess a high position with high income are carefully targeted, which earns the information and news content tot Phoenix TV have been made to satisfy the tastes and interests of this group of viewers. By doing so, Phoenix defines exactly who they want to reach, making itself stand out from many other TV channels in Greater China. Based on its well-positioned target market, Phoenix has built some solid strategies from different perspectives to reach its audiences effectively. First of all, it is the product that is the essential part of any company and the most direct link between customers and an organization. The most important products of Phoenix, apparently, are programmers. Phoenix TV, including 6 channels, contains a variety of programmers, ranging from political and financial news and current affairs through live broadcast and talk shows to films, music reviews as well as mini-series in both China and foreign regions. Programmers of Phoenix are quite comprehensive and insightful, especially In Phoenix Chinese Channel. Besides Its core products, Phoenix has made an effort in multi-media platform. Phoenix New Media Limited, one of the subleases of Phoenix, has formed a partnership with the British Broadcasting Corporation and the National Film Board of Canada successively to provide foreign regaining on Phoenix’s digital media platforms in China. At the same time, Phoenix Metropolis Holdings Limited engages in the outdoor media business In China by offering outdoor advertising services on giant-sized LED panels. Since the Internet tofu developing multi-media products indeed helps Phoenix to remain competitive in this new age. Another strategy that Phoenix employed to adapt to the new marketing environment is to think global, act local’. The launch of Phoenix CANE and Phoenix North America Chinese Channel could serve as a great example. Focusing on the overseas Chinese, tot two channels contain several well-known programmers such as Asian Journal and Good Morning China, as well as some in-house programmers including Europe Today and Experience America. Whilst those well-known programmers are responsible for the brand building of Phoenix and keeping overseas audience informed on the situation in China, in-house programmers meet the demands of understanding the local life of foreign countries. That is to say, local news and cultural information provide a practical help towards overseas Chinese. Due to the successful use of marketing strategy, Phoenix is now experiencing the ‘maturity eroded in its product life cycle after the process of introduction and growth. The story of Phoenix is about to reach its climax. The Phoenix’s strategy of pricing is not uncommon in media industry. As the Phoenix Satellite TV has grounded in Gudgeon Cable TV Network, each family only needs a set-top box and 25-RHOMB monthly fee to subscribe the Phoenix TV. As for the products via other media platforms, the price of Phoenix Weekly has been raised because of the growth of production cost, but the sales are not largely affected. Basically, watching Phoenix TV programmers online is free. If people would like to pay ARM monthly, they could enjoy all programmers in high-definition format without any advertisement. The third significant factor, place, or specifically distribution, could influence the sales of products greatly. Different products need different distribution strategies. In the case of Phoenix TV, as a satellite broadcaster, the primary distribution method is by Assist AS. However, unsurprisingly, there is another way in mainland China. As Ill Change mentioned in the interview with the Washington Post in 2005, ‘only hotels, universities and certain state employees were supposed to receive Phoenix, but students began installing satellite dishes illegally to pick it up. The censorship is still strict, but it would not dampen the enthusiasm of people to watch Phoenix. Although the specific approaches in mainland China, Hong Kong and other countries are slightly different, the main distribution strategies could be divided into two categories: direct distribution and indirect distribution. The traditional television and magazines allow people to obtain the news content and inform ation from broadcasters directly, whilst the Internet become the middleman during the process of distribution. TV programmers could be seen on the official website of Phoenix, and readers could find the magazine’s article in APS. With the advancement of Internet, indirect distribution may become the most common distribution strategy of media products. Among all the TV stations. In this sense, the most crucial strategy is to construct in- house celebrities covering hosts, reporters and commentators. Sally We, Chin Lulu and Tiger Huh, they are all superstars that have been made by Phoenix. Their strong personal style not only becomes the symbol of themselves, but makes their programmers as personal brands. In other words, the individual image and reputation have been related to the programmers closely. Therefore, it would be a situation either double-win or double-lose. Besides, the use of cultural celebrities has also become a wise choice for Phoenix to improve its reputation. Hosting the programmer Eight Minutes Reading, Liana Wended, for instance, successfully attracts more attention from his previous readers. Apart from this, social media has been considered as a useful platform for promotion. Like many other TV stations, Phoenix owns various accounts on different platform including, Webb and Weight.

Herpeutic relationships in nursing

For Carl Rogers, discussing therapeutic relationships suggests that the relationship between the one being helped and the helper is a mutual one. Buber (1966) opposed and disagreed with Rogers and suggested that, because it is always the patient that comes to the professional for help and not the other way around, the relationship can never be a mutual one. Mutualism is defined as ‘the relation between two different species of organisms that are interdependent; each gains benefits from the other', (dictionary. eference. com (2008). Campbell (1984) said the role of a nurse in a therapeutic relationship is; somebody who shares freely with others, but does not interfere and allow others to make and define their own journey. Patterson (1985) believes that the relationship itself is central and quoted that ‘counselling or psychotherapy is an interpersonal relationship. Note that I don't say that counselling or psychotherapy involves an interpersonal relationship-it is an inter personal relationship'. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) influence a therapeutic relationship throughout The Code (2008), it quotes ‘you must listen to the people in your care and respond to their concerns and preferences and you must make arrangements to meet people's language and communication needs'. It encourages nurses to develop their relationship with the patient through the use of communication skills and through educating the patient about their illness. A therapeutic relationship is based on the communication between the nurse and the client themselves. You can read also Coronary Artery Disease Nursing Care Plan Communication involves almost every aspect of our interactions with others; and it plays an important part in any relationship. The holistic approach helps us, as nurses to encourage/support and authorize the patient with the accurate knowledge and understanding in order to help them to recover from their illness. If the nurse has the aptitude to communicate skilfully with the patient, throughout developing a therapeutic relationship, the patient will be more eager and willing to communicate and be more open with the nurse. Within a therapeutic relationship, trust is essential (holisticlocal. co. uk), and helps the nurse to increase their chance in healing the patient to overcome their illness and gain their respect. Patients expect the nurse to have the essential knowledge and to be able to display caring attitudes, so that they are able to trust the nurse and assign their care to the Professional. Breaching trust can make it very hard to re-establish it and therefore if a promise is made it should be adhered to. Mitchell and Cormack(1998) agree with this as they believed ‘patients themselves value therapeutic relationships which offer respect, trust, and care and it seems that such relationships may in themselves prove to be healing in the broadest sense' (Mitchell & Cormack (1998). In relationships constantly agreeing/ disagreeing with the other person on every occasion is not necessary as this could lead to aggravation, annoyance, and eventual dissatisfaction. Particular skills are needed to be adequately assertive without damaging the relationship. There are a variety of key skills which incorporate inside this relationship. Listening attentively and fully taking in to consideration what the patient is saying is perhaps the single most important skill that must be accomplished by the nurse. Listening to the patient without instantly giving suggestions and advice or diminishing the client's opinion, is central to the establishment of developing a relationship. Listening refers to more than hearing what the patient says and Rogers (1980) believed that ‘In some sense attending and listening means that you lay aside yourself; this can only be done by persons who are secure enough in themselves that they know they will not get lost in what may turn out to be the strange and bizarre world of the other, and that they can comfortably return to their own world when they wish', he is referring to ‘getting lost in the world of the other'. Burnard (1997) describes the art of ‘attending' as the act of truly focusing on the other person, consciously making ourselves aware of what they are saying and what they are trying to communicate. Vital to the establishment and construction of a therapeutic relationship is the nurses own capability to use an extensive range of communication skills, strategies and interpersonal skills. Effective and successful communication is a necessary aspect in producing and preserving a successful relationship. Regardless of the surroundings and the duration of interaction, the nurse acts in therapeutic ways to supervise the limitations of the relationship. This could involve tasks such as, the nurse introducing themselves to the client and addressing the patient by their preferred name/title, or showing a genuine interest in, and compassion for the client. In a therapeutic relationship between the nurse and the patient the power tends to be unequal, although nurses may not observe themselves as having power and authority in the relationship. The nurse should always try and remember that the patient is in a vulnerable position and due to the nurse's amount of health care knowledge and her position in the health care system the patient may feel more vulnerable than they already are. The misuse of power /authority can be known as abuse and using it appropriately enables the nurse to maintain paramount professionalism as well as dealing with the patients requirements. Empathy is also part of the structure of a nurse and patient relationship. Burnard (1995) defines empathy as ‘the ability to perceive accurately the feelings of another person and to communicate this understanding to him'. The nurse should be able to view the patient's illness and circumstances from their position and not look down upon them from an exalted position and the patient should not be made to feel vulnerable. Millenson concludes by stating ‘accurate empathy is always empowering, since it represents an understanding and acceptance of the speakers feelings' (Millenson, 1995). Respecting the client and their dignity at all times is fundamental to the relationship between the nurse and the client. The nurse should appreciate and understand the patient's religion, culture and the other aspects related to the patient themselves and the patient's background, and whilst providing care these factors should be taken in to account. Respect is not an attitude; it is an element that nurses should ‘master' and when showing respect nurses should make a difference in the way a patient is seen. Mayeroff (1971) believes that it is ‘more than good intentions and warm regards'. There are certain skills that users can use in attending to clients, in order to generate a therapeutic environment. They can be summarised in the acronym S-O-L-E-R. Sit facing the patient squarely; adopting a posture that indicates involvement is important. Open posture, crossed arms and legs illustrate lessened participation/availability; an open posture shows that you are open to the client and to what they have to say. Lean slightly towards the other person to enhance communication. Establish eye contact with the patient, keeping it fairly steady but not staring. Relax, and don't be nervous, adopt a comfortable posture and this will also helps put the client at ease. People might use these guidelines differently in relation to culture and individuality, so they should not be taken as absolute rules. Therapeutic relationships are also encouraged, supported and developed by members of the multi-disciplinary team, for example; doctors. Doctors support patients by educating them about their illness and also by developing a therapeutic relationship with the patient. They have to consider professional intimacy and also the method in which they communicate with the patient, since giving bad news is very different to giving good news and they also have to think about their facial expressions and body language and show empathy. This also relates to other members of the Multi Disciplinary team (MDT), such as physiotherapists, psychologists, dieticians etc. During practice, I have had to think about my communication skills, key elements and professional intimacy, on an occasion, were I communicated with the relatives of a terminally ill patient. The wife of this patient was crying, and therefore in order to comfort her, I talked to her, held her, hand and gave her a hug. The communication skills I used were Empathy, which Mayeroff (1971) believes is an essential part of caring. I also used verbal communication and non verbal communication, which is described as ‘an awareness of your body and mind as a source of communication' Egan(1990) and also showing respect, Rogers (1961, 1967) ‘You are there to help clients, not to judge them', following Standal (1954), who calls this kind of respect ‘unconditional positive regard' Egan(1990).

Harmonization of Commercial Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Harmonization of Commercial Law - Essay Example 1. Preamble Law is vital to dealing with any disputes that arise out of human interaction. Over the centuries, laws have been developed to facilitate human activities in myriad spheres including business and commercial transactions. In the earliest days such laws were generally confined to regional borders and other such boundaries where a single government had enough authority to enforce such laws. However, increasing human interaction necessitated the expansion of trade to beyond frontiers where any one government operated thus leading to a certain liquidity in international business and commerce. On the one hand such liquidity has helped businesses to grow and expand into newer markets and on the other hand these interactions have resulted in disputes that are not covered by the regular cover of law. The historical evolution of laws in various nations and cultures has meant that laws are differentiated around the world. Hence, national laws may not be able to provide legal cover i n transnational and international commercial interactions. In order to deal with this problem there has been talk and action to develop a harmonised set of laws that govern international commercial transactions. ... In order to boost enforceability there has been a teeming move to harmonise such laws so that each nation or other such territorial or other such distinction has uniform laws. This approach to commercial international law has resulted in yet more unique circumstances than ever before. Nations and other such entities have begun framing laws to govern international commercial transactions which are merely similar in nature. It has been argued that these laws are more of a problem in themselves rather than a solution to the predicament at hand. The laws dealing commercial international transactions are seen to be inherently flawed in the manner that they are drafted and enforced in leading to more problems than before. In order to deal with this dilemma it has been suggested that the more appropriate approach would be to devise methods that would encourage states to draft and enforce private dispute laws in the context of international commercial transactions. The current approach relie s heavily on delineating various rights, roles and responsibilities of parties involved in international commercial transactions rather than dealing with dispute resolution upfront. It has been suggested that international commercial law can be simplified if the enforcing government concentrates on dispute resolution than delineating rights because it would allow involved parties to make better contractual choices. This text will attempt to analyse this claim in relation to international commercial law by looking at how harmonisation is supposed to function in principle and how it is actually being used. The shortcomings in current law harmonisation techniques will be looked into fully including drafting and enforcing laws. This will be taken further into

Criminal Justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Criminal Justice - Essay Example In the correction, responsibilities of prison are the safekeeping of inmates, maintenance and improving welfare of inmates. Safekeeping requires that inmates are controlled; securely locked away, while giving them some moments for recreation, counseling, and education. Despite welfare efforts, inmates feel dehumanized and suffer condemnation and rejection by society and as a result breed ill feelings. When subjected to solitary confinement, which is one of prison’s recourse, psychological effects results to â€Å"dissatisfactions in life, delusions, panic feelings, claustrophobia, depression and madness†. Imprisonment is a host to other related psychological problems that results to trauma, mental and physical illnesses to some. As of 2006, the Bureau of Justice System estimated that there are about 705,000 jailed persons who are mentally ill, and that its growing number affects the correction policy of the government(Pollard, Anita, n.d.) Inmates receive health care while incarcerated, but the problem begins when they are released. Many of them, after spending years in prison are unemployed, have no means of livelihood, experience difficulties in reintegration to society, and lack health care insurance. As psychological problems become statewide occurrences, and reintegration to society even becomes more difficult upon their release from prison, the government is looking for possibilities that they be covered by Medicaid to access health care. Likewise, as a standard procedure, inmates go into various forms of counseling and physical activities while in prison. As trauma becomes a psychological problem by many of the inmates, researches have been done by medical practitioners on how to address psychological problems of inmates. Trauma, that has been tangled with experiences of mental illness, substance abuse, and behavioral problems often results to psychiatric disorder. (Wallace, B.C and

Norman v Future Publishing Limited Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Norman v Future Publishing Limited - Essay Example The appellant’s original complaint went as stated in the originating Statement of Claim went on to allege that the publication of the words used had the result of placing the appellant into â€Å"ridicule, mockery and contempt.†Ã‚  Ã‚   It was also alleged that the words used in the publication had caused serious injury to the appellant’s â€Å"personal and professional reputation and in any event to her feelings.†   Lord Buckley, the judge at first instance struck out Norman’s Statement of Claim, essentially ruling that the words used, when taking together with the entire article could not be construed in the manner pleaded by Norman.   Norman then appealed to the Court of Appeal against the lower court’s decision under Order 82, Rule 3A of the Rules of Supreme Court, 1994 which provides that any party to a defamatory action may apply to a judge in chambers for an order â€Å"determining whether or not the words complained of are capabl e of bearing† certain meanings or the meanings complained on in the originating process.   The Order goes on to provide that if the judge upon hearing such an application agrees that the words complained of are not capable of â€Å"bearing the meaning† alleged in the pleadings he is at liberty to â€Å"dismiss the claim or make such other order as he deems just and fair.   The Court of Appeal went on to state that although appeals under this Order are typically discouraged,   when the result of the order is to dismiss the action altogether as it did in Norma’s case, or to take away from the jury the consideration.

Doing Business Globally & Internationally Essay - 1

Doing Business Globally & Internationally - Essay Example In addition, the effects of the exchange rates movements on the partnership are highlighted in the paper. Finally, an analysis of the various aspects of international business is identified in the paper. International business entails the concept of cross-border trade activities between different countries and organizations. The paper examines various aspects of international business by evaluating the partnership between Kellogg and Wilmar International. The essay examines the environmental factors and trends that contributed to the partnership. Moreover, there is a comparative analysis of the first and second entry attempt by Kellogg Company into the Chinese market. The national and organization cultures highlighted in the case study are examined critically in the essay. In addition, the effects of the exchange rates movements on the partnership are highlighted in the paper. Finally, an analysis of the various aspects of international business is identified in the paper. 2 Wilmer International Limited refers to an investment company that operates in various business segments in different parts of the world. The company business activities encompass different parts such as processing and merchandising of lauric and palm oil as well as refining and processing soybean. The company also operates in other segments, which include sales, packaging of various products such as edible oils, flour, grains and rice (Aswathappa 27). The company also engages in the cultivation and milling of palm oil and sugar (Wilmar-international.com 2015). The Chinese economy ranks among the fastest expanding economies in the world. In addition, the authorities in the countries have diversified their political and economic approaches in order to cater for the emergence of globalization of trade (Alon 32). 4 The Chinese government has liberalized the criteria of using the internet that is crucial for marketing activities. Initially, the government controlled most of

Not Finishing Well Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Not Finishing Well - Essay Example We accept warfare or conflict as a normal part of life. The Divine Teachers want us to free ourselves from this condition by not looking backward but instead, by looking ahead. In Christian spirit, one sees that the most essential discipline is the nearness with Christ. Nearness implies the fidelity in carrying the teachings of Christ and applying them to one's daily life. This gives a person some plans or purpose in life. It is incumbent upon the followers of Christ to promote amity or harmony among the believers. They should enlighten and educate children to instill a growing hope. Ignoring this call is like a journey back, a failure. In his article Longevity with Distinction and Dignity-Finishing Well, Pastor Eugene Harder echoes that "Jesus died to remove the curse that prevented people from finishing well." We are reaching a new era in the history of mankind. And springtime is knocking at the door. For our brief sojourn on this life-giving planet, we could say that even though we did not start well, we could indeed find time to finish well.

Water Provision Methods (Saudi Arabia) Research Paper

Water Provision Methods (Saudi Arabia) - Research Paper Example Water plays a crucial role in the quality of life of the inhabitants, but it is also an important requirement for economic prosperity, for example in a growing industry and in the agricultural sector. Together, both variables will cause a further increase in water demand in Saudi Arabia, which cannot be covered completely through ground water resources as well as the inexistent river systems or lakes (Al-Zahrani & Baig, 2011.p.604). Given the pressing industrial and domestic requirements Saudi Arabia must come up with a reliable and sustainable means of supplying water to its growing population. One of the notable undertakings is the Kingdom’s efforts to sea water desalination. Desalination plants are installed at the coast and water is carried by huge pipeline systems to the major consumption centers in the up-country (Jeffreys, 2011.p.299). The country cannot rely on surface water due to low precipitation and high evaporation rates, this makes surface water scarce. The other option is ground water which comes from the water table statistics indicate that the country draws 45% of its water supply from the water table. This makes Saudi Arabia number one in the world in terms of groundwater withdrawals. Much of this is taken from fossil aquifers, which are not replenished by rainfall or underground water flows (Jeffreys, 2011.p.299). ... There are few chances of expanding production and in real terms, in arid environments the recharge is not significant (Jeffreys, 2011.p.299). Although the cost of well head water is low, the main costs lie in the transfer costs, as in pipelines and pumping stations (Al-Zahrani & Baig, 2011.p.605). The principal aquifers are known, as are some of the areal changes, which affect the porosity, permeability, and transmissivity of the aquifer. Few areas remain which could significantly supplement the aquifer supply (Alsharhan, 2001.p. 138). Water importing might be a sound alternative but is laden with numerous uncertainties and the flow and supply is not solely dependent on Saudi’s decisions and factors. Desalination Desalination of sea water and brackish groundwater is the main alternative adopted in the Kingdom and one that is likely to serve the Kingdom well into the future. At the moment, there are about 32 plants in the Kingdom and plans remain underway to construct additiona l plants to supplement the growing demand of clean water. At the moment, the Kingdom is constructing a megaproject, Ras Al-Khair, which will be the largest desalination plant in the world and is expected to produce 1,037,000m3 of water daily (Al-Zahrani & Baig, 2011.p.604). The biggest challenge in the desalination process is the constant input of energy which the Kingdom has in abundance, but something the Saudi government is also increasingly conscious of using wisely. Desalination already accounts for more than half of the kingdom’s domestic oil consumption, and the demand for water and electricity co-production is growing by 8 percent every year (Ibp USA, International Business Publications, USA 2009.p.126). This is a challenge as oil will always be a precious commodity, and

Role government of each artical Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Role government of each artical - Research Paper Example This will in turn allow the participants in the market to start putting the resources back to work in the sectors that they consider as most beneficial. This paper aims at considering the major roles of the government in the economic stability, with the inclusion of the government-run institutions. In the previous decades of lecturing countries that are developing on the ways to stimulate economic growth and emerge from economic crisis through strong government policies, some economists and U.S policymakers are discarding all the advice when subjected to the first test of major crisis. This is specifically true when taking advice regarding the accumulation of more debt (Shah, Rajiv, Zhijie, and Harini 85). For instance, the fiscal responsibility summit held by the U.S President Barack Obama last February disclosed that he knows the urgent requirement for fiscal responsibility. But the recent enactment of the Congress of the America Reinvestment and Recovery Act and the budget that was proposed by the government makes the objectives of a budget that is sustainable budget and it addresses the longer-term fiscal properties of the nation such as the entitlement liabilities, and even more elusive. Government deficits and government spending increase automatically when there are economic downturns that arise due to falling tax revenues and more demands on the social-safety-net provisions. Such spending can be helpful in attaining stability on the economy since it does not occur following legislative acts but automatically, and the money that is spent is usually needed most at the time of spending. Spending and borrowing for the purpose of economy stimulation by the use of legislative discretion is riskier since it is more difficult to wait for the right moment. The spending of the funds does not often take place until a long period has passed after the downturn occurs and has the ability of prolonging the downturn through crowding out

The Childhood section of Dubliners Essay Example for Free

The Childhood section of Dubliners Essay From your reading of the two stories in the Childhood section of Dubliners how is the encounter between different generations portrayed and what do you think is its role? The stories An Encounter and Sisters contain objective viewpoints about the older generation, and are told from the perspective of a young boy. There is the implication in both stories that the older generation is associated with religion which plays a paralysing role in the society of Dublin. The role of the encounter between the different age groups demonstrates the conflict of belief that occurs between young children growing up, forming their own opinions and beliefs, and their elders, who are trying to impress attitudes and traditions on them that seem unnatural to them. There is a suggestion that its role is also representative of the turmoil which Catholic Ireland found itself in during this period. The young boy, from whose perspective we see the elder generation, does not appear to hold the respect he ought to for his elders. In Sisters, the child feels bored by Old Cotter due to his endless talk about the distillery. The presence of Old Cotter and also that of the strange man in An Encounter are seen as equally undesirable by the narrator, and both are referred to in derogatory terms: Old Cotter as a tiresome old fool, and the nameless man by Mahony as a queer old josser. The children feel that they have no need for these men in their lives and it is significant that the word josser is slang meaning priest, exemplifying the disregard the boys feel towards a religion that has been imposed upon them. In addition to these two characters, in An Encounter Father Butler is a primary reason for the desire the boys feel for escape from the rebuke during the sober hours. Father Butler clearly has close connection with religion and their dislike of him once more is representative of the hostility the boys feel towards Catholicism and its effect on Dublin. The character of Father Flynn possesses a didactic role over the young boy, and we are told he taught [him] a great deal. Whether this teaching was desired by or imposed upon the narrator is not made clear but it is apparent that the priest instilled a certain amount of trepidation and awe, as well as admiration, in the boy, due to the adjectives used to describe his appearance, ancient, truculent, grey and massive, with black cavernous nostrils. The priests description is symbolic of the way in which the narrator feels about religion; one of the main roles that the encounter with the elder generation plays. The colours described are dark and intimidating, the atmosphere in his room was smoke-filled and one of lethargy, just as religion would have seemed harsh, restrictive and uninspiring. The man in An Encounter, also representing religion does not give a good impression of this central aspect of Irish society, he is perverted and contradictory in his words, he seemed to have forgotten his recent liberalismhe would whip a boy he would love that. One role of this encounter is to demonstrate the confusion that the boy feels about religion, before his eyes he sees contradiction in a religious figure, perverted and unnerving contradiction at that, which can only serve to add yet more doubt to his wavering faith. In both scenarios the narrator feels relieved when he escapes his elders whom he finds unnerving, indeed the epiphany in Sisters is the moment where he realises that he feels a sensation of freedomby his death. In the same way in An Encounter the boy seizes the first available moment to escape from the strange man, I stood up abruptlysaying that I was obliged to go. There is an urgency to get away from these mysterious characters although this is not apparent to the boy in the context of Father Flynn until he is involuntarily released by his death. Strangely, in the two stories the child feels an affinity to the elder generation and thus there is a sense of guilt due to the relief he experiences when they are absent. In Sisters the boy definitely admires the priest and despite feeling entrapped and paralysed by the religious implications attached to his role in society, there is also a certain empathy he feels towards him. The duties of the priesthood were too much for [Father Flynn] and smothered him, just as the requirements the boy must conform to in terms of religion are too demanding on his confused and inquisitive mind. In An Encounter the sense of empathy appears at the epiphany of the story, where the narrator realises that, like the man, he had always despised [Mahony] a little. This sudden, unexpected revelation that has been brought about by the unsettling words of the man demonstrates that the role of the older generation in this scenario has been to help the boy be true to himself and admit his own beliefs, which may inadvertently help him to accept his true religious feelings. The language and sentence structure used in Sisters helps to emphasise the generation gap perceived by the reader, words such as endless which imply the length of Old Cotters life as well as his boring talk, the threatening words that indicate the unapproachable appearance of Father Flynn due to his age and social significance, blackened, solemn and copious. Where the narrator describes how Father Flynn impressed his knowledge upon him, he lists the topics that he was taught, which shows not only the amount of subjects the two covered, but also symbolises the sheer length and content of the priests long life. The encounters used by Joyce in these two stories play conflicting roles, and contradiction is evident even within the same story; the boy describes a sense of anxiety to escape from his elders, yet expresses guilt at these feelings. He feels trapped by religion, yet sympathises with a priest about the constraints it makes on society, surprising as such a figure should be the embodiment of the restriction he finds it hard to abide by. The distance expressed both in terms of age and in opinion shows how the boy feels controlled by a generation he cannot relate to. This conveys a sense of paralysis affecting the younger generation of Ireland, a generation controlled by its elders and their religion, a religion which controls rather than directs its pupils. The encounters that make up such an important part of the two stories serve to demonstrate the alienation the children of Ireland feel towards their elders and their social situation: there simply is not the same strength of feeling towards religion in their lives, an empowering force on their lives and in Dublin.