Exterminate All the Brutes Summary free essay sample

Lindqvist has written more than thirty books of essays, aphorisms, autobiography, documentary prose, travel and reportage.. [4][3] He occasionally publishes articles in the Swedish press, writing for the cultural supplement of the largest Swedish daily, Dagens Nyheter, since 1950. [5] He is the recipient of several of Swedens most prestigious literary and journalistic awards. His work is mostly non-fiction, including (and often transcending) several genres: essays, documentary prose, travel writing and reportages. 4] He is known for his works on developing nations in Africa and the Saharan countries, China, India, Latin America and Australia. In the 1960s, partly inspired by the works of Hermann Hesse, Linqvist spent two years in China. He became fascinated by the legend of the Tang dynasty painter, Wu Tao Tzu, who, when standing looking at a mural of a temple he had just completed, suddenly clapped his hands and the temple gate opened. He went into his work and the gates closed behind him. We will write a custom essay sample on Exterminate All the Brutes Summary or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page [6] His later works, from the late 1980s, tend to focus on the subjects of European imperialism, colonialism, racism, genocide and war, analysing the place of these phenomena in Western thought, social history and ideology. These topics are not uncontroversial. In 1992, Lindqvist was embroiled in heated public debate, when his book Exterminate all the Brutes was attacked for its treatment of the Second World War and the Holocaust. Opponents accused Lindqvist of reducing the extermination of the Jewish people to a question of economical and social forces, thereby disregarding the impact of Nazi ideology and anti-Semitism and what they viewed as the unique historical specificity of the Holocaust. [4] Some of the harshest attacks were launched by Per Ahlmark, who declared Lindqvist to be a Holocaust revisionist. This prompted a furious response by Lindqvist, who considered it a defamatory smear at no point had he ever called into question the Nazi responsibility for, or the number of dead in, the Holocaust. Regarding the original dispute, Lindqvist retorted that his main argument was correct: the Nazi quest for Lebensraum had at its core been an application of the expansionist and racist principles of imperialism and colonialism, but for the first time applied against fellow Europeans rather than against the distant and dehumanized peoples of the Third World. [4] However, he agreed that the long tradition of anti-Semitism in European and Christian thought had given the anti-Jewish campaign of the Nazis a further ideological dimension, and amended later editions of the book to better reflect this.

Memoirs of an Ex Prom Queen

Memoirs of an Ex Prom Queen This is essay is based on the book ‘Memoirs of an Ex –Prom Queen’ by Alix Kates Shulman. This work explores the barriers and boundaries faced by Sasha in her search for peace and happiness. Further, the essay discusses in detail how the barriers affect Sasha and the significance of the same in relation to the major theme of the book. Of key interest as well is how Sasha deals with the barriers or manages to live with them or tolerate them in her life.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Memoirs of an Ex Prom Queen specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Sasha, the major character in the book, was born and raised in a middle class family. She was brilliant, smart, beautiful and very philosophical in her approach to issues. Whenever a challenge confronted her, she had developed a mechanism of finding solutions in philosophical thinking (Shulman 1976, 78). She believed that no matter how challenging a situation was, having a philosophical insight was tantamount in realizing its influence in her life. Sasha faced a lot of life barriers and struggles like most girls of her time. Some of the challenges that girls in Sasha’s world faced included job discrimination against women, sexual harassment, economic exploitation and disenfranchisement of the women (Shulman 1976, 78). Women were alienated from themselves through societal double standards as concerns social life especially when it came to sexual life. Like all girls or women of her time, Sasha was deeply concerned about beauty or how to remain appealing to men. The obsession with beauty is epitomized in Sasha’s fascistic tendencies. Sasha becomes acutely concerned about beauty after she wins a prom at the age of 15. The win of a prom reawakened in her the adolescence related beauty concerns. The concern for beauty in her life is heightened in her early 20’s. This heightened concern was triggered by a realization that her braces were wearing off and that her 30s were approaching fast. Her anxiety consisted in not being sure what her 30s would be like. She wanted to be done with the 20s so that the 30s in which she hopes to find true love, peace and happiness would come. This quest leads her in serious considerations of who she is, why she is the way she is and whether she will ever find happiness in life. As the book unfolds, when the 30s come to her, she is not able to arrive at or achieve the much anticipated love, peace and happiness. This state of affairs as depicted by the author results from the number of barriers or boundaries encountered by Sasha. The first barrier to her finding happiness was the bad early sexual experiences. As Sasha narrates her story, she reveals that boys in her high school were bullies and her first sexual experience was coerced. The second barrier to Sasha’s attainment of fulfillment is her promiscuous activities. In her 20’s she had already had sexu al experience with a number of men. The sexual experiences were not good for her self esteem. For example, the affairs with her University professor negatively affected her self perception and further her perception of men. She thought that having sexual experience with men would help her by improving her self esteem and confidence. However, the opposite is what happened.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Men’s attitude comes out as Sasha’s barrier to happiness because although her first marriage was perfect, the man had many ‘nos’ and ‘donts’. She later married again but the men continually disappointed (Shulman 1976, 116). Sasha and the men seem out rightly mismatched. All her marriages didn’t work for her and lasted for a very short period ending in divorce. The troubles in her marriages always send her living in the past or remi niscing over her life. Discomfort with this kind of life send her on a goose chase, trying to find how best to live in the present. Apart from promiscuity before marriage, unfaithfulness was a big barrier to fulfillment in Sasha’s marriage. Sasha didn’t live up to the promise of marriage which involves faithfulness, commitment and honesty. Somehow, it appears lust continued to plaque her; a sort of obsession (Shulman 1976, 46). While married to Frank, Sasha still went a head to have exclusive sexual excursion in Spain (Shulman 1976, 32). Frank was the typical man, who believed in order and a form of traditional adherence to marriage precepts. He was totally unaware of her unfaithfulness and continued to try out ways of expressing his undying love for her (Shulman 1976, 183). He knew nothing about his wife’s secret mission or trips to places like Spain. While frank still believed in love, Sasha was impatient with him. She restlessly looked forward to the earliest opportunity so as to abandon the marriage. Sexually transmitted diseases also played a role in barring Sasha from finding satisfaction and rest in life. She went to Italy due to a quest for some form of personal reawakening. She spent much of her time in Italy doing personal reflection, reading and brooding about her sex life. She eagerly yearned for an opportunity to experience Italian romance. Then she met Leonardo they fell in love. Unfortunately, Leonardo is diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease; gonorrhea, and he accuses her of having had the infection (Shulman 1976, 132). Whenever a love escapade went awry, Sasha would go digging into her past and one issue was sticky for her. The loss of virginity and related innocence troubled her conscience or kept coming to her as often as her problems persisted (Shulman 1976, 112). Sasha had a unique family life as compared to the young women of her age. Despite being born in a ‘good family’, she lost her virginity a t an early age. This had a huge psychological impact on her life making the meaningfulness of sexuality elusive to her.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Memoirs of an Ex Prom Queen specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The final barrier to Sasha’s finding rest, peace and happiness is her obsession with beauty. The issue was how to remain attractive even after age 30 (Shulman 1976, 113). In effort to find the kind of beauty that would make her attractive even when her body begins to sag, Sasha started out the wild goose chase of shambled relationships. Obsession with beauty made Sasha selfish; she focused too much on her own desires than what others thought of her or the effects of her actions. The effects of the barriers on Sasha’s life are evidenced in her restless life style. She desired to find rest and peace at last, however, her initiatives failed because of the mentioned barriers. It was her desire to accomplish and live more meaningfully. When it became apparent that she could not continue in her tracks, she goes seeking therapy. In one of the sessions with the therapists, she discusses the possibility of having extra marital affair because she felt that it was good for her and her lifestyle since she didn’t feel comfortable in having a steady partner in marriage. In therapy, she reveals her desire to divorce and go back to her first husband. As she explains, her initial plan was to leave her parents so she could be free to enjoy the world on her own. From the therapeutic encounter, it is clear that Sasha need to reconsider her thoughts about self and others. Another important aspect of therapy is the realization the Sasha need to take a firm stance in terms of what would fulfill her life that is not depended on others’, especially men’s, approval or admiration. The barriers that Sasha faces are critical in understanding the ills or factors that disadvantage d women in society. Through the different barriers and challenges that Sasha faces, the writer is insightfully brings out the importance of self respect among women. The self respect should come with realization of self worthy after establishing a self identity. A woman’s self identity should not be depended on the approval of men. It is the warped idea that a woman’s worthy is depended on men’s approval or attractiveness that leads to the obsession with beauty among many women. The theme of beauty as an inner attribute as oppose to just physical appearance is well illustrated through Sasha’s story. In conclusion, Sasha through her barriers and life experiences reflects women’s struggles and obsessions in society. Sasha lived in a society in which women’s needs were not fully appreciated by men. Women were more or less seen as sex objects. There were no equal job opportunities for women and men continued to take advantage. Sasha is a woman w ho represents the reality but also indicates in which direction women empowerment efforts should focus.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Reference List Shulman, A. K. (1976). Memoirs of an Ex-Prom Queen. 6th Ed. New York: Bantam Books

Art History Rembrandt's Lucretia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Art History Rembrandt's Lucretia - Essay Example She made the decision only because of unfortunate circumstances, and she would have lived a happy life but for them. Being the young and virtuous wife of Collantinus she was happy till she was raped by Prince Tarquinius after which she condemns herself to death with enormous historical repercussions where the kingdom ceases to exist. Rembrandt has caught Lucretia in her last highly anguished moments of death invading her body. He has used impasto, palette knife and scoring for further affect. The composition is frontal with triangular balance. Art historians agree that an element of privacy is maintained with the averted gaze and the painting bears a further interpretation that she was pulling the bed curtains around her as she was dying. Rembrandt has chosen the most dramatic event with psychological dimensions and the diagonal lines he has used have enhanced the effect. This work shows the victim on the verge of death, almost at her last moments. With the agony of termination, another point that hits hard is the sense of complete isolation. â€Å"Rembrandt’s Lucretias embody not only suffering and injustice, but what it is to experience these things, to be an individual subject – a point reinforced by their utter isolation in a three quarters view from which every extraneous detail is systematically eliminated† Braider (2004, p. 60). The limpness of her body, deathly pallor of her face with the lights going out of her eyes, the total stillness of the form combined with the powerful all-consuming black background, could not have portrayed the story better. Her high-born and decorative clothes, reflecting her status in life, the nobility of expression despite the overwhelming death, grips the viewer. While the browns in the dress almost merge with the background, the gold stands out creating a breathtaking composition. Lucretia is known for artistic continuity, with her hair merging, colours subdued, and the agony writ large on her pale face.

Westerhoff Book Critique Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Westerhoff Book Critique - Assignment Example (Westerhoff 1994, ix) The ideas presented in the book are logical, simple, and realistic where the professor uses a lot of examples and related life stories to explain his point. Rev. Dr. John Westerhoff, III taught at Harvard and Duke University Divinity School and was also part of the ministry first at the United Church of Christ in Needham, MA, and later became a priest in the Episcopal Church. (Bramer 2009) The professor is an author of a number of books already which are also about faith and spirituality. Spiritual Formation focuses on how living a spiritual life affects preaching and teaching in our time and the issues concerning them. In the same way that we cannot give what we do not have, the professor said in his book that the best teachers and preachers he has known were persons who taught and preached out of the depths of their own life experiences. (Westerhoff 1994, 32) Most educators I know do believe that experience is indeed the best teacher. I guess I can say they were also very good at their profession. Yet teaching and preaching in the light of spiritual formation is not achievable by the mentor alone. One word that links the sender (the preacher or the teacher) and the receiver (students and other recipients) is the word â€Å"learning†. Learning is a two way process. It involves not only the participation, but also first of all the interest, more so the willingness to learn of the student. As the professor out it in his book introduction, â€Å"Today, spiritua l formation is a major concern of faculty and students† (Westerhoff 1994, ix). He also quoted Nouwen that â€Å"someone must be willing to let his or her life be a resource for the other’s learning; and if there is any truth, it will break in from the outside and illuminate both the teacher and the learner.† (Westerhoff 1994, 41) In this process both teacher and student learn and in this sense, Westerhoff added that the learner needs to be

20th Century Music History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

20th Century Music History - Essay Example Rhapsody in Blue is a 1924 symphonic jazz that was composed by Paul Whiteman’s jazz band which previously premiered at Aeolian Hall, it is better known in the form of orchestrated for full orchestra that is symphonic; most of the versions that Ferde Grofe orchestrated featured in several commercials and films. Another classical work is the Short Story that was released in 1925 for both piano and violin, there was an arrangement of other short pieces that was previously intended to be included in the Three Preludes and was featured by Dushkin (Adam). Porgy and Bess is a folk opera that was released in 1935 and it was composed from the book written by DuBose Heyward, the opera is about African American life which is now considered the work of an American theater. The opera premiered and the Boston colonial Theater where Alexander Smallens conducted the opera. Porgy and Bess contains aria known as Summertime and other additional hits such as I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin as well as It Aint Necessary So; the folk opera has frequently been heard in concert halls and it is relatively popular (Adam). Concerto in F is a 1925 classical that has three movements for both the orchestra and piano, it premiered in the Carnegie hall and it was conducted by Walter Damrosh. There is a musical tone poem that was released in 1928 by the name an American in Paris, the poem had jazz rudiments and with an accurate Parisian sound effects; this classical premiered in the Carnegie hall and was also conducted by Walter Damrosch (Adam). Dream sequence is a five minutes orchestra and chorus interlude that was released in 1931 and its was meant to portray the mind reeling into dream state, it is also referred too as The Melting Pot and it is a different music as compared to Rhapsody in Rivets sequence that later expanded to Second Rhapsody; there are other musical sequences that went unused and were created by Gershwin to be used in the film Delicious. Second Rhpsody was created in 1931 to be used for piano orchestra and it was based on the score for musical sequence from the film delicious; this classical premiered at the Boston Symphony Hall and was conducted by Serge Koussevitky. Cuban Overture is an original Rhumba that was created in 1932 as a tone poem that featured native Cuban dance and folk music, native instrumental were used and the rhumba premiered at Lewisohn Stadium and it was conducted by Gershwin. Variations on I Got Rhythm that Gershwin created in 1934 has a set of interesting variation in the famous song, both for orchestra and piano, the classical premiered at Boston Symphony Hall and it was conducted by Charles Previn (Adam). Rodgers and Hammerstein songs have rich and provoking, soaring emotion and were written with words and music for almost all production, in the collaboration, they were integral components that elevated the entire story from a good to wonderful play. One of the plays done with words is Carousel and looking at the openin g soliloquy, the meaning of Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan have their filtration and entire story line carried along an amazing song. The stepping forward of Rogers and Hart came when they scored the 1925 charity show by the name The Gabrick Gaities that made known the classic valentines into their hometown. There were an amazing array of music that was written from 1920 to 1930 by Rodgers and Hart, most of them were musical comedies for both Broadway and West End London (Adam 1126). The regular number of shows that were written by the pinnacle in a year was four shows that include the Girl friend, A Connecticut Yankee, Chee Chee, Betsy and Peggy-Ann, and Dearest Enemy. Rodgers and Hamm

The Impact Of Digital Technology Media Essay

The Impact Of Digital Technology Media Essay The use of digital devices such as computers, TV, mobile phones and video game has increased substantially over the past few years globally with every corner of the globe having some form of internet available. Technology has helped humanity get things done faster and there is no doubt or shortage of recognition of these increased benefits to humanity. The most visible effect of globalization is the reach of media of all types. A number of labels have been given to describe this impact which includes media society and the information society. Arguably information and communication mediated by network and broadcast systems of all types have become more important than the workplace that defined the Industrial Age (Holmes, 2007). How far both Digital media and social media have become integrated in the lives of most of the global population is shown here as at 31st March 2011, with the exception of some third world countries such as Liberia and Ethiopia with only a .5% Internet penetration rate and St Helena with only 900 users up from zero in 2000. Africa has the lowest percentage of Internet users globally with 11.5% penetration and makes up 5.7% of internet users globally. With a population of 1.03 billion, the total Internet users are 118.8 million including 30.6 million Facebook users. At the other end of the scale Asia has the largest percentage of internet user at 44% of all users globally from its population of 3.8 billion, a penetration of 24%. China is by far the highest population of users at 485 million and India at 100 million. However China has only 504,000 Facebook users of its 485 million populations connected to the internet while Indonesia has 38.8 million Facebook users of its 39.6 million internet users. (Minwatts Marketing Group). In total the world population estimate now at 6.93 billion with 2.11 billion Internet users and 710.7 million Facebook users as at 28th September 2011Â  (Minwatts Marketing Group, 2011). The importance of the Internet in todays society is of such magnitude that Sociologists are calling it a post-broadcast, second media age rising with it questions of democracy, free speech and the public sphere (Holmes, 2007). A current debate arising from the constantly fast evolving technologies exists between those who believe technologies serve human needs and those who believe technology shapes human evolution. These beliefs arise from a trail of evolving technologies of which will end when technologies can produce more technologies, making humans disposable. Both sides of the debate agree on one factor; historical turning points are marked by technological advances such as labor, trade, transport, medicine and weapons (Carr, 2010). Further debates on whether the increasing use of digital media are good or bad for new generations have risen alongside the many concerns by parents, psychologists, psychiatrists, government institutions and health related professionals of the length of time young people spend online using either social network sites, video and computer games and cellphones. This area of concern has risen to the level of seriousness that a near formalized diagnostic mental health classification labeled Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) globally by psychologists and psychiatrists is underway. These concerns however are further defined to excessive Internet use of which excessive is still to be further defined while the issue of IAD is so far being identified by mental health professionals when perceived as an interference with other areas of a persons life. A similar case is that of video and computer games where excessive use can be detrimental rather than beneficial to children, alongside the fact that unequivocal evidence shows violent video games are highly negative in their affects. Later in the chapter this research is presented. Much controversy surrounds the fact that Internet use provides many benefits for everyone, particularly the ability to access information of which was further extended when computers were supplied by governments to third world countries to help educate their people. While this appeared to be of some benefit educationally, on the other hand evidence for long term internet use on academic performance, even though scarce, appears more negative than positive, does not provide any strong evidence of benefits to people and in fact high internet use shows some impairment of performance over a long term. Moreover, the use of gaming is highly promoted by businesses and government agencies interested in economic benefits particularly as it is one of the highest income producers for the US economy currently. These organizations promote the benefits of the games, while many others believe it is harmful as seen in academic research. It is useful to note at this stage that TV even though not a focus of this chapter has not yet been displaced by the Internet and other new technologies and remains the highest used digital technology globally. 80% of families have cable or satellite TV and children watch at least three hours per day and four on the weekends. No matter how many new technologies emerge, TV keeps its powerful presence and has become a backdrop to family life and it can now be consumed on computers, mobiles and handheld devices (Gutnick, 2010). What are the effects of digital technology to us? Anecdotal reports have highlighted the sometimes dramatic effects both good and bad that digital media, the internet, social networking and online recreation appear to be having on the way our minds work, both physiologically and psychologically Carr, 2010, Greenfield, 2010; Wolfe, 2010; Price, 2011; Lanier, 2010) and there are a growing number of scientific studies that suggest changing patterns of brain function which have been attributed to the use of digital media. On the positive side these include improved complex reasoning and problem solving (Small et al., 2009). On the negative side they encompass difficulty in concentrating on books or long articles, becoming more easily distracted, impulsiveness, thinking that has a staccato quality and lack of concentration in general (OConaille and Frohlick, 1995). Then there are reports, particularly those that explore heavy web usage, of addiction to second life and on-line games (Chak and Leung, 2004). Support services, such as On-line Gamers Anonymous, have been set up to help people addicted to online activities. Meanwhile, experts from a range of disciplines, including neuroscience, education and technology, are often in stark disagreement about the long term benefits and costs of digital technologies to our mental functioning. Disagreements arise, not only between, but also within, disciplines. For instance, the neuroscientist Johan Lehrer dismisses concerns that digital technologies deplete our brains and regards loss of some mental functioning as cognitive trade-off (inside-the-brain.com/tag/johan-lehrer).He describes how dramatic decreases in working memory, self-control and visual attention result from simply walking down a city street and points out that while this activity may temporarily affect attention and memory, It is also an essential part of everyday life. Equally, he refutes claims that internet usage develops shallow thinking (Carr, 2010b). For Lehrer, the benefits of modern technology far outweigh the costs. By contrast, Professor Susan Greenfield, an eminent neuroscientist, former Director of the Royal Institution and author of several books on brain function, believes that repeated exposure to screen based technologies may re-wire the brain. In Greenfields view this issue is almost as important as climate change (Greenfield, 2010). She believes that excessive use of digital media may even threaten the quality of our existence if, for instance, social networking sites shortening attention spans, encourage instant gratification and make young people more self-centred and lacking inpeople-skills (Greenfield, 2003). Yet other neuroscientists, such as the team at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Development in Los Angeles who conducted some of the first studies on the effect of the digital technologies on the brain, claim that internet usage can help improve some brain functions such as complex reasoning and decision making but disrupt others, such as people skills, including empathy (Small and Vorgan, 2008). Of course the behavioural changes caused by technologies are not restricted to our brains We have all have direct experiences of the ways in which technologies have changed our lives both at work and home as indeed have our research participants. Digital media have been credited with improving communications, efficiency, availability, flexibility, speed and so on. On the other hand, studies show senior managers working harder and having longer hours than in the past. They are often expected to be available at all times; they have less status, fewer perks and stress is common (Price, 2011). According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (October 2011), stress is now the main reason for long termabsence fromwork and it is rising.As Ian Price says in his excellent Digital technologies 335 book The Activity Illusion (2011), for a number of reasons, we risk becoming enslaved by a series of work innovations that, paradoxically, were introduced in an effort to ease life i n the office (2011, p. 26). We are all aware of our own or our friends changes in behaviour; the inability to turn off our mobiles, to go 24 h without checking e-mail, to ignore Facebook, resisting the urge to check e-mails in meetings, and so on. Being connected is the norm but it can be a two-edged sword. Some of our expectations of technology have been confounded. In the 1970s and 1980s, when computers heralded a new age of efficiency and the future was envisaged as paper-free, hypertext was heralded as liberation. Introducing hyperlinks into text displayed on screen would, it was claimed, facilitate critical thinking by enabling students to compare different viewpoints. It would free up the mind. It has not worked out like this. Carr (2011) cites a number of studies that contradict these expectations. Readers of hypertext often clicked haphazardly through pages rather than reading them carefully, they were unable to remember what they had or had not read. One study compared two groups of people in their ability to answer a series of questions; one group searched online, the other searched through paper documents. The latter group outperformed the former. Research continues to show that people who read linear text comprehend more, remember more and learn more than those who read text containing links. The effect of digital technology has been determined for several causes that technology will affect human being. It is Cultural Forms, Visual Arts, Literature, Music, and Interactive Multimedia. Cultural Forms Artists working in visual art, literature, and music have begun to incorporate digital technology into their creations. In each case, they have either appropriated existing technology or created new technology to suit their particular needs. The result has been new cultural forms that have called into question the nature of the fields within which they are created, as well as the nature of the artists themselves and the roles and responsibilities of their audience. Visual Art In the field of visual art, new forms have included both two- and threedimensional works produced on computer, collaborative online art, and World Wide Web or CD-ROM-based galleries. Many artists have chosen to use the computer as merely another tool in their creative toolbox; these artists often combine traditional and digital techniques in their work, such as scanning a traditionally created watercolor and then manipulating it digitally. Many of these works are retained digitally, but often they are printed to paper (or another support, such as canvas or vinyl) and displayed like traditional artwork. Other artists maintain a similar approach, but produce threedimensional instead of two-dimensional images, and these must necessarily remain digital. Three-dimensional images are technically interactive in that viewers can rotate the image to see it from different angles or zoom in and out on details, but viewers often cannot make any lasting changes to the image. Artists working in tw o- and three-dimensional digital art have found online collaboration to be a useful tool. An artist can upload the beginning of a piece to a common server (often the World Wide Web is used), and then other artists are able to access the piece and add to it (Lovejoy 223). While artistic collaboration has certainly existed since the beginning of art itself, online collaboration gives artists physically located vast distances from one another the ability to work together as if they were in the same studio. And in a sense, they are; its simply that the studio they are occupying is virtual, rather than physical. This has provided opportunities for collaboration that might never have occurred due to physical logistics. Both digital and traditional art can now be found in virtual galleries on the World Wide Web and in CD-ROM format. Literature In literature, the involvement of digital technology has produced the cultural forms of word processing and hypertext. Word processing is, quite literally, the processing of words, in that the user inputs his or her choice of letters in order to form words and sentences. Today, users have a great deal of control over the processing of their words; they can change fonts, type size, style, and even the layout of the page if they are so inclined. These changes can be quickly applied to the entire document and modified at will. Also, entire blocks of text can be rearranged to suit the authors purpose. Word processing has changed the way literature is written. Fragments of ideas can be quickly input as the author thinks of them, and then later expanded and moved around with a few mouse clicks. An author no longer needs to interrupt his or her train of thought in order to deal with the structure or mechanics of the writing; changes can always easily be made later. However, while digital te chnology does allow the author to compose his or her thoughts in a non-linear manner, the final document, whether printed to paper or retained in digital form, almost always assumes the linear format of traditional written or printed text. There is a definite beginning and end, and the document is designed to be read linearly. Hypertext, unlike word processing, is a completely non-linear format. It requires the reader to navigate through linked blocks of text, creating a unique path that may or may not be retraced during subsequent experiences with the work. Often the reader is also able to add his or her own links to the existing hypertext structure. Other readers can then incorporate those links into their own paths if they so choose. The World Wide Web, in itself an important piece of digital technology, is essentially a gigantic hypertext. In its initial incarnation, the Web was solely text-based. The traditional novels digital counterpart is hypertext fiction. Authors such as Stuart Moulthrop, creator of Victory Garden (1991), have used hypertext to produce fictional works that allow readers to choose their own path through the story, starting at any of a number of entrance points, and encountering a different story line each time they experience the work. Readers find themselves empowered in a way never before possible. In hypertext there is no primary axis, no clear road in or out, no coordinates that have priority over any other coordinates except as the reader determines. Thus lacking an authority or guide, the reader is thrust back onto his or her self (Gaggi 103). By empowering their readers in such a manner, these authors have expanded the possibilities for literary creation. Music Musicians have been working with digital technology since its inception, and have found the computer to be a useful tool for everything from generating random sounds to controlling a sophisticated digital symphony. In recent years, a new musical genre, called techno (or more broadly, electronica), has emerged. Essentially, techno music can be defined as music that consists of mostly digitally created and sampled sounds and beats, or grooves, arranged in a repetitive, rhythmic manner and usually played at clubs and parties for the purpose of dancing. While there are myriad subgenres in the broad category of techno (drum n bass, jungle, ambient, and trance, to name only a few), they all share one common element: the involvement of digital technology in their production (hence the name techno). Techno music is created by mixing together clips of sound, known as samples. These sound clips can be culled from existing sources, such as a music CD, or they can be created from scratch using s pecialized computer software. Also, mixing can be done in the studio or live at an event such as a rave. Artists who mix in the studio often burn their creations to CD for distribution purposes, but many are turning to the popular MP3 format, which allows music to be compressed into a small file with virtually no loss of quality. The artist can then distribute these files via the Internet and reach a much larger audience. Mixing sound samples together is not a new technique exclusive to digital technology; hip-hop artists have been manually mixing beats for years using only two turntables and a mixing board. In fact, many techno DJs today still rely exclusively on analog equipment. While vinyl, for the average person, has all but disappeared in deference to the CD, in the specialized world of the DJ one finds entire stores devoted exclusively to vinyl, and most techno artists (as well as a surprising number of artists from other musical genres) release their albums in both CD and vinyl format. Despite the ubiquity of analog equipment in DJ culture, most techno artists who produce their music in the studio do use digital technology at some point. Herein lies the essential difference between a techno Interactive Multimedia In addition to affecting the cultural fields of visual art, literature, and music, digital technology has also produced a hybrid cultural form known as digital multimedia. While multimedia did exist before the advent of digital technology, digital multimedia is quite different from its predecessor. One major difference is that most digital multimedia works exploit the interactive aspect of digital technology. Viewers are able to travel through virtual space and interact with the digital forms they encounter, thereby creating new forms and pathways that they and other viewers can experience. Interactive digital multimedia is most often encountered in CD-ROM format, since the bandwidth issues of the Internet in its current state make Web-based interactive multimedia impractical for all but the most high-end user. However, new technologies are currently being developed in both file compression (i.e. Flash for animations and MPEG for streaming video) and bandwidth delivery (i.e. cable mo dems and DSL) that promise to greatly improve the capabilities of the Internet and make Web-based interactive digital multimedia commonplace in the near future. It is within interactive digital multimedia that one finds the traditional roles of artist and audience most in question. One is no longer strictly a visual artist, writer, or musician, but rather a critical cultivator, first searching to comprehend the possible meanings that emerge from this accumulation of nanocircuitry and indeterminate layers of code, then trying to reconstitute those emergent phenomena in such a way that they can become part of an evolving cultural discourse (Shaw 165). Even the genre-neutral terms producer and creator are troublesome, since the aspect of interactivity in digital multimedia makes the audience as important an influence on the development of the work as the so-called creator. While these issues do occur in other digital cultural forms as well, the very nature of interactive digital multim edia provides the most fertile environment for the exploration of these issues by both artist and audience. In conclusion Digital technology and its increasing prevalence have impacted human life radically in the last few decades. From the advent of the digital society, spawned by the invention of the computer and ENIAC, one of the first digital computers in 1946, to the present day, digital technology and computing have worked their way into more areas of life, from communications to finance to social interaction. You can see the impact daily in homes, schools and offices. The impact of computer technology on our lives makes much sector change in word of work. Computer technology is such a big factor in everyones lives today. In my own life I cannot leave my house without my mobile phone I feel secure when I have my mobile phone with me so I can be contacted or if i was ever to be in trouble I could ring my family. Also social networking is another great form of communication. people who live in different countries and want or need to contact with friends or people from across the world, they can just set up a personal profile on a social networking site and work from there doing this safely and securely for them. Computer technology is also in schools for basic training for computers themselves as people can now do online courses to further their education, fitting this into their own schedules. Skype is also a great invention as I have family who live abroad so I and my family can always talk to them and see their faces its great as you wouldnt see them for months at a time.

Use of Polarization in Goodbye, Mr. Chips Essay -- Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Use of Polarization in Goodbye, Mr. Chips  Ã‚   Opposites attract.   James Hilton uses this fact in Goodbye, Mr. Chips to create tension in the story; however, he makes greater use of this polarization to develop the character of Chips.   Mr. Chips and Katherine Bridges may be viewed not only as opposites but also as arguments.   Hilton uses thesis in the form of young Chips and antithesis in the form of Katherine Bridges to arrive at synthesis, the personality and character of the mature schoolmaster. Hilton portrays young Chips as lacking in confidence.   During an interview, Chips, a schoolteacher in his early twenties, admits to Wetherby, the head of Brookfield, that disciplining young boys was not one of his strong points at Melbury, his previous school.   Wetherby counsels Chips that "youth and age often combine well" and offers Chips a second chance at Brookfield, an old established school (4).   At Brookfield Chips assumes a scowl and a no nonsense attitude to cover his inward nervousness.   During the next ten years, Chips realizes that his discipline "although good enough ...

Steroid Pros and Cons

The effects of steroid use has been widely documented, especially in the past couple of years with all the high profiled athletes subjecting themselves to a tainted legacy because of the need to keep there competitive edge while there skills where slowly diminishing with age. Sending shock waves through the sports world and fans feeling disappointed and confused, athletes have been slowly coming out In the public eye for their past and current steroid abuse. These athletes have been emotionally distressed and this I imagine is extremely hard to adapt to and handle.But what bout the physical demographer bodies are enduring with these powerful anabolic drugs? This Is where a lot of different pollens come In to play, between the so-called experts and the self proclaimed experts. The so called experts being doctors and self proclaimed experts being â€Å"JUICERS† In the bodybuilding world. Some people would say â€Å"_Well look, he Is a doctor he must be right† _ and I woul d say that I rather take advice after a bad break up from a friend with the same experience than a happily married radio show love expert telling me what Is politically correct.But It Is very arid to argue science, which leads me to read up on many different articles from the other side. Rick Collins a writer for littleness. Com had a interesting article in 1999, that stated how the public was fooled by the physicians into thinking that steroids was not a performance enhancer and did not make people stronger. He then went on to say that congress, was more worried about making competitive sports pure and not so much on the actual health of steroid users. This being his own belief (not fact) says to me that he might be right.The United States of America has a way of gnashing athletes who use these drugs as criminals with huge penalties. This makes Rick Collins argument strong. Something that I also found pretty interesting was that the same physicians who said in the sass's that stero ids did not enhance ones performance retreated form that theory in the sass's. This left a bad taste in the sports communities mouths and made Doctors not look so bright. Where the physicians believed to be credible sources anymore? A majority of the sports and bodybuilding community said yes, they should be credible but Just not when it came to steroids.There is a large population of steroid users that believe the â€Å"JUICE† had a positive impact on their life. These feelings probably came from people who did the drug in proper dosages. But like anything, too much can be unhealthy. Example tanning, alcohol, sleeping and so on. What I feel bothers America about steroids Is not so much the health risks. Turn on a TV and flick through the channels. I would say you can probably come across something to do with steroids, but how much you want to bet It will be about a sports figure. Do the same thing on the Internet, Google steroids. Bet you won't get a story of a death due to steroids.Is It because there arena any stones on everyday people and steroids. No. I'm sure there Is someone who Is suffering from side effects from steroids. But who cares? It's truly about Integrity of competition. And I believe It Is truly blown out of proportion. I am so sick of seeing these ball players getting smashed through the media, getting critiqued on every little thing they say and do. When the concerns are not about health In the news It Is always about an athlete who â€Å"Cheated† -Always drama, I feel like newspapers and articles on two writers sitting on the other side of the fence on this topic.

Admiral Raymond Spruance in World War II

Admiral Raymond Spruance in World War II Raymond Spruance - Early Life Career: The son of Alexander and Annie Spruance, Raymond A. Spruance was born at Baltimore, MD on July 3, 1886. Raised in Indianapolis, IN, he attended school locally and graduated from Shortridge High School. After further schooling at the Stevens Preparatory School in New Jersey, Spruance applied to and was accepted by the US Naval Academy in 1903. Graduating from Annapolis three years later, he served two years at sea before receiving his commission as an ensign on September 13, 1908. During this period, Spruance served aboard USS Minnesota during the cruise of the Great White Fleet. Arriving back in the United States, he underwent additional training in electrical engineering at General Electric before being posted to USS Connecticut in May 1910. Following a stint aboard USS Cincinnati, Spruance was made commander of the destroyer USS Bainbridge in March 1913 with the rank of lieutenant (junior grade). In May 1914, Spruance received a posting as Assistant to the Inspector of Machinery at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. Two years later, he aided in the fitting out of USS Pennsylvania, then under construction in the yard. With the battleships completion, Spruance joined its crew and remained aboard until November 1917. With World War I raging, he became Assistant Engineer Officer of the New York Navy Yard. In this position, he traveled to London and Edinburgh. With the end of the war, Spruance aided in returning American troops home before moving through a succession of engineering postings and destroyer commands. Having attained the rank of commander, Spruance attended the Senior Course at the Naval War College in July 1926. Finishing the course, he completed a tour in the Office of Naval Intelligence before being posted to USS Mississippi in October 1929 as executive officer. Raymond Spruance - War Approaches: In June 1931, Spruance returned to Newport, RI to serve on the staff of the Naval War College. Promoted to captain the following year, he departed to take the position of Chief of Staff and Aide to Commander Destroyers, Scouting Fleet in May 1933. Two years later, Spruance again received orders for the Naval War College and taught on the staff until April 1938. Leaving, he assumed command of USS Mississippi. Commanding the battleship for nearly two years, Spruance was aboard when World War II began in Europe. Having been promoted to rear admiral in December 1939, he was directed to assume command of the Tenth Naval District (San Juan, PR) in February 1940. In July 1941, his responsibilities were expanded to include oversight of the Caribbean Sea Frontier. After working to defend neutral American shipping from German U-boats, Spruance received orders to take over Cruiser Division Five in September 1941. Traveling to the Pacific, he was in this post when the Japanese attacked Pearl Har bor on December 7 forcing the US to enter the war. Raymond Spruance - Triumph at Midway: In the opening weeks of the conflict, Spruances cruisers served under Vice Admiral William Bull Halsey and took part in raids against the Gilbert and Marshall Islands before striking Wake Island. These attacks were followed by a raid against Marcus Island. In May 1942, intelligence suggested that the Japanese were planning on assaulting Midway Island. Critical for the defense of Hawaii, the commander of the US Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, intended to dispatch Halsey to block the enemy thrust. Falling ill with shingles, Halsey recommended that Spruance lead Task Force 16, centered on the carriers USS Enterprise and USS Hornet, in his stead. Though Spruance had not led a carrier force in the past, Nimitz agreed as the rear admiral would be aided by Halseys staff, including the gifted Captain Miles Browning. Moving into position near Midway, Spruances force was later joined by Rear Admiral Frank J. Fletchers TF 17 which included the carrier USS Yorktown. On June 4, Spruance and Fletcher engaged four Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway. Locating the Japanese carriers as they were rearming and refueling their aircraft, American bombers inflicted massive damage and sank three. Though the fourth, Hiryu, managed to launch bombers which caused critical damage to Yorktown, it too was sunk when American aircraft returned later in the day. A decisive victory, Spruance and Fletchers actions at Midway helped turn the tide of the Pacific war in favor of the Allies. For his actions, Spruance received the Distinguished Service Medal and, later that month, Nimitz named him as his Chief of Staff and Aide. This was followed by a promotion to Deputy Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet in September. Raymond Spruance - Island Hopping: In August 1943, Spruance, now a vice admiral, returned to sea as Commander Central Pacific Force. Overseeing the Battle of Tarawa in November 1943, he guided Allied forces as they advanced through the Gilbert Islands. This was followed by an assault on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands on January 31, 1944. Successfully concluding operations, Spruance was promoted to admiral in February. That same month, he directed Operation Hailstone which saw American carrier aircraft repeatedly strike the Japanese base at Truk. During the attacks, the Japanese lost twelve warships, thirty-two merchant ships, and 249 aircraft. In April, Nimitz divided command of the Central Pacific Force between Spruance and Halsey. While one was at sea, the other would be planning their next operation. As part of this reorganization, the force became known as the Fifth Fleet when Spruance was in charge and the Third Fleet when Halsey was in command. The two admirals presented a contrast in styles as Spruance tended to be quiet and meticulous while Halsey was brash and more impetuous. Moving forward in mid-1944, Spruance embarked on a campaign in the Marianas Islands. Landing troops on Saipan on June 15, he defeated Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa at the Battle of the Philippine Sea a few days later. In the fighting, the Japanese lost three carriers and around 600 aircraft. The defeat effectively destroyed the Japanese Navys air arm. Following the campaign, Spruance turned the fleet over to Halsey and began planning operations to capture Iwo Jima. As his staff worked, Halsey used the fleet to win the Battle of Leyte Gulf. In January 1945, Spruance resumed command of the fleet and began moving against Iwo Jima. On February 19, American forces landed and opened the Battle of Iwo Jima. Mounting a tenacious defense, the Japanese held out for over a month. With the islands fall, Spruance immediately moved forward with Operation Iceberg. This saw Allied forces move against Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. Close to Japan, Allied planners intended to use Okinawa as a springboard for the eventual invasion of the Home Islands. On April 1, Spruance began the Battle of Okinawa. Maintaining a position offshore, the Fifth Fleets ships were subjected to relentless kamikaze attacks by Japanese aircraft. As Allied forces battled on the island, Spruances ships defeated Operation Ten-Go on April 7 which saw the Japanese battleship Yamato attempt to break through to the island. With Okinawas fall in June, Spruance rotated back to Pearl Harbor to begin planning the invasion of Japan. Raymond Spruance - Postwar: These plans proved moot when the war came to an abrupt end in early August with the use of the atom bomb. For his actions at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, Spruance was awarded the Navy Cross. On November 24, Spruance relieved Nimitz as Commander, US Pacific Fleet. He remained in the position only briefly as he accepted a posting as President of the Naval War College on February 1, 1946. Returning to Newport, Spruance remained at the college until retiring from the US Navy on July 1, 1948. Four years later, President Harry S. Truman appointed him as Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines. Serving in Manila, Spruance remained abroad until resigning his post in 1955. Retiring to Pebble Beach, CA, he died there on December 13, 1969. After his funeral, he was buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery near the grave of his wartime commander, Nimitz. Selected Sources HistoryNet: Raymond Spruance - Modest Victor of Midway California Military Museum: Raymond Spruance

Biological Surrogacy in the United States

Biological Surrogacy in the United States Research Paper Thousands of women in the United States face difficulties with fertility. They suffer from numerous health problems, because infertility always leads to a huge moral pain. Society often views women, who cannot have children, as men-like and incomplete. Even the most expensive reproductive technologies do not help to solve female infertility problems. In this context, biological surrogacy and egg donation represent the two easy ways to help a woman become a mother.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Biological Surrogacy in the United States specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Every year, the number of children born through surrogacy in the United States grows. However, the legal, ethical, and moral limitations of biological surrogacy should not be ignored. Women who agree to become surrogate mothers must prepare themselves for the moral and physical pains of separation with the child. Women who choose surroga te mothers to carry their babies must be ready to accept the child, regardless of his (her) physical state at birth. At present, biological surrogacy resembles the act of trade, when the childs genetic parents manipulate the surrogate mother, using their power and finances. Biological surrogacy can give some hope to the women, who have fertility problems, but only when effective legislation is developed to govern the relationships between biological parents and surrogate mothers. Biological Surrogacy: The Case of Tiffany Burke and Crystal Kelley Biological surrogacy has become so common in the United States, that it is no longer shameful for a woman to say that she is carrying someone elses child. It is a source of childbearing hopes for many infertile women, as well as a good moneymaking opportunity for the women, who can bear and give birth to a child. Tiffany Burke, 31, is currently pregnant with the twins she is carrying for her brother and sister-in-law (Hudson, 2012). She is m onitoring her health and calls herself as 60% organic (Hudson, 2012). Tiffany says that the babies she is carrying were formed with her brothers sperm and her sisters egg (Hudson, 2012). She already has a child of her own, and she knows what it feels like being pregnant. It is interesting that Tiffany was the initiator of this pregnancy, after her sisters uterus was removed as a result of uncontrolled bleeding (Hudson, 2012). She eats organic foods and uses vinegar instead of traditional shampoo. What she does not know is whether her pregnancy will go well for her, the babies, and the biological parents. She does not know what she will do, in case anything goes wrong. This is the question Crystal Kelley might have been asking herself, when a nice couple she met at the playground decided she could be their surrogate (Chapin, 2013). By the time Kelley agreed to become a surrogate, she already had two daughters and a tragic experience of two miscarriages (Chapin, 2013).Advertising Looking for essay on family law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More She was fascinated with the amount of attention she was getting from the biological parents. However when, at 21 weeks, an ultrasound revealed considerable health abnormalities, the genetic parents offered $10,000 for Kelley to make an abortion (Caplan, 2013). Kelley refused and moved to Michigan, where she was free to control her body. She gave birth to a girl, who was adopted by the family that has enough financial means to raise her and meet her health needs (Caplan, 2013; Chapin, 2013). Biological Surrogacy: The Why and How of the Problem Why Women Do It Biological surrogacy raises numerous ethical and legal issues, one of them being the right to autonomy, privacy, and self-control. Still, the number of families which apply to biological surrogacy continues to increase each year. The basic question is why, despite so many ethical challenges, families ch oose biological surrogacy. The answer is simple: everyone wants to have a child of their own. The fact is that egg donation and biological surrogacy greatly increase womens chances to become mothers. According to Steinbock (2004), a woman who is infertile and uses her own eggs for in vitro fertilization has a 15 percent chance to become pregnant, compared to a 40 percent chance for a woman, who uses donated eggs. The situation with biological surrogacy is quite similar: for many women who cannot get pregnant naturally, surrogacy provides the only real opportunity to have a child (Steinbock, 2004). Tiffany Burke, who is carrying the twins for her brother- and sister-in-law, understands how difficult it is not to have a child, and this is probably why she decided to sacrifice her body for the sake of pregnancy. However, Burkes case is a rare example of nobility, unlike other cases, when surrogacy is just a matter of money and control. Biological Surrogacy as a Commodity With the absen ce of effective regulations, biological surrogacy resembles the act of trade, where the child is exchanged for a considerable sum of money, and the surrogate mother is just a physical means for having a baby. Commodification is one of the biggest ethical problems in the context of egg donation and surrogacy. Women who donate their eggs are paid between $2,500 and $5,000 (Steinbock, 2004). Chrystal Kelley was paid $22,000 for her pregnancy and could receive another $10,000, if she agreed to make an abortion (Caplan, 2013). Thus, surrogacy for money is about money – not love, or help, or altruism or doing good. Money is most attractive to those who need it most (Caplan, 2013). Biological surrogacy is very much like renting the surrogate mothers womb for a good sum of money. Certainly, it is possible to say that everything in this world is bought and sold. Scientists sell their minds; lawyers sell their knowledge of the legal procedures; and athletes sell their physical abilitie s and bodies to cope with their daily needs (Steinbock, 2004).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Biological Surrogacy in the United States specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More At times, individuals agree to sell their body parts and organs, when they have no other way to earn for living. However, they do not sell their souls or votes, because it is morally unacceptable. No one wants to be treated as property. Nevertheless, in most cases, this is what happens to the women, who have agreed to become surrogate mothers. No one says that biological surrogacy is absolutely wrong and should not be allowed. Rather, surrogacy cannot be permitted in its present-day form. It should be thoroughly regulated by the state, and it is state that should (or should not) compensate surrogate mothers for their noble decisions. Only then, biological surrogacy will become moral and acceptable, when no financial interests are involved. Biologica l Surrogacy and Body Control Another problem is that of biological surrogacy and body control. Women who agree to rent their wombs for money often have no voice in the medical and financial decisions regarding their body. Many of them understand that surrogacy is a huge responsibility (Hudson, 2012). For many others, the lack of control over their bodies becomes an unpleasant surprise during pregnancy. Crystal Kelley, who was asked to abort her child because of the health problems revealed during an ultrasound, received a letter from an attorney who was telling her that, under the surrogacy contract, she had no legal right to keep the child (Caplan, 2013). Under the surrogacy contract, she was required to make an abortion in case any health problems were identified (Caplan, 2013). However, no one can make a woman get rid of the unborn baby. Under no circumstances can this decision be regarded as legal (Caplan, 2013). Even if the surrogate mother signs a contract, its provisions have no legal power. The attorney who was pressuring Crystal Kelley to seek an abortion can lose his license, because his letter was a serious violation of law (Caplan, 2013). Still, biological surrogacy increases the risks of exploitation. Even providing large monetary rewards for surrogacy can become a form of coercion. Many women cannot resist the temptation to earn some money for being pregnant. As a result, they turn themselves into a commodity. The money they receive for carrying and giving birth to a child may not be worth the risks of exploitation, which these women are facing. Kelley was threatened that, in case she refused an abortion, she would have to pay back the money she had received from the genetic parents (Caplan, 2013). She was manipulated to become a murderer of the child, which is equal to a serious crime. However, she was strong enough to withstand the pressure and give birth to a child.Advertising Looking for essay on family law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More She had even more power and strength to find a family that would care for the sick girl. Looking back at Kelleys case, it is possible to say that any surrogate agency which conveyed an offer of money to encourage an abortion is guilty of at best bribery and an attempt to crassly manipulate a vulnerable woman (Caplan, 2013). Now, What Happens Next? Now that the surrogate child is born, what happens to him (her) and how are his (her) relations with the genetic parents develop? This is the question, which matters a lot but does not receive enough professional attention. Biological surrogacy is often described as a process that starts with egg and sperm donation and ends, when the baby is born. Yet, it is clear that children who are born through surrogacy lack a physical and psychological link with their genetic parents (Golombok, Readings, Blake, Caset, Marks Jadva, 2011). Unfortunately, Tiffany Burke does not think of how the babies she is carrying will build their relations with the genetic parents. Crystal Kelley sounds quite confident that the foster parents she has found for her newborn girl will be able to meet her most serious health needs. Today, the children born through surrogacy do not differ much from their peers, who were born through natural conception (Golombok et al., 2011). Families that used surrogacy do not seem to be different from the families, which never experienced any fertility problems. Getting back to the ethics of biological surrogacy, what will the children born from surrogate mothers say to their biological parents, when they learn about their origins? How will they react to the fact that they were carried and born by a different woman? Will they experience confusion in terms of their mother-and-child roles? Will they treat the surrogate mother as a womb rented to give them life? These questions do not have any answers, as well as the questions related to the morality of biological surrogacy in the modern world. Many societies and c ommunities feel that surrogacy is just another step towards a cyborg society, where robots and humans live side by side. Many others treat surrogacy as a huge hope for those women, who cannot have children. Many issues related to surrogacy remain unresolved. Meanwhile, many women do not even know what it takes to be a surrogate mother. Much of the current confusion regarding biological surrogacy is because of the lack of knowledge, information, and openness in relations between genetic parents and surrogate mothers. Those, who agree to become a surrogate, do not even imagine the difficulties associated with this role (Steinbock, 2004). With so many women having fertility problems, surrogacy should remain an accessible and affordable way to have a baby, but only when new regulations are developed to help surrogate mothers avoid exploitation, commodification, coercion, and harm. This is the only way biological surrogacy can save the society from the risks of a demographic crisis and h elp infertile women become mothers. Conclusion When it comes to biological surrogacy, one of the central questions is whether it is justified. The results of this analysis show that surrogate mothers can provide thousands of women with a chance to become mothers. Surrogacy is a good alternative to more traditional adoption, since the child born through surrogacy carries the essential genetic features of his (her) parents. However, as the number of surrogate mothers continues to grow, the United States needs better regulations to control and manage this sphere. The cases analyzed in this paper suggest that women, who agree to be surrogate mothers, face numerous risks. First, they can be easily manipulated into becoming surrogates, because they are offered huge monetary rewards for being pregnant. Second, these women often do not know what it takes to be a surrogate and how it impacts their fundamental rights. Third, women who agree to be surrogates are subject to exploitation and coe rcion risks. For example, genetic parents can push them towards an abortion, if they learn that the baby has severe physical abnormalities. This is why the United States needs a new set of laws and regulations to help surrogate mothers defend their rights to autonomy and decision making. The problem is not about biological surrogacy. Being pregnant with someone elses child is neither immoral nor illegal, but when pregnancy does not turn into an object of trade. In the absence of a solid legal environment, surrogacy turns unborn babies into a commodity that can be bought and sold. New legislation will help protect the right of the unborn babies, while also making surrogate mothers less vulnerable to the risks of exploitation and abuse. References Caplan, A. (2013). $10,000 to abort? Surrogacy case reveals moral holes, bioethicist says. NBC News. Web. Chapin, J. (2013). Surrogate gives birth against biological parents wishes. NBC  News. Web. Golombok, S., Readings, J., Blake, L., Ca sey, P., Marks, A. Javda, V. (2011). Families created through surrogacy: Mother-child relationships and childrens psychological adjustment at age 7. Developmental Psychology, 47(6), 1579- 1588. Web. Hudson, W. (2012). Surrogate mom strives for organic living. CNN. Web. Steinbock, B. (2004). Payment for egg donation and surrogacy. The Mount Sinai  Journal of Medicine, 71(4), 255-265. Web.

Hume's Philosophy about reason and Passion Essay

Hume's Philosophy about reason and Passion - Essay Example Hume’s philosophy about Reason & Passion David Hume was a historian & philosopher in the mid of 18th century from Scotland. Born on May 7, 1711 & died on August 25, 1776, Hume was one of the most important philosophers of that time & is regarded with many great western philosophers of modern times. He was famous for his philosophical ideas about human empiricism & skepticism. He purposed the ideas of passion that they drive human beings rather than logical reasoning or thinking. Hence he was a contemporary of Rene Descartes, a French philosopher of 17th century, who argued that human mind is a thinking thing & it follows the logical reasoning about everything. Hume was strongly opposed to this idea of presenting human minds & he tried to establish a new & natural science about psychology of human nature. In his famous publication â€Å"A Treatise of Human Nature: Being an Attempt to introduce the experimental Method of Reasoning into Moral Subjects†, he argued that the real force which is responsible for all human activities is their desires or passions about something. Whenever anyone tends to pull towards something, it may be money or a loved one or anything else; he makes every possible chance to accomplish the goals. Reason cannot be wholly or completely the driving force, it is a part of passion or in Hume’s own words, â€Å"a slave of passions†. ... The knowledge which humans take by their experience helps them to decide what is right & what is wrong for them. In the lights of all these combined perceptions, anyone becomes able to find the right way towards success & achievements. He regarded passions as the treatment of free wills & emotions & that the moral ethics are based upon the feelings not upon the moral principles. According to him humans do not bother any kind of rules when it comes to a peculiar situation, neither they follow the logical reasoning according to the circumstances, but they follow their instincts & senses & behave accordingly. Unless the passion is not build on any false concepts, like such thing which do not have any existence, for example fear from ghosts or such things which usually don’t come in our way; it is the thing which determines what to do & what not. Hence passion can never be unreasonable since every person has his/her own logics to justify his/her passion about anything or anyone (H ume. 1739). Many scholars of that time harshly condemned this idea of Hume. They said that it is impossible not to have any kind of moral ethics or a set of rules described for the humans. In this way, any human being will do whatever he/she will want & the world will become a place where only desires are fulfilled at any cost. This also goes in the opposite way of religion since it addresses not to obey only passions but moral ethics & reasons determine one’s path to follow. They also claim the text to be very abstract & meaningless & as a combination of jumbled words. However, many scholars & philosophers of today’s time also consider his treatise a modern work in philosophy & name him as

Mock Interview of a Prospective Staff Member by Employer Essay

Mock Interview of a Prospective Staff Member by Employer - Essay Example The four main elements of interview practice applicable to all disciplines including nursing, include the acquiring of â€Å"background information of the candidate, interview analysis, protocol creation and revision, and self-reflective interviewing†, states Dilley (2000, p.131). The Appropriate Lines of Questioning to be Employed in Mock Interviews Fulton, Lyon, and Goudreau (2010) state that the best technique should be selected for a given situation, and practice is key to achieving higher levels of efficiency and performance outcomes. Thus, interview process strategies include the 80/20 Rule, Sequence Themes, Behavior-based Interviewing, Closed-ended, Open-ended, and Multilayered questions (Fulton et al., 2010). The 80/20 Rule is based on the concept of 20% of an interview to be devoted to asking questions, and 80% in listening to the interviewee’s answers, to find out to what extent the candidate was suitable for the position. Commenting on every answer is unnecessary, while â€Å"the interviewer controls the pace and emphasis areas of the interview† (Fulton et al., 2010, p.307).... The Themes that will be explored by the interviewer should be considered and practised during the mock interview. The preferable sequence for the themes has to be determined before the questions for each theme are decided on. For example, an interviewer may wish to question the candidate on goal orientation before finding out about their analytic ability. It may be ideal for an interviewee to sequence items about nursing staff project readiness, before answering questions on multidisciplinary commitment. In the technique of Behavior-based Interviewing, the interviewer’s approach bases the interview questions on behaviors rather than on beliefs. However, because â€Å"past behavior is often the best predictor of future actions, emphasis on behavior-oriented questions is important† (Fulton et al., 2010, p.307). Other appropriate lines of questioning by the interviewer include the use of closed-ended questions which Yale (2006) suggests should be used only to pose question s about a commitment, or to seek clarification about any factual matters. The open-ended questions compel the interviewee to give more details on their approach or their experience regarding a particular situation. The multilayered approach may not be successful, because it is possible that because of the various issues within the same question, the interviewer may receive an incomplete answer (Fulton et al., 2010). Interview Questions to Avoid in Mock Interviews Mock interviews should not include questions based on the candidates’ race, age, gender, nationality, marital status, religious beliefs, disability, or sexual orientation. These issues are best